Tag: #bookblog

3 Free (And Amazing!) New Books

There is a local community building not far from my house which always has the best selection of free books donated by one of our wonderful local libraries.

Whenever I happen to be there, of course I always stop to browse the selection. Who on Earth could walk past free books and not stop to look through them?! Monsters.

Usually I find books I have either read or don’t have a huge interest in reading. I’ve never actually brought any of them home with me.

Until today.

There were SO many amazing titles! The first one to catch my eye was this one. Since I already own it (it’s awesome by the way), I kept looking…and quickly came across these 3 treasures!

Each one looks fantastic and 2 have been on my radar for quite some time!

Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts (no spoilers please)???

But the coolest takeaway was when I opened the front cover of Pieces of Her ….and discovered that I now apparently own a SIGNED copy?!? How amazing is THAT?!?

I plan on paying it forward and donating a bunch of books to our local Little Free Library ASAP! I’m actually waiting for a time when I can bring both of my kids with me…what a perfect lesson to teach them on so many levels.

And obviously I will pass these 3 new books along as soon as I finish reading them (and post my reviews for each on my blog).  The minimalist in me will be happy to get rid of them. 🙂

Thank you, Vernon Area Public Library!  I feel blessed to live in a community which clearly values the importance of spreading literacy to all.  And no…lovely Vernon Area was NOT the local library I was talking about in this post 🙂

Do you ever pick up free books?  Where?  Which free book has been your greatest find?

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the images below to order the books through my Amazon affiliate links.  When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo


Book Blogger’s Instagram in an Instant {Part 3}

On this Memorial Day, I’m so thankful for everyone who has sacrificed for our freedom.

Today, I have part 3 of a series I call “Book Blogger’s Instagram in an Instant”!  You can see Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE!

I joined Instagram in November and I must say that I’m pretty obsessed.  I try to post daily videos in my stories and I love it!  The #bookstagram community is amazing!

Here are a small sample of photos that I’ve recently taken and posted to Book Coffee Happy’s Instagram account (see my account for photo explanations, lol).  Just like my blog, it has lots of posts about books and being a book blogger with bits of my personal life sprinkled in. 🙂

Do you follow Book Coffee Happy on Instagram?  If not, please do!

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

 

 

Let’s Chat: Unfamiliar Words

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We’ve all been there.

You’re reading a book, totally sucked into the plot, and BAM…a word shows up and you have absolutely no clue what it means.  Completely unfamiliar in every single way.

In my previous life, I was as an elementary school teacher for 14 years.   I always taught my students to use context clues to “debug” those tricky words.  Look at the other words in the sentence.  What would make sense?  Look that the pictures.  What is the author trying to tell us here?  Can you continue reading without knowing that one word?  Will that one word make a difference in the author’s message?  These are the same strategies that I now teach my own daughter.

And yet as an adult…I do absolutely none of those things.  Zero.  I only have one thing I do when I come across an unfamiliar word while reading:

I Google it.

Every.  Single.  Time.

I truly cannot read a book without my phone next to me for this exact reason.  I simply can’t let it go…I MUST know the definition of every single word as I read! Even if I am able to figure it out by using context clues, I always look it up just to be sure.

I have this fear that I will miss an important piece of the story and/or character by not knowing every single word.

Am I alone?  Does anyone else do this? Is this just another trait of my type A personality?

What do you do when you come across an unfamiliar word while reading?  I’d love to hear your responses in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

 

The Reader Problems Tag

As soon as I saw this Reader Problems tag on www.roaringbookworm.wordpress.com, I knew I wanted to participate!  This was such a fun one to fill out!  Here are my answers:

You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How do you decide what to read next?

I basically choose my next book based upon the book which I’ve just finished.  If the book I just finished was heavy, I tend to choose a lighter read for my next one.  If I just finished a lighter romance novel, a deep psychological thriller would be a good choice for my next.  I rarely read 2 books in a row of the same genre (unless it’s a series).

You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you put it down or are you committed?

I wrote an entire post on this!  You can read it HERE!

The end of the year is coming and you’re behind on your reading challenge. Do you try to catch up? And if so, how?

I’m very proud to say that I’ve never encountered this problem. 🙂  I always surpass my reading challenges and create higher ones for myself for the coming year!

The covers of a series you love do not match, how do you cope?

I.  HATE.  THIS.  I don’t cope well when this happens.  I’m way too type A.

Everyone and their mother loves a book that you do not. Who do you bond with over your shared feelings?

My blog readers 🙂  See THIS POST for more on this!

You’re reading a book in public and you’re about to start crying. How do you deal?

I sob.  Like a child.  Mascara everywhere.

The sequel to a book you loved just came out but you’ve forgotten a lot of what happens. Are you going to reread it?

Absolutely.  I have been known to reread an entire series in anticipation for a new release!

You do not want anyone to borrow your books, how do you politely say no when someone asks?

I always love sharing my books as long as I get them back 🙂

You have picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over this reading slump?

#1 worst reading problem to have!  I. HATE. THIS.  The only thing that gets me out of a reading slump is eventually discovering a fantastic book.  After that, they all just seem to come back!  Until they don’t…and then it all starts again.  Ugh.

There are so many books coming out that you are dying to read. How many do you end up buying?

Zero…but I put them all on hold at the library asap.  I’m a proud minimalist!  You can read more about that amazing life changing decision HERE.

After you purchase all of these books that you’re dying to read, how long do they sit on your shelf before you read them?

A huge reason I love being a minimalist (see above question)!  No clutter 🙂

These questions were such fun to answer!  I would love to hear your answers to some or all of these questions in the comments below!

I now tag:

www.starringpamela.com

www.confessionsofayareader.com

www.booksandblends.com

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Book Review: Dumplin’ {Julie Murphy}

This book had been on my radar for months…I couldn’t wait to read and review it!

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

My Thoughts:

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

3 Stars

I’m so torn with my review of this book. I REALLY wanted to love it. It has everything in terms of story line that a great book should have. Interesting characters? Check. Interesting story line? Check.

And yet…eh. I found this whole book just fell flat.

If the story had really focused on the pageant and everything leading up to it as the synopsis promises, it would have been so much better. However, the majority of this book focused on a teenager’s day-to-day life which I found boring.

Also, this book has WAY too many characters and WAY too many story lines. None of the characters even had a chance to become fully developed and therefore became unforgettable and interchangeable as the story went on. I also found the majority of these characters to be very unlikable! The only characters I truly liked in the entire book were Mitch (and Lucy).

The main character (Willowdean) was extraordinarily judgmental of other people (and obviously of herself) which is ironic since the entire premise of this book is about breaking through stereotypes.

I found her relationship with her best friend to be obsessive and unhealthy.  I get that we are viewing this relationship through the eyes of a (dramatic) teenager but still…it bothered me that she felt she NEEDED this relationship to feel whole.  In fact, I believe she even made this exact comment in this story!

I had one MAJOR issue with this story which I will say in the comments because it’s also a major spoiler 🙂

However, in between the parts of the book where I found fault, I also found beauty.  There ARE beautiful and important messages, lessons, and moments delivered throughout this story.  Unfortunately, combined with all of the reasons stated above, this book just wasn’t nearly as great as I was expecting it to be.

There is a sequel to this book which unfortunately I have zero desire to read. Ugh! I really thought I was going to love both of these books!  I have already returned both to the library.  Sad.

But here’s the weird thing…The trailer for the movie looks AMAZING. Could this possibly be one of those rare occurrences where the movie is better than the book??? Check out the movie trailer starring Jennifer Aniston:

Looks so amazing, right?!?  Have any of you seen it?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  If any of you have read the book AND have seen the movie, I’m really wondering how they compare?

Bottom Line:

If the movie is truly as wonderful as the trailer makes it out to be, I say skip the book and just watch the movie.  And I NEVER say that.

Foam on the Crest of Waves Giveaway Winners:

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the Foam on the Crest of Waves Giveaway!

Hard Copy Winner:

Melissa A (I am subscribed via my blog account (chicklitcentral). I just went to Miami a few weeks ago and loved the beach there! I used to go to Pompano Beach (also in FL) every year as a kid and that also brings back great memories. I live in the US. Hard copy preferred. Thanks for the chance!)

E-Book Winners (There were so many entries for the hard copy but only 3 for the e-books! So…congratulations to all 3 of you!):

Kelley Blair (My favorite beach is Ocean Isle in North Carolina. I am USA and either hard copy or e-book works for me. Thank you kindly.)

Melissa Strader  (This sounds like a great book! I already follow your blog and love reading it! My favorites beaches are located along the coast of La Jolla, CA – so much to see and do there, not just water activities, but also restaurants and shopping and biking. Kayaking the Sea Caves is the best! I’m ok with a real book or electronic copy. I live in the USA!)

Mistysbookspace (Thank you so much for the chance. I am already a follower. I have only ever been to two beaches and those are New Smyrna beach and Myrtle Beach. I don’t really remember much about my visit to New Smyrna beach because I went when I was younger so I’m going to say Myrtle beach is my favorite. It’s a little crowded at least when I’ve gone but it’s gorgeous and there are so many other activities to do there as well. I live in the US. I would prefer a hard copy but I’m ok with ebooks too. Thank you again for the chance.)

Ladies, please email me (bookcoffeehappy@gmail.com) with your mailing address (hard copy winner) or your email address (e-book winners) of where you would like your book sent!  Congratulations and enjoy!

Have a great weekend, everyone!  I hope you fill it doing things with those you love!

Xo,

Jenny

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

***INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY (6 Winners)*** Foam on the Crest of Waves {Silke Stein}

Thank you all so much for your sweet comments and messages from my last post.  I so appreciate all of you!  Xo!

I have a great book to review for you today and I HAVE 6 COPIES of it to give away!

Full disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book to read and review for my blog.  All opinions are my own.

Giveaway details will be given at the bottom of this post!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a small fishing town on the Mendocino coast, the tides of time have washed over rumors and suspicions, yet the members of a maimed family still struggle to cope with their memories.

A broken woman, refusing to let go of her vanished husband.
Her widowed brother, clinging to the shatters of the life he loved.
His delusional daughter, planning to turn mermaid on her fifteenth birthday.

But when a young man realizes he made a mistake, secrets start emerging from the deep. Will they bring further grief, or possibly redemption?

My Thoughts:

This is a lovely, beautiful, thought provoking book.

The book design itself is simply gorgeous. The cover, the chapter pages with their images, all of it.

At the very beginning of this book, I found myself googling the history and pictures of sea glass.  Fascinating!  I can only imagine the beauty of this beach with these little colorful bits of glass everywhere. Such a beautiful setting for such a beautifully complicated and intriguing story.

This book paints such a descriptive picture of this town and it’s residences.  The characters and stories were so interesting (especially Abalone’s) and I love how the characters were all connected to each other.

I’ve never read a story quite like this before.  The topics discussed are not ones I would usually gravitate to but I’m so glad that I allowed myself the opportunity.  This book is a wonderful example of why sometimes reading a book outside of your comfort zone is so important.  I believe that in doing this, you learn to become a deeper reader, broaden your literary understandings, and learn/appreciate new topics.

This book made me both smile and cry.  These characters were not easy to say good bye to and have stuck with me since I turned the last page.

This is such a beautiful book.

A Conversation with Silke Stein, in her Own Words:

How did you create the idea for your book?

The story ides was sparked by my obsession with sea glass. Early in 2014, I became a member of ‘SeaglassLovers’, a Facebook group comprised of people from all over the world who show each other their fabulous finds and daydream of being mermaids. There I learned about the place every sea glass aficionado has on her bucket list: Fort Bragg in Northern California ― home of the legendary ‘Glass Beach’, which became the enchanting setting of Foam On The Crest Of Waves.

What audience would be most interested in your book?

Anybody who loves the sea, mermaids, and a good dose of mystery.

Where can your book be purchased?

The ebook is available for Kindle. The paperback can be ordered from all major online retailers and in every brick-and-mortar book shop.

Use 3 adjectives to describe your book:

Poignant, captivating, beautiful

Any additional information that you would like to provide about you or your book:

More info: www.silkestein.jimdo.com

***GIVEAWAY DETAILS***

There will be 6 WINNERS!  I have 6 copies of Foam on the Crest of Waves to give away!! 
I have 1 hard copy and 5 e-books (A chance to win the hard copy is open to US readers only.  A chance to win one the 5 e-books are open to both US and International readers)! 

To be entered, please complete these 4 simple steps:

1. Follow and/or subscribe to my blog

2. Leave a comment below describing your favorite beach!

3. Mention in your comment if you are located within the US or if you are located internationally.

4. Mention in your comment if you would like to be entered to win the hard copy of this book, an electronic copy of this book, or either 🙂 

**You must complete ALL 4 of these steps to be eligible for the giveaway and you must complete them here on my blog (not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)**

Giveaway will close tomorrow (Thursday) at 4:00 pm CDT and the 6 winners will be randomly chosen and announced in Friday’s blog post (5/17/19).

Make sure you check the blog on Friday to see if you’ve won (you will have 48 hours from the time I post the winner to email me your mailing address.  If I don’t hear from you within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner).

If you already follow and/or subscribe to my blog, you are still eligible…just leave a comment below to be entered 🙂

Good luck!  Can’t wait to read your comments!

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

100 Things I Love and 8 Ways You Can Support Book Coffee Happy

This is officially my 100th post! How have I written 100 posts on Book Coffee Happy?!?  This little blog has proven to be the most fun hobby I have ever had.  I have loved writing posts, reading amazing books, meeting lovely authors, and meeting/interacting with YOU!  In honor of my 100th post, I present you with 100 things (other than books) that I LOVE!

Coffee

Dunkin’ Hot Coffee (all time favorite), Starbucks Chai Tea Latte, Joffrey’s/Dunkin’ Vanilla Iced Latte, Kona Coffee

Movies

Fun Fact: I pretty much hate watching movies.  I ALWAYS choose to watch tv or read a book over watching a movie! Serendipity is one of the only movies I could truly watch over and over (I saw it 10 times in the theater)!

Fashion 

INFINITY SCARVES, fuzzy boots, humongous sunglasses, yoga pants, crossbody purses, ankle boots

TV Shows

Anything reality (Bachelor, Bachelorette, Big Brother, etc.), The Office, Beverly Hills 90210 (original), Parks and Recreation, Friends, Shameless, Orange is the New Black, Schitt’s Creek, Sex and the City

TV Shows I Watch With My Kids

Kid’s Baking Championship, Full House, Fuller House, Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins

Vacations

Mexico (over the past 2 years we have been to Cabo without our kids and Puerto Vallarta with our kids), Great Wolf Lodge (Wisconsin Dells is our favorite location), Jamaica (our honeymoon in 2010), Michigan (Saugatuck), San Diego (La Jolla), DISNEY WORLD!

Plays

HAMILTON, Evita, Aladdin, Bridges of Madison County, The Little Mermaid

Food

CHINESE FOOD (Chicken in a Nest, pot stickers), bananas, lobster, purple grapes, pizza, tofu, salmon, scallops, tacos, pasta, cupcakes, eggs, cheese, Thai food (tofu pad thai, crab rangoon)

Best Things About Being a Mom

Watching them experience joy, hearing them say I love you, holding their hands, laughing with them. BREASTFEEDING (I nursed my daughter until she was 2.5 and my son until he was 2), Co-sleeping, cuddling, being called “Mommy”…and SO much more!  *My favorite parenting books can be found here*

Color

PINK.  Obviously.  There are no other colors.

Posts I’ve written

Let’s Chat: When Did This Happen? More Importantly…WHY Did This Happen?

My Life: Our Perfect Getaway

4 Best Friends, 1 Alma Mater

SNOW, My Favorite Quote, and a Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere {Celeste Ng}

Birthday of a Book Blogger

Book Coffee Happy Now Has Over 300 Blog Followers/Subscribers!

My Favorite Books for Pregnancy/New Parents/Baby Shower GiftsGREETINGS FROM THE

POLAR VORTEX and a Book Review: The Light Between Oceans {M.L. Stedman}

My First VLOG! Book Review: Becoming {Michelle Obama}

Spring Break 2019 Book Recommendations {Book Coffee Happy}

A-Z Book Tag {AKA Random Facts About Myself as a Reader}

Walt Disney World Vacation Tips and Tricks VLOG!

Music

BRITNEY SPEARS, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli

Smells

Coffee, Clinique Happy , libraries, bookstores, Little Trees New Car Smell

Candles

Bath and Body Works Winter Candy Apple, Yankee Candle Brandy Pear Tart

To Cook

Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf, Vegetable Lasagna, Spinach Stuffed Shells, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

Stores

Target, Homegoods, independent bookstores, Hobby Lobby

Chicago Restaurants

I lived downtown for 8 years (LOVED IT SO MUCH) and some of my favorite places to eat included: Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders, Tiparos Thai, Pockets, Grand Lux Cafe, Lawrys, Pizanos Pizza, Tempo

And that makes 100!  Thank you for supporting my favorite hobby, Book Coffee Happy!

8 Ways You Can Help Support Book Coffee Happy:

1. Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)

2. If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine

3. “Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)

4. Follow me on Instagram

5. Follow me on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (search Book Coffee Happy)

7. Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links.  The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.

8. Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page

I would be so thankful if you could do these things for me.  So many of you already do these things and I’m very thankful for your love and support 🙂 I have truly loved writing these 100 posts for you!  Best hobby ever!  Happy 100th post to ME!

**Check back here on Wednesday…I will be reviewing and giving away 6 COPIES of a beautiful book (open to US and International readers)!  I can’t wait to share this one with you!**

Xo,

Jenny

Let’s Chat: Do You Read In Silence or With Noise?

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I have to read in complete and utter silence.

Like…SILENCE.

No background noise.  Zero.

I am able to read on airplanes as long as everyone sitting in any proximity to me just so happens to be quiet.  And by quiet I mean no talking, chewing, humming, etc.  I may or may not have been known to ask those around me to lower the sound on in their earphones (this might be one of the most annoying sounds on the planet, by the way).

I can read while getting my nails done as long as the music in the salon is turned way down and is instrumental.  Someone on their cell phone next to me?  Forget about it!  (Side note…FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP TALKING ON YOUR CELL PHONE AT SALONS! 2 weeks ago while receiving a lovely pedicure, I was forced to listen to the lady next to me on her cell phone ordering her dinner from a Thai restaurant. She asked the person on the other end of the line to describe each dish on the menu before making her final selection.  Not exactly the peaceful salon experience I was hoping for although I did learn a great deal about Thai spices.)

I really hate when salons have televisions playing because I can’t read with them on! I know there are people out there who have the ability to read while a television is on in the background but clearly I am not one of those people.  HOW???

I need 100 percent, complete silence to concentrate on anything.  I wish I could read or concentrate on anything with a bit of noise…I would be able to read on so many more occasions!

I have been like this for my entire life.  I’m an only child and my house was always so blissfully quiet while growing up…I loved quiet then and I continue to love it now.  If you watched my Disney World video, you know that I also need silence to fall asleep! Whenever I had to study for anything, silence was the only way.  When I took my ACT test in high school, I brought cough drops with me even though I wasn’t the least bit sick.  I wanted to be prepared in case anyone around me was sick so I could diffuse the distractions (side note…the guy next to me had the worst cough and was super thankful for my foresight, lol) . When I saw Hamiltion last fall, I offered my water to the lady in the row front of me who couldn’t stop coughing.  WHY do I always seem to be surrounded by unhealthy, annoying people?!?

Both of our local libraries have “Silent Reading Rooms” where you aren’t ALLOWED to talk AND they have fireplaces. So basically it’s my personal version of heaven. I have spent many blissful hours reading in those lovely, silent rooms.  Perfection.

So tell me….how do you read?  Complete silence or with background noise?  If you do read with background noise, how do you tune it out so that you can concentrate???  Please teach me your tricks!  I would SO love to be able to do that!

Until then, I’ll be the one glaring at you on the airplane as you loudly pop your gum…

Xo,

Jenny

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog.  Also, please “like” my Facebook page ,  follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Local friends, I run a storytime every Tuesday and Friday at Whimsy Cafe in Buffalo Grove, Illinois from 10:00-10:30! Bring your kids (6 months-5 years) for stories, songs, and lots of fun. Price is included in your child’s admission, no need to sign up. If you are a blog reader, please be sure to introduce yourself!  I can’t wait to meet you and your little ones. 🙂

A-Z Book Tag {AKA Random Facts About Myself as a Reader}

Would you like to learn random facts about myself as a reader?  As soon as I saw this book tag on Feed the Crime I knew I wanted to participate.  This one was so much fun!  Thank you to The Perpetual Page Turner for creating it!

*This post contains affiliate links.  When you click on these links to buy the book, I receive a tiny commission.  Thanks so much for your support, XO!*

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Ann M. Martin! The Babysitters Club series were hands down my FAVORITE books while growing up.  And I’m not talking about the current graphic novels…I’m talking the old school novels.  Claudia and Stacey were always my favorites.  I can’t WAIT for my daughter to read these one day!

Best Sequel Ever:

The Wedding
I’ve told this story on my blog before but I’ll tell it again…I read this on an airplane years ago.  As soon as I pulled it out of my carry on bag, the lady sitting next to me handed me a tissue!  She told me that I would be needing it.  Sure enough by the end of the flight…I was SOBBING.  Like…weeping.  Make up everywhere.  Hiccups.  The lady just looked at me, nodded once, and said, “Told you.”  If you loved The Notebook (who didn’t?!) you will love it’s sequel.  Just make sure you have plenty of Kleenex.

Currently Reading:

On The Come Up

Drink of Choice While Reading:

COFFEE.  All day, every day.  Hot, never iced.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical book 100% of the time.  I’ve never read anything on an e-reader and I’ve never listened to an audiobook.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Olly from this wonderful book.  Read my review here!

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

The Light Between Oceans Oh how I LOVED this book…once I was able to get past the extremely boring beginning.  Read more on this and my full review here!

Hidden Gem Book:

Young Jane Young!  How is this book not more popular?!?  It’s fantastic!  Read my full review here.

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

As I was reading Becoming, I was struck with the realization that I just don’t enjoy reading memoirs.  Watch my YouTube video to hear me discuss this further!

Just Finished:

Somebody’s Daughter.  Loved it.  You can read my review here.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Anything with a topic that truly doesn’t interest me.  There are too many wonderful books out there…why waste time reading one that I don’t find interesting?

Longest Book You’ve Read:

No clue…but maybe the hardcover versions of either Small Great Things or Becoming?  I didn’t love either one so maybe they just FELT like the longest books I’ve ever read?  You can read my reviews of these here and here.

Major book hangover because of:

House of Sand and Fog.  I still think about this book and I read it 16 years ago!  Read my review here.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

5

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Shanghai Girls.  It’s so amazing. The sequel Dreams of Joy?  Not so amazing. Read my review of both books here!

Preferred Place To Read:

With a sleeping child on my chest, coffee next to me, and rain (or snow) falling outside.  Literally my version of heaven.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“You could jump so much higher when you had somewhere safe to fall” -Liane Moriarty  (Truly Madly Guilty)  I hated the book but loved this quote!

Reading Regret:

Even starting The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I hated it so much that I threw it across the room.  You can read more about that here 🙂

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

Harry Potter ! I read the first one and loved it.  I was halfway through the second…and then I got engaged 🙂  I immediately traded in poor Harry for wedding planning books and never once looked back.  I really should go back and read them.  Maybe one day with my daughter?

Three of your All-Time Favourite Books:

The Catcher in the Rye

The Help

The Hate U Give

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Mary Kubica 🙂 I just love her writing so much!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica.  Netflix already bought the rights to it to turn the book into a feature film!  Can’t wait to read it first!

Worst Bookish Habit:

This. Yikes.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

The Language of Flowers.  If you haven’t yet read this book, you must.  Today.

Your latest book purchase:

Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown (Groovy Joe 2) Both of my children LOVE Groovy Joe!  We were all excited to see this new Groovy Joe title at my daughter’s school book fair 🙂

Readers, I would love to hear your answers to some of these (or all of these!) in the comments below!

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog.  Also, please “like” my Facebook page ,  follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Local friends, I run a storytime every Tuesday and Friday at Whimsy Cafe in Buffalo Grove, Illinois from 10:00-10:30! Bring your kids (6 months-5 years) for stories, songs, and lots of fun. Price is included in your child’s admission, no need to sign up. If you are a blog reader,

Random Thoughts From a Book Blogger

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was jam packed with all the good stuff…pizza, a royal ball with princesses, a birthday party, a Father/Daughter Dance, our favorite Chinese restaurant, and trips to both Target AND Costco. If that’s not the definition of a perfect weekend, I’m not sure what is.

Our town is wonderful and I so love raising our children here. Cinderella’s Royal Ball is the cutest annual event where kids dress like royalty, see a princess show, meet the princesses, eat ice cream, have a dance party with a DJ, and then receive a Royal goodie bag. It’s precious and my kids love going every year! My daughter dressed as Cinderella and my son…well…he was a dinosaur??? No amount of persuading could change his mind to go as a king or a knight. We tried.  So in the end there were lots of beautiful princesses in attendance…and 1 adorable little dinosaur.

Which kids are mine?

I FINALLY finished reading this book and I have SO many thoughts. Too many to type! I actually plan on filming a video instead so I can talk my way through my review…I will get that filmed and up on the blog soon! Stay tuned 🙂

In other news, I had an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon this morning for more elbow x rays.  MY ELBOW IS NO LONGER BROKEN!  Still a bit sore….but HEALING!  I’m so happy 🙂

Anyway, I was quite early for my appointment so I stopped by the library for some quiet reading time first! Heavenly.

I started reading this book while at the library this morning and I’m already almost 100 pages in and LOVING IT so far!  It’s been on my TBR list for months as I’ve read so many positive reviews. Have you read this one?  It’s great so far!  I’ll write a full review once I’ve finished.

Check out my current Instagram story to see what else happened to me while I was at the library today, lol…(insert face plant emoji here)…

How are you? How was your weekend? What are you currently reading?

Be sure to stop by the blog on Wednesday for your chance to enter a GIVEAWAY for an amazing book!

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog.  Also, please “like” my Facebook page ,  follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Local friends, I run a storytime every Tuesday and Friday at Whimsy Cafe in Buffalo Grove, Illinois from 10:00-10:45! Bring your kids (6 months-5 years) for stories, songs, and lots of fun. Price is included in your child’s admission, no need to sign up. If you are a blog reader, please be sure to introduce yourself!  I can’t wait to meet you and your little ones. 🙂

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link.  When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo