July Wrap-Up

Hello, everyone!

This was a month of reading that definitely had its ups and its downs. There were some books that I absolutely loved, and some that I truly disliked. Here's the list:

1) P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han


I love this series. Plain and simple, I love basically everything about it. Though this book wasn't quite as good as the first, I still love how cute and deep comes across simultaneously. The characters always have more layers than you expect them to, and I think that it lends a hand to how wonderful these books are. I'm very excited for the next book. Hopefully Lara Jean ends up with who I want her to!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Cups of Tea



2) Love Letters to the Dead: A Novel by Ava Dellaira


I honestly did not like this book. It was boring, and I never really became invested in the lives of the characters. I thought about putting it down and just not finishing it, and though it did have its redeeming moments towards the end, I still don't know whether continuing was worth my time. I did review this novel, so if you're looking for something more thorough, go here.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Cups of Tea


3) The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien


Well, of the two books I've read so far, this wasn't my favorite. It was good, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed a lot of it, but getting to those parts that I liked sometimes took a while. I felt like there were sometimes more things not happening than things happening. I did however love the last few chapters of the book, and that cliff-hanger ending is making me quite excited to start reading the third book next month! On a side-note, my love for Aragorn prevails. *swoons*

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Cups of Tea

4) A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab


Oh my goodness, this book was amazing! I loved every second of this novel, and I can't wait to read more by this amazing author. Check out my full review of this book, here.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Cups of Tea

5) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn


Why did this novel get so much hype, exactly? I don't understand why this was so popular. I get that the twist is interesting and totally comes out of nowhere, but it didn't make me like the characters anymore. That was the biggest problem with this book for me. I mean, almost every single character annoyed me. Sure they were dark and twisted, especially at the end, but they just weren't characters I cared about or felt invested in.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Cups of Tea

6) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Do I even need to talk about this? I love this novel. It is and will forever be one of my favorite books. If you somehow didn't read this in high school, go read it now. You're missing out.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Cups of Tea


7) Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee


This was such a complex novel. Though it was originally an early draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, I am so glad that they decided to publish it. I did a full review of this novel, which you can find here.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Cups of Tea


8)Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo


After hearing so much about this series, I think it may have been a little overhyped for me. I did really enjoy it, but there were a lot of things that also made me dislike it. You can check out my full review here.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Cups of Tea


9) Persuasion by Jane Austen

This is not only one of my favorite Austen novels, but one of my favorite novels in general. This book is just so much sadder and more tense than of Austen's other works, and it tugs at heart every time I read it. If you haven't read this yet, please do.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Cups of Tea



10)An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir


Well, I still haven't finished this one, but I plan on doing so later today. My family and I are taking a road-trip today, so I'll have plenty of time to read in the car. So, though I can't yet tell you how I feel about it yet, I will have a full book review on it up next week. Make sure to keep your eyes open for that!

Rating: Yet To Be Determined

That's all for today, guys. I'll be posting August's exciting TBR on Monday. See you guys then!

Your Pemberley Reader,
Acacia

Most Anticipated YA Releases Still To Come in 2015

Well, we're almost through July now, and my TBR rules have been going well. I'm still sticking to my "read two-buy one" rule, and though I haven't been buying as many books as I usually do because of this, I've still been keeping my eyes open for new books I want. Adding onto the insane list of books already out that I want to buy are the following ten books. These are my most anticipated YA releases that will be released in the coming months. Bear with me, as I may get a little excited about... well... all of them.

10) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (September 1, 2015)

First, this cover. Just look at what a beautiful job they did on this cover. It's simple, but still intriguing and elegant. I can not wait to have it on my shelves! Second, I have heard nothing but good things about this book so far. It is a contemporary romance about a girl who is basically allergic to the world. How does a girl allergic to everything and confined to her house fall in love? I don't know, but I want to find out!

9) Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid (August 4, 2015)

I read Alsaid's Let's Get Lost at some point in the last year, and though I don't remember being head over heels in love with it, I remember enjoying it. I'm excited to see something else from him. Never Always Sometimes is another contemporary romance about two high school best friends who have sworn off a bunch of "cliche" high school experiences until they're about to graduate and realize that maybe they've been missing out on some pretty great stuff, like falling in love. It sounds cute, and I'm excited to read it!

8) Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (October 20, 2015)

Okay, this book just looks really cool. I'm not even sure what it's about, but a bunch of people on booktube got it at BookCon and have been showing off the really cool ARCs they got. The ARCs don't even look like ARCs, you guys. The book doesn't read like a normal book, either, but has entirely blacked out pages and pages written in what looks like code and emails and texts. It looks really different and really cool.


7) Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (October 6, 2015)

If you haven't read the Percy Jackson series yet, stop what you're doing and go get it. Riordan is hilarious. He's appealing to 12 years olds (how old I was when I started reading his books) and 20+ year olds (how old I am reading him now). His casts of characters are some of the best you can ask for, and his books are the perfect mix of adventure, romance, and laughter. I am so excited to start this new series of his!


6) Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (August 25, 2015)

This is book two in The Diviners Series, and it has been highly anticipated for three years now! The first book was full of 20's references, great fun, and, of course, the supernatural. Libba Bray, one of my favorite authors, has created yet another amazing series, and I am so excited to get my hands on this next book!





5) Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (October 6, 2015)

I talked about this novel in this month's Author Spotlight, and I'm pretty sure I was just as pumped for it a few weeks ago as I am now. I can't wait for this book to come out, you guys. For one thing, it's Rainbow Rowell. Everything she writes is gold and makes you feel all the feels. Secondly, gay protagonists in a fantasy book? Yes, yes, yes! I'm so excited for this; you guys have no idea.


4) Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray (November 3, 2015)

Again, cover shoutout! This is the second book in the Firebird series, and these covers are so beautiful they make me want to cry. (If they ever randomly swap these covers for new ones half way through the series - that's right I'm calling you out, publishers- I will just die.) Secondly, if you're one, who like me, sometimes is disappointed by the books you buy solely for looks (You certainly can judge a book by it's cover, okay?), than this is the perfect series for you, because these beautiful covers hold a beautiful, well crafted, imaginative, amazing novel that will leave you thinking about the story for days after finishing it. I am, needless to say, going to be at the nearest bookstore the day this book comes out.

3) Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs (September 22, 2015)

This is the third book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Series, and I am so excited that this is coming out that I will probably faint when I finally have it in my hands. These books are beautifully designed, both the writing and the actual book itself. I just love everything about this series and its author, and I'm so excited for this next installment. Also, if you haven't heard, the first in this series is getting turned into a movie by Tim Burton. That should give you some indication as to how amazing this series is!  Seriously, if you haven't read it, go pick it up!

2) Winter by Marissa Meyer (November 10, 2015)

What do you mean this series is ending?! I'm going to go cry an entire ocean now. Oh man, you guys, I don't think I'm ready for how amazing this book is going to be. I've been reading this series for a few years now, and I've just got to say that this is one of the best fairy tale retellings that I have ever read and probably ever will read. I just can't believe it's ending. I'm so excited for this book to come out, but I'm so, so not looking forward to it ending. 

1) Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (September 1, 2015)

(THIS SERIES IS AMAZING, AND YOU NEED TO READ IT! )This is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series. It is a retelling of Cinderella with the best female protagonist in YA fiction, period. Maas is a cut-throat author who you can not trust to keep characters alive or to keep romances burning, and it makes for an amazing reading experience. (THIS IS MY FAVORITE YA SERIES AND THE NEXT BOOK IS COMING OUT AND I NEED IT NOW. NOW.) If you're interested in epic adventures, characters who can beat you up in two seconds flat with little to no mercy, and one of the most well crafted plots in YA fiction today, pick up this series and binge-read the first three books before this next books comes out. You will not be sorry! (THE ENTIRE WORLD WILL HEAR THE SQUEALS RELEASED FROM MY MOUTH ONCE I HAVE THIS BOOK IN MY POSSESSION.) Just one more month and I'll be able to read about what happens next in this awesome series! (ONE MORE MONTH!)

Just... uh... ignore what happened there in that last paragraph. My inner fangirl got loose from her cage and may have taken over for a few seconds. *deep breaths* Well, I hope you all enjoyed this list, and I hope you're just as excited for these as I am! If there is a series on this list that you haven't read, please check it out. I promise each series on this list is worth both the money and the time you'll spend reading.

Since it's the end of the month, I'll be having an extra blog post tomorrow to wrap-up July's reading. So, I will you see you all tomorrow! 

Your Pemberley Reader,

Acacia 

Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis: Shadow and Bone takes place in Ravka, a country at war with their neighbors. Alina, an orphan whose parents were killed because of the war, is drafted into the army and sent, along with her childhood friend and fellow orphan, Mal, to the most dangerous part of their country: The Fold. Here, where darkness and monsters are all one can see, Alina discovers that she has a powerful ability that could save or destroy her people. Whisked away, Alina finds herself in a new world full of royalty and other magic users (Grishas), the strongest of which being the Darkling, who distracts Alina from his dark secrets with kind words and kisses. When his secrets come out, Alina must decide who to trust, who to love, and who truly controls the power in her.

Review: This novel is the first of three in The Grisha Triology, all of which are released. I have heard much about this series over the past few years, and I was expecting a lot out of this first book. I have to say, after hearing so many good things about it, this book may have been a bit overhyped for me.

For a start, the plot was full of slow moments. There were a number of chapters that seemed to drag on for me. Either nothing much was happening, or I just simply didn't care about what was going on. For example, while Alina was being trained and taught, there were many moments in which I wanted to know more about what she was learning. She spent so much time on Grisha theory and learning how to use her power, but the reader learned almost none of it. This resulted in a very slow read for me. Perhaps in later books there will be better, but I really would have liked to have felt a little more hooked on the plot and details in this first book. 

I also had problems with Alina at times. Though I did like her character overall, there were moments, like her very fast paced relationship with the Darkling, that I simply didn't understand. She was very naive and spacey at times. Don't get me wrong, I love good character flaws, but this is probably one of the character flaws that annoys me the most in literature. Once she realizes what is actually happening though, I do have to say that the character progression that occurs was worth the annoying aspects of her character. She truly does grow into her own and begins to turn away from her naivety.

Though these things bothered me, I do have to say that I enjoyed this novel. The premise was interesting, and I liked the relationships that occurred between the characters. They were compelling and complex with a good mix of both emotion and logic blended throughout. I especially liked the relationship between Mal and Alina.

The world and its war, full of both magic and regular weaponry, was interesting to read about. I wish there would have been more background information about how things were started. Again, I think, or hope, that these details and plot holes will be resolved in the next two novels.

I also thoroughly enjoyed how morally obscure the Darkling was. I mean, don't get me wrong, his dark secret is horrible and awful, but I can't help but believe that there is a bit more to his character that hasn't quite been gotten at yet. I'm excited to see where his character ends up at the end of the series.

Though the middle section of this novel was slow-going at times, the ending was fast-paced and exciting. It was also a wonderful set-up for the next novel. It made me want to get the next two and binge-read them, which I unfortunately can't do because of my book-buying ban/agreement/compromise/whatever you want to call it. Hopefully in the coming months I can manage to get the next books.

I would recommend this novel for those who like good character development, those who are looking for new takes on magic, and for those who are wanting to binge-read a series.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Cups of Tea

Your Pemberley Reader, 

     Acacia

Review: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

       Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee... Where do I begin? It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me confused, and it made me question a lot of things.

       First of all, this book is incredibly different from To Kill A Mockingbird. If you're picking this book up expecting it to be a long awaited sequel, then take a minute to wipe those expectations from your mind. This is not a sequel. Though it has many of the same characters, it is actually an early draft of To Kill A Mockingbird. So, though there are some similarities (ex: some characters, entire paragraphs, the topic of race) there are also a number of things that vary in this novel that make it a very separate and distinct thing from To Kill A Mockingbird. I highly suggest going into this novel with an open-mind about this being its own piece of work and not getting hung up on how different it is from To Kill A Mockingbird.

       Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It had a number of components that I really appreciated. For one, it perfectly portrayed the transition from childhood to adulthood.  I just turned twenty a few weeks ago, and though I am in no means an actual adult (How exactly does one do their taxes? Can I bring my mommy to jury duty with me? What do you mean I have to make my own doctor's appointments?), there has been a lot of transition in the past few years that I allowed me to recognize and empathize with some of the things Scout goes through in this novel.

       Returning to Maycomb with Scout (now Jean Louise) and seeing all that had changed since her childhood, since even her last visit home, running into people not seen in years, reminiscing about how things used to seem so much simpler, it is something everyone who grows up and leaves home feels at a certain point. Things change slowly when you're home, but when you leave and come back after an extended amount of time, things seem to shift out of nowhere and it can leave you, much like Scout does, feeling sick. This was something I definitely related to and absolutely loved about the book.

       Just as Jean Louise thinks she is at the end of this transition period, she is thrown a curveball when she learns about Atticus's involvement in the County's Citizen's Council, a breeding ground for prejudice and racism hiding (poorly) behind a number of political stances.

       This makes Jean Louise realize that the man she has looked up to and idolized as the only true compass of right and wrong throughout her entire life is not, in fact, perfect. In all honesty, the chapter in which this is realized was probably my favorite chapter of the entire book. The entire plot line of Jean Louise coming to realize that she, not her father, is her own compass, gave me chills. I think this is also something, not always at this extreme of a level, that happens when transitioning to adulthood. I know in the past few years there have been things that I have come to be very passionate about and think are right (Whether from naivety or actual correctness is yet to be determined. Check back in ten years.) that my parents don't always agree with or are not as passionate about as I am. It is a part of growing up, and I think this change was portrayed so well by Lee.

       This also leads me to the way Jean Louise handles things. The novel builds up to one explosive argument with Atticus in which Jean Louise must make a choice of whether to stick around Maycomb with people she highly disagrees with or to get as far away as she possibly can. The way she comes to her conclusion, with some help from Uncle Jack, held a very important lesson that I think many have problems with when beginning to set their own watchman (or moral compass), and that is to remember that though one disagrees with someone else's belief, it doesn't mean the relationship has to be over. However, it also doesn't mean that you can't be vocal about your own beliefs.

       Though there was much done well in this novel, I can also see why this was an original draft and not the draft that first made it to publication. At time, there were random tangents and references that made little to no sense. They added very little to the novel and were something I imagine many skimming over. It was, however, very interesting to see how Lee got To Kill A Mockingbird from this novel. How I would love to see the edits and brainstorming that went into changing this into that. I mean, talk about some amazing editing and revising.

       There are also aspects of this novel I have mixed feelings about, such as Henry. I liked his character at first, but as the novel went on, I just couldn't stand him, though not for the reasons Jean Louise's family doesn't like him. Some of his comments in his and Jean Louise's fight made me angry, and I don't think I can simply go back to liking him after that.

       I also have a lot of mixed feelings about the topics of race and politics that came up in this novel. There was a lot to take in, and a lot of it I didn't agree with. I did love the fact that Jean Louise stood so strongly for her beliefs that racism and segregation were horribly wrong. I will also say that I think this novel showed, in a very intriguing way, the intricacies and complexities that played out in people's everyday lives during this time of change in America.

       Again, I did highly enjoy this novel, perhaps not as much as To Kill A Mockingbird, but it made its own distinct impression on me. I would recommend this book for those who have read To Kill A Mockingbird, those who are looking to read about tough subjects, and those who want an excellent, thought-provoking read.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Cups of Tea
 

       Your Pemberley Reader,
              Acacia

Books That Terrify Me

Hello!

       I thought I would do a fun little post today, as I am a little behind on my reading schedule and do not have a review for the day. I want to spend this post talking about five books that I want to read, but that terrify me in some way or another.

       In all honesty, a majority of these have to do with length. One of my greatest accomplishments is reading Les Miserables in 2013. It was so worth the two weeks of total binge reading that it took me to finish it. I loved the novel, and once I was into it, I honestly didn't mind how long the book was.

       However, I have this thing while reading where if a book takes me longer than a few days to read, I start feeling rushed. I feel like I have to finish it quickly or all of the other books I want to read will disappear from my shelves. It's completely and totally irrational, I know, but it's been a bad reading habit of mine since a young age. If a book takes me too long, I either put it down to never pick it up again or spend the last couple hundred pages begrudgingly reading and then reading slower and slower, despite my actually liking the book. Around day seven of Les Miserables I had to force myself to not start scanning pages instead of reading. Not because I didn't like it or found it boring, but because it's just what I do if I feel rushed while reading.

       With all of that being said, here is my list:

5) Middlemarch by George Eliot

       This book is long. It comes in at 700 pages or so. I've heard a lot about this novel and this author, and I'm very interested in reading it. I've owned it for about two years now, but have still yet to read it. I've built it up in my head as this book that I will start and immediately know it will take too long to read and so I will put it down. One of these days I really want to get to it, because I really do think I'll like it.

4) Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

       I have also had this book for a few years now, and have all of the same reservations about it that I have about Middlemarch. It's about the same length, and though I think I will really like it once I pick it up, the time commitment terrifies me.

3) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

       I actually started this book earlier in the year. Goodreads says I'm "currently reading" it, but in all reality, I haven't picked it up since February. I thought maybe I would try reading it in sections, since it comes in designated parts, but after getting through the first two, I failed to pick up at the third. Now, it's been so long that I really want to just start over. You would think that reading Les Miserables would have let me move past this horrible habit, but it hasn't, and it's stopping me from reading books that I really, really, want to read.

2) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

       I've heard so many amazing things from so many people about this series. I know what it's about, and I would really like to watch the television show based on the series, but I want to read the books first. The premise, a woman in 1940s England being sent back in time to 1740s Scotland, sounds so amazing and right up my alley. It isn't just this book, though, it's an entire series of books that are all very, very long. The time commitment scares me to death. When will I have time to read my other books? Will it take me an entire month or more if I read them while in school? If I read them during the summer, that takes up very precious reading time.... Honestly, the thought of reading this series, as fun as it sounds, gives me anxiety.

1) A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

       I know I'm not alone on this one. There has been so much hype around these books and it's television show, that it is almost impossible not to know about this series. I've heard so much, and I really want to read the books. I have all of them. I got the box set a few years back for a fairly cheap price on Black Friday, but I still haven't even picked up the first one. For all the same reasons as I've listed above, I've stopped myself from reading this book. Part of me is also afraid that this series may have been over-hyped for me. What if I read it and don't like it as much as everyone else does? Will I forever be the odd duck out when it comes to this series? (I know, I know, I have to actually read it first to have an opinion on it.)

       These are only five of the books I want to read but am too afraid to start. I think, besides my weird reading habit/pet peeve/ whatever you want to classify it as, the reason I've had a hard time with reading longer books over the last two years has been my yearly reading challenge. In 2012 I wanted to read 100 books, and I did. I don't believe I read any really long books, however. In 2014, I challenged myself to 75 books and met that. This year I challenged myself to read 80 books, and I am struggling to keep up with it. I took a break from the reading challenge in 2013 (the year I read Les Mis), and I think not having the pressure of a reading challenge really helped me power through the novel.

       I think for 2016, (yes, I know it is months and months away) I will go ahead and skip the reading challenge. I think it will give me a bit more freedom in my reading. If I want to read two super long books in a row, I can do it without freaking out about whether I'm on schedule to finish the challenge. We'll have to see how that goes! Until then, I think I'm going to try reading Anna Karenina from the beginning next month by reading a section a month. It didn't work the first time, but maybe this will act as a way to keep me accountable over the next few months as I try to stick with it. Maybe it will give me more motivation to start the others once the new year rolls around.

       Do you have any books that you're scared to read? Have you read any of the ones on my list? Are they worth the time commitment? Let me know in the comments!

       I'll see you all Thursday with a review.

       Your Pemberley Reader,
              Acacia

Author Spotlight: Rainbow Rowell

       Hello! 

       Do you have that one author that you just can not get enough of? You know, the one author that will come out with a book that you have no idea what it's about, but you buy it anyways? That's how I am with today's author. 

       This month's author spotlight is on the amazing Rainbow Rowell. If you haven't picked up her books before, hopefully by the end of this, you'll head to the nearest bookstore to get one (or all) of them.

       My love for Rainbow Rowell began in 2013 when I read her YA novel Eleanor & Park. I had never heard of it, but I read a review John Green wrote about it, and figured I should pick it up. Since then, I have loved every novel I've read by her. 

       Eleanor & Park is a wonderfully crafted novel about two teens who struggle with their home lives, bullies, and falling in love for the first time. It is written so well that you never want it to end. The characters come alive, and just as they fall in love with each other, you fall in love with them. One thing I appreciated about this book, which I know there are many mixed opinions about, is the ending. I thought it was crafted so well and just really set the tone for the book. It left me wanting more, but also left me knowing that it ended the way it did for a reason. It's a truly beautiful book. 

        Later in 2013, I participated in tumblr's reblogbookclub. The first book they reviewed was Rowell's Fangirl, which couldn't have come at a better time in my life. Fangirl is about the bookish, shy, anxiety-ridden (I feel as if I'm describing myself right now) Cath as she goes through her first year of college. Because I was one of the participants in the book club, I actually received this book for free, but, since it's so amazing, have bought a copy or two more to share with friends. This is a book I want to share with everyone, I think, because I just relate to Cath so much. I read this going into my first year of college, where I struggled with my social anxiety in ways I never had to at my tiny high school. Reading about Cath's struggles and the way that she grows throughout this book was a sort of anchor for me through my first year. If Cath could get through it, so could I. 

        Not only did this book help me personally, but I've garnered so much inspiration from it for the novel I am currently working on. The tone of this book is one that is both very emotional, but very light-hearted all at once, and this exact tone is something I want to capture in the novel I'm working on. Writing wise, Rainbow Rowell is one of my largest inspirations. 

       During my freshmen year of college I also read Rowell's adult novel Attachments. This book is hilarious. I laughed so hard throughout the entire thing. The characters are quirky, lovable, and their relationship is one of the best I've read in any contemporary adult novel. The mutual stalking (you'll understand when you read) and the great one-liners make this book one of my favorite adult books. 

        In 2014, I was actually contacted by Rowell's publisher to see if I wanted an advanced copy of her newest novel Landline because of my participation in the reblogbookclub. Of course I said yes, and so I was sent an ARC of this novel. I absolutely loved it. I had no idea what it was about until I got it, and once I found out the premise, I was hooked before I even started reading. The novel follows Georgie, a wife and mother, who feels a small wedge beginning to appear in her marriage. While staying with her mother for a few days, Georgie discovers the old landline in her childhood bedroom allows her to talk with her husband. I know what you're thinking - Yes, this is how phones work - but the catch is that she is really talking to her husband of the past, before they were married, before they were even engaged. This premise alone hooked me, and the amazing writing, plot, and characters just reeled me into completely and totally loving this book. 

       Later this year, Rowell will be coming out with her newest novel Carry On. This is going to be really interesting to read, because the characters are technically characters she has already worked with in Fangirl. You see, in Cath's world there are the Simon Snow books, which Cath writes fanfiction about. It is a sort of Harry Potter world, but not. While writing the fanfiction scenes, Rowell began wanting to write an actual Simon Snow novel, and so she did. Now, it's being published as Carry On, and it is sure to be a hit, not just for those already Rowell fans, but also for those who are looking for more LGBT literature in the young adult genre, as Simon Snow's arch-nemesis Baz will also become his love interest. The best thing about this book will definitely be the fact that new fans of Rowell will be able to read it without having read Fangirl. (Though, I suggest reading Fangirl as soon as you can get your hands on a copy, because, like I said, it's amazing.)

       You can also check out a short story of Rowell's in Stephanie Perkins's My True Love Gave to Me, which is a wonderful holiday season themed anthology of short stories. There are 12 awesome stories written by 12 amazing YA authors, one of them being Rainbow Rowell. 

       Rowell's writing is fun, beautiful, and leave you wanting more. I promise that you will not regret picking up any of her books. There is something for everyone, both teen and adult, both contemporary lover and fantasy lover (once Carry On comes out). Each novel is a beautiful collection of characters that will make you smile and cry and want to give hugs to all of them. I am so excited to see what else Rowell has up her story-telling sleeves over the years to come. She is one of those authors that I hope to love for a very long time. 

       Have you read any of Rowell's books? Which is your favorite? If you haven't read any, which do you want to pick up first? Let me know in the comments! 

       Your Pemberley Reader,

              Acacia