My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Page Count: 321

Published on: October 14, 2014

Published by: St. Martin's Press
Genre(s): Short Stories, Holiday, Fantasy, YA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Print: Paperback

Age Rating: PG

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @naturallysteph

My Rating: (overall) 4.5 stars

-individual reviews below

Goodreads synopsis:

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Year's there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love. 

~~~

Hey, guys!

I managed to nab a copy of this book from my local Books-A-Million when it was put on the $10-&-below shelf. I got a hardback copy for $6! Not only was it a bargain, it made sense to buy it during this time! I have been putting off grabbing a copy of this book just because it’s a holiday-themed anthology. I really didn’t want to buy it and then not read it for months and months because it wasn’t the proper time. Anyway, I really enjoyed the short stories in this anthology.

They were all so nicely done and festive. Each story had these characters that were really compelling…you wanted to know what their story was about. Some were longer than others, but they were just as great as the shorter ones. Each story was completely unique and special. I enjoyed every one of the stories. There were at least 3, however, that have stuck with me as I’ve finished it.

·       ~Rainbow Rowell’s Midnights

·       ~Stephanie Perkin’s It’s A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown

·       ~Laini Taylor’s The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer

Special Mentions!

·   ~Holly Black’s Krampuslauf

·   ~Ally Carter’s Star of Bethlehem

Not only are these stories written by a few of my favorite writers, but (in my book) they deserve the “best story” label. This is just my opinion, though, so don’t take my word for it. There is definitely a story for everyone in this anthology. I’m really happy with the diversity in this anthology. It wasn’t just Christmas stories. They were a bit of everything! I just really liked this aspect to the book.

I actually rated all of the short stories so that I could get a feel of my full feelings for the anthology. None of them were below a 3-star rating, so that says quite a bit to me. I’m really proud of Stephanie Perkins for starting this anthology. I’m really excited to read Summer Days and Summer Nights, the summer-y themed anthology that was published earlier this year.

·        Midnights: 5 stars

o   This story was the first one that I read (it was the first one, anyway) and it was just the perfect story to get me in the mood.

·        The Lady and the Fox: 4 stars

o   This was so cute, but the ending is kinda weird for me. I wasn’t sure what to think

·        Angels in the Snow: 3 stars

o   I enjoyed the whole aspect of this story. The cat really tied it all together.

·        Polaris Is Where You’ll Find Me: 4 stars

o   This was really cute, but I didn’t like how it ended. It was somewhat satisfying, but not what I wanted.

·        It’s A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown: 5 stars

o   This was just adorable. Another masterpiece from Stephanie Perkins

·        Your Temporary Santa: 3 stars

o   This was adorable as well, but I didn’t connect to it like I hoped I would. I wasn’t a fan of the narration style.

·        Krapuslauf: 4 stars

o   This was creepy and absolutely loved it. I need to read more books like this short story. The perfect blend of creepy and heartwarming.

·        What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?: 3 stars

o   I’m not sure how I feel about this one either. Not a fan of the narration style and I didn’t really like the characters.

·        Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus: 4 stars

o   I loved the forgiveness in this story. It was so funny and clever. I loved this one.

·        Welcome to Christmas, CA: 4 stars

o   This was pretty cute. I loved the cooking-aspect to this. It was mysterious and kind of magical. I loved the characters, and the ending was so great. I want more from Kiersten White.

·        Star of Bethlehem: 4.5 stars

o   This was the last story that I read from the anthology, and I think it was the perfect ending for this anthology (for me).

·        The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer: 5 stars

o   This was the second story that I read from the anthology, but I’m so glad that I didn’t save it for last. It was so different from the other stories, but very festive at the same time. I love how different Laini Taylor’s writing is. I can’t wait to get back into her books. I’ve put them off for far too long.

      I can't wait to immerse myself in more short stories like these this summer. I'm really pleased with this anthology. I've found some new authors to try out, and I'd call that a success. 


Happy reading and happy holidays!
Olivia
~LivTheBookNerd~

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@LivTheBookNerd on Books

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Page Count: 96

Published on:  February 25, 2016

Published by: Macmillan's Kids UK

Genre(s): YA, Contemporary, Short Stories, Fiction

Source: Paperback --Thank you Carlisa!

Age Rating: PG

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @rainbowrowell

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

'Everybody likes everything these days. The whole world is a nerd.'
'Are you mad because other people like Star Wars? Are you mad because people like me like Star Wars?' 
'Maybe.' 

If you broke Elena's heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she's expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does. What she's not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectible Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels. Kindred Spirits is an engaging short story by Rainbow Rowell, author of the bestselling Eleanor & Park, Fangirl and Carry On, and is part of a handful of selected short reads specially produced for World Book Day.

~~~

Hey, guys!

      If you've been following my blog or following me on Goodreads, then you would know that I am a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell's work. I've loved everything that she's written and when she announced that she was releasing a short story for World Book Day that was about a girl who loves Star Wars...I was sold. 

     Elena is absolutely ecstatic about the new Star Wars movie. She decides to camp out in the movie queue..she expects a huge fuss and a huge celebration. She finds the queue to be made up of 2 guys and herself for the week. 

     I loved this story. You would think that it would be a bit of an info-dump when it comes to the main character, but there was actually quite a bit of character development and it was very natural. The characters were all really funny and sweet and their shenanigans in life were really fun to read about. I really want a full-length novel that takes place after the movie to see Elena and her new Star Wars friends go from there.

      I'm not sure why there was a little thing on the front of the book that says "For Older Readers", but it was definitely YA. I just loved how sweet and fluffy it was. Some may not like the ending because it was a bit abrupt and could appear to be rushed, but it was a short story and I loved it. I'm not very familiar with short stories, but this was just what I needed between a fantasy and science fiction binge.

I can't wait until 2017 when the U.S. gets their own version of this book. I want to buy all of Rainbow's work. She's definitely one of the best contemporary romance writers.

My Rainbow Rowell Reviews:

• Fangirl ~ 5 stars
• Carry On ~ 5 stars
• Attachments ~ 4.5 stars
• Eleanor & Park ~ 5 stars

Happy reading!
Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Page Count: 522

Published on: October 6th 2015

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre(s): Fantasy, YA, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Paranormal
Source: Print: Hardback

Age Rating: PG-13

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars

Twitter: @rainbowrowell

Goodreads synopsis:

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

~~~

Hey guys!

        Carry On is about Simon Snow. Simon Snow is the Chosen One and he has been prophesied to save the Magick World from the Insidious Humdrum. Simon has so much expected of him, and on top of all of the stress caused by the Humdrum, Simon's nemesis Baz has gone missing.

        I received Carry On for an early birthday present from my Grandma. I was absolutely ecstatic. I've been waiting for this book since November of 2014 when Rainbow announced that she was writing Simon & Baz's story. I fell in love with Simon & Baz when they were introduced in Fangirl. Carry On is supposed to be the fanfiction that Cath had written in Fangirl. There were only a couple of things that I didn't particularly like. There's one little thing that I didn't like are kind of nit-picky and can't be helped. The one thing I didn't like was that I didn't have the background knowledge that I would have had if there had been 8 books like it had said in the Simon Snow bio written in the beginning of Fangirl. This cannot be helped because it is fan-fiction. Oh my gosh guys...I want the Simon Snow books to be real! They sound so fantastic and beautifully written. It'd be like Harry Potter all over again...

        I actually wish that there had been just a little more of a relationship between Baz and Simon, but I can understand that there wasn't as much because Carry On is supposed to be the eighth book. I loved that the chapters switched POVs and sometimes the chapters would switch POVs in the middle of chapters. It was really well done, and I didn't feel like Rainbow wrote the chapters to make the events of the plot convenient. I was constantly on the edge of my seat throughout the book, and I had no idea what was going to happen. This book was action packed and the romance was amazing and the magic was...fantastical and amazing. 

         I highly recommend this book. It's absolutely amazing. Even if you didn't enjoy the little excerpts in Fangirl you will still love Carry On. Geez guys I love this book. It's so fantastic...

My Favorite Character: Baz

My Least Favorite Character: The Mage

My Ship: Simon & Baz

My Anti-Ship: Simon & Agatha 

If You Like __#__ Then You Will Love Carry On!

• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell {5 stars}
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling {5 stars}
• Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce {5 stars}
• Anna & the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins {5 stars}
• Simon & the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli {4.5 stars}

Enjoy! Happy reading!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

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Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Page Count: 436

Published on:  September 10th 2013 

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre(s): Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Romance, YA, New Adult, Chick Lit
Source: Print: Hardback 

Age Rating: PG-14

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon 

My Rating: 5 stars

Twitter: @rainbowrowell

Goodreads synopsis:

A coming-of-age tale of fanfiction, family and first love

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

~~~

Hey guys!

        Fangirl is by far one of my all time favorite books ever. Fangirl is about Cath. Cath is a fangirl, and not just any fangirl she's a fan of Simon Snow. Simon Snow is "a series of...fantasy books...The books tell the story of Simon Snow, an 11-year old orphan from Lancashire who is recruited to attend the Watford School for Magicks to become a magician. As he grows older, Simon joins a group of magicians --the Mages-- who are fighting the Insidious Humdrum, an evil being trying to rid the world of magic..." (Fangirl: pg. 3). Cath is off to college, and her twin sister Wren is insisting that she wants to meet new people and distance herself from the Simon Snow fandom. Cath is way out of her comfort zone when it comes to living without her sister by her side. She has an unruly and wild roommate who's boyfriend lurks around more that Cath would prefer. She can't stop worrying about her father and her sister, and throughout the story she constantly asks herself "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? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?" (GR synopsis).

       I absolutely adore this book! I've read it twice now, and even reading it the second time, I felt so much emotion and I fell in love with Rainbow's characters and the story. I feel so close to Cath, I relate to her. I'm going off to college this next fall and my twin sister may be going to a different college than me...I feel like Cath and I are one in the same in some respects. I also think that Wren is kind of like my sister Sarah, though my sister doesn't drink and isn't as wild as Wren, I see the close relationship that Wren and Cath have and it reminds me of Sarah and I. Now! On to Levi! Holy cow! I love Levi. He's basically the perfect person for Cath, and he's basically the perfect guy. It's commonly known that boys in books are the best haha.  

       Rainbow's writing is perfect. Every word of this book was positively perfect. Her characters are amazingly perfect and so well written. I understood every action that took place throughout the book. Rainbow didn't leave anything unfinished or underdeveloped. I never felt as if she dragged the book on, even thought the book is 436 pages. 

       Rainbow addressed many different topics that need to be addressed in YA fiction. She addressed family/domestic issues and anxiety. Though these are quite heavy subjects, this book is actually really upbeat and Rainbow handled the topics exceptionally well. I feel like I learned a little more about them. I empathize with her characters and I love them even more for their insecurities and faults. 

       I also loved that Rainbow Rowell included snippets of the Simon Snow books and the snippets of the fanfiction written by Wren and Cath. Some do not enjoy the little passages, but I adored them. It made me desperately want the Simon Snow books. 

Blogger's Note: Rainbow wrote Simon & Baz's story in her newest book Carry On. Carry On is the title of the fanfiction that Cath was continually writing in Fangirl. It's actual name is "Carry On, Simon" but it was refered as Carry On in the book. When I found out that it was being written in November of 2014 I was over the moon. I just finished Carry On last night (10/20/2015), and I will have a review up on Thursday (10/29/2015). 

My Favorite Character(s): Levi & Cath
My Least Favorite Character(s): Wren & Cath's mom and Nick

If You Love __#__, You Will Love Fangirl!

• Anna & the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins {5}
• Simon & the Homo Sapian's Agenda by Becky Albertalli {4.5}
• Just One Day by Gayle Forman {4.5}
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell {4.5}
• Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson {5}

Enjoy and happy reading!

Olivia

~livthebooknerd~

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