amarisafloria

This month was a bit strange because it was the first full month of being out of school forever. I'm in this awkward state of looking for a full-time (or even part-time, really) job but having tons of time to catch up on reading books, watching TV shows and doing whatever the heck I want. Here are a couple of things I did this past month:


In the middle of January, Joe and I took three of our friends (Alex, Esther and Markus) to Southern California to experience the wonderful place that is Disneyland and just enjoy ourselves! We spent two days at Disneyland + California Adventures, visited the Santa Monica Pier, had some DELICIOUS all-you-can-eat korean bbq, ate ice cream macarons twice and played a ton of Trivia Crack + Family Feud.


Loved: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, The Giver by Lois Lowry
Liked: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols, Four by Veronica Roth, The Queen by Kiera Cass
Could've skipped: Since You've Been Gone by Mary Jennifer Payne

Number of books and pages read in January: 5 (and 1 novella) // 1,381 pages



After watching Big Hero 6 with my mom in December, one of my brothers and I decided to expand her knowledge on all things Disney by borrowing a bunch of DVDs from the library. We chose Wreck-it Ralph, one of my favorites, and Monsters University (my dad randomly joined us and he loved it!) I ended up watching Big Hero 6 two more times in January, once with Esther and again with Alex, Joe and Markus. Big Hero 6 is a great movie and I highly recommend it to everyone :)

• I started a new feature, Up and Coming, to share a list of the releases I am most excited for each month. It's kind of interesting to look back at it because I've changed my mind about a book I mentioned.
• Two book reviews: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols and Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally.
• After an encounter with a guy who automatically thinks of YA as Twilight, I wrote Explaining YA to the Non-Bookish and talked about the way I'd go about describing the young adult genre with people who don't read.

If you listen to anything today, check out Daniela Andrade's mix of Telegraph Ave/Sober (by Childish Gambino. I also replayed Tove Lo's Queen of the Clouds album a TON of times in January (Not on Drugs is one of my favorites) and Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding.

I just started watching The 100 a couple of days ago and I'm HOOKED, so you'll definitely be seeing that in the next "looking back" post. (If you don't watch it, I recommend you start ASAP!) I hope your January was just as fun as mine!

BEFORE I STARTED READING
There was a lot of talk about Breathe, Annie, Breathe in mid-2014, so naturally I wanted to pick it up. Unfortunately, I'm the type of person who has to start a series, even a companion series, with the first book. So here we are. Also, can we talk about the cover? I am not a fan of it at all ...

STORYLINE
Catching Jordan follows a girl named Jordan who is the captain of her high school's football team. She has no plans in being romantically involved with any boys—the only thing she's working toward is to one day play football for University of Alabama. Having an unsupportive dad isn't an obstacle with her best friend Sam Henry around, but when a cute boy named Ty moves to town ... staying focused has become a bit harder.

Some time last year, I was talking with my boyfriend about the many YA books being turned into movies (Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, Mockingjay, etc.) and he made fun of me for calling young adult "YA." He knows what the young adult genre is, but he didn't think it made sense for me to abbreviate it because "nobody but you would call it that."

Having been part of the book blogging community for a little while now, "YA" is written EVERYWHERE. More times than "young adult," I'd think! But to people who don't read at all (like my boyfriend—although I did get him to read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire!) I understand why it could be kind of confusing.

While I was waiting to get a new phone at the Apple store, the guy who helped me out asked about the type of books I like to read after I told him I like reading. Remembering the conversation with my boyfriend, I said "mostly young adult fiction" (in case he wasn't a reader) and his response was "oh, like the ones with vampires?" I was SO confused. Luckily, my brother (who was with me) knew he was talking about Twilight.

It's kind of strange knowing that the first thing people think of when they hear "young adult" could be Twilight. It's a bit sad too, because Twilight has given YA a bad reputation (I've only read the first book so I don't have much of an opinion about the series/movies) so I brought up The Hunger Games because I figured it was one he would most likely know.

Talking about YA with people who don't read isn't a problem to me—the only issue I have is coming up with examples. Without YA book-to-movie adaptations, I have no idea what I'd say.

Hi everyone! It took me some time to gather most of the things I did in December, but here it is :)



My favorite read of the month has to be Boomerang — this book made me laugh so much! It was tough to choose because I LOVE Amulet, so get into that if you haven't read it yet!

• A local radio station hosted a holiday mixer and Stephanie invited me to go with her! Like I mentioned in my Goodbye, 2014 post, Andy Grammer, Matt Nathanson and American Authors performed and I loved every bit. They are all great live!
• I watched Elf the Musical! I am a HUGE fan of Elf, so my boyfriend took my youngest brother and me to watch. The person who played Buddy was a bit different than movie Buddy (personality-wise), but I liked it. I didn't mind the way they changed the storyline to be more "musical-esque", but the movie will always be my favorite.
• I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY! Which means I am no longer in school! So far I am jobless, but I don't mind taking a short break to relax and job search (with as little stress as possible!)

• The Fellowship of the Ring — I rarely watch movies because I always choose to watch TV instead (episodes are way shorter), but I did it. I watched a three hour movie. I have been meaning to properly sit down and watch The Lord of the Rings because 1) I know I'd enjoy it if I actually pay attention and 2) it's just something you have to do. Even though running away from orks and other random fantastical creatures got a bit repetitive, I LIKED IT. (I don't think I like it enough to read the books though ...)
• The Theory of Everything — Okay, so I didn't end up finishing this movie because it was a bit dull. Don't get me wrong though, Eddie Redmayne is an INCREDIBLE actor. There just wasn't enough drama to keep me interested.

• I read and finished Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, so I spilled my thoughts in a book review and they couldn't be more different than what everyone else is saying.
• I participated in Top Ten Tuesday twice by listing books I wouldn't mind Santa bringing this year and some reading goals for 2015.
• I mentioned The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord as my "Waiting on Wednesday" pick. (At this very moment, I have access to an advanced copy. THANK YOU NETGALLEY, I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!)
• Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner created the 2014 End of Year Book Survey and I joined in on the fun.
• I said goodbye to 2014 with tons of pictures :)

• Luck by American Authors — This song was my jam in December. I listened to it every single day after that concert and I STILL love it.
• Silent by Tori Kelly — Another reason to read The Giver and watch the movie. I've loved Tori Kelly for quite some time now, so I'm happy to see her reach bigger audiences.
• How You Get the Girl by Taylor Swift — This song is just so much fun to sing and dance along to.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but ... I wasn't too into Christmas music this year. I loved Pentatonix's new album, but nothing else stood out to me :/

I hope you had a swell time at the end of your year. Out of all the things you did in December, what was most memorable? What was your top favorite read?

Up and Coming was created so I could share four soon-to-be-published-this-month books I think deserve more attention. (In other words, these are the books you should be adding to your TBR pile!) I'll be doing these at the beginning of each month, so feel free to do the same if you'd like :)

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall
Book 1 in an untitled series

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin Books USA)

To fight her destiny as the missing heir to a powerful and dangerous secret society, sixteen-year-old Avery West must solve an ancient puzzle in a deadly race across Europe. Forbidden love and code-breaking, masked balls and explosions, destiny and dark secrets collide in this romantic thriller, in the vein of a YA DaVinci Code.

Avery West's newfound family can shut down Prada at the Champs-Elysees when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war.

They are part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle of Twelve, and Avery is their missing heir. If they discover who she is, some of them will want to use her as a pawn. Some will want her dead.

To thwart their plans, Avery must follow a trail of clues from the landmarks of Paris to the back alleys of Istanbul and through a web of ancient legends and lies. And unless she can stay one step ahead of beautiful, volatile Stellan, who knows she’s more than she seems, and can decide whether to trust mysterious, magnetic Jack, she may be doomed after all.

THIS COVER IS SO BEAUTIFUL (which initially attracted me) but add in forbidden love and dark secrets? SOLD. I'm so glad I don't have to wait a long time for this one :p

Twisted Fate by Norah Olson

Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books (HarperCollins)

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he’s a kindred spirit — shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends. It’s impossible to resist having a crush on him.

As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently. In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart. Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naïveté. But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too. The more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right — and wrong — she is about everything.

Although it sounds like this could go either really great or really bad, I'm strangely interested in the plot. It has been getting a lot of mixed reviews, so I'm excited to read it for myself.

All Fall Down by Ally Carter
Book 1 in the Embassy Row series

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Publication Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Other books by Ally Carter: Heist Society, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Grace can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay — in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

I've been looking for more mysterious novels to try (as you may probably be able to tell) and I've heard tons of good things about Ally Carter, so this is perfect for January. Ally said that All Fall Down will be better than Heist Society (which I have not read yet), so I'm looking forward to it!

Love, Lucy by April Lindner

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publication Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Poppy (Hachette Book Group)

Other books by April Lindner: Jane, Catherine

While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food ... and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too.

In this coming-of-age romance, April Lindner perfectly captures the highs and lows of a summer love that might just be meant to last beyond the season.

I first heard of this book over at Paper Cuts (hi Rachel!) and was immediately drawn to it because ITALY and ROMANCE. One of my professors at university is leading a three-week study abroad trip there this coming summer and if I can't go, reading this will slightly make up for it. Also, this makes me think of The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which was definitely my favorite movie from 2003-2006.

I Was Here by Gayle Forman and Fairest by Marissa Meyer are the two other releases that I am REALLY looking forward to, but I'm sure everyone has been talking about it.