Contemporaryathon TBR

You guys, I cannot even BEGIN to emphasise how excited I am for the Contemporaryathon. Contemporary books are my jam, and a whole week of reading them? Y.E.S.

The Contemporaryathon is being hosted by Chelsea, Julie, and Natasha, and it’s being held between February 12th and 18th.

There are seven challenges, and I’m going to try and get through all of them because OVERACHIEVING IS FUN.

Challenge #1: Read your most recent contemporary acquisition
I’m not entirely sure what my most recent contemporary acquisition *IS* – partly because I suck at keeping track and partly because I bought a stack of thrillers recently and I don’t know if they count or not – but the one I *suspect* is my most recent acquisition (and which is straight up contemporary) is Laws of Attraction by Sarah Title. I’ve been a fan of the Librarians in Love series so far, so I’m hoping this one is pretty solid too.

Challenge #2: Read a contemporary with pink on the cover
There were a range of things I could have gone with for this one, but I ultimately decided on Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills. I’ve enjoyed both of her previous books, so I’m hoping that this one is equally delightful!

Challenge #3: Read a hyped contemporary book
I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Autoboyography by Christina Lauren. And, after reading Roomies recently? I’m SUPER excited to read this. I mean, I was excited to read it anyway because I saw it on a lot of people’s best-of-2017 lists (which reminds me, I should really get around to writing mine…), but now I’m over the top excited.

Challenge #4: Read a diverse contemporary book
Again, I had a bunch of stuff to choose from, but I’m going with one that I’m suuuuuuuuper interested to read and that I’ve heard incredible things about. In January, I read All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, and it was AMAZING. Shortly after that, Jason Reynolds’ new book, Long Way Down, came out. The premise is so interesting and I can’t wait to see how this novel in verse plays out.

Challenge #5: Read a dark or taboo contemporary book
Taboo contemporaries are definitely not my thing. Thrillers, on the other hand… I’m tempted to reread Skin Privilege by Karin Slaughter for this one, because you can always rely on Karin Slaughter to bring the dark and creepy. But instead, I think I’m going to go with The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. I’m slightly hesitant about this one, to be honest. I think it sounds a LITTLE too much like Rear Window, which I adore. But it was $3 on Kindle, so…

Challenge #6: Read a contemporary graphic novel
I had originally intended to get something from my local library for this challenge, but they’ve moved the graphic novels somewhere weird and I literally cannot find them anywhere. Could I ask a staff member? Yes. Will I instead borrow something from work? Also yes. I’m going with Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge. I know nothing about it except that it’s contemporary.

Challenge #7: Read a contemporary book that has been recommended to you
Because I think Saajid will kill me if I don’t get around to this one soon, I’m finally going to pick up Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali.

So there you have it, friends. That’s what I’ll be reading during the Contemporaryathon. I just wish it wasn’t another 11 days away so that I could start reading all of these RIGHT NOW.

Are you participating? What are you planning on reading?

Book haul October 2017

Guess what, friends? The IT department at work was able to fix my laptop for me (OMG ILU, IT STAFF), which means that not only do I have my laptop back, but I have my reading stats spreadsheet back.

HALLELUJAH.

This means that I can finally bring you a book haul! I’ve always sworn black and blue that I don’t acquire enough books to warrant doing hauls monthly. But then I started including the books I buy on my Kindle, and now it’s kind of out of control. Whoops?

Without further ado, here’s what I bought in October:

THE STUFF I’VE READ ALREADY:

The Diviners by Libba Bray (E-Book)

I bought this because a friend has borrowed my physical copy and I knew I wouldn’t remember enough of the story to jump straight to Lair of Dreams in preparation for reading Before the Devil Breaks You. Besides, it was like $8, and sometimes you NEED an e-book and a physical copy of your favourite books, right??

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray (Paperback)

Obviously. It’s gorgeous and I loved every second of it, even though it stabbed me in the feels about a thousand times more than I anticipated…

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterley (Paperback)

I have this on my Kindle, but I did a favour for a friend in Europe and it was easier for her to buy me books than to transfer me money, so I sent her a list of stuff I wanted hard copies of, and she went to town on Book Depository. This is one of the few times when the movie tie-in cover was the best cover option. I read it late last year and loved everything about it.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde (Paperback)

Another one that I have on my Kindle and that Nikki sent to me. I loved this book so much when I read it earlier this year. It’s phenomenal from start to finish.

Longbourn by Jo Baker (Paperback)

Another one that I loved earlier this year and had Nikki get me a physical copy of. For those of you who haven’t heard of this, it’s a retelling of Pride and Prejudice told from the perspective of the servants. And it. is. AMAZING.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (E-Book)

I mean, obviously I read the biggest news in YA this year. And…frankly, I found it a little bit of a let down. The plot was meandering, the characters felt like characters rather than people, and while I appreciated the Own Voices nature of the mental health representation, I…didn’t love this.

The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud (E-Book)

The final book in the Lockwood & Co series features even more ghostly mayhem and ridiculousness. I got sick of waiting for a physical copy to arrive at work, so bought it on my Kindle.

It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne (E-Book)

Another one that was a little bit of a let down. Although in this case, it was probably my high expectations that made it a let down. I LOVED Holly Bourne’s Spinster Club trilogy, and this didn’t have the same strong female friendships that I loved so much in that series. It was only $0.94 though, so… *shrugs*

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (E-Book)

I really think discovering Tessa Dare’s books is one of the best things that’s happened to me all year. This one was utterly ridiculous from start to finish, and yet fast paced and funny and enjoyable as hell.

Hamilton’s Battalion by Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole and Rose Lerner (E-Book)

I already talked about this in my weekly wrap up on Monday. It was stinking adorable and I’m so incredibly glad that I gave its little $5.99 butt a chance because I loved every second of it.

THE STUFF I HAVE YET TO READ:

Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh (E-Book)

I know basically nothing about this, except that I think it’s kind of like Pacific Rim?? But in Korea???? I think April talked about it in a video recently, and it sounded great then. So. I bought it.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Paperback)

After a million and one glowing recommendations from Joce, how could I not buy this book?

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (Paperback)

I’m kind of hesitant about this one. I LOVED Nevernight last year, but that was before the whole revelation that chunks of it were based on Maori culture in a not great way. So I’ve been putting this off because a) I’ve heard it’s a stab to the feels and b) I need (want) to reread Nevernight first, and I don’t know what I’ll think of it this time around…

Dodger by Terry Pratchett (Paperback)

Okay, technically I *have* read this before. But it was back in 2012, so I’m not entirely sure it counts at this point. I’m planning on rereading it soon, at any rate. This is basically Pratchett does Dickens. Essentially, the Artful Dodger was a real person who Dickens met, so it’s all seedy underbelly of Victorian London stuff, and I’m really excited to pick it up a second time.

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali (E-Book)

Another one I know very little about, but Saajid recommended it, so I bought it.

Arabella of Mars by David Levine (Paperback)

Another one that Joce recommended. I don’t know much about this either. I think it might be steampunk? But I could just be basing that on the cover… Still, I’m excited to pick it up sometime soon!

What books have you acquired recently?