Top Ten Tuesday: 2017 Reads Part 2

This week's topic is books you can't wait to read during the second half of the year! So anything July and after. But I will try not to duplicate from the last list of Summer TBR, so maybe August and after. As usual this is going to be a bigger than 10 list. But I'm not sure I have enough on my list - which is the perfect excuse to stalk other blogs to add more books. Of course, I'm just adding the ones with covers.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Kids and Tween

YA

Adult

More Romance Recommendations

I read romance books. They're like a good piece of chocolate - sweet and they make you happy. So here are a few recommendations for you...

 

Holiday Thursday Review: My True Love Gave to Me

I usually don't read short story collections but I make an exception for Christmas ones. I loved these. With so many great author contributors - how could I not?

My favorites (and it is hard to pick) were from Ally Carter and Stephanie Perkins. I want a book from their stories. I also really loved Rainbow Rowell's story too. 

There's something for everyone here: fun, friendship, family, romance, and of course holiday spirit. 

If you haven't read it, snatch this one up. 

Top Ten Tuesday: At the Lunch Table

This week's topic is Top Ten Book Characters That Would Be Sitting At My Lunch Table. This one is really hard...even though lunch was always my favorite time of the school day.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Tina from the Princess Diaries - would love to talk Romance books with her

And the rest of the characters from books I read this year...
1. Bird from Wildflower - would love to co-write one song with her
2. Gwen Frost from the Mythos Academy series - she kicks major butt.
3. and 4. Marijke  and Lily from Just Like the Movies - so we could talk about girly movies
5. Emi from Everything Leads to You - so we could talk about set design
6. Cricket from Nantucket Blue and Nantucket Red because she's a warrior and fun!
7, 8, and 9. Reagan, Lilah, and Matt from Open Road Summer, so we could talk about the tour and being super stars (like normal people - not stalkers)

Bonus:
Isla and Josh from Isla and the Happily Ever After because I didn't want to leave them

Who would be sitting at your lunch table?

Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After

Isla's had a crush on Josh forever - and during their senior year, he's started noticing her. Could he be a part of her future - a future she hasn't decided? Isla had no idea what she wants to do after graduation. Everyone seems to have a plan, except for her. What could be holding her back?

My Thoughts: Like most readers, I've waited ages for this book. And it was worth it. This book is utter perfection. Here are just a few things I loved
* The art. Ok so there isn't really art in the book, the the art is described and it's beautiful
* The trip to Spain - I loved seeing new places. Yes I looked up the buildings and park where they traveled
* The moments with Anna and St. Clair plus Lola and Cricket
* Kurt
* The banter between Isla and Josh before they fell for each other
* The Falling
* The moments with her sisters
* The way it ended

Cover Thoughts: I like it - but most of it takes place in Paris.
Source: My Library

What's on my Hold List (87)

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out at the library and another 20 items on hold. 

More sequels:

Maid of Deception: I loved the first book and eager to read more!

Muffin but Murder: The second book in a cozy series set it a castle

Isla and the Happily Ever After: While this isn't exactly a sequel, it's a companion novel. 

Underwater Puppies: the follow up to the fascinating Underwater Dogs

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola's Dads don't approve of her boyfriend. Max is 22, in a band, and not the boy they would pick out for her. Lola doesn't care. She adores him.

Things start to become rocky in paradise when the Bell twins move back to the neighborhood. Two years ago Cricket Bell broke her heart. She fell for him hard. Now he's back.

Lola can't fathom a relationship with him, but at the same time, he's popping up everywhere. She can't tell Max the truth about him, about her past.

Lola and Cricket's friendship begins again - only Cricket admits he's changed and that he wants more than friendship. Once he knows about Max, Cricket backs off.

Lola's torn - she doesn't want Cricket to back off any more than she wants to lose Max...

My Thoughts: It's hard not to talk about this book without gushing. So I'm just going to say that it's PERFECTION. I love the quirkiness of Lola - her outfits, her flair, her inner thoughts. I love her two Dads. I love her relationship with Cricket - and how slowly it builds. I adored this book. I couldn't put it down, yet I never wanted it to end.

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: my Library

Cover Reveal: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Here's the new Stephanie Perkins cover! I LOVE LOVE LOVED Anna and the French Kiss. I simply can't wait for this book - out in Sept.

I love this cover!

Check out more info on the book here.

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna doesn't want to go to school in Paris. She doesn't want to leave her BFF or her potential boyfriend. Her father's making her spend her senior year at an American high school in France.

Her first night there, she's crying her eyes out at her situation when the girl next door invites her over for hot chocolate. Meredith introduces her to her friends and takes Anna under her wing. There's Josh, Rashmi, and St. Claire.

St. Claire's English accent makes Anna want to swoon, not to mention his dreamy good looks. Half the girls in the school are in love with him. Anna's determined not to fall under his spell, but the more they hang out, the more she feels drawn to him.

He's seriously off limits as he has a girlfriend. That doesn't stop her from being friends. Soon, he's her best friend - they go to the cinema together and explore other parts of Paris. It isn't long before Anna's questioning everything he says for double meanings. Paris is the city of love after all, could she find love with her best friend?

My Thoughts: I've been hearing about this book for MONTHS and everyone raved about it. I ran out and bought it and devoured it. It didn't disappoint - it's romantic, dreamy, full of tension, and almost perfect. I wouldn't have minded more scenes exploring Paris. I loved Anna. She was smart, had great dreams, and found herself in Paris. I liked how she analyzed everything. I loved St. Claire - he's dreamy and funny. I loved how he and Anna really understood each other and how they goofed around so much. What a smashing debut novel!!!!! I can't wait for Lola and the Boy Next Door

Cover Thoughts: PERFECT!

Source: Bought

Fun Fact: Stephanie tweeted a picture of her with the book that I thought would make the perfect READ poster, so I stole it :)