Jenny Han was another author I devoured in my early 20’s and this book series came out way before To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The Summer I Turned Pretty was a book series my best friend and I read together. I remember she could relate because she was torn between liking two brothers, so she loved this series. As for me…this was the series that kind of made me wary of love triangles featuring brothers. Oh the drama – I couldn’t handle that it was between brothers. Like no…😒😩, that’s a no for me – I hate the thought of brothers fighting over a girl. But am I going to watch it? OH HECK YEAH. I’m so much older now and have heard worse real life drama in my lifetime now LOL and I’m sure my bestie will be watching this too! It’s nostalgic for me and it’s a summer vibes story and with summer coming, it’s perfect. Plus we have the bad boy brother, and the good one. So much drama…lol…
About the Book:
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
And here’s the trailer:
I mean they knew what they were doing using Taylor Swift’s song in this trailer. Good…BAD…yeah…I was so into the bad boy brother. LOL. It’s coming out on JUNE 17th on Amazon!
Did you read this series? Are you planning on watching the series?
I’ve been seeing so many trailers lately of books that are adapted being adapted into movies or shows. I’m excited to see a few of these!
1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better… —Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814
But this time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself…
***I read these books so long ago that I don’t remember much about the series but I loved season one and am super excited for season 2! Coming to Netflix on March 25. I’m so ready! ***
Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…
***I have not read this series but heard many good things! And the trailer looks so good! It already gave me butterflies. Coming to Netflix on April 22.***
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
**I’ve read all of Sarah Dessen books. And I’m looking forward to seeing how they are adapted. Coming to Netflix on April 22.**
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.
But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life’s lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world—until the unthinkable happens.
In Where the Crawdads Sing, Owens juxtaposes an exquisite ode to the natural world against a profound coming of age story and haunting mystery. Thought-provoking, wise, and deeply moving, Owens’s debut novel reminds us that we are forever shaped by the child within us, while also subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.
The story asks how isolation influences the behavior of a young woman, who like all of us, has the genetic propensity to belong to a group. The clues to the mystery are brushed into the lush habitat and natural histories of its wild creatures.
***I’ve been meaning to read this for years and never got around to it and I don’t know why. But I think I should read it now since the movie is coming out. In theaters July 22.**
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
From Sauron’s fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.
When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.
The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.
***I was in my early 20’s when The Lord of the Rings came out in the theater and wow…what an event it was. I remember the hype around it before it was released. I remember going with my 2 best friends and being in awe, and trying not to go to the bathroom in case we missed something good (but I really had to go LOL) and was standing near the door when Gandalf said the iconic “You Shall Not Pass!” 😅. I ran to the bathroom after that scene. I’ve watched all three movies plus extended versions countless times on dvd over the years haha. I’ll definitely watch this – and no, I haven’t read any of the books. 🤦🏻♀️). Coming to Amazon on Sept. 2.**
I know there is a bunch more coming out but I’ll do a part 2 when there are trailers for them.
What are you excited to watch this year? ~ Yolanda
I’ve been meaning to do some fun Top 5 or Top 10 list post and sometimes I just don’t have the time! How do you awesome bloggers do it? 😘
So Kindle Unlimited – let’s talk about it. For a monthly subscription you get to read unlimited books in the Kindle library. When I had no kids, I bought books like crazy! When we moved into a small house, I had to donate my books, keeping only a few. When I had kids, and a bigger mortgage – I had to be on a budget! Thank goodness for libraries!
I tried out Kindle Unlimited because of one author, Christi Caldwell. I was looking for new romance authors because it was my favorite genre but I was having a hard time finding ones that appealed to me. I read one of her books and wanted more so I got a subscription. But because it’s a monthly subscription, there were times I was in a reading rut trying to find something good there – and cancelled. I joined again, cancelled and joined again! 😅 Then I tried some of the fantasy ebooks…and I’ve had a steady subscription since. So here are my 5 fantasy/sci fi (mostly fantasy) book series I’ve found on Kindle Unlimited that I’ve enjoyed so far!
The Spoken Mage Series by. Melanie Cellier
This series is pretty good. I enjoyed seeing Elena, the spoken mage, learn, grow and fall in love. My favorite thing though is the friendships she’s made along the way. I’m going to be finishing up the series soon, so hopefully it ends on a good note.
I read this series last year and really enjoyed it! I was transported to a fascinating fantasy world. Princess Olina has worn a veil over her face since her infancy and watching her transform from a girl with a veil to one without is pretty awesome.
I should feature the Air Awakens series but honestly it’s been four years since I’ve read it. So instead I’ll talk about Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles, the re-entry into Elise Kova’s fantasy world filled with magic and political intrigue. I’ve only read book one, and will get to book two eventually when I get this TBR list down a little. 😅
The Culling Trials by. K.F. Breene & Shannon Mayer
These academy books always get me! I’m serious! Haha – but this series is very addicting. I’m in the middle of book three right now and can’t wait to see how it ends. Sometimes these indie book are so short, they could have mashed these three books to make one book! But I don’t mind the short wait between the books. In this series we have a very strong female character who is surrounded by vampires, necromancer, goblins, magic users and assassins. It’s so fast pace and fun! It’s a wild adventure throughout the whole series. Speaking of “Wild” that’s our character’s nickname and I can see why! Loving this series so far!
I am not a big sci-fi fan. Actually this was the series that got me saying, oh, okay maybe I like sci-fi, maybe… I love Amy A. Bartol’s stories because they are creative even if they go off a bit tangent and wild, there is something about them that is addictive. Secondborn is cool, Traitor Born is my favorite and Rebel Born – though I gave it 4 1/2 stars because the romance part came together the way I wanted and I’m obsessed with Reykin haha, this book goes almost into another dimension diving into sci-fi/mythology/fantasy it made my head spin. It works for some people and others hated. I actually understood what the author was trying to do – but there was a lot of info dump about parallel universes, mind control and then add the mythology…it’s a whirlwind. It would have played out better if we had hints of these things in book one and two for sure! I still love it though. 😬
Categories: Academy, New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Sexual Themes
Book Blurb:
Maddison James is about to discover some truths about the world. Firstly … supernaturals exist. WTF? Secondly … she is one, even though no one seems to know exactly what kind. Double WTF. Thirdly … she’s about to go back to school. Well, things just got a little more interesting. The Supernatural Academy is where shifters, vampires, magic users, and fey are educated. Where they are taught about their abilities, and how to function in the human world. Maddison already has the human part down, but this supernatural thing is an entirely new dangerous game. Example one: mean girls who can actually turn you into a frog. Example two: Asher Locke, a god at the Academy. Not literally … well, who knows for sure. He certainly acts the part, as do all of his minions who worship him. Asher drives her crazy, because apparently gorgeous and arrogant is her thing. Sparks fly between them, and the more they’re thrown together, the more Asher is determined to figure out what’s been blocking her abilities.Until the moment the truth is revealed, and they find out nothing in this supernatural world is what they thought. Including each other.
MY REVIEW
I don’t know why I have an addiction to these “academy” books but I think my addiction may be tapering off. 🤷🏻♀️😅 These academy titles have been flooding my Kindle Unlimited recommendations lists, which sort of bugs me because I want to see what else is available to read outside of what they recommend. But here we go, another academy book…
I do enjoy reading about supernatural beings all in one school, learning about their abilities and getting along with each other. It just makes the whole typical school story so much more extra. This is a new adult urban fantasy with sex scenes so it definitely gets hot and steamy.
Maddison James had been living among humans all her life, thinking she was human until she finds out she’s not. Other supernaturals can’t quite figure out what she is though, but she is very powerful and has an affinity for water. Being at the academy has given her a new life with structure and friends, something she didn’t have growing up. She learns about the origins of supernaturals and the lost kingdom of Atlantis. I really like Maddi, she’s fun, spunky and knows herself. She embraces her uniqueness and can stand up for herself against the mean girls. Maddi also got herself some cool new friends in Ilia and Larissa.
The lore of Atlantis has always been fascinating to me and I thought this book did a fun take on it. There are five very hot guys at the academy and they are nicknamed the Atlantean Five. Of course she is drawn to the hottest guy of the group, Asher Locke, and he to her. I was afraid this was going to be a reverse harem book and I’m not so much into that, so I’m glad it wasn’t. Also it’s not a bully romance, hooray for me, I had way enough of that last one so it kind of turned me off.
As you see in the blurb there is a lot of WTF’s and cursing going on in the book so if you don’t like cursing, this book isn’t for you. There was action, humor, and romance which was a nice balance and made it a quick read. I will be reading the next book because I need to find out what Maddi is exactly and if the bad guys are really bad. See, I’m already looking forward to the next book, why are these academy books so addicting? 😂 WTF. 🤦🏻♀️
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 