This should come as no surprise to anyone. I've always been very vocal about my adoration of the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas. I've always been very vocal of my adoration of Sarah J. Maas as an author in general, as you'll all see in the next 30 days. While my favorite book of all time is another Sarah special, my favorite series would have to be Throne of Glass. Everything about the series is excellent. The characters, the character growth, the plot, the world, the writing-- everything. I can't emphasize just how much I truly love this series. If you love high fantasy, this is definitely a series you'll want to check out. Each book expands on the world. Once you finish the series, looking back on where it starts seems to tiny and inconsequential, whereas it feels direly important during the first book. The series just keeps getting better and better as it continues on. I just... I love it. 

Here's the synopsis for Book 1 Throne of Glass: 
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After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Here's an especially hard one because rereading is one of my favorite hobbies, haha. Even though it can't quite capture the same magic as falling in love with a story for the first time, there is a beauty to rereading a good book or series-- you notice things you didn't before. You pick up on more foreshadowing, and just more little details in general. I'm going to admit right here, right now, that a lot of the books I mention on this list are ones that I've read more than three times. 
But since I'm going to try and not repeat myself too much, I'll limit myself to these two books that don't fit perfectly into any of the other categories. 

​If you missed my first post, basically I decided I'd recommend some of my favorite reads to help ease the boredom of being trapped at home. To make it a little easier to find what you might be looking for, I'm splitting up the books into LOOSE categories. The first post covered Romance and Fantasy, and this one is Urban Fantasy, Dystopian and Childhood/Nostalgic Books. If you're more interested in fantasy or romance (my loose definitions are below) then check out my last post! If not, here are the Urban Fantasy, Dystopian and Childhood/Nostalgic Books! 

Fantasy 
Urban Fantasy (using this term very loosely. By using urban fantasy I mean something with magic that is set in our own contemporary world.) 
Romance (Like, contemporary romance) 
Dystopian (I know everyone is sick of dystopians like the Hunger Games, but trust me, you can get a lot deeper and have more interesting set ups than the chosen one trope and such. Dystopian is just a setting, it doesn't necessarily follow the Hunger Games type set up that so many other movies tried to follow up after the massive success those movies had.) 
Childhood/Nostalgic Books (Yes, books I associate with my childhood that I still praise as fantastic reads. Anyone can read them, doesn't matter what age you are.) 

Again I would like to say: THESE BOOKS DO NOT FIT PERFECTLY INTO THESE CATEGORIES. I was just looking for something broader to fit the different novels into. There is almost definitely romance in every single one of these, or at least connections and friendships being built and developed-- what good book doesn't have that? I would highly recommend all of these books, obviously, they're all some of my favorite books. That means that they all have good plots, characters etc. Even if I highlight good character development in one overview, that doesn't mean the rest of the books don't have it. It just means that the one book's character development particularly stood out to me.
​
Anyway, let's get into the recommendations, shall we? 

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City #1) 
Rating: 9.8/10 stars 
Action, Intrigue, Romance and Amazing Relationships in general (friendship is a big one), as usual, Sarah J. Maas books have it all 
This is a more mature book, with some heavier themes. Definitely not just a quick, light read if that's what you're looking for. (It's not heavy and dark, though, and there are definitely some light, fun scenes). 

Why break the habit of starting this post duology with Sarah J .Maas books? This woman is after all, my favorite author and from what I've seen thus far, everything she writes is pure gold. Unlike her other two series, this newest series (only the first book is out so far) takes place in a more modern world. While it is still set in a fantasy city, it has all the modern essentials and technology so I'm counting this story under more urban fantasy than just regularly high fantasy. It's an odd blending of high fantasy with the urban setting and somehow Sarah managed to blend the two together seamlessly. 
I will admit that the beginning of this book is a little slow. There has to be a lot fo set up for the world, the characters and the relationships-- you most likely will not be sucked in from the very first page. Being sucked in sneaks up on you slowly. One minute you think you can put it down, the next you're turning the final page of the book and the sun is rising... Wait that's just me? Whoops. Honestly though, after a while I was utterly enchanted with this book and couldn't put it down for the life of me, despite the awareness of the late hour (or should I say early?). 
As I mentioned earlier, this book has everything you could want: romance, action, intrigue, mystery. The most important and standout characteristic of this novel, though, would have to be the friendships and the bonds between characters. Wow, even just thinking back on them now leaves a poignant sense inside my chest. The friendships between characters in this book are just so strong and beautiful, there really isn't any way to describe just how, well, beautiful they are. It really left an impression on me, that's to be sure. Sure, there's a good slow burn romance, badass protagonists, an intriguing plot and some hilarious and touching moments, but just the biggest shining star comes in the form of friendships. I read a lot of books, and I haven't come across many whose friendships depict anything near as deep as the friendships depicted here. It sticks with you, I can say that. I know I'm just going in circles here, but I can't emphasize enough how utterly amazing and beautiful the friendships-- specifically one that is the whole center of the plot-- are in this book. I can't get over it. 
The characters are all flawed, but that's what makes them so much more real and relatable. What makes their stories even more moving is how they have to learn from their mistakes, and how they change. Watching that is... it's amazing. I loved it. This one is long, and if you have the patience for a longer book, this is definitely one to add to your list!  

Synopsis: 

Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Alex Stern #1) 
Rating: 9/10 stars 
Mystery, Action, AMAZING CHARACTERS 
This is also a mature book. It's very dark with a lot of heavy topics and themes, but if you're able and willing to read it, I would say it's definitely worth it 

I don't even know where to start with this book. The synopsis doesn't do it justice because I will admit that I wasn't all that enthusiastic when starting it-- not to say I was bored starting it, just that it wasn't the most exciting thing. Yet, I'd heard a lot of good stuff about this one so I wanted to see what all the hype was about... And yes, for once, this book actually deserves all of the hype that it gets. I love this book, it's intriguing and mysterious-- once you actually get the feel of it, it's very hard to put down. The protagonist along with most other characters in this book (except for Daniel) is incredibly flawed, with a very dark and twisted past... Yet, that only shapes her to be a better protagonist. I absolutely love this book. Though, like I mentioned above it is very dark and heavy-- not by any means a light read. It shows the worst in people, and there are a lot of topics in there that are no light matter including that of rape, abuse and drugs. It's an intense read from start to finish. So if you feel like that's not something that you can read, then don't read it. I don't want anyone to feel pressured to read it just because I think this is a masterpiece of a book-- if you're triggered by its contents, no matter how good I think it is, it definitely won't be a good read for you. Still, that being said, if it is something that even piques your interest, I would encourage you to read it-- it's an extremely well-written, well thought out book, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. 

Synopsis: 
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Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #1) 
Series Rating: 10/10 Stars 
Action, romance, intrigue-- these books are a colossal amount of fun to read. Not too heavy either! 

Not in the mood for a heavy read, but also don't just want to read fun fluff? This is a good book series to fulfill that need. For those of you who know me, you'll probably be quite aware that I am a big fan of Cassandra Clare's books. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance and action. Unlike the two novels above, this is not a more adult book and its main protagonists are more young adults around 17-18. This book series doesn't necessarily take place in the parameters that I set for urban fantasy, see, they take place in Victorian London, so not present day... But I figured they fit better into the Urban Fantasy setting than that of high fantasy/just normal fantasy so here we are. 
While these books are a lot of fun to read, they also are filled with touching moments with more depth than just surface level fun. The characters are very easy to grow attached to, and the plot is perfectly paced-- not too fast or too slow. If you enjoy a lot of sarcasm and sass, these books have plenty of that as well. 

Synopsis: 
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In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1) 
Series Rating: 9/10 stars 
Action, Humor, Romance, Intrigue-- same as above 

I just thought I'd mention that yes, these books have a TV show as well as a movie based off them, and no we are not going to talk deeper on that because I hate both renditions as they are basically nothing like their source material. So if you happen to know and like/dislike the TV show or movie, well, don't let that sway your opinion on this series, because it is completely different either way. 
Unlike the Infernal Devices series, this series takes place in basically modern day New York. (If we want to get real specific, it's 2007 New York). It's set in the same world as the Infernal Devices, though, so if you take a liking to either series you'll be glad to know that there are companion series in the same world! It's actually a lot of fun. There are three more series set in this world not on this list along with a ton of companion novels, so if you dive into the Shadowhunter world and fall in love with it like many before you, there's plenty of content to devour. It's fun because even though each series is about different characters in different times, they're connected to each other, so there are similar things, characters and families throughout. 
If I'm being honest and ignoring the nostalgia of this particular series, I would have to admit that the Infernal Devices is the superior series in terms of pacing, writing and general plot than the Mortal Instruments. Still, Cassandra Clare is a writing genius and all of her works are fantastic, so while I would say that starting with the Infernal Devices may be the more guaranteed option for you to be sucked into the series, I would also say that I started with City of Bones and love it just as much as anyone else. Honestly, when deciding between the two I feel like it would just come down to which synopsis interests you more-- but again, I would say Clockwork Angel is a better written first novel than City of Bones, just because Clare had more practice writing by then and City of Bones was her debut. They're both amazing though, so you pick! 
(Side note: if you do decide you want to read all of the books, I would recommend finishing The Infernal Devices before finishing the final book in the Mortal Instruments (City of Heavenly Fire) just because the final book has spoilers from The Infernal Devices in it. Also, I would reccomend finishing these two first series before diving into the other series in the world (The Dark Artifices, The Last Hours and the Scrolls of Magic) because they all have spoilers to these first two series. To enhance your reading experience there are also accompanying novellas, such as the Bane Chronicles, the Shadowhunter Academy and Ghosts of the Shadow Market. These novella bindups are by no means necessary to enjoy the books themselves, but they are just enjoyable and add more depth to the characters and the world). 

Synopsis: 
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When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #1) 
Series Rating: 8.5/10 Stars 
Very light, fun reads, humor, action, romance 
Character age: teenagers 

​Now here is a very light, quick, easy and fun read. Everyone I've recommended this series to has loved it. It's definitely the opposite of the first two books on this list, because it's not heavy at all. These books are light and cute, and they read very quick. You'll be on the back cover before you know it. There are five books in total in this series, and something that I think is particularly fun is that the main antagonist of each novel is different, so it adds a fun new dynamic to each book. 
Also I should mention: this is not really fantasy. It's more sci-fi than fantasy, but it's set in modern day and I didn't have any other really good sci-fi books to add to my list so I just stuck it in with urban fantasy.  
Also! If you enjoy the easy writing style and general feel of these books, Jennifer L. Armentrout has a few other series set in the same genre of YA that are also quite fun reads! 

Synopsis: 
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #1)
Series Rating: 8.8/10 Stars 
Lots of sass, sarcasm and humor, action, romance, mystery 
Characters in their late teens, some twenties

Okay, okay hear me out. Yeah, the series name and first book title is completely terrible and cliche sounding, especially when combined with the early 2000s trend of sexy vampires-- but this series is not nearly as dumb as it sounds! I promise. It is a really unfortunate series name, and the covers are also unfortunate, and the movie was not great either, so you'll just trust me when I say that the book content is really good and a lot of fun to read. This is another light series that you'll feel like you're just flying through. It's really fun because the main character is very sarcastic and witty, but she's also a badass so that's always a plus. Like Obsidian, the Vampire Academy series is unique and fun also because the main antagonist in each book is different, so you're never quite sure what to expect. These are really fun reads that I really enjoyed, I would definitely recommend. The mythology around vampires is different from anything I've heard before too, so if you're sick of vampires, well, this is a little different from the stereotypically vampire idea of bloodsuckers who are undead and bite others to turn them etc. 

Synopsis: 
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ONLY A TRUE BEST FRIEND CAN PROTECT YOU FROM YOUR IMMORTAL ENEMIES...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires - the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever...

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Arc of a Scythe #1) 
Series Rating: 7.8/10 stars 
Action, lots of character building, some really interesting themes & ideas 

Scythe is a weird series, because I love it, I really do, but I honestly have no idea how to describe it to someone. While it's not a light, fluffy read, it's also not all that dense or heavy either. This series is particularly fun because the characters are interesting as is the plot, but it also gets you thinking. See, Scythe is set in a world where humanity has "escaped" death. Our technology has gone so far that we no longer die. To avoid overpopulation, there is one way for people to meet their final end: the Scythes, an order tasked with permanently ending lives. It's really interesting to think about the meaning of life if there was no end, and also the idea death. Each Scythe treats it differently, some give their targets warning in advance, while others spontaneously end a life to simulate the unpredictability of death as it once was-- like if you had the ability to determine who lives and who dies and how, how would you determine it? Anyway, just some weird thoughts of mine, haha. While the first book starts off slow, it eventually catches up and then you'll not want to put it down until the series is over. There are so many interesting characters and plot points. I was honestly so sad when I finished the last book because I would've loved to spend more time with these characters. 

Synopsis: 
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Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer (Renegades #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 stars 
action, romance, humor, deception, superheroes 

This series is a lot of fun to read, if I were to just give it one word I'd say fun pretty much encapsulates the whole thing, the characters are fun, the plot is fun-- the book is just a fun time. Something I really enjoyed about this series, especially with the first couple of books, is that even though there are heroes and villains, there isn't necessarily a definable line between good and evil. The "heroes" are real, and they are flawed. They make mistakes and aren't wholeheartedly good, even if they're trying to be, and the villains aren't all necessarily evil. They fight for what they believe in. A point made by one of the main characters is that people are so reliant on the heroes to save them and help them that they never do anything for themselves-- which is an interesting thought, I honestly felt pulled between both sides while reading these, which is precisely the point. See, the novel is told from two perspectives: the villain's and the superheroes. To clarify, Nova, the "villain" is the niece to the biggest supervillain of all, a man who was defeated approximately 10 years prior to the events of the novel. Then there's Adrian, the superhero side of things. He's the son of the two biggest superheroes and therefore solidly believes in everything the Renegades stand for. Their paths meet when Nova infiltrates the Renegades' ranks as part of he anarchists' (villains) plan. Obviously things get a little twisted, especially with feelings thrown in the mix. Like I said, this book is a lot of fun, the deception of it is entertaining, as is watching their alter egos being archenemies while their normal personas grow closer. 
Another cool thing to mention about this series is that the powers are pretty unique.While there are the typical powers of super-strength and invisibility, but there are also superpowers of being able to bring their art to life, or turning into a swarm of butterflies or bleeding gems that can be weaponized or not needing to sleep/being able to knock others out. It's just fun seeing the unique powers throughout. 

Synopsis:

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 Stars 
Action, lots of banter & sass, humor, romance 

This is another very fun read. Also, these books are very short, so if you're not looking for a long commitment, these are the books for you. 
While the setting for these books is incredibly dark, it's hardly noticeable above all the humor and banter. If you enjoy banter and sarcasm, these are definitely something that you want to check out. I love the main character, she's strong, brave, sassy-- basically anything you could want out of a YA heroine. Anyway, nothing else to say but read these! 

Synopsis: 

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (The Darkest Minds #1) 
Series Rating: 8.5/10 Stars 
Action, Romance, Road Trip trope

Last, but certainly not least in my list of dystopians is a book series that has a special series in my heart. This trilogy is one of the first few that I was reading just when I was starting my real big book obsession, and they really helped to fuel it. 
I'm going to say this upfront-- this book does have a bit of a slow start. The first 50 or so pages are a little eh, but once the pace picks up there's no going back.
Just thinking about this series is making me smile and get the warm fuzzies. The characters are just so lovable. I adore the relationship building in this book-- both romantic and platonic. 
(P.S. If you watched the movie, do yourself a favor and ERASE IT FROM YOUR MEMORY. We don't talk about that poser). 

Synopsis: 
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When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #1) 
Rating: 10/10 Stars 
Magic

The most obvious of obvious books that basically is the epitome of this category. What is more nostalgic than Harry Potter? I'm assuming most of you have already read this, but why not read it again? Might bring you back to those happy younger days... (Even if they weren't actively a part of your childhood specifically, you were still younger when they came out!) 
And to those of you who haven't read it yet... WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! There's a reason why this series was and is such a worldwide phenomenon and don't just give me the "oh I watched the movies" bull. Yes, the movies are very good, unlike many of the book-to-movie adaptations mentioned on this list, but guess what? The books are better! They expand so much more on the world and are more detailed in ways you never even realized you were missing out on. 

Synopsis: (Do y'all really even need this?) 
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Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come. 

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Person Jackson and the Olympians #1) 
Rating: 9.8/10 Stars 
Mythology 

Yeah, here's the source of where most people my age learned our greek mythology from ahah. Here's another series where we get to watch the character grow up-- starting out as a 12-year-old and going up to 17. A bit like Harry Potter in terms of the sort of "chosen-one" trope but trust me when I say Percy Jackson is very much its own thing. This series is hilarious-- the characters, the scenes, everything is stuffed full of humor, and there's so much sass and sarcasm... Honestly, these are some of the most fun reads you'll ever come across.
And guess what? If you like the writing style there are plenty of other series by Rick Riordan like this! There's a sequel series that follows up this one called the Heroes of Olympus which is just as fun and encapsulates the magic perfectly. Then there's a couple loosely connected sequels to that (Magnus Chase, the Trials of Apollo). Riordan's series span past using Greek mythology for inspiration as well, with Heroes of Olympus taking inspiration from Roman mythology, and Magnus Chase being Norse mythology. Also! There's the Kane Chronicles which is based on Egyptian Mythology! If I'm being honest, I've only actually read Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Kane Chronicles-- all of which I have adored, so I'm just saying, if you enjoy the writing and story style, there's plenty more material. 

Synopsis: 
​
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (The Inheritance Cycle #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 Stars 
High fantasy, dragons! 

This is another favorite that I've read over and over and over again. These books are all the very roots of my adoration for the fantasy genre, though I suspect that Eragon had a lot of influence over me seeing as high fantasy is probably my favorite genre. This is another series that's pretty famous, and if you haven't read it, odds are you've probably seen it around. The core idea around these books is dragon riders, which is very fun. The books are well-written, with intriguing plots and characters as well as spectacular character growth and evolving relationships. I will admit they are rather lengthy, with parts that can feel long so if you're not a patient reader, perhaps these are not the books for you. 

Synopsis: 

​One boy...
One dragon...
A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Thanks for reading & I hope you fall in love with these books the same way I did :) 
​-Anj 

Hi all! How's the quarantining going? The basic consensus that I've gathered from my communications is that most people are lonely and bored out of their minds. Well guess what? I've got the solution for you. Now's the perfect time to try out a new book! Why would I be a good person to trust on this? Well, not only do I read a lot more than the average human being, but as my sister says, "quarantining isn't an issue for Anji. She just does this every day." Well, you know, that's a little embarrassing to be putting online how much of a life that I apparently lack, but I can't exactly totally deny the statement either. The truth of the matter is, I do spend a lot of time at home, often hanging out with the one and only me. How do I endure such isolation? I could answer that in a lot of ways because yes, I do more than just read, but you know what? This is a book blog, so I'm going to pitch some good books for you to try out with all the newfound freetime we all seem to have. Even if you don't like reading, why not try picking up a book? If you're so bored, you might as well, right? It's my personal belief that everyone is a reader/book lover, some people just haven't found the right book yet, so maybe this is your chance to find that book.
There are a lot of advantages to reading, but right now I'll just point out that if you find the right book, it will take up some time (depending on how fast of a reader you are) and also decrease that boredom and lack of usefulness most people seem to be complaining about. 
While I do read a lot across many different genres, I will admit there are some genres that I tend to orbit around. My all time favorites are fantasy and romance-- which are made even better when mixed together, but I have read plenty outside those genres and I will mention some of my favorites below. However, I will admit that the books I enjoy the most are fiction, so if you're a nonfiction lover, I'm sorry, this is not the book recommendations post for you. I'm going to split the recommendations into these different groups, though not all of the books that are going to be listed today exactly fit perfectly with said groups, so even if you don't necessarily enjoy one of the groups feel free to still read over the synopsis of the books under the category. I'm trying my best to divy them up, but they're not all going to fit perfectly with the big category name that they are given, and I don't want you to miss anything you could potentially really enjoy! 

Fantasy 
Urban Fantasy (using this term very loosely. By using urban fantasy I mean something with magic that is set in our own contemporary world.) 
Romance (Like, contemporary romance) 
Dystopian (I know everyone is sick of dystopians like the Hunger Games, but trust me, you can get a lot deeper and have more interesting set ups than the chosen one trope and such. Dystopian is just a setting, it doesn't necessarily follow the Hunger Games type set up that so many other movies tried to follow up after the massive success those movies had.) 
Childhood/Nostalgic Books (Yes, books I associate with my childhood that I still praise as fantastic reads. Anyone can read them, doesn't matter what age you are.) 

Again I would like to say: THESE BOOKS DO NOT FIT PERFECTLY INTO THESE CATEGORIES. I was just looking for something broader to fit the different novels into. There is almost definitely romance in every single one of these, or at least connections and friendships being built and developed-- what good book doesn't have that? I would highly recommend all of these books, obviously, they're all some of my favorite books. That means that they all have good plots, characters etc. Even if I highlight good character development in one overview, that doesn't mean the rest of the books don't have it. It just means that the one book's character development particularly stood out to me.
I'm going to split this post into a couple different ones seeing as I have a lot of recommendations and it could get quite long! Honestly it's hard just giving short thoughts because I could talk about books for ages :) The first post (this one) will be Fantasy and Romance genre books, and then the next one will be the Urban Fantasy, Dystopian and Childhood book recommendations. 
Anyway, let's get into the recommendations, shall we? 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) 
Series rating: 10/10 
Definitely plenty of action, romance and humor as well as a stellar plot line and intriguing characters 
​
This recommendation probably comes as a shock to no one who knows me. I never stop talking about how much I adore Maas and all of her books. Seriously, I've read every single one of them and they've all found places on my favorites shelf. Maas does a particularly good job in creating characters and making their struggles seem very realistic and relatable. For instance, in this series one of the characters seriously struggles with PTSD and Maas does a very good job portraying that as well as the character's healing process. 
This series is one of my all-time favorites, and the second book (A Court of Mist and Fury) happens to be my favorite book of all time (and that's saying something, because I've read a lot and I've read a lot of great books). 
As seems to be currently popular, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a loose, loose, loose and did I mention loose? retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It starts out with that idea, and then the rest of the books continue to expand the world and just... Wow. I cannot recommend this series or this author more. Her writing, her characters, her world, her plots, everything she does is absolutely fantastic. I will admit I felt that it took a little bit to really get into the first book in this series, but once you're in it, you're never going to want to go back. Again, READ THE SECOND BOOK. IT'S THE BEST THING TO HAVE EVER GRACED HUMANKIND. 

Synopsis: 
​
Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #1) 
Series Rating: 10/10 
​Definitely plenty of action, romance and humor as well as a stellar plot line and intriguing characters 

Yes, Sarah J. Maas shows up a lot. Like I said before, she's my favorite author. While the series above has my favorite book of all time, this has to be my favorite series as a whole. Like many good fantasy series, the first book is the the worst book and they only continue to get better and better as the series goes on. That is to say, the first book is not bad. In fact, I really enjoyed reading it. It's only when you look back after reading more of the series when you realize how much better it gets. The series starts out good, but it only gets better from there until it's just utterly phenomenal. Maas expands the world in each book, so when you look back at the first book it feels so small and trivial compared to its successors-- which is exactly what you probably would want from a good fantasy series. 
Throne of Glass is full of magic and action, with high stakes and great characters. This is one of the series that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. I can't praise it enough. I don't want to say anything that would spoil it, but if you like the epic-stakes fantasy story with a lot of intertwining plot lines, this is the series for you. It starts small, but you'll be amazed as you watch the world grow before your eyes. 

Synopsis: 
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Cruel Prince by Holly Black (The Folk of the Air #1) 
Series Rating: 7.5/10 
Lots of court intrigue, plotting & betrayal with a dash of romance sprinkled in with ever increasing stakes 

Cruel Prince is an enigma. It's a combination of so many things that you'd think it could never possibly work... but somehow it manages to not only work, but mingle all the tropes brilliantly. The highlight and biggest draw of this series is court intrigue, so if you're into that sort of thing, this is definitely going to be right down your alley. Trust me when I say there is still action and a smidgen of romance for sure, in fact the "ship" of this series is one for the books, but it's just not necessarily the main focus of it. 
I cannot put into words how truly intriguing this series is. You never really know what's going to come next, and when you do? Guess what? You're wrong. There are so many twists and turns-- this series truly is a delight. 

Synopsis: 
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. 

Stain by AG Howard 
Book Rating: 8.5/10 stars 
A fairytale retelling that maintains the magical tone of a fairytale while adding in lovable characters and a riveting storyline 

This is actually one of the more new additions to my big recommendations list, as I only actually read this book last summer. It was the first book I'd read from AG Howard so I went in with no expectations-- yet here I am, still utterly in love with the entire thing. Fairytale retellings have become quite common lately, but Stain uses an uncommon tale: Princess and the Pea. Have you ever read a retelling of Princess and the Pea? This one is set in an epic fantasy world where day and night have been separated for longer than anyone can remember. There are definitely some fun and exciting twists thrown in that you'll not come across in the original fairytale. Honestly, this book is just such a fun and refreshing take. I love it. If you like retellings, this is one of the best. 

Synopsis: 
​
"Once upon a nightmare, her fairy tale begins...

This high-fantasy gothic fairytale, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, is set in an alternative medieval world split apart by magic. To win back her kingdom of perpetual day, save her night prince, and reunite the sun with the moon, a princess incapable of speech or sound must prove herself everything a traditional princess is not: tough enough to sleep on a bed of nails, and loud enough to be heard without a voice."

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo 
Book Rating: 7/10 stars 
Another fairytale retelling, this one is also a lot of fun with lots of banter, entertaining characters and an interesting plot 

Like Stain, To Kill A Kingdom is a standalone novel, which, at times, can be a refreshing breath of air in the midst of reading so many series and having to impatiently wait for the next release. Yes, I love series, but sometimes it's nice to just have a full story arc in one book. This novel is one the surprised me the first time I read it. It was an impulse buy, and boy, am I so glad I got it, because I reread this one from time to time, it's so good. To Kill A Kingdom is a retelling of the Little Mermaid-- with a lot more sass and banter. The main characters-- the Little Mermaid and her Prince-- are actually trying to kill each other, so that's always fun. 

Synopsis: 
​
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Caraval #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 
Full of magic and illusions, Caraval will be playing with your mind all the way until the end. What is real and what is an act? You'll just have to read it to find out. Strong characters, a plethora of banter, and an intriguing plot, what more could you possibly want? 

Like all books on this list, this series is a fun ride. And it'll definitely mess with your mind, because as the main characters are trying to figure out what is real and what is not, so are you as the reader. See, Caraval is a game that takes place every year, where a certain number of people are invited to play and whoever wins is granted any wish that they could ask for. But the thing is with this game is that no one can ever really discern what is real and what is fake. There are a lot of tricks and illusions over the days that the game is being played, and there are also actors implanted. So in book one, as our main character, Scarlett, plays Caraval in an attempt to save her sister, we get to play along with her. But the mysteries don't stop in the first book... Honestly the second book in this series absolutely blew me away and it's one of my favorites to this day. 

Synopsis: 

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #1) 
Series Rating: 7.5/10 Stars 
Action, cute romances, fun plot-- especially seeing all the characters come together 

As seems to be wildly popular as of late, here's another loose retelling of popular fairytales... and you guessed it! The first book is a loose retelling of the one and only Cinderella. 

This series is a lot of fun. Each book is a fast and easy read-- you'll be on the back cover before you even realize it. The writing just flows well. The Lunar Chronicles are different fairytale retellings all combined into one world and one overarching plot line set in s sci-fi world. Now I know a lot of people might get a little freaked out by the sci-fi aspect-- trust me, I did too. See, the main character of the first book-- Cinder-- is a cyborg. That word freaks me out, but the thing is, she's more like a human with some robotic parts because she was badly hurt when she was younger. Don't avoid this series if the cyborg idea freaks you out-- it freaked me out and I didn't read it for years YEARS. Then once I finally did pick it up, I couldn't put it down until I was done the whole series in a few days. The series is absolutely riveting, and I couldn't praise it more. It's a lot of fun. Just give it a chance, you won't regret it. 

Synopsis: 

​Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it "a matter of national security," but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on.

Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an "honor" that no one has survived.

But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin (Wolf by Wolf #1)
Series Rating: 9/10 Stars 
Lots of action and thrilling moments, fun romance & character relationships, there's a race involved, which is always a good time 

Yeah, so this book is more historical fiction than fantasy, but it does have an element of fantasy in it so I'm going to shoehorn it into this group anyway.  Before I really get into talking about what exactly this story is about, let me just start this with a little anecdote of my own. I read this book while on a vacation that had a lot of travel time. Before leaving, I downloaded three books and this was the last of those three that I decided to break into. I only even downloaded it in the first place because it had a 4.26/5 stars on goodreads which means it's really good since even a 3.8 signifies a pretty stellar novel. Why was I so reluctant to read this novel you may be wondering... Well, the synopsis sounded really, really dumb to me. Plus the tagline was absolutely ridiculous. Yet here I am, so utterly glad that I read this book and recommending it out to all of you. Why am I telling this anecdote? Incase you're like me. You think the synopsis is dumb, and you dismiss this one as being dumb. DON'T. Honestly, you don't know what you're missing out on. 
Let me try and warm you into the whole premise of the novel better than I ever was. This is set in a world where the Axis Powers won World War II. So, the Axis Powers, especially the Nazi Germans put a lot of pride into the strength of their youth. Thus, in this world, every year they show off the strength and promise of their youth by hosting a giant motorcycle race across their conquered countries. It's a 20,000 km race, and the victors are said show all the promise and values of the reigning Axis Powers. 
Last year, a girl entered the race under the name of her brother and won. She was the first female to have done this, and because of that she opened the race up for other girls to enter as well. Not only that, but at the Victors' Ball, Hitler himself danced with her on live television. A feat, since he had not appeared on live television in a number of years due to an assassination attempt last time. 
The rebellion sees this as an opportunity-- if the leader of the Nazi regime were shot on live television it would be a sign to all of the rebels spread out across the countries, igniting the rebellion. 
Enter Yael, a rebel who was once imprisoned in the concentration camps. Here's where the fantasy element comes in. Due to the testing done on her, she is able to change her appearance. She is to enter the race as the last year's victor and win. Then, when at the Victor's Ball she will ignite the rebellion through Hitler's death. 
Okay, so that was my attempt to warm you into the whole premise of this novel. See, what I saw is the synopsis I will post below along with the dumbest tagline in the world: One girl's mission to win the race and kill Hitler. Seriously, that sounds utterly ridiculous, but let me tell you, this book is anything but that. It's riveting, with compelling characters and a thrilling plot. See, a wrench or two is thrown into Yael's plans when two other boys enter into the race with her. One, another victor hoping to be the first to win twice, seems to have a complicated past with the girl that Yael knows nothing about, while the second is the girl's own brother. There are things that cannot be gathered from information in a file. Watching Yael try and unravel the relationship she's supposed to have with these boys is fascinating add in the race and you get a whole lot of fun. Not only that, but if you enjoy books with some deeper meanings, this book has plenty. It will definitely resonate deeper than surface level. I don't know what else to say other than this one is a must read! 

Synopsis: 
​
Her story begins on a train.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.

Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.

But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren 
8/10 stars 
Age of characters: adults

You know those really fun rom-com movies with the completely absurd inciting incident that ensures with hilarity along with that heart melting romance? That's exactly what the Unhoneymooners is-- a rom-com in book form. It's fun, it'll have you laughing out loud, and you'll also be ooooh-ing and aww-ing with heart eyes because it's also quite cute. If you want a fun romance, this is definitely one to try out. 

Synopsis: 

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of... lucky.

Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren 
10/10 stars 
Character age: adults 

Another Christina Lauren book makes it onto this list because these women are goddesses when it comes to writing good romances. While this book is just as enjoyable as the Unhoneymooners, it hits on a deeper level. Like there's no better way to describe it, but when reading this book, it just hits, like you feel it in such a different way from most books. It's just that good.

The story takes place in two time periods: the present, and the past, leading up to the big blow up. So you literally get to watch the two main characters meet, and you get to see their relationship build from innocent friendship to something more. I think that really helps in making the book hit on a deeper level because you fully understand and see their relationship, and not only that, but you get to see and feel them falling in love with each other. It's beautiful. The writing is beautiful, the characters are beautiful, the story is beautiful. I cannot give higher praise to this book. I couldn't tell you the amount of times I've reread it, I love it just that much. 

Synopsis: 
​
The story of the heart can never be unwritten.

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother...only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

Love, loss, friendship, and the betrayals of the past all collide in this first fiction novel from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Autoboyography, Dating You / Hating You).

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne 
8/10 stars 
Character Age: Adults

From my understanding, for those who enjoy contemporary romance books, this one is a bit of a cult classic, and I can't say I blame anyone for that because The Hating Game is magnificent. It's so much fun from start to finish. I don't think I could love the characters or the story more. It's one of those classic hate-to-love tropes, but hey, I'm a sucker for the classics. 

Synopsis: 

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
2) A person’s undoing
3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth-shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

From Lukov with Love by Marianna Zapata 
Rating: 8/10 stars 
Character Age: Adults 

Another ridiculously fun novel that will melt your heart. Another hate-to-love romance, like I said, it may be a classic trope but it's one of my favorites. So much fun with all the banter, and it's also fun to get to watch these characters warm up and start to open up to each other. It's great watching this relationship blossom, because it's so much more than just romance-- the friendship has to build first, and both are fun to watch grow. (Also, also I just want to mention about how much fun the BANTER is).  
Also the story is about professional athletes, so it's also a lot of fun to read about their love and passion for the sport, as well as seeing them practice and work at it. 


Synopsis: 

If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.

After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.

Including Ivan Lukov. ​

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle 
Rating: 9.5/10 Stars 
Character Age: Adults 

Here's a trope that isn't very popular but I think definitely should be: falling back in love. Not only is it equally as enchanting and fun as a first time falling in love romance, but there's just something so beautiful and tender about the refalling back in love with each other trope. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle is everything you could want form a romance novel. It's fun, funny, cute and the romance really hits you in the feels. 
It starts off like a rom-com-- with a silly sounding premise and fun antics. Naomi and Nicholas are kind of tired of each other and not even close to head-over-heels in love as fiancees should be. Yet, neither of them will call off the marriage because whoever calls it off has to pay for it. The solution? Pranking and pushing the other to call it off. Yeah, it sounds ridiculous, and it does actually lead the story to being a lot of fun. But what makes this novel stand out from so many others is in fact the romance. It's sad, as you read the book and grow more attached to the relationship to see how it slowly started to fall apart in the first place, yet watching them grow back together and remember why exactly they loved each other in the first place is so beautiful and heartwarming. Like I said, this is the perfect combination for a romance book. There are plenty of moments that will have you laughing out loud, but also plenty that will just hit you in the heart. I can't emphasize just how much I love this one. I read it very recently, and then reread it again 3 times in the next week just because of how much I loved it and wanted to revisit the characters and scenes. 

Synopsis: 
​
Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there's a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves--and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg 
Rating: 7/10 stars 
Character Age: teenagers 

This is another rom-com in a book. Here we get to see the two main characters from when they meet and become friends in 7th Grade all the way up through Senior Year. It's a lot of fun. I don't know what else to say without spoiling the story! But let me tell you its one to fall in love with. :) 

(Side note: yes, I know the girl's name is weird. I didn't read this book for AGES because of that. Ignore the name, the content is so much better than a strange name!) 

Synopsis: 
For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
Rating: 7/10 stars 
Character age: teenagers 

This book is absolutely adorable. If you're looking for just a cutesy romance that'll give you those warm fuzzies this is the one for you. I mean look at that gorgeous cover! How could it not be a completely adorable and happy read? 

And guess what? If you like this book, there are two more equally adorable companion novels in the series where you can see the characters from this book reappear :) 

Synopsis: 
​Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Books by Emma Mills: Foolish Hearts, First & Then, This Adventure Ends 
Rating 7.5/10 stars 
Character Age: Teenagers 

These books are so adorable. I know I say that a lot in this section, but hey, these are some of the best of the best romances that I've read so OF COURSE they're adorable. All of Emma Mills' books are absolutely adorable, sweet romances that feel all too real. What's more, they always have some other important theme/relationship building other than romance, whether it be friendship or family, so not only do these books give the warm fuzzies from a cute romance, but they also make you feel happy and fulfilled from the other relationships depicted as well. I guess what I'm trying to say is that each story goes a bit deeper than just a cute romance. (Also, side note, but can we appreciate how gorgeous these covers are?!)
There's not a lot to say about romance books that won't spoil the fun of them. I always look forward to Emma Mills' releasing and read them almost as soon as they come out-- she has more books too, so if you like these go check out her other works. These are just my favorites of what she has done, but I've enjoyed them all. Let me just say this, for every single one of these books I wasn't exactly pulled in by the synopsis, but then once I actually started the book I was up into the early hours finishing them. These are just so cute, but they also feel so feel and sweet... I don't know what else to say other than definitely check them out! 

First & Then Synopsis: 

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them: first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

This Adventure Ends Synopsis:
​
Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.

Foolish Hearts Synopsis: 

When Claudia accidentally eavesdrops on the epic breakup of Paige and Iris, the it-couple at her school, she finds herself in hot water with prickly, difficult Iris. Thrown together against their will in the class production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, along with the goofiest, cutest boy Claudia has ever known, Iris and Claudia are in for an eye-opening senior year.

Smart, funny, and thoroughly, wonderfully flawed, Claudia navigates a world of intense friendships and tentative romance in Foolish Hearts, a YA novel about expanding your horizons, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and accepting--and loving--people for who they really are.

A contemporary young adult novel by Emma Mills about a girl whose high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream leads her to new friends--and maybe even new love.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 
Rating: 10/10 stars 
Ages: Teenagers 

Okay, okay, I know what you must be thinking. You're either on the lines of OH MY GOD I LOVE THESE MOVIES or ugh overrated. Yeah, well let me just say this first: the books are always vastly superior to the movie. Also, yeah, I'm just gonna say it: the second movie sucked. The first one wasn't great, but at least it was cute, the second one just lost all its magic if it had any to begin with. I will also say this: I read To All The Boys I've Loved Before wayyyy before there was even a movie in the works I read the first book before the author was even considering a second one. So yes, I've been a fan of this series for a long time and I'm not just recommending it because it is a semi-popular romcom on Netflix these days. Even the first movie didn't have half and magic of the first book. Here's the thing about movies: they always have to cut corners. It's just about the time constraint. The book though? That can show as many little things as it wants. Part of what made the first book so much better than the first movie (other than the fact that the book is always better, after all, it's what the movie is based on) is that the book is able to show all these cute little scenes and tidbits that build towards the relationship, whereas the movie just doesn't have enough time to show everything. The book you really get to fall in love with the relationships right along with Lara Jean. 
The books are so real, so cute, so touching--- so everything. They're absolutely adorable. I find Lara Jean to be an adorably relatable main character, if not a little naive at times. I also adore the family dynamic depicted in these books, especially watching as it evolves throughout the series. Then there's also the romance, which, not to beat a dead horse but IS SO MUCH BETTER IN THE BOOKS. The romances are depicted much better in the books, they're so much sweeter, you get those little scenes that build the relationships, but also somehow the movie sorta twisted the romantic interests into being boring and sometimes annoying dicks. That is not the case in books, I can promise you that. If you want a cutesy romance that will have you squealing in delight, this book is the one for you. 
Plus, if you love it even half as much as I do, then guess what?! There are two more books that are just as real and adorable as the first. A lot of times with romance books if they continue on in the series they only get worse, but these books remain steadily amazing throughout. I can't express more love for this series, and the movies have nothing on them.So don't let your feelings about the movies scare you away from these books. 

Synopsis: 

​To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed.

But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh.

As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West 
Rating: 8/10 Stars 
Character Ages: Teenagers 

This is one of my happy reads. It's what can only be described as cute and fuzzy. The kind of read that will put a smile on your face. Sure, it's not deep and moving, but that's not the purpose of this novel. It's light, fun and cute. And I absolutely love it. This is one of the few books I took along with me to college despite the lack of space. I reread this one all the time, it's not a long read, and it's just so cute and warm. I love it. Anyway, there's not much more I can say about it without giving away spoilers, so take my word on the cuteness factor and here's the synopsis. 

Synopsis: 

Signed, sealed, delivered…

While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters—sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only, who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope you found something, or a couple somethings that piqued your interest! If you didn't, first off, sad, but second stay tuned for the part II post with the other genres! 
​-Anj 

I have waited a very, very long time for this book. I've been a fan of Dennard's Witchlands series since the first book was released. I love Safi's fire and steel, and I love that she didn't need a magical witch power to be badass, same with Iseult. I loved the adventure, and watching her relationship with Merik develop. Honestly, I just loved everything about the first book. I really enjoyed the second book too-- especially the development between Iseult and Aeduan. All I needed was for all my babies to reunite once again. 
Maybe it's because I didn't read Sightwitch, the prequel novel, but I, unfortunately, found that I didn't find this third book nearly as engrossing as the first two. I felt somewhat separated from the storyline, like my investment wasn't entirely there. I think it might have been a combination of the time I've had away from the series plus sorry... but I just wasn't as interested in the storyline as the previous two. I know from seeing other peoples' reviews that I'm in the minority here. Everyone else really loved this novel, and I really wanted to, but I just couldn't bring myself to really grow attached and invested. There was plenty of action, but not enough connection to make me feel invested I guess. 
Overall I'd give Bloodwitch 6/10, it was enjoyable, but not spectacular. Not everything I hoped it to be, unfortunately. (I really think I made a mistake not reading Sightwitch before reading this one... Whoops). 

Anyway, here's the synopsis before we get to the spoiler section: 

 Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story.

High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets.

The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past

SPOILERS 
I'm so glad Safi and Iseult are finally reunited BUT that reunion between Merik and Safi that I have been waiting in high anticipation for was extremely disappointing. Especially with the whole twist of both of them thinking the other was dead up until this book.... Hm. 

Anyway, thanks for reading, 
Anj

Epic fantasies have always been right down my alleyway, and boy, this series definitely falls into that category. My cousin and I are both fantasy lovers, so we agreed on a book exchange-- buying each other the first book in a series and then promising to read the book that we were given. He bought me Malice, book one in the epic high fantasy series. And I'll be the first to admit that it took me a while to actually get around to reading it. As with many high fantasy series, the first book started out rather slow, in fact from what I recall the whole book was pretty slow. Like any good high fantasy, it really had to establish the world and the characters in the first book so we can really get to the good stuff in later books with a strong grasp on the world and also an attachment to the characters. This is exactly what Malice does. 
The first few chapters of Malice are very slow. I remember reading those at a very busy time in my life and then putting the book down as it just didn't seem worth using the time to force myself through. Then back around spring break I actually sat down to finish it. Yes, I'll be the first to admit that these books are a hefty commitment, emphasis on hefty because wow those are fat books to be carrying around, but trust me, they're actually really worth what can only be described as an epic length. While the Faithful and the Fallen doesn't fall into an absolute favorites category, I can promise you they are enjoyable reads that will suck you in with an intriguing plotline and fascinating world. Overall I'd give the series 7/10 stars. I did end up binging out on the last three books after finally finishing the first. It's like the first is the giant scale up the mountain, and the rest you're on a sled going down the other side of Everest. Though they are riveting reads, I have to admit there are some very prominent flaws with the stories that really irked me, especially after finishing the series, but more on that later. 
I would highly recommend this series to anyone who has a love for epic high fantasy stories, the kind with individual storylines that eventually intertwine. There's war, lots and lots of war, high stakes, and some intriguing mythology. Anyway, if you're interested here's a little overview on what this series is about. 
It's actually pretty hard to explain without giving anything away since the scope really expands more and more after the first book, but I think it's pretty safe saying that the story starts out with four main characters-- or really three main characters and one almost main side character: Corban, Veradis, Nathair and Evnis. 
Corban is a peasant boy, dreaming of the day he turns fourteen so that he can join the training to become a soldier. (If you're thinking wow that's young, I don't really want to be reading a middle grade novel-- don't worry! Not a middle grade novel, and A LOT of time passes over the course of these books (which makes sense seeing how gargantuan they are). Corban ages quite a lot throughout). 
Veradis is a skilled soldier, who befriends Nathair-- a prince with big aspirations and plans for the future. 
And Evnis... well, I'll let you see about Evnis. 
These are only the MAIN characters of the first book, there are a lot more characters and storylines woven in throughout the next novels. 
Anyway, that was a sucky synopsis so here's a real one: 

A black sun is rising … 

Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage. 

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars. 

High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.

Things I loved about these books: the plot and the character development. 
These are really plot and character driven books. And trust me when I say they have truly FANTASTIC plots and character development. Seriously if you compare the characters from the first book with the last book you'd think they're completely different people. And you got to travel along on that journey to see them become those different people. That's pretty amazing-- getting to see all the choices and key moments that lead to different things. Like a fearful cowardly boy growing into a courageous leader. With its huge cast of characters, this series really provides great and interesting perspective. 
And the plot? That's explosively good. Like I love all the planning with that and the intertwining mythology. To go along with the plot, the action is really well written and will keep you on the edge of your seat, really putting you right there on the battlefield with all your favorite (and least favorite) characters. 
Things I did not like about these books: the relationship development. 
While the plot and the characters are great, the way the relationships are written and built up to just isn't satisfying. Like, you can see that a lot of time has passed so it makes sense for those connections to have been made-- definitely not an instalove connection, but it almost feel likes instalove because you never get to see the small moments building up to those relationships becoming a relationship. I'm not just talking romantic, I'm also talking just about friendships and connections in general. Basically what you get to see with the relationships is the very beginning of each one, maybe a couple of words hinting at whatever in the middle and then the fully formed relationship at the end. What's really missing is that middle bit, the building part that helps the reader to really grow attached to said relationship. Because of that, there weren't many created relationships that I much cared for throughout the story. The relationship building definitely takes a backseat to the plot, which leaves me feeling a bit empty seeing as a truly satisfying action/fantasy story has a good balance of both. 
It's been so long since I read the series that I honestly couldn't tell you what my favorite book is, it's either Valor or Ruin (Book 2 or 3), but I can't remember which. They're both good-- actually they're all good, so it's really hard to remember which one stood above the other. My favorite characters would have to be Cywen and Storm, though I did like Veradis (I sorta see him as a sweet puppy in my eyes haha) and Corban. 
(SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD, LOOK FOR NEXT PARENTHESIS FOR END OF SLIGHT SPOILER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW MY LEAST FAVORITE CHARACTER) 
My least favorite character, without question would be

NATHAIR. 

Seriously, I despised him throughout all the books. I was always waiting for him to have some sort of redemption in my eyes, but he never redeemed himself to me. The amount of texts I sent my cousin ranting about him is probably absurd. Seriously, I think I remember saying something about wanting to push him off a cliff just high enough to break all his bones but not kill him so that he would just have to lie there dying. Anyway... More on that in the spoilery section of the review just so that you know... I don't spoil everything for you. 

(SPOILER OVER) 
 
Anyway, those are my thoughts on this series! If you're interested in the slightest, don't be afraid to pick Malice up! And if you're bored during Malice JUST PUSH THROUGH IT. It'll end up worth it, I promise you that. 

SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES 

I'm sorta lazy so I'm just gonna copy and paste some of my texts to my cousin about this series haha. 
(About the disappointment in the lack of showing relationship development) 
"Like Fidele and Maquin... You don't really get to see the development... You see them meeting and you know they travel together and all the sudden they're in love and willing to sacrifice anything for each other. You know it's happening in the background but there's no good lead up." 
​
"Or Veradis and Cywen. You know they travel together and have been talking but you don't actually get to see any of it." 
Interesting fact: Veradis and Cywen were actually the only relationship that I actually did fall in love with. the rest I didn't really actually feel much connection to. I spent MANY late nights saying I'd read till the next Cywen chapter, or saying I'd read until they reunited... Only that took a VERY long time haha. And then much to my irritation-- actually anger-- there was never actually any good romantic pay off, despite the fact that I waited two long books for them to reunite and then when they do NOTHING HAPPENS. They barely interact. UGhhhh. 
Here's a cleaned up text that I sent about that
"And I'm also pretty pissed about Veradis and Cywen. I literally wait two and a half giant books for them to be reunited and when they do nothing happens. Then at the end of the book I'm like cool, maybe some interaction? Nope. They still don't get together. It's strongly implied they WILL because they think about each other so often, but nothing actually occurs. Just another example of how the plot revolves around all just action as opposed to having some focus on the characters' relationships with each other." 

And on my opinion on the finale: 
"Very epic, had fun reading it BUT as a finale I was a bit disappointed. Right after this huge epic battle it just feels rushed to finish it-- I'm not left with the closure I was expecting and feeling like I needed. Perhaps an epilogue would have done the book good as it would help wrap up some loose ends and leave me a little more satisfied." 

And if you're wondering about my Nathair hatred. Wow. That's an endless well to be diving in to. In fact, I'm not even going to post the majority of my texts about them seeing as they are pretty evil with LOTS of cursing haha. 
I just thought Nathair was so full of himself, on a power high for the majority of the first few books. I really was looking forward to seeing all of that come crashing down, and when it did I thought it might open the door for some great character development that might actually lead me to liking him. Unfortunately... when it came crashing down for Nathair it didn't matter because HE STILL CHOSE TO BE A DICK. UGh. Also I was hoping for MORE from his death scene since he's been such a big series character, but it ended pretty quickly for him. Good that it was Veradis that killed him though. 

Don't have much to say about the prophecy stuff other than to say I LOVE that it wasn't a real prophecy and that it all ended with just humans being evil as opposed to it being about gods. (Yes, Asroth was involved, but it was Nathairs choice to CONTINUE ON and all his choices actually that lead to that war. )

Anyway, those are my scattered thoughts. Thanks for reading :) 
Anj

If you know anything about me, you know that I am a sucker for cutesy romances that make your heart flutter. So when I came across this book with its cute cover and promising synopsis in the bookstore, I knew I had to get it. 

It's been a while since I actually read this book, so I'm not exactly clear on specific details but I can tell you the one big looming feeling I have left about this novel several months after reading it is DISAPPOINTMENT. I guess I was looking forward to a sort of Anna and the French Kiss vibe where you learn to grow fond of the city along with everything else. Everything else including falling in love with an adorable boy. 
Sure, the boy is cute, but the romance wasn't exactly something to fall head over heels over. Neither was the story arc with the main character. Without going too deep into my own personal life, let me just say that I am shocking familiar with the situation the main character has gone through. While I know that everyone handles their emotions differently, I found Lina's whole attitude in general to be extremely grating on my nerves. 
I don't remember much about Ren, so he's definitely not a main character that I fell head over heels for. I don't exactly remember really disliking him all that much either. He was more a steady neutral I guess. The whole romance though... It just felt extremely rushed. Not in terms of anything happening, but in terms of when one decides they're in LOVE with the other. I mean seriously, how in love can you be about a week in? 
The more I think about it, the more I think this novel has a lot of parallels with Anna and the French Kiss in terms of the love interest plotline. A LOT in common actually. The setting is pretty similar as well, as they're both thrown into school and life in a foreign country and are forced to make new connections and find their own way in a new friend group. Honestly, I may be biased saying this but if you want that sort of slow burn friends to lovers romance thing along with falling in love with a European city-- go for Anna and the French Kiss. It is infinitely better in every way. 
The one thing that could separate Love and Gelato from Anna and the French Kiss is its main storyline about family and finding it. (Though I suppose a big theme of Anna IS family). Dealing with the loss of a loved one and learning to incorporate a new figure into your life. While this plot line was probably the most interesting of the book, it fell flat. And was also extremely predictable.
Overall I'd give this novel 6/10 stars. It did have some cute and fuzzy moments but overall it felt rushed and there were a lot of annoying moments to outweigh the good ones. 

SYNOPSIS: 
​
A New York Times bestseller

A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure.

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

Kirkus Reviews called Love & Gelato “a sure bet for fans of romance fiction,” while VOYA said readers “will find it difficult to put this book down.” Readers are about to discover a new place, a new romance, and a new talent.

SPOILER 

Ugh. Howard was obviously not her father / X from the start. And wow, the amount of ungrateful this girl is to be living in ITALY is shocking. And finally here's one of my notes that just speaks for itself "just finish the journal before making assumptions." 

Thanks for reading, 
Anj 

There's not much to say about this novel. Apparently it's a loose YA retelling of A Midsummer's Night Dream. Well, for starters, I'm not actually all that familiar with the tale, but all I can say about it is that it didn't adapt too well to the YA world in this novel. 
The story follows Mia, who has been crushing on soccer star Vince since about forever. Her best friend, Robyn runs a matchmaking business which has stellar results. Since Robyn refuses to help Mia out, she decides to take matters in her own hands in order to get her one true love to finally notice her... Only things don't go as planned, especially when a big wrench otherwise known as Logan gets thrown into said plans. Logan has been Mia's nemesis for so long that she never really bothered to notice him. Only now she's starting to... 
As you can see, the synopsis of this novel sets up a pretty obvious storyline. Sure, it sounds dumb and cliche but if you know me, you know that I can be a real sucker for dumb and cliche romances. You know, I'd be willing to overlook the ridiculous idea that a high schooler ran a matchmaking business if it lead to a swoonworthy romance or at least a fun storyline. Instead, this book fell flat. Mia's character just irked me. Basically every single decision she makes throughout the story is a horrible one. First of all, betraying/ going behind a best friend's back to mess with their business? Just no. And then there's the whole romance(s) going on within the novel. I'm not actually going to address that irritation up here, but wow. So many choices made in here were very, very ANNOYING. Not just Mia, but seriously, people in this novel are very aggravating, not to mention horrendous friends to each other. I just really didn't appreciate the directions multiple of the characters went in. It all just seemed extremely petty and immature, and not in the fun, enjoyable way to read. 
The main romantic interest's interactions with Mia were kind of fun, but nothing spectacular or new. I did enjoy a bit of the banter, but nothing stands out in my mind many months later. Honestly, nothing particularly great stands out to me about this novel many months later, just all the irritating things-- which is why this might seem like more of a rant review. Sorry about that. Overall, this novel wasn't ALL that horrible, but it was in no ways great, or even really all that good either. I would probably give the book 6/10 stars. It wasn't anything new, and nothing about it gave me the adorable butterflies that I want from a cutesy contemporary. Instead I just found myself getting annoyed more often than not. Not a big recommendation from me. 

Synopsis: 
Mia's best friend Robyn is known for her matchmaking skills, which is perfect, because homecoming is just around the corner. But Robyn refuses to set Mia up with the guy of her dreams, which forces Mia to take matters into her own hands. She uses Robyn's matchmaking service to make sure popular Vince Demetrius falls for her. 

Vince asks her out, but Mia doesn't count on Logan, the persistent school newspaper photographer who seems to like her out of the blue. Now she has to choose between Vince - the guy she knows is right for her - and Logan, who insists that she give him a chance. And she needs to make sure Robyn doesn't find out that Mia's been matchmaking behind her back. 

Mia has two weeks before homecoming. Can she fix the mess she made or will she have to kiss her perfect match goodbye forever?
​
SPOILERS 
So Vince was never a real romance option. Ever, which irked me because Mia never even really gave him a chance even though she was the one messing around with him in the first place. UGH. I was expecting him to have more of a chance/ be more of a prominent interest, and was disappointed in the route taken there. 
And don't even get me started on Elena. Overdramatic. All around bitch, honestly deserves no redemption or forgiveness in my eyes. Like I don't actually remember what she did but seriously I remember it wasn't really worth forgiving her for whatever it was, or whatever shoddy apology she gave. I very clearly remember her pulling a fire alarm just for the fun of being dramatic though, so that's annoying-- she's a child who never thinks of consequences. Wow. Wonder how many times I've said annoying in this review. Sorry! 
Thanks for reading, 
​Anj

Let's just start this off by saying that this book left me shook to the core. Wow, the Wicked King was a wild ride and I absolutely adored every second of it. 
Overall thoughts: amazing. I loved Cardan and Jude-- their landmine filled relationship is literally everything, the tension is through the roof and that was my everything while reading this one. Individually, they're very interesting characters, but together they are everything haha. Like the background of betrayal and all with them is just too good. 
Still hate Taryn, like I know there was a short from her perspective that tried to "explain" everything, but I basically just hate her and while some betrayal is okay, hers was not. (not a spoiler, talking about the previous book). Like she waltzes in at the beginning of this one, doesn't apologize and just wants everything to be better, well guess what T, IT'S NOT. (Yes, I'm totally fine. It's all good. It's fine. I don't care...) 
Yeah, this book took my emotions on a super bumpy roller coaster. Honestly, the first book was good, but this one is a work of ART. 9/10 stars, obviously I highly recommend! If you even slightly enjoyed the first book, definitely pick this one up (if you haven't already, this review is coming very late, I'm aware.) 
Synopsis: 

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

SPOILERS: 
OKAY so it's been like half a year since I read this but can I just freak out over the fact that OH DEAR GOD SHE TOLD US THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK SO LONG AGO!!! The title of the last book has been released for years now. It's called QUEEN OF NOTHING. BECAUSE JUDE IS QUEEN BUT IT'S OF NOTHING. I'm highkey disappointed in myself for not even thinking of this. I know it's such a toxic relationship but I LOVE CARDAN AND JUDE. And I love how they're equals now. It's great. Okay. Yeah. That's the only spoilery thing I have to say because well... it's been so long whoops. 
Thanks for reading, 
Anj
​

The epic conclusion to Sarah J. Maas' 7 book high fantasy series, the book we've all been waiting for for years upon years upon YEARS. Anticipation often leads to high expectations, and especially since it's SARAH J. MAAS, my expectations were pretty freaking high... And Miss Maas managed to not only reach that bar, but jump over it with Kingdom of Ash. 
Overall, unsurprisingly, this was an amazing novel, the only issues I have with it are small and nitpicky, which I will mention quickly in the spoiler section, but otherwise this was a stellar novel. 10/10 stars, each and every one is 100% deserved. The pace, the plot and the characters are all perfect. My biggest complaint about this book is that it's the end... I never wanted my time with the Court of Terrasen to end, and yet here we are. :( Honestly this series has meant so much to me and I'm SO sad to say goodbye and see it end... Still, this is one spectacular way for these characters to say adieu. (Obviously) they're all so badass in this novel, dealing with every ordeal and tribulation thrown their way. There's really nothing else to say, the book is perfect. Read it. 

Synopsis: 

Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unraveling with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, friends and allies are scattered to different fates. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. As destinies weave together at last, all must fight if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.

Years in the making, Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an explosive conclusion as Aelin fights to save herself―and the promise of a better world.

SPOULERS: 
here are my few nitpicky things: 
I really wanted to see Aelin just absolutely DESTROY everything with her fire, but of course, it makes total sense why she didn't. It was never about her powers. 
I'd been really excitedly waiting for Nox to be a huge plot point for several books, but lol nope he's there for about half and page and then buh bye. 
Where is Vaughn? Lol. That barely even matters, see? I told y'all, this book was absolute perfection. 

Also weird little flex but I got to meet Sarah for like half a second and it honestly made my life lol.