Epic Winter Book Haul

Hey ya’ll! It has come to my attention that while I do enjoy reading/watching a good book haul, I personally have not done one (on here) in quite some time. Does that mean I have not been hauling books? HELL NO! Unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it) I have been getting books like crazy these last few months! (probably to mask my sadness that my boyfriend has left again for another job which will take approximately 3-6 months to complete). SO! I have for you today, a book haul of epic proportions! This is everything (that I can remember) that I have gotten since Christmas/my birthday (back in December). I will provide the links to all my BOTM books but probably won’t talk too much about them since, well, they already have highlights within my blog!

With that, lets dive in!

BOTM Choices

January

 

February– Book Feature for An American Marriage

 

March

 

April

 

Barnes and Noble Haul

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Barnes and Noble Exclusive edition)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Barnes and Noble Exclusive Collector’s edition)

Amazon Orders

Physical

Watching Glass Shatter & Father Figure by James J. Cudney

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Kindle

         

First, I would like to note that I hate reading on my Kindle (*GASP*) so I don’t do it often, nor do I request ARCs anymore because the majority of them are digital and it is difficult for me to read. That being said, everything listed above were either free through Goodreads or various offers, or were really cheap (like $1-$2). My thoughts are that if for some reason, I am without a book, I have an arsenal at the ready, either via my Kindle or  phone. This came in handy on my train trip home from NYC the other night.

The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi, They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty, The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, The Unofficial Harry Potter Insults Handbook, Confessions of a Queen B by Crista Mchugh, The Beale Treasure by RJ Hendricks II, Aloha Texas by Chris Keniston and Like Peaches and Pickles by Muriel Ellis Pritchett.

Target

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco*

I was buying gifts for other people and my boyfriend was trying to be the responsible one by not letting me buy anything for myself. Instead I was pointing out all the books I wanted to read and he picked this one up and said it sounded really interesting, and that he would understand if I just could not help myself to getting this one.

I also won a giveaway! LFBooks hosted a giveaway in which I won a Amazon gift card. I spent the gift card (and a few extra dollars) on the following:

 

 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone- 20th Anniversary Ravenclaw edition

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

There was also a huge book sale at my local library this week, that I obviously just HAD to stop in at. I mean it WAS National Library Appreciation Week, and what better way to support my local library than to give the Friends of the Library some of my money towards their used books? (other than the fact that I spent every day that week at the library because, you know, I work there…) Although I had no intentions of it being so large, I ended up leaving with a hefty stack of books.

I am SO sorry for the poor photography, but it is what it is I suppose. I realized that I am at the age now where I am constantly thinking about the future, and that is reflected in some of these picks. Some were absolute favorites (one I did not previously own, and one that will be replacing a severely damaged copy), there was a book on local history, a classic and a couple I bought on a complete whim. I say that they reflect my thoughts on the future simply because I like to try to pick things I think my future children will enjoy. My boyfriend recently noted how diverse my book collection is, and that is completely on purpose.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

The Manor: Three Centuries on a Slave Plantation on Long Island bu Mac Griswold

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Egyptology: The Search for the Tomb of Osiris by Emily Sands and Dugard Steer

Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Dr. Ernest Drake

I Am American (and So Can You!) & America Again: Re-becoming the Greatest We Never Weren’t by Stephen Colbert

Holy shit, 37 books! (sorry for the language) I guess when you consider this is covering everything from January until now it’s not so bad?!?!? Guys, I think I have a SERIOUS problem…

Have you read any of these? Are any of them STAPLES and OF COURSE SAMANTHA, YOU JUST HAD TO HAVE THEM, EVERYONE DOES (other than the obvious The Hate U Give)?

Let’s  chat in the comments!

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Pre-Order Book Haul

Hello lovelies. I recently got some discouraging news and so naturally in order to perk my spirits back up, I decided to treat myself to a pre-order (mini) shopping spree! I pre-ordered a total of three books (and flat out bought one other one), while also starting a decent sized wish list on Book Depository. I have been looking at some most anticipated 2018 release posts recently, and now I am a bit saddened that I forgot a few really big ones, however, I am pretty proud of cutting myself off at four books.

 

   

 

Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely (Goodreads)

I have been looking forward to this book for so long! This is the only book in this mini haul that is already out, so I got it right away. I am really glad I got the hardcover version as well, just because I love the cover so much. This has been on my TBR for quite some time and is completely different from anything I have ever read. I know I am trying to focus heavily on my backlist this year, but I believe that this one will worm it’s way up near the top of my list.

 

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads)

DC Icons #3– Expected Release Date: August 7, 2018

I have not read any of the books in this series yet, though I do own both of them. I figured that since the first two books have gotten somewhat decent reviews, and I already own two of them, that I might as well collect the series. I actually plan to read Wonder Woman this month, so I that is something at least. Plus I have to say, again, these covers are just so gorgeous that it will be nice to have them on my shelf. I may need to get a second copy of Wonder Woman since it is the only paperback copy I have in the series, and I like my books to match…

My family has always had a connection with DC heroes. My brother Thomas is a cartoonist. He has been drawing Batman since he was three, and could probably be quoted as an expert at this point. So that fact gives me a little more drive to own (and hopefully enjoy) this series.

 

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco (Goodreads)

Escaping Jack the Ripper #3- Expected Release Date: September 18, 2018

Another series I haven’t even started yet. This book just sounded so very interesting that I had to have it. The first two books in the series have gotten a lot of great reviews too so I am sure that I will enjoy them just as much (though I do not own them as I do DC Icons). As you may know by now, I am a sucker for a good historical fiction, and one featuring Houdini is sure to entertain in the very least.

 

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw (Goodreads)

Expected Release Date: March 6, 2018

This is my MOST anticipated book of the year. I CANNOT WAIT for this book to come out. I am silently hoping for February to blow by so that  I can finally devour it (also, because I usually hate February). For one, LOOK AT THIS COVER!! Isn’t it stunning? Also, it is described as a cross between Hocus Pocus (the best Halloween movie ever made), Practical Magic (by Alice Hoffman) and the historic Salem Witch Trails. Are you hooked yet? I don’t know what more I can say about this, other than I know for a fact that I will stop whatever I am reading at the moment to open this book up.

I actually have not seen a whole lot of talk or ARC reviews of it yet, so I am a little nervous. The one review I did see though, said it was amazing so at least that is a good sign.

 

 

Serious book buying problem + Beautiful book covers = yet another book haul

I am surprised that I made it out with only four books though, to be honest. I know I have said this at the end of my last few book hauls but, I REALLY HOPE this is my LAST one for a while now. I am literally running out of room to store these new books. My boyfriend is going to come home and find me drowning in hardcovers…I work in a library for goodness sake! I can BORROW any of these if I wanted to read them.

Are any of these on your most anticipated releases for 2018? Have you read Gunslinger Girl? TELL ME TO STOP BUYING BOOKS!

Final Book Haul of 2017

As the title suggests, this post will highlight my final bookish purchases/gifts of 2017. With Christmas and my birthday (12/28) so close together, it is no surprise that I would have a book haul at the very end of the year. Surprisingly enough, I was only gifted three books during this time period! 

That was just not an acceptable way to end the year, so I took matters into my own hands and gifted myself some additional books. I was going to wait and take pictures of all these books, but some of them haven’t even shipped yet, and I don’t want to be halfway through January with a Christmas book haul…

 

Christmas/Birthday gifts

  

All the Light We Cannot See- I received this book for Christmas from my brother’s girlfriend. She actually works at Simon and Schuster (which if you ask me, is pretty flipping awesome) and got me this from there! It was a Pulitzer prize winner, and was widely acclaimed when it came out, but I never got around to reading it. I am extremely excited to get to this one early on in 2018.

The Disaster Artist- I got this as a gift from my brother for my birthday. The Room has always been a running punchline for my brothers and myself, and when the movie adaption of this book came out, obviously we saw it right away. I am really excited to have this on my shelf, to revisit when I need a little reminder that things are not as bad as they seem, or, that I am definitely not as weird as I think I appear. 

The Night Circus- My brother’s best friend gave me this book for Christmas this year. He also gifted it to my brother’s girlfriend. It was his hope that the three of us could read this on our own time, and have something to chat about together the next time we saw each other! How sweet, right? Needless to say, I started reading this right away, and while I intended this to be the first book I read in 2018, it is looking more and more like I might be finished before the ball drops! Regardless, this was one of the sweetest book gifts I have ever received.

 

Book Depository Purchase

Happy Birthday to me, from ME!

    

Man, that site is dangerous! This is my first purchase on Book Depository, and I know it is no where near close to my last. 

Murder on the Orient Express- I mean it is a classic. So that alone is reason to have a copy on my shelf, but with all the recent “re-hype” with the movie coming out, it has put this particular classic back on my (and everyone else’s) radar. 

Wonder & The Hate U Give- I have actually read both of these, and LOVED them so much that I felt it was absolutely necessary they have a spot on my shelf for the long haul. I plan to reread them sometime in the near future.

A Man Called Ove- This is one of those books that I have heard absolutely nothing but amazing things about. From all the positive reviews, it really sounds like a must have book, so I added it to my cart. I am hoping to get to it early in 2018.

Fangirl- This is another one that everyone seems to love. This is extremely high on my list for 2018.

 

Amazon

Guys, I got a Kindle for my birthday! I have recently been approved for about 7 NetGalley books, and since they are all ebooks, I thought it might be time to bite the bullet and finally get an ereader. To celebrate this new addition to my bookish life, I purchased a few ebooks to keep the ARCs company.

   

It certainly helped that these were (almost) all featured in a huge Best of Goodreads 2017 sale on Amazon.. I got each of them for less than $5, which is a huge score if you ask me!

Watching Glass Shatter– This is a book that has been on my radar for a while. I follow the author, James Cudney, on a lot of platforms (mainly WordPress and Twitter) and I am super interested in a lot of what he puts out there. The story sounds like it is right up my alley, and even though I really wanted a physical copy of this book, I think this is at least a good start. I can’t wait to get into this one so I can buy a physical copy and see if I can get him to sign it for me!

Geekerella– This was a surprise for me honestly. It was one of those books everyone kind of mentioned in passing, but really stood out to me once everyone was posting their wrap-ups and favorite lists for the year. Against all odds, this book ended up on a TON of favorite lists. I am intrigued, and for $2, I had to have it.

Bear and the Nightingale– This is another one I have heard a lot about. The sequel, the Girl in the Tower came out this year (2017) as well and it definitely sounded like something I wanted to read, however, because of my need for order, I must read this one first. The third and final book in the series (the Winter of the Witch) is due out sometime in 2018; all the more reason to start this series!

Everyone’s an Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn too– This is an odd one for me. I think I saw it reviewed on youtube and it seems unique and different from anything else that I am reading, or have read in the past. I thought I would give it a try.

 

Also- while checking out ebooks on Amazon, I found myself on the physical book side, and somehow ordered myself these two in addition to the ebooks..

 

Wonder Woman: Warbringer– I have seen this on several booktube channels now, and every single person has said this was such a badass book for women. It makes you feel like a badass for being a woman, and just really has some fulfilling moments throughout. I know a lot of bloggers love this author, and her Six of Crow duology (which I eventually plan to read) and since I am already on a super heroes/ Wonder Woman kick, it seemed like a good time to try this out.

Batman: Nightwalker– This is the second book to come out for this series (DC Icons). I love that they are trying to breathe new life into these DC heroes, especially since they are getting stomped on by the Marvel movie kingdom at the moment. Batman has always had significance for my family. My brother Tom has been drawing Batman specifically since he was 5 years old, and is the main reason why he went to art school, and is trying to get a graphic novel published at the moment. So Batman will always have a place in my heart. The fact that this book is written by Marie Lu, author of Warcross and other bestsellers, also adds to the intrigue. I actually just started reading Warcross today- my first Marie Lu book, so I am hoping that it sets me up nicely for her writing style. 

 

Wow, that got a little out of hand… The good thing about all these books is that many of them were either featured on my TBR for the early part of 2018, or were must haves. I have been trying not to buy too many books anymore, and I am hoping this will be my last (purchased) haul for a long while- at least until summer. I am already a monthly subscriber to Book of the Month club, so in the very least, I get one new hardcover book per month. I guess that is why I feel this splurge was justified. That and the fact that this will be the first year since 2009 that I have no classes to split my free time with. I will have so much extra reading time, that I intend to be flying through books. The closer books are to my hands, the easier it is to keep a consistent flow of reading. 

What books are you guys heading into 2018 with? Have you read any on this list? 

I just want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year! I am really looking forward to starting my first full year of blogging. I look forward to interacting and chatting with you all year long! Please let 2018 be a good one!

Library (plus) Book Haul

Hey y’all! So I have been trying to be good about not buying anymore books (at least for a little while). I am already a subscriber to Book of the Month, so in the very least, I get one new (hardcover) book a month, which, if you ask my bookshelf, is more than I need. Instead, I have been utilizing my library to read as many of the suggestions you guys have, as I can. You may (or may not) know that I am actually a children’s librarian here on Long Island. I love my job, and it makes obtaining new books super easy.

I highly suggest that if you do not have an updated library card, you should change that. And take a quick trip down to your local library. Most, whether they have large collections or not, are now part of an inter-library system, which allows you to request virtually any book you like, and have it sent to your library to borrow (FOR FREE). It has certainly saved me a few bucks as of late, and also prevented me from purchasing a book that I eventually just did not like all that much.

So, for today I am bringing you my most recent Library Haul. I have not done a book haul yet on this blog, and since I have a huge pile of “new” books on my desk, I thought I would share them with you!

 

Ok, first up is The Leaving by Tara Altebrando. This is actually just a book I picked up browsing through my library’s YA section. I have mentioned that I tend to read on a schedule- one children’s novel, followed by a YA novel, followed by an adult fiction (and repeat). When I reach my adult fiction, I tend to browse my library’s collection, and select one children’s and one YA to have in the wings for when I restart my cycle. This has been on my desk since before I read Turtles All the Way Down (you can read my review/discussion post with that link). I keep looking at it and wanting to return it, but then I read the back and get interested again. So I am hoping to finally get to this soon.

Everyone on here seems to mention When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon an awful lot. I have seen mixed (ish) reviews, but mostly ones that say it is light and a quick read, which I could totally use more of in my life right now. It has a completely different perspective than what I am used to so I am even more excited to crack it open, and give it a try.

  

Again, this is another one that everyone seems to be raving about. Warcross by Marie Lu, to me, seems like a YA version of Ready Player One, which I loved quite a bit this year. I am anxious to see what this has in store, and to eventually explore Marie Lu’s other books.

Ahhhh! Does it matter that I have not read The Martian by Andy Weir first? I imagine it does not, since I don’t believe the characters intersect (I have the same question about Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman- can I read that first, if I have not read Practical Magic?) so I grabbed it off the new shelf immediately. Again, this is outside my typical realm of interest reading, but it seems to be super popular among bloggers, and not too technical where I would fall asleep (one of the reasons I won’t read Dan Brown or the Jurassic Park books). I am absolutely kicking myself right now for not adding this to my Book Of the Month for November… so if I like it, I may be adding it in the future- I do like to own books that I enjoy.

I preordered this as soon as I heard about it. I did however request the audiobook version from the library because, why wouldn’t you LISTEN to a book written by Tom Hanks when he reads it to you? However, this may be placed back on my TBR for a little bit. I am under the impression that someone is getting me the audiobook for Christmas this year, so I can probably attack something else in the meantime.

Now, I did NOT get this from the library (hence the plus in the title of this post). My brother’s girlfriend works for Simon and Schuster, and I suppose for the holiday, they allowed their employees to order up to 4 books for no charge. Being that I am the huge book collector that I am, she thought of me, and allowed me to use up one of her free orders for myself! I selected All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, because regardless of whether I end up liking it or not, it was was a Pulitzer Prize winner, and it might be nice to have it on my shelf in the future.

 

That certainly does not look as bad as it does on my desk, but they are kept company by my unread BOTM selections like Little Fires Everywhere, The Child, Rules of Magic and the Identicals (among a dozen others who have moved from the desk to my bookshelf without being read).

I am actually thinking about going off schedule in order to get some of these library books read. I am currently in the middle of my YA selection, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, which means adult fiction is up next. I was going to start Rules of Magic, but maybe I will knock out a few of these other YA books first (I always read these so much faster than my adult fiction).

What do you guys think? Have you read any of these? Do you have any suggestions (about what to read first, or whether I can read Artemis or Rules of Magic without reading the Martian or Practical Magic first)?

Lets chat in the comments!