{Review} Vengeful (The Villains #2) by VE Schwab

Page count: 462

Publisher: Tor 

Published on: Sept. 25, 2018

Genres: adult fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy

Format: paperback - personally purchased

TW: gore, violence, death, attempted murder, murder, and mental illness. Be kind to yourself when reading this book.

✨ RATING: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there's Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn't know about his most recent act of vengeance.

Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.

~~~

This is a bit of a backlisted review. I published it on my Instagram page in October and then forgot to repost it on the blog and Goodreads. Better late than never I suppose!

While on our honeymoon, Alex and I adventured around and found new bookshops and coffee shops that we loved, but we really took to a coffee shop near where we were staying. It was called Grinder House and seemed to be a staple of the community. We were there for breakfast nearly every morning. It was awesome. On one of our first days, we were just hanging out and reading while we waited on our food. It was just like our dates before the COVID times. It was so nice. 

I managed to finish Vengeful at the delightful Grinder House. It was so much fun. I think I’m of a different mindset because I think Vengeful is my favorite of the two books written in the series. To me, Vengeful had a pretty different dynamic compared to Vicious. I just liked it better because it was really character-focused and action-based. 

The plot really dove into who Eli is and who Syd wanted to be. I also really loved the newly introduced femmes. Marcella was completely bananas and I loved her violent character. June — I loved her as a character, but I’m not sure how I feel about her as a person — which I absolutely love. These characters were immaculately developed and written. 

Since the story swaps between so many perspectives and through the different time periods that lead up to the massive clash between the characters, the pacing is so snappy quick. I just loved it so much. It was the perfect read to have while we traveled about Tennessee. 

Schwab has definitely firmly wedged herself into my top 5 favorite authors. (I just need to read all the graphic novels and comics she has out and The Near Witch.) There are loose strings that will be tied up in Victorious and I just can’t wait. This book was just so excellent. I loved every page!

Happy reading!
Olivia
Liv the Book Nerd
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{Review} The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

 

Page Count: 394

Publisher: Tor Books

Release Date: March 17, 2020

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQIA+

Amazon // Indie Bound // Barnes & Noble // 

Better World Books

April 10 - April 13

Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

~ ~ ~

This book. 

Guys!

This book!!!!

If you've been amongst the book community since this book was released, you probably have either seen it or have witnessed the hype that has accumulated around the story. I'm here to tell you -- it's so worth the hype. 

This book was everything I could have hoped for. Maybe more? 

Yeah. It was even better than I could have imagined. 

When first reading the synopsis of this novel, my interest wasn't all that peaked. When I started listening to it through the Libby app (thank you library!), I was instantly hooked. This story was just so compelling to me from the get-go. 

The House of the Cerulean Sea follows Linus -- a forty-year-old caseworker that works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth where he oversees the children that are housed in government-run orphanages and homes. One day, Linus is plucked from his ordinary life by Extremely Upper Management and sent to the Marsyas Island Orphanage. He doesn't know what his assignment is -- he isn't even allowed to read about the location until he arrived. He meets six children of extraordinary abilities and their caretaker, Arthur. Arthur isn't like other caretakers. To the children, he is their ultimate protector and Arthur will do anything to keep his kiddos safe. 

This book was whimsical, magical, charming, inspiring, and like a breath of fresh air. This book is technically adult, but I just want to push it off into my younger siblings hands, my mom's, all of my family members -- heck, I bought three copies to gift my friends and then pushed my copy into my fiance's hands to read after his finals are concluded. This is one of those books that I was everyone to read. 

This book was the warmest hug that my soul needed during these crazy times we live in. This book is probably one of my newest comfort reads. You bet your patooty that I'll be picking it up at least one more time this year. I can't stop thinking about it. This is the sort of book that needs to be adapted and promoted toward other modes of media. This book is incredibly hopeful, relevant, and uplifting and I hope it is received by more open-hearted readers. I hope it inspires change and love in the hearts of whoever reads it. 

I went into this book knowing it had queer representation, wonderful characters, heartwarming and loving vibes, and that it was incredibly beloved by all who've read it. Because of that, I don't want to reveal more about the book other than what's included in the synopsis. Trust me as I continue to just gush and gush about this book. Please read it. I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Page Count: 336

Published On: September 3, 2019

Published By: Berkley Romance

Genre(s): Adult romance

Source: Hardback bought through Book of the Month
Where To Find It: Amazon// Book Depository

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds, he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying?

This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.

~ ~ ~

Content Warning: 

This does contain sexual content, a pirate in leather, and a swoon-worthy man in a kilt

Hey guys!

Welcome to my review of Well Met by Jen DeLuca. Full disclosure, I adored this book. It was everything I needed: small-town romance, hate-to-love and a sort of enemies to lovers situation, and there was a kind of fake dating spin. It was EVERYTHING. I loved it so freaking much. I absolutely fell in love with the characters that we met in this novel. I want to befriend them IRL and become their best friends. I love it when I feel so connected to a cast of characters. This has quickly become a new favorite romance book and I cannot wait for the companion/sequel that follows our main character's ren faire BFF.

This book was so freaking delightful. I cannot believe I waited so long to read it. Back in August 2019, I picked Well Met as my Book of the Month, but I didn't pick it up until March of 2020. What a travesty! Thank the Lord for the BaeCrate buddy reads on Facebook, otherwise, I would have waited even longer to pick it up.

In this novel, we meet Emily. After breaking up with her long term boyfriend, Emily moves to her sister's small town to take care of her and her niece after her sister is in a debilitating car accident. That summer, she takes her niece to sign up for the town's renaissance faire, but she soon finds out that she has to sign up too because minors can't participate without a guardian present. She signs up/volunteers to be a tavern wench. Little does she know that she is about to have her most enjoyable summer yet. 

This book hooked me as soon as I started reading it. Not only is Emily a snarky, flirty, caring character, but the way she took in her surroundings and processed what happened to her was so engaging and addictive. I loved seeing her world through her eyes. She was so brilliantly written. Whenever she interacted with Simon throughout the story, I was on the edge of my seat. Their banter and interactions were so perfectly done. Their chemistry was palpable and so addicting. 

Simon. Simon Simon Simon. What a darling male companion. Right off the bat, I knew I was going to love him because somehow Emily's delightful and adorable personality was going to break through his curmudgeonly personality. I adored how his character developed and how his relationship with his friends blossomed and improved as he began to open up and communicate. I love him so much.

Additionally, the side characters in this book were so fabulously written. Even though they weren't the main characters, I still felt like I knew them so well. They didn't just fit in to make Emily's life better. They had their own lives outside hers. Jen DeLuca just did such a wonderful job writing this book.

Also, the steamy scene that occurred in this book is so wonderfully written. It wasn't creepy or weirdly done. It was perfect. You need it.

If you haven't picked up this romance novel, I definitely suggest that you do. It's so well written and I cannot rave about it nearly enough. This book deserves all of the praise. Please read it.

If you would like to pick up a copy of this book for $14.99, I definitely recommend the Book of the Month service. I adore their boxes and their choices every month. 

{Purchase Through Book of the Month here!}

I hope you enjoyed this review. Please stay safe out there and please stay home. This virus, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is a very dangerous and fast-spreading sickness that is affecting so many people. It is a very scary time out in the world, but we can get through it if we continue to work together by using social distancing and staying home. 

Please think of the immuno-compromised, the young, the elderly, and all those who cannot fight off this virus as easily as the able-bodied. 

Please take care. 

{Please inform yourself about COVID-19 if you have not already}

Happy reading, my lovelies.

Olivia 

~Liv the Book Nerd~

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{Review: 2019 Reread Edition} Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Hey, guys!

If you've followed me on social media for a while, you'll know about my adoration for Rainbow Rowell's work. Fangirl is one of my #1 favorite books and I cannot praise it enough. 

When rereading books -- especially with a massive chunk of time between reads -- I'm always afraid that I won't like my favorites as much as before. However, this wasn't the case when reading these again. Fangirl was even better than I remember. It was so much like revisiting a dear, dear friend. I honestly cannot wait to reread it again. When will the time come, I wonder?

If you're interested in reading my reviews from 2015, click the links below!
Fangirl {click here}

Page Count: 438

Published On: September 10, 2013

Published By: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Source: hardback - personally purchased (so many times)

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository 

My Rating: 5 stars (all the stars, actually)

Goodreads synopsis:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan..

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

~ ~ ~

When rereading Fangirl, it was as if I were being reunited with some of my closest friends. This book is so special to me because of the intense connection that I feel to the characters. 

I feel like this little review will be just a massive ramble that runs together, so bear with me. 

When I first read Fangirl in 2014, I felt so connected and represented by Rainbow Rowell. I cried so hard with Cath when the various points of conflict were occurring. I felt so heard and I felt seen as someone who struggled with anxious thoughts, someone who has a twin who is completely different from them, has a family ripped apart by divorce, and as someone who found so much comfort in fictional stories and fandom. This book was a safe haven that I felt so freaking blessed to have. 

When I reread the book for the second time in 2015, I loved it even more. I was further into my high school career and becoming really anxious about going into college. Reading about Cath and experiencing her struggles honestly really comforted me and helped me cope with my anxiety about college because if my fave can survive, surely I could too. Again, I am so blessed by Rainbow Rowell. I love her so much.

When I reread the book for the third time in 2019, I was about to go into my senior year of college. I had grown SO MUCH compared to 2015-Olivia. I had conquered the many many things that I had dreaded before and I've done exceeding well. Not to toot my own horn, but I'm flourishing in college and now...at 22, I saw myself even more in Cath. Revisiting this book was honestly so nerve-wracking. I was afraid that I wouldn't love it like I had 4 years ago, but that was definitely not the case. I think I love it even more. 

This past year, 2019, I was able to meet Rainbow at her stop in Cincinnati for her tour for Pumpkinheads with Faith Erin Hicks. Not only was I able to meet her and ask her to sign my books, but I also had two minutes to thank her for writing Fangirl and rambling about how much her words and her story meant to me. Honestly, I think we bonded a little bit because she thanked me and gave me a signed bookplate for my copy of Wayward Son. I'm so blessed to have met her. I cried a little bit and I cannot wait to potentially meet her again in the future. Fangirl means the world to me. You should definitely read it. (Here is a picture of a flustered and fangirling Olivia at the event.)

There are many reasons why I enjoy this book. The pacing, the characters, the fandom aspects, the representation for anxiety, twin sibling representation, discussions on writing and becoming a better writer, and more. 

First of all, the representation of anxiety is just fantastic. Some do not enjoy Cath's character or the representation, however, I think that it accurately encapsulates my own struggles. My anxiety, I feel, is so similar to Cath's and I found myself in the novel. For me, it perfectly encapsulated the feelings that I have felt for so many years.  

When I found books that featured twins as main characters, or even side characters, I found myself struggling to connect to their relationships because they never represented my sister and I. We are completely different people. Though we grew up really enjoying some of the same things and really bonding over our love for our fandoms and bands, we grew up to be so so so different people. When you're a twin and you meet someone who has never really met a set of twins, the person will often expect the twins to be two halves of a whole, rather than two separate people. My sister and I actively have sought out our own friends, interests, and scholarly pursuits. We don't really do things that are all that alike anymore. 

When I first read this in 2014 and 2015, my sister and I were just beginning to find ourselves outside of twin-hood. It was so fun and liberating, but also really scary. I loved my sister, but I wasn't my sister. However, I still wanted to be besties with my sister. We weren't necessarily bestie besties with each other, but I knew I could confide in her and we could talk about the dumbest things at all hours of the day. What if she decided that she wasn't interested in being friends anymore? While reading Fangirl, I felt so seen. Cath's worries about her friendship with her sister made me feel so connected to her. 

While discussing Cath, I think it would be good to mention that I really resonate with her emotional capacity and her personality. We are honestly so similar that I felt like Rainbow Rowell had crawled into my vents and watched me for a few years or even just had a vision that saw how my freshmen year of college would go. It's crazy how similar Cath and I are. I just RESONATE WITH HER OKAY?

When I reread Fangirl this past year, I noticed more aspects that I hadn't fully comprehended when I read it in high school. I loved the realistic dynamic between Cath and Reagan. It's very true to some experiences in college. Additionally, I really loved Cath's relationship with her writing professor, especially toward the end. English professors and instructors are always the coolest and kindest people. I don't make the rules. That's just the facts.

I'm not sure how I can write a review without mentioning Levi. Levi. The love of my life. The best book boyfriend. The sweetest love interest ever. I love him so much. While rereading, I noticed how much he struggled with reading and it honestly broke my heart because he loves stories and he works so hard to succeed. I love the different measures he goes through and the support system around him that further helps him with his studies. I think it's so important to acknowledge that not everyone has the ability to read with so much vigor like Cath. I love how they bonded over Cath's writing and over books in general. They're such a wholesome couple and I love them forever and always. 

I'm not going to go into why Cath's family dynamic made me feel so seen, but full disclosure, my parents are divorced and I have dad issues. A lot of my mental health issues stem from the feelings that I felt when my parents split. That's life, my dudes. When I first read the book, I didn't realize how much her feelings about her parents resonated with me. Again, I'm not going to go into it, but it was powerful and it really helped me put my life and my mental health into perspective. Cath's mom-issues were just so valid and relatable to me. I could totally see myself in her struggles as she faced the feelings she didn't want to acknowledge growing up. When it comes to trauma that stems from parental issues like divorce or feelings of abandonment, I really love to see characters grapple with those struggles. Not because I want them to suffer, but so many people struggle with those issues. They're valid and unfortunately common. 

Overall, this book is just perfect to me. I highly recommend it to all of my nerdy fandom people, my people who love to write, my people who are grappling with big changes in their lives. I know that this book gets a lot of backlash because some people feel that the mental health issues aren't written well or accurately, but I don't think that's the case. Every person who struggles with their mental health interacts with their demons and struggles differently. No one handles them the same and no diagnosis or case is the same. To say that a character doesn't handle their mental health struggles correctly is so ridiculous to me. Now there are some books that absolutely do not handle things well. Either something is romanticized, trivialized, or misdiagnosed or misrepresented, but I don't think that Fangirl does this. I see so much of my own life in this book. It has helped me so much when it comes to working through my own anxieties and worries and struggles. 

I think it is such a wonderful book. I hope you give it a chance and I hope you love it. Either way, I'd love to discuss your opinions in the comments, via email, or even my Instagram DMs. Let's discuss!

Happy reading!
Olivia
~Liv the Book Nerd~
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Top 19 of 2019 Reads

Hey, guys!

This year has been such a great reading year. I read over 150 books and managed to read a wider variety of books compared to some of the past years. This year was a year of rereads, adult fantasy, and branching out. I'm so happy with what I read, but I cannot wait to dive into more books in 2020. 

I didn't think I'd actually have 19 favorites from 2019, but when compiling these books, I instantly picked out 19. I also have some fantastic runner ups, so stay tuned for those too! 

Here are my top 19 reads from 2019!

Full disclosure. Discussing my favorite books tends to result in cookie-cutter gushes. I just adore these books and sometimes it's much easier to hate a book than love it -- or at least it's easier to discuss why I hate/dislike a book than if I absolutely adore it. Please read these books.

I also do not think I have a #1 favorite from this stack. I'm so passionate about Daisy, Circe, TWK, QON, Curse, and RW&RB that I cannot decide which of them are my favorites. As I type this, I really want to just bold them all because they are all so phenomenal, but I'm reigning myself in. You're welcome. I'll bold those 6 to indicate which of them are my top faves, but please read these books because they are so wonderful and meaningful stories that I hold so dear to my heart. 

If you need a book recommendation or if you want to read any of these and need help or advice on where to start, DM me or email me! @livthebooknerd on Instagram or livthebooknerdblog@gmail.com! 

Top 19 of 2019:

1. Circe by Madeline Miller 
• 5 stars
• This book has just stuck with me since I read it this summer. The beauty of the prose and the voice of Circe has just stuck with me and I cannot fully explain what this book means to me, but I will try. Not only does this perfectly encapsulate a woman's experience, it perfectly interweaves Greek mythology and introduces a misrepresented and underhyped character. Circe is everything. 
2. Daisy Jones + The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• 5 stars
• This book. What a unique and horribly fascinating story. I absolutely love the interview and personal history aspect of the story. The way that Reid weaves the various character's stories together is so genius. I cannot wait to read her next novel and to read the backlisted titles that I didn't get to in 2019. I read this physically, but I definitely recommend the audiobook too. It's probably the best way to do it.
3. Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
• 4.5 stars
• This was such a fun and diverse sort of romance book. It was quite cheesy and fluffy but had so much substance that made it so freaking original and fun. I love the representation (black girl rep, chronic pain rep, abusive relationship rep) that was throughout this book. It was so well thought out and just so much fun. I listened to this via audiobook and the audiobook narrator was so phenomenal. 
4. A Curse So Dark & Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
• 5 stars
• This book was such a wonderful fantasy debut from Kemmerer. I love her contemporary fiction, but this really takes the cake. I absolutely adore the magic, the world, the characters, and the conflict. This was just too fun for words and I cannot recommend it enough. I cannot wait for A Heart so Fierce and Broken!
5. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
• 4.75 stars
• This was also everything. I absolutely loved the magic system, the magical libraries with the monster books, the tall female protagonist, the bisexual male romantic partner, and a cat-like secretly caring demon servant friend. I just loved everything about this book. Margaret Rogerson can do no wrong.
6. The Wicked King (Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black
• 5 stars
• This is everything. I died consistently while reading this book. The twist at the end made me so anxious to read QON at the end of the year. A whole year to wait was so agonizing.
7. The Queen of Nothing (Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black
• 5 stars 
• This was the finale that I needed. I was so freaking impressed. Holly Black also set up some characters to have continued stories and I need it now.
8. Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
• 4.8 stars
• This Viking/Scandanavian inspired story was EVERYTHING! I adore Aska and Fiske to the moon and back and I cannot wait to continue reading The Girl the Sea Gave Back and the ARC of Fable that I have. Adrienne Young is an instant new favorite author. I adore her.
9. Tunnel of Bones by V.E./Victoria Schwab
• 4.5 stars
• This was just so fantastic! I adore everything about Victoria Schwab's middle-grade writing. Her magic worlds are so addicting and I cannot wait for book #3 and to read more of her work in 2020.
10. With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
• 4 stars
• This was such a wonderfully written novel. I adore Elizabeth Acevedo's writing and her characters so much. I listened to this via audio and I definitely recommend it for your experience. This was such a poignant and important novel. I cried so hard at the end and throughout the story.
11. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
• 5 stars
• This book was everything I needed. Please read this via audiobook. This is everything you need in a contemporary. 
12. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
• 4.9 stars
• This book is everything that I needed in a fantasy novel. Not only was it masterfully done, it was smart and full of snark and sass. I cannot wait to continue on with Godsgrave and Darkdawn in 2020. I need it.
13. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crowe by Jessica Townsend
• 4.5 stars
• This was everything that I needed in a middle-grade fantasy novel. This story and this book series has such a fun conflict and premise and such a wonderfully complex magic system. I love everything about it. I cannot wait for book #3!
14. Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
• 5 stars
• Such a perfect graphic novel! I adore adore adore this story. I love the baking parts of the story and the wonderful romance that progressed throughout. The art style and the color story throughout is so gorgeous too. It's just so visually stunning. love this so much. 
15. Check Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
• 4.5 stars
• Another fantastic graphic novel. I absolutely adored this queer romance. I'm not one who is usually into hockey, but I loved the focus on hockey throughout this story. The friendships and the fun banter between the guys was so much fun. I cannot wait for Book 2.
16. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang 
• 4.5 stars
• Helen Hoang is a masterful writer. I cannot yell enough about her skill and my adoration for her stories. I cannot wait for her next book to come out. I'm so glad that I could read an ARC of this book and continue to put out a positive narrative about her stories.
17. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
• 5 stars
• How can I gush anymore about this book? It's perfect and I cannot wait to reread it and read more from McQuinston. How can a debut novel be this wonderful?
18. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• 5 stars
• This book is such a wonderful examination and study of race and blackness in America. I adore everything about this book. I cannot wait to read more from Adichie. Her writing style is so addicting, quick, and thought-provoking. 
19. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E/Victoria Schwab
• 4.75 stars
• This was such a unique, dark, and addictingly magical. I cannot wait to read more from this series. I'm obsessed. I'm so upset that I couldn't continue on with the series while I was in school, but I cannot wait to continue the series in January.

Runner-Ups!

All of the books listed below hold such a warm place in my heart. All of them were so wonderful and nearly made my top faves list. You should definitely check these out too. 

All of my reviews or mini-reviews are linked in the title of each book. Click the title to read more of what I think of them.

1. The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston 
2. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill
3. The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O'Neill
4. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks
5. Taproot by Keezy Young
6. Book Love by Debbie Yung
7. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
8. Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
9. More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer
10. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
11. Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer
12. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Malhurin

Genre Break Down:

• Middle-grade fantasy: 2
• Adult fantasy: 3
• YA fantasy: 5
• YA contemporary/romance: 2
• Adult contemporary/romance: 5
• Graphic novel/comics: 2

I'd love to have my breakdowns to be more evenly distributed in the future, but I don't think that is something that can organically happen. I plan on reading more outside my comfort zone in 2020, so stay tuned. 

You can follow my reading journies on Instagram @livthebooknerd and on Goodreads {click here}. I will also be posting more frequently here now that my college years are wrapping up. 

Happy reading!

Olivia

~ Liv the Book Nerd ~

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{Review} The Tea Dragon Society, The Tea Dragon Festival, & Dewdrop by Katie O' Neill

Hey, guys!

This summer I fell deep into love with Katie O'Neill's writing style, art style, and overall skill. Her books are so engaging and entertaining. I've loved all three that I have read and they have been instant 5-star reads.  

If you adore beautiful art, wholesome and complex stories with wonderful and complex characters, and engaging story-lines --- YOU WILL LOVE THESE BOOKS! 

Please read these books! They deserve every bit of hype that they receive!

Dewdrop is out April 7, 2020

an eARC copy of this book was provided via NetGalley!

This is such a wonderful and uplifting little book.

Dewdrop is so encouraging and works to empathize with their friends to try to make sure that they aren't damaging their mental or physical health.

The different characters all have different struggles that they face. They all overcome their issues with simple, relatable solutions, and they're generally positive and relatable overall.

I think that this is such an important little book for young readers. It shows readers that everyone struggles at times, but with the proper encouragement and a different look on life, you can accomplish anything. I cannot wait to share this with my younger reader friends, older friends, kiddos --- well, anyone! This was such a delight!

I'm definitely going to be a long-term Katie O'Neill fan! 

The Tea Dragon Festival was released September 17, 2019

An eARC was provided via NetGalley for my honest review

This was such a lovely and perfect little story. I absolutely adore everything about this story, the art style, the plot, and the characters. The representation in this book was so freaking wonderful! Wonderfully done! I loved learning more and more about the world of dragons and tea dragons. I'm so in love with this world. I hardcore recommend this book to anyone who loves whimsical, lovely, soft stories. Everything by Katie O'Neill is perfect so far.

The Tea Dragon Society was released on October 31, 2017

I borrowed this sweet book from my local library

This was such a perfect story. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel so much emotion! If you haven't read this beautiful story yet, you are missing out!

Katie O'Neill has a magical, heartwarming storytelling skill that I rarely find in my favorite books. I tend to go for the darker, more violent stories and protagonists, but this book and her later books made me really appreciate the more wholesome and fluffy aspects that I love in my favorite characters, fantasy worlds, and my dragon babies. 

I don't want to spoil too much of this book, but I honestly think that every moment of it is perfect. I cannot wait to read it again and binge all of O'Neill's books. She deserves the world!

Happy reading!

Olivia

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