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The Perpetual Page-Turner

The Perpetual Page-Turner

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Home | Top Ten Tuesday | Top Ten New-To-Me Favorite Authors In 2013

Top Ten New-To-Me Favorite Authors In 2013

December 17, 2013 - Updated May 7, 2019 // 65 Comments

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Top Ten Tuesday, as  always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish

This week’s topic: Top Ten New To Me Favorite Authors In 2013

I always have a hard time figuring out what makes an author a favorite. Most of the time I’ve read a couple books from them and really have felt something spectacular. Sometimes all it takes is one book and I just have this premonition that this author is going to be a favorite. I’ve got a mix of the two here. I’m typically right most of the time when I declare it after one book because I just have this FEELING.

**Note: I’m not listing the authors ONLY books..just the ones I’ve read. **

Trish Doller

 

 

Rainbow Rowell

 

 

Kasie West

 

Leila Sales

 

Elizabeth Wein

 

 

 

Cath Crowley

 

Laura Buzo

 

Hilary T Smith

 

Daisy Whitney

 

Melina Marchetta

 

 

Trish Doller (Something Like Normal | Where The Stars Still Shine)

Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park | Fangirl)

Kasie West (Pivot Point | The Distance Between Us)

Leila Sales (This Song Will Save Your Life)

Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity)

Cath Crowley (Graffiti Moon)

Laura Buzo (Holier Than Thou | Love and Other Perishable Items)

Hilary T. Smith (Wild Awake)

Daisy Whitney (When You Were Here)

Melina Marchetta (Jellicoe Road)

 

So tell me…what authors have become new favorites for YOU this year? Are any of these authors on your favorites list?

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Filed Under: Top Ten Tuesday Tagged With: lists, Top ten list, Top Ten Tuesday

About Jamie

Jamie is a 32 year old married lady (with a new baby!!) who is in denial that she's actually that old to be a married lady and a mom. When she's not reading you can find her doing Pilates followed by eating ice cream, belting out Hamilton (loud and offkey) and having adventures with her husband, daughter and rescue dog.

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Comments

  1. alice-jane says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:12 am

    Tara Altebrando and Sara Zarr have become favorites (Roomies was amazing!). I finally got around to reading The Summer I Turned Pretty this year and Jenny Han is quickly moving up my list. Looking forward to her 2014 release, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      Planning on reading Roomies soon! I’ve read and liked Sara Zarr before but not Tara!

      Reply
  2. Amy M. says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:18 am

    Nice list! I have yet to read Love and Other Perishable Items. It’s on my TBR. I also have yet to read a Rainbow Rowell book, but I’ve been eying Fangirl and Attachments. I’ll probably start with one of those.

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      OH YES YOU MUST READ RAINBOW!

      Reply
  3. Lindsay says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:19 am

    Great list! Rainbow Rowell is on mine as well. I binge read all 3 books in 2 days. There’s a couple others you listed on my TBR as well.

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:25 pm

      HOW COULD YOU STAND ALL THOSE FEELS AT ONCE??

      Reply
  4. Sharon @ The Book Barbies says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:21 am

    I had Rowell and Marchetta on my list, as well! Normally, I don’t feel comfortable listing an author on lists like this after one book (which is why Sales didn’t make it on there, despite how much I was impressed by This Song Will Save Your Life), but Marchetta absolutely blew me away with Jellicoe Road. It’s an exception to so many rules, so I can make an exception for her, I feel.

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:30 pm

      I had a tough time with the faves designation! I think I need to word it differently next year — maybe like Top ten new favorite authors I read for the first time in 2013. Wow that’s wordy but that’s basically what this list should be called though there ARE some all time faves on this list — Rowell, Doller and Marchetta (yeah, all I needed was one book to KNOW!)

      Reply
  5. Chrissi Reads says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:43 am

    I definitely want to check out some of the authors on your list this week. We share Rainbow Rowell. I’ve loved her books. I did mean to add Kasie West to my list. I’ve only read Pivot Point (The Distance Between Us is coming up soon), but I can tell that Kasie is going to be a favourite of mine!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:31 pm

      She’s fab! Kasie West def is a star of 2013!

      Reply
  6. Andie says

    December 17, 2013 at 1:12 am

    I had such a hard time limiting my list to 10 on this one. I can’t believe I forgot Trish Doller though. I really loved Where the Stars Still Shine.

    Reply
  7. Christianna says

    December 17, 2013 at 1:19 am

    I have a couple of the same authors on my list! So many good books and writers out there this year!
    My TTT

    Reply
  8. Johannah says

    December 17, 2013 at 2:06 am

    You got to all the awesome books this year! I did get to read Kasie West’s The Distance Between Us and I loved it! I can’t wait to read more by her!
    here’s my TT – http://thebrokenshelf.com/top-ten-tuesday-authors/

    Reply
  9. Rachel Patrick says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:14 am

    Rainbow Rowell (of course) and Hilary T. Smith made my list, too! I still haven’t read a Daisy Whitney book, I’m afraid to read CODE NAME VERITY, and I’ve got a copy of ON THE JELLICOE ROAD just waiting to be read. Nice list!

    Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf

    Reply
  10. Jessica says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:52 am

    Before I looked at your list, I wrote mine down and Rainbow Rowell is on mine as well, loved Eleanor & Park and Fangirl and can’t wait to read Attachments! On another note, I do top ten tuesdays (and credit you) on my booklikes page and didn’t realize that your supposed to use the same topic! Much more fun that way! …. although I already wrote one out for this week (movies that I liked better than the books) but I’ll post that for another day and do this one! Already have my list, thank you 🙂

    Reply
  11. Mel@thedailyprophecy says

    December 17, 2013 at 5:28 am

    I’ve also read This song will save your life now and I think it would make it to my list too. Such a powerful story 🙂

    Reply
  12. Jasprit says

    December 17, 2013 at 6:08 am

    Wow Jamie you definitely have read some great books by brilliant authors this year. I adore Marchetta’s books so I’m really glad to see her on your list, along with Leila Sales, Cath Crowley and Laura Buzo. I satill need to pick up West’s books, but I’m glad she made it to a lot of lists! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Christina T says

    December 17, 2013 at 6:51 am

    Rainbow Rowell would definitely make my list of favorite new to me authors. I also loved Trish Doller’s Where the Stars Still Shine. Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity is fantastic and I recently read Rose Under Fire which I also loved.

    Reply
  14. Kayla Elizabeth says

    December 17, 2013 at 8:05 am

    I am so ashamed that I couldn’t add Leila Sales to my list. I mean, I guess I technically could have because she is an author I heard of this year, but I didn’t get a chance to read. I know it is a bit premature to assume I’ll love her book, but based on the bits and pieces I’ve heard (as well as reading a ton of reviews), ‘This Song Will Save Your Life’ sounds like something I’d love.

    Based on some reviews, I am going to check out Laura Buzo (actually, your review has inspired me to check it out) and also Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley.

    Reply
  15. April says

    December 17, 2013 at 8:14 am

    I have not tried any of these authors and I’m thinking I probably should. :oP

    Reply
  16. Anna says

    December 17, 2013 at 8:18 am

    Yup, all of these authors are AMAZING! Though, I must confess I still haven’t finished a Daisy Whitney book. Gotta get on it!

    Reply
  17. Ginger @ GReads! says

    December 17, 2013 at 8:30 am

    Your list is amazing. A lot of these authors I’ve read in previous years, but I agree with them 100%! Now Jamie, you MUST read Saving Francesca and then The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta. The Piper’s Son is my absolute favorite, but it’s a companion to SF so you need to read that one first to know the characters.

    Reply
  18. Rebecca @ The Library Canary says

    December 17, 2013 at 9:11 am

    So many books I need to read. I still need to try out Trish Doller, Kasie West, Elizabeth Wein, and Leila Sales. I’ve heard great things about all three. I also discovered Rainbow Rowell this year and she is on my auto-buy list. So freaking good. I only read Fangirl, but I have Eleanor & Park sitting on my nightstand waiting for me. I also have Code Name Verity sitting on my nightstand. Hopefully I’ll get a lot of reading done over the holiday. Actually I probably won’t. I never get very much reading done when I am visiting family. And since we moved, the plane ride is way shorter. Boo.

    Reply
  19. Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile says

    December 17, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Gah, I’ve only read Kasie West and Leila Sales from your list and both of them ARE amazing! I’ll be reading Rainbow Rowell and Trish Doller books as soon as I can make time for it!

    I’ve heard so many good things about Jellicoe Road. Wild Awake is also on my to-read list. So many good books everywhere today. =D

    Reply
  20. Heather@The Flyleaf Review says

    December 17, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Leila Sales was my top pic too–now I can’t wait to read Past Perfect:) Melina and Rainbow made my co-bloggers list–and they have been popular picks today! So glad people are discovering them–and that you discovered Trish Doller, Laura Buzo and Cath Crowley this year–all such fabulous writers:)

    Reply
  21. Miss Print says

    December 17, 2013 at 9:50 am

    They aren’t new to me but I’m really happy you like Melina Marchetta and Cath Crowley. Between all of the buzz and the Morris Award shortlist I’ve also recently added Laura Buzo’s book to my own to read pile.

    Reply
  22. Jacque says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:04 am

    Great list!! I included Rainbow Rowell on my list as well. I loved Fangirl, but I still need to read Eleanor and Park. Kasie West is still on my TBR list. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed her books!! I already have a copy of Pivot Point, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.

    Here is my TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-new-to-me.html

    Reply
  23. DeAnna @ Mommy's Reading Break says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:05 am

    I suck! The only one I’ve read on this list is Pivot Point!

    Reply
  24. Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:33 am

    Rainbow made my list, too (and like everyone else’s lists I’ve looked at!). I don’t know how I left Kasie West off. If I hadn’t read Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales she could have made my list, but I couldn’t stand that book and I think it kind of ruined her for me (sad). And I’m really jealous you’ve read Holier Than Thou, I’m dying it read it!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 3:14 pm

      See I’ve heard that and it scares me about her book now that I’ve declared FAVE status of 2013 haha. Holier than thou was really good — it was nice to read about twenty-somethings! Very character driven!

      Reply
  25. Allison L says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:39 am

    I love seeing Elizabeth Wein on here. So glad that you broke down and decided to check out Code Name Verity and loved it so much! 😀

    Reply
  26. Kayla @ The Thousand Lives says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:42 am

    I have Pivot Point and This Song Will Save Your Life on my shelves – now that I think of it, Eleanor & Park too – Everyone says I should read them and I think it’s time I did 😛

    Trish Doller is an author I want to start reading in 2014 – both of the books you listed have had really high reviews amongst the bloggers I follow. Plus, I’m trying to read more contemporary!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      Oh my goodness yes definitely read Trish! And This Song Will Save Your Life should be HIGH on your list. I know a lot of people who don’t love contemporary LOVED that one!

      Reply
  27. kimberlybuggie says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Awesome list! I see Kasie West’s name on a lot of people’s list today. I really have to read Pivot Point!
    I am glad we share Rainbow Rowell. I love her books. Where the Stars Still Shine is so amazing. I’m so glad Trish Doller is on your list!

    My TTT

    Happy Tuesday!

    Reply
    • Jamie says

      December 17, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      Yes read Pivot Point! It’s one that almost slipped under my radar but FINALLY read it last month!

      Reply
  28. Reviews From A Bookworm says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    Great list! Loads of these authors are ones that I still haven’t got to but really want to read – especially Rainbow Rowell, Kasie West and Melina Marchetta. Leila Sales made my list too, I loved This Song Will Save Your Life. My TTT

    Reply
  29. Erica says

    December 17, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    I’m loving this week’s lists! All these new authors I’m adding to my neverending TBR list 🙂

    Reply
  30. Liz says

    December 17, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    I really liked Fangirl as well, and read Jellicoe Road a while ago and loved it. Saving Franchesca, one of her other novels, was great too.

    This year I binged on Katie McGarry, and JoJo Moyes. The Darkest Minds triology by Alexandra Bracken is also really good, and I can’t get enough Gayle Forman.

    Reply
  31. Kaley @ Books Etc says

    December 17, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Rainbow Rowell made it on my list, too 🙂 As did Gayle Forman…thank you for loving her so much and making me want to read her books!

    Reply
  32. Melissa Bookmark Dragon says

    December 17, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    What a great list! I’m not familiar with every author you mentioned… looks like I have some reading to do. I fell in love with Sharon Shinn in 2013. She’s not new of course, but she’s new to me! I loved Troubled Water and Royal Airs both this year.

    I’m new to this lovely book blogosphere. Well, I’m not a new lurker. I’ve been around for years. I’m a new participator though. If you’d like, feel free to drop by http://www.bookmarkdragon.com. I’d love to have you!

    Reply
  33. Jennifer aka YA Book Nerd says

    December 17, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    great list – several of these I want to read!

    Reply
  34. Lindsey says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Code Name Verity was a great book. Did you read Wein’s newest book Rose Under Fire??

    Reply
  35. Violet says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    There are a lot of authors on here that I’ve got in my TBR. Awesome list!

    Violet
    http://www.paperworldsandswirlsofink.blogspot.com

    Reply
  36. Marie Landry says

    December 17, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    I have all these authors/books on my TBR, but the only one I’ve read was Love and Other Perishable Items. Trish Doller, Rainbow Rowell, and Kasie West are high on my list for next year though! Great list, Jamie.

    ~Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer
    My Top Ten Tuesday

    Reply
  37. Bonnie @ A Backwards Story says

    December 17, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    Such a pretty list again! I should find a way to make mine pretty next year… For me, “favorite” meant the books I liked the most from authors I’d never read before. Because it’s likely the author that made me feel this way, not just the story idea! I know what you mean, though. Some authors, you just KNOW you’ll insta-love and always read. I wouldn’t say all ten on my list are THAT. But I’d be willing to read them again, so…! That other type is more special!

    I’m reading FANGIRL right now and just finished ELEANOR AND PARK! I put them off for so long because I didn’t super-love ATTACHMENTS, which I read over the summer. But it’s me. I don’t like epistolary fiction. I also struggled with THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER this year for that reason ^^;; All the quotables, though…!

    Kasie West…I still have to read THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US! So glad I have SPLIT SECOND! Leila Sales, yay! Elizabeth Wein will be new-to-me in 2014. Couldn’t make it work this year! Same with Cath Crowley. Really wanted to read GRAFFITI MOON! Yay, love Hilary T. Smith as the Intern…so glad she writes fiction now! Daisy Whitney! I love love LOVE her! I was so happy when she became a favorite of yours this year, Jamie! I hope you read and love more of her books! I really loved THE MOCKINGBIRDS especially! Melina Marchetta! I just bought a fantasy by her for $1.99. So far,have only read JELLICOE ROAD!

    Reply
  38. Danya says

    December 17, 2013 at 6:45 pm

    I can’t believe I still haven’t read Code Name Verity…I need to get on that bandwagon ASAP! Definitely want to check out Pivot Point too, I keep seeing good things about it.

    Reply
  39. Farzy @ Boooks Keep Me Sane says

    December 17, 2013 at 9:08 pm

    I am reading Fangirl right now and I’m loving it 😀 Great list you have there. A lot of people is liking Pivot Point, I haven’t read it but I’m definitely gonna check it out.

    My Top Ten Tuesday

    Reply
  40. Dreams says

    December 17, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    I haven’t read any books by those authors, but I’ll have to check them out.

    Reply
  41. Rissi says

    December 17, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    CANNOT wait to try Rainbow’s novels. Heard so much good about that author. 🙂

    Reply
  42. Kate says

    December 17, 2013 at 11:01 pm

    I’m planning to read Pivot Point and Fangirl as soon as I can. I keep reading reviews of these two books, and haven’t gotten to either yet. Excited for both of them!

    Reply
  43. Hannah says

    December 18, 2013 at 7:07 am

    This is a great list. There are so many authors and books on this list that I promised myself I would read and still haven’t gotten round to it! Will definitely be catching up on some of these authors over Christmas break!

    Reply
  44. TheAvidReader says

    December 18, 2013 at 9:13 am

    I really, really need to get my hands on Eleanor and Park, Where the Stars Still Shine and Pivot Point! Those have been on my wish list forever. I’ll have to check some of these others out too!

    Code Name Verity was a little slow for me (*ducks* because OMG everyone loves this one) BUT then the ending was amazing! So I’m torn on that one.

    Reply
  45. Nicole says

    December 18, 2013 at 11:13 am

    We have quite a few authors in common! I also listed Kasie West, Elizabeth Wein and Trish Doller in my top 5! I would have included Melina Marchetta – she is an all time fav – but I read her work pre-2013! Great list!!

    Nicole @ The Quiet Concert

    Reply
  46. Justine @ paperback heart says

    December 18, 2013 at 11:31 am

    So many of these authors became my favorites this year because of you! And the ones I haven’t read yet are high on my TBR. Your reviews (and even your twitter flails) really give me a good sense of the book, and I think our taste is similar enough that I really trust your recommendations. I’ve found so many good books because of you so THANK YOU!!

    Reply
  47. Emmah says

    December 18, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    I have “Fangirl” in my Kindle waiting for me to read it, but I haven’t read it yet! And I just finished “Pivot Point” a few days ago and it was SO good. I decided to finally read that one, ’cause it’s been sitting in my Kindle for a long time and you raved about it!

    Reply
  48. Kendra says

    December 18, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    I love this list! Every author/book here is either one of my favorite reads this year or on my top-priority-to-read list. I wish I could read all of them right now… not.emough.time.in.the.day.

    Reply
  49. Leah says

    December 18, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    I love your list! So many of these people are on my list too. I was surprised by how much I loved Kasie West’s book and can’t wait for Split Second to come out. Elizabeth Wein KILLED me with Code Name Verity. I’m almost afraid to read anything else because I loved that book so much, but then at the same time, I want more! This year I also really liked Elizabeth LeBan’s The Tragedy Paper and Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha books. I’ve added to many books to my GoodReads list because of you–really love the heart you put into your blog!

    Reply
  50. Heather says

    December 18, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    I have heard amazing things about all of these books. Can’t wait to read the ones I haven’t gotten to yet. Definitely impressed with all these authors. Also very excited about Mindy McGinnis.

    Reply
  51. Maura says

    December 19, 2013 at 10:34 am

    I LOVED Fangirl! (: I am not a contemporary fan, but I absolutely adored it! I HAVE to read This Song soon. It keeps slipping my mind! ):

    Reply
  52. erinf1 says

    December 19, 2013 at 10:38 am

    I’m so far behind the times… I just “discovered” Marissa Meyer’s Cinder series and Veronica Roth 🙂

    Reply
  53. Andrea @ Bookish says

    December 19, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Oh, Rainbow! I love her to an unimaginable level! I haven’t read Eleanor & Park yet, but I flew through Fangirl! Thinking about it just makes me happy! Oh, Levi. How I love thee . . .

    I haven’t read The Distance Between Us either, but it is sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. We’re going a Valentine’s Day thing during February on the blog, so that’s one of the books that’s going to be read. That and My Life Nextdoor. Sometimes I’m so digging those sweet lovey romances!

    I also need to get to reading This Song Will Save Your Life. I’ve heard such great things about it and it sounds so moving. Ugh, I just need to get my butt in gear!

    Reply
  54. Alexa Y. says

    December 20, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    There are still a few authors on this list that I’ve got to check out! Kasie West is one of them, since I know you adored Pivot Point (as did many others). I hope I get around to reading her books soon.

    Reply
  55. Anne says

    December 22, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Love Rainbow Rowell!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top Ten says:
    December 24, 2013 at 12:00 am

    […] Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: It’s no secret I LOVE Rainbow Rowell. She was a big discovery for me this year  and became one of my favorite authors after reading Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. I NEED this […]

    Reply
  2. My Last Monthly Rewind of 2013…HERE WE GO! says:
    January 2, 2014 at 12:02 am

    […] Blues – Solidarity guys! 2. Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR — I vow to get to these! 3. Favorite new-to-me authors of 2013 : I’m really glad to have discovered these authors this year! 4. My favorite people in […]

    Reply

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The Trouble With Anna — I enjoyed this delightful little historical romance about a heroine who is carving out her independence only to find out, when her grandfather dies, that he tied her inheritance/future to marrying her best friend’s brother — a not-so-happy surprise for both of them. I could understand why they both had some guardness/walls up and I enjoyed watching them slowly start to lower them.

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But this book was about love to me - romantic love, platonic love, familial love, love for something bigger than yourself, love for the person you are & are becoming, love in the face of obstacles, love for what lights you up.

Having been invested in real life astronauts & their journey lately really made this book even more vivid to me — seeing the bonds of the crew so deeply, feeling the fragility that exists while they are doing this wondrous & crazy thing that often still boggles my mind that we can do.

And, hardest to put into words, that feeling of awe in the expansive nature & capabilities of love & the universe that I felt when a husband named a crater after his late wife which doubly helped me understand how Joan & Vanessa felt looking back at earth.

It made me sob & feel everything about being a human so deeply basically from that Frances/Joan phone call at 86% of the way through until the final words. Like could not breathe.

*might be a tiny bit spoilery so beware:

I think the way she wrote this was so impactful bc we start out knowing something bad happens &it’s not even that far when we know that some of them def won’t make it back & some are alive in peril.

I was like “oof” when *it* happens early on. But each and every chapter where we learn more about these ppl & their relationships felt agonizing & I was retroactively grieving for them more deeply every turn of the page.

The hurt and grief just compounds from a moment that was sad from the jump to something that had dug in deep to me.

To know what happens right before this mission makes the mission control bits even more excruciating. Makes the peril a character is in hit even harder than just “oh that must be scary!”. 

I loved it. I needed it bad.
The theme of Q1 was “just go with it” — it being m The theme of Q1 was “just go with it” — it being my reading whims, quirks and troubles.

Interesting things:

1. January started out rough. I only read 1 physical book and leaned very heavy into audiobooks only. At first it was distressing that my brain -thanks to current events and their effect on my mind - couldn’t work out how to sit down and read with my eyeballs but I was like…let’s just roll with it and wait for it to pass. So I waited and enjoyed a ton of audiobooks.

2. I don’t think I’ve ever read so many thrillers and mysteries in a quarter. It’s a genre I love but I’m normally quite more balanced. However, it’s what I was craving and what my brain was tolerating so…I just went with it.

3. I have always been a reader led by my moods (both how I feel reading wise and personally). This quarter was FERAL. Like the most feral mood reading ever. I couldn’t even categorize it. I’d decide on one book enthusiastically and suddenly I was like…absolutely not that.

4. I read way less fantasy than normal which was WEIRD but I felt like I also wasn’t surprised given my brain space.

5. I really started to resent people even more who said “it’s a book account stop talking about politics etc”. Babe, I’m a human who gives a shit but ALSO this has and always been an account of MY reading life. And my reading life was profoundly affected by the things that were going on in this country. Like they have been before - whether it’s been current events or things like having a kid, being depressed, slumps, etc.

6. I return to the fact that, for me, I am happiest when I pay attention to my reading whims. The end of the month I had a very specific reading mood (wanted time travel element but not a heavy time travel book) and I decided to pick up A Rip Through Time at the end of the month and I’m now halfway through book 4. Having the best time ever!!! 

Anyways, tell me how your reading life was in Q1! Fave books? Biggest surprises??
New historical fiction books on my radar for April New historical fiction books on my radar for April and I feel like there is quite a bit of variety. Any of these on your TBR? #historicalfictionbooks #historicalfiction #newbookrelease #newbookreleases
Being someone who reads based on their ever shifti Being someone who reads based on their ever shifting reading moods (sometimes very feral) makes library holds and tbrs very hard. It’s the worst when 5 weeks ago I would have gobbled the library hold up but now when the hold comes in I’m like…I think not. #readersofinstagram #readerproblems #librarylife #librarybooks #moodreader
I love when I just absolutely nail it on the first I love when I just absolutely nail it on the first try when trying to satisfy a super specific reading mood - Kelley Armstrong’s A Rip Through Time definitely nailed what I wanted. Time travel but didn’t really want too time travely…just more of a vibe or catalyst for some fun. If you love a good mystery, some time travel shenanigans and a great cast of characters, I highly recommend this book. #bookrec #bookrecommendation #bookreview #mysterybooks #historicalmystery #kelleyarmstrong
🌸 Some romances on my personal radar for April. 🌸 🌸 Some romances on my personal radar for April. 🌸

Beyond excited for a new Kate Clayborn, Kasie west, rainbow Rowell, Jenn Bennett and Beth O’Leary - I’ve enjoyed these authors in the past.

My historical loving heart is most excited for The Duke and How To Fake It In Society.

I love an emotional romance so The Art of Loving You is high on my list plus I’ve heard great things about this author.

I’m intrigued by Fast Lane especially since it’s being adapted for a tv series. I’m seeing comparisons to Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series which I did love!

Which new romance books are piquing your interest or are on your TBR? #romancebooks #newbooks #romancebooktok #romancereader
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Jamie is a 32 year old married lady (with a new baby!!) who is in denial that she's actually that old to be a married lady and a mom. When she's not reading you can find her doing Pilates followed by eating ice cream, belting out Hamilton (loud and offkey) and having adventures with her husband, daughter and rescue dog.

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A book recommendation for all my historical fictio A book recommendation for all my historical fiction readers - The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. My holy grail historical author came through for me again. I can’t express how much I cared for and was pulled into the lives of these women living in a boardinghouse in DC during the McCarthy era just as much as I was racing to find out what happened in this house. The tension mounted as we got to what actually happened?? Masterful. Truly. #historicalfiction #bookrec #bookrecommendation #historicalfictionbooks @williammorrowbooks
Made a fun family day out of Independent Bookstore Made a fun family day out of Independent Bookstore Day and hit up new faves @maveybooks and what used to be my second home when I lived closer @childrensbookworld which was so nice to be back home 🥹🥹

Book shopping is great but I can’t express how incredible building community is and indie bookshops do just that. I always wanted my own version of Cheers and, while not a bar where everybody knows my name, CBW was that place for me for almost a decade when I built community by going to YA book events there and moderating events. And while I am not able to get there as often as I was before I became a mom and we moved further away, It’s been so special to be able to share this beloved space with Riley.

These indie bookshops are so vital to our communities and I know everyone’s situation is different so this isn’t to shame but That Website can’t replace what can be created in these book spaces. Shop local when you are able! #indiebookshop #bookshop #bookshopping #independentbookstore
Ok technically I’m lying. My last read was technic Ok technically I’m lying. My last read was technically ATMOSPHERE but I feel like between my stories and my dedicated post to it, I’d rather talk about the book I read before it but didn’t update y’all on.

The Trouble With Anna — I enjoyed this delightful little historical romance about a heroine who is carving out her independence only to find out, when her grandfather dies, that he tied her inheritance/future to marrying her best friend’s brother — a not-so-happy surprise for both of them. I could understand why they both had some guardness/walls up and I enjoyed watching them slowly start to lower them.

Mayhem and the Mortal - I’m not too far into this romantic fantasy but it is one of my most anticipated that came out last month and I’m excited to dig in more.

Hamnet — I know, I know. For April I decided not to make a traditional TBR list of books I wanted to read but instead give myself some prompts to guide my reading (bc I’m overwhelmed with all my choices at hand) without feeling rigid. One of the prompts was to read a book I HAD TO BUY but is still unread. So going to finally get to it. Have you read this one or watched the movie?

What are you currently reading?
I had been waiting for the perfect time to read th I had been waiting for the perfect time to read this one after Random House sent me a finished copy as TJR is a longtime auto-buy author.  I found myself caught up in all the space joy and wonder and feeling quite parasocial about the Artemis crew...I decided now was the time.

I had no idea what I was getting into.

I hadn’t really known what it was about but I didn’t really need to given its TJR & the fact it was 1980s NASA & astronauts.

But this book was about love to me - romantic love, platonic love, familial love, love for something bigger than yourself, love for the person you are & are becoming, love in the face of obstacles, love for what lights you up.

Having been invested in real life astronauts & their journey lately really made this book even more vivid to me — seeing the bonds of the crew so deeply, feeling the fragility that exists while they are doing this wondrous & crazy thing that often still boggles my mind that we can do.

And, hardest to put into words, that feeling of awe in the expansive nature & capabilities of love & the universe that I felt when a husband named a crater after his late wife which doubly helped me understand how Joan & Vanessa felt looking back at earth.

It made me sob & feel everything about being a human so deeply basically from that Frances/Joan phone call at 86% of the way through until the final words. Like could not breathe.

*might be a tiny bit spoilery so beware:

I think the way she wrote this was so impactful bc we start out knowing something bad happens &it’s not even that far when we know that some of them def won’t make it back & some are alive in peril.

I was like “oof” when *it* happens early on. But each and every chapter where we learn more about these ppl & their relationships felt agonizing & I was retroactively grieving for them more deeply every turn of the page.

The hurt and grief just compounds from a moment that was sad from the jump to something that had dug in deep to me.

To know what happens right before this mission makes the mission control bits even more excruciating. Makes the peril a character is in hit even harder than just “oh that must be scary!”. 

I loved it. I needed it bad.
The theme of Q1 was “just go with it” — it being m The theme of Q1 was “just go with it” — it being my reading whims, quirks and troubles.

Interesting things:

1. January started out rough. I only read 1 physical book and leaned very heavy into audiobooks only. At first it was distressing that my brain -thanks to current events and their effect on my mind - couldn’t work out how to sit down and read with my eyeballs but I was like…let’s just roll with it and wait for it to pass. So I waited and enjoyed a ton of audiobooks.

2. I don’t think I’ve ever read so many thrillers and mysteries in a quarter. It’s a genre I love but I’m normally quite more balanced. However, it’s what I was craving and what my brain was tolerating so…I just went with it.

3. I have always been a reader led by my moods (both how I feel reading wise and personally). This quarter was FERAL. Like the most feral mood reading ever. I couldn’t even categorize it. I’d decide on one book enthusiastically and suddenly I was like…absolutely not that.

4. I read way less fantasy than normal which was WEIRD but I felt like I also wasn’t surprised given my brain space.

5. I really started to resent people even more who said “it’s a book account stop talking about politics etc”. Babe, I’m a human who gives a shit but ALSO this has and always been an account of MY reading life. And my reading life was profoundly affected by the things that were going on in this country. Like they have been before - whether it’s been current events or things like having a kid, being depressed, slumps, etc.

6. I return to the fact that, for me, I am happiest when I pay attention to my reading whims. The end of the month I had a very specific reading mood (wanted time travel element but not a heavy time travel book) and I decided to pick up A Rip Through Time at the end of the month and I’m now halfway through book 4. Having the best time ever!!! 

Anyways, tell me how your reading life was in Q1! Fave books? Biggest surprises??
New historical fiction books on my radar for April New historical fiction books on my radar for April and I feel like there is quite a bit of variety. Any of these on your TBR? #historicalfictionbooks #historicalfiction #newbookrelease #newbookreleases
Being someone who reads based on their ever shifti Being someone who reads based on their ever shifting reading moods (sometimes very feral) makes library holds and tbrs very hard. It’s the worst when 5 weeks ago I would have gobbled the library hold up but now when the hold comes in I’m like…I think not. #readersofinstagram #readerproblems #librarylife #librarybooks #moodreader

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