Hello everybody! Today, I’m going to be doing the Harry Potter Christmas tag, which was created by Charleigh Writes, and which I found on Fantastic Book Dragon. Onto the post!
Tag: Tags
The Library Loves Tag
The Wonderstruck Book Tag
Hello everybody! Today, I’m going to be doing the Wonderstruck book tag, because I love Taylor Swift so much right now (and always tbh) and I just really fancied it, especially since the lyric in the title comes from one of my ABSOLUTE favourite Taylor Swift songs. I found it on Dora’s blog and it was created by Olivia. Onto the post!
Rules:
- Link back to the creator (Olivia)
- Answer as many or as few of the questions as you’d like.
- Feel free to use any of the graphics in this post
- Tag however many people you’d like at the end!
You’re Not Sorry – A Book That Un-Apologetically Broke Your Heart
This is unexpectedly tricky. I don’t really read a lot of all out bleak books. Ways to Live Forever, I think. It’s absolutely heartwrenching.
Back to December – A Book You Still Think About Even After You’ve Finished
About 3 or 4 years after finishing it for the first time, I still think about the Lost and the Found at least a few times a week. That ENDING, bloody hell.
If This Was a Movie – A Book You Really Want to Become a Movie
I think the Flatshare would be god tier as a romcom film. It’s the kind I’d watch over and over and over.
Gorgeous – A Book With the Most Beautiful Cover
In Darkling Wood, which was designed by Julian de Narvaez. The book is amazing as well.
Shake It Off – A Book That Gets Hate But You Love
I’ve seen a lot of hate for Geek Girl and its sequels over the years! They’re quite niche to be fair, so I get why they’re not everyone’s thing.
Never Grow Up – A Book That Gives You Childhood Nostalgia
My childhood faves were the Pony Club Secrets series. I have so many memories tied to them and such a deep attachment that even now I could tell you pretty much every plot point of every book. I actually would love to reread them some time soon.
Sparks Fly – A Book You Instantly Clicked With
I knew within a couple of pages of Murder Most Unladylike that I would be a very big fan for years to come. I was right.
Style – A Classic That Will Never Get Old
My faves are always the same: the One Hundred and One Dalmatians and Charlotte’s Web. And I love Style.
End Game – A Book With a Romance You Love
If you’ve ever read this blog before, you know my fave book romance ever is Harriet and Nick from Geek Girk. But more recently, Cara and Hector from the Year After You were a couple I shipped so bloody hard.
I Knew You Were Trouble – A Book You Couldn’t Help But Become Obsessed With
I didn’t expect to enjoy Girl 38 as much as I did, but WOW it blew me away.
Bad Blood – A Book Where You Loved the First One, But Hated the Sequel
Oh, that’s not something I have too often that I can think of. I loved Karen M mCmanus’s first and hated her second but they’re both standalones.
What are your thoughts on the books I’ve mentioned? And which of these songs is your favourite? I think mine has to be Sparks Fly, and I’d love to hear about yours in the comments!
Amy x
The Autumn Tag 2019
Hello everybody! Today, I’m going to be doing the Autumn tag, which was created by Jenn. I wasn’t tagged, but I love autumn and the questions so decided to do it anyway. Onto the post!
The Bank Holiday Tag
Hello everybody! Today, I’m going to be doing the Bank Holiday Book Tag, which was created by Cora, in honour of it being a bank holiday at the moment! Onto the post!
The Out of My Comfort Zone Tag
Hello everybody! Today, I’m going to be doing the Out Of My Comfort Tag, which I found on Book Dragons. Onto the post!
The End of Year Reading Survey | 2018 Edition
Hello everybody! Today, I’m going to be doing the Perpetual Page Turner’s Annual End of the Year Reading Survey, even though we’re now almost a full month into the new year. This is mostly because I was more than a bit intimidated by the sheer length of this tag, and as such dithered about whether or not I was going to do it for a REALLY long time. Shout out to Charlotte for finally getting me to just do it! Onto the post!
2018 READING STATS
Number Of Books You Read: 159 (I initially thought this was 160, which is a nice, round number but alas I was wrong because I cannot do maths.)
Number of Re-Reads: 2
Genre You Read The Most From: I haven’t actually counted, but I’m pretty sure it’s fantasy.
BEST IN BOOKS
1. Best Book You Read In 2018?
It’s a tie between When the Mountains Roared and the Children of Castle Rock, and has been since April.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I had very high hopes for the Lost Magician by Piers Torday, because I LOVE the Last Wild books but it was such a letdown for me. I don’t think I’m going to continue on in the series, but I’ll probably continue to give anything else he writes a try.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
I was so surprised by how much I loved Children of Castle Rock. I really like everything else I’ve read from the author, but I loved this book so much.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
I got several people really into the Murder Most Unladylike books this year.
5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?
I read several amazing series starters, but I think my very favourite was Ellen Renner’s Storm Witch. Best sequel would be either Alex Sparrow and the Furry Fury or the Elsewhere Emporium. Best conclusion would definitely be Battle of the Beetles.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?
I’ve only read one of her books, but I think it’d be Matilda Woods if this means an author who’s had books out other years that I’ve never never read anything from.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don’t read very many YA fantasies set totally in a fantasy world, but I really enjoyed State of Sorrow.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The Elephant Thief was totally unputdownable. I was so worried about the characters.
9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Probably When the Mountains Roared.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?
Ooh this is so tricky! There are so many stunning covers out there. I think my very favourite belongs to Wild Folk.
11. Most memorable character of 2018?
I feel like I actually know Daisy and Hazel from the Murder Most Unladylike books personally, so them. But Cara from the Year After You if I’m picking a new to me character. Or Sami from the Eleventh Trade if I’m picking a new to me character that I’ve not mentioned elsewhere in this tag.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
Ooh there are so many I could say for this! Since I’ve mentioned most of them more than once already, I think I’ll go for When We Collided by Emery Lord.
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?
I found Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes really thought provoking- it discusses some really interesting ideas.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, or maybe Under Rose Tainted Skies!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?
The passage where you first meet Fergus properly in the Children of Castle Rock.
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?
According to Goodreads, the Mystery of Me was the shortest and State of Sorrow was the longest. I really enjoyed both.
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
The twists in Beyond the Odyssey were mind-bending, and definitely shocked me.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Up till December, it would have been Finch and Hector from Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, but Cara and Hector from the Year After You stole it at the last minute.
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
I think this has to be the friendship between the main group in either the Children of Castle Rock or the one between the young explorers in Explorers on Witch Mountain.
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Both my ultimate favourites of the year were by authors I’d read previously.
21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc
I would never have picked the Elephant Thief up if Louise hadn’t told me it was brilliant.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?
Matt from Open Road Summer. A singer-songwriter who’s caring and compassionate and romantic? Be still my beating heart.
23. Best 2018 debut you read?
I think this has to be Sophie Anderson’s the House with Chicken Legs. It’s such a unique and compelling book.
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Most vivid setting definitely goes to Jess Butterworth for When the Mountains Roared, though another great one was Katherine Woodfine’s Paris in Peril in Paris. I think my favourite fantasy worldbuilding was A Darkness of Dragons or Storm Witch, because those were both exceptionally well done.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
The Children of Castle Rock was a joy to read.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?
I used to think I wasn’t a big crier at books but talking about what I read more since I started blogging has taught me that I cry at basically everything. I think When the Mountains Roared made me cry most though.
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
I really wish a Darkness of Dragons got a bit more love, because it’s so good and I only know of about two other people who’ve read it.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Fierce Fragile Hearts crushed my heart at numerous points, and then put it back together. So did the Year After You, but I’ve already made my love for that very clear, I think!
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?
I know everyone has said Floored for this and I really did try to come up with something else, but Floored. You can’t get much more unique than a book written by seven of UKYA’s biggest stars, can you?
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
I remember being livid while reading the Buried Crown on behalf of both George, darling Spud the dog and Kitty because some of the people in their town were vile to them.
YOUR BOOKISH/BLOGGING LIFE
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?
Because I am indecisive, I have numerous answers to this. I don’t really follow many bookstagram accounts, so I’ll leave that out. My favourite new blogs I’ve started reading are Alyce’s and Rachael’s. I share a lot of opinions with both of them, and I’ve really enjoyed reading their content and interacting with them since I found their blogs. For booktube, I’ve absolutely been loving Books and Lala!
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2018?
I think it has to be my review of Staying at Tamara’s, because both George Ezra and this album mean a lot to me. My top 3 has completely changed bar one song, but I still stand by all the gushy things I said about it.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018?
I love this one of Shimmy and Sami’s Silver Lining, and one I can’t find except on my Instagram of Saffy holding the Midnight Hour.
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
I loved MG Chat, which Jess ran on Twitter last year. I really wish I’d managed to make it to more.
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?
Winning my UKYABA was a pretty special moment. I had been out at a birthday party and came home to discover I’d won Best Teen, and promptly burst into tears.
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
My health was pretty bad in 2018, and I’m so proud that I managed to keep blogging and reading through what was a pretty difficult year.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
My reviews post for November/December 2017, though I’m not quite sure why!
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I wrote a post about how much I love Geek Girl, and I really wish it had done a little better because it was one of my favourite posts of the whole year.
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I honestly don’t really know for this one? The only book related sites I read are blogs, and I’ve already covered those.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
The short answer to this is kind of. I completed most of them, and I’m not too fussed about the ones I didn’t because I did other things that I’m happier about than I would have been meeting my original targets. If you’d like to hear more about my goals, you can read the whole post I did about it here.
LOOKING AHEAD
What do you think of the books I’ve mentioned here? What are your bookish plans for 2019? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Amy x
The Books and Colour Tag
Hello everybody!
Today I’m going to be doing the Books and Colour Tag, which I was tagged for by Julia’s Bookcase. Onto the post!
Guest Post: The Animal Crossing Book Tag by @aimee_louise_l
Hello everybody!
Today, I have a guest post from my lovely friend Aimee Louise, which is a book tag we created together. I’m answering the questions over on her blog today, if you want to see my answers!
Tom Nook – a book that fleeced you – Best twist/cliffhanger
The Great Chocoplot. HOW CAN WE HAVE A WORLD WITH NO CHOCOLATE? Seriously, if this isn’t a shock horror twist then I don’t know how we can be friends.
Harriet – a book that misses the mark
For me, this is One Of Us Is Lying. As much as I enjoyed the book, I didn’t love it. I’d guessed THAT twist almost instantly and I guess I was expecting more from it. The hype surrounding it was massive, and I’m probably going to get a lot of grief for my opinion. Sorry guys, I just didn’t love it.
Celeste – an underrated character
There are SO MANY characters who are underrated and I’m finding it difficult to choose just one. For me, it is going to have to be Isabelle Richardson from Little Fires Everywhere. She has some wonderfully hidden qualities that could really blossom into something great with the right nuturing and I hate the fact that her own family don’t give her enough credit or allow her to be herself.
Mabel – a book that’s bright and sunny
A joyful, uplifting read? I’m not entirely sure I know what those are. I have a tendency of going down the more dark and twisted bookish path so light-hearted, feel good reads aren’t really my thing. However, Sealed With A Kiss by Rachael Lucas fits this criteria perfectly AND it is such a gorgeous book. This book made me want to broaden my bookish horizons and it not only got me out of a MASSIVE reading slump but it also arrived at a time when I really needed something heart-warming and comforting. Set in Scotland, this book is perfect escapism.
Timmy and Tommy – a book featuring twins
Double Act. One of my absolute favourite childhood books which I read when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Ruby and Garnet are two very different twins and I loved that the fact they were a mirror image of each other did not reflect their personalities.
KK Slider – a book featuring music
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Oh how I LOVE this book. If you’ve not read this yet, then where have you been hiding because it is phenomenal. The music that is included within this book is brilliant. Seriously, perfect mixtape material.
Dr Shrunk – a book featuring an eccentric character
The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. I don’t think I need to say anymore than that really.
Crazy Red – a book with thieves
The Book Thief. Another one of my all time favourite books which is about a girl called Liesel who steals books and befriends a Jewish man. It is SO much more than that really. But, books are important for minds and friendships. Just saying.
Pocket camp – A book set in a camp
Ok, so I may be cheating slightly with this one by recommending The Dream Snatcher trilogy. BUT becoming a part of Moll’s tribe back in 2015 when she stormed her way onto the scene with a Wildcat in tow, I could NOT miss this out. Seriously, saying goodbye to Moll and her tribe was heartbreaking. I’m still not over it.
Gulliver – a book that takes you on an adventure
The Wolf Wilder takes you on a wolf-riding adventure. I mean seriously, do I need to sell this to you anymore?
Kicks – a book that’s like a new pair of shoes – a book you really clicked with
I have clicked with SO MANY books. Seriously, some of the characters who I’ve journeyed with in their various worlds have really spoken to me and found a way into my heart. However, Under Rose Tainted Skies is the book which I resonated deeply with especially when trying to get a better understanding of my own Mental Health.
Porter – a book which transports you to a new world – a book with brilliant world building
Sky Song, without a doubt is a book which transports you to a whole new world. I was so engrossed in the world of Erkenwald, that reality just totally slipped away and left me to embark in some extreme wintry conditions in order to defeat the Ice Queen.
I tag Rebecca @_rebeccastobart, Chelley @chelleytoy and Hannah @cupofwonderland
Aimee Louise
The Animals and Books Tag
Hello everybody!
Today I’m going to be doing the Animals and Books tag, which I saw on Jo’s blog and thought really fun. I was planning to do my November reviews, but as I feel my reading’s been slow this month and I’m planning to do mainly rereading in December, I’m going to combine my reviews and post them in January.
Now, onto the books!
Koala : a book that makes you feel emotional/ cuddly– the Geek Girl series are my ultimate comfort read, and I got super emotional reading the last book, so them!
Tiger : a book that’s ferocious– Moxie was a ferocious feminist read that made me want to go and start a revolution! It’s phenomenal, and I’m so glad I picked it up as I don’t read a lot of USYA. Fun fact: tigers are my favourite wild animal.
Panda: a book that’s massive– a book I recently read which I thought was preety massive was the Miseducation of Cameron Post, which has around 460 pages and took me ages to get through. This is one of the books I’ll be reviewing come January!
Sparrow: a book that’s light and cheery– this one has to be Vlad the World’s Worst Vampire by Anna Wilson for me. It was such a happy book, and it really got me out of a reading slump. I’m so happy there’s going to be a sequel.
Wolf: a book series you loved– As I love lots of series, I’ve decided to go with the one with my favourite animal, which is Adventure Island by Helen Moss, which features an incredibly clever dog called Drift.
Horse: a standalone book that you loved– my favourite standalone book ever is Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen, and of this year I’ve loved Running on the Roof of the World by Jess Butterworth and Being Miss Nobody by Tamsin Winter.
What do you think of these books? What are your favourite animals? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @GoldenBooksGirl !
Amy xxx
Golden Books Girl 