Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Make Me Smile

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl in which we create bookish lists about everything from our favorite characters to love triangles and everything in between!

This Week's Theme: Books That Make Me Smile!

This week's theme is all about books that make me smile, so I've put them all in a list for you -- in NO particular order! So without further ado, let's get into it!

1. BEACH READ by Emily Henry

Because duh, a rom-com ABOUT a romance writer. Set on a beach. It's basically all I've ever needed in life.

2. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU by Marisa Kanter

This was the first YA book I ever read where the main character was a book blogger, and I just felt so excited to see what we do put on the page, and it was such a delight that still makes my heart all warm and fuzzy!

3. THE UNHONEYMOONERS by Christina Lauren

I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers novels, and this rom-com set in Hawaii just makes my heart all fluttery and happy.

4. UNPREGNANT by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

You guys, this book was just so dang hilarious and kept me laughing the whole time.

5. TWEET CUTE by Emma Lord

This was another book that was absolutely hysterical from start to finish!

6. FELIX EVER AFTER by Kacen Callender

I bought a copy of this book as soon as it hit my radar, and it was such an empowering, beautiful, fantastic read that made me feel really good!

7. THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE NORTH AMERICAN TEENAGER by Ben Philippe

Ben's writing was absolutely hysterical and I laughed from start to finish here too!

8. CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan

This was one of my favorite movies, and the books were such a delight!

9. MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR by Pamela Ribon and Cat Farris 

This was one of the first graphic novels that I ever read, and it was really sweet and funny and adorable and I'm so glad that I gave it a chance!

10. I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin 

Seeing two besties interact through all emails and texts and instant messages was a really interesting format to read, and I really enjoyed it because the whole story reminded me a lot of me and my best friends, so it was really sweet and funny!

So, those were ten books that make me smile! What are yours? Comment your link down below so I can check out your TTT post as well! :-)

Review: You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Title: You Should See Me in a Crown
Author: Leah Johnson
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 328 Pages
Published June 2020

Summary: Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it take to get to Pennington. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?

I had heard nothing but good things about this book when people had been reading ARCs and talking about it so highly, so of course as soon as my paycheck hit my account a few weeks ago, I knew that I definitely wanted a copy. We'd been following Leah Johnson on Twitter for quite some time, and she just seems like such an awesome, hilarious person, and I was really eager to give her a book a try. And let me say, I'm honestly so glad that I did, because I absolutely LOVED this book and can't wait to talk about it. So without further ado, let's get into my review!

As the summary explains, all Liz Lighty wants is to graduate from her high school and go to her dream college, Pennington, to follow in her late mother's footsteps. But she isn't expecting not to get into the music program she'd be gunning for -- which means she can't afford to go to Pennington at all. That is, until she realizes that if she's crowned prom queen, the crown comes with a scholarship that could make all of her dreams come true. There are only a few problems with that -- for starters, Liz hates the spotlight in all forms and is barely social at school, let alone social enough to win prom queen. And she maaaaaaay also be developing a crush on the competition. Which makes for a very, very interesting race filled with secrets, surprises, and all of the feels.

I absolutely loved reading this book. Through all of Liz's antics with her campaign and trying to sort her feelings out and doing everything she can to get to Pennington, so much drama ensues on so many different fronts that I definitely don't want to spoil for you -- all I can say is that some parts are hilarious, some are shocking, some are scary, and some are just downright ridiculous. Leah Johnson really manages to capture the chaos of prom season in a whole new way that I'd never heard about or experienced before -- and I used to think that MY high school was obsessed with prom! That definitely pales in comparison to all of Campbell's antics, that's for sure. It made for a really interesting read that I tore through and couldn't put down from start to finish.

My favorite characters in this book were definitely Jordan and Amanda. They were both really great characters that were really fleshed out and they were sweet and supportive in their own ways. (I'm trying to avoid spoilers, here!) The way Jordan plays the role of such a supportive best friend even through all of the craziness, and the way things develop between Liz and Amanda and all of the complications and secrets and surprises that come along with it, all made for a really great book that I absolutely loved reading. 

Overall, I absolutely loved YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN. I thought that it was such a delightful book that I clung to from the beginning until the very end, always wanted to be tapped into the drama just like as if it were Campbell Confidential. It was such a sweet, funny, interesting read and the book itself isn't that large so it was really easy to breeze through. If you're looking for a new author to support, I'd absolutely recommend buying a copy of this book and supporting Leah Johnson, because she's such an excellent writer that gave me ALL of the feels, and I can't wait to read whatever she comes out with next! 

 

2020 Debut Interview: Jessica Goodman!

In 2019, we made it our goal is to work with as many debut authors as possible and spread the word about their debut novels. It was such a success last year that we decided to continue the fun this year as well! Follow us this year as we pick the minds of the 2020 debuts and chat with them. Also stay tuned for news of giveaways, Twitter chats and more!

At the end of 2019, we Tweeted about wanting to discover more debut authors and their books. We ended up finding Jessica Goodman and her novel THEY WISH THEY WERE US, and we have been interested in it ever since. We are so excited to have Jessica on the blog today to answer some of our questions! 

Jessica Goodman is the op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. They Wish They Were Us is her debut novel.

Keep up with Jessica: Website / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

The Book Bratz: First of all, congratulations! How does it feel to be a debut author?

Jessica: Aw, thanks Bratz! Excited doesn't begin to cover it. It's been a long road to publishing THEY WISH THEY WERE US and I'm just so pumped to finally get it into the hands of readers so I can hear what they think about these characters and this story.

The Book Bratz: In your opinion, what's the best part of the writing process? What's the hardest?

Jessica: Nothing feels as good as writing "THE END" (even though those words never actually make it into the book!). After that happens, I usually walk away from the draft for a few days—or even weeks!—before going back to start revising. Looking at a draft with fresh eyes always helps me make it better. But the hardest is tying together all the loose ends in a plot, especially in a thriller. The best thrillers keep readers guessing and make them think "how the hell will this all come together?" They also have endings where everything makes perfect sense and storylines click into place at the last second. That's what I try to do in my stories.

The Book Bratz: Where did you get the inspiration for THEY WISH THEY WERE US?

Jessica: I grew up on Long Island and was always so interested in the hyper-specific socioeconomic issues that come with living in the shadow of New York City. Plus, I've always been obsessed with prep school stories and murder mysteries. Combining them seemed like a no-brainer.

The Book Bratz: Who was your favorite character to write? Who was the most difficult?

Jessica: The answer to both is Jill, my protagonist. She's torn in so many directions and feels so much pressure to succeed and be perfect. When we meet her, she's still unsure of herself and who she is in the context of the world around her. All of those characteristics felt so authentic to the teenage experience to me. But—sorry Jill!—I also made her suffer quite a bit. She has a long and winding character arc with so many ups and downs, and all of her relationships are put to the test. Jill doesn't always do what you want her to do, but I hope readers enjoy being along for the ride.

The Book Bratz: What sort of tips and tricks do you have for writers who want to write mystery stories?

Jessica: Read so many different kinds of mysteries! Adult, YA... anything! If you need some suggestions, try reading anything by Tiffany D. Jackson (MONDAY'S NOT COMING is one of my favorites of all time) or Megan Abbott (start with DARE ME!). Other mystery writers I adore include Lamar Giles, Jessica Knoll, Kara Thomas, Andrea Bartz, Megan Miranda, Karen McManus, and Gillian Flynn. Learning from the masters is never a bad idea and can help inspire you in your own writing. 

The Book Bratz: What do you hope that readers will take away from THEY WISH THEY WERE US?

Jessica:I hope they learn that no matter what social situation they're in, or how powerless they feel, they can always find their own strength to stand up for themselves, their friends, and what's right. 

The Book Bratz: Do you plan on returning to the world of THEY WISH THEY WERE US in the future, or do you have any other projects in mind? Can you tell us anything about them?

Jessica: I'm currently working on another standalone thriller that will come out in Summer 2021. No spoilers, but let's just say you can expect some serious twists and turns that had one early reader texting me, "OH MY GOD WHAAATTTT!" (in a good way, I promise!).

Title: They Wish They Were Us

Author: Jessica Goodman

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Summary: In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems. Freshman year Jill's best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on. Now, it's Jill's senior year and she's determined to make it her best yet. After all, she's a senior and a Player--a member of Gold Coast Prep's exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill's year. She's sure of it. But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham's innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn't kill Shaila, who did? Jill vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.

Thank you so much to Jessica for stopping by and answering our questions! We are super excited about THEY WISH THEY WERE US and can't wait for it to be out in the world on August 4th -- we're ready to be kept up late with scary thrills!

Spotlight: Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park

Today on the blog we have a spotlight for LOATHE AT FIRST SIGHT, the adult debut from 2020 debut author Suzanne Park, author of THE PERFECT ESCAPE! So without further ado, let's get into it!

Title: Loathe at First Sight
Author: Suzanne Park
Publisher: Avon
Paperback, 368 Pages
Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Summary: Melody Joo is thrilled to land her dream job as a video game producer, but her new position comes with its share of challenges. Namely, an insufferable CEO and a team that consists of mostly male co-workers who make the term “misogyny” pale in comparison to their obnoxious comments. Then there’s the infuriating—yet distractingly handsome—MBA intern Nolan MacKenzie, a.k.a. “the guy who got hired because his uncle is the boss”. Just when Melody thinks she’s made the worst career move of her life, her luck changes on a dime. While joking with a friend, she creates a mobile game that has male strippers fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Suddenly, Melody’s “joke” is her studio's most high-profile project—and Melody’s running the show. When Nolan is appointed a key member of her team, Melody’s sure he’ll be useless. But as they grow closer, she sees he’s smart and sexy, which makes Melody want to forget he’s her intern. As their attraction deepens, she knows it’s time to pump the brakes even with her Korean parents breathing down her neck to hurry up and find a man. But she’s here to work—and nothing more. All she has to do is resist the wild thoughts coursing through her mind whenever Nolan is near. Easy . . . or so she thinks. With her pet project about to launch, Melody suddenly faces a slew of complications, including a social media trolling scandal that could end her career. She suspects one of her co-workers is behind the sabotage and is determined to find out who betrayed her. Could the man she’s falling hard for help her play the game to win—in work and love?

Buy LOATHE AT FIRST SIGHT:

Amazon / IndieBound / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository / Books-A-Million

About the Author:

Suzanne Park is a Korean-American writer who was born and raised in Tennessee. In her former life as a stand-up comedian, she was a finalist in the Oxygen Network's "Girls Behaving Badly" talent search, and appeared on BET's "Coming to the Stage." She found this to be the funniest thing in her comedy career because, well, she is not black. Suzanne was also the winner of the Seattle Sierra Mist Comedy Competition, and was a semi-finalist in NBC's "Stand Up For Diversity" showcase in San Francisco alongside comedians Ali Wong and Nico Santos.

Keep up with Suzanne: Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Website

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Thank you so much to Suzanne and the amazing Avon team for allowing us to host this spotlight post! If LOATHE AT FIRST SIGHT sounds like something you'd be interested in, make sure to add it to your TBR!

Also, you can check out our debut interview with Suzanne here!

Waiting On Wednesday: Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine where we highlight some of the upcoming books we can't wait to read! 

 
Title: Tools of Engagement (Hot and Hammered #3)
Author: Tessa Bailey 
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: September 22nd, 2020

Summary: Hair, makeup, clothing, decor... everything in Bethany Castle's world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family's real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She's on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously. When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother's construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany's skin on day one, but the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way. As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It's a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany's perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

I read FIX HER UP earlier this summer and absolutely LOVED it (you can check out my review here!), and I decided to keep reading the rest of the Hot and Hammered series...so I'm really excited to get my hands on the third book in just a few months! I better make sure I have a glass of water with me while I'm reading, though, since we all know how much Tessa's books can make you blush...I'm super excited to get reading! 

What are you waiting on this week? Leave your links so I can stop back!