Book Lover Life Lesson {Video}

I made this video to share an important life lesson for all of you book lovers. LEARN FROM ME!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

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My #2 Must Have Book Accessory

I once posted about my #1 must have book accessory of all time and I still stand by that product and statement that it is #1! I very literally use that product EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Today I present to you my #2 must have book accessory! I first saw this product a few weeks ago when another book blogger whom I follow was using it. My very first thought was: what a waste of money for such an unnecessary product!

But then I bought one. And I LOVE IT.

It’s an….interesting looking product. I think it actually looks a bit naughty, lol. It’s totally not!

For YEARS I’ve struggled with reading while drying my hair. I always wanted to but I could never get the book to lay flat enough while I was using both of my hands to dry and comb my hair. I’ve tried to use my cell phone, other books, etc. to put weight on books but could never figure out a good solution, especially for paperback books.

Problem solved.

Eating while reading? No problem.

The one and ONLY complaint that I have with this product is that the rubber material that it is made of seems to be made of some type of HAIR MAGNET. If you shed thick, dark hair like I do, you might want to consider a darker color weight (this brand has various color choices). I chose clear because I thought a big dark object on the page might be distracting….but random hairs is also proving to be quite distracting (and gross, lol).

After I finish drying my hair:

Ew.

I mention this all the time but the older I get, the more minimalistic I have become. I believe our society is filled to the brim with unnecessary products…but this…well, turns out that this isn’t one of them. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT SO MUCH! The possibilities are so endless! Cooking from a cookbook, pumping with a breast pump, eating any meal, reading while on vacation, etc.

Do you have a weighted bookmark? When do you find yourself using yours? I’ve had mine for a few weeks now and I’ve found that drying my hair is my absolute favorite way to use mine. It pains me to think of all of my missed reading opportunities over the years because I couldn’t find a good hands free solution to keep the book open!

Click the image below to order the exact weighted bookmark that I have directly through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*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)*

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

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

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*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.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

I SO Wish Authors Would Stop Doing This {Part 2}

I love authors and I have an incredible amount of respect for all they do.

However, there are certain things that I so wish they would stop doing! You can read Part 1 of this series HERE.

Part 2 of this series will focus onnnn….drumroll please…

TOO MANY CHARACTERS!

Omg this is SUCH a pet peeve of mine.

I would so rather read a book with a handful of well developed characters than a book with so many characters that none of them are developed or even mentioned enough to make significant contributions to the story.

I hate, hate, HATE when I have to flip back through pages (I only read paper books) to try to figure out who a character is because there were just too many to keep straight.

I find this especially frustrating while reading thrillers. I get it…there needs to be a fair amount of characters introduced so the “who done it” isn’t completely obvious. However, it’s more than annoying to find out that the “who done it” turns out to be a meaningless character who I never even had the chance to get to “know” in the first place. Nothing worse than a huge plot twist at the end revolving around an insignificant character.

What do you think? Do you agree with me? How many characters is too many?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

And just an FYI because a few of you have asked…yes, I’m still reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo! I usually finish reading books must faster than this…but…I’ve been spending any and all of my quiet time on a Bachelor BINGE. I was 5 episodes behind and it was time to just sit and BINGE so I would be caught up for the finale. I’m alllllmost caught up but not quite so until I do, Evelyn Hugo is taking a backseat. As soon as I’m all caught up to Bachelor nation, I will finish Evelyn! My 2 spolier free thoughts on this season:

This is the first season in the history of The Bachelor that I don’t have a favorite contestant and I haven’t had one all season.
Peter has made some absolutely HORRIBLE choices. Like…throughout entire time.

Do you watch the Bachelor? Please NO SPOILERS and NO PREDICTIONS if you do!

**Winner of the Spring! Time to Build a Nest, A Story About Trumpeter Swans Giveaway:**

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*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)*

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

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

*Follow me on Instagram*

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*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.*

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The One and Only Reason That I Didn’t Like This Book

There are many reasons not to like a book. However there is one and only ONE reason that I didn’t like this particular book. One. Big. Reason.

A few months ago, I entered a giveaway on Instagram to win a copy of The Girl Who Reads on the Metro. I had never heard of it and the synopsis sounded so great! I was ecstatic when I won and couldn’t wait for my new book to arrive.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Juliette leads a perfectly ordinary life in Paris, working a slow office job, dating a string of not-quite-right men, and fighting off melancholy. The only bright spots in her day are her metro rides across the city and the stories she dreams up about the strangers reading books across from her: the old lady, the math student, the amateur ornithologist, the woman in love, the girl who always tears up at page 247.

One morning, avoiding the office for as long as she can, Juliette finds herself on a new block, in front of a rusty gate wedged open with a book. Unable to resist, Juliette walks through, into the bizarre and enchanting lives of Soliman and his young daughter, Zaide. Before she realizes entirely what is happening, Juliette agrees to become a passeur, Soliman’s name for the booksellers he hires to take stacks of used books out of his store and into the world, using their imagination and intuition to match books with readers. Suddenly, Juliette’s daydreaming becomes her reality, and when Soliman asks her to move in to their store to take care of Zaide while he goes away, she has to decide if she is ready to throw herself headfirst into this new life.

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)

The Synopsis sounds great, right?!?

I have read a few books which have been translated from their original language and the more of them I read, the more sure I am in my thought that some books just shouldn’t be translated. The Girl Who Reads on the Metro is most definitely one of them.

This book was completely disjointed in every single way. The characters, the settings, and the storylines all blended together in a way which left me confused and frustrated! I couldn’t follow this book and just as I was starting to…it would go in a completely separate direction. Reading this book felt like a chore, it was so hard to follow and understand.

HOWEVER…

I still think the synopsis sounds so amazing! I’m saddened that I just couldn’t get through this book because I truly believe it has such amazing potential. I honestly would love to read it in it’s original language…something tells me that it’s a lovely book when read how it was originally written.

The one and only reason that I hated this book is because of the translation. I think so much of this little gem got lost along the way. Such an incredible shame.

It’s such a tiny book (172 pages) and I couldn’t even bring myself to finish. I made it about halfway through when I decided that I had no choice but to call it quits.

Au revoir, The Girl Who Reads on the Metro. Au revoir.

Bottom Line:

If I ever decide to learn French (highly unlikely), the first book I will pick up will be this one…in French.

Did you read this book? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

This Is Not How It Ends Giveaway Winner

Oh how I loved reading everyone’s answers to this one! If you haven’t read through the comments on that post, I would highly suggest checking them out. You guys shared some really special and beautiful love stories! I loved, loved, loved reading through each of them 🙂

Here is a video of me choosing the winner of 1 signed copy of This Is Not How It Ends:

Xo,

Jenny

I obviously would NOT recommend The Girl Who Reads on the Metro…but you might just love it??? 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

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*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)*

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

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

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*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.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

My #1 Must Have Book Accessory

I am a true minimalist and hate owning unnecessary items (don’t even get me started on the baby industry and how many unnecessary things parents feel they need to own to care for their babies. So ridiculous).

When it comes to reading, I truly feel there are only 4 things one NEEDS to have to achieve the perfect reading experience.

1. A book (obvi)

2. A delicious cup of coffee

3. A delicious smelling candle

And….

4. A BOOKLIGHT.

Thank God for booklights.

At the end of a long day, relaxing in bed with a book is the perfect activity. Reading calms me and helps to pave the way for a peaceful night of sleep. Unfortunately, I am married to someone who cannot fall asleep with the light on (lame) and so booklights are an absolute necessity for me.

I am often the first person awake in my house long before the sun rises (yup…I’m often the last one to fall asleep and the first one to rise over here). Nothing better than waking up and reading a few chapters before the craziness of the day begins. Booklight to the rescue!

Whenever I go on vacation, my trusty booklight is high on my list of items to pack. I could never travel without it (apparently unless my destination is here where relaxing with a book is virtually impossible). Late at night or first thing in the morning reading in the same hotel room as my sleeping family? Booklight for the win!

Here is my old, broken, and yet completely perfect and lovely booklight:

(Slooooowly still making my way through How to Find Love in a Bookshop. My full review will be posted when I finally finish)!

The backing has long since broken off and the entire thing is currently being held together by painters tape. Adds to her charm 🙂

The one I have has led lights which are both a blessing and a curse. This baby is BRIGHT. As in, if it’s mistaking pointed at my sleeping husband he is immediately woken up (and momentarily blinded. Oops). It can truly light up our entire bedroom which is crazy…and yet amazing!

I bought mine on Amazon many years ago and it came in a pack of 4. I’m not sure why anybody would need 4 booklights and I gladly gave 2 of them away to 2 fellow bookloving friends of mine (Hi Julie and Beth!). I don’t believe the exact ones I bought are still available but here is one that looks awesome (AND you can apparently adjust the brightness level so you won’t momentarily blind your spouse! Sorry Jon…)

Do you read with a booklight?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Be sure to check the blog on Wednesday…I’ve got a super fun (and different) giveaway for you!

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 this booklight through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

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