Top Ten Tuesday - Books On My Fall 2019 TBR

Hi y'all - welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday.  Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. 

This weeks topic is: Books On My Fall 2019 TBR

Some of the books on my list are older books that I've been meaning to read for a while - and I am determined to get through them this year!  

Some of them are still older books that are in a series that I really want to finish!

And books I want to read but don't have pictures of right now: 

1. Artemis Fowl

2.Artemis Fowl - The Arctic Incident 

3. Artemis Fowl - The Eternity Code

4. Artemis Fowl - The Opal Deception

5. Artemis Fowl - The Lost Colony 

6. Artemis Fowl - The Time Paradox

7. Artemis Fowl - The Atlantis Complex

8. Artemis Fowl - The Last Guardian

Wonder - RJ Palacio

Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Rating: 4 Stars

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I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

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Now, y'all - I have to tell you: I watched the movie FIRST!  SHOCK AND AWE.  I know - I get all the bookish disappointment for that one, right?! 

Anyway, I finally read the book - and even though the writing was super easy for me, I still rated it 4 stars, because I had to keep in mind it is technically a middle grade book, and I am clearly not a child aged person. 

The book was cute, and truly wonderful.  The characters were fantastic and all so well written. Each character was well-developed with their own distinct personalities, and things that were totally unique to them.  

I really enjoyed the development of the story as well.  From Auggie's hesitance at attending a new school to his meeting new friends, and through to his encounter with bullies at the end who break his hearing aids, everything was just right in this book and even though it was a quick read - I didn't want to put this book down at all.  

This book did a good job of showing that even kids can overcome difficulties on their own, if they have adults who teach them well.  Yes, sometimes kids need help, and this book shows that as well.  BUT, it shows that kids are stronger and kinder than adults sometimes give them credit for, and kids can and will overcome and do good things if adults help and teach them well.

This is a book I would recommend to any kid or adult looking for a fun and fulfilling book to read. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Favorite Things to Eat/Drink While Reading

Happy Top Ten Tuesday! In case you've never heard of it, Top Ten Tuesday, is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.  Favorite Things to Eat/Drink While Reading,

Now, I have to admit, I am not much of a snacker while I read. However, when I've done Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - I have been known to eat a fair amount of:

-Swedish fish
-Chocolate bits. Anything chocolate.
-Popcorn
-Dr. Pepper
-French Vanilla coffee 

This is a rather low key post.  That happens sometimes.  Anyway, talk to me: do you snack while you read?  If so, what are your favorite snacks?  

A Prom to Remember - Sandy Hall

Title: A Prom To Remember
Author: Sandy Hall
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 3 Stars

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Love it or hate it, you'll never forget it. In this heart-warming novel, Swoon Reads star, Sandy Hall, explores a classic high school celebration, capturing every relatable and hilarious teen milestone along the way.

Cora: Dating Perfect Boyfriend Jamie. Has NO IDEA how to break up with him...

Paisley: Anti-prom. Somehow nominated her anxiety-ridden best friend for prom king...

Henry: Hates social situations. Invited to prom by the most popular girl in school. SEND HELP!

Otis: Half of one of the cutest couples in his class. Not quite ready for a post-prom hotel room...

Lizzie: Shy. Excited to go to prom. With a boy. Whose name she doesn't know.

Cameron: Loner. Over high school. Just wants to meet the mysterious girl who's been leaving him notes...

Jacinta: Unnamed Nerd Girl #3. Determined to become the star of her own life, starting with prom...

A Prom to Remember, from Sandy Hall (author of A Little Something Different), is a funny and cinematic look at the biggest dance of every high schooler's life.

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I picked up this book because I thought the cover was cute. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would, even if it was just a light fluffy read.

The story revolves around 6 characters and their friends all leading up to their big prom night.  The book contains everything that one would expect to find in a YA book about prom - dress and date anxiety, promposals (which still sort of baffles me), and what to do for after prom! 

Each chapter sort of volleys back and forth between different characters, and so you get a lot of different points of view throughout the book.  The story wasn't gold standard as far as writing, but it was good enough that I wanted to read just to find out what happened.  It did have a lot of typical teenage stuff that is cute and fluffy, but that makes me happy I am not a teen anymore.  I think teenagers are fantastic, and I love that there are books that deal with all the stuff they have to go through, because lord knows y'all deserve it. I am just happy that phase of my life is over and that I can just read about it and enjoy it in a different context.

I liked *most* of the characters in this book.  They were all fun, and were well written enough that it was easy to tell them apart from each other personality and development wise.  

The only character I didn't like was Paisley.  I had a lot of issues with the way she treated her boyfriend, in the sense that she was pretty disrespectful in the way that she broke up with him.  She started by talking to everyone and their dog about how she was thinking of breaking up with him and why, instead of just going to him from the get go and telling him what was on her mind.  I mean, did she think there was no chance he would hear about this from someone?!  It does stand to reason, after all, that they probably have some friends in common, and that teenagers love a good gossip.  I think Paisley could have handled ALL that so much better. 

If you are looking for a cute, fluffy read that you don't really have to think too much about, give this book a shot.