Top Ten Tuesday #5: Books You Should Bring to the Beach

This is a weekly meme hosted by the girls at The Broke and the Bookish

To celebrate the coming of summer, this week's theme is books you should bring to the beach. These fun reads will keep you entertained while you work on your tan.

Hey guys, Cassia here. I just wanted to put in a little side note:

I love summer, and it's a great time to (try) to catch up on your TBR pile. So, take advantage of it! Have fun and read books this summer, and I hope it's at the beach. Thanks guys!

Max

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

At first, I just included this because it's something I really would like to read, but look! It even has a beach on the cover. I don't know very much about it, but I've heard fantastic things and it just seems like a good summer read.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

In the summer, I like to read cutesy, fluffy books like Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (which I really recommend if you haven't read it, it was utterly adorable) and this really seems like one of those books.

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This isn't the kind of light, fluffy book I've been talking about and that I usually like to read in the summer, but it's been pretty high up on my to-read list and it seems fantastic. Plus, look at that cover.

Tessa's

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

I always enjoy a good contemporary, and this one sees to top the list. It should be a light read with a little bit of edge.

Royally Lost by Angie Stanton 

To me, road trip books are the pinnacle of summer reads. I can totally get lost in these books and forget that I am stuck at home with no vacation in sight.

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

FINALLY! This book is going to bring on the heat (pun intended) and, after two years, will reveal the ending to the Shadowhunters Chronicles.

 

Sinners by Maggie Stiefvater

 

 

To me, this cover screams supernatural summer. It is the 3.5th book in the The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I love my fair share of fluffy contemporaries, but I also need heavier books too. Stiefvater's books are perfect balance, and I have been dying to have a satisfying conclusion to this series.  

 

Cassia's

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

 

I would take all of the Sarah Dessen books to the beach, but this one especially. It's set in small-town Colby, North Carolina, which is literally the beach. It's just a fun summer read and has a feel-good ending. 'Cause who likes sad endings when you're at the beach?

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

I have not actually read this book, but it seems like a good, happy summer read. The Goodreads summary mentions that they are "star-crossed," so the first thing I think of is Romeo and Juliet. I know it doesn't have that ending, but it sounds fun.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

 

I absolutely adore this book. It's just so cute and adorable and you can't help but love it. It's not the best book ever (you can read Tessa's review here), but it's fast and fun.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society


Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #1
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Pages: 287
Review by: Max

Katarina Bishop is not your average private school girl--she's kind of sort of a thief. But Katarina Bishop is also not your average thief--she's one of the best.

At least, she had been, and she had been hoping things would stay that way (a.k.a. normal) until her (ex) co-conspirator shows up to bring her back into the world she had been trying so hard to forget.

And Kat finds out it's her father that's in danger from something he didn't do, she has no choice. She has to attempt the biggest, riskiest job the world has ever seen to save him, something that's never been done before, in two weeks and with a teenage crew. All the while, dealing with family and boy problems.

Huh. Maybe she is just a teenager after all.

The Friday 56 #4

The Friday 56

This is a weekly meme hosted over at Freda's Voice.

The rules are simple-- grab the book you are currently reading and turn to page 56 (or 56% of your e-reader). Then copy a few sentences and post them.

These are the books we are currently reading and a snippet of page 56.

 Max's

Savage by Alexandra Duncan

"Sweat slicks my palms. The electric light grid above me snaps and clicks.
And then they are calling for me."

 

Tessa's

Luminary by Krista McGee

"His eyes never leave us. He seems suspicious. I suppose I cannot blame him. I am suspicious as well."

 

Cassia's


Hey guys, so I'm still reading The Selection by Kiera Cass, so I'm posting a couple sentences from page 112. Thanks!

"'Let her go!' This was a new voice, young but full of authority. My head half turned, half fell in its direction."

The One by Kiera Cass

Picture courtesy of Goodreads

The One

Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection #3
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Pages: 336
Review by: Tessa

America Singer was just a humble Five who was happy to go through life with her instruments for company. But that was before the Selection.

Now, America is one of four girls left in the competition for to marry Prince Maxon, and to win the crown.

While the tensions inside the castle are heating up, the conditions outside are too. Rebels are a constant threat and the revolution cannot be ignored any longer.

America has made her choice, so all she can do is fight for her love.

Top Ten Tuesday #4: Songs for Books

This is a weekly meme hosted by the girls at The Broke and the Bookish

This week is a freebie week, which means that we get to create our own topic. We decided to do our top ten songs for books. Linked right here is our Spotify playlist with all of the mentioned songs!

Max's

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a book just begging for a soundtrack (and also a movie! Is anyone else excited?). My pick for this fantastic book is Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. The lyrics are so fitting, and it's also just a wonderful song.

My next pick is for The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. A song I feel represents the book greatly is Sick Little Games by All Time Low, even though it's only really the chorus that applies to the book.

Lastly, my pick for The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare would be distance by Christina Perri. I think it perfectly describes the relationship struggles between Tessa and Will and is just as utterly heartbreaking as their relationship was. In a good way, though.

Tessa's

My first two picks are both for the same book, Divergent by Veronica Roth. This book is one of my favorites, so I just had to pick two songs, Brave by Sarah Bareilles and The Reckless and the Brave by All Time Low. For me, one of the biggest themes in Divergent is how to face your fears, regardless of who you are.

My next pick is for a less popular book, Angelfall by Susan Ee. The song, Human by Christina Perri, really explains how someone can choose to be limited by what they are. In Angelfall, Penryn is up against an army of angels. She is merely mortal, but she still has the spunk to fight back. She knows she does not stand a chance, but she does not let that stop her.

Cassia's

My first pick is for The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. I mentioned this book as a book that's about friendship, but it's also about fitting in. Or, rather, not fitting in and feeling like the entire world is against you, lost and forgotten and hurt. My song for this book is 45 by Shinedown. There are two different interpretations of this song, both of which work: (1) it's a metaphor for feeling like the world is out to get you, and (2) it's about suicide. Think what you will.

  

Next up is Graceling by Kristin Cashore. The song I picked for this book is Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi. Now, Katsa isn't exactly wanted, but she doesn't like her Grace at all, and this makes her feel wanted by part of her country.

My next pick is for The Program by Suzanne Young: Give Me Novacaine/She's a Rebel by Green Day. Sloane and James are desperately trying to fight depression, looking for a way out (Give Me Novacaine). When they both finally crack, Sloane tries to fight the Program and keep her memories (She's a Rebel). This song is very emotionally-charged, and effectively gives both moods of the book.

 

My last pick is for The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare: Skyfall by Adele. (SIDE NOTE: The Adele version was not on Spotify so instead there's a tribute version, sorry.) Most of the time throughout the series, something around Clary and Jace crumbles, whether it's their true heritage or their world as they know it, but one thing they do know: they will stand together. (Can't wait for City of Heavenly Fire!) Also, part of why I picked all these songs for these books is the sound of the songs, not just the meaning. I mean, think about it. Don't they sound like the books? At least a little?