October 2024 Book Haul

October was definitely a big month for hauling books. I will say I didn't expect to get this many books and I am definitely not looking to get this many books in November. I have been rather happy with my smaller hauls lately but that does not negate the excitement for the 12 books I got in October. Let's go ahead and dive right in! 

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The first six books I got were actually from a local used bookstore that I've been shopping at for ten years now. The books were already a good price and I was able to use my store credit for 50% off on top of that which is rather exciting. The first of these books was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. This is one that I've been meaning to read for years. When I moved back to the US, I had to leave my copy behind. When I saw the floppy paperback in perfect condition the bookstore, I knew it was meant to be.

Then I picked up Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman. This is a novella set in the Heartstopper world. I love Heartstopper, both the show and the books/comics. I've had this on my wishlist for about a year now so when I saw it in the store in perfect condition in the edition I wanted, I knew it was fate. These characters are so special and I'm thrilled to have more adventures to come with them in this one. 

I then grabbed a copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Believe it or not, I've only read the first Hunger Games book and I never owned a set of the books. I love the movies and the story, so it's wild to me that I didn't already have them. It's my mission to get a set of the trilogy now, though, so that I can finally read it in its entirety. It's a pretty popular series so I doubt I'll have any issues finding affordable secondhand copies. 

Up next for the used bookstore was a boxset of the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson. This consists of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Good Girl, Bad Blood, and As Good as Dead. This series has been on my radar for ages and I had to leave my copy of the first behind in London when I moved. That worked out, though, as the different countries have different versions of the story. Anyway, I figured for such a good price I could grab the set and give it a read and then my siblings could borrow it since they were also wanting to read it. 

A little bit later into the month I stumbled across The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz on TikTok. I was just scrolling and all of a sudden I saw the cutest, most beautiful little art about a dragon who learns to bake. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days so I decided to give in and get a copy. If I want an excuse, I can say I'll read it to my nieces when they visit but, really, it's for me. And it's absolutely stunning and such a cute story.

Then I grabbed the 10th anniversary edition of The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. The Bone Season is a book that I read ages ago and loved. I'm not 100% caught up on the story but that's okay as they just released these rewritten versions of the series! The core story is the same, I believe, but with lots of editing and changes now that the author has grown with her writing. I consider it the perfect time to reread the new versions and get caught up on the series before the next book comes out in 2025.

I picked up a copy of Stacked: The Art of the Perfect Sandwich by Owen Han. This is a cookbook entirely dedicated to sandwiches, wraps, etc. I've followed him on TikTok for a while now and when he dropped the news about this cookbook I was so excited. I have already bookmarked a ton of recipes that I want to try. Sandwiches are so delightful and definitely something I overlooked a lot in my college years so I can't wait to dive into some amazing new ones. 

I then picked up copies of The Emotion Thesaurus and The Urban Setting Thesaurus by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman. I stumbled across these writing resources and immediately knew I needed a set. It's an entire series of these reference books that offer examples and advise on writing about particular things in a book. The Emotion Thesaurus, for example, has hundreds of emotions listed out with definitions, physical movements a character could do to express it, internal feelings, examples of it in a sentence, etc. I started out with just these two from the series, though, as I felt they were the most relevant to my current writing projects. 

Lastly, I picked up a copy of The Stardew Valley Guidebook: 1.6 Edition. I love love love Stardew Valley. It's probably my favorite video game at this point, which is wild to say as I hadn't even played it a year ago. It's a fun, cozy, addicting game. I play on the Switch, however, so I haven't been able to play the 1.6 update yet. However, that's coming in just a few short days (the same day this post with go live, I believe) and I am stoked! I figured it was then time to upgrade my guidebook with the updated information as I used my previous guidebook a lot on my first play throughs. 

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Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

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Favorite Books of 2023

One of my favorite blog posts to write every year is when I get to talk about my favorite books of the year. 2023 was an interesting reading year for me in that I read a lot of series and inter-connected works. I read 101 books, read 10 series, and found a lot of new favorites which I've narrowed down to my top 10 here. However, I am being a bit cheeky and including books in the same series/inter-connected saga as one entry (otherwise this entire list would just be J. Bree books). But enough of my waffling, let's go ahead and dive in!

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Coming in at number 10, we have Ensnared by Rebecca Quinn. This is a spicy rh post-apocalyptic series that I discovered in December and devoured. Now, only the first two books have been released thus far but the third is coming hopefully in the first half of the year. They are such easy books to read and the spice is so good as well. 

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Number 9 goes to Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong. This is a novella duology set in the Secret Shanghai world and it was everything good. I loved the characters these novellas were about, I loved the stories within them, I loved the domestic fluff. It was so good. Now, I've not get read the final Secret Shanghai book because I'm scared of the ending but this book got me so excited to see how it all wraps up. 

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At number 8, I have put Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. The hype around this book was unreal and totally justified, in my opinion. I blew through it and was absolutely enthralled. Rebecca's writing is so beautiful, so moving. The characters were lovely and I am beyond nervous to see how the sequel plays out when I finally get around to it. 

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Number 7 goes to Heartstopper, Volumes 3, 4, & 5. by Alice Oseman. I already enjoyed these graphic novels but hadn't read the newest ones yet. But season 2 of the show dropped this year and I devoured it. I knew it was time to read the next volumes (and get hyped for the 5th releasing in December). I loved them. Heartstopper is everything good and pure and wonderful. I loved just getting more of these characters' stories and I just want to take each and every one, wrap them in a blanket, and give them a cookie. 

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For number 6, I have The Bonds That Tie series by J. Bree. My journey with this one is a funny one. I read the first three books at the end of 2022, the next two at the beginning of 2023, and the final one many months later. It was enjoyable and fun but not quite as much as her other series. Then, in the fall, I got the urge to reread the series. Oh my lords! The first time was addicting but this time around was all-consuming. I love these characters, this world, this story. It's such a fun time and is just one of many books that has cemented J. Bree as a new favorite. 

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Number 5 goes to the Ironside Academy series by Jane Washington. Jane writes bangers, plain and simple. I've loved everything I've ever written by her and this newest series is no exception. It's fun, it's addicting, it's like watching reality TV and being unable to turn away. Which makes sense as it's about an academy for gifted that's also a reality show. It's addicting and the three books we got in 2023 were so good. I'm eagerly anticipating the next ones in the new year. 

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For number 4, I have Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree. This is the first in J. Bree's newest series that started releasing in 2023 and I am obsessed with it. Like with all of her books, I think about this one constantly. It's also the first time I've started a series of hers without all the books being out which is a new level of excruciating. This is a super slow burn fantasy romance and I was here for every second of it. I loved the angst, I loved that they're true enemies, I loved it all. Of course, my love is only made stronger by the prequel novellas (which are essential reading in my opinion). 

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Number 3 goes to City of Souls and Sinners by Kayla Edwards. This is the second book in the House of Devils series, with the first book having been my number 1 book of 2022. The sequel was my most anticipated release of this year and I was not disappointed. This book is chunky and yet I flew through it so quickly. These characters are everything to me and this book was so full of angst and pain. It tugged on my heartstrings so much and I was basically a ball of anxiety. But I loved that. The cliffhanger was insane, though, so I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel coming in just a couple months. 

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I deliberated a lot on how to place these last two, but I think I've decided that this is the correct order. My number 2 slot goes to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. Like many, FW grabbed me and didn't let me go from the moment I read the first page. I loved it so much. When IF came around, I also loved it. It was a different vibe from the first book, but I loved it nonetheless. I think about these books a lot and I'm nervous and excited to see where they go from here. 

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My top spot of number 1 is a bit cheeky because it goes to the Mounts Bay books by J. Bree. This includes the Queen Crow trilogy, Butcher of the Bay duet, and my most favorite, the Hannaford Prep series. All of these series are inter-connected in this world following the same set of characters, which is why I wanted to rate them in one slot. I'm absolutely obsessed with these books and think about them on a weekly, if not daily basis. I've already read the Hannaford Prep series twice and everyday I debate rereading them all over again. This year truly belonged to J. Bree and I loved every second of it. 

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Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

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December 2023 Book Haul

Last month, last book haul of 2023! December was a rather small month for book buying and I'm quite proud of that. One of my goals that I'm continuing from 2023 into 2024 is to keep buying less and less books as I go. I'm being very intentional with my purchasing nowadays and that means that, while this haul is small, I'm really excited about what I have. I only got four books this month and one was a gift. Let's go ahead and dive in!  

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Up first is Heartstopper, Volume 5 by Alice Oseman. I absolutely love Heartstopper and this was such a beautiful volume in the series (yes I've already read it). These characters are so precious and this was such a fun installment after the quite serious topics of the last volume. I'm so eager to see volumes four and five come to life on the tv show (and I think Alice said both would be in the next season). This is a series that I know is going to be so foundational for a lot of kids and teenagers as they grow up and discover themselves and I'm just so glad that it exists. 

Then I splurged a bit and got the Stardew Valley Guidebook during a Black Friday sale. I recently started to finally play Stardew Valley and I knew I wanted this guidebook when that happened. I held off on purchasing it until I knew I was going to like the game and, well, I love the game. I use this guidebook nonstop while I play (even after putting over 100 hours into the game I still look at the guidebook daily). It's so beautiful and so informational and such a good resource. 

I then got Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat for Christmas. This cookbook has been on my radar for a while now but I officially put it on my wishlist at the beginning of 2023. I intended on buying it for myself many times during the year but never ended up clicking "Buy." When it showed up for Christmas I got so excited. I love cooking but I'm also very new to it. I can follow a recipe well but when it comes to making my own meals without guidance I'm still a newbie. I've heard this is a quintessential resource for learning the basics and I'm eager to dive into it in 2024. 

Lastly, I picked up Murdle: Volume 1 by G.T. Karber. This is a murder mystery logic puzzle book and I'm obsessed with it! Murdle is a daily game you can play online for free but I knew I wanted this book after I blew through the daily puzzles and was desperate for more. There's 100 puzzles in this first book and I've already gotten through 53 of them (only three days later at the time of writing). They're just so fun and I love a good logic puzzle. I can see why it's been so popular lately and I anticipate that I'll soon be getting the other volumes and blasting through those too. 

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Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

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End of the Year Book Tag: 2023 Edition

Another year past, another end of the year wrap up to start getting into! This is my favorite time of the year on my blog where I get to wrap-up a bunch of fun things from this year and look ahead to the next year. It always kicks off with the End of the Year Book Tag. This is my fifth year doing it and it's one of the tags that I enjoy every time. Let's go ahead and dive in! 

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1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

I've not started and DNF-ed any books that I want to finish but there are a few series I want to continue with before the year is over. First, I want to finish my reread of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I've gotten through Queen of Shadows and I've started Empire of Storms. It's so much fun being back in this world and with these characters. It truly feels like returning home.

I also want to continue reading the Ironside Academy by Jane Washington. Jane is one of my favorite indie authors and this is her newest book series. I've read the first book and loved it. The sequel came out a few months ago and the third book just came out a few days ago. I'm so excited to continue with more in this world and I've heard nothing but great things about the second and third books. I'm hoping to binge them all in one go after I finish the Throne of Glass series. 

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2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I always think that fantasy books are the perfect fall and winter books. There's a few on my TBR for the rest of the month but I'm pretty excited about hopefully getting to One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. I've known about this book since it came out but it seems like it hit a popularity surge this year and I've heard nothing but good things about it. I just feel like this has the perfect autumn/winter fantasy reading vibes. 

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3. Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross is probably my last confirmed release that I'm anticipating for the year. It comes out in the US in December but in the UK in January so it's technically one that I'm excited for this year and next. I might not get to read it until January but I'm very much looking forward to it. 

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4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

I want to get to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon, and Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman. I've heard great things about the first two and I absolutely love Heartstopper so I'm really excited to see how the story continues.  

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5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Any book could shock me at this point as all of my TBR for the rest of the year are ones that I'm highly anticipating. It could be The Hurricane Wars or Emily Wilde's or One Dark Window or Sauter or Foul Heart Huntsman or a random book I decide to pick up on a whim. Any one of them could surprise me and become a favorite. 

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6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2024?

You bet I have! I have some books scheduled in various months throughout the year to coincide with the releases I'm most excited for. I am very excited as a bunch of my most anticipated releases are coming in the first few months of the year. I'm not going to set a number goal for the year but I do have some goals planned around series and my backlist TBR. 

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Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

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Halloween Creatures Book Tag

Happy spooky season everyone! September to December is my favorite time of year, thanks to autumn, spooky season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all happening in quick succession. Today, I have a Halloween-themed book tag I'm pretty excited to do. This tag was originally created by Paperbacks and Planners so make sure to check out the original after this one!

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1. WITCH - a magical character or book

There are so many magical books, mainly because I primarily read fantasy book with magic in them. Of course, I can only choose one. I'm going to go with Rookesbane from The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree. Rooke is a witch, so of course she fits this prompt perfectly. This whole book is phenomenal and I can't wait to read more about Rooke's adventures as a witch. 

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2. WEREWOLF - the perfect book to read at night

For this, I'm going with The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. I am not a scary book type of girl and I much prefer spooky, magical reads to scary reads, especially in autumn. This is a perfect night-time autumn read. It's set around Halloween in a witchy town with lots of shenanigans. It's fun, it's spooky, it's witchy, it's romantic, it's just perfect for Halloween reading. 

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3. FRANKENSTEIN - a book that truly shocked you

There are many books that could fit this one but I think I'm going to go with Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. There were a couple of twists but mainly the ending is the one that shocked me the most. It was shocking for sure and painful. I desperately need the next book in my hands after that one. Only a few more months to go...

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4. THE DEVIL - a dark, evil character

There is no one more qualified for this prompt than Maeve from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I'm not going to get super into it for spoiler reasons but she is just a vile character. Sarah has crafted such a monster and I have to applaud her writing because she is definitely one of my most-hated characters. 

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5. GRIM REAPER - a character that never should have died

There are a lot of deaths in Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, there's no denying that. However, there's one death in particular that I'm sure anyone who has read this will immediately understand. I'm not going to say who, just that this particular character wormed their way into my heart and their death was so unexpected and heartbreaking for a myriad of reasons. 

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6. ZOMBIE - a book that made you “hungry” for more

I'm going with Plier by Jane Washington. This is the first book in the Ironside Academy series and I absolutely blew through it when I read it. It was addicting and the slow burn is hella slow burn and the ending left me hungering for more. With multiple books in the series still to come out, I have a lot of waiting ahead of me. 

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7. GARGOYLE - a character that you would protect at all cost

I'm going with Charlie Spring from Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Charlie is just one of those cinnamon roll characters you want to wrap in a blanket and protect from the world. Of course, I think Nick is probably first in line to do so. If you've read the graphic novels or seen the TV adaptation, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean when I say that Charlie deserves to be protected at all costs. 

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8. VAMPIRE - a book that sucked the life out of you

There's lot of books I've disliked over the years. I'm going to go with Stealing Their Harley for this one, though. It's not a particularly bad book per se. However, it's so short and quick that trying to fit the entire story of it into this one did not work. I was really excited for this one but it ended up just being incredibly disappointing. 

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9. GHOST - a book that still haunts you

The Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby will forever be a series that haunts me and has a place in my heart. The things the main character goes through in her life and in this series is traumatizing and heartbreaking to say the least. Even though I love this series and it does have lighter moments in it, it's also a haunting story for sure. 

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10. DEMON - a book that really scared you

I'm going with Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco. I've said it before but this book absolutely scared the shit out of me when I read it at certain parts. This is the fourth book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series which is definitely one of my favorites. It's a historical mystery series and I loved them so. This final book had moments so well-written that I could feel myself getting terrified just imagining the setting. 

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11. SKELETON - a character you have a bone to pick with

I'm going with The Jackal from the Hannaford Prep series by J. Bree. He's a crazy psychotic man and a great antagonist for the series. The things he's did prior to the series and during put him near the top of my shit list of characters. He definitely deserved what he got and then some.  

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12. MUMMY - a book you would preserve throughout time

There are many books I would preserve through time. One that feels like a modern, timeless classic though is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This is a retelling of Achilles and Patroclus from Homer's Illiad. It is so beautifully written and I loved every minute of it, which a lot of people must agree with seeing as it's one of the most popular books of our time. 

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13. CREEPY DOLL - a cover too scary to look at

I don't read scary books so there's not a lot of scary book covers for me to chose from out of the ones I've read. However, I do think some of them are a little creepier than others. One that is creepy but still hautningly beautiful is Illusionary by Zoraida Córdova. 

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Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Lauren

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You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

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