Mini Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Yes, I know, I know. I had not actually read any of John Green's novels prior to March (note: obviously it's been awhile since I read and wrote this...). It's most surprising because I love contemporary YA and that's Green's thing. I figured with the The Fault in Our Stars movie coming out soon I should probably get around to reading the book. After waiting a bazillion years for the book to come in at the library, I finished it in just a few hours. And I loved it.

Here's the synopsis:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Since I haven't been living under a rock, I knew this book was going to make me cry. In fact, I posted this picture on Instagram the day I started it, with the caption "I'm about to (finally) read THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. Will a full box of tissues be enough?"

The consensus of my Facebook and Instagram friends was no. I would definitely need more tissues! So even though I was prepared and had an idea of what was going to happen, I still found myself with tears streaming down my face. People were right. This is a tearjerker! But, it's not quite as depressing as you may think. I know reading about two teenagers who have cancer isn't exactly anyone's idea of fun but Green has written, what I think is, a fairly realistic portrayal of what teens and their families would be going through.

Hazel and Augustus aren't your normal teens and while I suppose some may criticize the way they talk as being unrealistic, I think it makes sense. These kids are faced with one of the worst things in life, cancer, and they have to grow up fast. So, I liked the way Hazel and Augustus talked and interacted with each other. I loved that they were extremely clever (both smart and funny) teens. And that they sometimes Talked in Capital Letters. They were just amazing characters to read about and get to know and fall in love with. Which what makes it so much harder to read.

There are some really amusing bits throughout the book. One of the lines that almost made spit out my tea was this one:

See? Clever girl.

There's probably not much else that I can say that others haven't. The Fault in Our Stars is a great book. I don't think it glamorizes cancer nor do I think teens shouldn't be exposed to such a book (I actually want to rage when I hear people say that). I'm excited for the movie and I think Shailene Woodley is going to nail it as Hazel. If you haven't checked out the (first) trailer, you can watch it here. I don't really have the urge to run out and read the rest of Green's novels though...none of the others really appeal to me. Maybe some day! What about you? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Dewey's Read-a-Thon 2014

Good morning readers! It's read-a-thon time! If you don't know what I mean, check out this site. And join in if you like! The event actually started almost an hour ago so I'm behind in getting started. But I didn't want to get up at 8am on a Saturday! This post will end up being a large one as I'm going to continuously update it throughout the day. Here we go!

Kick Off

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

I'm reading from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Location helper: I'm 20 minutes away from Niagara Falls.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I don't often read a ton of YA but this contemporary (my fave!) novel has been getting a lot of good press.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Tea. Lots of tea. And maybe popcorn. And hard apple cider for later. And leftover Easter chocolate!
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I'll do the basics: I'll be 27 in a month and two days. I'm 6'0" tall (so if you know tall girl books, send me the titles!) with curly-ish brown hair. I own the most ridiculous pet rabbit ever (her name is Tonks – yes, from HP – and I adore her). I just started a new job at a nature centre last week in a marketing/communications type role. That's me in a nutshell!
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

I've done the read-a-thon before (twice, maybe?) and I've never really, totally, completely committed. As you can tell, I haven't really done it this year either. I love the idea of it and everything but as much as I love reading, I'm not willing to totally disrupt my sleep pattern for it! :) So, there's not a whole lot I'll do differently. Maybe try to participate in more challenges. We'll see!

Update #1: 11:40am = almost 4 hours into the readathon.
I just finished my first book, Who Killed "Tom Jones"? by Gale Martin. In all honesty, I should have DNF-ed it yesterday but I didn't and then I read the bit about the murder today and just couldn't stop. Needed to know for sure who the murderer was! So far I've read for just over two hours and have finished 182 pages. Not bad. Time to move on to Brooklyn Girls!
Did I mention the three books in the above pic are all library books? Thought I'd use the readathon to get through the books that are due soon!

Challenge #1: Best of the Reading Year

Lisa's World of Books is hosting hour six's mini-challenge. She wanted us to share about the bests of our reading year. She has a huge list of options on her page and we were to choose at least three titles. I went with five, even though I could have chosen more. Have you read any of these ones? Links lead to my review if you're interested in learning more!

Best Book: The Orenda – Joseph Boyden

Best New Adult Book: Ten Tiny Breaths –K.A. Tucker

Best Non-Fiction Book: Never Have I Ever – Katie Heaney

Best Fiction Book: One More Thing – B.J.Novak (short stories!)

Best Cover: Landline – Rainbow Rowell (no review yet...book releases in July!)

Update #2: 4:00pm = hour nine is beginning!
I just finished my second book! Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess was a lot of fun. If it had been released this year it'd be considered new adult but I feel like it won't get lumped into whatever NA has become. It was a really fun read and I'm so happy I have the second book in the series to review!
There are a couple of very thought provoking challenges up right now so I'm going to take some time to deal with those. And maybe find another snack! (In case you missed it on Instagram, here's my rabbit, Tonks, eating her snack.)

Challenge #2: A Literary Tea (or Coffee)
Over at the Fig and Thistle, Amanda has asked us readathoners to create a literary coffee or tea drink. Ooh, time to get the brain thinking about something more than the book we're reading. Books and tea are two of my all time favourite things so I had some fun with this one!

In Zoey and the Moment of Zen by Cat Lavoie, our heroine, Zoey, is sent to a wellness resort (her friends tell her it's for her own good but she's not so sure) that doesn't allow anything fun (read: caffeinated) on the premises. I don't know how a coffee shop owner survived without caffeine! I created a tea that uses rooibos leaves – they're caffeine free. Perfect for the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort! I came up with this one because I adore a sweet, dessert tea and the chocolatey taste could almost convince the coffee drinker in you that you're drinking sometime caffeinated.

Zoey's Salted Caramel Escape

Red rooibos leaves

Caramel pieces

Sea salt

Chocolate chips

You'd need about a teaspoon and a half of tea leaves per cup of tea. If you were feeling particularly fancy, you could turn this into a latte!

Challenge #3: First Edition
Jessica at The Bluestocking Society has come up with a challenge that's teaching us something! Her challenge post tells us how to tell what edition we're reading. So, I took up the next book I'm planning on reading, Dorothy Must Die (trying not to think about the whole Full Fathom Five thing...) This is what I found:

It tells me that it's a first edition, right there at the bottom. I can also figure out that it was published in 2014 (which I knew but you can also tell because of the 14 15 etc. to the left). However, I would have thought that there'd be a 1 in the sequence in the left. Can a book still be a first edition if it's in its second printing? Someone help! :)
Looks like I need to brake for supper (the boyfriend made some delicious smelling steaks) but then it's back to reading!

Update #3: Approaching the Midway Point!

Time for the Mid-Event Survey! And also time for me to get back into reading.
1. What are you reading right now?

Just about to start Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
2. How many books have you read so far?

I've finished two (though one I was already reading...I was about 25% complete when I started)
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Because Dorothy has been a wee bit tainted due to the Full Fathom Five issue, I'm looking forward to To All the Boys I've Loved Before even more.
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Not really. Honestly, I don't have much of a life! :) The rabbit is pretty self sufficient and the boyfriend cooked supper (steaks...om nom nom). I put off going out to the mall but it wasn't pressing. And  I might have held off suggesting that we have friends over tonight!
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Not so much. I was annoyed that I needed to do laundry and dishes but they were quick to do. Of course, I did it at a time where supper came soon after so it's been a couple of hours since I've read!
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

I haven't really been too involved in the online community aspect of it, I admit. I've been posting pictures and updates but haven't been checking out other people's. I'm happy that others are responding to my posts even though I'm not out there doing the same. So, thank you to the people who are balancing their commenting and reading!
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Not really...my irks only come from the fact that not everything is open internationally!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Just read more. And comment more. But I like my laid back approach.
9. Are you getting tired yet?

Nope! It's just 7:30pm in my part of the world. But I am making myself a caffeinated tea (Coffee Cake from David's Tea...damn, it's so good) before getting into the hard ciders I'm looking forward to later!
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

I'm sure others have discovered it but go into the readathon with a plan. Know how your day is going to play out and what you're going to read when. And if you live with anyone, let them know what you're doing...and why you're reading a tad more than usual!

Challenge #4: Name in Titles
So. It turns out that it is REALLY hard to spell my name (Kaley) using the books I have at home. Wow. But, props to The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog for this awesome challenge! I've also been distracted by watching 24 and drinking and making popcorn :) BUT. Here's my title pic:

Keeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen
Attachments - Rainbow Rowell
Life After Yes - Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Exes and Ohs - Shallon Lester
You Had Me At Hello - Mhairi McFarlane

Now, it's back to Dorothy Must Die! I'm 78 pages in (chapter eight) and it's ok so far. Happy reading, friends!

Challenge #5: Page 35
Hoo boy, this was a difficult challenge for my last one. Full disclosure: it's approaching midnight here and I've had a couple of drinks sooo...I'm not at my best :) With this challenge, hosted by Bibliophibian Inc., we had to find the third sentence on page 35 of the book we're reading and then create something to go along with it. Like I've said, I'm reading Dorothy Must Die. I can't exactly categorize it (fantasy, I guess?) but the goal is to try to write something different than the original material. I have no idea how this sounds to anyone else (did I mention the alcohol I've had?) but here it is:

After a while, the bedraggled fields by the side of the road turned into huge cornfields on either side, with stalks as tall as my body. The first thing I thought of when I saw the cornfields was baseball. That might sound silly to some but I'm a sucker for ball movies. Really, I'm a sucker for anything baseball. But add in Kevin Costner and I'm a happy girl. I mean, come on. Have you seen Bull Durham? Guys might think it's a baseball movie but it's got one hell of a romantic storyline. But that's not where the cornfields come in. No, that's that other ball movie, Field of Dreams. You know the one where there are ghosts playing baseball in Kevin's backyard? "If you build it, he will come" and all that? Baseball's a romantic sport, and I'm not talking about the lovey-dovey romance. I'm talking about a certain kind of relationship you get with the sport. With the way it's played. With the players themselves. Like Annie in Bull Durham, I like to pray to the Church of Baseball. It might not mean much to you but when I see a cornfield I think of Field of Dreams. I think of the men who were banned from playing ball after the Black Sox scandal. I think of Costner's character finally playing catch with his father. And I think of all the feelings I have. Somewhere in there is romance. And who can argue with that?

And now...bed! I'll update with final numbers and include a Storify link for all of my #readathon tweets tomorrow!

Final Update
As promised, here's the Storify link for my #readathon tweets.
And here are my final numbers: 7.8 hours read over 15 hours. 160 pages read. Finished a book I was about 25% through already (Who Killed 'Tom Jones'?), finished a full book (Brooklyn Girls), and finished close to half of another (Dorothy Must Die).
Notable consumables: chocolate, tea, steak supper, popcorn, and hard cider.
I'm pretty happy with how the day played out. I wish I was able to put off my chores (laundry and dishes just had to be done!) as that contributed to a large chunk of non-reading time in the afternoon. I do wish I had been able to finish Dorothy (I did finish it today) but that's alright. I made a dent in my TBR list and that's all I could have hoped for! I hope everyone else participating had fun. I'm hoping I can participate in October's read-a-thon, too. Maybe I won't be quite as focused on reading and will interact more with others! Now it's time to write up some reviews and dive into my next book! 

Review: 'Til St. Patrick's Day

I had no idea what to expect when I picked up 'Til St. Patrick's Day. I had been meaning to read Holly Gilliatt's book for months and I had since forgotten what the book was all about. Since I don't reread the synopsis before diving into a book (review or otherwise), I was going in essentially blind. I was expecting to be totally surprised with the story but I ended up predicting almost every single thing that happened in the book. I don't know if it's fair but that is the only reason I didn't end up loving this book. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it was missing the wow factor that I needed.

Here's the synopsis:

For three best friends, one winter will change everything.
Chronically optimistic Jayne is surprised she's still single at twenty-eight. But as always for Jayne, there's hope. This time his name is Gray--a successful, gorgeous marketing VP that she can't believe is going out with her. She's never given up on the belief that the right man for her is out there, somewhere. Maybe Gray could be the one...if she just works hard enough to make it happen.
Her cynical friend Karen is suspicious of Jayne's new guy with his model looks and over-inflated ego. She's concerned for Jayne, but has her own relationship to worry about. Not that anything's wrong with her boyfriend. He's actually perfect for her, which is why she's terrified. Not sure she can ever fully trust a man again, she considers bailing on yet another relationship.
Claudia is always there for her friends, no matter what they're going through. She mothers them like the children she craves to have, relieved she's no longer navigating the dating world. Happily married, Claudia can't wait until the day her husband finally agrees it's time to start a family.
'Til St. Patrick's Day is a novel exploring the depths of friendship and what happens when love doesn't go according to plan.

Like I said, I was able to figure out almost all of the plot points as I was reading the book. I always say that I don't mind if I have an idea what the ending is as long as the journey there makes for a good read. In this case, I needed a great read to be able to get over the fact that I figured out everything. It was just too predictable for me.

The other thing that I didn't love was the characters themselves. I did love that the story focused on three best friends but I didn't really click with any of their personalities and I like to like the characters when I'm reading a chick lit book (or, really, any book). Jayne was being too much of a doormat, Karen was being too much of a bitch and letting her daddy issues affect her too much, and Claudia...well, she was kind of boring (I think Bridget Jones would have called her a Smug Married). I'm sure they'd all be delightful women to get to know but I was missing something with them.

I know this seems like a downer review but this wasn't a bad book. Trust me! I may have given it a three star review on Goodreads but the average is over four stars. That's great! I think what this book has going for it is that the things the three friends were going through were totally relatable. Unfit partners, commitment issues, infidelity, among other things, are all things most women have gone through themselves. Or at least have had a close friend who's dealt with something similar. These characters were real...which mean they weren't perfect. I may like to like the characters I read about but I definitely dislike reading about perfect characters. That's just unrealistic. I liked that Gilliatt's characters were real women.

Overall, 'Til St. Patrick's Day was a lovely read. It's light without veering into fluffy territory and it features three very realistic characters. Pick up Holly Gilliatt's novel if you're looking for a quick and enjoyable read.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Blog Tour: When Girlfriends Take Chances

It's finally my stop on the CLP Blog Tour for When Girlfriends Take Chances by Savannah Page! I've been reading and really enjoying this series for awhile and was so happy to be able to take part in the latest tour for the When Girlfriends... series. Even though there was a little something lacking for me, I was so happy to get back into the world of Emily and her five best friends!

Here's the synopsis:

A novel about exploring love and life's path, and taking chances along the way.
Emily Saunders has never thought twice about grabbing her passport, rucksack, and camera and trekking across the globe. If there's an NGO, a study abroad program, or simply the travel itch, Emily's on the first plane out. Free-spirited, open-minded, and eager to explore, it's no wonder Emily's hardly in one spot (or relationship) for long.
For the past year and a half, though, Emily's found herself planted in her college hometown of Seattle. She's surrounded by her best friends, has steady work as a photographer and at her friend Sophie's café, and is certainly kept busy by the wild antics of her BFF Jackie. Life's enjoyable, but Emily's looking for something more. She's ready for a change, for adventure!
But when Emily tells her girlfriends she's ready for something new she does not expect Operation Blind Date!
Sure, Emily's single. Sure, she hopes to some day find true love. But being thrown into an insane challenge like this is not exactly the adventure she had in mind! Couldn't she just travel and focus on her photography? Or volunteer in Africa? Will a string of eligible bachelors lined up by her friends--a shot at finding a real and lasting love--really be that change she's searching for?
This is a spirited story about seeking adventure while being true to yourself, wherever you are in life. It's a story about love, risk, and self-discovery. About what happens when girlfriends take chances.

Like I said, I was excited to read about these girlfriends again. The friendship is, by far, my favourite thing about the series (even if I do think there are too many friends and that it gets confusing sometimes). The girls are about my age which makes things even better since I can really relate to their lives. They're at the same place in their lives as my friends and I and they do the same things I would do with my friends. It's so much fun to read about.

Of course, some girls I could relate to more than others. Emily was one of the friends who I didn't really connect with in the other books - mostly because she wasn't really around. Emily is a traveler, a wanderer, a free spirit. I was happy she got her own book so I could learn more about her and how passionate she is about traveling and giving back. I was also reminded that she's a trustfund baby which I think helps her lead her laidback lifestyle. The thing about Emily is that you cannot be jealous of her massive amounts of money because she's so down to earth and lovely.

One of the little things that bugged me was that I realized that every book has the same voice. I get that friends would sound similar but I don't think that every book should have the same tone because each book is narrated by a different friend. Think of your group of girlfriends...if each of you told your story it would sound a little different, right?

I loved that Emily was so open to Operation Blind Date. It was a lot of fun to read about all of her various dates. If she had been anti-dating it would have been a totally different scenario. She loves her friends and, deep down, really does want to find that man to love completely so why not indulge them in a little bit of matchmaking fun? I'm happy with how things ended up and am glad that she didn't end up dating any real jerks (though there were a couple that were no picnic) or have her heartbroken.

I'm finding that I'm not loving these books as much as the first few but When Girlfriends Take Chances is still a really fun novel that I think chick lit fans would enjoy. Savannah Page has created a great group of girlfriends! I'm really not sure what to expect with, what I assume will be, the last book in the series - When Girlfriends Let Go. I've never been a fan of Jackie but I desperately want to find out how the rest of the girls are doing. If you want to see what other bloggers thought of this book, head over to the CLP Blog Tour main page. And don't forget to check out a Rafflecopter giveaway!

Review: Country Heaven

When I read a romance novel, I want there to be substance. I don't need a whole lot (I like romances because they're light and entertaining) but I do need an engaging story. I normally turn to romance queen Nora Roberts when I want a fix but I think I have a new author to check out. I really enjoyed reading Country Heaven by Ava Miles. And, bonus, this book is part of a series so there are so many more of her novels for me to read! Yay!

Here's the synopsis:

When famous-and infamous-country singer Rye Crenshaw saunters into the diner where she cooks, Tory Simmons is certain she's got him pegged. He's a bad boy who indulges himself in all things, women included. But while she couldn't care less about country music or arrogant men, Rye makes her an offer she can't refuse when he asks her to be his private chef on his multi-city concert tour. The job is the answer to all her prayers: it will clear out her debt and finance the fresh start she desperately needs. Rye is certain his sassy new cook is the last woman who'd ever tempt him, but spending time with the wholesome girl next door will do wonders for his damaged public image, whether she likes being forced into the spotlight or not. Her food also happens to be the best he's ever eaten, both comforting and seductive. But spending time with Tory on the road shows him a new side to her-one that's as impossible to resist as her food. And when an emergency in his family whisks him home, he does the one thing he's never risked: he lets a woman into his heart... Soon the emotions Rye faked for the tabloids become all too real, but will the country heaven he's found in Tory's arms survive in the real world? 

Technically, Country Heaven is part of Miles' Dare River series. I didn't realize that when I requested the book from NetGalley and when I did realize it I was kind of annoyed. I'm a "read the series in order" kind of girl, after all. But, this book can stand alone. Which is probably why it's not linked to the series on Goodreads. So, my thought is, if you really like the sound of this one, read it, and if you like it (and I think you will), go back to the beginning and read Nora Roberts Land. That's my plan!

I really liked the country music angle in this book. I'm, happily, finding that country is showing up in books slightly more often than it used to and I love that. Country music is becoming a bit more mainstream and I think that's now being mirrored in books. If you're not a country fan like me (even Tory isn't a country fan!) don't let that stop you from reading the book. Yes, Rye is a mega star in country music but it's not like you actually have to listen to his music (but how cool would that be?).

Speaking of Rye, he was totally swoon-worthy. I could totally see how Tory would immediately find his face and body attractive but was turned off by his personality. The way he was acting, and it really was acting, was so off putting and it was great to see Tory call him on it. The fact that there wasn't an immediate emotional attraction made this romance more realistic. Tory doesn't really start falling for Rye until she sees the real man when they're visiting his family. I really liked how their romance and Rye's personal journey grew at the same sort of pace. I'm really happy with the happily ever after in this book!

Like I said, this romance novel had something more going on than just the romance. While Tory had some things to sort out in her life, I liked reading about Rye's life more. He had such a crazy background with his family drama and it was interesting to read about how he fixed the relationships with his family. I despised his mom and I applaud Tory for how she handled herself when they were visiting. If the family story hadn't been part of the overall novel, I definitely would not have liked it as much.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Country Heaven. Ava Miles wrote the type of romance novel I love to read and I cannot wait to check out some of her others. If you're a romance fan, check out her books! And if you already knew about them...why didn't you tell me sooner?

Happy reading :)

*An eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: A Mad, Wicked Folly

I saw A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller making the YA book  blogger rounds back when it was released in January and I was intrigued. I asked my blogger and library friend, Natalie, to put in a request for me at the library and they ordered it! Yay! I'm really glad I got to read this book. I found it to be so different than any YA book I had read before. That might not be true for everyone but, as a fairly newbie YA reader, I hadn't read a historical YA book with this much depth and with such a gripping story before.

Here's the synopsis:

Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.       
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

I didn't realize how much of the story would follow the suffragette movement. That was more than fine by me (I really don't know enough of that history) but I wish the synopsis had mentioned it just a little more. For the most part, the book was about Victoria trying to escape the golden cage that is her life. Eventually that leads her into the suffragette world and she learns how important the movement is.

There is a romance in this book, which isn't surprising, and I loved it. Vicky is the daughter of a wealthy family and there are certain expectations that comes with that life. One of those expectations is marrying well. Her family sets her up with a boy who doesn't seem to be horrible so she thinks the whole arranged marriage thing might be ok. Enter PC Will Fletcher. He's the copper she meets while unintentionally getting involved in a rally. He's also a gorgeous boy that she can't wait to draw. I couldn't see how things would work out for the two of them so I was on the edge of my seat until the end!

While I loved reading this book, I feel like it paints a bit of a rosier picture of what things would have been like during the Edwardian time for women like Victoria and the suffragettes. I know novels tend to do that a lot so perhaps I'm being too critical.

One of the great things about this novel was that Vicky was an art lover and an artist. There aren't many YA characters, especially historical characters, who are artists and it was really interesting to read about what it could have been like for a young woman who wanted to be an artist. Basically, it's a battle. Women weren't meant to be educated and I couldn't imagine not being able to go to school to do what I love (not that that's painting but you know what I mean!). I was intrigued by the paintings that were mentioned and I liked that the book made me look up and learn about the art and artists that showed up in the book.

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller was a really enjoyable read and I think those who read it (and I think many should) will need to be aware that, while this novel is rooted in fact, it's just a novel. Do more reading on the suffragette movement to get the real story. Basically, if the synopsis grabs you in any way, read it. I think you'll like it!

Top Ten Tuesday: All the Bookish Things

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 found this week's Top Ten Tuesday to be both easy and hard. It was easy because I just hopped over to my Pinterest boards and picked the bookish things I loved from my many pins. But, it was hard because I want so many bookish things! The criteria I used for this list was: would I want this to be gifted to me for my upcoming birthday? Would I be over the moon excited to receive it? The system worked well. I limited this list to actual things - clothing, jewellery, and other nifty items. I didn't include any prints, not because I don't have any that I love, because that would make this already over ten item list even longer. If you want to see ALL the bookish things I love, you can check out my various Pinterest boards. The links will lead to the site where the item is sold.

Three Broomsticks - I love the design and I love Butterbeer. 

Rock Stars - Obviously. Especially awesome because Austen is on the shirt.

Fuck Off, I'm Reading - Really, who hasn't thought this before?

Lined page - Simple but so unique.

Anne of Green Gables - There are many scarves out there but I love this one.

Read - I adore this necklace. Just love it.

Bookish - Really, everything from the BookFiend shop could be on this list.

Wingardium leviosa necklace - I don't love gold but I DO love this necklace.

Wizardry bracelet - I love how everything works together in this bracelet.

Ravenclaw glass - This shop has a ton of awesome stuff but I love my house's glass!

Flourish & Blotts - This is one of the HP stores I'd LOVE to go into. I'd settle for the tote.

Candles - This shop has a ton of awesome candles but I love the sound of these two scents.

Candle - Again, this shop has many choices but I chose Dauntless because it smells like cake.

Grammar teacups - As a book nerd, I hate when people mess up your/you're. So these are awesome.

Jane Austen figure - Need I say more?