Hogwarts Tag

Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all had a fun week, mine has been relatively quiet so far, but I’m going to see Mamma Mia with my friend Ellie tomorrow as an early 21st birthday present (in a happy coincidence tomorrow will be exactly one month till my birthday!), which should be awesome! Anyway I was tagged for this by Never Not Reading and I’m super excited to do it because I’m sure it’s no secret by now how much I love Harry Potter (if it ever was), so this tag is right up my alley (I would make a bad joke about Diagon Alley here, but I’ll spare you). So here we go, the Hogwarts tag:

Are you a pure blood, a half blood or a muggle born?

Neither of my parents are particularly into Harry Potter so I guess I’m a muggle born? Just like Hermione!

Which wand chose me?

My wand is a 12 1/2 inch, spruce wood with a phoenix feather core. It has surprisingly swishy flexibility. Apparently spruce is a difficult wood and requires a firm hand (so basically, it’s stubborn, just like me!). Pottermore describes the ideal user of a spruce wood as a bold spellcaster with a good sense of humour. Phoenix feathers are the rarest core types and are often very picky when it comes to potential owners and are hard to win over but have the most versatility when you do-that’s good, I wouldn’t want an easy wand, I prefer a challenge! I’m surprised I got such a flexible wand, I’m not the most flexible of people!

Did I take an owl. cat or a toad with me?

I took an owl, obviously! I’m not big on cats and there’s no way I’d want a toad. This is only of the options though, if I had a choice of any animal I could bring to Hogwarts with me, I’d want a puppy!

Where did the sorting hat put me?

Hufflepuff!

What house did I want to be in?

Well when I was a kid I wanted to be a Gryffindor, but I think now I’d rather be a Ravenclaw.

What lessons are my favourites and least favourites?:

Favourites:

-History of Magic-Okay so Binns is supposed to be really boring, but imagine you get taught by someone else, I think this class would be fascinating! I’m a total history geek, so of course I’d love learning about the history of magic.

-Charms-This seems like one of the classes you learn the most magic in? So I think I’d like it.

-Transfiguration-Turning random objects into other things? Sign me up! Plus I love McGonagall 🙂

-Quidditch-Does this count? I just really want to do Quidditch and the real kind, not the muggle version that involves running around with a broom between your legs.

-Defence Against The Dark Arts-If you had a good teacher like Lupin, this class actually sounds really cool!

Least Favourites:

-Herbology-I am so not a gardener! I’d probably kill anything I tried to grow in this class.

-Muggle Studies-Okay so I’m sure this is seriously interesting if you’re a pureblood (and not an ass who believes muggles are beneath you) but if you’re a half blood or a muggle born you’ll have experience of the muggle world, so I doubt it would be as fun.

-Ancient Runes-I’m sure this class would be interesting, but it sounds really hard!

-Divination-Sorry, I don’t believe anyone has the ability to tell the future!

The form my patronus takes

According to Pottermore, it’s a Manx cat, which uhhh…..no? I don’t even really like cats much. I’ve always thought my patronus would be a horse, like Ginny.

What does a boggart look like to me?

My boggart would be the same as Ron’s, I’m absolutely terrified of spiders!

Do I partake in any magical hobbies or school sports?

Like I said, I’d love to play Quidditch! I’m terrible at ball sports and don’t have great aim so I probably wouldn’t make the team, but I’d love to give it a try!

Where would I find myself hanging in my free time?

I reckon I would probably spend a lot of time at Honeydukes’ since I have a bit of a sweet tooth!

What would I most likely get detention for?

Probably being late! I wasn’t always the best at making it to class on time so that would be likely.

What career do I want after leaving Hogwarts?

I don’t really know! I’m a journalist, but I wouldn’t want to work for the Daily Prophet. Being an Auror sounds way too dangerous. I wouldn’t want to be a teacher, not even at Hogwarts. I don’t know, I might just have a muggle job!

Any Harry Potter fans out there, considered yourself tagged!

Get To Know Me Tag

Hi everyone! I hope you all had an awesome week, I was in Amsterdam with my parents, visiting my sister for her birthday over the weekend, which was a lot of fun! This is another tag that I haven’t technically been tagged for, but I saw it on Fernanda @TheWanderlustReader’s  blog and it seemed like it would be a fun tag to do, even if you guys probably already know me pretty well by now! Check out her answers to the tag here:

https://thewanderlustreaderofficial.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/get-to-know-me-tag/

And now for the tag (warning, this is gonna be a long one!):

Books

Can you stop reading at any time, or does it have to be a certain page or chapter?

I like to stop at the end of a chapter, or section, I hate leaving off in the middle or worse, just a few pages from the end. This is why books with really long chapters bug me because it makes it much harder for me to leave off at the end of a chapter if the chapter is 20-30 odd pages long and I’m reading at like 2am!

Do you eat or drink anything whilst reading?

Not usually, I don’t want to accidentally spill on my book!

Can you read listening to music or watching TV?

I nearly always listen to music whilst reading (it helps on public transport to block the people around you out), but I couldn’t watch TV while reading, that would be too distracting!

One book at a time or several at once?

I can only do one physical book at a time, but I often read Netgalley e-ARCs alongside them!

Reading at home or everywhere?

I read anywhere! In fact most of the time I’m not reading at home as I tend to read on public transport a lot.

Reading out loud or in your head?

I think I do a little of both? I won’t actually say the words out loud, but I do occasionally mouth along with my book while I read!

Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I have been known to do both! It tends to be when I’m really excited/really bored and just want to see what happens. I’ve been trying to stop doing it though!

Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

I honestly don’t see how people read without breaking the spine!

Do you write books or just read them?

I’m a writer too! I finished the first draft of my YA fantasy This Is Not A Love Story earlier this year and have started writing a new story, also a YA fantasy, tentatively called Underground Magicians, but that will probably change.

Five Favourite Books (ouch!):

1. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire-JK Rowling

2. The Book Thief-Markus Zusak

3. My Sister’s Keeper-Jodi Picoult

4. Unwind-Neal Shusterman

5. A Darker Shade of Magic-VE Schwab

(I have so many more though!)

The last book you read:

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon. I’m almost done with Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows though, will have finished it tonight.

About Me

Name:

Joanne

Name meaning:

Apparently it means ‘God is Gracious’, which is ironic, considering that I’m an atheist!

Hair Colour:

Brown

Eye Colour:

Brown

Birthday:

12th September

Height:

Around 5’2-5’3, I’m pretty small!

Place of Birth:

London

Star sign:

I don’t really believe in them, but I’m a Virgo.

Best feature:

My eyes

Piercings:

Just my ears (and only the lobes!)

Tattoos:

None, I’m terrified of needles!

Righty or lefty?:

I’m right handed.

Pets:

I have a black labrador called Otis, and a ginger cat called Benjamin.

Siblings:

I have an older sister who lives in Amsterdam.

Kids:

None and don’t plan on having any!

Are you married:

No!

Dream job:

Author!

Hobbies:

Horse riding, trampolining, running, reading, writing

Favourites

Films:

Non Disney: Moulin Rouge, 10 Things I Hate About You, Hairspray (2007), Definitely, Maybe, The Proposal

Disney: The Lion King, Beauty and The Beast, Mulan, Hercules

Songs (this is gonna be long!):

-Come What May-Moulin Rouge

-Your Song-Elton John (but I love the Ewan McGregor version from Moulin Rouge too!)

-Can’t Take My Eyes Off You-Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

-White Horse-Taylor Swift

-Black Roses-Nashville Cast

-She Used To Be Mine-Sara Bareilles

-Thinking Out Loud-Ed Sheeran

-El Tango De Roxanne-Moulin Rouge

-You’ll Be Back-Hamilton

-Without Love-Hairspray

-I’m Not That Girl-Wicked

-Defying Gravity-Wicked

-All Too Well-Taylor Swift

-Best Songs Come From Broken Hearts-Bonnie Bishop

-Blind-Nashville Cast

-Can’t Help My Heart-Nashville Cast

-Coming Home-Country Strong soundtrack

-Dancing Through Life-Wicked

-Don’t Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet-Nashville Cast

-Dreamer-Kari Kimmel

-Elephant Love Medley-Moulin Rouge

-Evermore-Beauty and The Beast

-Galway Girl-Ed Sheeran

-Girl In A Country Song-Maddie and Tae

-Give In To Me-Country Strong soundtrack

-Won’t Say I’m In Love-Hercules

-Be Our Guest-Beauty and The Beast

-Gravity-Sara Bareilles

-History of My Heart-Nashville Cast

-How You Learn To Live Alone-Nashville Cast

-I Will Never Let You Know-Nashville Cast

-I Just Can’t Wait To Be King-The Lion King

-Hakuna Matata-The Lion King

-Clean-Taylor Swift

-Blank Space-Taylor Swift

-I’ll Make A Man Out Of You-Mulan

-I’m On It-Nashville Cast

-Just The Way You Are-Bruno Mars

-A Life That’s Good-Nashville Cast

-A Love That Will Last-Renee Olstead

-Love Will Find A Way-The Lion King 2

-Loved-Lucy Hale

-Just Another Song-Lucy Hale

-Makes No Sense At All-Nashville Cast

-Can’t Stop A Heart-Nashville Cast

-It Ain’t Yours To Throw Away-Nashville Cast

-Every Time I Fall In Love-Nashville Cast

-Casino-Nashville Cast

-Love Story-Taylor Swift

-Love Like Mine-Nashville Cast

-The Lucky One-Taylor Swift

-Need You Now-Lady Antebellum

-Nervous Girls-Lucy Hale

-Nothing In This World Will Ever Break My Heart Again-Nashville Cast

-Our Song-Taylor Swift

-Ours-Taylor Swift

-Mary’s Song-Taylor Swift

-Back To December-Taylor Swift

-Reflection-Mulan

-Sad Song-Nashville Cast

-Sanctuary-Nashville Cast

-Say Something-A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera

-The Scientist-Coldplay

-Fix You-Coldplay

-Shake It Out-Florence and The Machine

-Shape of You-Ed Sheeran

-Castle on The Hill-Ed Sheeran

-Shine-Take That

-Should’ve Said No-Taylor Swift

-The Show Must Go On-Queen

-Don’t Stop Me Now-Queen

-Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen

-Somebody To Love-Queen

-Since U Been Gone-Kelly Clarkson

-Piece By Piece-Kelly Clarkson

-Because of You-Kelly Clarkson

-Breakaway-Kelly Clarkson

-The Story of Us-Taylor Swift

-Style-Taylor Swift

-Long Live-Taylor Swift

-Last Kiss-Taylor Swift

-Fifteen-Taylor Swift

-Fearless-Taylor Swift

-Sweeter Than Fiction-Taylor Swift

-A Thousand Years-Christina Perri

-Jar of Hearts-Christina Perri

-Tied Together With A Smile-Taylor Swift

-Tim McGraw-Taylor Swift

-Teardrops on My Guitar-Taylor Swift

-The Way I Loved You-Taylor Swift

-When I Was Your Man-Bruno Mars

-Wild Horses-Natasha Bedingfield

-Wrong Song-Nashville Cast

-You Belong With Me-Taylor Swift

-All About You-McFly

-The Other Side of The Door-Taylor Swift

-Fifteen-Taylor Swift

-Change-Taylor Swift

-Girl on Fire-Alicia Keys

-Human-Christina Perri

-If I Were A Boy-Beyonce

-Angels-Robbie Williams

-Love Song-Sara Bareilles

-Skyscraper-Demi Lovato

-Mine-Taylor Swift

-Photograph-Ed Sheeran

-Lego House-Ed Sheeran

-Out of The Woods-Taylor Swift

-Wildest Dreams-Taylor Swift

-How You Get The Girl-Taylor Swift

-Supermarket Flowers-Ed Sheeran

-Nancy Mulligan-Ed Sheeran

-Save Myself-Ed Sheeran

-The A Team-Ed Sheeran

Sorry guys, I know that was a lot!

TV shows (another long list ahead):

Friends, Gilmore Girls, Merlin, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl, Nashville, Game of Thrones, How To Get Away With Murder, Reign, Jane The Virgin, Heartland, IZombie, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars, Devious Maids, New Girl, Desperate Housewives, Sherlock, Orphan Black, The Tudors, Outlander, Lucifer, Strictly Come Dancing, Wild At Heart, Switched at Birth, Daredevil, Jessica Jones

YouTubers:

I don’t actually really watch any? At least not on a regular basis!

Food:

Pizza, ice cream (specifically Ben and Jerry’s), sausages, cake, anything with salted caramel, oreos, pringles (sour cream and onion are the best), chocolate

Drinks:

Smoothies, milkshakes (but with ice cream, not milk), cookie shakes (from Millies Cookies, they’re the best), orange juice, appletiser, Fanta

Restaurants:

Pizza Express, Peppenero’s (great Italian in London), Bella Italia, Carluccio’s

Shops:

Waterstones, Foyles, H&M, New Look, CEX, Paperchase, The Body Shop

Animals:

Horses & dogs

Perfume:

The ones I use are an Accesorize floral one and The Body Shop’s Spiced Apple scent.

Colours:

Purple is my favourite colour closely followed by pink.

Music Genre:

Musicals, movie/tv soundtracks, pop, country, some rock

Do You

Believe in love at first sight?

Nope.

Believe in ghosts?

Nah.

Believe in aliens:

No!

Believe in soulmates:

Hell no!

Believe in heaven and hell?

Atheist, so nah.

Believe in yourself?

Only thing on this list that I actually do believe in!

What

If you won the lottery what would you buy?

A house with floor to ceiling library, a cinema in the basement and lots of land for me to keep my horse!

Your favourite/worst subject in school?

Favourite:

History (and English up until GCSE)

Worst:

Maths!

Something you wish you were talented at:

I wish I could sing! Ooh and play guitar. Actually to just be musically talented in general would be lovely!

First thing you notice about people:

Usually their eyes.

On top of your bucket list:

Travel! I want to go everywhere!

Your biggest accomplishment:

Finally writing my novel! It’s only a first draft and it’s nowhere near polished yet, but I’m so proud of myself for getting something that was just an idea in my head, down on paper (so to speak, it’s actually on my laptop!).

Something you look for in a partner:

Sense of humour, an ability to laugh at yourself is key! I would also probably need someone with the same level of wanderlust as me, I don’t plan on staying in the same place forever!

Something you dislike:

Hoverers! Anyone who hovers over me when I’m doing anything, reading, watching a movie, doing work, whatever, I hate it if there is someone behind me watching!

Favourite fairytale:

Beauty and the Beast!

Random final questions

Favourite season:

Winter! I love snow and you know….Christmas.

Furthest you’ve ever been from home?:

I’ve been to the US three times, and I think that’s the furthest I’ve been?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where?:

So many places! Paris, Edinburgh, Berlin, Munich, Bath, Rome, Amsterdam, Ireland, Naples, I could honestly go on forever! I would love to live abroad someday.

Sweet or savoury?

Sweet!

Last time you cried?

I can’t remember? Maybe a month or two ago?

If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself:

I’ve no idea! I hope so!

Scary movie or happy ending?

I don’t like scary movies, so happy ending.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

I don’t really know? I love florals and polka dots, so maybe patterns? I don’t know, I like dresses and skirts, but I also like jeans and t-shirts and trackies. I just want to be comfortable so I’ll wear whatever I feel comfortable in.

Are you competitive:

Yes.

Describe yourself in one sentence:

The resident sarcastic friend.

Who is your role model:

I have so many, my family, the authors I love, the musicians I love, my friends, basically anyone who inspires me.

If you could give your younger self advice what would it be?

Things will get better, don’t worry about all the bad stuff you’re going through now, because you’ll get through it and be better for it.

I tag anyone who wants to do this crazy long tag, to do it!

Sunshine Blogger Award

Hi all! I hope you’ve all had a great week so far, mine has been pretty quiet really, but I’m heading out to Amsterdam tomorrow with my parents for my sister’s birthday on Saturday, so that should be really fun! Anyway, I’ve been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award, by Alex @coffeelovingbookaholic, so thanks Alex! You can find her post here:

sunshine blogger award

First off, the rules:

• thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog
• answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you
• nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions
• list the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo in your post and/or on your blog

Alex’s Questions:

1. If you could do one job for the rest of your life, what would it be?:

Ideally I’d like to be an author for the rest of my life! Failing that, any job where I get to read and/or write, would be perfect for me!

2. What’s the most important thing for you in a book review?

Honesty! I want to know whether you loved or hated a book, I don’t mind which way, but I don’t want to go into a book expecting something and finding something else because a blogger hasn’t been totally honest in their review.

3. Which author would you love to meet and why?

Well I have loads on my list, but my dream is to meet JK Rowling. Harry Potter was the series of my childhood and I would love to tell her just how much her and her books have meant to me over the years.

4. Is there one bookish memory from your childhood you will never forget?

Ooh I don’t know, there are so many! My dad reading me James Herriot’s books and doing all the Yorkshire accents of the farmers he came across will definitely always be up there.

5. If you could time travel, which event would you like to be part of?

Ooh I don’t know! I feel like I’d do quite well in the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960’s.

6. What would your perfect day look like?

I’d be curled up on the couch, with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (preferrably Cookie Dough), watching my favourite movie, Moulin Rouge, and probably lots of other musicals as well!

7. Are you more productive in the morning or in the evening/night?

Definitely evening! I am so not a morning person!

8. PC or Mac?

PC, I’ve never had a Mac!

9. If you could turn your favourite book into a movie, which actors would you have play the parts?

I can’t really answer this one as a) I refuse to pick a favourite book, it’s too hard! and b) I don’t really visualise characters much as I’m reading, so whoever ends up playing them in the movie will be who I visualise them as!

10. Which talent would you like to have?

I’d love to be able to sing, sadly I’m tone deaf!

11. If you had three wishes, what would they be?

Okay, I would wish to:

1. Become a published author
2. Have my own horse
3. Have the Beast’s Library from Beauty and The Beast (the room not the actual books, I’d like to pick which books of my own to fill those massive shelves with!).

My questions:

1. If you could switch places with anyone in history who would it be?
2. What’s your favourite TV show at the moment?
3. Puppies or kittens?
4. Favourite author right now?
5. The one movie you’ve watched so many times that all your friends know you for it?
6. One thing you would like to see more of in books?
7. If you could go back in time and change one thing, anything, what would you change?
8. One book you will never read?
9. Your house is burning down in a fire-which books do you save?
10. Most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you?
11. One bucket list place you want to travel to?

I never know who has been nominated for these and who hasn’t, so whoever wants do this, feel free!

The Friends Character Book Tag

Hey guys! I’m sure my love of the TV show Friends is no secret by now, I’m pretty sure I’ve talked about it on the blog before, I do a rewatch at least once annually, (which I just finished a few weeks ago) and can quote pretty much every episode verbatim, so I think it’s safe to say that I’m a bit of fan! So I was very happy to be tagged for this by Alex @coffeelovingbookaholic. Thank you to Haley @ FangirlFury for creating the tag, you can check out her original post here: https://fangirlfury.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/the-friends-character-book-tag-original-tag/?c=256#comment-256

So onto the tag:

1. Rachel: A Character Whose Wardrobe You Want To Steal

I can’t say I really pay much attention to character’s clothing in books really, but I would love to have Vika’s ball dress that she wears to Pasha’s masquerade in The Crown’s Game as it sounds amazing!

2. Joey: A Book That Left You Mind Blown

 This book! I am still thinking about this book and its ending 3 years after reading, it had me totally shook. It makes you question everything you thought you knew while reading it.

3) Chandler: A Book That Made You Laugh Out Loud

I’ve had quite a few of these actually! The most recent one was this one:

Rick Riordan’s books never fail to make me crack up and even though this one was not as funny as some of his others, it still made me laugh!

4. Monica-A Book That Made You Hungry

I swear all I wanted to do whilst reading this book was eat cake! The main character is a baker and there are all these descriptions of cakes and sweet treats and I just wished I could eat them all whilst I was reading. Someone should totally invent a machine that allowed you to take food out of books and eat it whilst you’re reading, it would be a huge lifesaver to bookworms who are made hungry by books!

5. Ross: A Book That Gave You All The Feels

Wow there are so many I could choose for this. I’m going to go with a more recent one for this though and say this beauty:

I was practically a puddle after finishing this, I went through all the feels and back again through this book!

6. Phoebe: A quirky and enjoyable read

This is my most recent read and whilst I definitely had some problems with it, it was a very quirky (at least to start off with before it became another tropey romance) and it was for the most part enjoyable, so it fits.

This tag was a lot of fun to do, so I tag anyone who loves Friends and wants to do it, to do so!

Liebster Award #10

People seriously seem to love nominating me for this award! But hey, I haven’t done it this year yet and you do usually seem to get different questions, so I figured why not do it again? Thanks to Lois @Lois Reads Books for nominating me and if you want to check out her answers then you can do so here:

https://loisreadsbooks.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/the-liebster-award-part-2/

Onto the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you
2. Answer the 11 questions they give you
3. Nominate 11 blogs
4. Give them 11 questions to answer.

My Answers:

1. If you could ask any author one question what would it be?

Ooh starting off with a toughie! Only one question for one author? I’d love to ask Victoria Schwab where she gets her ideas from, all her books are so different and unique and I’d love to know how she comes up with all these unique worlds and characters. Maybe I will ask her when I meet her at YALC!

2. How would you describe your blogging style?

I don’t really know! I hope that what you get is a lot of me, I don’t want to feel like I come across as some robot behind a computer, I’d like to think that my personality shines through my blog posts. In terms of my reviewing style, I’m a mix of analytical and emotional, probably leaning more towards the analytical, but it depends on the book I’m reviewing. I hope that my posts are fun to read and like I said, most of all, that my personality can be seen through what I write.

3. What food have you never eaten but would really like to try?

I don’t know! I remember hearing about Arepas on Jane The Virgin, a Venzeulan dish and I looked it up and it sounds kind of delicious, so I’d love to try that!

4. What was the last photo you took?

This one from my holiday in Greece. This is the hill leading up to Ancient Thira in Santorini, we walked about halfway up it.

5. What book are you currently reading?

I am currently reading The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon.

6. Is there any movie or TV show that has been released recently that you are excited to see?

I don’t know, I’m going to say not really? The summer is always kind of slow for TV and movies I feel like. I’m excited to watch the new season of Game of Thrones and the rest of the first season of Outlander as it releases on UK TV.

7. If someone narrated your life, who would you like to be the narrator?

Ewan McGregor? And then maybe I could meet him!

8. What is your favourite movie and why?

Moulin Rouge! The music, the costumes, the story, and well…..Ewan McGregor!

9. Do you listen to any podcasts? If yes, which ones and why?

I used to listen to a lot of the Afterbuzz Podcasts on my IPod, but they started to take up too much space on my IPod and then I forgot to get them on YouTube. I really need to start listening to them again though, they were so much fun!

10. If magic was real, what spell would you learn first?

I would learn whatever spell allowed me to fly!

11. Where is your favourite place to read books?

I read in bed mostly, but my favourite place is actually outside! Though I have learned my lesson of applying proper suncream after suffering a number of burns because of reading outside!

My Questions:

1. What do you love most about reading?
2. Favourite book blog that you’ve discovered this year?
3. Why did you start blogging?
4. TV series that you love to binge-watch?
5. Favourite movie?
6. Favourite book series?
7. Favourite stand-alone book?
8. If you could be any animal what would you be?
9. Who is your favourite fictional character?
10. What do you like to do outside of reading?
11. Who is your favourite singer?

I never know who has done this and who hasn’t so if you’re a new blogger who wants to do this award then go ahead!

Cake Flavoured Books Tag

I know, I know, another tag! But I saw this on Cait (Paper Fury’s) blog and I just had to borrow it because you know cake is life, even more so if it has chocolate in it! Check out her awesome and hilarious answers to this tag here: http://paperfury.com/cake-flavoured-books-tag/. It’s also apparently originally from bookstagram so thank you bookstagram for giving us cake and books!

Now for my answers:

Chocolate Cake: A Dark Book That You Absolutely Love

First off, can we all agree that chocolate cake is the absolute best cake? There is nothing that can beat cake and chocolate together, absolutely nothing. And also dark and stabby books are the actual best too? In fact, I should just sit and eat chocolate cake and read dark books, I would be in my happy place. Anyway, choosing just one dark book that I love is extremely difficult but if I have to, then it would be this one:

Parents can order for their unruly children to get taken apart piece by piece whilst still awake in order to be organ donors in Neal Shusterman’s creepy dystopian world. Believe me, reading the unwinding scene in this book will give you a whole new meaning for the word dark!

2. Vanilla Cake-A Light Read

Is vanilla cake even a thing? I didn’t realise it was a thing. Why on earth would you want vanilla cake when chocolate is right there? I’m rather confused about this particular type of cake, but that’s off topic. Light read? What is this madness? You mean reading does not have to leave you in an emotional puddle? If I’m looking for a slightly lighter read then I’ll pick up a Rick Riordan book as they never fail to make me laugh.

3. Red Velvet-A Book That Gave You Mixed Emotions

I don’t really understand why Red Velvet Cake would give you mixed emotions? It’s really good! But anyway, I have plenty of books that I have mixed emotions about. I’m going to use The Night Circus for this one because I feel like I’m kind of an odd one out about this book. Like I loved the Circus and I thought that was really cool but the writing and characters just didn’t really work for me.

4. Cheescake-A Book You Would Recommend to Everyone

Well for starters, I don’t believe any book is for everyone. People have their own likes and needs and wants when it comes to books and no book is going to satisfy everyone. But if I had to I would go with this one, because VE Schwab’s writing is perfection, the characters are AWESOME, the world building is fantastic, there’s brilliant action, basically just go out and get this book!

5. Coffee Cake-A Book You Started But Never Finished

I don’t actually like coffee, but put it in a cake and well…..yum! There is no chance that I won’t be finishing any cake that’s put in front of me. The same kind of goes for books, I find it really hard not to finish a book if I’ve started it. I have only 4 books on my DNF shelf, that I struggled so much to get through I had to put them down. I’ve gone with Before I Fall, I only made it a few chapters in before I had to give it up because it was too repetitive. I enjoyed the movie though, so maybe I’ll get back to it one day.

6. Carrot Cake-A Book With Great Writing

Ooh this is a tricky one, there are so many I could use! I’m going to go with Stephanie Garber’s writing in Caraval, I’m not usually one for very descriptive writing, but Stephanie Garber’s writing was so vivid it made me feel like I was inside Caraval, it was wonderful.

7. Tiramasu-Book That Left You Wanting More

I’m guessing this should be a standalone since with series you know that you are getting more? Louise O’Neill’s Asking For It definitely left me wanting more. I understand that the whole point is that rape cases can be frustrating and they don’t always have a conclusion, but I would have loved to have seen a bit more of Emma and her family and hopefully learn that everything turned out okay in the end.

8. Cupcakes (series with 4+ books)

The Percy Jackson Books, there are 5 in the original series, and 5 more in each of the two spin off series. People may say Rick Riordan is milking this universe and they may be right, but I will read whatever books with those characters that he puts out because I love them so much!

9. Fruit Cake-A Book That Wasn’t What You Anticipated

First off, I love fruit cake, so I don’t really get this comparison, but hey whatever works for you Cait! Cait had a good idea of doing good vs bad expectations so I think I’ll do the same:

Thought I Wouldn’t Like It But Loved It: I didn’t think I’d like Heading Home by Katie Flynn because it’s basically a romance novel, and if there’s one thing you guys will probably know about me after having read this blog, it’s that romance….not my jam. But I actually really enjoyed this one, sure it had romance, but it came across as more of a coming of age/finding yourself story to me and I was completely captivated by it.

Thought I’d Like It But Hated It: I had such high hopes for Graceling! It sounded like completely my kind of book, fantasy world, female led, graces that gave you different abilities and the main character having a killing one. I was all set up to love this book…..and then I didn’t.

10. Cinnamon Bun: A Book With The Sweetest Character (this one I came up with myself)

Colton from Timekeeper is an absolute precious, I just want to wrap him up and make sure that no one ever hurts him.

So there we go! If you also love cake and books then give this tag a try, it’s a lot of fun!

 

The Hamilton Book Tag

Hi everyone! I know I did a tag last week, but I found this amazing tag whilst surfing Twitter this week and I just had to do it because HAMILTON! I’m kind of new to the Hamilton-mania, having only really got into it this year, but since then I’ve had Hamilton music as my go-to playlist whenever I’m doing work or writing or whatever because it’s so awesome! I’m so sad that I probably won’t be able to afford to go see Hamilton when the West End production opens here later in the year but at least I can listen to the music over and over again. I saw this tag on The Bookish Beagle’s blog, but it’s originally a BookTube tag from Maureen Keavy (you can check out the original tag here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-x6u9aFZC8). So here we go, The Hamilton Book Tag:

The Room Where It Happens: Book World You Would Put Yourself In

I want to be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens

Okay, so I’m going to be super cliche and obvious with this one and say JK Rowling’s Wizarding World. I want to go to Hogwarts and learn magic and make potions and visit Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and play Quidditch. I could probably do without the potentially being killed by Voldemort part though!

The Schulyer Sisters: An Underrated Female Character

You want a revolution, I want a revelation-so listen to my declaration

This is hard because I feel like I read a lot of YA books with much loved female characters! I’m going to go with a character from a book that I feel is underrated as hardly anyone seems to have heard of it, so I guess in that respect she’s a pretty underrated character as well and that’s Nicole from Carmen Reid’s Cross My Heart. She’s so awesome, willing to do anything to free her country from Nazi rule and so brave and determined and feisty, I just loved her. More people need to read this amazing book!

My Shot: A character who goes after what they want and doesn’t let anything stop them

Hey yo, I’m just like my country, I’m young, scrappy and hungry and I’m not throwing away my shot

Alosa from Daughter of The Pirate King fits this quite well, she will stop at nothing in the book to complete the task that she has been given by her father.

Stay Alive: A character you wish was still alive

Save your strength and stay alive

Well this is kind of a spoilery question, so I apologise in advance if I spoil anything for anyone here but there’s really no way of answering it without being spoilery! I wish that Dobby hadn’t died in Harry Potter, his death was just so sad! Moreso than any of the others in Deathly Hallows for me.

Burn: The most heartbreaking end to a relationship you’ve ever read

The world has no right to my heart, the world has no place in our bed, they don’t get to know what I said

This has to be the end of Sephy and Callum’s relationship in Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses. It was an inevitable end to their relationship for the world that they live in, but it was still completely heartbreaking and even many years after I read Noughts and Crosses, I’m not over what happened!

You’ll Be Back: Sassiest Villain

Cause when push comes to shove, I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love

This was actually quite hard! I know of a lot of sassy YA characters but they’re mostly the heroes (are the villains not allowed to be sassy?). I’m going to go with Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter as I feel he has a certain degree of sass?

The Reynolds Pamphlet: A Twist You Didn’t See Coming

You could never be satisfied, God, I hope you’re satisfied

DANGEROUS GIRLS! AGH I’M STILL GETTING OVER THAT END!

Non Stop: A Series You Marathoned

Why do you write like you’re running out of time? Write day and night like you’re running out of time?

Honestly, I haven’t marathoned a series since I read the Percy Jackson books way back in 2010, so I’ll have to go with them! I don’t tend to read series releases back to back anymore even when all the books of a series are out, I like a break in between.

Satisfied: Favourite Book With Multiple POVs

You strike me as a woman who has never been satisfied. I don’t know what you mean. You forget yourself. You’re like me. I’m never satisfied.

I love multiple POVs, a lot of my favourite books have multiple POVs, but I think my favourite book with multiple POVs is Neal Shusterman’s Unwind. Even the POVs of minor characters in that book have major importance to the story and they’re wound together so well.

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A book/series you feel will be remembered throughout history

But when you’re gone, who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame?

I’ll be cliche again and say Harry Potter. I mean it’s already made such a huge cultural mark in 20 years, I have no doubt that will just get even bigger as time goes on.

Helpless: A Relationship You Were Pulling For From The Very Start

Look into your eyes and the sky’s the limit, I’m helpless

Percy and Annabeth! They were rivals, then best friends and we all knew they were destined to be more!

Ten Duel Commandments: Favourite Fight Scene

Time to get some pistols and a doctor on site

I’ve read so many, it’s hard to pick one favourite, but I will say that VE Schwab writes my absolute favourite fight scenes!

Say No To This: Guilty Pleasure Read

Lord show me how to say no to this, I don’t know how to say no to this

I don’t really have any of these, to be honest! I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures, why feel guilty about something that makes you happy?

What Comes Next: A Series You Wish Had More Books

You’re on your own

Awesome, Wow!

Do you have a clue what happens now?

I could totally read more Raven Cycle books! I need more of the Gangsey in my life, even if the last book in the series was awesome.

Right Hand Man: Favourite BROTP

Here comes the general and his right hand man

Can I go with Kell and Rhy? I know they’re literal brothers, but that still works right? They’re just so awesome!

What’d I Miss: A book or series you were late from reading

I’ve been in Paris meeting lots of different ladies….I guess I basically missed the late eighties

I’m going to go with Cinder, the first book of the Lunar Chronicles which I only read last year. I didn’t love it, but I’ve been assured the series gets better, so I think I’m going to try the rest of them.

Wait For It: A book that was worth waiting for

And if there’s a reason I’m alive

When so many have died

Then I’m willin to—

Wait for it

The Raven King was delayed by like a year and a half, but it was so worth the wait!

I have no idea whose done this and who hasn’t so I’ll just say that this is for anyone who wants to do it!