Best Books I Read In: February (and you should too!)

Best Books list for February! I read a lot this month, but didn’t find as many gems.

thicker than water coverThis was a ’16 debut I was highly anticipating, and I’m pleased to say it floored me. The writing was beautiful and dealt with so many things like grief and guilt and denial. Plus complicated family and sibling relationships that leapt off the page. I’m always impressed with non-linear stories that pull it off, just like this book did. We jump back and forth between Cecelia becoming a dealer and her dealing days to the present where she’s in the midst of a trial for her brother’s death and in treatment. A wonderful, well-executed novel for sure!

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

 

 

 

symptoms coverI did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I was a little iffy on the voice for the first few chapters because there were some awkward sentences and cliche phrases, but thankfully that didn’t become an issue. Riley’s voice was beautiful, rich, and humorous. I was also concerned this would become a preachy book on the woes of social media, but it wasn’t that, either. Instead this was a complexly drawn (is that a thing?) novel about identity, and I adored it. Riley is gender-fluid, an orientation I’m ashamed to admit I don’t know a lot about. Riley deals with bullying, anxiety, family drama, and a growing internet presence Riley’s not sure how to handle. And through it all this novel never feels dark or like an “issue” book, as they are sometimes called. It’s just a really well told story that touches on timely subjects.

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

Have you read either of these books? What did you think? What are your favorite recent reads?

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Best Books I Read in: January (and You Should Too)!

Sorry I left you guys waiting for this month’s list a couple extra days longer. I got distracted with snow and school and watching The Royals.

So in January I read a whooping 16 books! That must be an all-time best. I wanted to read as much as I could before the semester started–though I still read a fair amount the last two weeks of January, balanced with school work. Let’s get started!

love actually dancing

Short version here!
-WOLF BY WOLF by Ryan Graudin [asfghjkl masterpiece]
-MAP OF FATES by Maggie Hall [swoon]
-KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky [this book is effed up]
-EVERY LAST WORD by Tamara Ireland Stone [cute! poetry! yay!]
-THE ANATOMY OF CURIOSITY by Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff, and Tessa Gratton [yessssss]

Longer/cooler version here!

wolf by wolf

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK. I love it SO much. I read it in a day because I just could not stop. I don’t think I’ve ever really read an alternate history book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was also wary of the subject matter since we’ve had a crop of Nazi Romance Book scandals in the last several months + last semester I took a class on Genocide, so the material was close to my heart. But this. book. was. incredible. Yael is such an amazing MC–she’s been through so much shit, but she still has so much heart, and it’s beautiful. The plot is nonstop and the writing broke me. Like, I had so many feels, it was disgusting [evidence below].

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

map of fates cover.

The Conspiracy of Us was one of my favorite books of last year. I loved the characters and was totally hooked. I was so excited to win an ARC so I could read it and sate my fangirlsh needs! But who was I kidding, this book just made me need book 3! Again, spot on characters, humor, and sass. And swoony guys that actually made me CHANGE SHIPS. This has NEVER happened to me before. But as much as I love Jack Stellan, I’m here for Avery and her character growth and unraveling all the mysteries of this twisty tale. Okay, and Stellan. Full review coming soon!

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

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anatomy of curiousity cover.

I’ve never really read short story collections before, but I’ve been in a writing slump recently, so I wanted to check this out since it’s a book for writers and readers. And oh man, I’m so glad I did! These stories and the writing tips/insights/notes  were incredible. The stories themselves were super interesting. I was hooked on two of them and found the other interesting but it just didn’t grab me, though the author notes were still invaluable. If you’re a fan of one or more of these authors or enjoy fantasy and richly woven stories, def check this out!

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

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kill the boyband cover.

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I don’t even know how to talk about it and I want to review it, but you see how not knowing how to talk about this book could pose a problem. Just… just… I don’t even know. This magical book is somehow real. It has messy characters, insane situations, satire, a twisty plot, and GIRLS AND THEIR POWER AND FEELS. I’ll try to be coherent about this book some other time.

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

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.every last word cover

The poetry in this book is beautiful! I thought it was also interesting to see a different manifestation of OCD that had more to do with invasive thoughts than the more well known neurotic tendencies. Even though this book deals with a heavy subject, it was a fluffy easy read with fun characters and a cute ship.

Amazon || B&N || Goodreads

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What are the best books you’ve read recently? Have you read any of these?

 

Best Books I Read In: December (And You Should Too!)

Ah, yes, your favorite feature on YABooksGirl is back! Here are my favorite reads of December–and if you haven’t read them yet, I highly Recommend you do!

This is so hard because I read a lot of good stuff in December! I totally made up for a slow November and read a collection of 2015 debuts, 2016 ARCS, and some books pubbed before this year that I’d meaning to get to for awhile. Without further ado….!

sherlock fangirling

an ember in the ashes cover.

You must remember my Friday Reads post (it had Chewie!) back at the end of November that I was reading this. I didn’t finish it until right around finals in December because I had so many term papers to write. I reallyreally enjoyed this. I was sucked in pretty much right from the beginning and really loved both Laia and Elias’ character arcs. I also shipped them so hard, but loved how the romance did not take over the plot. This is a great fantasy with an ancient Roman feel to the world. So many fantasies advertise brutal worlds, but I actually believed this one.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

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twenty boy summer cover.

I CRIED. I sobbed big fat ugly tears reading this book in one night. It was not pleasant on my emotions. I’d heard about this book years ago when it came out, but I wasn’t fond of the blurb. I am here to tell you now this is not a book where a girl kisses twenty boys in one summer. That pitch is so deceiving because it is not what happens AT ALL. This book is such a beautiful exploration of grief and friendship and brings California to life through the eyes of a dead boy and the girl mourning him. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

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carry on cover.

Hello, happiness. This book is not Harry Potter fanfiction, but you can see what inspired it, including every Chosen One story ever. Fantastic characters, great voice, and spot on satire made this a favorite!

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

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And now for three books that you have to put on your radar that are coming out in 2016:

sue excitement

the girl who fell.

I won’t say much about this because I’ll be posting a full review as part of The Girl Who Fell blog tour in January, but prepare yourselves for a story about an abusive relationship and a girl who has to find a way to fight back and reclaim her life and herself. Coming March 2016.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

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the crown's game cover.

If you loved The Night Circus, this book is for you. And if you haven’t read The Night Circus, what the hell are you waiting for (it came out in 2011!!)? A beautiful, richly drawn fantasy set in Imperial Russia, a bromance to end all bromances, and MAGIC! May 2016.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

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blackhearts.

I won’t say anything at all because my review (and a crack!playlist) will be going up on Monday but ohmygodiamdead. This book was perfect. Perfect. February 2016!

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the best books YOU read in December? Have you read any of these?

Best Books I Read In: November (and you should too)!

New feature! I started this on my Facebook last month and then realized I could totally use it on the blog! Without further ado, Best Books I Read in November (and you should too).

I didn’t read as much because the semester got crazy + holidays, but I did find a couple amazing books 😉 (as always)

-ILLUMINAE by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
-SOME GIRLS ARE by Courtney Summers
Both super different.

illuminae coverIlluminae is this badass sci-fi novel that takes place on several spaceships and is told through transcripts, chats, medical files, and so many other interesting ways. Every page is a piece of art, quite literally. AND, it’s being optioned for film by Brad Pitt… so get on it while you can say you read it before it was cool 😉

Amazon: Boom
B&N: Double boom
Goodreads: Add me!

some girls are cover

 

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Some Girls Are was heartbreaking. This is my second Courtney Summers book (the first I ended up reccing last month) and it’s just as intense and acid reflux-inducing. She writes real girls, with anger, with trauma, living in a world that refuses to save them. She’s phenomenal.

Amazon: Boom
B&N: Double boom
Goodreads: Add me!

 

 

 

What are the best books you read in November?? Have you read ILLUMINAE or SOME GIRLS ARE? What did you think?
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