Currently… #5

September 3, 2012 Filed Under: Currently Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Since coming home just over a week ago from Europe, I’ve basically been just trying to get back into life as usual. I love doing these ‘currently’ posts every once in a while, and I thought now was just as good a time as any to do another in the series considering my blog has basically consisted of travel re-caps since I got back!

Reading

- I’m finishing up Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. It’s taking me a little while now that I’m back home, but I don’t mind. It’s going to be so strange to say goodbye to Harry, Ron & Hermione again once my re-read is over. I’ve gotten used to having them in my life for a few pages every day of the summer.

Listening

- Since coming home from Europe, I absolutely can’t get enough of the new No Doubt song ‘Push & Shove’. It’s SO catchy and I’m a HUUGE No Doubt fan. Their reunion tour a couple years back is still one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.

- I haven’t been able to stop listening to 2 particular bands lately: The Lumineers and Bombay Bicycle Club. I’m so sad that I missed BBC in July while they were at the Osheaga festival (AND I WAS TOO, I JUST DIDN’T SEE THEIR SET!) but these things happen.

- The song ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by P!nk was that *song* that I couldn’t stop listening to while in Europe. Each trip has those few tracks that remind you of those travel destinations when they play, and this P!nk song is one of them for me.

Watching

-I’ve been enjoying some re-runs of Community and Big Bang Theory lately and kind of ignoring my “to-watch” list on my computer. I have some catching up to do on Weeds and Hell’s Kitchen as I know TV season is just around the corner!

Speaking of Big Bang Theory, how AWESOME is this birthday gift?! One of my best friends Jenia was over this weekend & finally had the chance to give it to me. I think the Sheldon bobble-head might be my favorite!

Needing

- Some extra cash. Ideally there would be like 8 more hours in a day and I could take a second job to pay off my travel bills, but that’s just not possible.

- Apparently I’m needing more sleep than I’m getting. Which is so weird, because I’ve been sleeping looooong nights since coming home from Europe. I know I really pushed myself while I was on vacation & stayed awake much longer than I normally would. I’d like to think my body is playing catch up right now, but I have a feeling I’m fighting off a virus of some sort.

Avoiding

- My bank statements. I really am. I haven’t been paid in WEEKS and the idea of looking at my credit card (even though I know the numbers) is just frightening.

- The idea of school. I mean, on one level I’m extremely excited to go & start the first year of my business degree, but on the other hand I’m not one of those people that needs school in my life to find routine. I’ve loved having 4 months off and I’ve gotten into a different KIND of routine.

Loving

- Being home. Don’t get me wrong, I miss traveling TERRIBLY. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m meant to do a lot more of it. Talking to people who are planning their trips makes my heart ache to get back out in the world… But still, it’s nice to be back.

- My new room. While I was in Europe, my mom had our basement (which was basically storage) renovated, and now I’m sleeping down here. I LOVE it. It’s like a small apartment and I can finally host little evenings down here without disturbing upstairs. It’s so much more private and I have tons of space for books, I have a living room and basically just some room to grow up a little. I’m not ready to move out (and have no reason to while I’m still in school) so this bit of privacy is going to go a LONG way for me!

My new wall of bookshelves in the basement! I love all the extra space I have to buy MORE  books :) …and YES, those are Harry & Ron dolls, but NO they are not recent purchases. Ha! 

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June: Little Moments

July 1, 2012 Filed Under: Little Moments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Canada Day! I don’t usually post on Sundays, but since today is my country’s special day (and I leave very soon/have things to say) I figured I’d make an exception this week! After writing this up I’ll be getting ready for a fun filled day with family, friends, and fireworks. Can’t wait!

Each month I try and keep a record of a little moment each day that made that day special or made me smile. I’m going to be taking a break from this series while I’m traveling in July/August, but hoping to get back to it in September! It’s so fun to look back at all the little things that made each month so awesome.

—–

1- Started re-reading Harry Potter! Oh the nostalgia. Also had a major room re-decoration for the first time in at least 3 years.

2- Relaxing Saturday of reading + e-mail writing, as well as Joy Plan decorating!

3- Spent the afternoon at my brother’s house and came home to an awesome #twookclub book chat about Fault in Our Stars. Loooove that book and the chat was so lovely!

4- Ed Sheeran announces a new tour and there’s a date here in Montreal… YAY!

5- Received a letter from work congratulating me for handselling 100 copies of one of my absolute favorite books in less than 3 months: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

6- After posting a picture of my letter, I woke up to an awesome tweet by James Dashner himself. Cue fan girly screams :)

7- Retail therapy with a best friend after a really tough day

8- E-mail chain with some favorite bloggers about #BiSC 2013. I want to make it happen and meet all their pretty faces!

9- Birthday celebrations downtown & dinner with two of my favorite girls in the Old Port beforehand. What a gorgeous evening to be sitting, and catching up with friends!

10- Sleeping in & enjoying some shopping time before work

11- HELL’S KITCHEN RETURNS. My obsession with kitchen TV is renewed for another summer!

12- After finishing the second Harry Potter book I just had to re-watch the movie and ohmygoodness I loved it.


Ron Weasley is literally the best part of that movie! Photo via mugglenet

13- Guest post with Megan from Semi-Charmed Kind of Life. Also went out for 2$ drinks at the local bar with a ton of friends from work!

14- My interview with Of Monsters and Men goes live on CONFRONT Magazine

15- Spent another afternoon at my brother’s house but this time got to babysit my nephew for a few hours. Later in the evening my whole family sat outside with the baby on a blanket and that’s when the idea of me going to Brazil first came up!

16- Road trip to Belleville for a music festival. Spent the whole day outdoors watching some good bands & hanging out with friends

17- Back home & got to relax/watch the Much Music Video Awards. & the love of my life Ed Sheeran performed <3

18- Lauren Destefano retweeted me today when I mentioned her amazingly awesome blog… Cue more fan girly screams! :)

19- My new blog design went live today and I looooooveeeee it!

20- Another night of 2$ drinks… It became the June tradition each Wednesday!

21- OFFICIALLY BOOKED FOR BRAZIL! Surreal.

22- Spent the afternoon downtown at a travel agency booking all my trains and flights in Europe. Also spent a TON of money: bought my backpack and some clothes to travel with! AND my mom gave me my birthday present- a travel size laptop that I’ve been eyeing for a YEAR.

23- Another busy day! Started the day with an AMAZING meeting for CONFRONT Magazine (more on that later!) and lots of time with friends; hung out with Agnes & Selina with my nephew, had a BBQ at Jenia’s house with the gang. Overall an awesome day.

24- My nephew spent the weekend at my house & this afternoon I rocked him right to sleep. What a lovely moment <3

25- Got my acceptance letter to Business school!!!!

26- Last day of work before leaving in exactly one week; my obsession with Sabrina the Teenage Witch on YouTube begins!

27- Finished & booked our last hotels/hostels for Europe, followed by one last 2$ drinks night. This time everyone came out to say goodbye to me and it was just heart-warming and I love my work people like crazy.

28-The Rocket Summer concert & interview with Bryce beforehand! What an amazing freaking show, wow.

29- Donated blood for the third time today AND the cute guy working there sat and talked to me the whole time. Made things much easier after a bad experience last time I donated :)

30- Bought some really cute dresses & shorts for my traveling this summer, and had an amazing dinner out with my Greece girls! I’m going to seriously miss them while I’m away in July/August. Last time I left, we were all together!

—–

What were some special, every day moments in your month of June?! 

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Summer Reading List 2012

June 12, 2012 Filed Under: Reading/Books Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last June I wrote a list of 10 books I was excited to read over the summer. I vaguely remembered writing it as I started writing this post, and I actually kind of laughed out loud when I looked over it today. Out of the ten books I wrote that I was excited to read last year? I read exactly ONE OF THEM.

Not for my lack of reading or anything- I’ve read a LOT of books since then. I just have this thing where I change my mind about what I feel like reading every 2 seconds.

This year, I’m inspired to write another list and I’m sincerely hoping that I’ll get to more than one this time around. Here are the top 10 books I’m hoping to get to this summer: 

1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

- I haven’t read a book set in World War II since my Holocaust Literature class last Fall, but this is the first one that has interested me enough to pick up. The story of two young, female pilots & their unlikely friendship, the entire novel is told through an intricately woven confession by one of the girls who is captured by the Gestapo.

2. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

- The movie is set to be coming out in the Fall and it has one of my all-time favorite actresses in it, Emma Watson. I haven’t watched the trailer yet but I’ve heard great things about it (and the book!) so I’m excited to catch up with the rest of the world and read this coming-of-age novel for teens.

3. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

- I need some YA contemporary fiction to mix things up this summer. A sad story, but apparently fantastic & I’m very much looking forward to it.

4. Wanderlove by Kristen Hubbard

- I’ve had this book on my Kindle for MONTHS (like, 10 months) and still haven’t read it. A story about a girl traveling through some beautiful parts of the world, I think this will be a fantastic read while I’m traveling through Europe!

5. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

- One of the only adult fiction novels on my summer list, this story is set just near Cinque Terre in Italy. A beautiful, romantic & well written novel set in a place I’m visiting in two months? This is just SCREAMING to be read immediately!

6. Switched by Amanda Hocking

- One of my best friends has been recommending this first book of the Trylle series to me for the last couple weeks & I finally picked up a copy. Not sure when I’ll get to it, but I’m excited to jump back into some YA dystopian this summer.

7. Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

- Can you believe I haven’t read this book yet?! I’m a little behind on my classics and this is the first one I want to be reading. I mean, Holden Caulfield is one of the most well known characters in literature… I need to finally meet him. Or, you know, read about him.

8. Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

- I’ve heard AMAZING things about this book and bought it a few months ago. Really hoping to get to it in the next couple months. Another YA dystopian with an extremely strange plot, I’ve heard a lot of reviews that compare this one to Hunger Games. That alone sold me on it!

9. The Kill Order by James Dashner

- One of my most anticipated books of the YEAR. This prequel to the MAZE RUNNER series is set to be released in the end of August, but I know I’ll still finish reading it before getting back to school. I cannot wait. CAN NOT WAIT.

10. What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

- I read one of Gladwell’s books last summer in Greece (Blink) and absolutely LOVED it. I bought this one a few months back when it was on sale, and I’m really hoping to change things up this summer and read this one! I really like his style of writing & I love the kinds of topics he chooses to discuss.

What’s on your summer reading list? Any recommendations for me? 

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The Book Chat {Vol 6}

April 5, 2012 Filed Under: The Book Chat Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Linking up over at Sweet Green Tangerine for The Book Chat!

Today’s question: Let’s talk about endings…. Sad/Happy/Cliffhangers/Quotes

I’ve been really excited to answer this question because, let’s face it, who doesn’t have a favorite ending, or an ending that literally left your jaw hanging open and had you thinking about it for 2 straight weeks? Because I have.

Here are a few of my all-time favorites:

Favorite ending to a series

1. The Death Cure by James Dashner 
I was SO happy with the way he ended his trilogy. It made all three books even BETTER!

2. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows
As much as I was disappointed in JK Rowling for a long time for “selling out” I don’t think I could have handled a NON happy ending. I needed her to end the series off the way she did.

Favorite ending in contemporary fiction

1.Looking for Alaska by John Green 
This book has one of the most memorable endings for me- in fact, I don’t remember how any of his other books end except this one. I like that the end is hopeful, beautiful, and doesn’t give anything away about the rest of the book. It’s just so freaking perfect!

2. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Another all time favorite of mine; although I don’t remember the exact details I know that I loved the way this story wrapped up. Heck, this entire book was amazing!

Favorite cliffhanger(s)

Can I make a list? I’m going to make a list.
1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
2. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
3. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
4. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
5. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness 

All of the above make me want to read the next in the series RIGHT THIS MINUTE. I felt the same way about Catching Fire, so let’s hope the next book in all the other series don’t disappoint as much as Mockingjay did. Also, number five on this list surprised even me because it took me a LONG time to enjoy that book. The ending was worth the whole thing though, I want to pick up book two soon!

—–

Overall, I think it’s really difficult for author’s to end a book off the RIGHT way. When they get it right, I’m always ecstatic, and it makes me love their book a LOT more. I am not easily impressed with endings- I am actually very judgmental of them, and had to go through my entire Goodreads to get this list. I know there are a BUNCH more books I really enjoyed the endings to, but these are some that have really stood out for me in the last couple years, although most of these were much more recent.

I think especially when it comes to writing a series, an author has to know exactly what kind of cliffhanger is GOOD and what kind is NOT. There has to be a balance between details in one book and in the next, and the books should be easily distinguishable one from the other. I hate when a book ends REALLY well only to get extremely disappointed by the next one in a series. Likewise, I hate enjoying a book the whole way through and being upset by the very end. One particular author that I loved for a long time was Dean Koontz, but I quickly began to realize that he ruined all his greatest novels because of his crap endings (sorry Dean, it’s the truth! The Husband? Remember that one? Disappointing.)

What are some of your favorite and least favorite book endings? 

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The Book Chat {Vol 4}

March 22, 2012 Filed Under: The Book Chat Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Thursdays are quickly becoming my favorite blogging day of the week because that means it’s time to link up over at Sweet Green Tangerine and talk books!

Today’s question: What is your favorite dystopian novel?

If you’re a big reader (or if you haven’t been living under a rock for the last year, really) you’ll know that dystopian novels are the new *thing*. Working in a bookstore I can tell you that most releases lately are new dystopian stories, and they all look AMAZING. If you’re not sure what the heck dystopia even means, it’s basically an imaginary place or time where the conditions of life are very poor or generally quite unpleasant. Think Hunger Games.

I’ve been reading dystopian novels since I was a teenager. The first one I ever read was The Giver but at the time I had NO idea that it was anything but a great book. In the last 3-4 years I’ve read a handful of AMAZING dystopian stories. It started about 3 and a half years ago with Hunger Games when it first came out, and since then I’ve basically been inhaling dystopian books left, right, and center. That sounded a lot weirder than I meant. Anyway.

To answer the question, I have a lot of favorites. But I wanted to talk a bit more about a book I brought up earlier this week, because it deserves some recognition!

The Maze Runner starts off with a teenage boy called Thomas who wakes up in an elevator that’s going up. As he comes to, he realizes he has no memories of his past or present. All he remembers is his name. When the elevator doors open, he is greeted by dozens of other boys who tell him that they’re in a maze, and none of them have ANY idea why. Some have been there for a year, and since the beginning they’ve been looking for a way out. Just after Thomas’ arrival, a girl comes out of the elevator- the first ever. And then things get REAL CRAZY.

I read this book when it first came out in October 2009 and have been a huge fan of the series ever since, waiting the full year for the next in the trilogy. Dashner recently ended his series with The Death Cure (which WAS AMAZING) and even more recently announced that he wrote a prequel called ‘The Kill Order’ which comes out this summer. The idea behind this dystopian trilogy is very end-of-the-world, slightly post-apocalypse style, but it just *works* so well. Not only are they well written, but there aren’t any ridiculously cheesy love stories. Everything that happens in Thomas’ life is for a reason.

The one thing that was tough to get used to in the first book was the language. The boys in the maze use weird words instead of swearing, and at first I was super thrown off, but after the first few chapters I completely forgot about it. I think I could have read the books without the weird words throughout, but one way or another it didn’t make it worse for me.

I highly recommend this series if you like dystopian, adventure, mystery, slightly gory but extremely action packed books. I often show this book to teenage boys because it works SO well for their age, but there are tons of older people that have read and loved them too. I’m the perfect example! So go read it, right now! :)

What are your favorite dystopian reads? Which ones are a MUST for me to read?!

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The Best Books of 2011

December 28, 2011 Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

As 2012 gets closer, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of my favorite things of the year. In the next few days I’m going to look at the best of 2011- I’m excited to see what kind of things you can all add to my lists! Oh and if you’re wondering, that is the current state of my ‘to-read’ bookshelf. I have an illness, you guys. A book-buying ILLNESS.

Today I’m going to look back at my top ten favorite reads of 2011. I tried as much as possible to keep these in 2011 because I read way too many good books this year, but I have to say that my absolute favorites of 2011 were not written this year. I’m also going to look at a few books that DID come out this year that I’m still excited to actually start reading but haven’t had the chance to yet.

So here we go.

The Top Ten

#10 Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
Released: June 2011
Publisher: Random House

Why: I LOVED the entire Sisterhood series growing up, and after re-reading them in the early summer I fell right into the story of this one. I was back in love with the four girls, and I am back in love with Ann Brashares’ writing. She has matured so much as a writer, and although that book DEVASTATED me it was beautiful at the same time.

#9 The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Released: April 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group

Why: It took me a little while to get into this one, but as soon as I did I just couldn’t put it down. I was completely in love with the characters and the story. Immediate classic.

#8 Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Released: February 2011
Publisher: Harpercollins

Why: When I first heard about the story line behind this book (love as a disease) I was intrigued. The book did not let me down in the least and I can’t WAIT for book two!

#7 Divergent by Veronica Roth
Released: May 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins

Why: I was completely captivated by this book from start to finish. Love the dystopian aspect to this book, it reminds me of all my favorite parts of every other dystopian novel I love.

#6 Room by Emma Donoghue
Released: June 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins

Why: I don’t usually pursue a book that doesn’t immediately attract my attention, and this one took a good 25-30% of the story before I realized how good it actually was. It was one of those books that I read while I ate, while I got ready to go out, and basically any free moment I had until it was done.

#5 Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
Released: April 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins

Why: I read the first book in this series soon after coming home from Greece, and this book brought me right back to Europe and everything I loved about it. I immediately picked up the second book and was so happy with the way the story turned out! I was really glad to hear that there was a second book because I definitely didn’t have enough after ’13 Little Blue Envelopes’

#4 The Death Cure by James Dashner
Released: October 2011
Publisher: Random House

Why: If you haven’t read The Maze Runner (book one in the trilogy) then you SHOULD BE. One of my favorite YA series right now. This was an amazing ending to it. There were some points that I felt the book was a little bit too apocalyptic, but the ending? Wow. Just, wow.

#3 My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
Released: June 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group

Why: I’m not a huge fan of romance novel, but this one? I am in LOVE with this love story. Once again, Ann Brashares writes a beautiful, believable and fantastical story that had me literally ignoring my friends during the last hundred or so pages. LOVE. Can’t wait for book two!

#2 Looking for Alaska by John Green
Released: September 2008
Publisher: Pengruin Group

Why: I went through a crazy John Green phase at the beginning of the year, but Looking for Alaska was the first book I read by him and has remained my favorite. I love the way he writes, and I love the quirky behaviors that each of his characters has.

#1 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Released: September 2007
Publisher: Random House

Why: This book was just amazing. One of the bigger novels I’ve ever read, but probably changed my life. I need to re-read this in the New Year. And if you haven’t read it? It is the most beautifully written story from World War II that I have ever read. Ever.

On the ‘To-Read’ Shelf’ Published in 2011

#6 The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

#5 The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

#4 Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (paperback)

#3 The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

#2 Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

#1 Matched by Ally Condie

Most Anticipated Reads in 2012 (so far)

#5 Insurgent by Veronica Roth

#4 City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

#3 Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

#2 The Kill Order by James Dashner

#1 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I’ve come to an important conclusion. 2011 was the year that I realized how much I adore young adult literature. Seriously, I read SO much more of it now than I read adult books, and as I browsed the upcoming adult books, there are almost none that interested me. Ha! I mean, I have a few of my favorite adult authors, but otherwise I read the bestsellers and just teen books.

What were your favorites of the year? What about your most anticipated? Which books did I miss this year? 

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Another post on books

July 20, 2011 Filed Under: Post a Day 2011, Reading/Books Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My taste in books ranges over just about every topic. I mean, there are a few exceptions but in general I’m willing to give any author a chance. Most of my current favorite writers are actually because a friend (or a customer at work) recommended a book to me. If you’re not an avid reader and you don’t know where to start, don’t be shy to take someone’s advice. If they feel strongly enough about a book, you may fall in love with it too. And if you are an avid reader, then still take recommendations! Like I said, some of my favorites were not my own discovery whatsoever.

I thought I might talk a little bit about my top 5 favorite YA authors (which I’ve probably rambled on about already) and in another post I’ll write about my top 5 favorite adult authors. Sometimes I fall even more in love with a particular writer after reading up about him or her. Putting a face and a whole life to a name makes a world of a difference sometimes. Anyway, it was hard enough to narrow this down, so I strongly recommend you give them all a look-up if you aren’t already a fan!

Top 5 YA authors

1. Markus Zusak

 Books:

1. The Book Thief
2. I Am The Messenger
3. The Underdog
4. Fighting Ruben Wolfe (sequel to The Underdog)
5. Getting the Girl (sequel to Fighting Ruben Wolfe)

-I’ve read 1, 2 and 5. I actually had no idea that Getting the Girl was the third in a series and I wasn’t lost or anything, it was just a really sweet coming of age book about love and acceptance.

-My favorites are by far I Am The Messenger & The Book Thief. I think they tie as favorites, because they honestly both changed my life and the way I perceived books in the YA section. They’ve both won numerous awards and I can’t recommend either one enough, regardless of what your reading taste is. Check them out on Goodreads here and here.

-Both of those books are also in my top 10 current favorites. Truly amazing reads, and I can honestly say that I think Markus Zusak is one of the best writers in YA fiction right now. Oh! Also do go follow him on Twitter.

2. J.K Rowling

 Books:

1. The Harry Potter series 1-7
2. Tales of Beedle the Bard
3. Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
4. Quidditch Through the Ages
5. An 800 word Harry Potter Prequel 

- As if J.K Rowling needs any kind of introduction. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you most certainly know that this amazing woman has dedicated the last 20 years of her life to the series that millions around the world love.

- Her books changed my life, which I wrote about recently here

3. John Green

 Books:

1. Looking for Alaska
2. An Abundance of Katherines
3. Paper Towns
4. Zombicorns (online novella)
5. Let it Snow (co-written with Lauren Myracle & Maureen Johnson)
6. [currently writing] The Fault in our Stars

- You mean you haven’t heard enough about him here and here?

- Everything he writes I want to copy down somewhere to remember another day. I’m constantly favoriting (yes I know that’s not a real word) his quotes on Goodreads & I’ve helped convert so many new fans that it makes me feel really proud, and I can’t tell you why.

- Everything this author does for his fans makes me love his books more. He’s actually going to sign every single pre-ordered copy of his new book. That’s like, hundreds of thousands. How legit is that?

- I’m trying to fill up all the space next to his picture so I’m going to keep rambling. John Green’s books may be one of the reasons that I fell back in love with beautiful literature. I don’t know how else to describe it.

- My favorites are 1, 2, 3 but in no particular order. They’re all awesome!

4. Suzanne Collins

 Books:

1. Gregor the Overlander 1-5 (The Underland Chronicles)
2. The Hunger Games
3. Catching Fire
4. Mockingjay

- Suzanne Collins was the first teen author to renew my love for YA fiction 3 years ago. I used to read it obsessively when I was at the age for it, but then I moved on to adult books when I thought the time was right. Reading The Hunger Games changed the way I perceived teen books again and I was able to discover what an amazing world it can be. A lot of people are super embarrassed when they’re “too old” to be shopping in the younger sections, but it’s honestly AMAZING the books you can find in there.

- Catching Fire is in my top 10 favorite books of all time.

- I cannot WAIT for The Hunger Games movie to come out next year.

- If you haven’t read these yet, I don’t care WHAT you read, you will love this book. I think I’ve met two people who haven’t liked it… Out of probably close to a thousand (not an exaggeration, I’ve been selling the book for 3 straight years)!

5. Ann Brashares

 Books:

1. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Summer 1-4)
2. The Summer of You and Me
3. My Name is Memory
4. 3 Willows
5. Sisterhood Everlasting

- I’ve blogged about her books recently because I just re-read all four Sisterhood books as well as the brand new one (which I forgot to book review) but I can honestly say that those books changed my life entirely. Re-reading them did NOTHING to change that for me, it only renewed my love for these books even more.

- I did not like (and did not even finish reading) The Summer of You & Me as well as 3 Willows. She’s the only author that I’m allowing in this feature to have books that I didn’t like because I so sincerely love everything else she wrote. I have ‘My Name is Memory’ on my bookshelf now and I’ve heard only good things. Also, her books are not all YA, but I still consider her as a YA author above all.

- I’m going to write a review of Sisterhood Everlasting I think, but that was one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read this year. I cried so much reading it, I can’t even begin to tell you. It was so good.

These authors are probably some of the most famous in their field right now, so I may not be teaching you anything new. In that case, I’d like to just mention a few authors that are slowly making their mark in YA fiction (or that already have but just didn’t make the Top 5 cut) and I can’t wait to see what else they come out with: Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver, Kenneth Oppel [LOVE him. His new book is on my nightstand right now!], Rick Riordan, James Dashner and Jeff Kinney- who I’m way too old to read (seriously!) but can’t help but enjoy his sense of humor anyway.

I think that just about covers it for now, who are some of your favorite authors? Have I introduced you to anyone new that you’ll be reading? I’d love to know! 

** I say the word honestly way too much. Wow. **
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