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Bookish Tay

Good Books + Good Living

Categories: Books

December 2020 Reading Wrap-Up

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase.

Happy January! Happy 2021! Starting off the new year with a new BookTube video with my December wrap-up. I had a great reading month, and seriously loved all the books that I read.

Click here to watch my new video, or keep scrolling to watch!

Books I read in December 2020:

Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd – A fun, Christmassy story that also delves into sexual assault in the workplace and has the sweetest romance. 4/5 stars, full review here!

Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan – A brand new romance that has great anxiety representation, a sweet sweet romance, and will just make you feel good! 4.5/5 stars, full review here!

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – A young girl inherits billions from a man she never met, the games begin as she and the family try to figure out why. 4/5 stars, full review here!

10 Blind Days by Ashley Elston – A YA novel that will have you laughing and smiling nearly the whole time. After getting dumped, Sophie’s family sets her up on 10 blind dates! 5/5 stars.

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black – book 3.5 in the Folk of the Aire series. I loved being back in this world, the illustrations were beautiful and I still love Cardan. 5/5 stars.

What did you read in December?

Categories: Book Review, Books

Review: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This post may contain affiliate links.

If you liked the movie Knives Out, The Inheritance Games is for you!

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes has been on my radar since I first heard about it! I put it on hold at the library and then kind of forgot about it until it came last week. Then once I started reading, I could not stop!

What I liked:

  • The whole entire story, the mystery, the game. I honestly don’t want to say too much about this book because I feel like the less you know, the better. But if I had to describe this book in one word I would say FUN!

  • The “i’m really poor and some old guy I never met just left me 46 billion dollars.. why” trope. I mean, I don’t think we see that often, but it made this book fun!

  • I also loved that the MC and the other side characters are all in their teens. I’ve been loving YA mysteries/thrillers this year (for the most part) but this one was right up my alley!

  • All of the brothers and their very different personalities. I think this is why it made it so fun for me, I loved all of the boys and how they interacted with Avery.

What I didn’t like as much:

  • Part of the reveal. The whole time you wonder (right along with everyone in the story) why Avery was the one who got it all. I do think though this will be revealed a bit more in the second book, it felt a little lack luster in this one though. BUT I need book 2 now!

The Inheritance Games is the perfect book for fans of the movie Knives Out and of the Truly Devious Books (full reviews of those here). 4/5 stars.

Steam level: some kissing

I read this book via the Libby app from my library. I plan to add it to my personal library soon!

About The Inheritance Games

A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why–or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch–and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.

Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

Goodreads | Bookshop.org | Amazon

Categories: Book Review, Books

Review: Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan

This post may contain affiliate links.

Y’all, this book was exactly what I needed today. It was like a breath of fresh air.


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To be honest, when I started Ten Rules for Faking It, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I knew it was a romance but I was not prepared for all that this book offered. It was exactly what I needed today.

What I liked:

  • The anxiety representation!! Everly has anxiety and nearly everything that happened I was like “oh I’ve felt that way “ or “oh yup this is relatable.” I thought it was great.. so good.

  • How Chris treated her and reacted to her anxiety. Y’all. Chris was making me swoon ?? Everly would have a panic attack or have one of her anxious quirks and he was always checking in, making she was okay, and never EVER making her feel bad about having anxiety. I loved how this part of the story was portrayed, what it should look like when you care about someone who has a mental illness. They aren’t broken or damaged, but they won’t always respond to things in life like someone without a mental illness would. Chris might just be my new favorite male lead in a romance that I’ve read in a long time.

  • All the tension and angst. LIKE JUST KISS ALREADY (I like kissing okay? Don’t judge me) BUT SERIOUSLY!!!! Gah, I just loved the romance and the build-up to the kissing and romance in this story.

What I didn’t like as much:

  • Uhhhhhhh honestly I can’t think of anything. I read 70% of this book in one sitting, so I can’t really say I didn’t like much about it if I couldn’t put it down. Ya know?

Ten Rules for Faking It comes out on December 29th and you need to add it to your list. This book wasn’t perfect, but it melted my heart and I loved it so dang much. 5/5 stars!

Steam level: some kisses, talk about wanting other things

I received a copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. (and I’m ordering a copy right now!!)

About Ten Rules for Faking It

What happens when your love life becomes the talk of the town?

As birthdays go, this year’s for radio producer Everly Dean hit rock-bottom.

Worse than the “tonsillectomy birthday.” Worse than the birthday her parents decided to split (the first time). But catching your boyfriend cheating on you with his assistant?

Even clichés sting.

But this is Everly’s year! She won’t let her anxiety hold her back. She’ll pitch her podcast idea to her boss.

There’s just one problem.

Her boss, Chris, is very cute. (Of course). Also, he’s extremely distant (which means he hates her, right? Or is that the anxiety talking)?

And, Stacey the DJ didn’t mute the mic during Everly’s rant about Simon the Snake (syn: Cheating Ex).

That’s three problems.

Suddenly, people are lining up to date her, Bachelorette-style, fans are voting (Reminder: never leave house again), and her interest in Chris might be a two-way street. It’s a lot for a woman who could gold medal in people-avoidance. She’s going to have to fake it ‘till she makes it to get through all of this.

Perhaps she’ll make a list: The Ten Rules for Faking It.

Because sometimes making the rules can find you happiness when you least expect it.

Goodreads | Bookshop.org | Amazon

Categories: Books

5 Books I’ve Been Loving Lately

Hi reader friends! We just finished another month and I hoped you read some great books! Whether you read 1 book or multiple, I hope you enjoyed them!

In November I ended up reading 9 books. I talked all about all of them in my last YouTube video, but will only be sharing my top 5 in this post today.

Watch my full November Wrap Up by clicking here, or watching it below:

This post may contain affiliate links, see site disclaimer for more details.

All of the books on this list were 5 star reads for me! I can’t wait to hear about the good books you’ve been reading in the comments!

5 Books I’ve Been Lovely Lately:

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

 

During the week of the election, I turned to this YA contemporary to ease my anxiety about waiting for the results. The Gravity of Us did the trick, leaving me smiling and feeling hopeful! This book follows Cal, who’s a teenage internet reporter, with big dreams of becoming an online journalist someday. But when his dad is picked to be an astronaut for an upcoming trip to Mars, everything changes for Cal. It all changes again when he meets Leon, another one of the astronaut’s sons. This book was charming, full of love and hope and I highly recommend it! More info —>

Buy The Gravity of Us: Bookshop.org | Amazon


Redeemer by David Butler

I finished listening to this great book at the beginning of November. In this book, Butler talks about the different names of Christ and how we can know Him better. There were moments where I laughed and moments that filled my heart and made me cry. If you’ve been wanting to get closer to our Redeemer, this book is a great one! More info —>

Buy Redeemer: Amazon


The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

You’ve probably heard me talk about this book before, as I did several reading updates a few months ago when I started this book. I was liking it, but it just wasn’t just the right time for me. I picked it up in the middle of November as part of the GilmoreAThon and I loved this slow burn! The House in the Cerulean Sea follows Linus, who is a social worker for the magical department. He visits orphanages that are home to kids with magical powers. One day he gets an assignment unlike any he’s been on before. This book was like the biggest warm hug. More info —>

Buy The House in the Cerulean Sea: Bookshop.org | Amazon


You Have a Match by Emma Lord

You Have a Match officially releases in January, but I know you’re gonna love this sisterly tale as much as I did. If you liked Tweet Cute this year, you need to grab Emma Lord’s new book. After Abby sends in her DNA test, she’s surprised to learn that she has a sister who lives just 30 minutes away. The two meet and learn they’ll both be at the same camp over the summer. This book was funny, full of wit, romance, and learning what it means to be family. More info —>

Pre-Order You Have A Match: Bookshop.org | Amazon


In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren’s books have been somewhat hit or miss for me. I LOVED Love and Other Words and Autoboyography. But I’d heard good things about In a Holidaze and wanted to pick it up. I listened to the audio and can’t wait to get my own copy so I can read it again! Mae is 26 and just made a horrible mistake. Then she learns the best part of her childhood is gonna be changing forever. She makes a wish to the universe, asking to find out what will make her happy, then wakes up on the airplane, 6 days earlier. This book is hilarious (and very Groundhog Day like), and full of family, tradition, and growing up. The romance will also give you all the heart eyes. It’s a perfect read this month, as it takes place over Christmas. More info —>

Buy In a Holidaze: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Libro.fm (audio)


What books have you been reading lately? Share in the comments!

Categories: Books

December TBR 2020

Hi friends! It’s been a while since I shared my TBR here on my blog, but here we are.

First, I’ve got a quick YouTube video featuring all of these books on my TBR for next month, which you can watch down below! And keep reading to see what books are on my TBR for this month.

Watch the video online HERE, or click and watch below:

This post may contain affiliate links, please see disclaimer for details.

My December TBR

I’m a huge mood reader, so I’ve only picked out a handful of books for December. I know that I’ll most likely read more than this, but these are on the top of my list!

The Emancipation of Evan Walls by Jeffrey Blount

EVAN WALLS IS TERRIFIED by the birth of his first child because he doesn’t want her to suffer the isolation he had as a child. Seeing his torment, his wife, Izzy, prods him to explain. He tells of being a black child growing up in the racially charged 1960s. Inspired to overcome the racism and class status imposed on blacks, he dreams of a life bigger than that lived by most everyone he knows in the small Virginia town of Canaan.

I received this book from UpLit Reads and I’m so excited to dive in!

 


10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents’ house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That’s when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

I’m so excited to re-read this fantastic novel, and hint-hint it might just be Tay’s Book Club book for December!


A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games-an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries-a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again-and so to keep magic’s balance, another London must fall…in V.E. Schwab’s A Gathering of Shadows.

I’m really looking forward to continuing on with my re-read of this series. It’s so magical and honestly perfect to read around this time of year!


Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Two sisters travel the same streets, though their lives couldn’t be more different. Then one of them goes missing.

In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don’t speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling.

Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey’s district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit–and her sister–before it’s too late.

Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters’ childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.

This book has been on my mind for weeks and I know it’s time to pick it up again! Have you read It yet?

What books are you hoping to read in December?

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