Top Ten Tuesday: All About Romance

Created by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. (Side note: I only did one TTT in 2016! And it was over a year ago! Crazy.)

Happy Valentine's Day, bookworms! Are you doing anything special today? Nothing planned for me. We're not into celebrating Valentine's Day so it's just another Tuesday in our house. Even though I'm not part of a typically romantic couple, I adore romances. I will read pretty much any book that has any hint of a romance - chick lit, women's fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, and, of course, romances. Gimme 'em all. I'm interpreting today's TTT of All About Romance Tropes/Types as a list of my favourite tropes. I've included an example for each so you get a better idea of what I mean by the trope. Links lead to Goodreads. I only came up with eight because, to be honest, it was getting late on Monday night and I needed to get to bed! What are some of your favourite romance tropes?

Small Town
This is, hands down, one of my favourite tropes. I don't really know why because I wanted to get out of my own small hometown so badly but I guess there's just something about stories in teeny little towns to tug at my heart.

Example: I love Nora Roberts' Inn Boonsboro series and thought The Perfect Hope was the perfect way to wrap up the series. Bonus: you can actually visit the Inn and bookstore. Nora and her husband own them!

Second Chance
I think I love these stories so much because, like most people, I always wonder about what could have happened if life had gone one way instead of another. (To be clear, these days I wonder about more career related things than relationships gone wrong!)

Example: Jennifer Weiner puts her own (fantastic) spin on the second chance romances in Who Do You Love.

Classic Example: Persuasion by Jane Austen. And there have been so many books written that pay homage to this wonderful story, too!

Christmas
I absolutely adore Christmas and one of my favourite things about the holiday is reading all of the romances that have anything to do with Christmas. It does get annoying when "Christmas" gets slapped on a story that barely has a whiff of peppermint or evergreen. But...when there is the holiday spirit and a sweet romance? Oh, I'm a happy girl.

Example: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is, well, simply wonderful. It has the Christmas spirit and it's by one of my favourite author/blogger/people, Marie Landry. Bonus: It also takes place in a small town and is a second chance romance.

Summer Vacation
This trope is only really applicable to YA novels. I think I have a fondness for them because I had quite a few summer romances in high school. There's just something magical about those few months off school when the weather is beautiful and you don't have a care in the world.

Example: Sarah Dessen wins all of the summer vacation stories. Yes, there are other, amazing authors, like Morgan Matson, but I've been reading Dessen for so long that summer vacation = her novels. Along for the Ride is my favourite summer story because it also takes place in a beach town.

Friends to Lovers
This trope can be overdone but when it's done right? I love it. One friend realizes they have feelings for the other but they don't know if the feelings are reciprocated. Such tension!

Example: Anne of the Island. There are so many great examples but...it's Anne and Gilbert. Swoon.

Boy/Girl Next Door
This kind of carries on from the friends to lovers but I just really like when two friends grow up together and end up realizing they're in love with each other.

YA Example: My Life with the Walter Boys was so much fun to read. I need more!

Athletes
Either I haven't found enough or there just aren't enough sportsing romances out there. Good ones, of course. I particularly need more with baseball or hockey or basketball. There are enough football books out there already. Anyway. I've played sports and enjoy watching them so I also really enjoy reading about athletes falling in love. And yes, I'm being a bit sexist when I think of these types of stories. Tall, strong, men with all sorts of other redeeming qualities on top of their athletic prowess? Yum.

Example: This was a really hard one to choose because the few I've read (there should be more!) are all so good. But my virtual bestie, Laura Chapman, has an awesome series about football (yes, I know what I just said) that everyone should read. Start with First & Goal.

Road Trip/Vacation
This is sort of the adult version of the summer vacation trope. I like reading about couples who are in a different place than they're used to and either fall in love or fall in love more deeply while they're vacationing.

Example: Karina Halle has written so many books that would suit for a lot of these tropes (without being cliche...important!) but one of my favourites of hers is Where Sea Meets Sky which brings a guy from BC to New Zealand because he's chasing after a girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: Library Books I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday was a freebie and I had no ideas what to post about until about halfway through the day when I saw Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner's post about ten books she feels like she doesn't talk about nearly enough. That made me think about the books I don't really talk about too much...the ones I get from the library! I tend to use the library for books that I want to read that I can't afford to buy (since they're usually new releases and in hardcover) and didn't get copies to review. I started keeping track of library books on Goodreads awhile back so it was easy to review...not so easy to choose the ten favourite books I've checked out from my library! Do you find you tend to take out the same kinds of books from the library or are you an eclectic library user? Do you even use the library? (If you don't...WHY NOT? Love your local library!) Have you read any of these ten books? Links lead to Goodreads.

The Cuckoo's Calling, The Silkworm, and Career of Evil - Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling
I got myself on the list right away when the news leaked that Galbraith was actually Queen Rowling herself. They're great mysteries, a genre I don't normally read, and I really enjoy them. (Except for maybe The Silkworm...that was a weird one.)

Just One Day/Just One Year - Gayle Forman
For the first installment of the YA books I get from the library, I present the amazing Just One Day and Just One Day. I know lots of people of heard of and read these ones but because of other people's opinions, I just had to borrow them from my library!

The Orenda - Joseph Boyden
I ended up loving this one so much that I bought a copy so I could get it signed by Boyden when I met him a couple of years ago.

Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins
I probably would have bought these ones had Isla already been published and in soft cover but my wallet wouldn't allow it :)

Since You've Been Gone - Morgan Matson
I'd heard of Matson's books before so I scooped up Since You've Been Gone when I saw it at my library. Loved it!

The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou
I did an internship at Project Bookmark Canada and had to read a bunch of books set in Calgary. The Bone Cage was one of the books I read and I adored it.

Ten Tiny Breaths and Five Ways to Fall - KA Tucker
I read TTB first from the library because I wasn't sure if I'd like her books. I loved it and I've been hooked ever since.

To All the Boys I Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You - Jenny Han
Everyone was SO excited about these books and I knew I had to give them a shot. Really enjoyed them!

99 Days - Kate Cotugno
I've mentioned before that it was because of Jamie's enthusiasm for this book that I read it. When I saw that my library actually had a copy I went right there to check it out!

The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes - Anna McPartlin
This was a (very) recent library read. The library I work for has a Beer and Books book club and it was this month's pick. I think I might actually write a mini review of this one because I loved it so much and everyone needs to read it. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Christmas List

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

It's almost Christmas! And while I know everyone who is buying me gifts will have already bought my presents and no one tends to buy me actual books anyway (anyone else prefer that? I have so many books anyway that I'd really rather buy my own!), it was still fun to come up with a list of books that I wouldn't mind finding under the Christmas tree. What books are you hoping for this holiday season?

Carry On - Rainbow Rowell
Can you believe I still haven't read this one?

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
I don't actually own a hard copy of the full novel and I absolutely adore the Rifle Paper Co. cover.

Almost all of Lindsey Kelk's books
I have a few of her I Heart series but I'd also really love to have the books in her newer A Girl series.

Jane Austen: A Life - Carol Shields
There are many Jane Austen biographies out there but I've heard this one's supposed to be really well done.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Newt Scamander (aka JK Rowling)
I have my sister's old copy of Quidditch Through the Ages that she gave me after she was gifted a lovely set of the two books. And I figure with the movie coming out sooner rather than later, I should have a copy of this one, too.

In Her Wake - KA Tucker
I hadn't really wanted to read this prequel (would you call this a prequel even though you should read Ten Tiny Breaths first?) but since Tucker has quickly become one of my all time favourite authors, I feel like I should have this book, too. Also, I should probably own Ten Tiny Breaths and Five Ways to Fall, come to think of it. I have all of the other ones!

Leave Your Mark - Aliza Licht
I'd love to read more girl power, Millennial focused books and this one, about social media and landing your dream job, seems like the perfect fit for me.

Infinity - Sarah Dessen
I call myself a huge Sarah Dessen fan and yet I've never read this short story. I don't even know if you can buy it anywhere but I want it.

Put a Ring on It - Beth Kendrick
I've read the other Black Dog Bay novels so I really want to get back to the small town to see what everyone is up to!

Just One Night - Gayle Forman
I freaking loved the other books in this series and I need need need to know what happens in this one.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best of 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

It's the end of the year which means "best of" lists are everywhere. This week's Top Ten Tuesday has us throwing our lists into the ring with our ten favourite books of the year. Not an easy feat, let me tell you! As of right now I've read 106 books (I'm hoping to make it to 110 by the end of the year!). So, as you can imagine, picking 10 out of over 100 is tough! The titles are linked to Goodreads and I've included review links where applicable. Also - these books aren't really in any particular order. What were your favourite books of 2015?

The Royal We - Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (review)
I've been recommending this book to everyone this year! I couldn't get enough of it when I read it. And I'm so excited that Lauren Graham and Mae Whitman are both attached to the film adaptation!

Chasing River - K.A. Tucker
It was hard to pick just one of Tucker's books for this list (I read five of her books this year) but Chasing River edges out its competition for a couple of reasons. It's an amazing story and it takes place in Ireland. Kind of makes me wish I had listened to the audiobook!

First & Goal - Laura Chapman
I read two of Laura's novels this year (plus two short stories and one manuscript) and it was really hard to choose between First & Goal and The Marrying Type (review). They're both amazing!

The Lake House - Kate Morton (review)
I was obsessed with this book when I was reading it, which was good because it was a massive novel! Morton writes fantastic stories that weave historical, contemporary, and mystery all in one lovely package.

We'll Always Have Summer - Jenny Han
Can you believe I only just finally read Han's Summer series? I actually read them in the summer and it was a perfect idea. I loved them all but this one just stuck with me a little bit more than the others.

Anne of the Island - Lucy Maud Montgomery
I've reread most of the Anne books this year and it's reminded me how much I adore them. (It's been 13-15 years since I first read them!) Of all the ones I've read so far, I really loved Anne of the Island. I think it's because it has a New Adult feel since she's at college in this story.

Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
A year when there's a new Sarah Dessen novel is a happy happy year for me. I was so very pleased with her latest book. It's a bit darker than her other books which I loved.

99 Days - Kate Cotugno
I hadn't read Cotugno's first book, How to Love, though I had heard of it. Once I saw Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner (and The Broke and the Bookish) raving about 99 Days, I knew I had to give it a read. I was totally obsessed and will recommend it to any contemporary YA fan.

Where Sea Meets Sky - Karina Halle
This was the first Halle book I read and I've read two others by her this year as well. I loved this one just a wee bit more because the main male character was Canadian and the majority of the book took place in New Zealand. Apparently travel novels were the way to my heart in 2015.

At the Water's Edge - Sara Gruen (review)
This was another fabulous historical fiction novel I read this year. I really loved Water for Elephants so I was looking forward to the new one by Gruen. While I wish Scotland played a bit more of a role, it ended up being a book I couldn't put down.

Bonus Book
Novelista Girl - Meredith Schorr
I'm including this novel as a bonus because it's not yet published. It is the sequel to one of my all time favourite books, Blogger Girl, and it's just as amazing as the first book. I can't wait for all of you to read it!

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

It's always so much fun to find new-to-you authors. Especially if they've been writing for awhile and have an extensive backlist for you to become obsessed with. The list of new to me in 2015 authors is a mix of debut and more established authors, with quite the Canadian contingent. What authors did you discover this year?

Sally Christie (The Sisters of Versailles)
I read Christie's debut novel, the first in a trilogy, earlier this year and reviewed it for Niagara Life magazine. I was also lucky enough to meet her at the Ontario Blog Squad Meetup in July. She is so nice and the book was so addictive. I cannot wait for the second book to be released. (The Rivals of Versailles is out in April!)

Marissa Campbell (Avelynn)
Campbell's debut novel is another I reviewed for Niagara Life. And, once again, I was obsessed with it. Rumour is this historical fiction novel will have a sequel and I am thrilled! She's another of the Canadians on the list.

Karina Halle (Where Sea Meets Sky, Racing the Sun, The Pact)
I had been hearing of Halle's work for awhile, particularly because I knew K.A. Tucker (one of my favourite authors) is a friend and fan of Halle. I don't think I'll read all of Halle's backlist (she's written a lot more darker romantic suspense than I think I'd enjoy) but I will definitely check out all of the contemporary novels she publishes. Plus, Halle is the third of four Canadians on this list.

Taylor Jenkins Reid (Maybe in Another Life)
I know, I know. I received an ARC of her first novel - you know, Forever, Interrupted that so many people lost their minds over? - early on but I just never got around to reading it. I know now that I've been missing out because I thoroughly enjoyed her 2015 release.

Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (The Royal We)
I reviewed this book for Novel Escapes and it's probably one of my favourites of the year! I can't wait to see what they write next.

Scott Wilbanks (The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster)

This was a novel that really surprised me. I wasn't expecting to be as sucked in as I was! Wilbanks' debut novel is worth a read if you like time travel stories.

Kate Beaton (Step Aside, Pops)

Can you believe 2015 was the first time I had read Kate Beaton? I had heard of the Canadian's work but just never checked out her site, Hark! A Vagrant, or her first collection of the same name before reviewing her latest for Niagara Life.

Colleen Hoover (November 9)
Yep. I've met Hoover twice and this was the first book I've read by her! I know others have said it's not her best but I really enjoyed it. I'm excited to read the two other (signed!) books I have by her at home and find copies of all the rest if I continue to enjoy them.

Abbi Glines (Twisted Perfection, Simple Perfection, Until Friday Night, While It Lasts )
I've met Glines twice as well but I just never got around to reading my copies of Twisted Perfection and Simple Perfection. I finally read them this spring and, hoo boy, did I get addicted. I read one on a Saturday and the next on Sunday - each in one sitting!

Raina Telgemeier (Drama )
A friend of mine knew I wanted to start reading more graphic novels so she suggested one of Telgemeier's. I adored Drama! The story, the art, everything! Definitely need to check out more of her work.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Things to Quit

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Being a book blogger is a ton of fun. But, at the same time, it's an intensive hobby. It can be really hard to balance reading, reviewing, and everyday life. You learn a lot about yourself as a reader and writer when you've been doing this as long as I have been (almost five years!) so thinking about this week's Top Ten Tuesday was interesting. I focus a lot on what I need to quit doing but I threw in a really frustrating trope at the end as well. What are some bookish things you need to quit or you wish the bookish world would quit?

Not reviewing a book right away
I had a hell of a time late last year and into this year when I was (ineffectively) balancing the blog, a crazy commute, and a job I didn't enjoy. I was reading a fair amount but I didn't have the energy to sit down and write reviews. It was five months of getting further and further behind and I'm still not caught up (I left that job back in February). I'm getting better but, particularly because of the back log, I'm still not writing a review as soon as I'm done the book. I have to start reviewing as soon as possible after finishing the book!

Not cross-posting on Goodreads or Amazon
I'm friends with a bunch of indie/self-published authors and I know how important these reviews and ratings are for them. And yet, I don't post reviews on sites other than my blog unless the author specifically requests it. It's really not that hard to put a review up elsewhere and it could help so much.

Agreeing to read a book I'm only sort of interested in
I get a lot of emails from authors and publishers asking me to review their books. I want to read and review all of them because, in part, I want to talk about as many books as possible (and the access to free books doesn't hurt). I end up agreeing to read a lot and then I just don't get them read in a timely manner. It's unfair to the author/publisher and to me when I agree to read a book when I have that niggling feeling that's telling me it's not going to be something I really enjoy. But then I have to silence the other feelings that say, "But what if it is great?" and "But you'll be so mean if you say no." I'm working on it! (And if you're an author or publisher who's emailed me in the past and have been cursing me for not reviewing your book...I'm sorry. Life happened.)

Forcing myself to read CanLit
I'm Canadian and I really want to support Canadian authors. There are a ton of amazing authors in this country of mine but it can be a struggle for me to find CanLit titles that are, well, interesting for me. The books and authors are diverse so you'd think I'd be able to find some I really enjoy. Of course, I'm the first to admit that I don't read widely enough...I like the genres I like and I stick with them. The point of this is, as much as I want to read Canadian literature, I need to know when not to force it. Just because an author is highly regarded in Canada (*cough* Margaret Atwood or Elizabeth Hay *cough*), that doesn't mean I should read their books (especially if I haven't enjoyed them in the past).

Putting off fixing my @&$% kobo
I don't know what the problem is (is it the device itself or Adobe Digital Editions?) but it's been causing me trouble for almost a year. I keep putting off figuring out the issue because every time I try, I want to toss the freaking thing out the window. I hate that I can't figure it out (I'm a smart lady, damn it!) and I hate that support from both kobo and Adobe is lacking. I need an ereader because so many of the books I get to review are only available on a device. I'm going to try to work on it today because I need my ereader working for when I go on vacation next month. Send wine and positive thoughts, please.

Reading something just because it's popular
Sure, there are a lot of great books that are popular for a reason. I'm so glad I gave in to the hype surrounding The Hunger Games many years ago, for example. But there are some books I'm just not interested in and I feel like I should read them. Just this weekend the page I was working with at the library told me I definitely have to read The Maze Runner. I've heard that a lot and I'm sure it's great but...I'm just not interested! And my reading time is so precious that I'm going to read what I want to read.

Reading a series just because I've read all of the other books
There are two series in particular that I'm referring to here. One is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I've been reading them for 14 years or so and, as fun as they are in the moment, I usually regret reading them because it's the same thing over and over again. I've decided I won't read another one until it's the final book. I need to know if she picks Ranger or Morelli! The other series is Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. Again, it's the same thing over and over again. I don't mind reading about a flighty character if, at the end, she realizes that she's been acting kind of crazy. But Becky just keeps doing ridiculous things. And, again, once the series is over I'll read the final book.

Not DNFing
Admittedly, I've gotten better over the years but I still really struggle with putting a book down when I'm not enjoying it. I always talk about how precious my reading time is and yet I keep reading books even when I know I'm not enjoying myself. Repeat after me: it's ok to put a book down when you don't like it.

Buying books just because I have a gift card or it's on sale
I've been pretty good lately but I did buy a new colouring book in the spring because I had a $10 off card and about 10 minutes to use it before the store closed (I had forgotten when the expiry date was). I enjoy the colouring book but there was a similar one coming out a few months later that I actually would have enjoyed more. Was getting $10 off worth it? I'm not sure. My shelves are overflowing and, for the most part, I'm pretty good at restraining myself but sometimes I just can't help buying a new pretty to bring home even when I really don't need it.

Angsty New Adult
I loved New Adult but I wish there would be more diversity among its titles. Right now it seems like only contemporary titles are included in the category (which is usually a great thing by me since contemporary is my favourite). Particularly, I need the "good girl is finally out on her own and meets a bad boy who she just can't help but fall for but it's ok because she can totally change him but - shocker - he doesn't change and he still treats her like total garbage because he's an asshole" trope to just stop. Stop. Stop. It gives NA a bad name and doesn't give young women good role models. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Tomorrow is the first official day of fall! Can you believe it? As much as I love fall clothing, I am not looking forward to cooler weather and Canadian winter! The books I've included in this week's Top Ten Tuesday are a mix of titles. Some of them are not released yet so I'm looking forward to reading them as soon as they're released. Others are for events, book clubs, blog tours, or just because. What are you looking forward to reading this fall?

Racing the Sun - Karina Halle
This is a bit of a cheat as I just started it yesterday but I need to have it done before the weekend so I can pass it (and another of Halle's) onto a friend I'm seeing on Sunday!

Surviving Ice - K.A. Tucker (publication date: October 27)
I'm so excited for this last book in the Burying Water series! More than I thought I would be, actually. I'll admit that I'm still not sure if I'll love reading about Ivy but I love Tucker so I know it'll be a good story.

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
This is a book I've been thinking about reading and I always decide not to because it's so not my usual fare. However, the time has come for me to dive in because I'll be leading the discussion for next month's Beer and Books event the library I work at holds every month. Can't run a meeting without reading the book first!

Avelynn - Marissa Campbell
This will be a read for the magazine I review for. Apparently it will appeal to fans of Outlander!

Smoke - Catherine McKenzie (publication date: October 20)
Catherine is one of my favourite authors. I actually have a signed ARC from BEA that I've been holding off on reading. I think I just wanted to wait until closer to the publication date (it feels like a fall book) plus I know as soon as I read it I'll have to start waiting all over again for her next book!

Anne of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery
I've gotten back into the swing of things with the Green Gables Readalong. This one is October's read.

Poles Apart - Terry Fallis (publication date: October 20)
I've still only read one of Fallis' novels but I'm going to rectify that soon with his upcoming book. I have an ARC (that the boyfriend has already devoured) that I'm really looking forward to reading!

A Sister's Place - Savannah Page
I've read and loved Page's other works (the When Girlfriends... series) so I'm excited about this one. I have to have it read before November for a blog tour.

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
This one will be next month's book club pick. I just had my first meeting last night and put the book on reserve at my library. 23 holds. Gulp.

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance - Kirsty Greenwood
I've received a few books from publishers in the last little while and this is the one I'm most looking forward to diving into. It seems like it'll be really different and fun!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Read Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

I've read a lot of books in my life. That means I've read quite a few books from the same author. I've only been keeping track on Goodreads for the past few years though so I'm not sure how accurate this week's list actually is. It was actually quite a surprise to see which authors I've read the most from!

Janet Evanovich 

34+ 

My first response to this was "Seriously?!?" Never would have guessed she was my top read author. I've read 21 of her Stephanie Plum books (I've decided I'm not going to read another until the series is done...I'm so bored with it!), maybe 3 of the Between the Numbers books, I think all 6 of the Full series, 1 of the Lizzy & Diesel series (or was it 2?), 3 of the Fox and O'Hare series (ooh, there's a fourth one coming!). and a handful of others. Holy crapola.

Meg Cabot

20?

I've probably read at least 6 Princess Diaries books (I'm going to work on a reread since I want to be totally up to date by the time I get to the latest, Royal Wedding, which I got at BEA.), both All-American Girl books, most of the Vanished/1-800-Where-R-You series, most of the Mediator series, maybe 3 of her teen standalone books, both of the Insatiable books, the 3 Queen of Babble books, and I think just 2 of the Boy series.

Sophie Kinsella/Madeline Wickham 

15 or 16 

I've read the Shopaholic books and all of her standalones but I actually can't remember how many of the Madeline Wickham books I've read and since they're the same person I decided to combine them.

Joanne Fluke 

16

I was surprised by this one, too! Her Hannah Swensen series is a lot of fun. My sister has most of them so I've been able to read all of her copies!

Sarah Dessen 

12

I've read every single one of her books and will read every single other book she publishes.

Nora Roberts 

10

She's my go-to when I need a good, sweet, and entertaining romance! 10 sounds like a lot but she's written approximately a bazillion.

Heather Wardell 

10

I freaking  love Heather and her books. I'm actually a little glad that I'm behind on her books - she has 17 published right now - because it means I have so many more to catch up on. And she's a speedy writer so there will be 18, 19, 20 soon enough!

Laura Ingalls Wilder 

9

I adored the Little House books when I was a kid! I'm looking forward to rereading them soon.

J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith

9

I haven't read the entirety of Rowling's other Potter books (Fantastic Beasts, etc.) so I'm not counting them. But the 7 Potter books add up, plus I've read both of the books she's written as Galbraith (can't wait for the next one).

Emily Giffin 

8

And I actually own all of them, too! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Book Acquisitions

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Us bloggers get a lot of books. I don't receive nearly as many as other bloggers but I still found this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic really easy! I've listed the last ten books I've received, and where I got them from. And it's really only from June and July! Almost all were for review but there's one purchase, two library books, and a book loan in there too. What was the last book you got? Did you buy it or borrow it? Or is a book for review? Links will lead to Goodreads or review.

Broken Promise - Linwood Barclay
Book 1 of 3 waiting for me after I got home from BEA. This was an ARC I received for review for Niagara Life, the magazine I also review for. From Penguin Random House Canada 

In the Unlikely Event - Judy Blume
Book 2 of 3. Judy Blume's latest! Need I say more? Also from Penguin Random House Canada.

China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan
Book 3 of 3. My most anticapted read of 2015. And it totally lived up to my expectations. Also from Penguin Random House Canada.

PS I Still Love You - Jenny Han
This was one I borrowed from my local library, which is where I get most of my YA books! I just had to find out what was going to happen with Lara Jean!

Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella
Yet another book from Penguin Random House Canada. I was really interested to see how Kinsella approached YA.

Five Ways to Fall - K.A. Tucker
I don't own all of Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths series (something I wish my wallet would allow for!) so I had to borrow the last one from the library.

All Inclusive - Farzana Doctor

This was a surprise ARC delivery from Dundurn Press and it came with some awesome swag, too.

The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster - Scott Wilbanks
Sourcebooks sent me this one to review as part of a blog tour. Isn't the cover delightful?

Christmas in the Snow - Karen Swan
I gifted this one to my boyfriend's mom for Christmas and when we went to visit last weekend she sent it home with me to read. Since I just read one of Swan's, I'm really excited.

Chasing River - K.A. Tucker
I was able to buy a copy of this one the weekend before it officially went on sale. I cannot wait to dive in.

Bonus: The Blue - Lucy Clarke
I'm adding this one in because I didn't take a picture of it when I got it so I'm not sure when it showed up. I also want to get the buzz started because IT IS SO GOOD. It'll be published in August. This ARC was from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best of 2015 So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

We're halfway through 2015 (how did that happen?) so it's fitting that this week's TTT topic has us listing our favourite reads of the year so far. Yikes. It's hard! Apparently I've read a lot of good books this year. I managed to get it down to 10 but if you want to see all the books I've loved this year, check out my Goodreads page! What have some of your favourite reads been this year? Links will lead to reviews or, more likely, the Goodreads page. (I'm soooo behind on reviews!)

Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea/the Island/Windy Poplars - Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lindsey of Reeder Reads decided to do a Green Gables Readalong that, if I'm being honest, a lot of us are failing at. BUT! It is an amazing idea. I adored the Anne books when I was younger and rereading them has been fabulous. I'd forgotten how lovely the story and writing is. I can't wait to get my TBR list down a bit and continue reading the last four books. If I had to pick a winner of the four I've reread so far though, Anne of the Island would definitely come out on top.

Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
Guys. I cannot tell you how much I loved Dessen's latest book. I wasn't crazy about her last two so I wasn't sure what to expect with Saint Anything. This one is a bit darker than her others (and I'm SO GLAD the cover design reflects that and didn't make it all girly like they tend to be for hers...but I'm veering off into another topic altogether...) but that's kind of what makes it oh so good. It's real and raw and just amazing. Read it.

99 Days - Katie Cotugno
I heard about this YA novel through Jamie (who, you should already know, is behind Broke and Bookish and also her fab blog The Perpetual Page-Turner). I totally trust her YA recommendations because she is a contemporary lover and that's really the only YA I read. I haven't read Cotugno's first, How to Love, yet but I imagine I will soon because I just really loved how her latest novel was written and I loved Molly, the main character. She's in a crazy messy situation, which won't be for everyone, but I thought the feelings Molly was having were totally spot on.

Four Seconds to Lose - KA Tucker
I keep reading the next in Tucker's series (this one is the third in the Ten Tiny Breaths, which I loved) and saying to myself, "Oh, there's no way I could love the next one more." That's why I give myself breaks between them because I don't think I can handle jumping into another character's life. But. I really think Four Seconds to Lose is my favourite of the three I've read (just put the last one on reserve at my library!) so far. Maybe. Oh, I don't know anymore. Long story short: I just effing love Tucker's books.

The Royal We - Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
I could not stop reading this book! You don't have to be a royals lover to enjoy it but having at least some sense of Will and Kate's relationship will probably make you like the book more. The book is hilarious but it has all the emotions you want and need packed in its (many, many, many) pages.

At the Water's Edge - Sara Gruen
I adored this historical fiction novel. I loved that it was set in Scotland but I equally loved reading as the main character, Maddie, learned about herself. The story gets a little harrowing at times, you're not entirely sure how stable her husband is, but the high emotions and tension are what suck you into this story.

The Marrying Type - Laura Chapman
I love books about wedding planners, I love books that are a subtle nod or homage to Jane Austen's novels, and I love Laura. So, it's no surprise that I loved her latest, The Marrying Type. It's a fun book with a lot of heart.

In the Unlikely Event - Judy Blume
I admit that I actually couldn't tell you exactly what Judy Blume books I read growing up. Are you there God? It's me, Margaret, for sure. But other than that? No clue. But that didn't stop me from wanting to read her new book. She's a legend for a reason. And oh man am I ever glad I read this one. The story is so captivating and I actually loved that so many characters were able to tell their part of the story. It sounds like it wouldn't work, and from any other author it might not, but in Blume's hands, it adds to the crazy nature of the story. Make sure you read this one.

The Knockoff - Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
Another admission: I wasn't sure how much I'd love this book. But the good news is I loved it a lot! The story takes a very real problem (those who don't understand the technology being shoved at them by the younger and (generally) more tech-savvy generation) and makes it extreme. And it's awesome that it's extreme because that's what you expect in a novel about the fashion world. It's the perfect read for the summer.

China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan
This one was probably my most anticipated read of 2015. I freaking loved Crazy Rich Asians when I read it two years ago and could not wait to get back into the insane life of these characters. The imagery in this one is amazing and the story is so crazy but so good. I'm already impatient for the third book! And the film adaptation! Whee!

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Still Need to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of my favourite (or, er, used to be favourite) authors over the years: Sarah Dessen, Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer Weiner, too many amazing indie authors to name (ok, I'll try a few...Heather Wardell, Samantha Stroh Bailey, Lydia Laceby, Meredith Schorr, Samantha March, Cat Lavoie, Romi Moondi), Chantel Guertin, Marissa Stapley, Gayle Forman, Sarah Mlynowski, Joseph Boyden, L. Marie Adeline, K.A. Tucker, Emily Giffin...I could probably go on but those are some big ones. I'm also lucky that I don't live too far away from Toronto so I can get to the city to see the authors when they come to Canada. I'd say half of those authors were met in brief signing lines so I'd for sure love to spend more time with some of them. (I'm positive Sarah Dessen and I would be besties.) The authors I've listed below are some of my favourite authors, or at least have written some of my favourite books, and it'd be so awesome to meet them! Which authors would you love to meet? Which authors have you met?

All links, including for the authors above, lead to their Goodreads pages so you can check out what they've written.

Lindsey Kelk
I've read far fewer of Kelk's books than I'd like but social media makes it seem like she's super awesome.

Cecelia Ahern
I'd really like to hear, from her not from articles, more about her publishing journey as she was quite young when she was first published. Her books all have some romance and magical element and I'd love to see what she's like in person.

Beth Kendrick
I just love her books and think she'd be an awesome person to meet!

Sophie Kinsella
One of the queens of chick lit. Need I say more?

Catherine McKenzie
I love love love Catherine's books and have not been able to meet her yet. I've been tempted to arrange to (finally) visit Montreal just so I can go to an author event of hers. I think she's going to be at BEA though so maybe these two Canadians can finally meet...in America. :)

Sara Gruen
I'm kind of kicking myself for not looking into her travel schedule when her latest book, At the Water's Edge, was released as I believe there was a most excellent event in Toronto that I would have loved to have attended. Ah well!

Laura Chapman
Laura and I are virtual besties so one of these days she either has to travel to Ontario or I have to travel to Nebraska so we can get some serious hang out time in.

Stephanie Perkins
Would she not be just awesome in person?

J.K Rowling
Though I'm sure I'd be SUPER nervous and tongue tied and would make a complete fool out of myself.

Jenny Han
I've actually only read To All the Boys I've Loved Before but I adored it. I own the Summer series so maybe I'll tackle them this summer :)

Anna Garner (also goes by Libby Mercer)
I've emailed with her in the past and I really want to be able to meet her in person one of these days!

Lucie Simone
I sometimes read manuscripts for Lucie's small press, Simon & Fig, so we've had the chance to virtually get to know each other. She's a sweetie and I'd love to meet her face to face!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Trying to come up with ten favourite authors is quite the daunting task, let me tell you. I had to include two sub-categories because, let's face it, it's pretty much impossible to come up with just ten. My process was to list the ones that came to me right off the top of my head and then went through my five star rated books on Goodreads. I also kind of love that every single author, all thirteen of them, are women. Sure, I've read some amazing books by male authors but there aren't any that are on my autobuy list (though Kevin Kwan comes close...I cannot wait until China Rich Girlfriend is released). It's also no surprise that many of the authors on this list are ones that I've met. Though, on the flip side, there's one author who I used to list on my favourites but I no longer will since I saw her in person. (Any guesses?) I'm sure I'm missing a few but these authors are always recommended and dearly loved. Who are your favourite authors? Which ones are on your autobuy list?

My Favourite Ladies
Sarah Dessen
No one should be surprised that Dessen tops my list. She is an amazing writer, I've loved her since I was in my teens, and she's just an absolute sweetheart. I'm counting down the days until Saint Anything is released!! Definitely an autobuy author.

Rainbow Rowell
I've loved both Rowell's adult and young adult books, which is important, but I also found her to be amazing in person when I met her a few years ago.

Jennifer Weiner
I've been reading Weiner for years and have always found her books smart and engaging. Meeting her last year cemented my love for her because she is one amazing woman.

Heather Wardell
Heather was one of the first indie authors I read and now, many years later, I consider her a friend. (Hopefully that's not presumptuous...) Not only does she write amazing novels but she is also great at connecting with her readers.

Meredith Schorr
I've loved all of Meredith's books and she's another author who I like to consider a friend (she's offered to make sure I don't get lost in NYC when I'm there for BEA next month...that's a friend!) She also wins a ton of points for writing an awesome book about a chick lit blogger, appropriately called Blogger Girl, that is one of my all time favourites.

K.A. Tucker
Tucker's stories completely suck me in. They have interesting characters who you're immediately invested in. Plus, when I met her at a signing last year she saw my name and knew what my Twitter and Instagram was (it helps that my name is so unique!). She's definitely my favourite New Adult author.

Gayle Forman
I first read Just One Day and Just One Year and fell in love with Forman's writing. The love sort of lessened when I read If I Stay and Where She Went. I just didn't connect with that story. I decided to try her latest, I Was Here, and fell in love all over again. I also met her at the Toronto International Book Fair last year and she was really nice!

Catherine McKenzie
McKenzie is on my autobuy list as well. She's written so many amazing novels, though Arranged is by far my favourite. I haven't met her yet but I'd absolutely love to.

Beth Kendrick
I fell in love with Kendrick's books when I read Second Time Around and have thoroughly enjoyed all of the others of hers that I've read. Happily, I still have a few from her backlist still to read to tide me over until she releases a new one.

Stephanie Perkins
I freaking love Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. Plus, the book of short holiday stories she edited, My True Love Gave to Me, was absolutely amazing (plus it featured authors like Rowell and Forman). I like that Perkins seems so real and awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Dearly Departed Authors
Lucy Maud Montgomery
I've been rereading the Anne of Green Gables series and I'm remembering how much I loved them when I was younger. The books and writing are just so delightful!

Jane Austen
I admit that it can sometimes be difficult to read Austen but her stories are intelligent and entertaining...she's a lot funnier than a lot of people give her credit for.

The Ultimate Queen of Authors
J.K. Rowling
Do I really need to explain this one? Harry Potter is my all time favourite and Rowling herself is one awesome lady.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2015 Goals

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

It's almost 2015 which means many people are setting a lot of goals and making resolutions for the new year. I'm not usually one to make a ton of resolutions. I made a big ol' list of them last year but was so focused on getting the first one right that everything else took a back seat.

I was lucky and did get a job in 2014 but not until late in the year. So a lot of those other goals I had for 2014 didn't get accomplished. May as well try again for 2015!

Finish (re)reading Jane Austen's novels
I started off well...then I tried to read Middlemarch because I received My Life in Middlemarch to review and had never read the novel. I still haven't finished it nor have I made it through any of Austen's novels other than Sense and Sensibility.

Work with more publishers
I have a pretty good relationship with a few publishers but I'd like to foster those relationships and create new ones with other publishers that I haven't worked with much in the past.

Be more selective
I want to have more options and I want to read books I want to review. Too often I say yes to a review knowing full well I won't have time to get to it for ages. I don't want to be that blogger who says yes and never gives a review and is seen as lazy or just wanting freebies.

Write more non-review posts
I like writing. I always have. (But no, still no plans to write a novel.) I like the posts I write that are about my bookish life or something in the book world. I haven't been able to do many of those lately (or even reviews lately) because of this new job and the ridiculous commute but I hope to get back into it soon.

Cut back on the promos
Because of the aforementioned new job and ridiculous commute, I don't have nearly enough time to dedicate to the blog (which sucks) and I've been finding I'm filling the space with too many promos or even Top Ten Tuesdays. I love doing them but they're not what I want my blog to be full of. They're supposed to be supplements, at least in my mind.

Come up with a new quickie post that's my own (or at least sort of my own)
This seems a little contradictory to the above point but I think if I come up with something that's my own sort of promo, I'll feel better about not having as many reviews up. My friend Natalie runs the blog Browsing Bookshelves and every once and awhile she'll do lovely tea and book posts (like this one). Her cousin, another friend, suggested I do the same. What do you say, Nat? :)

Keep reading more of my own books
Like most book lovers, I have approximately five bazillion books on my shelves. It's ridiculous. And because I'm a blogger, I keep getting new books to review. And because I have no self control, I'll buy new books too. I really have to start reading my own books. At the very least, I will know which one I can donate or give away and which I'd like to keep.

Read a few graphic novels
I've never had anything against graphic novels, I just haven't read many. I'd like to change that this year because I know there are so many awesome ones out there. Any recommendations?

Create a YouTube channel
Well, if all the cool kids are doing it... :) But seriously, it could be fun and I'd like to see if I even like it. Maybe this would be a way to supplement the blog when I don't have time for reviews. Who knows! I just want to give it a go and see what it's like. Tips are welcome!

Go to more bookish events
I was able to attend quite a few last year, which is surprising since I tried my hardest to cut back on expenses due to not working for so much of 2014. But there are always awesome things to see and authors to meet and I'm hopeful I'll be able to do a whole lot more next year.

Bonus goal: stay organized
I think I did pretty well for most of 2014 with this one but I have to relearn what it's like to work and blog at the same time. I need to stay on top of reviews and make sure I get them written soon after (if not immediately after) finishing the book.