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Books I Wish I Had Read As A Child

Apr 28, 2020

This week I’m sharing the books that I wished I read as a child Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

I have always been a big reader, even as a kid. But it wasn’t like it is now. There wasn’t really a way to see what books were coming out, what people were reading and what to read next. It was more going to a bookstore or the library and picking something up. And because of that, I did miss out on a lot of children and middle-grade books that were popular or they did come out. So today I thought I would share some of the books that I wished I had read as a child. I did break this one up into two categories, the first is the books that were published when I was younger and then the other current books that I could have read when I was a child.

Books That Were Already Published When I Was A Child

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan: I just did a re-read of this series and I just love it so much. But I so wished I read it when I was younger. I read it when I was about 15 and well it was totally enjoyable. I would have devoured the series when I was younger. I’m not even sure why I didn’t. Greek mythology is something that I have always loved and I think it just slipped past me.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket: This is another series that I’m not sure how I missed it. It would have been close to what I was reading at the time. I think it’s a great series for those wanting to not only challenge themselves a little more but also a great intro to long series. My sister is reading this series at the moment and I would have loved to read it at her age.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: I wasn’t a massive contemporary fan when I was younger, but I think this would have been the perfect book for me to read. It’s that mix of being contemporary but having those fantastical elements to them. I know I would have loved it as a child. Plus this movie killed me. I am not over it, and I don’t think I ever will be.

Holes by Louis Sachar: Now I love/d the Holes movie. It was that perfect mix of being strange and good at the same time. But I wasn’t like I was now and I didn’t always know that there are a lot of movies that come from books. Again I think I would found this a very interesting read.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: Another one where I’m not certain why I didn’t read it when I was a child. This would have been my jam. It would have been the perfect series for me. I loved the movies, I loved the TV series – Even though it terrified me.

Current Books I Wish Were Around When I Was A Child

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani: My younger sister loves this series. Like loves. When she first started she loved it so much that she got her whole class reading it. And I think this series would have been perfect for me as a child. It’s right up what I read and I see how much kids love it these days. I will get to reading it soon though. One of the things that I already like about this series is that the kids grow up.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger: This is one that I sell at work all the time! Kids love it. And I think I would have as well. It’s magical middle grade and it seems absolutely fantastic. I think I still might pick this series up one day.

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer: Another magical middle grade, yes, please! I think you can tell by this post today, how much I loved fantasy as a kid. It’s what I read pretty exclusively for some time. This one sounds like a brilliant adventure and I’ve always got kids coming in looking for it at work. That is always a good sign for me.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier: Or anything by Raina Telgemeier. I’ve had a quick look through these and they seem amazing! I think this book would just make me happy. I wasn’t a massive graphic novel reader when I was younger, but I just don’t think there was anything that really caught my eye and I this would have for sure.

And that is it for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Whare are the books that you wish you had read as a child? Do we share any that’s the same? Let’s Chat!

Books I Enjoyed But Rarely Talk About

Apr 14, 2020

This week I’m sharing the books that I enjoyed reading, but I rarely talk about. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

I’ve read a lot of books now. While I read a lot of books before I started blogging, it has probably tripled by now. And while I talk about the books that I love a lot of the time, today I wanted to share the books that I enjoyed reading, but I feel like I don’t talk about them often.

I tried to get a mix of books here from romance and contemporary to young adult and fantasy. Here are the books that I’ve loved reading, but rarely talk about. Like always these are in no order.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand: I read this one late last year and adored it. It tore me into a thousand pieces but it was so beautiful. It left me a mess not going to lie about that. But I feel like I haven’t talked about this one too often. It’s such a fantastic read and if you need a good cry – this is for you.

Romanov by Nadine Brandes: This is another one that I read last year and I truly enjoyed it a lot. I love my historical fiction so mix that with a little magic and romance – I’m all for it. It’s a really solid retelling that is atmospheric. I honestly don’t know why I haven’t talked about this one more often. Full Review.

Eyes on Me by Rachel Harris: I’ve always really enjoyed Rachel Harris books and I feel like I talk about her older stuff more. But this is one of her most recent novels and I loved it. It’s a great YA contemporary that explores many things from grief to friendship and love. I just love how Rachel Harris writes so freely while also writing characters that feel very real | Full Review.

Dragon’s Lair (Wind Dragons MC #1) by Chantal Fernando: I picked this one up last year when I first started getting into MC romances and I feel that I rarely talk about it now. While getting this post together I’ve started to re-read the series and I have no regrets. It’s just a good MC series. I’ve read a few more MC novels now and I think it’s still one of my favourites.

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand: I put off reading this series for such a long time and I still don’t know why. It was just great. It is a solid series that I think if you love your angel/urban fantasy then this is for you. While a couple of years old, it still felt pretty easy to read and wasn’t annoying in any way. It doesn’t feel out of date or anything.

The Season of You & Me by Robin Constantine: This is such a fantastic young adult contemporary that I cannot believe I rarely talk about. It has fantastic disability rep, as well as being charming and a fantastic read. It’s one of those books that just makes me happy. And sometimes you need that. But while also being all this, it’s also heartbreaking at times – and that is my favourite mix.

Ruined (Ruined #1) by Amy Tintera: I talked about this one a lot when the series first came out, and I feel like I need to start returning my praise to this series. This YA fantasy series is what I love about fantasy. Full of royal intrigued it is also being fast-paced with action and magic. Add in the romance and it’s my perfect fantasy.

The Darkest Hour (KGI #1) by Maya Banks: This is another series that I’ve talked about here and there. But I don’t think I’ve given it enough credit. This is a great romantic suspense series that is full of action. Sometimes things get a little crazy, but hey, I like that. It’s a massive

series which is something that I also love reading. If you’ve read this one and have any similar recommendations please let me know.

Disruption (Disruption #1) by Jessica Shirvington: If you haven’t read this duology yet, please pick it up. This a fantastic dystopia/science fiction series duo that is just fantastic. I could sit here and write about this book for a love time. But I won’t. All I want to say is. This series has a fantastic blend of science fiction and living in a different world. The romance is soooo good and the friendships are the bomb. Please read it.

The Girl from Everywhere (The Girl from Everywhere #1) by Heidi Heilig: I feel like this book was made for me. A historical fiction, with time travel, and set in Hawaii. Throw in a great romance and the perfect friendship group and that is what I want in a book. I rarely talk about this one anymore, but it’s fantastic.

And that is it for today! What are some of the books that you enjoyed reading, but rarely talk about now? Do we share any that’s the same? Let’s Chat!

Books I Bought Because Of Work

Apr 7, 2020

This week I’m sharing the books that I bought because of work. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

If you didn’t know already, I’m a bookseller. I have been for nearly 4 years now. So for a few days of the week, I spend my day in a bookstore selling books. It’s literally my favourite thing to do. But I don’t just “sell” books. I process books, I order them and well sometimes, I end up buying them. Today I’m sharing the books I bought because of work.

I haven’t read all of these yet, but I’ve read a good handful of them. That is the problem with working in a bookstore. I can get books just so easily. There are also books on here that aren’t my usual jam on this list. Customers are sometimes very perspective as well as sometimes these books don’t get on my radar on their own. Anyway like always these are in no order.

The Love That I Have by James Moloney: I would have probably picked this book up eventually, but it was my works ‘Book of the Month’ so it jumped right out me and I bought it. And I ended up adoring this book. It was hard to read don’t get me wrong. However, it was also gorgeous, heartbreaking and beautiful.

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton: This one here is a combo of working and the general bookish community especially here in Australia. This one really flew off the shelf and then it started to win all the awards and it made it even harder to have any copies in the store. But it wasn’t just because people were buying, I was hearing absolutely fantastic things about it. I have still yet to read it, but I will very soon.

The Pearl Thief by Fiona McIntosh: Now I had heard of Fiona McIntosh before I even started working, but I never really picked her up. I always felt that I was ‘too young’ and nothing really caught my eye. And then The Pearl Thief came out and it was right up my alley. So I bought it and well, it was fantastic. I always love reading as many books as I can about the second world war and this one really stood out to me and it was heartbreaking but breathtaking.

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward: Now this one caught my eye here and there before I even thought about picking it up. I had so many customers rave about it to me and well I wanted to see what it was like. So I bought then the first one, and then the second and well. I’ve nearly read the whole series. I can’t stop! I love it when customers recommend me books and I end up loving it!

Dragon’s Lair (Wind Dragons MC #1) by Chantal Fernando: Another one of my buys that was influenced by my customers. Customers just kept on recommending to me, at this point I really hadn’t read too much MC books. So I gave it a go. And you know what? I really enjoyed this series. It’s fun, dangerous and sexy and that is a great combo.

The French Photographer by Natasha Lester: This is another ‘Book of the Months’ that caught my eye. I don’t think I would have picked this one up if I hadn’t been working. It was such a fantastic historical fiction read and I’m so glad that I did give it a go. Like most WWII books it made me ball my eyes out, but it was fantastic. Inspired by the true story of Lee Miller and that made it much more impactful.

Misadventures of the First Daughter (Misadventures, #3) by Meredith Wild and Mia Michelle: This is one of the books that I bought and it wasn’t for me. Again I had seen a lot of my regular romance customers pick books in this series up and I thought why not give it a go – I read 3 and I don’t think they were for me. From the books that I did read, they were all 1-2 stars.

MinaLima’s Illustrated Classics: These are absolutely beautiful and I cannot stop buying them. I’d seen MinaLima work before and thought they were beautiful but never really paid attention. And then I saw these gorgeous interactive classics and I needed them. My goal is to collect all of them, and I will do it! So far the Beauty and the Beast one has to be my favourite – but they are all gorgeous and I can’t wait to see what they bring out next.

The Light After the War by Anita Abriel: I don’t know much about this one, but it caught my eye when I walking through the store and then I bought it. It’s a historical fiction set during and after the second world war that also has romance and friendship. You have me there. Also influenced by the author’s mother’s experience escaping the train to Auschwitz with her best friend.

The Art of Harry Potter by Marc Sumerak: I don’t think I would have ever bought this book if I hadn’t seen it on the shelf at work. This is such a gorgeous book that explores everything from the Harry Potter movies and I adore it. It’s big and bold and I love just sitting and flicking through it. It really is beautiful.

And that is it for this post! Those are the books that I bought because of work. What are some of the books that others have made you buy? Let’s Chat!