tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40714407373056184102024-03-05T21:56:02.570-07:00Gabriella M ReadsA bookish blog.Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-18231638149284899422024-02-04T13:47:00.001-07:002024-02-04T13:47:24.686-07:00The Graveyard Book Review<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfYrS8b2TCNSr7DGy9UMkHK6fnbePcI6TE5fm4kOJgSqVmhgCOjouG4HQYkB8FasnKHG3qP8WDmJjja87magVyMACuHUshYxbWOUmWJv65s9STC2U8TPNCgiCUwIVWLoCZ3L0jXEOP7RuN9xUVRvLkwyYoOnxFHMZNg_p0CXp7Mr_eZZKAMAxe26euxjb/s1080/Snapchat-314975250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfYrS8b2TCNSr7DGy9UMkHK6fnbePcI6TE5fm4kOJgSqVmhgCOjouG4HQYkB8FasnKHG3qP8WDmJjja87magVyMACuHUshYxbWOUmWJv65s9STC2U8TPNCgiCUwIVWLoCZ3L0jXEOP7RuN9xUVRvLkwyYoOnxFHMZNg_p0CXp7Mr_eZZKAMAxe26euxjb/s320/Snapchat-314975250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman</b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"><b>3 Stars</b></span></div><p></p><p>This year I wanted to start off by changing up the vibes. Last year was a very smutty reading year and there isn't anything wrong with that, in fact, I love that. However, I snagged this book on my first vacation with my boyfriend at a local bookshop and the sentimentality is what really drove this choice. That and it was a short read.</p><p>I want to start by saying that this was in fact, a good book. I gave it three stars because I wasn't dying to know what happened next. With the length of this book, I should have been able to finish it the same day that I started it, but that just wasn't the case here. It took me a full week despite the fact that I wasn't really working and school had not started yet.</p><p>The idea of an orphaned child growing up in a graveyard, raised by the spirits of those buried there definitely intrigued me. I've also heard so many good things about Neil Gaiman's writing and I want to start reading more of his work.</p><p>The Graveyard Book is really well written and the concept is fascinating. The middle grade rating confuses me a little, but that could just be because it's not something I would have read at that age. Given that it's such a short novel, I can't say much without feeling like I am spoiling the plot for anyone.</p><p>Nobody "Bod" Owens is a peculiar little boy as anyone raised in a graveyard would be. He yearns to learn and adventure, but is confined to the graveyard for the most part in order to keep him safe. He isn't exactly aware of the threat that the spirits are afraid of, but listens anyways. They raised him from toddlerhood after all.</p><p>I think one of my favorite details is that Neil went through and talked about so many headstones and the spirits that they belong to. When a character is introduced we are told what their stone says and their birth/death year. These people range throughout so many different eras that it gives quite the character to each spirit in the graveyard.</p><p>If you need a quick read with a somewhat spooky vibe, I recommend this one. Don't be put off by my rating. I just really despise long chapters and if the plot isn't super gripping, then I will actually avoid committing to the next long chapter. Give Neil Gaiman a chance, I know I am. On to the next one.</p><p>Have you read this book? Or any other of his works? I'd love to know your thoughts. Happy Reading!</p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p><p><br /></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-34700210208908235462024-01-04T20:32:00.001-07:002024-01-05T19:26:05.375-07:00New Year, New Reads<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWzrB-MMDTugqwZHOcD3SpOe4XBjGXUfz3_D2p-pQaefdWhKsgNYpzvUUNY2P_gn2L26i5TRrjF3OQYduC25OeHx1oIQgEZDLgT44K2txiO6y3LprZf_W60oxKAjzYdTAI6X98TAAUXnYt5Q4_pagpwCsdT65wKkInqRUHJJLQI0Y8zqqYhMKLXgIlAHG/s2582/20240104_191448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2582" data-original-width="2582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWzrB-MMDTugqwZHOcD3SpOe4XBjGXUfz3_D2p-pQaefdWhKsgNYpzvUUNY2P_gn2L26i5TRrjF3OQYduC25OeHx1oIQgEZDLgT44K2txiO6y3LprZf_W60oxKAjzYdTAI6X98TAAUXnYt5Q4_pagpwCsdT65wKkInqRUHJJLQI0Y8zqqYhMKLXgIlAHG/s320/20240104_191448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">It's been a couple of years since I've been able to blog even a little bit. Are written blogs even in anymore? Oh well. It's a new year and time for a whole new reading adventure.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Overall Reading Plans</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">In 2024, I hope to simply read. The last few years I haven't read more than sixteen books in a year. Some years it was even as few as five. 2023 I found my spark again and finished a whopping sixty-two books. My goal for the coming year is a small one so I don't set myself up for failure, twenty-four.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">First Book of the Year</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">For my first read of the year I'm actually switching gears. 2023 was apparently the year of romance. For a change of pace, I'm starting with The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I've wanted to get into his books for a while and I snagged this one last week when my boyfriend and I were on vacation. We visited a cute local independent bookstore on our travels, a tradition we plan to uphold for coming adventures. If you're ever in Flagstaff, I recommend Bright Side Bookshop or you can order from them <a href="https://www.brightsidebookshop.com/" target="_blank">online</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">A Series I Want to Finish</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">In 2022, I started reading the Shadow & Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. I hope that 2024 is the year that I finish the third book, Ruin & Rising. I've been wanting to read Six of Crows for a very long time, but I'm determined to read things in order and so I must finish Ruin & Rising. I also want to finish the show despite it being canceled.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">A Book I've Had Forever</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">An entire series has been sitting on my shelf for years and I am hoping this is the year that I at least start to read it. Book one is The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. With the Percy Jackson television series coming out, I really want to continue on in this world. I think one of the major things that has held me back for so long is that I have the hardcover boxed set and hardcovers are just not my jam. I will read them from time to time when I don't have a choice, but I much prefer a soft paperback. Although, 2023 was the year I embraced the Kindle. So we will see.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">A Must</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">A book that I fully intend to read this year is With or Without You by Eric Smith. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this novel prior to publication last year, but due to school and general reading habits, it fell to the wayside. I've always loved Eric's writing and expect nothing less from his newest piece.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Most Anticipated Release</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">My most anticipated release of 2024 is coming mid-year in June. Hannah Grace has gotten some flack for her writing, but I'm just here to enjoy books. Daydream is the book in which we finally get to see Henry find someone to love, our sweet little Henry. I've been waiting for this since book one. You can bet I will be reading this one the second it's delivered to my doorstep.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Blogging Goals</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">As demonstrated the last handful of years, blogging isn't something I really keep up with. In fact, it partially contributed to reading feeling like a chore. My hope is that maybe I post four times this year. Set the bar really low and maybe I can achieve it. Maybe I'll be more consistent on my TikTok, but I want to try here.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I don't know how many of you have stuck around through this journey, but what are your reading goals this year? What book have you decided to start with and did you already finish it? I'd love to reconnect with my fellow bookworms. Happy Reading!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Xoxo,</p><p style="text-align: left;">Gabriella</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-3753735575021491672021-08-10T20:32:00.000-07:002021-08-10T20:32:19.596-07:00State of the Union Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbQFjx0OfsoCfLCPehTYBBnwFJucEAcBQRpia1hg3-ruCImNm6Gnro9vwzyMUUPQkH5qaslj0Sab7J4p12R6wvouZbZJQMZ8CK24ulKuslSYWgw3EVJXVgmzKGjiVTIECrjoB6mOSsAwe/s2048/20210810_191244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbQFjx0OfsoCfLCPehTYBBnwFJucEAcBQRpia1hg3-ruCImNm6Gnro9vwzyMUUPQkH5qaslj0Sab7J4p12R6wvouZbZJQMZ8CK24ulKuslSYWgw3EVJXVgmzKGjiVTIECrjoB6mOSsAwe/s320/20210810_191244.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b>State of the Union by Nick Hornby</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had actually never heard of this book prior to my purchasing it. Nor have I run into anyone who has read it. State of the Union actually caught my eye at my local Dollar Tree because of the neon design on the cover. I had not even read the synopsis before my decision was made. I also bought two more for two of my friends in the honors program with me. We all finished reading it within days of each other since we all started at different times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">State of the Union is about a couple who ventures into marriage counseling to try and mend their somewhat broken relationship. The book is split into ten parts, each taking place prior to their counseling appointment. I found this intriguing. I would have loved to see the actual appointments, but only seeing the couple prior to them wasn't as bad as I had assumed it was going to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being that the novel is only 132 pages, it was a very quick read and I looked forward to seeing how their relationship would fair. There is not much I can say without spoiling this little book, but it was worth the read and I have every intention of watching the television show to see how they compare.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also highly recommend stopping by your local Dollar Tree and just seeing what they have on the shelves. You never know what you may find and who knows, maybe you can buy multiple and read it with your friends! Have any of you read this book or seen the tv show? If so, I would definitely love to hear your thoughts! Happy reading y'all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Xoxo,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabriella</div><br /><p></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-71919911264653566072021-08-10T20:31:00.000-07:002021-08-10T20:31:02.512-07:00Beach Read Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jwtHJOKBUcCQVRNVZ0W2dnTykUR24f_mjYhG0jBrf6T_R6xsoV6JUUC_Br0DCN8pVzLiUxSSqKmLqvgAVpLdQqVu4yD1v2UYuc63E5fDE1nWPonnF7awodNV0E3MqJLydFmCTTPabZL7/s2048/20210809_165042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jwtHJOKBUcCQVRNVZ0W2dnTykUR24f_mjYhG0jBrf6T_R6xsoV6JUUC_Br0DCN8pVzLiUxSSqKmLqvgAVpLdQqVu4yD1v2UYuc63E5fDE1nWPonnF7awodNV0E3MqJLydFmCTTPabZL7/s320/20210809_165042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b>Beach Read by Emily Henry</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"><b>4.5 Stars</b></span></div><p></p><p>Beach Read was not a book that I ever intended on picking up. Unfortunately, I judged the book by it's cover and also its title. However, I saw a TikTok where someone went through the synopsis as if it were their life and I'll admit that I was intrigued. It also wound up being the perfect book for one of my assignments.</p><p>I tried to keep an open mind going into this one. Romance is indeed up my alley, but I would have to ignore my prior judgements. Our lead, January, has discovered family secrets after the passing of her father and is having a hard time coping. She goes to this beach town to pack up his life while also working on her next novel. Of course, there has to be an irritating next door neighbor who to her shock, she knows from college. His name is Gus, a fellow author, and she loathes him.</p><p>I am pretty sure everyone who has ever read a contemporary romance can see where this is going. An enemies to lovers trope is honestly one of my favorites so I was so in. As an added bonus the novel actually has quite a bit to do with the two of them writing their own novels and the process each of them goes through to do that. This is something that I really enjoyed as I hope to one day write a novel of my own. They even turned this into a competition because why not? The whole time I watched this romance from the edge of my seat and I was in constant uncertainty of who would win this bet. I loved the fact that my hopes were not just hinging on one thing, but two things.</p><p>Another great thing about Beach Read is the fact that Emily Henry included a lot of emotions regarding the death of January's father and all of the unanswered questions that he left behind. We see her going through many stages of grief and being stuck in a few of them as well. The only person that I have lost is my grandmother, but I could appreciate this. It must be so confusing to lose someone only to find out that there was so much that you didn't actually know about them.</p><p>In the end, I gave this one 4.5 stars since it was not perfect and at one point I did enter a slump where it took me a couple of weeks to pick it back up again. It was enjoyable and I was invested in the characters and their stories. Plus, I would not mind seeing where they are now and having a sequel to this one so that boosted my rating. I'm going to have to agree with my folk in the book world that this one is worth picking up if you enjoy romance. It isn't the lightest romance, but it is there. Have you read Beach Read or any of Emily Henry's other works? I would love to talk about it in the comments. Happy reading!</p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-10207954447759106422021-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:002021-05-13T06:00:00.195-07:00Stay at Home Book Tag<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9c4ae0; font-size: x-large;"><b>Stay at Home Book Tag</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"> Laying in Bed - A book that you could/have read in a day</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I can't actually remember the last time I was able to finish a book in a day due to work, school, and slumps. However, I can tell you the last book that I had a hard time having to put it down was A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas. That book made my heart sing and if you want to know more about my thoughts, I wrote a <a href="http://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-court-of-silver-flames-review.html" target="_blank">spoiler-free review</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Snacking - A guilty pleasure book</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I don't really have one specific book, but a serious guilty pleasure of mine is Christmas novels. If you've been here for a while, you know that Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday and time of year in general. There is nothing better than cuddling up with a good Christmas romance and some chocolate on a cold day.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Netflix - A series that you want to start</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I really want to start the Crescent City series by Sarah J Maas, but at the same time I know waiting for each one to get published is going to be absolute torture. I am not sure whether I will start it or wait it out until they are all published or not.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Deep Clean - A book that has been on your TBR for ages</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">So many books have been sitting on my poor TBR for years. I envy people who read everything that they buy almost immediately. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Animal Crossing - A book that you recently bought because of hype</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">This one is easy. I recently purchased and began reading Beach Read by Emily Henry. I probably would have bought it on my own eventually, but I kept hearing so many good things about it that I couldn't help it. If you want to know about a book that I probably would have written off, it's Hot British Boyfriend for the title. However, I devoured it and wound up rating it highly. Sometimes the hype is the push you need and you don't regret it. I recommend both of these novels and I haven't even finished Beach Read yet as it is finals week.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Productivity - A book that had an impact on you</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">A lot of books have really hit home for me. I guess I should go with the one that meant so much I got a quote tattooed on my arm, Four by Veronica Roth. Four is a character that I relate to and in this collection of short stories, we were able to get inside his mind. "Change, like healing, takes time." </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Facetime - A book you were gifted </span></p><p style="text-align: left;">One of my dearest friends bought me a copy of Circe for my birthday last year. I cannot wait to have a chance to really focus on it and savor each and every page. Greek mythology is something that I love very much.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">Self Care - What is one thing you that have done recently to look after yourself</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I am a strong believer in putting your mental health first. Recently one of my best friends and I made a little trip to Starbucks and my favorite gluten-free spot before heading up the mountain for a mental health day. The drive alone was wonderful, but the best part was relaxing in hammocks and just being in nature. I feel confident saying that it is something we both really needed and I look forward to next time.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;">BONUS - Name a book that is coming out soon</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">A book that comes out this year that I am really looking forward to is You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow. Kathleen is a wonderful writer and a wonderful person and I cannot wait to read her latest work.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This tag was a lot of fun. If you want to check out the original it was created by Madison Mary at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyir0th7HE4" target="_blank">Princess of Paperback</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's been a long time since I've done a book tag and I did enjoy this one so maybe I will have to do more. I hope y'all are staying safe out there. Happy reading!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Xoxo,</p><p style="text-align: left;">Gabriella</p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-68954008074101785692021-05-12T08:38:00.002-07:002021-05-12T08:49:06.918-07:00Something Different<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrcRKvlKsMfBzaPXU93hFtH0Aud47bnSzzN6bngwSLPNLuDsuDJ89rfiZ5O_Ukxhjg3mU4zmE7uE3Ciphtk5Wq7eUv1PUy1xHtCgTGZNcgSCG417cObrGFDRt54aIMoJE12MylB2jwodo/s2048/20210512_014254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrcRKvlKsMfBzaPXU93hFtH0Aud47bnSzzN6bngwSLPNLuDsuDJ89rfiZ5O_Ukxhjg3mU4zmE7uE3Ciphtk5Wq7eUv1PUy1xHtCgTGZNcgSCG417cObrGFDRt54aIMoJE12MylB2jwodo/s320/20210512_014254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Something I have really enjoyed lately is creating. I find that it is really good for my mental health during these rough times. That being said, I made a few bookmarks for myself and thought that maybe others would enjoy these too. Late last night I made a <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds44PqoVPQx_s5RJIzWqUYT3p3vvzwM60mX5guMkWfIloFhA/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank">google order form</a> for these in case anyone would like to purchase them. The form does include better pictures of the designs, I promise.<p></p><p>I am not an amazing artist, but I do try my best. Each one comes "handmade with love" stamped on the back. I think $3 is a fair asking price and I would really love your support. If you took the time to read this, I appreciate you. Happy reading!</p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-43947412703499335432021-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:002021-05-01T22:51:04.310-07:002021 Reading Plans Part Two<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhPgf4_7Ct4LRqNpoS89owIbFJYg8A5XX77kNq3RtNh5eb9X88B0TrWR90lnJAnvmQpDkKS72dsoryQzaxncTnnZMPcAtRSqCt6nKr4DcxbElMsBdcXazNO2_DPvqFGrD_DxfhXXxM3YO/s2048/20210428_120247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhPgf4_7Ct4LRqNpoS89owIbFJYg8A5XX77kNq3RtNh5eb9X88B0TrWR90lnJAnvmQpDkKS72dsoryQzaxncTnnZMPcAtRSqCt6nKr4DcxbElMsBdcXazNO2_DPvqFGrD_DxfhXXxM3YO/s320/20210428_120247.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't put much thought into my reading plans for the months of April, May, and June but I kind of like it that way. Being that April is almost over as I write this, I can say it has been a decent reading month and I can't wait to tell you all about it later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While going through some old papers, I found an Amazon gift card and was able to make a few purchases. I am not certain that these will be the books that I read in the next two months, but I am anxiously awaiting their arrival regardless. My gift card purchases include Home Body by Rupi Kaur, Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim, With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, Beach Read by Emily Henry, and Roommaid by Sariah Wilson. I also purchased Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston after hearing so many amazing things about it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm happy to say that I am in quite the reading mood and audiobooks have also been a really big help. Audiobooks have made it possible for me to read while I drive to all of my appointments. I am hoping to reread This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper this year. That book meant a lot to me at one point and it would be nice to experience it all over again and in a different format.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? I would love to hear your thoughts. If you haven't read any of these, what is on your TBR pile? Is there anything you think I should check out? Happy reading y'all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Xoxo,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gabriella </div><br /><p></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-29722224143148063272021-04-29T06:00:00.006-07:002021-05-01T22:49:52.834-07:002021 Part One Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4dpqDlNvxPeArNRvnzPGUpzH5Mq0aWUtVH_woGZ3i1esM-ctOrfBRzdGWzXtu2CHz9dTXObzNU8Uk7m_vNDG-7YSZPZu8pVabVmTcRz7JpdBs2uO18NPYuGNFWyXymwtk4_Emwxkotfi/s2048/IMG_20210416_202410_567.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4dpqDlNvxPeArNRvnzPGUpzH5Mq0aWUtVH_woGZ3i1esM-ctOrfBRzdGWzXtu2CHz9dTXObzNU8Uk7m_vNDG-7YSZPZu8pVabVmTcRz7JpdBs2uO18NPYuGNFWyXymwtk4_Emwxkotfi/s320/IMG_20210416_202410_567.jpg" /></a></div><p>My decision for 2021 was to split my reading plans into quarters and so far that plan is working. In the first three months of the year I have been able to finish six whole books! I am so proud of myself!</p><p>I started off the year with a book I already knew that I was going to love, Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. Needless to say I was not wrong. Reliving the book from Edward's point of view brought new life to a story that I have loved for so long. I would read the whole series from his point of view if I could.</p><p>I also read a short poetry book called 2 AM Thoughts which was as enjoyable as every poetry book that I have read. I mostly read poetry when I am looking for comfort and it typically works out as planned. However, The Messengers was not as great for me. I can see why people enjoy it for its social commentary, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.</p><p>Alas, the long awaited return of Sarah J Maas to the beautiful world that she created. A Court of Silver Flames was more than I could have dreamed! The character development alone is amazing, but the major focus on mental health has my heart. Not to mention all the added steam in this novel. A Court of Silver Flames is definitely an adult novel. If you want to know more of my thoughts, I wrote a <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-court-of-silver-flames-review.html" target="_blank">review</a>.</p><p>American Panda was something that I reached for that had been sitting on my shelves for a while. I wanted something new and it was calling to me. Gloria Chao writes with such passion. You can tell that the main character has a piece of her within. I finished up March with Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan. I was drawn to the fact that a major topic is addressed. Abortion is not something that gets talked about often, especially in young adult novels. I found that really refreshing. You can find a spoiler free review of Unpregnant <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2021/04/unpregnant-review.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>I am really looking forward to what the rest of this year is going to bring to my reading life. How are your reading plans going? What's the best book you've read in 2021 so far? I would love to hear about it. Happy reading!</p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p><p><br /></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-7253597938401377152021-04-28T06:00:00.008-07:002021-04-28T06:00:00.201-07:00Unpregnant Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIRFkKlqxMmMwgdEio0mCUFyvGx-81v9DlWajC2MLx_nXENszE61Uh5bRYbzvx2li-hlznqhDSjXdd1offynn2ZEgdJ7d7WAo6zMsxpEnUe9wBWVeEDvPdRnM_YcPFiS9PVd57iFgazuz/s2048/20210428_001533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIRFkKlqxMmMwgdEio0mCUFyvGx-81v9DlWajC2MLx_nXENszE61Uh5bRYbzvx2li-hlznqhDSjXdd1offynn2ZEgdJ7d7WAo6zMsxpEnUe9wBWVeEDvPdRnM_YcPFiS9PVd57iFgazuz/s320/20210428_001533.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b>Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">This book caught my eye when I was roaming the isles at my local Barnes & Noble while waiting for an appointment to start. How could I resist a young adult novel addressing such a controversial topic? Well the obvious answer is that I couldn't.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Veronica is a seventeen year-old, straight A student who finds herself pregnant. Unpregnant follows Veronica on her journey to procure an abortion. Her journey is filled with all kinds of hilarity and roadblocks that only prove her determination to secure the future that she has envisioned for herself.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I have seen a few negative reviews for this book simply based on the abortion factor and how having a baby does not ruin a girl's life. However, it does not try and hide the content that is within so I would shy away if that is upsetting to you. I will say Unpregnant is not a campaign about teen pregnancy ruining one's life.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I honestly really appreciated the read. Not everything goes right along the way and it isn't tinted with rose colored glasses. Deep down it is about a girl who is making a choice for her body and her future, but also about friendship. Despite not talking to each other for the majority of high school Veronica is accompanied by her childhood best friend and it is definitely awkward. But it goes to show that some friends will be there no matter what.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I highly recommend reading Unpregnant. I feel like it is important to highlight other choices as much as the more accepted ones are. Has anyone else read this one? I would love to hear your thoughts. Happy reading.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Xoxo,</p><p style="text-align: left;">Gabriella</p></div>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-62735085171111843692021-02-27T03:00:00.000-07:002021-02-27T03:00:02.417-07:00A Court of Silver Flames Review<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOlAAPHl_VANFmIb6UsmgV5b-b_CVxa4yVahoATTimMeCvtHZLg4VRW4wmqQufNcMP8bqNFqQzE3Pd_7SOucFm080k5vISNw2ut_DDgvl0fC0MxuxMM8z3zYOGgcG7y1ntC-J-0DG1uMu/s2048/IMG_20210217_194939_302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOlAAPHl_VANFmIb6UsmgV5b-b_CVxa4yVahoATTimMeCvtHZLg4VRW4wmqQufNcMP8bqNFqQzE3Pd_7SOucFm080k5vISNw2ut_DDgvl0fC0MxuxMM8z3zYOGgcG7y1ntC-J-0DG1uMu/s320/IMG_20210217_194939_302.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></p><p>I'm normally not one to review anything in a series beyond the first book because of my inability to express my thoughts without spoilers. Technically this is the first book in a new trilogy, but because it builds off of the original story within A Court of Thorns and Roses I might be vague.</p><p>I have waited so long for this book to be released into the world. I am completely into this world that Sarah has built and this book did not disappoint at all. If anything it actually went beyond my expectations.</p><p>A Court of Silver Flames follows Nesta's journey and the fact that it is a journey of mental health is actually something that means a lot to me personally. The book opens with our main character at her low, she could probably go lower, but it is definitely a time where you can tell she wants to be numb and is using whatever she can to achieve that. This book takes place over about year and is packed with so much content in the best way. Even the filler scenes contribute to the overall story and I would not give up a single page.</p><p>This is a character who has pretty bad Post Traumatic Stress and we see that the journey to dealing with it and healing is not linear. It is full of ups and downs and sometimes quitting seems easier. Cassian is a great support system in that he doesn't really give his own feelings up, instead he is whatever Nesta needs. A friend, a trainer, a metaphorical punching bag et cetera. His chapters were a great contribution. Being in Cassian's mind and seeing the world from his eyes was enlightening. A lot of people look up to him and some look down on him and sometimes that gets to him. No one is perfect and outside pressures can invade the psyche.</p><p>However, one of the best things about this book was the relationships it built. A strong group of females who lean on one another and help each other. I love that it was such a big part of the story. These women learned to handle themselves and face their fears no matter how big or small those fears seemed to be. It was absolutely beautiful.</p><p>Now a quick word smut. This is one thousand percent an adult book and it was delicious. These scenes were detailed and graphic and achingly juicy. More than I had hoped for a Sarah J Maas book. I want more.</p><p>The wait for the next installment may just kill me. I already want to reread this one and I finished it the day before I began writing this. If you have been here a while, then you know I am not the biggest rereader so that says something. If you are a fan of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, this is something you need. If you haven't read any of the books and are somewhat interested, then this is your sign to just do it. ACOFS was a five star read and I am officially adding it to my favorites list.</p><p>Have you read any of this series? Did you devour A Court of Silver Flames the way that I did? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear in the comments. Happy reading y'all!</p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /><br /></b></p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-759613924221775632021-02-14T06:00:00.001-07:002021-02-14T06:00:09.665-07:00A Poem<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbXT9jKCYO5lbCu9WKwZEsZ4HmyG2PYCPLJLShb4ErDkPjm8sP7w8kuqtJVnnUtDmfIZ0d5kY1eTfxje5ZhXYLX7cfwPNwFC7KQ9fxyBHFtF5Ebes5GYhb3ZOvumYIg_PpBpPmXAv5-T3/s704/BookPoem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="703" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbXT9jKCYO5lbCu9WKwZEsZ4HmyG2PYCPLJLShb4ErDkPjm8sP7w8kuqtJVnnUtDmfIZ0d5kY1eTfxje5ZhXYLX7cfwPNwFC7KQ9fxyBHFtF5Ebes5GYhb3ZOvumYIg_PpBpPmXAv5-T3/s320/BookPoem.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A serpent's kiss, a frozen heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bewitching, wicked, perfect, beastly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ask me how I got here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What happens now?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just a little book title poetry. I hope you enjoyed something a little different. Feel free to share your own book title poem in the comments. I would love to hear them!<p></p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-36807480654466015232021-02-12T06:00:00.003-07:002021-02-12T06:00:00.511-07:002021 Reading Plans Part One<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uKqUBqH9qIrqmzy4OiN9MNSGGTnfVkQhNlCRLkKTizivInGxHhxG-fn4ZB53wjT_EE7tZBb1qJOJbqqVAsorZ0gA970cT-5GCQsUs1pzWw6tgDrW21oHgkv03nGkdk7mERkjtHZ_U-Ok/s2048/20210210_224027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uKqUBqH9qIrqmzy4OiN9MNSGGTnfVkQhNlCRLkKTizivInGxHhxG-fn4ZB53wjT_EE7tZBb1qJOJbqqVAsorZ0gA970cT-5GCQsUs1pzWw6tgDrW21oHgkv03nGkdk7mERkjtHZ_U-Ok/s320/20210210_224027.jpg" /></a></div><br />This year I am going to be splitting my TBR into quarters. I think giving myself three months for each TBR pile is best for my success.<p></p><p>Since January has already finished, I don't have to worry about it. During round one of the <a href="https://twitter.com/readam0ngus" target="_blank">Among Us Readathon</a> I read three books. I was able to finish my read of Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer and I would be willing to read that entire series over again from Edward's point of view. I was full of nostalgia. I haven't really been able to read much, but I had the pleasure of someone reading my next one to me, 2 AM Thoughts was a nice little book of poetry. I really enjoyed it. Lastly, I listened to the audible original, The Messengers. I'm really iffy on that one. I can't tell if I liked it or not. It was just meh for me.</p><p>As for my reading plans going forward, I am open to a ton of possibilities. I have a ton of audiobooks to choose from, but I think my top pick would be The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. I am anxious to continue the Outlander series. The television show has me absolutely hooked and I must know what happens going forward so I am trying to catch up. I might also consider listening to Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley, and One Way or Another by Kara McDowell.</p><p>I am excited to see where this year takes my reading. What books are you excited for this year? Do you have any recommendations for me? Feel free to leave a comment. Happy Reading!</p><p>Xoxo,</p><p>Gabriella</p>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-31439370159688733312021-02-11T10:00:00.002-07:002021-02-11T10:00:26.791-07:00March 2020 Wrap-Up<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x2KOltQGGmzs1tb1F8BL34J3UyUs6jcy99-oyjGwq9jUm4zZymBpQXeIQlijIa1Zo0UDKxRGVYXYWnBDgaZPSYcM4pumzKeo1tNGS7XM4G9NoaHHDoOBxJbWM7sVxTuCjVoOCQu-WlCq/s2048/IMG_20200912_111956_103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x2KOltQGGmzs1tb1F8BL34J3UyUs6jcy99-oyjGwq9jUm4zZymBpQXeIQlijIa1Zo0UDKxRGVYXYWnBDgaZPSYcM4pumzKeo1tNGS7XM4G9NoaHHDoOBxJbWM7sVxTuCjVoOCQu-WlCq/s320/IMG_20200912_111956_103.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This post is almost a year overdue. I never realized that I didn't post it. So if you're here reading it despite how late it is, thank you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wow, what a month March has been. Is anyone going a little stir crazy being inside? I'm still working, both from home and also on campus, so I have plenty to keep my mind busy. I am here to talk if anyone needs it. Now let's get to the wrap-up. I was able to finish four books last month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I started my month with two picture books that were written by Jonathan Stutzman. Llama Destroys the World, illustrated by Heather Fox, was definitely a cute read. I actually find it quite fitting for the current situation, especially the ending. Llamas may not be my favorite animal, but I recommend this one for anyone looking for a smile. Next came Tiny the T-Rex and the Very Dark Dark, illustrated by Jay Fleck. I was excited for this one since I really enjoyed the first book, Tiny the T-Rex and the Impossible Hug. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. The follow up was absolutely adorable and the illustrations were cute as ever. I am so happy to have both of these books in my collection and I cannot wait for more of Stutzman's stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At some point I began drowning in schoolwork and was looking for a distraction. I decided to pick up one of the books given to me by my #TBSecretSanta, Leticia. The one I chose was We Are Okay by Nina LaCour. For the first time in a long time I flew through the pages of a book. I could not put it down. We Are Okay had the perfect somber mood that I was looking for. I just wanted to know what happened to this girl to make her run off to college and not even look back. I appreciated how the author jumped between present and past to reveal clues at the right times. I will admit that flashbacks are my favorite in books. This novel was everything I needed the night that I decided to pick it up. I was left in tears. I highly recommend giving this book a shot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The last book that I finished in March was Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. If you were ere for my February wrap-up, then you'll know this was my first audiobook. In the past I have always said that audiobooks were not my thing and they never held my attention, but that was clearly not the case here. The narrator, Davina Porter, did a wonderful job. Her voice had me completely entranced every step of the way. </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">This series is one that I am falling completely in love with and I have already downloaded the next book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">How did your reading go in March? Do you have any short books to recommend me or your favorite audiobooks? I would love to hear about what you have been reading. Let's chat in the comments.</span>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-24280044083291072322020-03-09T06:00:00.000-07:002020-03-09T06:00:09.616-07:00February Wrap-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">February Reading</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is to no surprise that I did not finish any books in February outside of my reading for school. However, I surprised even myself by starting to listen to my very first audiobook. Yes, you read that right. I am reading, or listening to, my very first audiobook! I am very excited about this and I am breezing through compared to my current reading speed lately. I am on track to finish it this month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, what book is it? I am listening to Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. For the very few of you who may not be familiar, it is the second book within the Outlander series. I got really amped up for season five of the show and therefore decided it was time to read the book. Because I am having such a hard time right now with reading, I thought I would give an audiobook a shot and it is really helping me. I listen when I am driving, eating my lunch, cooking, and sometimes doing my homework. I am actually listening to it right now! I have just under nineteen hours left of my listening and have already downloaded Voyager, book three.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wasn't going to write a reading wrap-up for February as I did not finish any books, but I simply could not ignore this personal growth. For the longest time I claimed that I was not one for listening to my books. I had to have something to hold in my hands and physically read the words. Twenty-twenty is the year for me. I can feel it. I just know I will finish my reading goal and be proud, no matter how low it is. Are audiobooks your thing? Do you have any recommendations for me? I am definitely open to continuing on this path. Happy reading or listening!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Xoxo,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gabriella</span></div>
Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-90195262180155091052020-01-04T06:00:00.000-07:002020-01-04T06:00:00.455-07:00Reading in 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hello Twenty-Twenty!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Normally my first post of the year is my reading wrap up of the previous year as a whole. However, this go around that would just be a huge waste of time. In 2019 I only managed to finish seven books; eight, if you consider the book I read that had a second book within. I chose not to read that second book so I did not mark the whole thing as read on my Goodreads account. Therefore, my survey would be either very empty or heavily repetitive. The wise choice is to just skip it altogether. I was very disappointed in my reading last year. Seven books is just a shame compared to my previous reading years. So, in twenty-twenty my goal is to simply read one book a month. Twelve is more than last year while also staying incredibly safe. There are many reasons for my lack of reading, but a major player is college which I will be continuing this year. Wish me luck in both areas of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My first book of the year is one I started last year and I am seriously loving it so far. It also happens to be the first book that I am reading on the Kindle that I gifted myself on Black Friday. Abigail Johnson is one of my favorite authors and also just the sweetest human. I am lucky enough to have obtained a digital ARC of her latest novel, Every Other Weekend. I fully intend for this to be the first novel that I finish in the new year, new decade. I also plan to finally start my copy of Saga. The graphic novel series has been heavily recommended to me for about two years now and I feel like I have owned my copy for just as long so that is a priority as well. I also have ARCs from Eric Smith and Paula Stokes that need my attention. Other than those four selections, I am going into the year completely unplanned. Whatever grabs me, will grab me. I want to keep my expectations low, so maybe I will actually succeed. What are your reading plans this year? Have you already finished your first book? Let's talk about it. Happy reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gabriella</span></div>
Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-52908505515366247382019-12-23T06:00:00.000-07:002019-12-23T06:00:06.859-07:00Trying Something New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Broke and The Bookish Secret Santa</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyone who knows me knows that Christmas time is my absolute favorite time of year and yes, for me it starts before Thanksgiving. For years I've been watching people doing gift swaps on Twitter, but never really knew when or how to sign up. This year I actually found out and was able to participate in a Secret Santa swap! Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtsyReaderGirl" target="_blank">Jana</a> for keeping it alive solo this year! I signed up a couple days before the deadline and waited super impatiently for my match.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I can now reveal that I was <a href="https://twitter.com/trippingbooks" target="_blank">Amy's</a> Santa and the presents seen above are the ones that I sent to her. I had the best time shopping for my Santee and I cannot wait to do it all over again next year. In the end I think I spent more than I planned and I learned a huge lesson on shipping things. If you have a large box, go to UPS because you will probably end up paying the $80 that I paid at USPS otherwise. I plan to take the advice of fellow Santa's and use Priority shipping and break it up into two boxes if need be. I did not plan for how much I actually spent. Luckily the whole experience was worth it and my Santee loved her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6JbJPNgiuf/" target="_blank">gifts</a>! </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One thing I had the best time doing was answering questions in the TBTBSanta hashtag on twitter. I loved interacting with everyone and getting ideas from other people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My Santa seriously nailed my Christmas gifts and I am floored. WOW. All of my new ornaments are now hung on my little tree and the candy is definitely in my belly. I am so incredibly thankful. </span><a href="https://twitter.com/osoordinary" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Leticia</a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> managed to track down the exact Christmas sweater that I had posted about! I am in the middle of exchanging sizes, but I absolutely cannot wait to wear it and take an obnoxious amount of pictures. She even gifted Vader a toy! He carries it around everywhere even though he already ripped out all of the stuffing. I'm hoping to read at least one of my new books before the new year. The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand is a definite contender, but we'll see. Secret Santa has given me a new friend and I'm excited to remain in touch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you've never heard of The Broke and The Bookish Secret Santa, I hope you will look into it and maybe sign up next year. Who knows, maybe I will be your Santa in the future. It has been an amazing experience and I am so sad that it is over now. One year to go until the fun begins all over again. Have you done an online gift swap before? Happy holidays and happy reading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Xoxo,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gabriella</span></div>
Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-81762562595420938792019-11-15T06:00:00.000-07:002019-11-15T06:00:01.269-07:00Twelve Days of Christmas Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that the Thanksgiving/Christmas debate weighs heavy on some people. I'm all for giving thanks and all that, but it shouldn't be only on one day. Thanksgiving food is not my favorite and my family drives me nuts so I'm already in Christmas mode. I saw this book on Amazon for about five dollars and it sounded cute as hell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What isn't appealing about a blogger performing acts of kindness around Christmas time? Debbie certainly was able to put me in a festive mood. This Christmas romance is short, sweet, and just the right amount of cheesy. I loved reading as these two went from annoying one another to loving each other. Julia and Cain are just the sweetest and I was rooting for them from the start. Luckily, the romance does not disappoint. I also appreciate that there is a super cute dog in the book even if he isn't a huge focal point. It was a completely heartwarming experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Debbie Macomber opened me up to Christmas romance novels and after I finished, I went and bought two more. One of which is also written by her. How do you feel about Holiday romances? If you enjoy them, what are your favorites? Let me know in the comments. Happy Reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gabriella</span></div>
Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-89919997462212680982019-11-10T09:54:00.001-07:002019-11-10T09:54:48.017-07:00Outlander Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outlander by Diana Gabaldon</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I finally finished a book! I'm so glad that it was this one. If you weren't here for one of my more recent posts, I recently decided to give the television show Outlander a try. I have always said that it wasn't my thing and that I wouldn't enjoy it at all. Oh boy was I wrong. After racing through the show, I needed more. I'm going to keep this short and super simple because I finished reading this a few months ago and have lost the details in my brain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Diana Gabaldon just has a way of sucking you into her story and keeping you there. I was already so in love with her characters and I knew what was going to happen, but I still could not put this one down! I get that it has some issues. However, I feel like these issues are more of a time period problem. I won't go any further than that. I was so invested in the relationships that Diana created. Not just the romantic ones; the friendships were so fun to read about. The way that family is placed in such high regard is heartwarming. Even when it means there will be bloodshed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Despite my dislike for historical fiction, I plan to continue on with this series. I know I'm super late to the party so have any of you also not read it yet? Do you plan to read it? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gabriella</span><br />
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Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-30202223666018181262019-08-19T06:18:00.001-07:002019-08-19T06:18:41.106-07:0025 Facts About Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>25 Facts About Me</b></span></div>
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Today is the day that I turn 25. I still don't feel like that is my age, but here I am. In honor of such an occasion I decided to share just as many facts about myself. Some of them will be bookish, some of them will just be about me. That way we can get to know each other better.<br />
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One: I am days away from my second semester at my local community college. It's never too late to go to school.<br />
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Two: My main love, other than books, is my dog. His name is Vader James. I have not forgotten my other dog, we miss him every day and his ashes are on my bookshelf.<br />
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Three: I work in as a special needs paraprofessional in a preschool.<br />
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Four: I waited until I was almost 23 to get my license. Some people need to take their time and that is okay.<br />
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Five: I am Hispanic, but I do not speak Spanish.<br />
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Six: I am a woman who has suffered a miscarriage and I feel that pain in my heart every second of every day.<br />
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Seven: I could watch The Mummy all day long and never tire of it.<br />
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Eight: I will always be able to reread Twilight despite my attitude towards rereading books.<br />
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Nine: I prefer books with short chapters. I somehow finish the books faster.<br />
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Ten: I still do not use my library, but I plan to. Hopefully I'll make my way into town soon.<br />
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Eleven: I prefer to read while the television is on. I need some sort of background noise or I struggle to focus.<br />
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Twelve: I fidget, a lot. Unless a book has my absolute attention I will check my phone every page or so.<br />
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Thirteen: I have yet to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.<br />
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Fourteen: My favorite gift to receive is a good book. However, unless you know every book I own, I am very hard to shop for.<br />
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Fifteen: I love bookmarks. Some of them are so cute that I refuse to use them. Which is not even practical.<br />
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Sixteen: I love to drink a nice nonfat chai latte when I read. They taste like Christmas!<br />
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Seventeen: Speaking of, Christmas is my absolute favorite. I even symbolically adopted an elephant for my work Secret Santa one year.<br />
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Eighteen: I dream of one day writing a book or even inspiring one.<br />
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Nineteen: I recently bought my first Book Beau and I never leave without it. Why didn't y'all make me get one sooner?!<br />
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Twenty: I will never read The Hunger Games. I recently accepted this fact and gifted my copy to a little free library near me.<br />
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Twenty-One: My bookshelves don't have any specific organization. My only rule is that all of an author's books have to be together even if they're not part of a series.<br />
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Twenty-Two: I will try to read just about anything I'm given, but I will not purchase books outside of my comfort zone without previewing it.<br />
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Twenty-Three: I still despise hardcovers. A fact I don't think I will get over. They're big and hard to hold comfortably and so pricey! Paperbacks for the win.<br />
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Twenty-Four: I have major love for Paula Stokes and several Arizona authors including Abigail Johnson, Stephanie Elliot, Kelly deVos, and Kathleen Glasgow. These ladies are wonderful humans.<br />
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Twenty-Five: I love blogging and, while I may not be the most consistent, I have no plans to stop.<br />
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Thank you for sticking through until the end. I would like to know something about you as well. Do we have something in common? Which fact surprised you? Chat with me in the comments. Happy Reading!<br />
Xoxo,<br />
GabriellaGabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-27326462594313202122019-08-17T13:11:00.000-07:002019-08-17T13:11:28.105-07:00Summer Reading Wrap-up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Summer Reading Wrap-Up</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I bet you all know what I'm about to say. I failed at my Summer tbr. Big shocker there. However, I have been reading. Hopefully in a few days I'll be able to post a review. I haven't done one in forever! I'm actually quite excited. I had planned to read The Cheerleaders and The Woman in the Window over the Summer, but my slump prevailed and I put them both down for the time being. At this point I had absolutely given up on finding something to pull me out of what I would call a severe slump. It was completely on accident that I am actually reading now. What happened? Well, I was browsing Netflix for something new to try. I always said I wasn't interested in Outlander and that it wasn't my type of show. I hate historical fiction and I know this is more than that, but still it does have that historical element. I've never had access to the show anyway until they put it on Netflix. Needless to say I was very surprised when I couldn't stop watching. I purchased a Starz account to continue on to seasons 3 and 4 and finished it all within two weeks. That's when I made the decision to order the first book. I obviously wouldn't be writing this post if I had just started reading. At this exact moment I am on page 499 out of 627. The end is in sight and I am so sure I am going to finish that I even bought book two. Keep your eye on the blog for a review soon. As for an August tbr, the only thing on it will be Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. I'll keep y'all updated. What are you currently reading? Tell me in the comments. Happy reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gabriella</span>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-30180507928476535952019-06-05T06:00:00.000-07:002019-06-05T06:00:06.978-07:00Tucson Festival of Books 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year I went to the Tucson Festival of Books yet again and I did it mostly solo. My friend Gwen joined me for part of day one, but like I said mostly a solo adventure. I met lots of great authors and was able to get most, if not all, of books signed. I think one of the greatest memories is of Gwen and I having Scott Magoon draw us a shark fighting a velociraptor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gwen and I also got to meet the incredibly kind and funny Jonathan Stutzman. We joked around and talked about work before finally taking a picture together with Tiny the T-rex. I need to get myself a copy of his new book, Llama Destroys the World.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The days were long and I got a bit of a sunburn, but I also had the pleasure of attending half of a Star Wars panel. I say half because I was that poor girl coughing up a storm in the front row and I kindly excused myself so that everyone else could enjoy the discussion. It was fun all the same and I got to see all of the authors afterwards and get my books signed. Adam Rex drew me a little Darth Vader and it made my day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't wait to go again next year. It's one of the bigger things that I look forward to every single year and I would not miss it for the world. Do you have any local book events that you go to? Do you travel for bigger book events? Let's discuss in the comments. Happy Reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gabriella</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-73486742987389297202019-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:002019-05-31T06:00:14.416-07:00Summer Reading Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Summer Reading</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Being that I haven't really been able to finish a book since January, I'm planning on keeping my upcoming TBRs very light. Or I at least won't get my hopes up/pressure myself to complete it. That being said, I've been working on reading The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas. I' about 100 pages in, but I have been for a while now. I also recently purchased The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn and started reading it too. I believe I have managed to get somewhere around 50 pages in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With any luck I will be able to finish both of the books mentioned above. However, I have a copy of Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith headed my way and I'm dying to dive in. The Chase by Elle Kennedy also have my attention. I absolutely loved her Off-Campus series so I have high hopes for this Briar U spin-off series. Fingers crossed that it does not disappoint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't think I will necessarily get to all of these books or if other books will grab my attention, but for now this is what I hope to accomplish for the Summer of 2019. What books are you currently reading or planning to read soon? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments. Happy Reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gabriella</span>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-24910956731887162082019-05-27T06:00:00.000-07:002019-05-27T06:00:04.630-07:00Interview with Kate Hart<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>About the Book</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Seventeen-year-old Raychel is sleeping with two boys: her overachieving best friend Matt…and his slacker brother, Andrew. Raychel sneaks into Matt’s bed after nightmares, but nothing ever happens. He doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a girl, except when he decides she needs rescuing. But Raychel doesn't want to be his girl anyway. She just needs his support as she deals with the classmate who assaulted her, the constant threat of her family’s eviction, and the dream of college slipping quickly out of reach. Matt tries to help, but he doesn’t really get it… and he’d never understand why she’s fallen into a secret relationship with his brother. The friendships are a precarious balance, and when tragedy strikes, everything falls apart. Raychel has to decide which pieces she can pick up – and which ones are worth putting back together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22847526-after-the-fall?from_search=true" target="_blank">Add it on Goodreads</a>!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/after-the-fall-kate-hart/1123426281?ean=9781250144218" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-Fall-Kate-Hart-ebook/dp/B01HW6UKTK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KYQ3FJTXTDYQ&keywords=kate+hart&qid=1558912944&s=gateway&sprefix=kate+hart%2Caps%2C250&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/After-Fall-Kate-Hart/9781250144218?ref=grid-view&qid=1558912972948&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> | <a href="https://bookoutlet.com/Store/Details/9781250144218B/after-the-fall" target="_blank">Book Outlet</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Interview</b></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5ac6b709-7fff-8466-02e5-4da652772cd8"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What inspired you to write this specific story?</b></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-a1069dfd-7fff-d937-e7fe-37915bdfa21a"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My first attempt at a book was a far-too-</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twilight</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-inspired paranormal, and agents rightly shot it down but encouraged me to keep trying. The problem was that I had no idea what else to write, so I literally made an “I want” list, which ended up being “I want to write about hiking, the Ozarks, being ‘one of the boys,’” etc. That led to a rock climbing scene, which is still the first first scene in </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the Fall</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and the story developed on its own from there. It wasn’t until I finished the story that I started to think about what I actually want to say with it, and many, many drafts to actually achieve it.</span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What made you want to take on so many of the tougher topics in one go? How do you think these all relate to one another within the story?</b><br />It wasn’t really a conscious decision, at least until I had to defend it editorially. It’s a choice a lot of reviews have criticized, but the fact is that teenagers, like adults, are dealing with all of these issues all the time. Real life doesn’t just hand you assault and say, “Here, see if you can get over this, then we’ll tackle class, and maybe racism when you’re up to it.” Whether I dealt with it effectively is totally up to the reader, but real life is messy, and making the characters’ lives anything else felt artificial. <br /><br /><b>Several people are very standoffish about sex in young adult literature, consensual and not, did you ever have a fear that Raychel’s sexual history would be judged harshly?</b><br />It wasn’t a fear so much as an expectation, because I’d already seen it from editors when the book was on submission. Several houses cited concern about Raychel’s “problematic” sexuality, and even some I worked with were disturbed that she continues to claim her own sexual agency after an assault. Those criticisms were difficult to deal with early on, because a lot of Raychel’s response to assault is informed by my own experiences, but the upside was that by the time the book reached readers, I’d developed a fairly thick skin about it.<br /><br /><b>Is there anything you wished you could have added to Raychel’s story or changed in the slightest?</b><br />In earlier versions, Raychel’s mom was a bigger mess and had less of a redemption arc, and making her more likable was sort of a bargain in order to keep other elements that were more important to me. But I still like the original version, where Raychel was forced to rely more fully on herself to survive.<br /><br /><b>This being your debut, is there any one thing a reader said upon reading it that made your heart absolutely swell with joy?</b><br />I’m not sure joy is the right word, but when fellow assault victims who couldn’t pursue justice tell me that they feel seen by this narrative, it makes me feel like the book was worth writing.<br /><br /><b>Can you describe your ideal writing environment and or any tips for new writers?</b><br />My ideal writing environment is basically anywhere that I can be alone. I’m the kind of person who hates to stop once I get started on any kind of project, so I work best when I can have a chunk of uninterrupted time. It’s easier to stop and start if I’m editing, but for drafting, I need long stretches to focus.<br /><br />As for tips, I always suggest that authors start making connections as soon as they start writing. I don’t mean networking, though it certainly doesn’t hurt, but start making actual writer friends as soon as possible. My family couldn’t be more supportive, but only colleagues can really understand the challenges of writing and publishing. <br /><br /><b>Lastly, are you currently working on anything new and is there anything you can share with us?</b><br />I’m working on two manuscripts, one YA and one adult, but they’ve been slow going due to some health issues that are finally starting to improve. However, last year I had a short story called “The Well Witch” in the anthology Toil and Trouble, and an essay called “Wings and Teeth” in Hope Nation. This month, I polished up my contributions to two 2020 anthologies: “A Road of One’s Own,” about an all-girl road trip, will be in All Out Now, and “Cry Like a Girl,” an essay about those aforementioned health problems, will be in Body Talk. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to thank <a href="https://twitter.com/Kate_Hart" target="_blank">Kate Hart</a> for allowing me to interview her about After The Fall. I've got my copy and I hope you'll grab one too! Have you read After the Fall? What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments below. Happy Reading!<br />Xoxo,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gabriella</span></div>
Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-68208666390989640952019-05-26T16:08:00.000-07:002019-05-26T18:03:25.561-07:00Life Update & The Return<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So if you follow me on any social media then you know the beginning of 2019 was rough for me. The day after Christmas my beloved pup was diagnosed with lymphoma. I spent the majority of my time by his side after I found out. He made it to his 9th birthday in February before we finally had to say goodbye at the end of March. It destroyed me. During all of that time I was actually able to read only one book and I finished said book in January. My heart hurt so much that I couldn't enjoy things that I loved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm happy to say that my heart is healing and I'm ready to start trying to blog again. A little guy came into my life by complete surprise and I truly believe my Mañana sent him my way when I needed him most. His name is Vader James and he's a handful, but he gives me such love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So here I am. I'm taking baby steps and trying to blog once again. I might do a brief post about the Tucson Festival of Books from March, a summer reading list, a giveaway, and I have an interview coming that is long over due. My hope is you'll stick with me while I try and navigate my new normal. That being the fact that on Tuesday I start at my local community college and I have to balance work as well. So my posts will probably be scarce as they have been for the past year or so, but I'm hoping they'll be of decent quality so it won't matter. Cheers to new beginnings. Happy reading y'all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gabriella</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071440737305618410.post-79129036407715711872019-01-01T13:35:00.000-07:002019-05-26T17:16:49.229-07:002018 Reading Survey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2018 came and went faster than I thought possible. I read a decent amount. I grew as a person and I began to prepare myself for the loss I will face in 2019 (my dog has lymphoma). While I wish I could pause time for us, I'm ready for 2019. I'm cherishing our moments and charging ahead. Enough sad, let's talk about books. As always a thank you to <a href="https://twitter.com/brokeandbookish" target="_blank">Jamie</a> from <a href="http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/" target="_blank">The Perpetual Page-Turner</a> for putting this together.</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>2018 Reading Stats</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Number Of Books You Read: <span style="font-weight: 400;">67</span><br />Number of Re-Reads: <span style="font-weight: 400;">4</span><br />Genre You Read The Most From: <span style="font-weight: normal;">I think I kept it mixed up this year, maybe.</span></span></h3>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">1. Best Book You Read In 2018? </span></strong><b style="color: #666666; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2018 release vs. backlist)</b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I would have to say You by Caroline Kepnes. I read a lot of great books, but this one put me in a massive book hangover. I can't believe it took me so long to buy a copy and read it. Just wow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?</b><br />Probably I Hope This Reaches Her Too by R.H. Sin. I still enjoyed it, but not as much as his other works. I gave it 3 stars which is relatively low for me.<br /><br /><b>3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M McManus. I was a good kind of surprised by this one and I can't quite put my finger on why.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?</b><br />I think my most "pushed" book this year was Little Monsters by Kara Thomas. I actually got two people to read it and they both enjoyed it. Definitely made me smile.<br /><br /><b>5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?</b><br />Well, just like last year, I didn't really read any series. My first book of the year was a series starter that I rather enjoyed. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson was just something I couldn't put down. I hope the thrill continues in book 2. My only other series this year was a reread of the entire Twilight saga and I still love it. I was filled with nostalgia for the books that brought me back into reading 10 years ago.<br /><br /><b>6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?</b><br />Kelly deVos. Not only is she such a kind human, but she wrote a great book. I loved the blogger aspect as well as the jumps between past and present. Definitely pick up Fat Girl on a Plane.<br /><br /><b>7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?</b><br />If you've been here for a while, then you know that I don't often read non-fiction novels. This year I read Adrift: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea by Tami Oldham Ashcraft. I saw the trailer for the movie with Shailene Woodley and I was pretty determined to read the book first. I wanted to know what was fact and what was for dramatic effect. Let me tell you, they match pretty well. I highly recommend both the book and the movie.<br /><br /><b>8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?</b><br />I don't like to repeat myself so I'm going to go with The Lost World by Michael Crichton. I'm so sad that he's not around to continue these books if he even wanted to. I just want to live the magic of dinosaurs longer.<br /><br /><b>9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?</b><br />I would reread most of these, but if I had to pick one that wasn't already a reread then I would choose either A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sara J Maas or Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. These are books that made me smile and I would love to relive that feeling.<br /><br /><b>10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?</b><br />The Dark Between Stars by Atticus. I bought this on a whim yesterday at Target using a gift card I got for Christmas and proceeded to sit at Desert Toyota reading it from start to finish.<br /><br /><b>11. Most memorable character of 2018?</b><br />Gert from I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young. I don't really feel the need to elaborate on that one. It's just Gert, for sure.<br /><br /><b>12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?</b><br />The Last Time I'll Write About You by Dawn Lanuza.<br /><br /><b>13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?</b><br />I don't believe I have an answer for this.<br /><br /><b>14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? </b><br />Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. She's an amazing writer and I need to read more of her work.<br /><br /><b>15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?</b></span></div>
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Notice of Eviction from page 93 of The Last Time I'll Write About You by Dawn Lanuza. I'm sure there is one I love more, but this one sticks out as this past few months a weight has been lifted off of my heart.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br />16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?</b><br />According to my Goodreads Year in Books my shortest book is An Adventure Awaits by Kathleen Geiger with 20 pages. My longest book without a doubt was Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer with 756 pages. I don't know if the page counts are accurate because I know sometimes they're a little off, but I think these are still my shortest and longest books anyway.<br /><br /><b>17. Book That Shocked You The Most? </b><b>(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)</b><br />You by Caroline Kepnes and the book hangover was real.<br /><br /><b>18. OTP OF THE YEAR? (you will go down with this ship!) </b><b>(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simon and Blue.<br /><br /><b>19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?</b><br />Luke and Grizzy from Me, My Dog, and a Sheep by Melissa Mullamphy. It's a love between a boy and his dog and it is beautiful.<br /><br /><b>20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?</b><br />I actually read a lot of books by new authors this year so I'd have to say The Lost World. I don't want to pick a reread like Breaking Dawn, which I do love.<br /><br /><b>21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:</b><br />I wasn't peer pressured into reading anything this year. I did pick up books that some of my favorite booktubers enjoyed though. Those being I Hate Fairyland, You, and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.<br /><br /><b>22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?</b><br />Simon. Maybe Charlie from Midnight Sun. I didn't really crush all that hard this year.<br /><br /><b>23. Best 2018 debut you read?</b><br />Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly deVos. I still want more.<br /><br /><b>24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?</b><br />The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby. Those mountains were very clear in my head. My mind may not have formed them accurately, but man it was beautiful.<br /><br /><b>25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?</b><br />A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sara J Maas. I loved that it had a Christmas feel and, while some may find it boring, it was perfect to me. I wanted more of that normal, this is what families do aspect. It was a nice break from the war in the previous book.<br /><br /><b>26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?</b><br />Midnight Sun by Trish Cook had me in tears. That ending really got me. I was an absolute mess.<br /><br /><b>27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?</b><br />A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade. It is a picture book, but it is so adorable. I love it.<br /><br /><b>28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?</b><br />None.<br /><br /><b>29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?</b><br />I have no idea. Probably none.<br /><br /><b>30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. It has always been my least favorite book and movie in the series. It just irritates me and it always will. I love it as a piece of a whole series, but ugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2018?</b><br />I didn't do as much blog hopping as I would have liked so please, recommend me some fantastic blogs.<br /><br /><b>2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2018?</b><br />I would have to say either my review of <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-other-side-of-lost-arc-review.html" target="_blank">The Other Side of Lost</a> or my review of <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2018/05/fat-girl-on-plane-arc-review.html" target="_blank">Fat Girl on a Plane</a>.<br /><br /><b>3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?</b><br />The <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2018/02/beauty-and-beast-book-tag.html" target="_blank">Beauty and the Beast book tag</a>. If you haven't done it yourself then tag, you're it!<br /><br /><b>4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?</b><br />The Tucson Festival of Books as always. I can't wait for it to come around again in 2 months. It's coming early this year! Yay!<br /><br /><b>5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Receiving a signed copy of American Drifter by Heather Graham and Chad Michael Murray. Being added to the acknowledgements of The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas. Having my last name used in Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes on purpose. Meeting Stephanie Elliot, finally! I have quite a few more, but I'll end it there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Keeping up with it honestly. I've been working so much and when I'm not working I just want to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br />7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?</b><br />My most popular post is my review of </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-other-side-of-lost-arc-review.html" target="_blank">The Other Side of Lost</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> That makes me so happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?</b><br />My <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2018/02/beauty-and-beast-book-tag.html" target="_blank">Beauty and the Beast Book Tag</a>. Maybe my <a href="https://gabriellamreads.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-fall-tag.html" target="_blank">Fall Tag</a>?<br /><br /><b>9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?</b></span></div>
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I don't have one this time. I'll have to adventure more in 2019.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br />10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?</b></span>My reading goal was to read 36 books this year and I was lucky enough to surpass that by reading 67 books. I wanted to reread the entire Twilight series and I did that as well as read the short story that goes with for the first time. I also read a book outside of my comfort zone and I liked it.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b>1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?</b><br />The exact same answer as last year. I never got around to it. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. I need to finish this series. I'm so behind.<br /><br /><b>2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?</b><br />Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith and How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow.<br /><br /><b>3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?</b><br />There are so many to choose from. Again, But Better by Christine Riccio. Also, Supermarket by Logic. I don't know if he is publishing under Logic or not, but I'm excited either way.<br /><br /><b>4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?</b><br />Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi is the only one that comes to mind in this moment, but I know there are a lot more.<br /><br /><b>5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?</b><br />Find my happy medium.<br /><br /><b>6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M McManus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And that's a wrap on my 2018 reading year! Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2019 brings you joy and more books. Happy Reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gabriella</span></div>
Gabriella Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00911574435973346046noreply@blogger.com4