tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55403918318185956312024-03-18T05:47:38.992-04:00The Nerdgirl Reviewjust the bookish thoughts of your average nerdgirl
Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.comBlogger464125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-87745091145610636392022-07-01T11:26:00.000-04:002022-07-01T11:26:34.045-04:00Hello again<p>This is going to be a rather lengthy post, but I'M STILL ALIVE!!!</p><p>It's been a year since I posted on here, and I have no regrets. Life decided to come and kick my ass, and I needed time to process and deal with everything.</p><p><br /></p><p>At first I was dealing with being back in school and dealing with being a PhD student. But after a lot of soul searching and therapy, I realized that I hated what I was doing. I hated being in school. I hated being a PhD student. I hated research. I hated biomedical engineering/pharmacology. I was just doing all of those things because they had been put on me. People (my parents especially) had expectations for me that weren't in-line with what I actually wanted to do. So I made the really tough decision of dropping out of my PhD program.</p><p><br /></p><p>For a few months I wasn't a student and I didn't have a job, and it was the most stressful and terrifying time of my life. I spent a lot of time in therapy and trying to figure out what I actually want to do with my life. As a result, I started putting myself out there and chasing my dreams.</p><p><br /></p><p>For almost the past year I've been a part-time freelance book editor, AND I LOVE IT! It's not my main job because that doesn't pay the bills. My day I'm a Content Marketing Specialist for a biotech company which I actually enjoy doing because it's remote and my schedule is incredibly flexible, leaving me time to do the things I enjoy, like reading and editing. I've been able to read and edit a wide arrange of books, and I absolutely love it. Some day I hope to be able to edit books full-time to sustain myself.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another thing I realized was I hated where I was living. I was in such a depression in Cleveland, and part of that led to my decision to leave grad school. So after lots more therapy and getting an emotional support animal (Luna, she's a Bernadoodle and I love her dearly), I recently moved back to Chicago, and I haven't been happier. I forgot how much I need to be in a big city to thrive.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also in the spirit of going for things, I've started a BookTok account, @sierratheblackgirlnerd. I absolutely love being on TikTok! I've been able to connect with such nice people and have formed more of a community there than I have on any other platform. While my goal is to get back into the habit of writing bookish stuff on this blog now that life has calmed down and I'm in the mental space to do so, you'll definitely find me on TikTok more than here.</p><p><br /></p><p>I guess all of this was to say, I'm sorry I left without a word (though I'm sure no one really noticed), but I needed to focus on me. So let me introduce myself again as the new me.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hi! My name is Sierra and I'm a 24-year-old, asexual content marketing specialist and freelance book editor. I live in Chicago with my 1-year-old puppy, Luna. My favorite genres are YA, fantasy, and contemporary romance. I hope you'll join me as I rediscover my love for reading and blogging now that I'm living my authentic life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JsYJJc1PEb_s_7aWEex-hS1CpSjLSgSJPxFfnbaQo2P-FGsdwoPWxOJuVXqRrJGM_LQlT1-bHkU0HBA4LX3mrd-yHz_2haJ4HeA98TX3Ae1Zs38KRcnfie9Z6sR1XheFjQ2TVYHjqZP36tLERDEqDmr9F49uKptPdfHz2FuwAPi67yhgIfcgdoqw/s1008/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JsYJJc1PEb_s_7aWEex-hS1CpSjLSgSJPxFfnbaQo2P-FGsdwoPWxOJuVXqRrJGM_LQlT1-bHkU0HBA4LX3mrd-yHz_2haJ4HeA98TX3Ae1Zs38KRcnfie9Z6sR1XheFjQ2TVYHjqZP36tLERDEqDmr9F49uKptPdfHz2FuwAPi67yhgIfcgdoqw/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-39330000553375417592021-06-05T10:00:00.004-04:002021-06-05T10:00:00.226-04:00Mara's Awakening GUEST POST<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGSc-D6WIQiyQU-pL61VtkyiQD9ivdSLAdNOTzSlouv3RxgenrdE6UTLKRPBxF9qlS3waQJaxfV446JHZf0kIsBQ3ADNpzErTwup30H5cajkO2Xaitb6fWngfvWQdM1fqz8rYP-R7CBk/s1500/Mara%2527s+Awakening+Book+Cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGSc-D6WIQiyQU-pL61VtkyiQD9ivdSLAdNOTzSlouv3RxgenrdE6UTLKRPBxF9qlS3waQJaxfV446JHZf0kIsBQ3ADNpzErTwup30H5cajkO2Xaitb6fWngfvWQdM1fqz8rYP-R7CBk/w266-h400/Mara%2527s+Awakening+Book+Cover.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Title:</b> Mara's Awakening</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Author:</b> Leo Flynn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Series & No. In Series: </b>Book 1 Of The Mara Files</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Genre:</b> Science Fiction, Space Opera</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Self-Published On Amazon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Links:</b> </div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><ul style="color: #222222; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Author Website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://leoflynn.com&source=gmail&ust=1622904968684000&usg=AFQjCNF5JKwYV1N2UOXaT5tD0au-uUfRzQ" href="https://leoflynn.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://leoflynn.com</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twitter: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/leoflynnwriter&source=gmail&ust=1622904968685000&usg=AFQjCNGg_cfhEmVrjMSLRoDkz8b8cD81SA" href="https://twitter.com/leoflynnwriter" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr>leoflynnwriter</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TLX9J1P&source=gmail&ust=1622904968685000&usg=AFQjCNGPgOwN42TzqxQPZ094RzVdGJG4oQ" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TLX9J1P" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.<wbr></wbr>com/gp/product/B08TLX9J1P</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Goodreads: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56786605-mara-s-awakening&source=gmail&ust=1622904968685000&usg=AFQjCNFk8Wq0RjZuGC77FYKloVhmP8GMbQ" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56786605-mara-s-awakening" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>goodreads.com/book/show/<wbr></wbr>56786605-mara-s-awakening</a> </span></li></ul><div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Author Bio:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222;">Leo Flynn writes poetry & gripping SciFi, like The Mara Files, his debut science fiction short story series. Other galaxies consume his waking hours.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Synopsis: </b>Mara Keres. A trained warrior and former highly respected peacekeeper. Note “former.” Once, she had her life under control. Once, she had the trust of the galaxy.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;">Now she rots in the same prison she used to sentence people to. Solitary confinement for six years. Would’ve brought anyone else to their knees. Not her. Then an offer resurfaces, almost too good to be true.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;">Ghosts of her past and demons come back to haunt her.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;">Will she ever make it out alive?</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;">Sometimes, facing your worst memories is worth the risk.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><u>EXCERPT</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b3b48b1d-7fff-3d9f-5983-5e9c9b1f9e88"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The light faded</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like a starship jumping into hyperspace</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It disappeared</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lost forever</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">————————————————————</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Cackling laughter, a blinding flash, and screams of the dead and dying.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Distant starship gunfire lighting up the sky above. A small settlement in flames.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>She awoke, body wracked with pain, sweat pouring down her forehead. A strangled scream erupted from her throat, her breathing heavy, haggard, and slow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>No... Just... another dream.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Scratch. A single slash across a series of little straight lines. Bloody h*ll... already? Today marked her sixth year in prison -- six, long, years.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Groaning, she stood, shivers running down her spine.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Just a dream. Just a dream.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>The shiny surface of the wall caught her reflection. Stopping, she stared. A dark-skinned, gaunt face, years of stress etched across her cheekbones and forehead. Hair going grey at the roots. To think she was only forty-something.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>She dropped to the floor, jumping straight into an exercise routine. Stop thinking about it!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Coming into pushups, she struggled to do them in full. Bloody hand restrainer, useless for everything. <span> </span>Suppose that was what they wanted.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span> </span>Sweat poured down her cheeks, arms shaking with the effort. Keep going.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>She slumped to the ground, exhausted.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Moments passed, and the woman dragged a loose stone out from the ground. Hands trembling, she pulled the precious object out, gently and slowly. The smooth fabric cooled her quivering, sweaty fingers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>A thick sash of red, gold, and green, symbolizing both a triumphant and harrowing victory. They could take everything from her, but she would never forget what she'd done, who she was. She was a warrior -- a war hero. The only thing left of her former self, and she would cling to it forever.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Click, clack, clunk. Her head snapped up. Gears in the door turned, spinning faster as bolts thrust open.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>What...?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Fumbling to hide it, she dragged the stone back across, evidence of a hidey-hole disappearing. Under her clothes went the prized object, warm and reassuring against her cold chest. She scrambled back, head thundering, eyes wide with anticipation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Blinding light. A short, stocky figure with light brown skin, wearing a uniform covered in badges, stood over her. "Mara."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>She rubbed her eyes. Was she hallucinating?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>"Your behavior has improved. We have decided solitary confinement is no longer necessary."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>She tried to form a reply, nothing came. She hadn't spoken since... Who knew? All her mouth could manage was a grunt.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>"You shall be transferred to your new cell, effective immediately. Stand."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Her leg groaned under the sudden effort. No, come on! It whirred into life, she stood, towering over her Warden.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>"Well?"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>"Aye... Ma'am."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Her first words in years.<br /></span></p></span></div></div></div></div>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-69757774806570918082021-06-04T11:16:00.003-04:002021-06-04T11:16:52.454-04:00It's been 6 months...<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvwK3dRM0ei327FAeEXVN9uEHmx3N1PIGnj9kgP04wl3wnjvJSt0MubjrQ6oN-n-6lm6_5BqLoiyK98UtxhD00orM4xedC-RJ3CA2clqsE7HgcwVJJoqiALOJ0s3JTPjh6yCwz-6sZ_A/s478/life+update.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvwK3dRM0ei327FAeEXVN9uEHmx3N1PIGnj9kgP04wl3wnjvJSt0MubjrQ6oN-n-6lm6_5BqLoiyK98UtxhD00orM4xedC-RJ3CA2clqsE7HgcwVJJoqiALOJ0s3JTPjh6yCwz-6sZ_A/s320/life+update.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS...</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Apparently it's been 6 months since I've posted on here and I can't believe it. Like wow, where did the time go. To be fair, I haven't done a whole lot of reading and have had zero motivation to write, so this blog just faded into oblivion. But I'm back! Life has calmed down a bit so I thought I would give you all an update.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span> I finished my post-bacc program and am now OFFICIALLY A PHD STUDENT!!! I honestly didn't think it was going to happen because life kept throwing me curveballs, but I did it. My Biomedical Sciences PhD program starts in July, so for a few weeks I have a break before diving straight back into school.</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span> I have my own apartment now which I'm super happy about. My living situation with my roommates (who I thought were my friends but really aren't anymore) was getting toxic so I went ahead and made the leap to get my own place once our lease ended. I have a 2 bedroom place with a balcony that I absolutely adore. I'll have to give y'all a tour sometime because I really love how my bookshelves are set up.</span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> After years of trying I finally have a therapist. I was officially diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and OCD, so I knew it was time to get serious help. She's helped me so much in the 5 months I've been seeing her and I'm just so proud of myself for finally getting help.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> So yeah, that's been my life so far. I might make a wrap-up post of what I've read so far this year, which is about 30 books I think, which honestly isn't as bad as I thought it would be. As I mentioned earlier, I have a bit of free time, so I should have more time to read and blog, but we shall see. I've actually been making friends and socializing recently as people in my lab have been vaccinated so for once in a long time I have a pretty good social life.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><br /><p></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-84316149821564279432021-01-09T14:39:00.003-05:002021-01-09T14:39:47.726-05:00Friday Reads: January 8, 2021<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s320/twitter+background.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b>FRIDAY READS: JANUARY 8, 2021</b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b>So it's technically Saturday when I'm writing this post and when it will be live, but that really doesn't matter. The weeks I do read, I want to post a recap on Friday, so for consistency sake, we're just going to pretend that today is Friday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.makeameme.org/created/i-pretend-i-2d27b40459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="800" height="238" src="https://media.makeameme.org/created/i-pretend-i-2d27b40459.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> This week I finished reading one book and I'm in the process of reading another book that I should hopefully have finished today. The book I finished reading was "World After" by Susan Ee, which is the second book in the "Penryn and the End of Days trilogy". I decided to reread this trilogy at the end of last year around Christmas time because I was in the mood to reread (as seems to be a habit of mine) and I was browsing my physical bookcases I realized I hadn't reread this trilogy since the first time I read it back in high school, which was like 6 years ago. (I feel so old saying that.) I finished the first book, Angelfall, before 2021 began and was in the process of reading "World After" when it became 2021. Overall, I really enjoyed "Angelfall" and the feelings it gave me. I felt like I was right back in high school, sitting in the auditorium during theater practice, passing the time before I was called on stage to rehearse.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> As far as "World After" goes, I forgot how slow that book was and how most of it the two main characters weren't even together. It was kinda a pain to get through when they were separated, but once they were together, I was able to push through to the end. I liked it, but I didn't love it. That brings me to the last book, "End of Days". For some reason this book is really hard to get through at the moment. I don't know if it's because I'm no longer in the mood to read this trilogy or if the third book just isn't doing it for me, but I've barely made a dent in it. I think I might just skim the rest of it and hopefully finish it today because I want to move on to other books.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If you're interested in reading what I thought of these books back when I was a young, naive high schooler, the reviews are at the following links: <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2014/11/angelfall-by-susan-ee.html">Angelfall</a>, <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2014/12/world-after-review.html">World After</a>, and <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2015/05/end-of-days-review.html">End of Days</a>.<br /></div><br /><p></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-21373587803390428182020-12-30T10:00:00.001-05:002020-12-30T10:00:02.244-05:00WORST BOOKS OF 2020<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s320/twitter+background.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>WORST BOOKS OF 2020</b></p><p><span> </span> There aren't a whole lot of books that I hate or dislike. I usually really like books or just find them "eh" at best. But this year I was able to come up with five books that I truly found not good in the least bit or hated with every fiber of my being.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>5. In the Darkness by Mike Omer</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4YaHF4rrgIlftQ11u6EpUdxibV-GpDA5ZznFykhuPtfjZXo5uFUbs7hz8eU-I6RRl6uxjGg5TH0u9IIBiIl1T7MUuyerjVInQoxRDum2HEq_9xkOs16HHiI0JGIvVSFzr1WrVWJBzQs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4YaHF4rrgIlftQ11u6EpUdxibV-GpDA5ZznFykhuPtfjZXo5uFUbs7hz8eU-I6RRl6uxjGg5TH0u9IIBiIl1T7MUuyerjVInQoxRDum2HEq_9xkOs16HHiI0JGIvVSFzr1WrVWJBzQs/" width="160" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> I was really dissapointed that I did not like this book because I enjoyed the first book in this series so much. I couldn't stand this book though. It was incredibly problematic, sexist, chauvinist, the list goes on. There was absolutely nothing redeemable about this book, it was almost like it was written by another person or the author forgot everything from the first book.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b>4. Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-oF2nbwMmWmq3VvL4h6rViqbzqrhWVRZsroBBfUuJ5eyMugdF7jwKjEP0m5bfQDoDJz5JKTm3vHEkvQwi81SqJAQyMWNnMKHqwdfZ5M8Y7blalGL9fZ4tQIWfxWFs37zXTywNSJ5oCo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-oF2nbwMmWmq3VvL4h6rViqbzqrhWVRZsroBBfUuJ5eyMugdF7jwKjEP0m5bfQDoDJz5JKTm3vHEkvQwi81SqJAQyMWNnMKHqwdfZ5M8Y7blalGL9fZ4tQIWfxWFs37zXTywNSJ5oCo/" width="159" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">I should have stuck with my gut and stopped reading after the first chapter when I was bored, but I pushed forward and wasted my time. This was the most cookie-cutter, boring contemporary I've read in a hot second. Everything was predictable but not in a good way.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">3. Hate Thy Neighbor by S.M. Soto</b></p><p><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtbdLEzPk2RWJVPMnUX-Rxq8V7_LC183orCmfPKke01CkmEpXDnu1SzqVFvHLE1cY71hFvEDfH8xN4sQnH0YdgeKn-RIvbXVyAz1HbSeQ9o6NgRsK7LGaRGOz5_MSU5_K-cekYAxW-Cg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtbdLEzPk2RWJVPMnUX-Rxq8V7_LC183orCmfPKke01CkmEpXDnu1SzqVFvHLE1cY71hFvEDfH8xN4sQnH0YdgeKn-RIvbXVyAz1HbSeQ9o6NgRsK7LGaRGOz5_MSU5_K-cekYAxW-Cg/" width="160" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's been a hot second since I've read something so completely toxic. Enemies to lovers is usually my shit, but this was bad in every single way. The relationship between the main characters was so unhealthy and terrible to read. So many people like this book and I'm like y'all need to re-evaluate yourselves if this is what you consider goals.<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><b style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> </b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYD3OFmMXEWwLYSZ6fVcLGe8WTvApuX00ENGSvYd8OzViRrHiWCdfDdhy3ZZG34KvUwIpVZtK2guBdnZVnCWL_t9e2qaqKinoUzAPVlmf7swq2tXRF2JShanrpL_vEVieN_OGMtt5Tmw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYD3OFmMXEWwLYSZ6fVcLGe8WTvApuX00ENGSvYd8OzViRrHiWCdfDdhy3ZZG34KvUwIpVZtK2guBdnZVnCWL_t9e2qaqKinoUzAPVlmf7swq2tXRF2JShanrpL_vEVieN_OGMtt5Tmw/" width="159" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Y’all this was not it. I originally DNFed this book and decided to give it a second chance and I should have left it for the birds. The writing and pacing were not good, and the romance was not a romance. There was no chemistry. Like if you gonna do fake dating to real lovers they gotta pop and sparkle and that didn’t happen. It felt like they became friends more than lovers. And like don’t even get me started how how shitty the plot was especially towards the end. That shit was rushed and for what? Nothing came from anything that happened. Next time when my gut says this ain’t it I’ll listen to it.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>1. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGICn7K3_8wtTmrhqoZfykRS3O3boiC4h25MGnLDaZMCa71q0Bd5tfSrcLLXkHLQ1VUC30GZj_sEq-hePyxJulxhZlA22GufY-vmmk41wMnjyJ_vIxyxsUen0S_2xVIDwci9dlkxr9vM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGICn7K3_8wtTmrhqoZfykRS3O3boiC4h25MGnLDaZMCa71q0Bd5tfSrcLLXkHLQ1VUC30GZj_sEq-hePyxJulxhZlA22GufY-vmmk41wMnjyJ_vIxyxsUen0S_2xVIDwci9dlkxr9vM/" width="159" /></a></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">This book was such a large waste of my time. I picked it up because everyone and their mother talked about the first book and this one so I figured it had to be good. There is nothing I enjoyed about this book outside of the diversity and representation. I skimmed my way through this because it was just so unbearable to read. I know I'm in the minority in my opinion, but it is what it is.</div><p style="text-align: left;"><span> Those are the books that just weren't it for me in 2020. If y'all read these books, tell me what you thought of them!</span><br /></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-10284483297772162382020-12-27T14:33:00.001-05:002020-12-27T14:33:36.874-05:00BEST BOOKS OF 2020<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s320/twitter+background.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>BEST BOOKS OF 2020</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span> </span>Well somehow I lost track of time and it's been 3 months since I've written a post. Whoops. I'm not surprised though. I got super busy with school, work, and applying to PhD programs (again). I did a decent amount of reading, but not a lot. Graphic novels were definitely my saving grace. Somehow, someway, I actually completed by Goodreads reading goal of 50 books. Right now I'm sitting at 80 books completed this year. I might finish a couple more books, but I'm sure those will just be rereads.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Without further ado, here are my favorite books from this year. This list will only include books that I read for the first time, so no rereads (despite the fact that rereads were probably my favorites). So in order from least to best, here are my top ten books of 2020!</span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span><b>10. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall</b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8FRPS1r1Q2PemfJBdvj5EEsfRqq2N62z3utpRU5iffs4h1cRR8gIOmiF4XeQYOvthKtVqdY3kKk2bfhrXjvZUhXlqkvq2oL0EtmrK-4M-QcE_w_VbJbqxG31absTAIIaZuHoFvy237s/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="396" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8FRPS1r1Q2PemfJBdvj5EEsfRqq2N62z3utpRU5iffs4h1cRR8gIOmiF4XeQYOvthKtVqdY3kKk2bfhrXjvZUhXlqkvq2oL0EtmrK-4M-QcE_w_VbJbqxG31absTAIIaZuHoFvy237s/" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I read this book in July and it was a nice, cute, quick read. This book was definitely trying to be like "Red, White & Royal Blue". I don't like it nearly as much as the book it tried to be but it was still a good read as I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>9. Only When It's Us and Always Only You by Chloe Liese</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9F8Mv7xihFFOsiZT5K4Rn6lq8otqdYh08DHHiCnURVinx-iXevZOSxm-7W1tOPSlPapuDP6BEiUuxnGwN5qU4WxgPACWLoCVSc9ZAfKdvFDqGftLj0vH4ykrCTpCMfyQnraUQE-4Tqw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9F8Mv7xihFFOsiZT5K4Rn6lq8otqdYh08DHHiCnURVinx-iXevZOSxm-7W1tOPSlPapuDP6BEiUuxnGwN5qU4WxgPACWLoCVSc9ZAfKdvFDqGftLj0vH4ykrCTpCMfyQnraUQE-4Tqw/" width="157" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvUk78MUTz5sRR1VyhhLZ0EF73slXqwnOijmbTnx0AweiapZRPZuveutsZYRyj8FZnzNsikYz4I-9TaOHnGYRamsm0Pb_bSJ3ertzcOhDwk9uJJ9HS2QDjo5_lqZCK1DSmIfwRUeN03w/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvUk78MUTz5sRR1VyhhLZ0EF73slXqwnOijmbTnx0AweiapZRPZuveutsZYRyj8FZnzNsikYz4I-9TaOHnGYRamsm0Pb_bSJ3ertzcOhDwk9uJJ9HS2QDjo5_lqZCK1DSmIfwRUeN03w/" width="159" /></a></div></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I read two books by Chloe Liese and what I enjoyed about her books is that there is always a main character with some sort of disability, whether it's being deaf, autism, chronic pain, etc. and I thought that kind of representation was incredibly great. I don't often think about how most books portray able-bodied characters so this definitely made me more aware that I should be more diverse with my books in that aspect as well. She is an OWN author, having autism spectrum disorder so I think it's great she is able to write such inclusive books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />8. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIqBPJx9dFGSXcDDk5JTkaTKljvG79_hwBFuJwtYSINfGWUnw2mBSYXCdD7PfiHdsIi7bhhtT1LepYX5oghNRSDPwtYGWa4TXLMKJsAJC3FwQ-F7ZFypG0Z5iIVlPM6t8Qujk1Hq5SZM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIqBPJx9dFGSXcDDk5JTkaTKljvG79_hwBFuJwtYSINfGWUnw2mBSYXCdD7PfiHdsIi7bhhtT1LepYX5oghNRSDPwtYGWa4TXLMKJsAJC3FwQ-F7ZFypG0Z5iIVlPM6t8Qujk1Hq5SZM/" width="158" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a quick contemporary read that fit the mood in the summer. The concept was interesting to me and I think the author did a good job of executing it. I don't tend to go for strictly women's literature, but I was a fan of this book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>7. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zg-0FuiZ6glMuGSMv1Gw-DEGIIIayEgkYW5BKrWlF_oqANwV6Hs7pcvqJEPdLKcRnShkmAODIHZt6v5lqjEKzvu1Try4IjUZZPNmt0kgcylIyzQZ8jsNSL632wRuGBUjyBcZbSsmRTQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="318" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zg-0FuiZ6glMuGSMv1Gw-DEGIIIayEgkYW5BKrWlF_oqANwV6Hs7pcvqJEPdLKcRnShkmAODIHZt6v5lqjEKzvu1Try4IjUZZPNmt0kgcylIyzQZ8jsNSL632wRuGBUjyBcZbSsmRTQ/" width="163" /></a></div><br />I got this book in an OwlCrate box and I'm glad it was included. It took me a while to pick this book up because the timing just never seemed right, but when I was able to get into it, I couldn't put it down. The entire concept behind "bone houses" was cool to me and I'm a sucker for books that have a main girl and guy going on a journey. I could visualize everything in my head as I was reading it and for some reason it was giving me Chronicles of Narnia movie vibes in the way it was projected in my mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>6. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxNS10x6yX2TubXWEt1JgFc6UFVgfnv2esvxoAEv9BRVG3rNm6WesmyG5rkLqP6jvVC-tGa1Dvx8cwKymVthbtxmhBPa3SBFT97rg02QoiqqjfuutO8INcFRH-7OFVaCv20Bqyjw4nLE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxNS10x6yX2TubXWEt1JgFc6UFVgfnv2esvxoAEv9BRVG3rNm6WesmyG5rkLqP6jvVC-tGa1Dvx8cwKymVthbtxmhBPa3SBFT97rg02QoiqqjfuutO8INcFRH-7OFVaCv20Bqyjw4nLE/" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the second book in the "From Blood and Ash" trilogy (the first book which is higher on this list). As far as sequels go, this was a decent sequel. It was definitely more character driven than plot. It had the feel of a filler episode if that makes sense. Overall I had a good time reading it, I just wish there hadn't been so much smut in it. When I say there was far too much smut, I mean like having sex in the middle of a battlefield of no damn reason.</div><br /><b>5. Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6ydIKs2XV8MfFj1xCVnKb5yEu5xybpZc4gHQ4LhUy2Bi6C0EZizzt08qFSfXLicRCXw0Ll9YOTtgo7ZdZ35TwL33MulIbqF79WL3Z0ckhwoFW22mFoqgwCQuqBrHN9KFwqJTt35CF-o/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6ydIKs2XV8MfFj1xCVnKb5yEu5xybpZc4gHQ4LhUy2Bi6C0EZizzt08qFSfXLicRCXw0Ll9YOTtgo7ZdZ35TwL33MulIbqF79WL3Z0ckhwoFW22mFoqgwCQuqBrHN9KFwqJTt35CF-o/" width="158" /></a></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyone who knows anything about my reading tastes knows by now that I really love Jennifer L. Armentrout's books despite them being so similar to one another and following a formula. This was book two in "The Harbinger" trilogy which is a spin-off of the "White Hot Kiss" trilogy. The book was fast-paced and everything I needed from a JLA book. I can't wait to read the final book because hot damn was that cliffhanger a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>4. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Y74xi-Z89ol8IO7eqy1kf7tzAsvQtjFVKQ_nUtZuVbL9jYiEy_Kb7_gSmABa37V6mGCp-QEV9bB90IKkAd0jn8lKl3duB8p-JD9OxslAC4N2YxPx9wU6bU7gZyvFlDjsMr33mAEnGA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Y74xi-Z89ol8IO7eqy1kf7tzAsvQtjFVKQ_nUtZuVbL9jYiEy_Kb7_gSmABa37V6mGCp-QEV9bB90IKkAd0jn8lKl3duB8p-JD9OxslAC4N2YxPx9wU6bU7gZyvFlDjsMr33mAEnGA/" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the first book I read in 2020 and it absolutely blew me away. I received it in an OwlCrate box and pushed it off before deciding on a whim to pick it up and I'm glad I did. I know this book was hit or miss for a lot of people in the bookish community but I personally loved it. I'm not familiar with the 12 princesses tale that it's based off of, so I can speak to it as a retelling. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the worldbuilding more than I anticipated. It had a spooky vibe to it without it being too much of a horror book, which I appreciated. I just might have to reread this one in 2021. This is one of the few books I did review outside of a wrap-up post, so you can read that review <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2020/01/house-of-salt-and-sorrows-review-by.html">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>3. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirjuh4IcE5BfP0VrN8RgsS-CqRdqpuSWVEF0faJIPlGy4cp8mhjd5wY3YvykkgVV6OM8DudP9gQZ2QrnQjpkvaetoOqGeiWJRDXuPz_f6NOt3FerdkfRHmX2U9tUnsvf9j_j2dYcetrM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirjuh4IcE5BfP0VrN8RgsS-CqRdqpuSWVEF0faJIPlGy4cp8mhjd5wY3YvykkgVV6OM8DudP9gQZ2QrnQjpkvaetoOqGeiWJRDXuPz_f6NOt3FerdkfRHmX2U9tUnsvf9j_j2dYcetrM/" width="159" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">God damn does Jennifer L Armentrout know how to get me out of a reading slump. Was this book predictable? Yes. We’re the characters identical to her other ones from other books? Yes. Does she essentially take the same story and twist it a little each time? Yes. But damn it if it doesn’t still capture my attention and draw me in each time. The mythology of this tale really drew me in because so much of it is veiled until the end when you start to put the pieces together of what this world actually is. This book is also special to me because I have a signed copy of it and I've always wanted a book signed form JLA since she is one of my favorite authors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>2. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpUU-hdNYrXV2zkJb0DZbfqmg_dB1IQ2SmRhsZCwGeAEzCb4BqZ07dF8pElSjpH0ijvjScqsCEwEXbi2gs0Thu5F8OvzcLR5sSmcgw938LPqrIBnnhPBcEY9I2Ybh6sg6NTHxbcmYyyI/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpUU-hdNYrXV2zkJb0DZbfqmg_dB1IQ2SmRhsZCwGeAEzCb4BqZ07dF8pElSjpH0ijvjScqsCEwEXbi2gs0Thu5F8OvzcLR5sSmcgw938LPqrIBnnhPBcEY9I2Ybh6sg6NTHxbcmYyyI/" width="159" /></a></div><br />I liked this book way more than I know I should have. I think I read this book in like 4 hours or something ridiculous like that. A lot of people didn't like this book because they thought it was similar to "The Cruel Prince". I can see where they might pick up those similarities, but to me this was its own thing. I randomly bought this book in a bookstore without knowing anything about it, just liking the cover, and I'm glad I did. I don't care what people think about this book, it was the right book for me at the time and I enjoyed it. I'll probably reread it in 2021 and see if I still like it or if it was a situational thing that made me like it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>1. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFIWqpjGopvmR3RQJHYhdEpTPas51IUzQUeBUgPeLpTUlH6UQJ_5pG6Tq5HesP-Sx3LOCBvpEWaSJP2qipRTXhP8MArqw7CJA-43eG4-N9huXEsfT9Od00y1LscGMYGJBfMrLHJxts1A/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFIWqpjGopvmR3RQJHYhdEpTPas51IUzQUeBUgPeLpTUlH6UQJ_5pG6Tq5HesP-Sx3LOCBvpEWaSJP2qipRTXhP8MArqw7CJA-43eG4-N9huXEsfT9Od00y1LscGMYGJBfMrLHJxts1A/" width="158" /></a></div><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoyed this book a lot. Like a lot a lot. I thought about rereading it but I decided to hold off until 2021 so it would count towards my 2021 reading goal. From the get-go the worldbuilding was amazing. Was there perhaps a bit too much worldbuilding? Maybe. I know that turned people off this book but I personally enjoy good worldbuilding as it helps my visualize everything in my brain. It was by no means a perfect book, but it was an excellent book. The last quarter of the book really blew me away and I can't wait for the sequel despite the fact that the book read like a stand-alone to me. I wasn't sure if I would like this book because I enjoyed her ACOTAR series but I hated Throne of Glass, so I'm glad this turned out good for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Well, those were my favorite books of the year. Putting together this list, I was surprised that I was able to come up with ten books I truly enjoyed that weren't rereads. This year was a pretty good reading year which surprised the hell out of me. I would love to know what you guys thought of the books on this list if you've read any of them!</span><br /></div></div></div></div><p></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-20337431293421979062020-09-11T10:00:00.002-04:002020-09-11T10:00:01.631-04:00Summer 2020 Wrap Up<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s320/twitter+background.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SUMMER 2020 WRAP UP</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b>It seems that seasonal wrap ups are becoming my thing instead of monthly wrap ups and that's ok. Honestly I feel like what I read in a season is a better mark for me than what I read in a month because there are months where I read only one book and then the next month I get hooked on a genre and read 6 books back to back within 4 days. So without further ado, here is my wrap up!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="41393171. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542676495l/41393171._SY475_.jpg" width="160" /> <img alt="32571395. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490084494l/32571395._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="160" /> <img alt="51852191. sx318 sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569298624l/51852191._SX318_SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="160" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img alt="44670142. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558037339l/44670142._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="162" /> <img alt="53828202. sx318 " height="240" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591308266l/53828202._SX318_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="162" /> <img alt="50225678" height="244" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575987260l/50225678.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="162" /> <img alt="51975973. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583101005l/51975973._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="161" /> <img alt="54125750. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593579246l/54125750._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="159" /> <img alt="49120786. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1577981480l/49120786._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="161" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img alt="25437891. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441452466l/25437891._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="161" /> <img alt="25883848. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1467138679l/25883848._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="162" /> <img alt="24445517" height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421002815l/24445517.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="157" /> <img alt="54620782. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595306521l/54620782._SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="162" /> <img alt="49641875. sx318 sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563044132l/49641875._SX318_SY475_.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="162" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Ok so like all things considered, I had a great reading summer. I read 14 books, which maybe doesn't seem a lot to some, but I was convinced up to about ten minutes ago that I had only read about 8 books this summer. As you can see, this was a very heavy contemporary summer. Contemporary isn't really my thing most of the time and by far is not my favorite genre, but apparently that was my shit this summer. That being said, I didn't enjoy all the contemporaries that I read this summer, but I enjoyed most of them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Favorite book: </b>It's probably a tie between The Hating Game and The V Girl, both which were rereads for me. (I love my rereads.). If I had to choose my favorite new read however, it would be The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller. I bought this book on a whim at a bookstore I visited and I'm so glad I did because this book was exactly what I needed in the moment.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Least favorite book: </b>Without a doubt is If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane. I don't understand the hype around this book because I did not like it at all. I actually attempted to read this book early in the year but DNFed it because I couldn't get into it. I decided to give it another whirl because so many people enjoyed it and I thought maybe I originally just hadn't been in the right mindset for it, but I was wrong. There was no chemistry between the two main characters which is key when doing a fake relationship to real relationship story. And as for a plot, there literally was none whatsoever. Such a disappointment and waste of my time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Honorable Mentions:</b> I don't have the time to talk about all the books I read, but I did want to touch on a few of them. I read two books by Chloe Liese and what I really enjoyed about her books is that there is always a main character with some sort of disability, whether it's being deaf, autism, chronic pain, etc. and I thought that kind of representation was incredibly great. I don't often think about how most books portray able-bodied characters so this definitely made me more aware that I should be more diverse with my books in that aspect as well. She is an OWN author, having autism spectrum disorder so I think it's great she is able to write such inclusive books.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another book that surprised me was Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. I don't know how I came across this book but I expected it to be complete utter trash and it wasn't. It was a nice, quick, feel good read that felt like an aged up book along the same vein of Red, White, and Royal Blue. I'm always happy when I come across LGBT+ books that I can add to my collection.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> So that was what I read this summer. I'm actually pretty proud of all that I was able to read and I can't wait to see what the fall has in store for me.</span><br /></div><p></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-50824838719090881802020-09-10T14:13:00.000-04:002020-09-10T14:13:07.277-04:00Somehow it's been 6 years...<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEthoiUjJKmXCUkherm9T4DYIwXDrbY5LlquQhlAaAPkFTljPRm31pOr9cbYMhu0uQIRQzQR11Z9zotOrzP9zhyfrWGbXe4u7lJSW9BrSL2DsD7b13xQJcFkE8P0LbXfCIT1PuiVtqSo/s320/twitter+background.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SOMEHOW IT'S BEEN 6 YEARS...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b>This month marks 6 years since I started this blog. I honestly can't believe it's still going (barely, but it's here, so that counts). I've been off and on with my care for this blog as I've gone through different stages of life and reading. When I started this blog, I was a junior in high school. I have since graduated high school, graduated college, had a post-college job (which I ended up hating, but hey, it was a necessary life lesson), and now I'm in a graduate post-bacc pre-PhD program trying to move forward on my journey towards becoming a PhD doctor. I've had many ups and downs through this time which has led to many different stages in my reading and attentiveness to this blog. I wish I was as dedicated to reading and this blog as I was when I first started, but that just isn't possible. There is hardly enough time in the day for me to do everything I need to do, much less put energy towards being an active blogger. But I'm not completely giving up. Even if it means only putting out 5 blog posts in one year, this isn't something that I'm ready to let go because I'm proud of the work I put into this. I love being able to go back and read my thoughts on a book I read in high school and cringe because I just reread said book and realized how completely problematic or sucky it was. Reading is still something I do pretty regularly and that I love very much, I just don't feel as much pressure to put out full reviews of my thoughts like I used to. Sometimes it's great to just read a book and cherish those feelings you have towards a book without worrying about how your opinions are going to be perceived by others. And speaking of community, I've said this before, but I've never really felt deeply a part of the bookish community like others. This is in part, my fault, but sometimes I'm glad I haven't completely rooted myself in it because some of the noneness and drama that goes on is just ridiculous. I feel like this community stopped being about sharing our love for books and became a beast of its own. Well this is has been a lot of rambling, and if you're still reading this, thank you. I will forever be grateful for the handful of you who felt that my words were worth reading. I won't sit here and promise I'll post more, but I can promise I'm not going away. I will continue to publish my sporadic wrap ups and reviews as I feel inclined to and honestly that's enough for me. Maybe someday I'll be able to be back where I was when I first started this blog, but I know now is not that time and that time won't be for a while. </div><br /><p></p>Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-1239075003707225332020-06-26T10:00:00.000-04:002020-07-02T17:11:13.461-04:00The Nope Trope Book Tag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry_taqVB6YhuSQb0yrlFapjErHbrqTkIgayyCLprGG7Y09giRJFTi_DPJ7f4OI-sYghTXu4DCy5wUoDpKtc5VVrdu6vpF_L7LSGgd527lxLqsF5oBJ0e1Na_m6_f9fgE59t9wEujLQfQ/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry_taqVB6YhuSQb0yrlFapjErHbrqTkIgayyCLprGG7Y09giRJFTi_DPJ7f4OI-sYghTXu4DCy5wUoDpKtc5VVrdu6vpF_L7LSGgd527lxLqsF5oBJ0e1Na_m6_f9fgE59t9wEujLQfQ/s1600/twitter+background.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>THE NOPE TROPE BOOK TAG</u></b></div>
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This tag was created by Zoe's All Booked, one of the booktubers I'm subscribed too and I'm super excited to do it! I feel like this tag is a good way to demonstrate my current reading tastes and things that are a yay or nay for me. Be sure to check out Zoe's original tag <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4rLHdV67ro">here</a>. </div>
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<b>1. Eavesdropping w/ miscommunication - Name a book you heard great things about and expected to love but ended up hating.</b></div>
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<img alt="Amazon.com: One of Us Is Lying (9781524714680): McManus, Karen M ..." height="274" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91JN54WQUYL.jpg" width="181" /></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;"> </span>I discussed this book in my last tag post, but this one goes to <i>One of Us is Lying</i> by Karen McMannus. As I previously said, which you can read exactly what I said <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2020/06/mid-year-freak-out-tag-2020.html">here</a>, this book was nothing special. We've all reads books like this YA mystery before and nothing about this book was worth the hype in my opinion.</div>
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<b>2. Love Triangles - Name a series where you can't pick your favorite book.</b></div>
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<img alt="The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air Series #1) by Holly Black ..." height="258" src="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9780316310314_p0_v1_s1200x630.jpg" width="171" /><img alt="Amazon.com: The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air Book 2) eBook ..." height="256" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61fKd8CT5hL.jpg" width="170" /><img alt="Amazon.com: The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air Book 3 ..." height="256" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51plpz3fziL.jpg" width="171" /></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I enjoyed <i>The Cruel Prince</i> by Holly Black trilogy quite a bit. While the last book, <i>Queen of Nothing</i>, is definitely not my favorite, I have a hard time choosing between <i>The Cruel Prince</i> and<i> The Wicked King.</i> <i>The Cruel Prince</i> does a good job shaping Jude into the character we learn to love and really jumpstarts everything, but I feel like we start to see more of the plot in <i>The Wicked King</i> and the overreaching direction is more visible. </div>
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<b>3. Not Like Other Girls/Didn't Know I'm Beautiful - Name a book that has a pretty cover but was boring as all hell.</b></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I know this is going to get me the stink eye from a bunch of people, but for me the answer to this question is <i>The Wrath and the Dawn</i> by Renee Ahdieh. This book was an absolute bore to me and there is quite literally nothing about this book I liked outside of the cover.</div>
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<b>4. All-Consuming Love - Name a book that gave you a book hangover. </b></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I could go on and on about <i>House of Earth and Blood</i> by Sarah J Maas for ages. Hell I'm thinking of rereading it just to chase the high that it gave me the first time I read it. I could not stop thinking about <i>House of Earth and Blood</i> for days after I read it. </div>
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<b>5. Douchebag Boyfriend - Name a book that took you a while to get into, but you ended up loving.</b></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>House of Salt and Sorrows</i> by Erin Craig took me a hot second to get into but I ended up really enjoying it. The beginning is a little dull and I wasn't really sure what the book was really even going to be about, but once things started popping off I began to enjoy it more.</div>
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<b>6. Tell us your favorite or least favorite trope!</b></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My least favorite trope is a couple that has a “bond” or “link” that tethers them together and basically forces them to become a couple. I think it's a cheap way of forcing chemistry and closeness between characters. If I come across this in a book I will immediately stop reading the book because I hate it so much. For shits and giggles I'll tell y'all my favorite trope too, which is the enemies to lovers. As indicative of my 2019 favorite books, I love that trope more than anything else. I don't know why I enjoy it so much but it just really does it for me.</div>
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So that was the nope trope book tag! I had a fun time answering the questions. You guys should definitely look into doing the tag if you haven't done so already. If you have done it, you should leave a link to yours down below, I would love to check it out!</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-51205409646706050092020-06-19T10:00:00.001-04:002020-07-02T17:11:18.409-04:00February - May 2020 Wrap Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry_taqVB6YhuSQb0yrlFapjErHbrqTkIgayyCLprGG7Y09giRJFTi_DPJ7f4OI-sYghTXu4DCy5wUoDpKtc5VVrdu6vpF_L7LSGgd527lxLqsF5oBJ0e1Na_m6_f9fgE59t9wEujLQfQ/s478/twitter+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry_taqVB6YhuSQb0yrlFapjErHbrqTkIgayyCLprGG7Y09giRJFTi_DPJ7f4OI-sYghTXu4DCy5wUoDpKtc5VVrdu6vpF_L7LSGgd527lxLqsF5oBJ0e1Na_m6_f9fgE59t9wEujLQfQ/s1600/twitter+background.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>FEBRUARY - MAY 2020 WRAP UP</u></b></div>
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I read a whopping 8 books between February and May. Sad? Yes. Am I surprised though? No. I guess I should be glad I read anything at all. Without further ado, here are the 8 books I read.</div>
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<b>Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston</b></div>
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This was a re-read for me. I read it for the firsttime last August and really enjoyed it. I decided to reread this book because I wanted some cute, fluffy, queer literature in my life</div>
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<b>Stolen by Lucy Christopher</b></div>
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Another re-read on the list- no surprise. I first read Stolen way back in August of 2014, aka my senior year of high school. I remember enjoying this book a lot in high school but putting off re-reading it as I was afraid I would realize the book wasn't actually any good. I still enjoy this book- probably not as much as high school me as there was definitely some problematic shit, but that was to be expected with the subject matter of the book. The second half the book could use some reworking as some things went from zero to 100 without much connection or build-up, but I digress.</div>
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<img alt="51917594. sx318 sy475 " height="239" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569105890l/51917594._SX318_SY475_.jpg" width="162" /></div>
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<b>The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones</b></div>
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I received The Bone Houses in an OwlCrate a few months ago. I tried to read it in January, but I just wasn't in the right headspace to give it a fair shot a shelved it. On a whim, I picked it up again yesterday and I finished the book in less than a day. I don't think you guys know how long it's been since I've consumed a book in such a short amount of time. I liked the book quite a bit. It's by no means a favorite or exceptional, but it was a nice read. I could visualize everything in my head as I was reading it and for some reason it was giving me Chronicles of Narnia movie vibes in the way it was projected in my mind. </div>
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<img alt="50622353. sy475 " height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579668574l/50622353._SY475_.jpg" width="162" /></div>
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<b>Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim</b></div>
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This book didn't really do it for me. I really enjoyed the middle but the beginning was pretty boring and I don't know what that ending was. It was all rather anti-climatic. Apparently this is supposed to be a part of the series but in my opinion this should probably just be a one and done type of deal.</div>
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<img alt="13477676" height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370282544l/13477676.jpg" width="161" /></div>
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<b>Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick</b></div>
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Yet another reread because I'm predictable like that. I read my original review from 2015 (which you can read <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2015/08/forgive-me-leonard-peacock-review.html" target="_blank">here</a>) and I can’t help but cringe. High school me really loved that shit but now post college me can’t help but shake her head. There is a lot wrong with this book. Not to say I think it is a terrible book. I think there is still a lot of insightful shit. But hot damn is there a lot of problematic shit with this book. Don’t even get me started with all the little microaggressions. If I could sum everything up it would be white make rage. And I don’t want to skirt over the cause of this rage because it’s a very valid reason and something terrible that too many people experience. But Jesus I know there is a better way the themes could have been delivered. Also I never realized how abruptly this book just ends. Like no resolution or anything. Anyways, rereading this taught me that I truly have grown since high school and that’s great.</div>
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<img alt="20640755" height="243" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1410990380l/20640755.jpg" width="162" /></div>
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<b>The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel</b></div>
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At this point I should just self-crown myself as the Queen of Rereading. Welp I still really enjoy this book. In retrospect not a whole lot happens and I’m not the hugest fan of the last quarter, but damn is Bishop still a heartthrob.<br />
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<b>House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas</b></div>
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This is my new favorite book of the year. Sarah J Maas just knows what she's doing.</div>
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<b>From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout</b></div>
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God damn does Jennifer L Armentrout know how to get me out of a reading slump. Was this book predictable? Yes. We’re the characters identical to her other ones from other books? Yes. Does she essentially take the same story and twist it a little each time? Yes. But damn it if it doesn’t still capture my attention and draw me in each time. I need the next book ASAP.</div>
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Welp that's what I read the past few months. Overall I guess I've read some pretty good books, granted a good chunk of those were rereads. But hey, rereads count!</div>
Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-11345703680207652482020-06-18T12:50:00.001-04:002020-07-02T17:11:24.140-04:00Mid-Year Freak Out Tag 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry_taqVB6YhuSQb0yrlFapjErHbrqTkIgayyCLprGG7Y09giRJFTi_DPJ7f4OI-sYghTXu4DCy5wUoDpKtc5VVrdu6vpF_L7LSGgd527lxLqsF5oBJ0e1Na_m6_f9fgE59t9wEujLQfQ/s478/twitter+background.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry_taqVB6YhuSQb0yrlFapjErHbrqTkIgayyCLprGG7Y09giRJFTi_DPJ7f4OI-sYghTXu4DCy5wUoDpKtc5VVrdu6vpF_L7LSGgd527lxLqsF5oBJ0e1Na_m6_f9fgE59t9wEujLQfQ/s1600/twitter+background.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>MID-YEAR FREAK OUT TAG 2020</u></b></div>
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2020 has been quite the year. I've been pretty MIA on here and the same can be said for my reading life. Despite the shitty year, I've managed to read some books- not a lot, but better than nothing. As I don't have school or work for damn near two months until my pre-PhD program starts, I've finally got time back in my hands to do things like read and blog. I figured what better way to get back into things than to go with a good old-fashioned tag. I actually used this as an opportunity to get back into booktube, so if you'd rather watch my tag than read, you can check that out at the end of the post. Without further ado, here's the tag!</div>
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<b>1. Best book you've read so far in 2020</b></div>
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This one was a close one, but ultimately it came down to <i>House of Earth and Blood</i> by Sarah J Maas. I enjoyed the high(ish) fantasy elements, especially the absurd amount of worldbuilding that went into this book. The characters, plot, and romance were very much in the fashion of Maas's other works, but hey, if it works, it works.</div>
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<b>2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020</b></div>
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As of today I haven't read any sequels in 2020.</div>
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<b>3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to</b></div>
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<i>Rage and Ruin</i> by Jennifer L. Armentrout just came out this week and I was lucky enough to get the ebook from my library this week, so I plan on reading it ASAP.</div>
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<b>4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year</b></div>
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I absolutely loved <i>Serpent & Dov</i>e by Shelby Mahurin and cannot wait to read <i>Blood and Honey</i>, the sequel. I just might have to do a reread before I pick up the second book, that's how much I loved it.</div>
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<b>5. Biggest </b><span style="text-align: left;"><b>disappointment</b></span></div>
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<i>In the Darkness</i> by Mike Omer was such a pile of hot shit compared to the first book that I can't even believe it was written by the same person. There were so many problematic elements in the book that it was just unbearable to read.</div>
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<b>6. Biggest surprise</b></div>
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Unfortunately, <i>One of Us is Lying</i> by Karen McManus just did not meet the mark. I do not understand why there was so much hype around this book in the booksphere. This book was incredibly predictable and middle of the road. There wasn't a single aspect of the book that I thought was unique or mind-blowing. I was really surprised because I was looking forward to a good YA mystery, but honestly this was along the same vein of <i>Riverdale</i>, and that is not a good thing.</div>
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<b>7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)</b></div>
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I read <i>The Flatshare</i> by Beth O'Leary and quite enjoyed it. Women's lit or contemporary isn't really my thing but she made it work for me.</div>
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<b>8. Newest fictional crush</b></div>
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If I had to pick, I guess it would be Hunt from <i>House of Earth and Blood</i> by Sarah J Maas. Like he didn't really do anything for me in like a crush way, but he was such a badass that like I wouldn't mind hanging around him.</div>
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<b>9. Newest favorite character</b></div>
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Poppy from <i>From Blood and Ash</i> by Jennifer L. Armentrout took the crown for this one. Listen, I am well aware that most of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books are essentially the same thing, tweeked, and her characters are pretty cut and paste, but I still really enjoy those books and those characters. So is Poppy like those other characters? Yes. Do I care? No.</div>
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<b>10. Book that made you cry</b></div>
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I don't really cry when reading so...</div>
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<b>11. Book that made you happy</b></div>
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I reread <i>Red, White and Royal Blue </i>by Casey McQuiston and it just made me really happy and feel-good. It's just some wholesome queer shit that makes me smile.</div>
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<b>12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year.</b></div>
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You cannot look at me and tell me that <i>House of Salt and Sorrows</i> by Erin Craig does not have a beautiful cover???</div>
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<b>13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?</b></div>
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I don't really do TBRs so this is up in the air. I'm very much a mood reader so I just kinda go with the flow as things come up. I'll definitely read <i>Rage and Ruin</i> and <i>Blood and Honey</i>, but other than those two, nothing else is guaranteed. </div>
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Well that was the written part of this post. If you're interested at all in watching the video I made doing this tag as well as giving a brief little update and doing a mini-unboxing, watch below! Otherwise, thank you guys for tuning and let me know what you thought of the tag and any of the books I mentioned above.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com1United States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-11510244173872330482020-04-05T13:11:00.001-04:002020-07-02T17:11:30.041-04:00Quarantine Reads 2020: Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>QUARANTINE READS 2020: WEEK 1</b></div>
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<b> </b>As I'm sure all of you are vastly aware of, we are in strange times. COVID-19 has altered our current lifestyles and really just fucked shit up to say the least. Personally, COVID-19 hasn't had an extreme impact on my life. I'm not personally quarantined as I have a healthcare job, so I'm still going to work (almost) everyday. I'm not happy that I'm still going out, but such is the life of those in healthcare. That being said, I've had a hell of a lot more time to read, not just at home but also at work. I work at a cancer company, and even though it's a healthcare company, we've had a significant decline in workload because people are focusing on coronavirus as opposed to cancer (which makes complete sense). So half the time at work I do actual work, and the other half I have to myself, so like the bookworm I am, I've been reading. </div>
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As weird as it is to admit, this time has been doing wonders for my reading goals. I didn't read a single book at all in February and only read one in January. So far during this quarantine, I've read three books and am working on the fourth. I thought I would do little weekly wrap-ups of the books I read during this time since I'm reading a lot more than usual. Although I've technically been under quarentine since mid-March, I didn't really get into the reading mood until the last week of March/first week of April, so that's where this is starting.</div>
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<b>Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston:</b> This was a re-read for me. I read it for the first time last August and really enjoyed it. I decided to reread this book because I wanted some cute, fluffy, queer literature in my life. For those of you who have been around for a while, you'll know that I tend to have the habit of falling back to rereading books I've enjoyed as a way to get back into the swing of reading. That's exactly why I picked up this book. </div>
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<b>Stolen by Lucy Christopher: </b>Another re-read on the list- no surprise. I first read <i>Stolen</i> way back in August of 2014, aka my senior year of high school. I remember enjoying this book a lot in high school but putting off re-reading it as I was afraid I would realize the book wasn't actually any good, such was the case when I reread <i>Fangirl</i> by Rainbow Rowell. I bit the bullet, and luckily I still enjoy this book- probably not as much as high school me as there was definitely some problematic shit, but that was to be expected with the subject matter of the book. The second half the book could use some reworking as some things went from zero to 100 without much connection or build-up, but I digress.</div>
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<b>The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones:</b> This is the first book so far that wasn't a reread. I received <i>The Bone Houses</i> in an OwlCrate a few months ago. I tried to read it in January, but I just wasn't in the right headspace to give it a fair shot a shelved it. On a whim, I picked it up again yesterday and I finished the book in less than a day. I don't think you guys know how long it's been since I've consumed a book in such a short amount of time. I liked the book quite a bit. It's by no means a favorite or exceptional, but it was a nice read. I could visualize everything in my head as I was reading it and for some reason it was giving me <i>Chronicles of Narnia</i> movie vibes in the way it was projected in my mind. I think this book would translate really well to the big-screen and I think <i>Disney</i> could do a good job with it if they gave it the same treatment as <i>Chronicles of Narnia </i>visually.</div>
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So that's what I've read so far in this strange pandemic. I'm in a reading kick so I'm sure I'll have plenty of more books to share with you guys. </div>
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What have you guys been reading during this time? Have you read the books I mentioned, and if so, what did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-61568310263507918502020-03-25T09:19:00.001-04:002020-03-25T09:19:43.922-04:00Liebster Award Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>LIEBSTER AWARD PART 2</b></div>
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<b> </b>Once upon a time, a long, long time ago on this blog, I did the Liebster Award. This blog was much younger than and full of hope and bookish tags. (You can read my responses <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2015/04/liebster-award-nomination.html">here</a>.) A lot has happened since then and this blog isn't the same one it was. Life has haggard it and things just aren't the same. Nevertheless, I saw <a href="https://paperbackprincess2014.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-good-old-fashioned-tag-liebster-award.html">Emily @ Paperback Princess</a> do part 2 (which I had no idea there was a part 2), and I decided, what the heck, why not. So, without further ado, here is the Liebster Award Part 2. </div>
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<b>1. If you could be put into any bookish universe, which would you choose? </b><br />
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The no brainer without any thought would be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. No other world gives me as much happens and such a feeling of completeness as that one. However, if I didn't go with my knee-jerk response, it would probably be Middle Earth from Lord of the Rings. I would love to be an elf that lives in the woods (though with my luck and height I'd probably be a dwarf or hobbit).<br />
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<b>2. Are there any genres you wouldn't read? </b><br />
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Oh boy, you bet your ass there are genres I won't read. I'm really not for nonfiction, historical fiction, or poetry. Sometimes I make exceptions when it comes to nonfiction, such as the case with memoirs or educational material, but outside of that those three genres are not my cup of tea.</div>
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<b>3. What's your favorite winter read? </b></div>
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I absolutely love to read the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone during the winter. It just gives me holiday vibes and makes me feel warm inside.</div>
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<b>4. Did you enjoy any compulsory high school readings? </b></div>
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For the most part, yeah I did. I really enjoyed the books in my AP Literature class and AP Language. My other classes, not so much, but I can't say there are any readings that I absolutely hated. Without compulsory reading, I wouldn't have discovered my enjoyment for some books, such as <i>The Glass Castle or The Stranger.</i></div>
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<b>5. What's your most disliked popular book? </b></div>
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This is a hard one because there are quite a few books that I don't like that are popular, but my number one would probably by the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. Actually, anything by Cassandra Clare is a no for me. She just doesn't do it for me in the least bit.</div>
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<b>6. What is your least favorite thing about blogging? </b></div>
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My least favorite thing is the push for engagement. I wish I could just post without feeling like I need to be heard or have a following, but that just isn't the case. I wish I could go back to the beginning where I didn't care about the numbers, but unfortunately I do. Honestly, a huge reason why I don't post as often as I probably could is because I feel like my voice isn't heard and that there is no point if I don't have an audience with engagement.</div>
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<b>7. What's your favorite book series of all time? </b></div>
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Why would you ask such a question??? Putting aside my knee-jerk reactions, it would probably be the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I think that series is slept on by the bookish community, especially when you compare it to other books Jennifer L. Armentrout has written. I just love the mythology in it, the characters, and the romance. It was the first series that I ever bought all the books at once.</div>
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<b>8. What book has made you truly angry? </b></div>
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I can't say there is a book off the top of my head that makes me truly angry. There are a lot of books that I've DNFed because they've started to make me angry or annoyed me, or there are books that were just plain old bad, but I can't say I've hated a book. The closet thing I have of hatred towards a book is probably the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.</div>
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<b>9. What's a bookish trope you wish you never had to see anymore? </b></div>
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I think it would be "I'm special" or "not like other girls". Like we get it, you're the chosen one, the quirky one, or whatever. So is everyone else.</div>
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<b>10. What's your most underrated favorite novel? </b></div>
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It would be hands-down <i>Stolen: A Letter to my Captor </i>by Lucy Christopher. There is definitely a lot of grey area in this book. but I still really enjoy it. I had so many conflicting, emotional thoughts when I read this and I wish more people knew about it. Along the same vein, I also think <i>The V Girl: A Coming of Age Story</i> by Mya Robarts is super slept on. There is so much social commentary in this book while also being an excellent romantic book. Sigh.</div>
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<b>11. What character would you like to swap lives with? And for how long? </b></div>
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I would swap lives with Rose from the Vampire Academy. I would probably do it just for a year or so. I chose her because I would love to learn how to be a badass like her and be around vampires without actually being a vampire. I identify most with her and I think I could swap pretty easily into her life once I nail down how to be a fighter.</div>
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Well that's all folks! It was nice doing this tag. I haven't done one in such a long time and sometimes it's nice to just stop and reflect. Hope you guys enjoyed it!</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-48477287192614791872020-02-13T09:23:00.001-05:002020-02-13T09:23:56.389-05:00Pitiful January 2020 Wrap Up<br />
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<b>PITIFUL JANUARY 2020 WRAP UP</b></div>
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<b> </b>So January happened.... I had such high hopes for 2020, but this year is already kicking my ass. My personal life has pretty much fallen to shit in every single aspect possible, so reading was like the last thing on my mind. I have so my stress and anxiety right now, and for some reason Youtube has become my safety net more than reading has been in the past. It sucks because I have goals for this blog and reading-wise that I really want to accomplish, but I don't know if that's going to be possible with the way my life is going right now. But I'm going to try because that's all I can do right now.</div>
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Due to the shitty state of my life, I read a measly two books this month, and both of them are books I technically started last year and finally finished up in the beginning of the month. But hey, it's better than nothing.</div>
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<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544071699l/39679076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="39679076" border="0" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544071699l/39679076.jpg" width="213" /></a> My favorite book of the month was hands down "House of Salt and Sorrows" by Erin Craig. This was a great book to start the year off with. I really enjoyed the writing, the plot, the main character, and the romance. This was the perfect YA fantasy/paranormal romance book to get me into the mood of reading. I wrote a full review which you can read <a href="https://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2020/01/house-of-salt-and-sorrows-review-by.html">here</a>. I highly recommend picking this book up if you haven't already given it a chance.<br />
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<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550790642l/40680738._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="40680738. sy475 " border="0" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1550790642l/40680738._SY475_.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a> The second and last book I read in January was "In the Darkness" by Mike Omer. This is the second book in the Zoe Bentley series, in which the first book is "A Killer's Mind". I read "A Killer's Mind" in 2018 I believe, and super enjoyed it. Mysteries used to be my bread and butter in middle school and high school before I joined the online bookish community, so reading "A Killer's Mind" was a nice dive back into that world. That said, I don't know if the timing just wasn't right or what, but I wasn't the biggest fan of "In the Darkness". I had a lot of issues with the characters, the plot, and there were a lot of microagressions and stereotypes present that I did not vibe with. I wish I had enjoyed the book more, but at the end of the tea it wasn't my cup of tea. It wasn't a terrible book, but it also wasn't great. It was just your average run-of-the-mill murder myster.<br />
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Well those were the two books I read in January. To be honest I don't feel like February will be any better. A lot of things are kinda coming to head at the end of February beginning of March, so my life is going to be crazy and the last thing I'm thinking about is reading and blogging. But hey, you never know- maybe I'll get into a crazy reading and blogging frenzy.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-10199511976287247552020-01-07T10:42:00.000-05:002020-01-07T10:42:03.016-05:00House of Salt and Sorrows REVIEW by Erin Craig<br />
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<b>Book: </b>House of Salt and Sorrows</div>
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<b>Author:</b> Erin Craig</div>
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<b>My Rating: </b>★★★★1/2</div>
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<b>Synopsis: </b><i>In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.</i></div>
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<i>Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.</i><br />
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<i>Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?</i><br />
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<i>When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.</i><br />
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Where do I even begin with this book? I put it off for quite some time after receiving it in one of my OwlCrate boxes because I honest to goodness didn't know what it was about and wasn't sure if this was something that would be up my alley. Uhm, y'all. I WAS WRONG!!! Why did I push this off??? I mean, I guess it turned out to beneficial in that I was able to start 2020 off with a bang.</div>
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This book really blew me away. Whatever expectations you have coming into the book, throw them out the window. You might think you know where the book will head, but you don't. There are elements of mysticism/fantasy that get incorporated into this story so well that it just subverts whatever expectations you have going into the book. </div>
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I don't even know where to begin when it comes to what I enjoyed with this book. The characters, the plot, the romance, the fantasy/myth- it was all great. Our main character Annaleigh makes for such an interesting read because once you get into the last half of the book you start to question everything she's experiencing. And the romance between her in Cassius. Swoon. At first I was hella sus of him and didn't really buy into him, but damn it if he didn't win me over. I don't 100% buy the way their relationship started and it felt instalovey to me, but it grew on me. They were hella cute together.</div>
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I can't say too much about the plot without giving a shit ton away, so I'm not going. Just know that this book does a really good job of not making itself too predictable but while also still being realistic and entertaining. I wish more books were able to surprise me like this book did. </div>
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Overall I had a really time reading this book. The world and characters were super enthralling and made me want to learn more about the particular mythology that was the focus of this world. Erin Craig did a great job with this debut novel and I can't wait to read more from her.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-83133025565067693972020-01-02T09:50:00.000-05:002020-01-02T09:50:09.725-05:002020 Bookish Resolutions/Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>2020 BOOKISH RESOLUTIONS/GOALS</u></b></div>
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<b> </b>Well it's that time of year where everyone and their mother comes out with their resolutions/goals for the year. I almost didn't do it this year because I wasn't sure it was worth it. At the end of the day however, I figured it couldn't hurt to come up with some. So, without further ado, here we go.</div>
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<b>*Read 60 books*</b></div>
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For my Goodreads goal of the year, I'd like to read 60 books. Last year I read 53 books and that's the lowest amount of books I've read in like 6 years. Ideally I'd like to read 100 books like I've done pretty much every year, but I don't want to put that much pressure on myself. 2020 is going to be an incredibly unpredictable year personally, so I don't know how reading is going to fit into it. I'm go to try my best to get back into the hang of reading more often.</div>
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<b>*Do a monthly wrap up each month*</b></div>
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This past year, more often than not, I ended up doing multi-month wrap ups instead of monthly wrap ups, simply because I didn't consistently read or blog each month. This year I'd like to go back to doing a monthly wrap up. Even if I don't read many books in a month, I'd rather take the time to do a quick little post than have nothing.</div>
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<b>*Post at least once a week*</b></div>
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This is really my main goal of the year and the one I plan on putting the most energy into. It might not seem like a lot to write a post once a week, but to me it's important. I feel like blogging at least once a week will ensure I remain active and that I use the blog effectively. </div>
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<b>*Have a review at least biweekly*</b></div>
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This one might be a bit of a stretch and more difficult for me to obtain, but I really want to make sure I put out a review at least twice a month. While I'm making changes to the blog and the content I post about, I do want to stick to some of my roots. This blog started off as a dedicated place to review books and I still want to review books.</div>
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<b>*Be more active on bookish Twitter*</b></div>
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This might seem like an odd one, but it's one that I feel like I need. I see the bookish community and I want to interact with it more, and the best place to do that seems to be Twitter. I'm one of those people that follows others but doesn't really interact with them. I'm trying to change so that in addition to interacting with other tweets, I tweet more as well.</div>
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<b>*Make more bookish friends*</b></div>
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I say this every year and it's true every year. I definitely had more interactions with the bookish community in 2019, but I truly want to make more connections. So if you're in the market for a bookish friend, hit me up!</div>
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<b>*Revamp the website*</b></div>
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Little but time-consuming thing, I really want to revamp the look of my website. It's looked the same for the past few years and I feel like I need to spice it up more. It's pretty plain right now and I'd love for it to look more like my personality.</div>
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<b>*Read more new releases*</b></div>
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Last but not least, I'd like to read more new releases. The majority of books I read are ones that came out in the past. I read maybe 5 books a year that were released that year. In 2019 I slowly started reading more new releases, and that was partially due to me getting OwlCrate. Without OwlCrate, I wouldn't have discovered some of my favorite books of the year. Now I don't want to exclusively read new releases, but I want to incorporate more of them into my TBR.</div>
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Well those are my bookish resolutions/goals for 2020. The majority of them won't be too hard to accomplish, but there are some I know I'm going to struggle with. I really want to put more work into this blog and bookish stuff in general this year. If I put effort into it, I know I can do it.</div>
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What do you guys think of my list? Do you have any in common with me? What are your lists? I'd love to hear everything down in the comments.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-30108473284976496142019-12-31T10:00:00.000-05:002019-12-31T10:00:10.472-05:00Top 10 Books of 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2019</u></b></div>
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Well, it's finally here. The end of 2019. Without further ado, I'm not going to waste time and just jump straight into the best books I read this year. </div>
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<b>10. Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Klassel</b></div>
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I saw this book at my library and decided to check it out without really knowing anything about it. I hadn't read a book in less than a day in forever, so it felt really good powering through this bad boy so fast. The beginning act was rough, but it grew on me a lot. The romance was so unrealistic but gave me fuzzy feelings nevertheless. The supernatural aspect was really interesting and I would love to know more about the lore behind it.</div>
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<b>9. Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout</b><br />
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This really banged. I can always count on Jennifer L. Armentrout's books being absolutely everything I need them to be. Paranormal romance will forever be my favorite genre and I can't wait to see what happens next. It doesn't even matter that I remembered next to nothing from the main series this spin off series is based on because the characters and plot make it great on its own.</div>
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<b>8. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston</b><br />
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This book was a curve ball. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did just because contemporaries aren't really my thing. There was also so much hype surrounding this book that I was afraid the hype would let me down, but it didn't. This was a cute LGBTQIA+ read, which unfortunately, is a genre I haven't had a lot of exposure to, which as the a (for asexual), is a bit sad. You can read my full review <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/09/red-white-royal-blue-by-casey-mcquiston.html">here</a>, but basically this book was an excellent enemies to lovers book (which if you know anything about me, I love that trope- read my list of fav romances from this year <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/12/top-5-relationships-of-2019.html">here</a> and you'll see).<br />
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<b>7. Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddiw Dawson</b><br />
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This book was a complete curveball. This was a free book I decided to pick up on Prime Reading and it ended up being perhaps my favorite book I read this summer. Like this was a 4.5 Star book. I don't typically like women's fiction or chick-lit, but this book was just an amazing read. I love the two POVs we get to read from and the events that unfold in their lives. It was written so well and I just devoured it for the 5 hours I was at the airport coming home from my Bahamas cruise. If women's lit isn't typically your thing, I recommend giving this a go.<br />
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<b>6. The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black</b><br />
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While I was slightly let down by the end of this trilogy with this book, I still enjoyed it. You can read my full thoughts <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/11/the-queen-of-nothing-by-holly-black.html">here</a>, but overall this book gave me the YA fantasy romance vibes I needed.<br />
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<b>5. Winterwood by Shea Earnshaw</b><br />
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I liked this book more than I anticipated, as seems to be the trend with the majority of the books on this list. I knew little going into it other than the author wrote "The Wicked Deep" which I enjoyed last year for my school's book club. You can read the full review <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/12/winterwood-by-shea-ernshaw-review.html">here</a>, but basically I enjoyed the way the story was written and the little plot twists that really gave the book a new layer.<br />
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<b>4. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson</b><br />
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This was a YA fantasy book that featured one of my favorite couples of this year. Nathaniel, the main love interest was just a hoot to read. While I had issues with the plot itself, I enjoyed the characters and their interactions, even then non-love interest characters like Silas. You can read my review for the book <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/08/sorcery-of-thorns-by-margaret-rogerson.html">here</a>. <br />
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<b>3. The Wicked King by Holly Black</b><br />
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So even though this book came out last year, I didn't read it until this year. Sue me. This book was hands down the best one in the entire trilogy. We got to see more into Carden and Jude as individuals and as a couple. Their power dynamics were off the charts in all of the right ways. It was in this book that I felt the plot was really going somewhere. It's dissapointing that the last book didn't do justice to the plot of this book, but that's neither here nor there.<br />
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<b>2. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin</b><br />
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This was a really tough decision. This book almost made the top of my list, but there were other factors at play that bumped this down to second place. That being said, I loved this book. I buddy read it with Olivia from Oliva's Catastrophe (<a href="https://twitter.com/writing4joy2">twitter link here</a>) and we both enjoyed this far more than we anticipated. What to say about this book. I loved the romance, I loved the setting, I loved the plot. You name it, I probably loved it. I'm so excited to read the sequel when it comes out next year. I'm planning on rereading this book before the sequel comes out, so if anyone wants to buddy read this, I'm game!<br />
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<b>1. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne</b><br />
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How this ended up being my favorite book is a mystery to even me. This isn't in my typical genre of favorites, as evidenced by the plethora of YA fantasy/paranormal romance on this last. But alas, this book snuck its way into my heart. I've read this book three times this year. Three! The first time I read this book, I only rated it about 3.5 stars, but now it's between 4 and 4.5 stars. I have no idea what it is about the romance in this book that gets to me, but it does. I didn't realize how much I love the enemies to lovers trope until this book. I also didn't realize how much I love the whole "healing another person" trope. That shit really got to me. I'm thinking of rereading this book again when the new year kicks off. Why? I apparently have an addiction to this book and the couple in it.<br />
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<b>Honorable Mention: The Guinevere Deception by Kierstin White</b><br />
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I'd already ranked everything on this list and written half of it when I read this book and didn't feel like rearranging things on my list. That being said, this would have probably made it into the top 5. This was an Arthurian retelling that I enjoyed more than I probably should have considering the predictable nature of it. I just really enjoyed the characters and their nausances.<br />
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Well those are the best books that I read this year. As you can see, it was a pretty YA fantasy heavy year with some contemporaries sprinkled in. I didn't read as many books this year as previous years, and that's ok because I still took away some great books. Some of these books have more books to come, and I'm excited to see where those stories leave. To the ones that are over, I'm sure I'll revist them in the future.</div>
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What did you think of my list? Did you like some of the books on my list too? Or did you dislike some? What made the top lists for you this year? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below. I can't wait to see what 2020 holds for all of us!</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-41660826005242705802019-12-28T18:02:00.000-05:002019-12-28T18:02:04.758-05:00Currently Reading: 12/28/19<br />
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<b><u>CURRENTLY READING: 12/28/19</u></b></div>
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<b> </b>This week has been a pretty good reading week for me. My plan was to finish the year off strong, and I think that's going to happen, thank goodness.</div>
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I started and finished "The Guinevere Deception" by Kiersten White and ended up super enjoying it. I plan on having a review for that up within the next week, so keep an eye out for that. Overall though, it was exactly the type of book I needed to get into the reading mood. YA fantasy/paranormal romance are the genres I know I can always rely on. It had the perfect blend of fantasy and romance in a setting I really enjoyed. I'm a sucker for Arthurian retellings. Even though the plot itself was prectiable (mainly because it's one so well known and integral to the OG story), it still kept me on my toes.</div>
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After finishing "The Guinevere Deception" I was in the mood to read something else in the fantasy/paranormal genre so I decided to pick up "House of Salt and Sorrows" by Erin Craig. I don't know a whole bunch about this book other than it's like a cross of YA fantasy with murder mystery sewn into the plot. I'm only 45 pages into this book, which is about 10%, so not a whole bunch has happened, but I don't have a problem with it. I like the main character, Annaleigh. She's your typical stubborn-headed female YA character, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm interested to see how the murder mystery plot is incorporated because from the get-go it seems like it is a key thing for the story.<br />
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Well that's what I have been reading and am currently reading. My goal is to finish "House of Salt and Sorrows" by the time the new year rolls around, which if I just sit my ass down and do that instead of typing this post, I can definitely accomplish. Have you guys read either of these books? If so, what are your thoughts on them? I'd love to hear them down in the comments.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-80194649845066450782019-12-27T11:31:00.000-05:002019-12-27T11:31:55.539-05:00Top 5 Disappointing Books of 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>TOP 5 DISAPPOINTING BOOKS OF 2019</u></b></div>
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The end of the year is almost here, and with that, comes end of the year lists. I've already told y'all my favorite bookish relationships (which y'all can read that <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/12/top-5-relationships-of-2019.html">here</a> if you haven't already), so now it's time for the most important lists. First I'm going to go over my most disappointing books and then next week I'll tell y'all my favorite books of the year. Before we get into this list, I want to clarify that the books on this list are what disappointed me, not necessarily what were the absolute worst books (though some of them were bad books). These are mainly books that I had higher expectations on and they didn't meet those. Without further ado, here we go.</div>
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<b>5. F*ck~ I'm in My Twenties by Emma Koenig</b></div>
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This book had been on my TBR since I turned 20, which was a couple of years ago. To be honest, this book was a complete waste of my time. It didn't actually give me anything worth taking away, it was just shitty drawings of oddly specific situations the author had been in.</div>
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<b>4. Brief Chronicles of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid</b></div>
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This book just added to be disdain towards YA contemporary. I was really hoping this would be different and give me warm bubbly feelings, but I didn't get that. You can read my full review <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/04/a-brief-chronicle-of-another-stupid.html">here</a>, but basically this book did nothing for me. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. It just kinda happened. </div>
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<b>3. The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo</b></div>
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This falls into the same situation as the last book. It was a YA contemporary that everyone and their mother liked, but it didn't do anything for me. The beginning of this book was super annoying to me, but it got a lot better. Overall it just wasn't as great as everyone had chalked it up to.</div>
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<b>2. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne</b></div>
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I was highly upset when this book turned out to be kinda trash. The author wrote "The Hating Game" which has become one of my favorite ever, so I was expecting great things from this book. That being said, this was a huge disappointment. I didn't like the plot, the characters, romance, or pretty much anything about this book. The sparks I was expecting was not there. </div>
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<b>1. What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera</b></div>
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This book did not do it for me. There. I said it. This book was anticipated by the entire bookish community because of this tag team of authors, and to be honest, I was anticipating it too. The hype built up, and after it died down a little I allowed myself to read the book, and has become routine for me, the hype was wrong. Maybe I just need to give into the fact that me and YA contemporaries are just not meant to me. You can read my review <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/03/what-if-its-us-by-becky-albertalli-and.html">here</a>.</div>
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Well those are the 5 books that just didn't do it for me. Have you read those books? If so, what did you think of them? Did you also think they were meh? If some of these books are your favorites, why? I'd love to hear everything down in the comments below.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-91108599078767031612019-12-09T18:32:00.001-05:002019-12-09T18:32:52.071-05:00Top 5 Relationships of 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>TOP 5 FICTIONAL BOOKISH RELATIONSHIPS OF 2019</u></b></div>
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In the spirit of the end of the year, I've come up with a handful of lists that highlight some of my favorite (and least-favorite) bookish things. Today I will be kicking off things with my favorite fictional relationships that I read this year.</div>
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<b>1. Lucy and Josh from "The Hating Game" by Sally Thorn</b></div>
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I absolutely loved this book and the chemistry between these two characters. I don't know when it happened, but I've become a sucker for the whole "enemies to lovers" trope. They start off as enemies at work and next thing you know wham bam they are in love and I love it. They has such great tension between them and I love the little things they do to antagize each other. I wish I would have been able to see more of them as an actual solid couple, but I'm not mad with what I got to see. Josh was so caring and naturing towards Lucy and that shit just melted me heart. </div>
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<b>2. Lou and Reid from "Serpent & Dove" by Shelby Mahurin</b></div>
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This is once again a "enemies to lovers" relationship and I was one hundred percent here for it. They start off hating each other because they were forced to marry each other, but as it should happen, wham bam they fell in love along the way. Lou really helped Reid become a better person and I loved watching her force his shell open. Reid was really protective of Lou even when she was actively trying to screw him over and I just couldn't help but swoon. They ended up being really good for each other and I can't wait to see where their relationship heads in the sequel. </div>
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<b>3. Alex and Henry from "Red, White and Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston</b></div>
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You can read my review for this book here, but basically I thought they were a really cute pairing. There aren't many M/M LGBTQIA+ relationships I have read that weren't fanfictions. It was refreshing to read a mainstream romance with such a diverse cast. Also, this was once again an "enemies to lovers" trope. (Do you see a trend here? Do you? Do you?) You can read my review for this book <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/09/red-white-royal-blue-by-casey-mcquiston.html">here</a>.</div>
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<b>4. Elisabeth and Nathnaniel from "Sorcery of Thorns" by Margaret Rogerson</b></div>
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I did not expect to like this book as much as I did, so I was also thrown a loop when I ended up liking this couple so much. There really wasn't anything particular special about this pairing (besides it being a kinda enemies to lovers trope ahahahhaha) but they hit me for some reason. Nathaniel really made the relationship more than what it could have been. He was just so quirky towards her and every time he called her a terror I was in love. Romance wasn't the key focus of their interactions, but they still had good chemistry. You can read my review for this book <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/08/sorcery-of-thorns-by-margaret-rogerson.html">here</a>.</div>
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<b>5. Nora and Oliver from "Winterwood" by Shea Ernshaw</b></div>
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I think this is the only relationship on this list that wasn't an enemies to lovers one, and I ain't ashamed of that. This relationship was a lot more subtle than the other ones which made it a little more special. This relationship was super cute. Not cute in the Alex and Henry's was, but in like an "oh my gosh this is so precious" way. I knew the main twist from the get go, so that made this relationship super interesting to read because I was like "where is this going to go". They were so timid around each other and I just ate that shit up. You can read my review for this book <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/12/winterwood-by-shea-ernshaw-review.html">here</a>.</div>
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<b>Honorable Mention: Jude and Carden from "The Wicked King/The Queen of Nothing" by Holly Black</b></div>
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I read second and third books of "The Cruel Prince" trilogy this year and absolutely loved those books. The relationship between Jude and Carden really heated up in The Wicked King. It wasn't as strong in The Queen of Nothing just because of the events that went down in the previous book, but it was still good shit. They were of course the result of my favorite trope (hahha because why not) so that just made it even more enjoyable. You can read my review for this book <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/11/the-queen-of-nothing-by-holly-black.html">here</a>.</div>
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Yeah, so those were my favorite relationships from books I read this year. As became very evident in this list, I have a really big thing for enemies to lovers that I didn't even realize until I started typing this post. I don't what it is about this trope, but apparently it just hits my heart every single time. </div>
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What do you think of my list? Are there relationships on here that you also ship hard? Are there relationships on here that make you go "nah fam"? What were your favorite ships from this year? I want to hear everything down in the comments.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-49948496848771321492019-12-05T16:50:00.000-05:002019-12-05T16:50:47.561-05:00November 2019 Wrap Up<br />
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<b>NOVEMBER 2019</b></div>
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Yes, I know that we are already five days into December and I should have done my November<br />
wrap up several days ago, but hey, better late than never. Besides, I need content for Blogmas. You gotta do what you gotta do.<br />
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So let's get into it. November was not a very productive reading month. I read a whopping three books, and they were all read in the second half of November. In the beginning of the month I was finishing up my PhD applications, so that was pretty time-consuming. I wrote a lot of personal statements and research statements, so reading was like the last thing on my mind. It was also my birthday in the beginning of November. I really enjoyed my birthday outside of the fact that I got food poisoning and my roommate threw a party with 15 people and they all got drunk and threw up all over my apartment until like 6am. But I digress.<br />
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<a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549309592l/43822698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="43822698" border="0" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549309592l/43822698.jpg" width="131" /></a><b>Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw</b><div>
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I wrote a review for this book, which you can read <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/12/winterwood-by-shea-ernshaw-review.html">here</a>. This was the last book I read in November. I'm not going to go into too much detail because I've already said my piece in the review, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I liked the magic/supernatural system, the writing, and the way the plot twisted. The book hit me harder than I expected and I'm glad I read it when I did. This book really made me get into the mood of reading again and kinda spurred my desire to blog more. Like seriously, if anyone read this book and would like to discuss it, please hit me up. I don't know<b> </b></div>
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<b>Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman</b><br />
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So my roommate/best friend came up with a Youtube series that we are developing about three supernatural roommates. The character I am embodying is a witch so I wanted to make sure I did my research on how modern witches go about things. I'm pretty familiar with the traditional sense of witchcraft, but I thought it would be interesting to get to know more about the less traditional, not-so supernatural aspects of modern witchcraft. It was interesting to read what the authors conceptionalized as ways to tap into your inner energy/strength and connect with the energy of the world to conjure stuff. I personally don't believe in the vast majority of this type of stuff, but I find it super interesting to read about and I'm always for learning new things.</div>
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<b>The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black</b></div>
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The Queen of Nothing was definitely hands-down my favorite book of the month. It was probably my mostly highly anticipated book of the year. Like earlier, I wrote a review so I won't go into much details. You can read that review <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/11/the-queen-of-nothing-by-holly-black.html">here</a>. I really enjoyed this book, though not as much as I had anticipated. I would have loved more Jude/Carden interactions, but I completely understand why that wasn't a possibility. I'm sad this trilogy is over, but glad it happened. Maybe someday Holly Black will revisit this world and give us more. </div>
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Those were the three books that I read this month. As you can see they were all in the vain of supernatural/paranormal/fantasy. That is hands down my favorite genre and if y'all have any good recommendations along those lines, please send them over to me. I need more!</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-1195494437823201202019-12-04T16:30:00.001-05:002019-12-04T16:30:34.443-05:00Blogmas Day 4: December 2019 Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>BLOGMAS DAY 4: DECEMBER 2019 GOALS</b></div>
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<b> </b>So I have kinda of alluded this on Twitter (which if you aren't following me, you should follow me <a href="https://twitter.com/nerdgirl_review">here</a>) but I am very loosely doing Blogmas this year. This is my first time doing Blogmas. I know myself well enough to know that I am not committing to doing a post every single day. I would love to, but that is not happening. Ideally I'd like to do it at least 3 times a week, so we'll see if that happens.<br />
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Anyway, in the spirit of trying to blog more, I thought I would let you guys know my December bookish/bloggish goals.</div>
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<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Blog at least twice a week. </b>With blogmas, this goal will be easier to obtain because as I mentioned I'd like to blog at least three times a week. At the very least, I can do a Friday Reads in which I let y'all know what I'm reading and then some other more conversational type post earlier in the week.</li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Finish my Goodreads goal.</b> For the first time in like 10 years I will read less than 80 books in a year. Right now I'm hovering at 45 books. My goal for the year is 50 books. I would have loved to have read more books this past year, but life just did not have that in the cards. I know for sure I can reach my goal of 50 books with the help of all the graphic novel issues I have to catch up on. Ideally, I'd like to reach like 60 books this year. Will it happen? We shall see.</li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Be more active with my bookish Twitter.</b> I'd like to get into being more active on Twitter. I go on it every day, however I don't necessarily engage every day. I think Twitter is a great way to connect with the bookish community, so I'm going to try to do that. </li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Make more bookish friends.</b> I say this all the time, but I still mean it. I absolutely love talking about books and there are not a lot of people in my life whom I can do that with. I'm pretty introverted so it's hard for me to initiate things with people, but I'm going to try to do better.</li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><b>Read more of my physical books.</b> Due to Owlcrate, I've accumulated a decent amount of physical books. I absolutely love reading physical books, but I don't like carrying them around in my commute. I prefer using my Kindle just because it's smaller and takes up less space in my backpack. I've got like 5 or so physical books that I need to read. I know I won't read all of them, but I'm going to try to read some of them.</li>
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Those are my main goals for December. I'm sure there are some others that I can't think of off the top of my head. I feel like none of these goals are super wild, so I'm confident I can make a decent dent in them.</div>
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What do you think of my goals? Do you have any goals for December? If so, what are they and why? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-8946975005758348562019-12-02T17:45:00.000-05:002019-12-02T17:45:12.164-05:00"Winterwood" by Shea Ernshaw REVIEW<br />
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<b>Book:</b> Winterwood<br />
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<b>Author:</b> Shea Ernshaw<br />
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<b>My Rating: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "Droid Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">★★★★</span><br />
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<b>Synopsis: </b><i>Be careful of the dark, dark wood…</i><br />
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<i>Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.</i><br />
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<i>Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing.</i><br />
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<i>But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.</i><br />
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<i>For as long as there have been fairy tales, we have been warned to fear what lies within the dark, dark woods and in Winterwood, New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw, shows us why.</i><br />
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So as I mentioned in my currently readings post from last week (which you can read <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2019/11/currently-reading-november-25-2019.html">here</a>), I picked up "Winterwood" by Shea Ernshaw after reading her debut novel, "The Wicked Deep" a year ago and overall enjoying myself. I knew nothing about this book going in except that it dealt with witchcraft and took place in winter. That being said...<br />
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I really enjoyed this book! I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Like I've previously mentioned, I thought "The Wicked Deep" was pretty good, but it wasn't anything special. Going into "Winterwood" I thought I would like it, but necessarily love it. That did not happen, which was a nice little surprise. I'd actually say this is one of my favorite books of 2019.<br />
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The writing style for this book is what really drew me in. I really love the way Ernshaw wove her words and descriptions. Everything was just so beautifully written. I don't typically go for poetic-like writing, but this wasn't like in your face poetic if that makes sense. Even the way the characters thought was gorgeous. And I recognize that normal teens don't typically think like that, but hey, it's fiction.<br />
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At first I wasn't entirely on board with the plot because I didn't really know where it was going or what the purpose of all of it was, but after a while I clung onto it. This was definitely more slow-burning then I was used to. The bulk of the action really didn't hit until the last third, and when it hit, it hit with full force. There were two twists that really pushed the plot. The first one I saw coming a mile away from the beginning, and honestly, if that twist hadn't been there, I would have questioned the entire book. That second twist however, boy oh boy did it really rock my world. It incorporated a new element to the book that changed my whole perception of everything that had already happened and made things line up. I'm definitely gonna have to reread this book sometime.<br />
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As far as the characters go, I liked them. The main girl, Nora, could get a bit into her head sometimes and tended to overthink/overreact, but I get like that sometimes too, so that's no big deal. She was weird but not in the typical "quirky" way. Her relationship with witchcraft was a really interesting dynamic. Speaking of witchcraft, I really enjoy the way it was portrayed. I love how the Walker women were connected with nature and that's how they drew there "powers". The concept of "nightshade" was also super interesting. I'd never heard of that before, and I've read a lot of books dealing with witchcraft.<br />
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I had a good team reading about the romance between Nora and Oliver. Even though their relationship kinda went from 0 to 100 real quick and they didn't really know each other, I dug it. They had some really sweet, intimate moments. In the span of the few days (week, I don't know how much time passed), they went through a lot and handled it pretty well. I would have loved to see them learn more about each other, but that air of mystery is also a part of what drove the story.<br />
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Overall, this book checked off everything for me. While some might think this is a typical YA book, I just really enjoyed the writing, characters, and plot. I love a good witchcraft book and this was a good witchcraft book. If you like a good supernatural YA book sprinkled with romance then this is the book for you.<br />
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Have you guys read "Winterwood"? If so, what did you think of it? If not, have you ready Shea Ernshaw's other book, "The Wicked Deep"? Tell me all your thoughts in the comments down below.<br />
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-16028341904615861772019-11-25T18:36:00.000-05:002019-11-25T18:37:57.580-05:00Currently Reading: November 25, 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>CURRENTLY READING: NOVEMBER 25, 2019</b></div>
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<b> </b>In the spirit of trying to get back into the swing of being more active in the bookish community again, I'm going to try to blog more. I'm going to do a multitude of things such as an update on what I'm currently reading, a tentative TBR, what books I've bought, etc. Normally people try to make these new habits on New Year's, but no time like the present.</div>
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This past weekend I started, "Winterwood" by Shea Ernshaw. This is her second book, and I actually read her first book, "The Wicked Deep", which you can read my review for that <a href="http://www.thenerdgirlreview.com/2018/12/october-december-2018-mini-reviews.html">here</a>. I read "The Wicked Deep" when I was in school for our book club and rather enjoyed it. It wasn't amazing, but it hit off pretty much everything I need from a book to enjoy my time. When I heard about the second book, I knew I was going to want that bad boi on my TBR. Luckily for me, "Winterwood" was in included in the November OwlCrate box.</div>
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At the time of this post, I'm about 25% through. Not a ton has happened, but you can tell there is stuff that is about to pop-off. The main plot-driving point seems to have been introduced and I have an idea of where things could go, so I'm excited.</div>
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This book definitely seems slow-burning compared to what I'm used to, which is fine. I don't know a whole lot about the characters, but I enjoy them just fine. I know in my heart there is going to be a romantic element added to the story at some point. I don't think it needs which, but it's going to happen.</div>
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Overall I like the magic system that's been explained and the eerie tone throughout all of this. This probably would have been better to read around Halloween, but it is what it is. I'm excited to keep reading this. If I really push myself, I could probably finish it tonight, but I might not just so I have something to read on my commute to work tomorrow and Wednesday.</div>
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What are you guys currently reading? Have you read "Winterwood"? If so what were your thoughts on it? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments down below.</div>
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5540391831818595631.post-86582838648362961482019-11-23T11:02:00.000-05:002019-11-23T11:02:08.700-05:00"The Queen of Nothing" by Holly Black Spoiler-Free Review<br />
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<b>Book:</b> The Queen of Nothing<br />
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<b>Author:</b> Holly Black<br />
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<b>My Rating: </b>★★★★<br />
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<b>Synopsis: </b><i>He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.</i><br />
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<i>Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.</i><br />
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<i>Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.</i><br />
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<i>Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.</i><br />
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<i>And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…</i><br />
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<i>From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy.</i><br />
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Well the day has finally come. "The Folk of Air" trilogy, aka "The Cruel Prince" trilogy has come to an end. It came sooner than I expected and now that it's over I'm really sad. I need more in my life. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start back in the beginning.<br />
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When "The Cruel Prince" first came out, I knew I was going to like it. Holly Black has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and as I have previously mentioned, she made me not hate fae anymore. That being said, it actually took me quite some time to read the first book. The first time I tried to read the first chapter, I hated it, which to be fair, the first chapter wasn't the greatest. I soon realized I just wasn't in the correct head space to read it and put it off for some time. When I was finally in the mood, I devoured that bitch and loved it. "The Cruel Prince" was everything I needed in a book and made me love being a reader.<br />
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I waited a whole ass year for "The Wicked King" and soon as that book arrived in my dorm room I binge read the shit out of it. I loved the second book even more than the first book. The second book is what really drew me into Carden and Jude's relationship. I was hesitant in the first book because their relationship didn't really add up to me, but the second book sealed the deal. And besides, that cliffhanger was the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. I couldn't believe what I had read when it went down, and the fact that I had to wait another year to read the conclusion killed me.<br />
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Finally, the conclusion has arrived. Fortunately/unfortunately for me, I happened to come down with the flu the day after the book arrived, so I didn't go to work and just spent the entire day switching between sleeping and reading. So all that being said...<br />
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I thought the conclusion was pretty great. It wasn't excellent. It wasn't perfect. It was pretty great. I thought the pacing was a little too fast and the plot took a weird turn, but not necessarily a bad turn. I really wish that there had been more Jude/Carden interactions, but from the plot perspective I also understand why that wasn't the case. This book was the shortest out of the trilogy and you can really feel that. I wish it were longer, not just because I want more content, but because I think it would have helped flushed out some of my issues.<br />
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This book focused a lot on Jude dealing with the consequences of the events that went down towards the end of the second book and it was an interesting time to say politely. All the paths that got started came to a close and while I wish we could get more from this story, I can honestly say that it did everything it needed to do. I would absolutely love a spin-off series with Carden or maybe years down the road following Oak, but I guess I'll have to deal with either rereading the books or seeking out fanfiction.<br />
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I'm so glad I didn't give up reading "The Cruel Prince" when it came out. This trilogy reminds me why I love being a reader and why I love being a part of the bookish community. If I wasn't in the community, I'm sure this book would have never crossed me radar, of it it had, it would have been further down the road. This trilogy helped strengthen some bookish friendships that I'm grateful for having. Overall this trilogy is one of my favorites and will hold a special place in my heart. I loved every second of reading all of this and I hope others can experience the joy I felt with these books.<br />
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Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Reviewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14988689551994156529noreply@blogger.com0