Gabriella M Reads

It's Always Sonny by Kate Watson 4 Stars I was given an advanced copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. I'll be the first to admit that closed door romances are mostly not my thing and this is also my first Kate Watson book. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this romance. It's Always Sonny is a classic case of right person, wrong time. The setting was perfect for the kind of story Kate was building. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, and even in such a short time, I was made to care for each and every one. Well, most of them. Someone's parents are more than a little sucky. A quick read for when you just need a little joy in your life. Basically, I had a good time, which is all I ask of the books that I read. I wouldn't mind reading more of her works in the future. It's Always Sonny is available for purchase as a paperback or an e-book as of today, March 21st. You can also snag it on Kindle Unlimited if you ...

                              The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 3 Stars 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. 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. The idea of an orphaned child growing up in a graveyard, raised by the spirits of those buried there definitely intrigued me. I've...

  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. Overall Reading Plans 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. First Book of the Year 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 Flag...

State of the Union by Nick Hornby 4 Stars 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. 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. Being that the novel is only 132 pages, it was a very quick read and I looked forward to seeing how their relationship...

Beach Read by Emily Henry 4.5 Stars 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. 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. 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 fa...

Stay at Home Book Tag  Laying in Bed - A book that you could/have read in a day 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 spoiler-free review . Snacking - A guilty pleasure book 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. Netflix - A series that you want to start 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....

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 google order form for these in case anyone would like to purchase them. The form does include better pictures of the designs, I promise. 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! Xoxo, Gabriella

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. 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. 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 driv...

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! 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. 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. 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 co...

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan 5 Stars 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. 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. 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. I honestly really appreciated the read. Not everything...

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas 5 Stars 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. 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. 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...

  A serpent's kiss, a frozen heart. Bewitching, wicked, perfect, beastly. Ask me how I got here. What happens now? 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! Xoxo, Gabriella

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. Since January has already finished, I don't have to worry about it. During round one of the Among Us Readathon 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. 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 th...

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. 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. 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 disa...

February Reading 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. 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 ...

Hello Twenty-Twenty! 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. My first book of the year is one I started last year and I am seriously lovi...

The Broke and The Bookish Secret Santa 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 Jana for keeping it alive solo this year! I signed up a couple days before the deadline and waited super impatiently for my match. I can now reveal that I was Amy's 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 ship...

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber 5 Stars 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. 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. Debbie Macomber ope...

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 5 Stars 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. 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....

25 Facts About Me 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. One: I am days away from my second semester at my local community college. It's never too late to go to school. 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. Three: I work in as a special needs paraprofessional in a preschool. Four: I waited until I was almost 23 to get my license. Some people need to take their time and that is okay. Five: I am Hispanic, but I do not speak Spanish. Six: I am a woman who has suffered a miscarriage and I feel that pain in my heart every second of every day. Seven: I could watch The Mummy all day long and never tire...