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Waiting on Wednesday: No One Here Is Lonely by Sarah Everett

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Waiting on Wednesday: No One Here Is Lonely by Sarah EverettNo One Here Is Lonely by Sarah Everett
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on January 22, 2019
Pages: 302
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Our entire lives are online, but what if the boy you love actually lives there? For fans of Adam Silvera comes a story about the future of relationships.

Eden has always had two loves: her best friend, Lacey, and her crush, Will. And then, almost simultaneously, she loses them both. Will to a car accident and Lacey to the inevitable growing up and growing apart.

Devastated by the holes they have left in her life, Eden finds solace in an unlikely place. Before he died, Will set up an account with In Good Company, a service that uploads voices and emails and creates a digital companion that can be called anytime, day or night. It couldn’t come at a better time because, after losing Lacey–the hardest thing Eden has had to deal with–who else can she confide all her secrets to? Who is Eden without Lacey?

As Eden falls deeper into her relationship with “Will,” she hardly notices as her real life blooms around her. There is a new job, new friends. Then there is Oliver. He’s Lacey’s twin, so has always been off-limits to her, until now. He may be real, but to have him, will Eden be able to say goodbye to Will?

What are you waiting on?

XOXO

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Read When I Need a Hug

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This week we’re supposed to be talking about cozy/wintry books, but when I think “cozy” really I just think about tried and true books for when I really just need a little comfort. Surprisingly, with very few exceptions, this is when I turn heavily to non-fiction audios. Here are some of my favorite go-to titles. 

Seriously, I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
On Writing by Stephen King
You Are Here by Jenny Lawson*
(A coloring book, woot!)

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir*
(Not great audios of this bad boy…)
The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey

XOXO

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

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My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina LaurenMy Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren
Published by Gallery Books on December 4, 2018
Pages: 384
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five-stars




By the New York Times bestselling author who “hilariously depicts modern dating” (Us Weekly), My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a laugh-out-loud romp through online dating and its many, many fails.

Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single.

So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Mille and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of the guys, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic.

But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine”—Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship...but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear—intimacy—or risk losing her best friend, forever.

Perfect for fans of Roxanne and She’s the Man, Christina Lauren’s latest romantic comedy is full of mistaken identities, hijinks, and a classic love story with a modern twist. Funny and fresh, you’ll want to swipe right on My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

I firmly believe that the right book sometimes lands in your hands at the right time. And My Favorite Half-Night Stand is in a long line of other books that found me precisely when I needed them. I read this all the way back in September, when I was going through some pretty major life changes. (Side note, as I re-read this in December, my life is even crazier now.) My thought process was simple: Christina Lauren always makes me feel better. They’re as familiar as best friends through their writing, and I wanted a little comfort and some laughs during uncertainty. I got all that and more.

From the blurb, I knew this was going to be funny. Online dating with all of your single friends? Fudge yes, sign me up for that book. In the back of my head, I was also thinking of a pact (aka pinky promise) sworn after way too much rose’ with my bestie, that by my next birthday if I wasn’t seriously seeing anyone, she could sign me up for online dating. Rose’ Dani is so full of bravado. Present/sober Dani is more like, “WTF dude!” as I march ever closer to this deadline. (Side note two, said bestie still remembers and is counting down the days.)

And then My Favorite Half-Night Stand fell into my lap, and I found myself tagging along with Millie’s online dating quest. The struggle to write an honest and compelling bio to share with people – to open up at all to the big, bad world, definitely relatable. The quiet questions you ask when you’re in a long-term relationship with…yourself. Between those snorts of laughter, this book brought a whole bunch of very real feels, as CL books often do.

I had intended a very literary review for this book, stuff that shows I’m a very serious blogger. (Straightens imaginary bowtie.) Plain and simple, this book is feels good. It’s funny. It’s sweet. It’s steamy. It’s everything I wanted it to be. If you’re a Christina Lauren fangirl, you will not be let down. If you’re new to them, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! Just kidding – if you’re new, this is the epitome of their work. All the stars.

XOXO

Waiting On Wednesday: 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

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Waiting On Wednesday: 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
Published by William Morrow Paperbacks on January 29, 2019
Pages: 352
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Crush: a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…

… If Darcy Barrett hadn’t met her dream man when she was eight years old, the rest of the male population wouldn’t be such a let-down. No one measures up to Tom Valeska, aka the best man on Earth, not in looks, brain or heart. Even worse is the knowledge that her twin brother Jamie saw him first, and claimed him forever as his best friend.

Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. One percent of Tom has had to be enough for Darcy, and her adoration has been sustained by his shy kindness. And if she’s honest, his tight t-shirts.

Now Darcy’s got three months left to get her life together before her twin insists on selling the tumble-down cottage they inherited from their grandmother. By night, she’s working in a seedy bar, shooting down lame pickups from bikers. By day, she’s sewing underwear for her best friend and wasting her award-winning photography skills on website shots of pens and novelty mugs. She’s enjoying living the messy life, and a glass of wine or ten… until that one night, when she finds a six-foot-six perfect package on her porch.

Tom’s here, he’s bearing power tools—and he’s single for the first time in a decade.

As a house flipper extraordinaire, Tom has been dispatched by Jamie to give the cottage a drastic facelift that will result in a ton of cash. Darcy doesn’t appreciate Tom’s unsentimental approach to knocking down walls, and he really, really doesn’t approve of her current burnout boyfriend. They can’t be in the same room together without sparks flying- and it’s not the faulty wiring. One bedroom wall separates them at night, and even that’s looking flimsy.

Will Tom ever see Darcy as anything other than a little-sister obstacle to get around? And can she stand up to her most formidable opponent—her twin? This time around, she’s determined to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers, and he’s never managed to say no to her yet…

What are you waiting on?

XOXO

Top Ten Tuesday: Friend Goals

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I have been incredibly lucky in the friend department. Over the years, I have found exactly the support system I needed when I needed it. For those select few that I use the “F” word with – you mean the absolute world to me. Even with the best pals around, I regularly turn to my bookish friends, too. Today I’m sharing my top ten books where I would love to be plunked into the friend group. 

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Mathilda, SuperWitch by Kristen Ashley
(By friend group, I mostly mean coven for this book.)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
(This one doesn’t stay platonic, but I still love them as friends first.)
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas
(I mean, it’s Veronica Mars, who wouldn’t wanna be friends with the snarky girl detective?)

XOXO

Three Things I’m Loving

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Because we had our first snow this week and I’m really cutting it close with the calendar…fall music wrap-up edition of Three Things! 

An Evening I Will Not Forget / Furthest Thing by Dermot Kennedy – I caught this guy on Acoustic Cafe while driving to and fro, and it definitely made me go the long way just to finish listening to his set.

Hey Mama by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats – I’m beyond a huge fan of this group. Tearing at the Seams is probs my favorite album of the whole year. 

Treading Water by Alex Clare – This album has been blasting on my headphones as I haul boxes up stairs forever and ever. The beat never gets old.

Bonus: Please Forgive Me by David Gray – An oldie, but an absolute must.

What was your must listen for fall?

XOXO

Waiting on Wednesday: Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst

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Waiting on Wednesday: Fire and Heist by Sarah Beth DurstFire and Heist by Sarah Beth Durst
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on December 4, 2018
Pages: 304
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In Sky Hawkins's family, leading your first heist is a major milestone--even more so than learning to talk, walk, or do long division. It's a chance to gain power and acceptance within your family, and within society. But stealing your first treasure can be complicated, especially when you're a wyvern--a human capable of turning into a dragon.

Embarking on a life of crime is never easy, and Sky discovers secrets about her mother, who recently went missing, the real reason her boyfriend broke up with her, and a valuable jewel that could restore her family's wealth and rank in their community.

With a handpicked crew by her side, Sky knows she has everything she needs to complete her first heist, and get her boyfriend and mother back in the process. But then she uncovers a dark truth about were-dragon society--a truth more valuable and dangerous than gold or jewels could ever be.

What are you waiting on?

XOXO

Top Ten Tuesday: On Gratitude

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As my favorite holiday is just a few sleeps away, I wanted to use today’s TTT to share some of my favorite quotes on being thankful. I also want to say thank you to YOU, whoever you are. Thanks for being a part of this weird little corner of my life. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend or not, I send good vibes to you and yours. Without further ado…

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” A.A. Milne

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Eckhart Tolle

“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” Elizabeth Gilbert

“Don’t forget to tell these special people in your life just how special they are to you.” Bob Ross

“The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.” Maya Angelou

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” Buddha

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey

“In the external scheme of things, shining moments are as brief as the twinkling of an eye, yet such twinklings are what eternity is made of — moments when we human beings can say “I love you,” “I’m proud of you,” “I forgive you,” “I’m grateful for you.” That’s what eternity is made of: invisible imperishable good stuff.” Fred Rogers

“If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough.” Meister Eckhart

XOXO

Three Things I’m Loving

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Wow, wow, wow. This is the first post I’m writing from my new apartment. I’ve been noticeably absent the past few weeks, and I really missed blog life. I tried to plan ahead, but alas, curveballs EVERYWHERE and I think I’m far from them ending. As such, this week’s things are inspired by comfort. Prepare for some cheesefest. 

The Princess Switch – Netflix’s latest Christmassy romance flick is so silly and predictable, and I still loved every second of it. I have several others lined up to watch while I assemble furniture.

That Girl is You by Dave Matthews Band – I’m a major softie for all things DMB, but this song in particular just makes me want to twirl around endlessly.

Fixer Upper – Both a sore point (given that I’m walking away from the fixer upper I bought with such high hopes), and a source of inspiration for things I want to do in my new home. Definitely a figurative and literal touch of Jo in my new space. 

XOXO

Waiting on Wednesday: Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts

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Waiting on Wednesday: Of Blood and Bone by Nora RobertsOf Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
Published by St. Martin's Press on December 4, 2018
Pages: 464
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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the epic Year One returns with a new tale of terror and magic in a brand new world.

They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed.

Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before—the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted—and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden.

In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.

What are you waiting on?

XOXO