|| November Wrap-up & December TBR

Better late than never, right? Anyway, I'm here today to share with you all the books I read in November. This month was a busy one - I was teaching third graders all of November, and on top of that, I had a huge exam paper to write. However, even with all that business, I still managed to read 10 books. I have absolutely no idea how I managed that, but somehow I did. I read some pretty decent books this month - there were some that disappointed a bit, but there were also some that I absolutely love.

One Man Guy - Michael Barakiva ★★★

This book was a really fast read. I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to people who want a different kind of contemporary read. This book is LGBTQ and it's got a great diverse cast. I had a some problems with it here and there, but not something that was a huge deal breaker to me.

Kamikaze Boys - Jay Bell ★★★

I have read quite a few things from this author before. I've really adored his writing in the past, and I did with this book as well. However, the story didn't really do that much for me. It was a good story, but that was just about it.

Almost Like Being in Love - Steve Kluger ★★★★

This book was so much fun. I have a review up on the blog of this book already, so I'm not really gonna talk that much about it.

The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson ★★★

This book I was really excited to read. However, I might have hyped myself up a little too much, because this book ended up being just fine for me. I liked the characters, and I loved the whole concept. I think I was expected there to be more Ripper than there actually were. In the end I was left with a feeling of wanting more, and therefore I will be continuing on with this series.

Y: The Last Man, The Deluxe edition book one - Brian K. Vaughan ★★
This graphic novel I had heard a lot of things about. I must admit this wasn't really my thing. The writing was great and the illustrations were pretty cool. However, the story was just too much. It felt like they try to do so many different things, and in the end, to me, they all fell a little flat. I might read the next installment, next year, but I'm not sure.

The Before Now and After Then - Peter Monn ★★★★★
This was kind of a random pick. Someone on my Goodreads feed had just reviewed this book, and I thought it sounded interesting. And boy was I glad I picked this one up. It was a phenomenal book, and just what I needed. This book made me cry, and it made me laugh out loud. The Characters were amazing, and all in all I just really loved this book.

Lies My Girlfriend Told Me - Julie Anne Peters ★★
This has been on my TBR from the moment it came out. The premise of this book is really interesting, but the execution of it didn't work for me. Out of all the characters only one of them was likable to me.

Cinder - Marissa Meyer ★★★
This is a book I've been wanting to read for a long time, but have just never gotten to before now. I enjoyed the book, I really did, but there was just so much going on, that it got a little confusing at times. At least to me. Also, it was very predictable, and the plot twists didn't do that much for me. However, I do want to continue the series, because I¨m very excited to see where this story will go.

Gracefully Grayson - Ami Polonsky ★★★★★
This was a new release of November, and I'm so glad I picked it up. It's a middle grade book, and boy is it an important book. It is easy to understand, which I think is really important when the book is targeted towards middle graders. The story is beautiful, and so well told. I would really recommend anyone to pick up this story.

Wait For You - J. Lynn ★★★
So, this book was another random pick. I needed something quick to read, so I thought a contemporary new adult book would be good. And it was. This was a good story and it was well executed, it just wasn't something that completely blew me away. I might continue this series, but I'm not completely sure yet.

So on to my December TBR. This month I want to try and see if I can cross some more physical books off of my TBR pile. The picture shows all the book I really want to read, however that small pile might change. I read based on my mood, and I might not be in the mood for any of these. Actually there's a 90% chance that I'll deviate from this. But I figured I needed to have some sort of direction for the month, hence this pile.

So, did you read anything good in November? What is on your TBR on December?

|| 10 books I need to finish before 2015

The year is almost over - I say almost, when in fact there’s more like a month and a half left. But still, it’s time to start thinking about which books I want to read before the year is over and done. I have chosen 5 physical books, and 5 ebooks, all ten book are some that I own. This is not included the books that are already on my November TBR. So, without further ado, these are the 10 book I need to finish before 2015 - or you can just call it: My End of the Year TBR.

Delirium - Lauren Oliver. 
A book that I’ve had since Christmas last year. I specifically asked my mom for this one, but I just never got around to reading it. So, this is why I want to read it now. Preferably before Christmas eve - but that is optional.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown. 
Another book I’ve had for some time. I bought it on a whim, because I needed another book to get free shipping. It does sound interesting, so that’s why it is on my list.

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan. 
A book I bought for some birthday money last year. It sounds very interesting, and I have actually picked it up before, but I never started reading it, because I wasn’t really in the mood for this kind of book. But I’ll hope to read it before this year is out.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. 
I’ve read one book by her before (Slammed), which I didn’t really like. But I’ve heard so many great things about this one, so I’ll give it a shot.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell. 
I bought this when I was in Berlin back in July. It’s the only Rainbow Rowell book I haven’t read, and if I do read it this year, I will have read all of her books within one year. That would be pretty awesome I think.

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis. 
A book that that’s been  raved about on ‘Tea Time with Team Epic Reads’, so I need to pick this up soon.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. 
People have been raving about this book, - and series, so I thought it would be about time that I got started on this. Also, it does sound really interesting. 

Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Anne Peters. 
I started reading this earlier this year, but I didn’t get very far. Not because it wasn’t good, but once again I wasn’t really in the mood for it. 

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher. 
This sounds like such a sweet read, and I really want to get to it sooner rather than later.

The Conduit by Stacey Rourke. 
I’ve read Crane, and Raven by this author before, and I absolutely loved them. Her writing is really good, so I thought I’d read her debut novel.

Do you have any books you need/want to read before the year is over?

|| October Wrap-up & November TBR

October is pretty much over, and it's time to tally up the score, and see what I've read in this month. Apparently I read a lot more than I think I do. This month I’ve crammed down 10 books, which is way more than I thought I would read. I started teaching this month, and it has been taking up so much of my time, so reading has been put on the back burner, and been bumped down to a lower priority. But apparently I managed to get some reading done anyway. This month has been one where I started the magnificent books about Percy Jackson. It has also been the month where I read a book that has flown right to the top of my favorite books.

All in all I think this has been good reading month with some great books. There weren’t any books this month that I really disliked, but there were some that I absolutely loved.

 Saga, Volume 3 | The Lightning Thief | Crane | The Sea of Monsters | Out of Time

Out of Mind | Coming Home | Inseparable | Something Like Winter | Raven

I’m teaching all through November, and writing a shit-ton of assignments, and therefore I wont make a super ambitious TBR for the month. There are a couple of book, which I’m dying to get to, so I’m hoping I’ll at least get some reading in. I’ve picked out 5 books, that I need to read in the month of November, and if I get to all of these, I always have some back up books to read.

Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger

A recent buy for me, but a book I’ve wanted to read for a long time. It sounds really interesting, and I’ve been on a contemporary kick lately.

Let’s Get Lost By Adi Alsaid

This has been on my TBR ever since I heard about it earlier this year. I’ve heard mixed things about this book, but the premise sounds really interesting, so it’s definitely something I’m excited to be picking up.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A book that I had been hoping to get to in October, but just didn’t have time for.  It’s a book that I bought earlier this year, and it’s just been sitting on my shelf ever since. It probably is more of an October/Halloween read, but hey, November can be scary too. Right?

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Holy hell, has this been on my TBR shelf for a long time. I’ve picked this book up in the book store so many times, but I’ve never ended up buying it. Then, in October, there was a sale on the site where I usually buy my eBooks, and it was there for pretty cheap. So I jumped on the chance and I finally have the book.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

This book.. This book I’ve picked up before, but only got about half way into before I put it down. Not because it was bad, I actually quite enjoyed the book. I just wasn’t in the mood for it at the time. However, I think November might be the time to pick this one back up again.

What did you guys read in October? What are you planning on reading in November?