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Book Postscript Tag 2022

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Adventures in Polishland

As 2022 comes to a close, I want to share about some of the books I read this year. I saw Vicky over at Vicky’s Book Nook on YouTube post the Book Postscript Tag. This tag was created by Mementomori, and it is a fun way to reflect on your reading. This year was quite interesting for me book wise. I began by reading a lot of books that I had accumulated from NetGalley over the years. Unfortunately for me, most of them were pretty bad! I also switched jobs a few months ago, so instead of reading during my long commutes, I’m only reading about 20 pages a day during lunch. Despite my weird reading year, I’m still happy with what I accomplished, and would like to share some of my reads with you!

I am using affiliate links from Bookshop.org in this post. While I try to buy all of my books locally and secondhand, whenever I do buy a new books I use this website because it donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores. With that being said, let’s jump into the questions!

1. The longest book you read this year and the book that took you the longest to finish.

The longest book I read this year is RINGER by Lauren Oliver at 528 pages. This is the second book in the Replica duology, which is a young adult sci-fi series. Lauren Oliver is one of my go-to authors, and this series was definitely thought-provoking and fast-paced. It follows two teenage girls, Gemma and Lyra, as they discover who they really are. If you have any interest in human cloning, I definitely think you would enjoy this series!

The book that took me the longest to read is NIGHT SHIFT by Stephen King. I started this book on November 19, 2021, and I didn’t finish it until June 30, 2022! This is one of King’s short story collections, and I guess you can tell I do not do well with short stories. Overall, these stories were quite good and very creepy. I just have a difficult time with short fiction, and kept putting this book down because it didn’t capture my attention. I was so glad when I finally finished it!

2. A book you read in 2022 that was outside of your comfort zone.

A book I read outside of my comfort zone this year is BEYOND BELIEF: MY SECRET LIFE INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY AND MY HARROWING ESCAPE by Jenna Miscavige Hill. This is the one and only book I listened to on audio this year. I know so many people love audiobooks, but I just can’t get into them. That being said, I did really enjoy this book, which is a memoir by a woman who grew up in the Church of Scientology. This book really opened my eyes about what goes on in this organization. I will never be watching another Tom Cruise movie!

3. How many books did you re-read in 2022?

4. Favorite re-read of 2022.

I am usually a big re-reader, but this year I only re-read one book, so by default it’s my favorite re-read of the year. That book is EASY by Tammara Webber. This is a new adult contemporary romance, which funnily enough it also not something I would normally read. That being said, I enjoy the characters, and I appreciate that there are important topics discussed in this book.

5. A book you read for the first time in 2022 that you look forward to re-reading in the future.

A surprise favorite for me this year is A SUDDEN LIGHT by Garth Stein. This novel follows a boy named Trevor as he spends the summer at the family estate where his father grew up. I absolutely loved how the house was one of the main characters. It is filled with secrets and ghosts. If you like multi-generational novels, I highly recommend this one. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.

6. Favorite single short story or novella that you read in 2022.

I mentioned earlier that I struggle with short fiction, but I did really enjoy some of the stories in NIGHT SHIFT by Stephen King. Some of my favorites in this collection are Jerusalem’s Lot, The Ledge, and Children of the Corn. One story that will haunt me forever is The Mangler. It’s the single scariest thing I’ve read by King thus far!

7. Mass Appeal: A book you liked and would recommend to a wide variety of readers.

This year I’ve really enjoyed the Dragon Masters series by Tracey West. This is a children’s book series that I started reading because my nephew is really into it. I love reading the same books as him! I have to say, I got really sucked into these magical fantasy books. They are really cute, and a great palette cleanser between longer adult books. I think this series can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!

8. Specialized Appeal: A book you liked but would be hesitant to recommend to just anyone.

My favorite read this year is NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS by Patricia Lockwood. This is an autofictional novel, meaning that it’s a fiction book based on the author’s life. While I think that everyone should read this book, I fully understand that many people will not get it or enjoy it. The story is written in two parts. The first focuses on the protagonist’s career in social media, while the second follows her life once a tragic event strikes her family. While devastating, this book is incredibly written and very important. Lockwood is by far one of my favorite authors, as I also love her memoir PRIESTDADDY.

9. Reflect on your year as a bookish content creator (goals met, good/bad memories, favorite videos you made, etc).

This year I hoped to revamp my Bookstagram page @PolishlandReads. Unfortunately, I did not keep up with it very much at all. I struggle to post bookish photos when the majority of the books I read are now ebooks. I hope that next year I can get back into the groove over there!

10. Tag some fellow bookish content creators.

I don’t have anyone specific to tag. If you’re interested in doing this tag, consider yourself tagged by me.

2022 Reading Reflections

While my reading this year went a bit differently than expected, I’m still very happy with what I accomplished. I ticked off many books from by TBR list, I caught up on a lot of NetGalley requests, and I discovered some new favorites. I hope that all of you also had a good reading year. Please share your thoughts on any of these questions in the comments!

All of Morgan Matson’s Books Ranked & Reviewed

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Adventures in Polishland

During the pandemic, my reading took a huge nosedive. After struggling to get into a new reading routine, I decided to reread a favorite book of mine, Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson. I enjoyed my reread so much that I decided to continue with Matson’s books, and I ended up reading her entire bibliography back to back. This blog post will share mini reviews of all of Morgan Matson’s current books, as well as rank them from my least favorite to favorite. I’ll first begin with quick, non-spoiler summaries of each book, and then I’ll jump into the ranking!

All of Morgan Matson's Books Ranked & Reviewed

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Morgan Matson is a young adult, contemporary fiction author. She presently has six novels, with a seventh middle grade book slated for Spring of 2022. What’s unique about Maton’s books is that they are all connected to the fictional town of Stanwich, Connecticut. This allows Matson to drop Easter Eggs into her books, and update readers on characters from past books. Thus, while each of these novels is a stand alone, I highly recommend reading them in publication order.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

First up is Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, released in 2010. After Amy’s father dies in a car accident, Amy’s mother decides the family will move from California to Connecticut. In order to get her mom’s car across the country, family friend Roger is enlisted to drive Amy and the vehicle to the East Coast. While Amy and Roger are supposed to stick to her mom’s strict itinerary, the duo decides to take matters into their own hands. As the title suggests, they go on an epic detour across the United States. The book follows their adventures, and actually maps out a real-life road trip that Matson went on herself!

Next up is Second Chance Summer, released in 2012. This book follows Taylor and her family as they spend a summer at their lake house after her dad receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. Taylor hasn’t been to the lake in five years, and the last time she was there things ended badly with both her ex-boyfriend and ex-best-friend. This story is about Taylor mending broken fences, all while trying to make the most of her limited time with her father.

The Matson book that started it all for me is Since You’ve Been Gone, released in 2014. At the start of the summer, Emily goes looking for her best friend Sloane, only to find that Sloane has seemingly vanished. Emily soon gets a To Do list from Sloane in the mail, prompting Emily to spend her summer checking off tasks such as Dance Until Dawn, Kiss a Stranger, and even Steal Something. Emily hopes that by completing this checklist, she will find her way back to Sloane. The book chronicles Emily’s adventures throughout the summer as she makes new friends and steps outside of her comfort zone.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything, released in 2016, is the last of Matson’s summer novels. Andie has plans to attend a summer internship, but when her Congressman father has a scandal in his office, her acceptance is revoked. Andie has to find a last-minute summer job, and the only thing available is a dog walker position. This book follows Andie’s summer with her group of friends, and the cute guy Clark she meets while walking his dog Bertie.

Next up is Save the Date, released in 2018. Charlie is excited for her sister’s wedding, which will bring together all of her siblings for the last time in the family home before they move. While the wedding was carefully planned, things start going wrong when the Grant family finds out that the wedding planner was a scam artist. Charlie steps in to help save the wedding when one disaster after another attempts to destroy it.

Last but not least is Matson’s 2021 release, Take Me Home Tonight. This book follows best friends Kat and Stevie, who sneak off to New York City. While the purpose of the trip is supposed to be Stevie’s birthday dinner, Kat has ulterior motives. The duo have an argument in the subway station that leads to them getting separated, and everything that could possibly go wrong absolutely does. The book follows their misadventures in the city as they attempt to find their way home with no cell phones and little money.

Ranking and Mini Reviews

Now that I’ve shared a bit about each book, let’s jump into my thoughts. I will start with my least favorite, and end with my favorite.

6. Take Me Home Tonight | ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | Matson’s newest release is, unfortunately, my least favorite of her books. Although it’s quite entertaining, it is also a bit too ridiculous for me. You really need to suspend disbelief when reading this book. Moreover, I find Kat and Stevie to be quite unlikeable characters. They are both self-centered and lie a lot, so it’s difficult to root for them. That being said, I like how the story wrapped up, and both characters were developed well despite the story taking place in a short timespan. [BUY]

5. Save the Date | ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | Coming in fifth place is Save the Date. This book is just shy of a 4-star rating for me, mainly due to the bonus chapter at the end of the book that furthers negative vegan stereotypes. Otherwise, I really enjoy the large cast of characters in this story. It was really fun to read about a family with a lot of siblings. While this book is also a bit unrealistic for me, I like that Matson did something new with this book, and stepped outside her summer setting. [BUY]

4. The Unexpected Everything | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Next we have the books that all take place in the summer, and The Unexpected Everything is at the bottom of that bunch. This is the longest of Matson’s books at over 500 pages, and it does feel slightly too long. Similarly, the dialogue in this book is a bit uncomfortable. There are times where the conversations between characters will be broken up with paragraphs of text, and that can make the conversations difficult to follow and disjointed. Nonetheless, I loved following Andie’s friend group in this novel, and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with her dad grow. [BUY]

3. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | You know a road trip book is good when you read it and immediately want to take the same road trip as the characters! I love the travel element of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, and it’s fun that there are some mixed media elements thrown in, such as photographs and receipts, that make the story feel more real. The only reason I don’t give this book a full 5-star rating is due to the lack of depth in the characters. For instance, we know Amy is dealing with the grief of her father’s death, but it’s difficult to feel that in the writing. However, this may simply be because it is Maton’s debut. [BUY]

2. Since You’ve Been Gone | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | Coming in at my second favorite is Since You’ve Been Gone. Honestly, the only reason this isn’t a 5-star read is because the phrase “I let out a breath” is repeated endlessly throughout the book. Otherwise, I absolutely love this story. Not only is the concept of the list fun, but I love Emily’s new friend group, and absolutely adore Frank. This book is the epitome of a fun, summer read! [BUY]

1. Second Chance Summer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Without further ado, my favorite Morgan Matson book is Second Chance Summer. While I expected this book to be sad, I did not plan to outright sob for the last 100 pages of the book like I did. This book deals with real issues, and while the story is absolutely heartbreaking, it’s also hopeful. I appreciated the careful balance Taylor must have with dealing with her own friendship issues, all while her dad is dealing with his illness. If you read just one book from Morgan Matson, I highly recommend Second Chance Summer. [BUY]

As you can see, Morgan Matson has become one of my favorite authors! Even my least favorite books from her are over a 3-star rating, and my critiques are typically nit-picky. I do hope that Matson will return to her summer settings soon, but I look forward to seeing what she releases next. I would also love to see Matson write more diversely, as the main characters in her current books are white, cishet young women who usually come from affluent families.

Have you read any of Morgan Maton’s books?

Share your favorite in the comments!

Book Review | The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Adventures in Polishland

I received a free eBook copy of The Mall by Megan McCafferty for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links.

The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Published by W Wednesday Books

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Format: eARC

Pages: 320

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★

The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans…
Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.

REVIEW

The Mall by Megan McCafferty is a young adult contemporary novel that takes place in the summer of 1991. I was excited to read this book because of it’s unique setting – a shopping mall! Our protagonist is Cassie Worthy. She has finally recovered from mono and is excited to spend her last summer before college working with her boyfriend at the mall. Unfortunately, when she shows up to work, “The Plan” that she and her boyfriend have carefully crafted quickly falls apart. Cassie must team up with her estranged best friend Drea Bellarosa in order to salvage her summer.

As someone who has spent summers working at the mall in college, I really enjoyed the mall culture aspect of this book. While my local mall did not have any secret underground parties, it’s true that the mall had its own unique community. McCafferty does a great job of demonstrating the fun relationships between the stores and their employees, and I could relate to the funny, and sometimes quite dramatic, interactions that Cassie has with the other characters in the book.

Moreover, I absolutely love it when a book includes a treasure hunt element. Drea explains to Cassie that, according to mall legend, there is a secret treasure hidden in the mall somewhere. This mystery kept me turning pages quickly, because I couldn’t wait for Cassie and Drea to find the next clue. I wish this treasure hunt played a bigger role in the story. Similarly I also enjoyed that Cassie is a vegetarian! It’s always great to read a book where vegetarianism is portrayed positively.

Unfortunately, I did feel like The Mall tried to do too much. This book touches on a lot of topics, but it does not have the time or pages to flush out each topic well. For instance, Cassie is portrayed as a feminist, but she backstabs Drea and makes a lot of derogatory comments towards the other female characters in the book. For instance, I really did not like how Cassie repeatedly calls her ex-boyfriend’s new flame ugly. Thus, I felt like some of the hot topics mentioned in this book were thrown in for brownie points.

Overall, I think The Mall is a quick and summery read that would make for a fun movie. If you also enjoy the nostalgic setting of a 1990s shopping mall, this might be a good pick for you. Plus, it’s fun to go back in time to when cell phones didn’t dictate teen communication! The Mall is available for pre-order now, and releases on July 28, 2020.

BUY THE BOOK

Wednesday Books | Amazon | Target

My 2020 Reading Plans | The #MyYearofRereading Project

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Adventures in Polishland

As 2020 began today, I did not expect to find myself creating a list of reading resolutions or goals for this new year. Yet as I was resting on this holiday off from work, I spent some time looking at my bookshelves and realized I do, in fact, have some exciting reading plans as the year gets underway. I recently shared with you the #MyYearofRereading Project that I created in my last blog post. I will absolutely be continuing on with that project, but I also have a few other goals that I would like to share with you.

First and foremost is the Goodreads Reading Challenge that I participate in every year. This challenge is purely about quantity – how many books do you want to read this year? I decided to do some math and figure out a goal that is challenging yet still based on reality. Since I mainly read on my commute now, I created a formula based on how many hours of time I spend commuting a year, how many pages I read in an hour, and how long the average book I read is. The result was about 58 books, and I decided to round that up to 60 for a bit of a stretch goal. You can follow me on Goodreads here to see how I am getting along with this challenge throughout the year.

My next goal is to empty my physical TBR (To-Be-Read) bookshelf by the end of the year. Notice I did not say that I want to read my entire TBR shelf. That is because I may end up decluttering some books that I decide I no longer have the desire to read. I fine-tuned this shelf a lot during 2019, and I now have 31 books that I consider on my TBR. This does not include my Stephen King collection, my Rick Riordan collection, and my Puffin Classics, as these are all books I plan to read and own over the course of my lifetime. That being said, I believe I can empty out my entire TBR shelf in 2020 by either reading or decluttering all 31 of those books!

Speaking of Stephen King, I would like to continue on with my journey in reading his entire bibliography in publishing order. In 2019, I reread both Carrie and ‘Salem’s Lot, and I look forward to picking up The Shining sometime this year. Ideally, I will read at least two Stephen King books in 2020, but I would love to read more! His books are often quite long, and I am sometimes intimidated by the time commitment each book requires. I’ve heard that The Shining is a fast read despite its length, though, so I am excited to get to it soon.

Lastly, I hope that 2020 is the year I finally get my book buying in check. I did a great job in 2019, and this was 100% thanks to the #MyYearofRereading Project. Since I was focused on rereading books, I did not spend a lot of time acquiring new books. My main concern is not with spending money on books, but on buying books in large quantities. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve lost interest in books on my TBR shelf before making an effort to read them. Instead, I plan to use my library to read new-to-me books. If I love a book I read from the library, I can always purchase it for my bookshelves later!

I hope you enjoyed hearing some of my reading goals for 2020. Please share any of your reading resolutions for the new year with me in the comments. I love hearing from other readers! I hope you will also join me over on my bookish Instagram account, @PolishlandReads! I regularly update my story with my current reads, and I post mini-reviews and wrap-ups somewhat regularly. Here’s to a great reading year in 2020!

November Reading Wrap Up | Books I Read Last Month

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! December is here, and that means it is time to share with you the books I read last month. In this November Reading Wrap Up I will share a mini review of each book I completed. I began this series on the blog last month (see that post HERE), and I really enjoy sharing my reading with you in this format. My reading has definitely slowed down during this part of the year, but I still managed to read three books in November.

Help support my blog when you shop using the included Amazon affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★

My Thoughts: They Both Die at the End is a young adult science fiction novel that takes place in our world, but with the twist that you receive a phone call letting you know when it is your death day. Main characters Rufus and Mateo received the fateful call, and decide to spend their last day of life together after meeting on the Last Friend App. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and emotional, and I think the relationship between Rufus and Mateo developed in a natural way. While Silvera’s first book, More Happy Than Not, is still my favorite of his, this one is very well done and I’m glad I gave it a read.

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism by Melanie Joy, PhD [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★★

My Thoughts: This nonfiction book is one I think everyone should read. As the title suggests, this book introduces the reader to the concept of carnism, the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals. Joy does an incredible job of writing a book that is easy to read, but extremely informational. I learned a lot about the psychology of eating meat, especially in the United States. This book is well-researched, and provides the reader with the hard facts that are hidden by the factory farm industry. Plus, it is great that the author is not preachy – she simply wants the truth to be known and gives realistic tips on how to overcome what we’ve been taught to believe about meat.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

My Thoughts: After hearing great things about this book, I finally picked up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in November. This novel tells the story of famous Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo. Now at the end of her life, she is ready to tell the truth of her seven marriages in a biography she is mysteriously giving to low-ranking journalist, Monique Grant. I completed this book in a few days, as Evelyn’s story is very captivating. She is one of those characters that I despise because of all the horrible things she has done, but still care for because of all she’s been through. If you are looking for a complex and entertaining novel that explores love in a new way, I highly recommend this book. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo also contains many diverse elements, such as biracial and bisexual representation.

What did you read in November? Let me know in the comments!

Follow my reading on Instagram! You can find my #Bookstagram HERE.

The Best Black Friday Sales for Bookworms | 2017 Black Friday Sale Roundup

Posted on November 21, 2017November 23, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to share with you the best Black Friday sales for bookworms! I absolutely love shopping for books during the holiday season. Not only do books make amazing Christmas gifts, but I also love cuddling up with a book myself during the wintertime. I scoured the web for the best Black Friday deals on books to make your shopping easier!

This post includes affiliate and referral links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

1. Book of the Month Club – [SHOP]

My favorite subscription service is Book of the Month Club, and I think it makes the perfect holiday gift! Readers get to choose from five book selections each month, so you never get stuck with a book you won’t enjoy. Plus, each book is a new release in a beautiful hardcover edition.

From November 24 to November 26, 2017, use code GIFTBOTM to get $10.00 off a 6 or 12-month gift subscription. You can also shop Cyber Monday on November 27, 2017, and use code 2FORYOU to get two months for just $7.50 each plus a free tote bag!

2. Target – [SHOP]

If you are heading into Target for some Black Friday shopping, make sure to check out the book section! According to the store’s circular, books will be 50% off the publisher’s list price! That is an absolutely incredible deal, especially if you are looking to purchase some new releases. Target will also be offering free shipping on its website during the Black Friday sale.

3. Book Outlet – [SHOP]

If you are looking to purchase a bunch of books for a really low price, Book Outlet is the best! As the name suggests, this is an online outlet store for books. Books are always 50-90% off the publisher’s retail price, but during Black Friday the entire website will be an additional 30% off with no exclusions! The sale runs from November 23 at 10:00am EST to November 28 at 10:00am EST. Make sure to fill your carts fast, as books tend to sell out quickly! Book Outlet is by far my favorite online store for discount books.

4. Barnes & Noble – [SHOP]

Barnes & Noble always has a handful of great deals during Black Friday weekend. I think the most exciting part of the sale is the availability of special signed editions. Head in-store to purchase signed books by dozens of acclaimed and celebrity authors. Some of the authors include Fredrik Backman, Miyam Bialik, Chelsea Clinton, Neil Gaiman, and many more. Giving a special signed book is an amazing holiday gift, and makes a wonderful edition to any bookshelf!

5. Amazon – [SHOP]

Last but not least, Amazon will have several deals on books this Black Friday. Many of the offers will be flash sales, meaning that they are live for a limited period of time and only a specific quantity is available. I recommend keeping an eye on the Books section on the website to see which deals are upcoming so you can plan your purchases! In past years, Amazon also offered special coupon codes for books. For example, last year there was a $10.00 off $25.00 coupon. I will update this blog post if a coupon becomes available this year!

UPDATE: This year’s Amazon code is GIFTBOOK17 for $5.00 off print book purchases over $20.00.

That concludes my 2017 Black Friday Roundup for the best book sales! I hope you found this post helpful is you are shopping for a bookworm this holiday season, or if you are simply grabbing some new titles for your own bookshelf. As always, don’t forget to check out local independent bookshops to see what they have available! It’s important to support small businesses as well if you are able.

What is your favorite bookstore?! Let me know in the comments!

October Reading Wrap Up | Books I Read Last Month

Posted on November 1, 2017October 31, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! It’s been a while since I shared any book reviews with you on the blog. I thought I would jump back in by doing a quick wrap-up of the three books I read last month in October. My reading has definitely slowed down a bit in the latter half of the year as I’ve focused on other things during my spare time. That being said, I did manage to read three books in October, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on them with you. Make sure to let me know in the comments if you enjoy these reading wrap-up posts, or if you prefer full length book reviews.

Help support my blog when you shop using the included Amazon affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★ 1/2

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, and had high hopes for Genuine Fraud. This young adult mystery novel follows Jule, a teenager on the run. I really liked how the story is told backwards in this novel. That was a unique take on a mystery, and I found the writing to be very well done. However, I was a bit disappointed with this book. While I can appreciate an open ending, Genuine Fraud lacked a true conclusion. The book also ended without much character development for Jule. I’m glad I read this book, as it was truly a creepy mystery for Halloween season, but I would only recommend it if the synopsis really calls to you.

We’ll Always Have Summer (Summer #3) by Jenny Han [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★ 1/2

My Thoughts: I absolutely fell in love with the Summer series by Jenny Han. I finished up the third book this month, and I’m really happy with how the story came to a close. This series follows a girl named Isabel (Belly, for short), and her time spent at Cousins Beach with her family and family friends each summer. Readers get to grow up with Belly as she learns to navigate love, loss, and life. I felt a strong connection to these books, and know I will return to them again in the future. This series is often criticized for reading too juvenile, but I disagree with that and find the stories show great depth. If you’ve considered reading this series in the past, I highly recommend it!

Warcross (Warcross #1) by Marie Lu [BUY]

Goodreads: ★★★★

My Thoughts: I picked up Warcross this month after hearing so many good things about it from other readers online. This young adult science fiction book takes place in a not-so-distant future where a virtual reality game called Warcross has taken over the world. Our protagonist is Emika Chen, a bounty hunter who accidentally hacks into the game during the championship’s opening ceremony. Emika is then hired by the creator of Warcross to help find a mysterious figure who is altering the game. I thought this book was imaginative and a lot of fun. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but I’m still very much looking forward to the sequel. If you like science fiction with a hint of romance, Warcross is a great choice!

What did you read in October? Let me know in the comments!

Follow my reading on Instagram! You can find my #Bookstagram HERE.

My KonMari Journey | Things Get Tough When Decluttering Books

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you the next step in my KonMari tidying journey. If you missed the first two installments in this blog series, make sure to read them HERE and HERE to learn more about why I’m decluttering my life using the KonMari method. I’m following Marie Kondo’s advice very carefully, and she recommends tackling your books after tidying your clothing and clothing komono. I have to admit I was nervous to begin decluttering my books, and wasn’t sure how this process would go for someone like me who is a huge reader. Spoiler alert: decluttering my books was very tough for me to do!

I began the tidying process by putting all of my books in one huge pile on my bed. To be fair, this pile only included the books currently on my bookshelves. I also have some books in storage from my childhood that I decluttered earlier this year, and that were not a part of my KonMari tidying campaign. Nonetheless, my pile was quite large and didn’t even fit in the photograph you see here. I’ve been a reader my entire life, and books are very important to me. They are treasured items, but I was also ready to declutter my collection. After using the KonMari method to declutter my clothing and accessories, I thought I had a good idea of what sparked joy. Well, I struggled big time with my books!

Marie Kondo recommends only keeping books that truly spark joy and that you know you will read again. I definitely agree with this, and when I read a book I only keep it if I plan on rereading it. However, she also says to get rid of any and all books you have not read. While I think this is a good idea for people who are not readers, it simply does not work for me. I am reading constantly, and I love having a section of unread books on my shelves from which to choose. Thus, I knew I would be keeping unread books, but it was challenging to decide which of those sparked joy since I haven’t yet read them.

In fact, tidying my books was emotionally draining, and I often lost sight of what that joy felt like. To help me find the joy again, I would hold a favorite book, or even go to my closet and look at the clothing I kept that sparks joy. I ended up taking a lot of breaks during this process, and felt quite overwhelmed at points. I was upset with myself that I wasn’t getting rid of a lot of books!

In the end, I reminded myself that the KonMari method is about quality and not quantity. In Spark Joy Marie often stresses that if your items are truly sparking joy, it is okay to keep them all. She also mentions in the chapter on books that you can always revisit your book collection in the future and declutter more. The photo above contains all of the books I ended up decluttering. The top row includes the books I hope to sell on eBay, and the bottom row includes the books I will be selling on Decluttr and Amazon, as well as the books I’m donating. This may be a small portion compared to the books I’m keeping, but I made progress and am happy with the work I put into this tidying project.

All in all, decluttering my books using the KonMari method was difficult, but I’m glad I powered through and allowed myself to get rid of some books in my collection that no longer sparked joy. This process took me a total of three hours and thirteen minutes, but it felt like much longer since I took breaks throughout the day. If you are not a big reader, you will most likely fly through the book portion of your tidying campaign. If you are more like me and treasure your book collection, make sure to take your time and try not to get frustrated. Struggling with my books just helped me to realize how emotionally attached I am to some material possessions, and I knew the rest of my tidying campaign would be easier after this.

Do you have a large book collection you love? Let me know in the comments!

5 Reasons to Read the Balance Keepers Trilogy by Lindsay Cummings

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you one of my new favorite book series, the Balance Keepers by Lindsay Cummings. I’ve followed Lindsay’s YouTube channel for years now, and when I found the first book in this series at a library book sale, I knew I had to scoop it up. I don’t read a lot of middle grade novels, so I was nervous this wouldn’t be the series for me. I am so happy to say I fell in love with the Balance Keepers, and I hope to encourage more people to pick up these books. Here are five reasons why you should read the Balance Keepers trilogy by Lindsay Cummings!

The Balance Keepers trilogy is a middle grade fantasy series consisting of The Fires of Calderon, The Pillars of Ponderay, and The Traitor of Belltroll. You can read my full, non-spoiler review of the first book in the series by visiting my Goodreads page HERE.

1. Imaginative Magic System

The first reason I love the Balance Keepers trilogy is the unique magic system. This series takes place in the underground world known as the Core, which works to ensure the Earth above is safe from danger. Our protagonist Albert is a Balance Keeper, and he must work to restore any imbalance in one of the three realms to keep Earth safe. Each Balance Keeper gets one magic power by diving underwater to retrieve a tile with a symbol on it. Whenever you wear your tile in the Core, you get to use its magic power! There are tiles that allow you to speak with animals, tiles that give you an incredible memory, tiles that help you swim, and many more. I loved seeing this magic system come to life, as it encouraged the characters in the book to work together to solve problems.

2. Strong Friendship

Speaking of the characters, another reason to read this trilogy is the strong friendships represented in the story. Albert is put onto Team Hydra with a boy named Leroy and a girl named Birdie when he arrives to the Core. These three become fast friends, and it is wonderful to see how much they care for one another. They work as a team to keep the Core safe, but they also support each other and build each other up if one is feeling sad. It’s also wonderful to see Albert, Leroy, and Birdie grow as friends throughout the trilogy!

3. Exciting Adventures

Another reason to read this series is the aspect of adventure. In addition to competitive training simulations, Team Hydra is always on the move around the Core to discover more information and learn all they can about this new place. Each book also ends up with a trip inside a magical realm, where Albert, Leroy, and Birdie must figure out how to deal with the realm’s unique geography and creatures to help restore its balance. I really enjoy adventure-filled stories, and the Balance Keepers trilogy always keeps me turning pages for more!

4. Magical Creatures

If you are an animal lover, you are going to adore this trilogy! In addition to a wide variety of interesting creatures, this series features a special dog named Farnsworth. While he looks like any normal dog, Farnsworth can actually live for many, many years, and he also has flashlights for eyes! Farnsworth is Albert’s companion creature, and goes with him everywhere he possibly can. It’s so sweet that Farnsworth plays such a big role in the series, and I loved reading about him and the other creatures of the Core.

5. Strong Writing

Last but not least, I think this series stands out because Cummings has a great writing style. This trilogy is aimed at middle grade readers, so it does cater to that audience in terms of the tone. However, the writing can definitely appeal to adults as well. I was very impressed with how Cummings weaves her storylines together. While there is one over-arching plot in the Balance Keepers series as a whole, each book also has a smaller plot that concludes nicely. In addition, I found the series to be quite unpredictable. I could never guess what was going to happen next, and that kept me wanting more. I’m also inspired to read more of Cummings’s books now that I know I enjoy her writing!

I hope this blog post introduced you to a new series, and that you will give it a try! These are just some of the reasons I adore the Balance Keepers trilogy, but there are many more, including the character of Pap, Albert’s adorable grandpa. Whether you are already a fan of middle grade fantasy, or you are looking for something out of your comfort zone, I think the Balance Keepers will keep you entertained from start to finish. Please be sure to let me know if you read the series!

What is your favorite middle grade fantasy book? Let me know in the comments!

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Book Review | Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Posted on April 3, 2017April 2, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage

Published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux Inc. on February 23, 2017

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary

Format: eARC

Pages: 336

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★

Remember the places you touched me.

The parts of Mira Cillo that Ben touched are etched on his soul.

Palm. Hair. Chest. Cheek. Lips. Throat. Heart.

It was the last one that broke her. After her death, Mira sends Ben on a quest for notes she left in the seven places where they touched—notes that explain why she and her sister, Francesca, drowned themselves in the quarry. How Ben interprets those notes has everything to do with the way he was touched by a bad coach years before. But the truth behind the girls’ suicides is far more complicated, involving a dangerous infatuation, a deadly miracle, and a crushing lie.

REVIEW

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage is a young adult mystery novel surrounding the horrifying death of the Cillo sisters after they were found at the bottom of the quarry. No one knows why Mira and Francesca drowned – was it an accident or a suicide? Shortly after their bodies are discovered, Mira’s boyfriend Ben receives a letter from her in the mail. This letter is the first in a series of notes that Mira left in all of the places Ben touched her during their relationship. Ben must hunt down these letters to solve the mystery of the Cillos’s death. What follows is an extremely creepy and captivating novel that I absolutely loved.

I was instantly hooked by Savage’s writing style, and flew through this book in a few short days. The story is extremely fast-paced, and I really enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of this story with Ben trying to find Mira’s letters as soon as possible. Savage does an excellent job at creating a mysterious and ominous vibe. Even the letters that Ben finds are written so cleverly! I could never predict where the story was going, and that added to my enjoyment of the book.

I will say that I know this story is not for everyone. If you like books with a solid conclusion, Beautiful Broken Girls is not for you. In fact, I read many negative reviews of this book, and nearly every one mentions the open ending. For me, this ending was absolutely perfect for the novel. Not only does it add to the mystery, but it allows the reader to think of all the possible outcomes. What really happened? What didn’t? These loose ends only made me think about this book more and appreciate the rereadability of the story.

Moreover, I do question why it was necessary for Ben to be a survivor of sexual abuse. While this does play into the plot a bit, the story would still hold up without this storyline. Plus, the details surrounding this event are quite iffy. Ben mentions more than once that he never remembers the sexual assault happening, and that his name was just on a list. Thus, while I appreciate the author’s attempt to show the lasting effects of this trauma and how the survivor is treated in society, this storyline felt a bit out of place in the book for me.

Similarly, even though I loved the open-ending, I do wish we got more information about a couple things. Namely, the youth pastor, Mr. Falso, who plays a very important role in Beautiful Broken Girls. He is talked about less and less as the book goes on, and readers never get to find out what he does with the information he collects. I would also love an epilogue with the printing of a certain article, but I will leave out the details so as to not mention spoilers.

My only other critique is that I did find a plot hole in the book. In one scene, Ben mentions that he hasn’t seen his friend since a fight broke out earlier in the book. However, this friend was in another scene after that fight. I did not consider this minor plot hole when rating this novel, as I read an advanced copy and do not know if it was fixed in later editing.

Otherwise, I think Beautiful Broken Girls is a great mystery story that deals with interesting topics I don’t read a lot about in young adult literature. I could relate to the Italian family heritage discussed in the book, and perhaps that is why I felt a strong bond with the characters. This book is unbelievably sad, and my heart especially goes out to Mr. Cillo. I can’t imagine what he is feeling as this book comes to a close.

In the end, I absolutely loved Beautiful Broken Girls, and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a creepy mystery. Keep in mind that this book deals with serious topics, including sexual abuse, self harm, suicide, and more. However, this story provided me with a lot to think about, and the fast-pace kept me hooked from beginning to end. I am very interested to pick up Kim Savage’s other books, and hope to do so in the future!

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Affiliate links used. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.