Here is my recap for January!
Reviews:
- Unforgiven by Lauren Kate - I was pretty disappointed with this, as I was originally wary of.
- This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp - This book is brilliant! Wonderfully diverse, and absolutely gripping! (Not pictured.)
- This Song Is (Not) For You by Laura Nowlin - Such a good book! I didn't connect emotionally with the characters, but I still really enjoyed it! An asexual main character, and another diverse element - it's spoilery, so I won't tell you, but I talk about it in my review. The first book I've heard of that covers this diverse element. I think it's going to be groundbreaking.
- Playing With Matches by Suri Rosen - This book was cute, but I thought it was a little far-fetched, with all the bad things that happen. But I loved learning about Jewish traditions and their culture.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - This book was so beautiful! I really don't know why I hadn't read it before. So, so good!
- Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard - I didn't connect with Caddy, who narrates the story, but this story is really important, and a wonderful, wonderful friendship.
- Changers: Drew by T. Cooper & Allison Glock-Cooper - This book had an interesting premise, but there wasn't much in the way of world building, so I was quite disappointed. However, it ended on an interesting note, and I think there will be more world building in the next book, so I'm a little intrigued. (Not pictured.)
- The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry - This was such a sweet novel! A great romance between two characters who are facing difficulties; Aidan recently lost his arm, and Kate has diabetes. Such a great story!
- Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Oh my god, WHY DIDN'T I READ THIS SOONER?! So, SO good! I love how it was based on a fairy tale, but brought so much that was new to the story. So eager for the other books in The Lunar Chronicles!
- The first link-up for the Retellings Reading Challenge 2016 went up. There are few reviews submitted, so go check them out!
- I posted about my goals for Diverse Reading for 2016.
- I discussed why hyping books for content can be a good thing.
- I also discussed why authors coming out is an incredible thing, for so many reasons.
- After it cropped up on Twitter, I decided to join the conversation and wrote about if book bloggers were to get paid.
- Debut Author Challenge 2016 - I've read two, so that's 2/12.
- LGBTQIA 2016 Reading Challenge - I've read three so that's 3/40.
- 2016 Diverse Reads Books Challenge - I read 5. There's no target for this challenge, just an aim to read more. Of the six goals I personally set myself, I've read at least one book for each goal.
- Retellings Reading Challenge - I've read out, so that's 1/12.
- Contemporary Romance 2016 Reading Challenge - I read two, so that's 2/20.
- 2016 Classics Challenge - I read one book, so that's 1/12.
- Unique Formating Book Challenge 2016 - I read one book, so that's 1/15.
- NetGalley Reading Challenge 2016 - I read three books, so that's 3/30.
- Read the Books You Buy Reading Challenge 2016 - I bought 9 in January, I read 1. The aim is to read 40-60% of the books I buy, so I really need to keep on top of this.
- Non Pratt wrote a brilliant article for Guardian Children's Books, No Taboo Should Be Off Limits When Writing For Teenagers.
- YA authors Rebecca Wells, Mackenzi Lee and Ashley Herring Blake have created the Twitter book club #BiYABooks - a monthly chat to talk about YA books with bisexual main characters. The first chat was on Far From You by Tess Sharpe on 26th January. The next chat will be on , on .
- Buzzfeed lists 23 Upcoming YA Novels with LGBT Characters.
- Barnes & Noble list 10 2016 YA Books with Utterly Irresistable Concepts.
- Nita Tyndall Storified a number of her really important and informative tweets, Romantic Attraction vs. Sexual Orientation.
- Riley Redgate wrote an absolutely amazing post about self-loathing and self-doubt; Girls Who Love Themselves.
- Cuddle Buggery wrote a wonderful post, Blog Like No-one's Watching.
