CAN YOU BELIEVE IT’S THE END OF JUNE 2018 ALREADY??
How did this happen. I swear it was just January literally yesterday.
Last year (IT’S BEEN A YEAR AAAHH) I was tagged for this many times, but decided not to do it for whatever stupid reason I made up. So this year, before it was too late, I’ve decided to do this tag!
I was tagged by multiple people (and I don’t really remember who) so here’s the original post! I’m aware that all of these are singular, aka CHOOSE ONE THING, but do you know me? My indecisive butt can’t do that. So for a few of these questions (I’m lying, it’s all of them), I’ll be answering with more than one book!!
I’m supposed to be at 50 books by the end of June help me
1. best book you’ve read so far this year
So far, I have five favorite books of 2018. Three of them I cried over. (But I’m going to spare you a bit of my gushing by only mentioning my top 3 favs!)
- Girl Made of Stars Ashley Herring Blake // I am THE stan of this book and I won’t stop screaming about it until all of you have read it. I cried over it. I reread it two days after my first read. Guys I keep repeating this YOU ALL HAVE TO READ IT.
- Radio Silence Alice Oseman // I haven’t had the chance to talk much about this because I read it this month, but oh my god this absolutely blew me away and it is AMAZING. I connected to it so much and I adore the messages and relationships and messages and it’s so so well-written.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid // I also read this book this month and haven’t screamed a lot about it, but trust me: This book is a MASTERPIECE. It was better than I ever dreamed of and I think it’s something everyone has to read before they die.
2. best sequel you’ve read so far this year
Uhhhh… none.
Look I’ve read a total of one (1) sequel this year and it wasn’t as great as I thought it would be, so there’s no way I’m going to use it for this question.
(It was Obsidio.)
3. new release you haven’t read yet, but want to
Do you realize that each time I have to answer questions like this, I fall into a hole of existential crises and never get out???? I’ve been here since last year. I haven’t caught up with last year’s releases.
- The Astonishing Color of After Emily XR Pan // This is one of my MOST anticipated releases of 2018 and I… still haven’t read it??? I don’t know either. One day I’ll pick it up. I really want to love it and I’m kind of scared I won’t.
- The Cruel Prince Holly Black // I can hear the screams of my friends who are realizing I haven’t read this yet. I’M SCARED. I want to love it. But I have a feeling I’ll either adore it or absolutely despise it and I just don’t want to be killed by my friends, all right?
- Children of Blood and Bone Tomi Adeymi // The only thing I have to say about this is that it looks so good but so long.
- Final Draft Riley Redgate // This came out really recently so I guess it’s not a horrendous crime that I haven’t read it yet, but god it looks SO SO good and I have a feeling I’m going to love it. I can’t wait.
4. most anticipated release for the second half of the year
- Blanca y Roja Anna-Marie McLemore // LISTEN I LOVE ANNA-MARIE AND THIS BOOK IS GOING TO KILL ME AND I NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
- What if It’s Us Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera // This is going to be a Gay book and I know I’m going to love it and you KNOW I’ll be at the bookstore on October 6 to get a copy of this (and Blanca y Roja).
- Wildcard Marie Lu // Hey… Penguin… anybody… an ARC of this would be REAL nice…
5. biggest disappointment
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- The City of Brass SK Chakraborty // All I have to say is that I expected a 5-star, new favorite book, and I got a 1-star book.
- And I Darken Kiersten White // I just wanted to enjoy a historical fiction book FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE and enjoy a book my friends loved but NO. OF COURSE NOT.
- A Monster Calls Patrick Ness // I went in expecting some emotional catharsis and came out confused and sad.
6. biggest surprise
- People Like Us Dana Mele // I don’t usually read thrillers, but this one was just so… great? It was a genuinely creepy, well-written thriller. And the characters were super fleshed out (usually the thrillers I read don’t have well-developed characters).
- The Abyss Surrounds Us Emily Skrutskie // I truly believe that this is one of the most underrated, underhyped books. It is genuinely SO GOOD and I adored it. The plot is so engaging. The characters are so morally grey and yet lovable. I just really love it.
7. favorite new author (debut or new to you)
- Ashley Herring Blake. I mean, duh.
- Natasha Ngan. I kind of have a love-hate relationship with her because the ending of her book… how to put this lightly… ENDED me. But I also adore her and her book.
- Alice Oseman. I’ve always been a big fan of hers (especially since I’ve read her webcomic Heartstopper) but I’ve finally read one of her books and can say she is officially one of my favorite authors.
8. newest fictional crush
I honestly don’t really have a new fictional crush? They have to be a certain level of Iconic and Lovable and Meant for Me and no one has reached that yet.
I mean, I read Obsidio this year but I’ve crushed on Ella Malikova since last year so it doesn’t really count. (Please be my girlfriend.)
9. newest favorite character
I’m really sad to say that I only have like two new favorite characters!! I thought I would have more but apparently I haven’t connected that much to many characters yet sooooo.
Evelyn Hugo from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is such a dynamic, strong, flawed character and I ADORE HER. She’s unafraid to take what she wants in a world that refuses to give her anything and it’s SO INSPIRING.
Frances Janvier from Radio Silence is also an amazing friend and such a good person and written so well. I’m a little biased though because I have this theory that she is me and I am her and the whole story was written about and/or for me. (IT’S SO GOOD.)
10. book that made you cry
Okay this is really weird for me to say but… I have cried over literally four books this year???
In my entire lifetime, I’ve only cried over six books (and there are another two that I don’t count because I cried over them AFTER I finished reading) and FOUR of them have been books I read this year. I can’t tell if I’m getting more emotional when I read or if I’m just picking really Heartbreaking books to read??
- Girl Made of Stars Ashley Herring Blake // Do I REALLY need to talk more about this one.
- Summer Bird Blue Akemi Dawn Bowman // Whenever Rumi thought about her sister’s death, I kept imagining that it was MY sister who had died and I just broke down.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid // I didn’t cry much over this compared to the other books?? It was really just three times over side characters. But I was still really affected AAAAHHH.
- They Both Die at the End Adam Silvera // This is the book I cried the most over, honestly. It TORE ME APART. I’m kind of shocked at how much it affected me and I literally couldn’t stop crying. (Also the ending made it worse and I can’t believe Adam Silvera would do something like that.)
11. book that made you happy
The only book that made me GENUINELY happy was Autoboyography because while it dealt with a lot of heavy things, the romance that bloomed was so beautiful and there were SO MANY cute moments and I adored it. I smiled and screamed so many times it’s embarrassing tbh.
12. favorite book-to-movie adaptation you saw this year
I saw only one adaptation this year and that was Love, Simon, which is one of my favorite movies ever and I love it so much!!! I cried all three times I saw it and it’s such a powerful, important, beautiful, hilarious movie and I ADORE IT. I hope all my international friends will get to see it soon!
13. favorite review you’ve written
I think I would have more reviews to list if I actually WROTE THEM, but the two I’m talking about here are two I’m immensely proud of.
- My rewritten review of Starfish explains why Starfish means so much to me, and it goes into a lot of detail about my experiences as living as an Asian teen in the US and how that’s affected how I view myself. It’s a… very personal review, but I hope Asian teens will relate to it and pick up the book, because Starfish is a love letter to people like us.
- My review of Six of Crows took FIVE HOURS to write (and more to edit) but it’s completely worth it. It highlights all the iconic moments and quotes of the book, with my necessary hilarious commentary on them, and it’s just my favorite. I reread it to make myself smile and it works every time.
14. most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
Girls of Paper and Fire has a GORGEOUS cover, and it’s probably of the main character Lei, who is a sapphic Asian woman. Which means the world to me!! I don’t even generally like book covers with human models on them but this one is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
Also I know I should stop talking about it… but I’m love in the cover of Girl Made of Stars.
15. what books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Well, obviously the 2018 releases I haven’t read yet but need to, and the releases I’m looking forward to, but also books 3-5 of the PJO series (a reread!) and Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom (another reread!).
what are you favorite books of 2018 so far? have you read any of the books i mentioned? what books have you cried over? HAVE YOU SEEN LOVE, SIMON?? and if you’ve done this tag, feel free to link it down below!
p.s. I’m so sorry that 1) I talked about so many of the same books and I tried to highlight some other ones but it kind of failed!! and 2) this is a REALLY LONG post
BEAUTIFUL POST
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ELISE HOW DARE YOu
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I WAS PLANNING TO BE FIRST COMMENT :-(
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wow I’m never this competitive
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who invited you into this conversation excuse me
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WHY WOULD I NOT SUPPORT THIS POST
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because you should let me be the first comment
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fuck off we can both be may stans
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there can only be one true may stan
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stop LYING
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can’t believe people are fighting over me I’m famous
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keep telling yourself that
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THANK YOU
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whatever at least i’m second comment
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wow such an accomplishment
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I am planning on reading Radio Silence soon! I have heard so many amazing things about it! I am glad I am not the only one who rarely reads sequels. I have also only read one this year!
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Oh, I hope you love Radio Silence!! It’s really, truly amazing, and I adored it. And haha I’m glad I’m not the only one failing at reading sequels :’) (though tbh I really don’t put much of a priority on them? I just… read 😂)
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1.) I’m screaming at you WITH LOVE! But seriously, no pressure ever, love! Ever ever!
2.) SO blessed to have read Radio Silence with you! Wanna be cute and read her other two books together this year, too? PLEASE!
3.) I actually loled at the Obsidio answer. Like, praise/bless.
4.) AND And I Darken, because I feel like such an outcast for not loving it.
5.) AND AND AND I bought Girls Made of Stars because of you. So thanks?
ilysm and happy second half of 2018, bb! 💘xx
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6.)* If I get a Wildcard ARC… it is yours! <3
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💖💖💖💖
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(but no keep it for yourself and LOVE it)
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You make me blush, of course we’re going to buddy read Alice’s other books this year! And I saw your review for And I Darken and felt so glad that a friend I trust didn’t love it either <3 (OH MY GOD PLEASE LOVE GIRL MADE OF STARS I'M PRAYING WITH ALL MY HEART! 💓)
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Ahhh I love this post so much!! You’ve included so many of the books I love. 😍 I’m currently reading Girl Made of Stars and I love it so far (and I’m also *in love* with the cover). And I’m dying to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. 😩 (Please hurry up with my hold @ my local library.)
I’m so happy you enjoyed Radio Silence; I really loved it too!! I also want to read I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman because I’ve heard it’s amazing as well. (There are so many books that I need to read.) 😭 Autoboyography made me really happy too; it’s one of my favorite books. 💗
I’ve actually never cried over a book, whoops (or not that I remember). Maybe it’ll change with Girl Made of Stars, though! 😭💕 I also watched Love, Simon three times (hehe) and it’s honestly the best.
Thanks for this amazing post!! I always love your posts and your writing voice, May (you’re always so hilarious and entertaining and just plain amazing). Happy reading!! ❤️
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Aaahhh my heart is soaring to hear you’re loving Girl Made of Stars!! 💓💓 And oh my god the people reading Evelyn Hugo right now better hurry up so you can read it because it’s literally THE BEST. Yes I’m so happy Radio Silence turned out to be everything I thought it would be and more! I Was Born For This also sounds so good and I’ve heard the best things about it!
fjsdlkfjsd Dezzy you can’t do this to me you’re way too kind!!! Thank you so much and I’m so happy you enjoy my posts 😭😭
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Ahhhh I finished Girl Made of Stars yesterday and omg, my heart. 😭💔💗 It was such a emotional, heartbreaking, and beautiful book.
And yes omg I honestly CANNOT WAIT to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; I know I’m just going to love it. 😍 And aw haha of course, you’re welcome!! But no need to thank me; I’m only saying the truth. Your posts are truly amazing. 💞
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RADIO SILENCE AND EVELYN HUGO IM THE NUMBER ONE STAN OF BOTH AND IM CRYING IN PROUD OF YOU
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THANKS FOR SCREAMING ABOUT IT
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OKAY PLEASE GO AND READ CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE IT IS SO SO WORTH IT. <3 Also YES PERCY JACKSON REREAD like my folks want me to sell my copies of the series and I'm like ACK NO I need these as my childhood slips away because #COLLEGE. But anyways.
xoxo Abby
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COBAB looks so good but so intimidating but I definitely will read it… one day 😂 And oh my god I only have 2 books of the PJO series but I need to get them all so I can just, uh, hug them
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i’ve heard amazing things about radio silence since forever omg i really need to read it!
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I hope you get the chance to read it soon because it is truly AMAZING!!
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Lovely post! Ah, A Monster Calls is so sad be beautiful! And I still need to read COBAB too, so you’re not alone! 💕
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Thank you so much, Kelly! And aahh I hope you (and I) get to read COBAB soon!!
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HEY, I’m on the 43 books mark too (high five, sister). I’ve been hearing about Girl Made Of Stars everywhere now so I guess I don’t have much choice but to read it. :D
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CONGRATS FOR READING 43 BOOKS SO FAR THIS YEAR!! And omg I hope you love Girl Made of Stars, it’s just… absolutely amazing 💕
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Gorgeous post x
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Thank you! 💕
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EEEEEE, YOU FINALLY READ RADIO SILENCE OMG OMG OMG YESSSSSSSS
I’M SO GLAD YOU LOVED IT I KNEW KNEW KNEW YOU WOULD
I really need to reread it soon.
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I’m so so happy I finally read it too!! It was so beautiful and amazing, and definitely the type of book I love ☺️
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100% agreed! <3
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All us readers who haven’t read these books can stick together. #crime together & feel guilty together 🌸 I loved reading your insights to each question, I myself didn’t go into so much detail on what made me cry, mainly because I have issues, but I enjoyed reading this! Can’t wait for your next post! Happy reading 🌸
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Ahaha well I hope one day you can read these books! All of these are quality (well almost all of them 😂) And haha I guess talking about what made me cry is therapeutic in a way… just kidding I’m still totally destroyed :’) Thank you so much and I hope you have a lovely day!!!
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Radio silence by Alice Oseman IS ON MY TOP TO READ LIST! Seriously, I’ll scream at you with feels soon as I’ve finished it 🌸 ( forgot to add this to my first comment. Eek! )
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Oh yes please do scream at me!! Radio Silence is very scream-worthy <3
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I FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. I felt so betrayed even though the end was obvious and I was bawling my eyes out. And then I realised there was a scythe on the cover the whole time, which honestly just made it worse :'(
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I KNOW!! I mean I knew it was coming (especially because of the reviews I read) but the tears came out of nowhere. And OH MY GOD I just looked up the cover and now I’m tearing up, I can’t believe this 😭😭😭
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RADIO SILENCE IN YOUR FAVORITES AH MAY I AM SCREAMING
Sorry. but I’m screaming ahhhhhhhhhhh. I’m so glad you loved it so much, it is one of my favorite books – I love everything Alice Oseman does though, she is a fantastic writer <3 <3
I still haven't read The Astonishing Color either, and it's one of my most anticipated as well. I can't wait to read it,though, it sounds fantastic. AND YES FINAL DRAFT AHHH. I hope you'll read that one soon, such a great book <3
WILDCARDDDD. I am so anticipating this book, I can't wait to read it especially after what happens and ahhhhhhhhhh I need to know what happens next.
I am so glad you loved Girls of Paper and Fire?! Even if that ending kind of… I don't know how to take this, was it awful, awfully amazing??? I'm curious now hahaha.
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MARIE I AM SCREAMING TOO RADIO SILENCE WAS EVERYTHING I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AND MORE
I’m in love with Alice’s writing style/voice! I can’t wait to pick up her other books and see how much I love them as well <3 And aahh I feel so guilty for not having read Astonishing yet, especially since I made such a big deal about wanting it?? (But I'm planning to read it soon haha)
Warcross shocked me so much and I'm shaking in anticipation for Wildcard!! And oh my god Marie… I was so happy at the end of the Girls of Paper and Fire and then the last page came and destroyed all my hopes. Have fun 😭😭
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I can’t WAIT for you to read ALL of her other books, she is honestly the best and I love all of her books sooooo very much <3 <3
I hope you'll read The Astonishing Color soon – I also wanted to read it since forever, and I still haven't bought a copy, I need to as soon as I can haha. <3 Can't wait to hear what you think of it!! :D
Okay…. that sounds like fun. I can't wait to read it haha. But seriously. I can't wait. I'm all for books that will destroy me haha.
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ah this tag is so fun?? idk why you didnt do it last year honestly i love it so much because i get to talk about so many books!! i need to read all of these tbh. AND DID YOU MENTION GMOS I DONT THINK YOU DID!! and radio silence, evelyn hugo and gmos are like most of your answers lmao. IM BEGGING YOU TO PICK UP ASTONISHING!!! (if u dont like it, uh hi, we’re not friends anymore (like u know how starfish meant so much to me as an Asian, that was astonishing for me like gosh jshj dgfjdfjh i felt so repped) i did this tag and totally forgot wildcard and blanca y roja (for anticipated releases) LIKE I WANT THOSE SO BAD. (i couldn’t give a single crap about what if it’s us. i heard that its not even that good and i dont like the authors that much so!?!) YOUR STARFISH REVIEW IS BEAUTIFUL AND SO IS YOUR SIX OF CROWS ONE, I love it, you are a queeen.
OMG YOU WILL HATTTTE THE CRUEL PRINCE. You would 1) Hate Cardan and 2) Hate cardan and 3)Hate the romance between Jude and Cardan!! Well based on what you haven’t liked previously. Who knows, maybe you’ll like it but I don’t think so? Also, you’ll probably find it boring (I found loads of it boring so ?? ) BUT CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE SAME!! “this looks really cool but ehh too long” IS A MOOD.
YOU’VE CRIED OVER FOUR BOOKS THIS YEAR I CRIED OVER NONE WE’VE SWITCHED PLACES. i literally skipped the fiction crush one lmao i dont rlly have one?? like there are characters i like but i dont crush on them if that makes sennnse?
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* only pick up astonishing when u want to ofc!! i just hope it’s soon, no pressure. and correction “u know how starfish meant so much to YOU as an Asian (it didn’t mean a lot to me), that was astonishing FOR ME i felt so repped by it i was gonna cry)
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okay it still meant a lot to me as an Asian BUT AS NOT AS MUCH AS I THINK IT DID TO U DOES THAT MAKE SENSE.
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IDK WHY EITHER I spent like 2 hours on it but it felt like it flew by so fast because it was so much fun??? oh hmm you noticed me talking about GMOS because that’s strange last time I checked you didn’t seem to care much about it (I’M KIDDING I love u and your opinions are always valid but,,, u know me and my teasing ways: they cannot be stopped)
I’M READING ASTONISHING SOON I PROMISE (I’m hoping to finish before I leave on vacation fjslfjds) and I can’t believe you forgot about Wildcard and Blanca y Roja
JFDSLFJLSD ILSA DON’T BE LIKE THIS I have to remain positive and believe I will love The Cruel Prince. (I’m either going to despise Cardan or be obsessed with him forever there is no in between)
NOT FOUR ANYMORE BECAUSE I CRIED OVER STUPID SONG OF ACHILLES I HATE EVERYTHING YOU BETTER CRY OVER IT TOO
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i care way too much about the fact i was disappointed by gmos. i so badly wanted to love it!!
I just dont think you’ll like The Cruel Prince!! Idk just think reallllly dry writing style, a manipulative love interest, and politics that don’t make sense. Idk, THINK ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS AND SHATTER ME put together. your worst nightmare. i’d be SOOO Surprised if you like it. (literally, i trash the cruel prince for its bad stuff here but im obsessed with cardan forever njshf)
AND I DIDNT CRY
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enchantment and shatter me oh hell no
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u hate abusive characters with tragic baskstories bc it doesn’t justify anything (but forget the enchantment comparison that was Random. JUST TRYING To MAKE U SEE HOW UCH ULL PROBS HATE IT)
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that’s v true I just in general hate abusive characters
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OMG please make time to read The Cruel Prince it won’t disappoint I promise!! Jude is like my fictional soul sister and agh I just love her SO much! Love Simon was also fabulous and and I loved every minute of it!! Plus I have been wanting to read The seven husbands of evelyn hugo for the LONGEST time and am glad you loved it so much! rereads of six of crows and crooked kingdom is just a must any year can’t go without. Great post :)
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Aaahhh I am so scared that I’m going to hate The Cruel Prince! I have a Feeling that it’ll either be extreme love or extreme hate and I think it’s a 50/50 chance 😬 And aahhh I hope you’re able to pick up Evelyn Hugo soon! It truly truly is an amazing, well-written beautiful book. <3 (My friend made fun of me for rereading SoC and CK every year but I know inside she knows she can't go without it either 😏)
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this is such a great post! I can’t wait to read Girl Made of Stars (and I reallyyyy hope you like The Cruel Prince, it’s one of my favourites!) I can see so many books that are just screaming at me from my TBR and honestly, this just makes me more excited. I’d probably better go read haha
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I’m PRAYING that you (and everyone really, lmao) will love Girl Made of Stars!! And oh my god I really hope I like The Cruel Prince too but I have a Feeling that there it’s a 50/50 chance of hate or love 😭
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I’m planning on putting this book meme together, too! I published one on my blog for 2017, but it’s that time of year (HOW DID WE GET TO JUNE 2018 – and nearly the end at that!?) again. “Wildcard” is on my highly anticipated reads list too! Cannot wait to see what’s next for these characters. :)
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Oh I hope you have fun with it! It’s such a great tag haha. (I can’t believe it’s the end of June 2018 either!!) And aahh I’m so excited for Wildcard! I know Marie Lu has some plot twists up her sleeve 😂
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