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NCIBA Recap + Haul

Saturday, October 13, 2018

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Hello lovely bookish friends,

Last week I told you I was going to my first ever booksellers conference. Specifically: The Northern California Independent Bookstore Association's trade show. And, as I teased in my Sunday Post, I brought home FOUR tote bags full of books.



Below, I recap the event and show you the books. Buckle up, grab the popcorn, etc. because it's a long one!

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Cover Crush: Once & Future

Friday, October 12, 2018

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Hello there bookish friends!

I'm still working on that NCIBA haul! It's going to happen! ... But not today.

Instead, I'm trying out a new (to me) meme called #CoverCrush that was created by Kelly and Christy @ Bookcrushin'! Major shoutout to them for permitting me to try it out on my own blog and for generally being awesome bloggers.

Today's cover crush is:

Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
YA Fantasy/Retelling, 336 pages
Expected March 5, 2019 from James Patterson Presents/Little, Brown
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While I am semi-hesitant about this James Patterson imprint, I am ALL ABOUT this cover. It reminds me a bit of the Cinder cover since it has a mechanical/sci-fi twist. I love the unexpected neon pink accents to a high-fantasy/historical set-up. But also: it's a gender-bent retelling of the Arthurian story, The Once and Future King, so yes please to all of it.

Has this made any of your TBRs? What do you think of the design? Let me know below!


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Mini Reviews: The Prince and the Dressmaker, Catboy, Snotgirl

Thursday, October 11, 2018

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Hello lovely bookish friends!

Today I was going to post my NCIBA haul that I've been hinting at... but wowowow that post is really long and it's taking forever. Instead of rushing it or staying up all night, I decided to just switch my schedule around a little bit. So if all goes to plan, it will go up tomorrow!

This edition of Mini Reviews is going to be focused on three graphic novels (well, graphic works) that I've read recently. And, spoiler alert: I liked them all!

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
YA Graphic Novel, 288 pages
February 13, 2018 from First Second
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My rating: ★★★★

This book hit the perfect sweet spot between being a page turner, an atmospheric and visually stunning piece, and a heartwarming story. It follows a prince who, secretly, at night, takes on a feminine alter ego and dresses in, well, dresses, when he goes out at night. It also follows his dressmaker, whose designs rise to fame, but who is held back by the prince's secret. I love that this book presents a character who breaks gender roles without it necessarily being about gender identity; I just think that's a nice angle to be represented. This book also presents several really lovely relationships that just leave you feeling good inside.

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Which One Wednesday [1]

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

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Hello bookish friends!

Today's post is inspired by a meme I used to absolutely love over at The Book Rat called Friday Face Off. Sadly, Misty no longer runs it, so I thought I would try my my hand at it.

This is how it works: I present two similar covers, and you leave your vote in the comments for which one did it better!

 

1. Fragments of the Lost - published November 2017 by Penguin Random House
2. The Devouring Grey - expected April 2019 from Titan Books

Both books are mystery/thrillers with covers that place the viewer as a driver on an empty highway. While #1 looks more like a storm, #2 in enshrouded in mist. Both also have neon pink lettering that fades into the scene. I know which one I like best, but it's up to you...

Which one did it better?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books on My TBR

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

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Hello bookish friends!

This week's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is to talk about the longest books we've read. However, I can tell you what those are in one sentence: Harry Potter and Ellen Hopkins. At least according to Goodreads' page counts, and I don't have a better way of measuring.

I thought it would be fun, then, to look at the longest books on my TBR... any maybe re-evaluate how much I want to read them.

I made this list by first organizing all the books on the Goodreads "want-to-read" shelf by page count, regardless of whether it's something I own or just added on a whim.

Here are the books:

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September 2018 Wrap Up

Monday, October 8, 2018

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Hello bookish friends!

September was a month that happened. Is it just me that feels like it happened in the blink of an eye? I didn't get a lot of reading done, but I did enjoy what I read!

Books I read in September


The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
YA Fantasy, 409 pages
Published September 18, 2012 by Scholastic
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My rating: ★★★★★

This one was a re-read. A third read, actually. Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorite YA authors, if not my very favorite, and The Raven Boys is like her masterwork (in my opinion). My goal is to FINISH the series this year finally, since I have never read book four.

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Sunday Post [1]

Sunday, October 7, 2018

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Hello bookish friends!

Today I'm participating in a new-to-me meme called The Sunday Post (hosted by Kimberly @ The Caffeinated Reviewer)! Since I actually have enough posts to recap for the week, I thought why not share and make some goals for the week ahead!

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Halloween Creatures 2.0 Book Tag

Saturday, October 6, 2018

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Hello bookish friends,

Today I thought it would be fun to try a Halloween tag to try to embrace the October Halloween vibes! I wasn't tagged by anybody but I found this tag at The Calico Books!


Here are the rules:

  • answer all prompts
  • answer honestly
  • tag 1 - 13 people
  • link back to this post
  • remember to credit the creator (Anthony @ Keep Reading Forward)
  • Have fun!

Witch

a magical character or book

This is one of the most underrated books. I mean, tell me the phrase "regency-era demon hunters" doesn't immediately make you curious!




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Mini Reviews (NBA Longlist Edition): The Poet X, A Very Large Expanse of Sea, Blood Water Paint

Friday, October 5, 2018

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Hello lovely bookish friends!

So apparently in addition to trying to read every day this month, I'm trying to blog every day, too! (Does that count as Blogtober? Newbie here) (Also: *knocks on wood*)

I've been wanting to start a mini reviews series on my blog for a while -- and I have some reviews that are long, long overdue...

These are not them. Instead, in honor of last week's announcement of the National Book Award 2018 Longlist for Young People's Literature, I want to highlight those books. I believe that of the 10 longlisted titles, 4 are Young Adult Fiction (the others are Middle Grade or Non Fiction) and of those 4 I have read 3. They are all excellent, excellent books and one is even my favorite book of the year so far!

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Hi, I'm a Children's Bookseller

Thursday, October 4, 2018

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Hello, lovely bookish friends!

There's something I haven't talked much about on my blog, but it's a big part of my bookish life: I am a Children's Bookseller.

I mean, I'm a "regular" bookseller, too. Which I have definitely mentioned about 200 times. But specifically, I am in charge of my store's entire kid's section, ranging from picture books to early chapter books to middle grade and young adult.

I have always loved reading YA, but before the Children's Section became my responsibility, it had been a MINUTE since I read a picture book (understandably). But actually, this job has really made me remember all the things that inspired me to love reading as a kid, and it's sparked a deeper passion and appreciation for children's literature and its importance in raising readers!

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Waiting on Wednesday: Sorcery of Thorns

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

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Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that everyone’s excited about!

I know that the Fall and especially October is like, prime book release season... but there's not a ton I'm super anticipating that I don't already have access to. Which is a really annoying thing to say, I know! Having access to so many books as a bookseller can be more overwhelming than exciting sometimes, which is where I am with Fall releases.
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Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I'd Love to Meet

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

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Hello, lovely bookish friends!

This Top Ten Tuesday is all about authors I want to meet, which is the perfect prompt for me because I am lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, a literary hotspot/frequent author tour stop, and meeting authors has been a hobby of mine since 2011.



I've been lucky to meet some of my all time favorite authors already, like: John Green, Cassandra Clare, Neil Gaiman, Leigh Bardugo, Maggie Stiefvater, and so many more.

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October TBR + #30DayBookBinge

Monday, October 1, 2018

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Hello, lovely bookish friends!

Apparently, I've been taking an unintended break from blogging and bookstagram lately -- I think I need to come to terms with the fact that I have a love/hate relationship with the social internet and I'll never be the world's most consistent poster -- but October holds so much bookish excitement for me that I can't help but want to share it.

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