Jill lives in Toronto, Canada. She has studied English, Creative Writing, and Publishing. Jill is the creator and content producer of Jill’s Book Blog, where she has published a blog post every day for the last four years, including 5-7 book reviews a week. She can usually be found with her nose in a book.
TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.
My pick this week is Her Royal Highness (Royals #2) by Rachel Hawkins.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better.
Millie can’t believe her luck when she’s accepted into one of the world’s most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Everything about Scotland is different: the country is misty and green; the school is gorgeous, and the students think Americans are cute.
The only problem: Mille’s roommate Flora is a total princess.
She’s also an actual princess. Of Scotland.
At first, the girls can barely stand each other–Flora is both high-class and high-key–but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend. Even though Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, Millie knows the chances of happily ever afters are slim . . . after all, real life isn’t a fairy tale . . . or is it?
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Title: Red, White and Royal Blue Author: Casey McQuiston Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: May 14, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…
First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.
The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.
As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?
Review:
This book definitely lived up to the hype!
I loved this parallel universe with a queer romance between a prince and a first son. They were such a cute couple! It really didn’t feel that far off from the future. Things are changing everyday, and I can imagine these kinds of changes in these historical institutions. However, it was heartbreaking that these two boys, who were perfect for each other, could have been kept apart because of some people’s prejudice.
Some of the parts were predictable, but that’s what I loved about the story. I could tell that Alex and Henry would get together, because of the tension between them. I also predicted that they would be caught in some way because that was the danger of their relationship becoming public.
I’m so glad I read this story! I loved it!
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Royals (Royals #1) by Rachel Hawkins
Her Royal Highness (Royals #2) by Rachel Hawkins
Have you read Red, White and Royal Blue? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.
The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein. The release date is August 6, 2019.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewelry shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.
Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper. And in real life he shows promise, too. He would be perfect, if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is “engaged”; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money; and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. She can either stay engaged online or fall in love in real life.
Title: Pillow Thoughts III: Mending the Mind Author: Courtney Peppernell Genre: Poetry Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: August 6, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a voice that is inclusive and open to all, Courtney Peppernell presents a tribute to her readers in the third installment of her bestselling Pillow Thoughts series.
A beautifully raw and poignant collection of poetry and prose, Pillow Thoughts III continues the series from poet Courtney Peppernell. Fix yourself a warm drink and settle into Peppernell’s words as she pens a tribute to her readers who are bravely continuing their journey from hurt to healing.
Review:
I don’t read a lot of poetry, but I’ve heard a lot about this collection so I wanted to read it. I loved it!
There were sections of this collection about anxiety and love that I found so relatable. Some of the poems were just one line on a page, but they were poignant and memorable.
This is a great, short poetry collection. I’ll definitely have to look for the other books in the series!
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Have you read Pillow Thoughts III: Mending the Mind? What did you think of it?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is a Freebie, so I chose to do an old topic: Books I Could Re-Read Forever. Here’s my list:
1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
2. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. Shadowland (The Mediator #1) by Meg Cabot
5. Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian
6. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
7. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
8. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
9. Kens by Raziel Reid
10. A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab
Title: Season of the Witch Author: Sarah Rees Brennan Genre: Young Adult, Horror Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: July 9, 2019 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
It’s the summer before her sixteenth birthday, and Sabrina Spellman knows her world is about to change. She’s always studied magic and spells with her aunts, Hilda and Zelda. But she’s also lived a normal mortal life – attending Baxter High, hanging out with her friends Susie and Roz, and going to the movies with her boyfriend, Harvey Kinkle.
Now time is running out on her every day, normal world, and leaving behind Roz and Susie and Harvey is a lot harder than she thought it would be. Especially because Sabrina isn’t sure how Harvey feels about her. Her cousin Ambrose suggests performing a spell to discover Harvey’s true feelings. But when a mysterious wood spirit interferes, the spell backfires in a big way.
Sabrina has always been attracted to the power of being a witch. But now she can’t help wondering if that power is leading her down the wrong path. Will she choose to forsake the path of light and follow the path of night?
Review:
This is a great prequel to the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
I read the graphic novel of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina before I watched the show on Netflix. The graphic novel was the creepiest one I’ve ever read! The show is also quite creepy and gruesome. I was so glad that this book didn’t have the same horror themes.
I loved the way the characters were introduced in this story. The story added a lot to the plot, by introducing the characters before the beginning of the show. It also gave a lot of the background on Ambrose, who I always found was a confusing character, as to how and why he was there. It also gave some details on Harvey’s family.
I really enjoyed this story!
Thank you Scholastic for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack
About the Author:
SARAH REES BRENNAN is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have been long-listed for the Carnegie Medal and short-listed for both a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award, as well as received multiple starred reviews. Her most recent novels include In Other Lands, Tell the Wind and Fire and the Lynburn Legacy trilogy.
Giveaway:
5 copies of SABRINA: SEASON OF THE WITCH by SARAH REES BRENNAN
Moonlight Rendezvous– Review Jill’s Book Blog- Review The Reading Corner for All- Bookstagram
July 30th
Story-eyed Reviews– Review & Favorite Quotes Musings of a (Book) Girl- Review/Creative Post Twilight Reader- Playlist A Book Addict’s Bookshelves- Playlist
Thank you The Fantastic Flying Book Club and Scholastic for letting me participate in this blog tour.
Have you read Season of the Witch? What did you think of it?
This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!
What I just finished:
This weekend I finished Season of the Witchby Sarah Rees Brennan.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading Changeling (The Oddmire #1) by William Ritter.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.
This Sunday I’m reading Pillow Thoughts III: Mending the Mind by Courtney Peppernell.
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a voice that is inclusive and open to all, Courtney Peppernell presents a tribute to her readers in the third installment of her bestselling Pillow Thoughts series.
A beautifully raw and poignant collection of poetry and prose, Pillow Thoughts III continues the series from poet Courtney Peppernell. Fix yourself a warm drink and settle into Peppernell’s words as she pens a tribute to her readers who are bravely continuing their journey from hurt to healing.
This meme is hosted by Steph at A little but a lot. The weekly prompts for 2019 can be found here.
This week’s prompt is Ice Cream and Book Combinations. It was hard to find books about ice cream, but here’s a list of summery books with food in them. Here’s my list:
1. The Art of French Kissing by Brianna R. Shrum
2. Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian
3. The Summer of Jordi Perez (And The Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding
4. The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
5. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
6. My Ideal Boyfriend is a Croissant by Laura Dockrill
Did you write a #SixforSunday post? What was your list of Ice Cream and Book Combinations?
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