Newwww Blog!

Hi friends!

Long time, no see.

I'm sure the majority of you have picked up on this, but I have officially closed the book on book blogging. As much fun as it was, and as necessary as it was for me at that time in my life, I no longer find it to be a positive addition to my life. Reading became a burden-- something I had to do. I fell into a year-long reading slump that consequently ended my book blog. While I've found myself falling back into my old reading patterns, book blogging no longer seems like something I should be continuing. I did find myself missing the blogging world though, which is why I've created a new lifestyle blog!

My new blog is called Clean Sheets + Potted Plants and includes posts about all areas of my life, from journaling to running to existential thinking and even to reading. It's still a young blog with not a ton of content, but I'm working on growing it. As I become more familiar with the type of blogging I'm doing, it becomes easier to write.

I'm very excited to see where my new blog goes, and if it's something that interests you at all, I'd really appreciate if you gave it some love. <3

It's still in the works as I find my footing and my new place in the blogosphere, but I'm happy with it so far and figured now would be a good time to announce it.

Click here to visit Clean Sheets + Potted Plants

Finally, I'd like to extend my sincerest gratitude for the joy and love you all gave me during my few years here at the Tree of Books. I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I'm so happy it was something I got to experience.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

- Julia

Unravel Me

Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Genre: YA Science Fiction/ Dystopia
Pages: 461
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Purchase this book:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

In the continuation of Shatter Me, Juliette finds herself at the hideout of the rebel group, Omega Point. Desperate to overthrow the Reestablishment, she's faced with the confusion that comes with deciphering who's really good, and who's actually bad.

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I don't know... this was kind of a let down for me. Shatter Me didn't have much going for it in my opinion, but this one was definitely worse. I struggled to get through the first half of the book, because nothing was happening! I found Juliette to be insufferably annoying, and sort of wanted her to just get captured or something again because literally nothing was happening in the plot. Basically, it wasn't until Warner was reintroduced that I found the book interesting at all.

I do love Tahereh Mafi's writing, she's very poetic and has a beautiful way of weaving words to create just the most gorgeous lines, but I find that she can be a little overdramatic. All the chapters are very short (like, one or two pages short) and she seemed to feel the need to end every single one with some dramatic bang. I mean, she was making things like walking through a door seem like the single most dramatic thing to ever occur. Of course, a dramatic flair is great every once and awhile, but when it's every two pages, it starts to lose its affect on me. When things were actually supposed to be a super dramatic reveal, I wasn't as shocked, or it just didn't seem so amazing, because two pages ago she made walking through a door seem just as important. I don't know if this is making any sense to you, but oh well... 

However, as I mentioned previously, things really started picking up for me towards the second half, and especially near the end. Warner is by far the best, most developed and complex character in the series, so him being involved made the content of the plot so much more substantial, and I started to actually enjoy myself as I read (which is sort of the point here). 

All in all, this one was a half star below Shatter Me, but I never give up on a series because of the second book. It's a rule I have for myself- especially with trilogies. 2nd book blues is a real thing, and having finished Ignite Me yesterday (shhhh I know I procrastinated this review) I can confirm this book has it. 

If you read Shatter Me and maybe somewhat enjoyed it, I would say you should give this book a go. I really did enjoy the ending, which is why I didn't go down into the two star range. 

              

Click here to view Unravel Me on Goodreads

Other books in this series:

Shatter Me

Unread Books January 2017

Soooo almost exactly a year ago I made a post listing the top ten books I was most ashamed of having not read. Essentially, it was a condensed version of my TBR, featuring the books I really, really needed to get to during the year. I was having so much fun reading through it that I decided to make it an annual tradition here so that each year I can look back on all the books I didn't read, and make promises to read new ones. (Check out my unread books of January 2016 here!)

These aren't in any particular order, but with no further ado, here they are. (I'm sorry don't hate me I'll get to them eventually.)

1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Initially, I'd had no desire to read this novel given what I'd heard from people whose opinions I trust, but then I bought Holding Up the Universe, and I wanted to read her other novel as well. I ended up getting it for five dollars over Black Friday, so now I own the book with every intention of reading it.

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses + by Sarah J. Maas

I got both of these for Christmas, so now I literally have no excuse not to read them. I should have gotten on ACOTAR back when it first came out but.... ahahahaha sob. (ACOTAR was on my list last year so I literally am a #failure.)

3. Heir of Fire + by Sarah J. Maas 

Another one that's on my list from last year.... I've owned Heir of Fire for over a year, and I'm so upset with myself, because I loved Crown of Midnight, so I really, really should've gotten a move on with these.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone +  Laini Taylor

I'm an awful person, this is the second time I'm including this trilogy. I feel like so many people have read and enjoyed this trilogy, so I don't know why I've yet to start the first novel.

5. The Diviners + by Libba Bray

Ahahahahah guess which duology I said I'd read a year ago? This one! The 20s is one of my favorite eras so I'm ashamed to say I haven't completed or even started The Diviners :(

6. Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken 

The Darkest Minds is my all time favorite YA series, so the fact that I haven't read this bind up is horrible. 2017 is the year. (I said the same thing about 2016... but it's fine.)

7. The Young Elites + by Marie Lu

I really enjoyed the Legend trilogy, so I can't believe I haven't gotten around to her newest works.

8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 

Literally everyone loves this book so why have I not read it? Excellent question. This year it's happening.

9. Shades of Magic Series by V.E Schwab

I've yet to hear a negative review for both of these books, which has convinced me that I need to read them. I can't believe I haven't yet, and I have no valid excuse here.

10. New Moon + by Stephenie Meyer

I read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer over the summer of 2016, and while I wasn't the biggest fan, I now feel odd not having completed the series. I'll definitely need to get on with that.


And that concludes the ten books I'm quite embarrassed to admit I haven't read them. Of the ten I listed last year, I actually followed through with four of them, and while that doesn't sound like a lot, three of them were actually series. (So ha!) Let me know what books you're behind on, and I wish you all luck with the 2017 reading year!

Between Shades of Gray

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Pages: 344
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Purchase this book:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

Lina led a normal, teenage life in Lithuania, when one day Soviet officers marched into her home and threw her whole family on board cramped train cars where they traveled over 6,000 miles to the Arctic Circle. As Lina is forced to pay the price for crimes she never committed, she struggles to stay alive.

---

When you hear about the Holocaust, you probably instantly think of Hitler, and all the people he killed. What most people don't know is that Joseph Stalin was responsible for just as many ruined lives. In an attempt to get Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania off the map, he rounded up anybody who was linked to anti-soviet beliefs, and sent them to labor camps in Siberia and other remote places. This novel tells the untold story of the many, many people who suffered under Stalin's rule.

This was an amazing, powerful novel about a will to live, a will to survive, and a will to spread the word. Ruta Sepetys herself has Lithuanian heritage, and that's what inspired her to write this novel. Most of the people imprisoned didn't get to share their story in fear of being arrested, and I think it's really great that Ruta wants to show the world just how awful things were for those Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians.

But besides the fact that this book has a very emotional origin, let's discuss how great the plot is. It's full of dark, dark detail. Death and sickness is around every corner. But between all the despair, there is hope and a will to survive. While this book seems quite dismal at first glance, it has a hidden ray of happiness and warmth. I enjoyed how complex many of the characters were. There were many angels in disguise, and it was really heartwarming.

 Something I've always liked about historical fiction novels that take place during WWII is how we get to put real people next to the statistics. Yes, we know lots of people died in the Holocaust, but until you read a book about an individual who experienced it all, you don't realize that those people actually had lives. Suddenly, it makes the whole thing a lot more personal. 

So I would greatly suggest you read this novel if you'd like to learn about the unknown heroes of World War II. 

Click here to view Between Shades of Gray on Goodreads

TBR Jar Challenge 2017!

As I mentioned in my 2017 Goals post earlier in December, I've been very interested in creating my own TBR Jar challenge for 2017. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of the TBR Jar Challenge, you create 12 different challenges related to books on your TBR, and then each month you select a challenge at random from a jar to complete. I believe Katytastic on YouTube started this in 2015, and you can see the video in which she introduces it here.

I actually did get around to making a TBR Jar for myself, so in this post I'll just sort of walk you through what I did?

Step 1: Obtain a jar (or mug or cup or bowl or whatever works best for you)

Target had Mason jars on sale in their dollar section, so a picked a couple up, but you could certainly use any mug or cup you have laying around.

Step 2: Gather your others supplies

 

While I just needed a silver sharpie and some cardstock, some people I've seen have a lot of fun decorating their jar's exterior with things like paint pens and washi tape, so you do you!

Step 3: Decide on challenges

After a long google session, I was able to come up with 12 challenge ideas that'll work best for me. They are as follows:

• Read a book with 500+ pages
• Read a "new to me" author 
• Read a 2017 release
• Read a classic (ahhh scary- and no, school books don't count.) 
• Read a book with a number or color in the title
• Read a book with a one word title
• Read a book with a blue cover
• Read a book "everyone" but you has read
• Read a book by a male author
• Read a book by a female author
• Read a book with less than 300 pages
• Read a sequel 

Those are the challenges I selected, but I'd make sure you create challenges that'll suit you as a reader, while still prompting you to read things you might not normally gravitate towards. 

And once you've selected your challenges, write them out on slips of paper. I used pastel cardstock because #aesthetic, but the thick paper is a little challenging when it comes to folding and stuffing inside of the jar. (Although it does a nice job of preventing me from seeing through the other side.) 

Step 4: Put the slips of paper inside the jar (plot twist ikr) 

And now you've got your TBR Jar! And it's January, so you can go ahead and select your first challenge. Mine was to read a book with a one word title, and I chose Truthwitch by Susan Dennard. (Which ended up being a good thing because book two comes out on the 10th!) 

Let me know if you've ever wanted to do a TBR jar, or if you 've done one before. I hope you join me this year with this super fun challenge! (Here's to a great 2017.) 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Title: Me and Earth and the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 295
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Purchase this book:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

Greg Gaines, senior, had everything down. He knew just how to slip into the world of high school with no enemies, no friends, and no commitment. Of course the only way for his set up to be ruined would be the result of intervention from his mother. When childhood friend Rachel was diagnosed with cancer, Greg's mother forced him to rekindle their friendship in an attempt to give the girl something happy in the last moments of her life. And also, there's an Earl involved.

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This is not a sad book. I don't think it was ever meant to be a sad book either. From the beginning it's made clear that this is not supposed to be your typical YA contemporary. So if you're expecting a tearjerker, Fault in our Stars lookalike, look again. This isn't it. In fact, this book is anything but sad- it's funny. Part of that may be due to the title putting everything out there in the open. You're aware Rachel is a dying girl from the get go. But truthfully, this was a really funny, lighthearted book.

I feel the need to introduce Greg's friend Earl, as he does have a spot in the title. Earl is hilarious. His raw humor and grim outlook on life always left me laughing, and his default mood is grumpy, which makes for a snarky and sarcastic character. So he's a huge part of the comedy in this novel. 

I actually listened to this book via audiobook, and I highly recommend you do to. I don't think I'd have liked it as much if I had read it instead of listened to it, because the narrator is so talented. He gets each voice so perfect, and it really contributed to the overall quality of the book. I don't think I would have read Earl's dialect in his accent if I'd been reading it physically, so hearing the narrator mimic his accent pulled his humor and dialogue together completely, allowing me to truly appreciate his comedic taste. 

I found Greg to be a somewhat relatable main character in the sense that I do strive to have no quarrels with people in school. However, that's where my ability to relate to him stops. I would much rather have friends and a couple people I didn't get along with than have no friends and no enemies. Greg's strategy to having no enemies is to have no close friends, and I don't think I could go through life like that. And Greg and Earl are not much of overachievers when it comes to school. In Greg's defense, he was a bit of an achiever before he began devoting all his spare time to visiting Rachel, but we don't really get to see pre-Rachel-Greg. I just find it difficult to relate to people who just don't care. Whether that be about school or just things in general. 

But I did find this book extremely funny, touching, and fun, and I'd recommend it to everyone, because it's truly an exciting book to read. 

Click here to view Me and Earl and the Dying Girl on Goodreads 

Top 16 of 2016

It's that time of year again in which I highlight some of the best books I read this year. Today, I bring you my top 16 of 2016! (Check out my top 15 of 2015!) Please note that these are not in order of preference, (I'm too indecisive for that lol) but ordered by when I read them.

1.  Winter by Marissa Meyer

Okay fun fact- Cinder was the first book on my Top 15 of 2015  list. Anyway, it's no shock that this amazing conclusion novel won a spot here. I gave this one five, well deserved stars. 

2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Gosh dangit this book left me emotionally wrecked. I've always had a daunting fear of classics, given the awful ones I've been forced to read for school, but I truly enjoyed Of Mice and Men. If you haven't read this one, I would highly recommend it. It's super short (was the shortest book I read all year) and it's plot is so gorgeous I just want to as;dkjaiad. Caution- tears will fall. 

3. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

So I don't think I've kept it a secret that Alexandra Bracken is literally my favorite YA author, like, ever, and I will endlessly spend my money on anything and everything that she produces. I loved her novel, Passenger, and gave it a 5 star review (which she retweeted!!!). I also had the pleasure of meeting her at BookCon this year! 

4. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This book was so overwhelming that I literally couldn't even think about picking up another book after I finished this one. It was so good. If you haven't read this, you need to. Right now. I gave it five stars. I also had the honor of meeting this duo at BookCon, so that was pretty cool! (Understatement of the year- it was absolutely awesome.) 

5. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Yoooo if you haven't read this one you're doing yourself a disfavor. I gave this one 4.5 stars, so I know what I'm talking about. Honestly. Read it. Love it. Reread it. Even if you hated the inserts in Fangirl, READ IT I PROMISE YOU'LL LIKE IT.  

6. The Siren by Kiera Cass

So Kiera Cass rewrote this novel that she wrote a while ago, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is this a YA standalone- it's a YA, fantasy standalone. We don't get many of those. This was such a sweet, refreshing romance, and I hope you pick it up! (4.5 stars)

7. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

You can hate on Cassie all you want, but I adored Lady Midnight. It was one long, awesome, epic ride, and I can't wait for Lord of Shadows. It got five well earned stars! 

8. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This is a crazy book. Honestly, it left me feeling so many different things. It's a book that makes you think. It got 4.5 stars from me, so I definitely recommend it. My brother recently finished it, and he loved it too. (So obviously it's good- he said so.) 

9. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

SOS please someone help me it's not healthy for me to feel so strongly in love with this book. For those of you who have begun to feel burned out by all the Riordan books, never fear, The Trials of Apollo are here. This new five book series got off to a really good start with me, and I gave it five shining stars because dang this book. 

10. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I wasn't the biggest fan of The Grisha trilogy that Bardugo put out, but Six of Crows was phenomenal. It got 4.5 stars from me. 

11. The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel

I sort of want to force McDaniel to spill her author secrets to me because THIS BOOK IS LIFE CHANGING. I literally want to go around throwing this book at people's heads until they finally read this book because it is so, so, sooooo amazing and I really wish I could convey the feelings I have for this book accurately. (Honestly just go read my review- it's so much more coherent.) But yeah, this was possibly the best book I read all year, and I gave it five stars. Also, check out my interview with the amazing Tiffany McDaniel!

12. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart 

Wow all I can say here is that this book really messed with my mind. Low key thought I was going crazy. 

13. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'm super sad because I just realized I never finished writing my review for this book, and I think it's too late for me to recollect my thoughts. However! I can tell you that this is definitely one of my new favorite books, and you need to read it because Jandy Nelson has the most beautiful writing humankind has ever seen. 

14. Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavksy

Another great read I didn't review (not sure why this is a trend all of a sudden...) but this novel was bizarre in all the ways you don't even realize. 

15. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo 

Aha Bardugo strikes again. I liked the sequel to Six of Crows even more, and gave it 5 stars. 

16. Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Honestly, are we even surprised here? The next book in the Illuminae Files did not disappoint- I loved every page of it. Crossing my fingers in hope that we'll get a cover and/or title release for book three soon! 

Aaaaand that concludes my Top 16 of 2016 list. I had a year full of some amazing 5 star and 4.5 star reads, and I hope that these are all books you've read or plan on reading in the future! Let me know some of your favorite reads this year!