That's What HE Said Thursday #38

Image courtesy of Kei at The Lovely Pages Review

That's What HE Said is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful ladies at Chapter Break. It's a chance for us to spotlight and gush over a quote from our current book crush to the object of his desire. We like to pretend it's us ;)

What better way to celebrate our book boyfriends?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Okay, we're contributing something slightly different this week.  Instead of a "romantic" quote, we've picked a bit of funny banter between two characters from a series that the three of us love very much, The Dream Thieves, book 2 in the Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater (aka Bibliojunkie Nat's author crush).

This is an exchange between Gansey and Ronan after Ronan tries to explain how he can steal things from his dreams....

Gansey: "So what you're saying is you can't explain it."

Ronan: "I DID explain it."

Gansey:  "No, you used nouns and verbs together in a pleasing but illogical format."

The Dream Thieves by

Maggie Stiefvater

   

     
 

Waiting on Wednesday (122)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.




By Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date: October 21, 2014

here is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.












By Ann Aguirre
Publication Date:  November 25, 2014

Some people wait decades to meet their soul mate. Courtney Kaufman suspects she met hers in high school only to lose him at seventeen. Since then, Courtney's social life has been a series of meaningless encounters, though she's made a few close friends along the way. Especially her roommate Max Cooper, who oozes damaged bad-boy vibes from every pore. 

Max knows about feeling lost and trying to move beyond the pain he's been on his own since he was sixteen. Now it's time to find out if he can ever go home again, and Courtney's the only one he trusts to go with him. But the trip to Providence could change everything because the more time he spends with Courtney, the harder it is to reconcile what he wants and what he thinks he deserves. 

It started out so simple. One misfit helping another. Now Max will do anything to show Courtney that for every heart that's ever been broken, there's another that can make it complete.

Top Ten of 2013 - Nat's Picks

I can't believe that another year has passed.  Another year of bookish and non-bookish fun.   Another year of Shel and Bel putting up with my ridiculous obsessions and total nonsense - book related and not.  And another of year of struggling to create a Top Ten post.  It took some time but I did it.  I narrowed down my favorites for 2013.   Here there are.  Other than the first, there is no particular order to this list...

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg - This was by far my FAVORITE book of the year.  I want everyone to read this.  EVERYONE.  Not matter age, orientation or gender, I think everyone will be able to relate to Rafe.  This is a beautifully awkward and funny story about acceptance and celebrating who we are.










Just One Day by Gayle Forman - I loved both books in this duology but Just One Day struck a cord with me.  Growing up as an only child, I really identified with Allyson Healey and her struggles.  Gayle Forman doesn't hold back in telling the story of an insecure girl that travels both figuratively and literally in order to discover who she is and become an independent young woman.









Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein -  This was an engrossing story about best friends (one a spy; the other a transit pilot) meeting and experiencing the horrors of WWII England and France.  This book had one hell of a climax that still makes my heart stop to think about it.









Glitterland by Alexis Hall -  This is easily one of the best m/m romances I have ever read (review to post the first week of the New Year).  Hall's use of the first person narrative provides the reader with understanding as to how Ash is affected by his depression as well as serves to show the contrast between Ash and Darian's personalities.  And what I loved most was seeing how beautiful and sparkling Darian becomes in Ash's eyes.







The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - I have enjoyed both books in this unfinished trilogy but The Dream Thieves left me utterly confused and thoroughly enchanted.  Confused because, as Shel said, I had no idea what was going on yet I couldn't stop reading.  Enchanted because The Gray Man might be one of the most psychotically amusing characters I've ever encountered.  Don't let my comments put you off.  You will learn what's going on before the book is finished.  Stiefvater just does what she does best.  Take you on the most adventurous and entertaining path to the destination she intends.

Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane - Out of Amy's many wonderful releases this year,  Christmas Kitsch was the one that grabbed me the most.   Partially because Rusty was so adorably clueless and awkward.  And partially because it was a heartwarming love story about making a home.  This one gave me a nudge (that I desperately needed) right into the holiday spirit.








Dare You To by Katie McGarry -  No surprise I picked this one for my Top Ten.  Although I love McGarry's bad boys (Noah of Pushing the Limits and Isaiah of Crash Into You), my heart will always belong to the forever boys. And Ryan Stone is the perfect forever boy.  He's spontaneously romantic and he's protective while never attempting to take away Beth's independence.  And did I mention he plays baseball?  Yeah.  Forever boy.







Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - I can't say much about this because Shel is saving up most of her TMI and ID books for this coming spring and we don't want to spoil anything for her.  All I can say is OMG. Cassie Clare sure knows how to pull at those heartstrings.  Seriously.  I was sitting at the kitchen table at 2am sobbing my poor little heart out.








The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn - I thought this was Julia Quinn at her finest.  The shockingly rude and smart conversations that Lady Sarah and Lord Hugh have are hilarious.  Lord Hugh might be my favorite Julia Quinn hero yet.  And that's saying a lot considering how much I love Colin Bridgerton.  And Simon Basset.  And Michael Stirling. And Thomas Cavendish. And....oh sod it.  I love them all.  And now I can add Hugh Prentice to my historical romance harem.







Cherish by Tere Michaels - Cherish (a novella) is the 4th book in the Faith, Love and Devotion Series. I enjoyed the entire series immensely but what made Cherish stand out for me was that we got that peek we always crave when wondering about a couples Happy Ever After.  On top of that, it contained the perfect mix of romance and the wicked Tere Michaels' humor Bel and I witnessed at RT.








I did it!  I figured out my favorites of the year.  But there are still 6 more days of the year.  I reserve my right to edit this list on the off chance I find another favorite before 2014 begins.

Nat

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

* * * * 1/2


Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Review:

Gansey is trying to not question Adam about waking the ley line and how it has affected him.  Gansey is also trying to not be disappointed by the fact that not only was it not him that woke the ley line but Cabeswater seems to have disappeared.

Adam is confused by his new attachment to Cabeswater.  He’s also confused by his relationship with Blue.  Is she his girlfriend?  Is she not?  How is he supposed to know for sure when she flat out refuses to kiss him but still holds his hand.  And it doesn’t help that he only knows how to express his confusion through anger.  A not so lovely trait he picked up from his crappy dad.

Noah is still smudgy.

Blue is trying to figure out what her feelings for Adam.  Does she really love him?  If not, maybe she COULD kiss him.  Then there’s Gansey, who both still alternately annoys and impresses her.

And then there is Ronan.  And his dreams.  Ronan brought Chainsaw back from his dreams.  What other things can he bring.  What other secrets about himself has he yet to learn?

Just as in The Raven Boys, Stiefvater gives a little attention to Blue and each of her friends as they continue on their search for Cabeswater and the old king, Glendower.  But this story is mainly Ronan's and secondly, Adam’s.  We learn the secrets of Ronan’s dreams.  Why he has them, where they transport him to and who powers them.  And we see Adam struggle as he comes to term with the sacrifice he made when waking the ley line.

The Dream Thieves was just as good if not better than The Raven Boys.  This is another story full of intrigue, magic and adventure and I wait anxiously for the next installment in the story.

Nat

Waiting on Wednesday (69)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date:  September 17, 2013

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

* * * * 1/2

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.


Review:

Blue is the only non-seer in a house full of psychics.  A house full of psychics that all agree on one thing – Blue will kill her one true love.  The one thing lacking from their prediction is the who, when and where.  But one thing Blue knows for sure is that the who could never be one of the pretentious and spoiled Aglionby Raven boys.

Gansey has one obsession.  And that is to find the body of the old king Glendower.  Gansey, a natural leader, has won the loyalty of three Aglionby classmates – Ronan, Adam and Noah.  With the help of his friends, the quest for the ley lines that lead to Glendower’s resting place eventually drops them at Blue’s house for a psychic reading.

Blue never in a million years would have believed she would befriend one, let alone four, Aglionby boys.  But after a chance meeting and a psychic reading that poses offers up more questions than answers, Blue can’t help but join Gansey’s misfit crew in their quest.

As we all know, I adore Maggie Stiefvater.  She is my girl crush.  Don’t believe me?  Even she agrees….

But I don’t think I am being partial (at least not too much) when I say that this story is wonderful.  The characters are ALL engaging and described in such a way that they just pop right off the page.  Besides the purposely quirky Blue, there is the confident yet sometimes self-doubting Gansey and his friends – “elegant” Adam, “sulky” Ronan and “smudgy” Noah.  Stiefvater leaves no room for doubt as to who these kids are inside and out.

When I was a kid I would hide in the back of my long dark and old closet and close my eyes while I imagined that the back wall would open into Narnia.  With the imagery that breathes life into every page, I felt like I was living their magical quest.  I am not ashamed to admit that after reading this I found myself doing the modern version of what I did as a kid - imagining the places I could go while I went on my own search for ley lines and old kings.  As you may have guessed, The Raven Boys is a book full of adventure that I would recommend to pretty much everyone.



Nat

Top Ten 2012 (It's Nat's Turn!)

Wow.  Is it the end of the year already?  Where did the time go?  2012 was a rough year for all of us in one way or another.  And because of that each of us went through long lasting reading funks.  But even with that funk I managed to read 78 books this year. That is high for me on a normal year so I won't complain...

As usual, I had a hard time deciding which books to include in my Top Ten of 2012.  I, of course, cheated a little by adding a few honorable mentions at the end. How I narrowed those down to only three is byond me...So here it is.  My Top Ten of 2012.  In no particular order.





The Lovers Dictionary by David Levithan - A modern love story told in single words and definitions. So many pages resonated with me and how I feel about the Executive Officer. I still go back and re-read passages.  And the best part?  David Levithan continues to define life, love and relationships through words on Twitter @loversdiction








Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson Hands down, my favorite book of the year.  Yeah, you all thought I would choose a romance, didn't you?  Well I didn't.  I chose this amazingly hilarious (and rarely serious) memoir by Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess.  I can't begin to tell you much how I laughed.  And laughed.  And laughed.  And cried a little.  And laughed some more.









Chase In Shadow by Amy Lane - Thanks to Bel, this is where my love of Amy Lane began.  This is a brutally emotional story of a young man struggling to remain in the closet while using the gay-for-pay porn industry as an outlet.  Oh don't worry.  There is definitely some happy in this story.  But first, Ms. Lane will stomp on your heart a good five or six times.  Because she's kind of awesome like that.  And apparently that's my thing since I have read about a dozen more of her books since Chase in Shadow.







Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse - This one snuck up on me.  It was nothing what I expected.  Instead it was so much more.  A brilliant dramatic comedy  that is in turn hilarious and disturbing.  As I stated in my review, C.J. Skuse should be applauded her sheer awesomeness.










Dash and Lily's Book of Dare by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - I am so happy that I read this right before Christmas.  A perfect romantic comedy that not only put me in the holiday spirit but also had me giggling well into the early hours of the morning.  I believe this has been optioned for a movie and I will be absolutely thrilled if it makes it to the big screen. AND if I can put a Dash on hold for youngest daughter, that would be most excellent.








Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - The chemistry between Echo and Noah not only drips off this hot cover, it also drips off every single page within the book.  It was steamy.  It was angsty.  It was romantic.  And it made me cry.  A quadruple threat.  I can not wait until the companion novel, Dare You Too, is released in May 2013.

Making Promises by Amy Lane - I was instantly smitten with forever-boy (or forever-man in this case since this isn't YA and he is 30-something) Shane.  His patient pursuit of the adorably prickly and bitchy Mikhail is so understanding and loving that I just couldn't help but fall in love with him.  Also, how could I not love a book with this beautiful quote, "I cannot face you if you think I look at you and see anything less than the man you are.  I am not settling for you, I am reaching for you, and there is a difference..." 

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - I find it impossible to discuss this book with someone that hasn't read it.  The sheer beauty and sadness of it is overwhelming.  All I will say is that John Green is a genius.  His previous stories are great but this one….well there is a reason that it has been so well received by so many.  Once you read it, check out this to answer to any and all of your questions regarding Hazel and Augustus:  http://onlyifyoufinishedtfios.tumblr.com/







Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker - So often books are about being hurt by someone else.   Melissa Walker is one of the rare authors that chose to focus on the character that did the hurting.  We all make mistakes in our lifetime.  Some of those mistakes are bigger than others.  This story was about learning to live with those mistakes and how to rebuild your life after suffering the damage you caused.  This story was beautiful and I think is a must read for teens just so they know that life does move on and it does get better.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - This was one of the first books I read this year.  So often I will read something early in the year that I really enjoy but then it is overshadowed by something else.  In twelve months, Under The Never Sky has never swayed from my Top Ten.  This is a perfect combination of romance, fantasy and sci-fi and the second in the series will be an auto-buy for me when it is released the first week of 2013.

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

The Curiosites by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff & Boys of Summer Edited by Steve Berman - As I have mentioned numerous times, I do not like short story compilations.  This year, a number of YA authors set out to teach me a lesson.  Both The Curiosities (a collection of supernatural and horror stories) and Boys of Summer (an anthology of Gay YA shorts) proved to me that there are not only some amazing short stories out there but also a number of great authors that I can't wait to read more of.

 

 

 

 

 

Gambling Men by Amy Lane - To be honest, I could have added Amy Lane books to most of my Top Ten.  And it was REALLY difficult for me to choose between Gambling Men and Making Promises.  So this gets honorable mention. The biggest reason (besides the hilarious use of poker metaphors) is that I married a Quentin.  Yeah, that's right.  If you have read this you know to be super jealous ;-)

 

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

Oh Boy.....could this coming week get any better?


By Rick Riordan
Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that’s only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close— the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare. . . .

In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?


The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery. . . . With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.




By Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff
Publication Date: October 1, 2012

From acclaimed YA authors Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff comes The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories.

- A vampire locked in a cage in the basement, for good luck.
- Bad guys, clever girls, and the various reasons why the guys have to stop breathing.
- A world where fires never go out (with references to vanilla ice cream).

These are but a few of the curiosities collected in this volume of short stories by three acclaimed practitioners of paranormal fiction.

But The Curiosities is more than the stories. Since 2008, Maggie, Tessa, and Brenna have posted more than 250 works of short fiction to their website merryfates.com. Their goal was simple: create a space for experimentation and improvisation in their writing—all in public and without a backspace key. In that spirit, The Curiosities includes the stories and each author's comments, critiques, and kudos in the margins. Think of it as a guided tour of the creative processes of three acclaimed authors.

So, are you curious now?


By Amy Lane
Publication Date:  October 1, 2012

Ten years ago David Worral had plans to go to college and the potential for a beautiful future in front of him. One tragic accident later, he fled to California and reinvented himself as Dex, top porn model of Johnnies.

Dex’s life is a tangled mess now, but the guys he works with only see the man who makes them believe even porn stars can lead normal lives. When Kane, one of Dex’s coworkers, gets kicked out of his house, the least Dex can do is give him a place to stay. Kane may be a hyperactive muscle-bound psycho, but he’s also a really nice guy. What could be the harm?

Except nothing is simple—not sex, not love, and not the goofy kid with the big dick and bigger heart who moves his life into Dex’s guest room. When they start negotiating fractured pasts and broken friends, Dex wonders if Kane’s honest nature can untangle the sadness that stalled his once-promising future. With Kane by his side, Dex just might be able to reclaim the boy he once was—and if he can do that, he can give Kane the home and the family he deserves.(

The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff

* * * *

From acclaimed YA authors Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff comes The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories.

- A vampire locked in a cage in the basement, for good luck.
- Bad guys, clever girls, and the various reasons why the guys have to stop breathing.
- A world where fires never go out (with references to vanilla ice cream).

These are but a few of the curiosities collected in this volume of short stories by three acclaimed practitioners of paranormal fiction.

But The Curiosities is more than the stories. Since 2008, Maggie, Tessa, and Brenna have posted more than 250 works of short fiction to their website merryfates.com. Their goal was simple: create a space for experimentation and improvisation in their writing—all in public and without a backspace key. In that spirit, The Curiosities includes the stories and each author's comments, critiques, and kudos in the margins. Think of it as a guided tour of the creative processes of three acclaimed authors.

So, are you curious now?

  

I have mentioned multiple times that I am not a fan of short stories.  But two out of three anthologies I have read this year have blown me away.  This is one of them*.  I initially requested this from Netgalley because it contained one name that is an auto-read for me – my girl crush,Maggie Stiefvater. 

But here is the kicker.  I requested this book because I was excited to read Maggie.  And now that I have finished?  I can’t wait to read Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff. 

Holy Smokes are these ladies crazy talented.  This is an amazing collection of stories that cover everything from vampires to zombies to fey to Vikings to straight up crazy murderous humans.   There wasn’t a single story that I did not enjoy.  Each one sucks you in and then spits you out.  Sometimes it’s enjoyable and other times you are left gaping at your Nook wondering if it’s worth the cost of replacement if you vented your frustration by throwing it across the room. 

The other lovely thing about this book is that each short story is preceded by an introduction from the author as to where the idea for the story came from.  Then another of the three authors weighs in with their opinion on the story too.  Don’t worry. There are no spoilers in these introductions.  On top of the introductions there are handwritten notes through out the stories.  Some notes explain the creative process.  Other notes allow the reader to see how these authors help each other through encouragement and humor.  These intros and notes were a lot of fun to read and I can only imagine will be super informative and encouraging to young writers.  

As I said, I enjoyed every story in this book but here are some that stood out for me:

Scheherazade by Brenna Yovanoff – A girl walks into her home and is assaulted by a young man.  Let’s just say the evening doesn’t end the way he thinks it will.   

The Bone-Tender by Brenna Yovanoff – A boy has the power to heal broken bones.  But according to Brenna, all magic – even the good - comes with a price. 

The Madness of Lancelot by Brenna – This story is about a boy thinking he has found someone that understands his loss only to find that what she feels isn’t the same.  Brenna ends each section with telling us what the story is by saying that it isn’t.  Complete genius in my opinion.   

Death Ship by Tessa Gratton – A young woman learns that her husband has died at sea.  Nightly she visits the stone ships to mourn his death.  Until an unlikely person reminds her that she has to decide if she will go on living or die from grief.   

Ash-Tree Spell to Break Your Heart by Tessa Gratton – A magician creates a girl and sends her to his rival and commands her to rip out his heart.  A truly heartbreaking story.   

The Deadlier of the Species by Maggie Stiefvater – I hate zombie movies and stories.  Okay.  That’s not true. I am fascinated by them but I stopped watching years ago because they are the only kind of story that gives me nightmares.  This one is scary and funny and does not have a happy ending yet I loved it anyway.  AND I didn’t have any nightmares.  WIN! 

Heart Shaped Box by Maggie Stiefvater – This is full of the angst that Maggie does so well.  York St. James is sick and the only cure is contained in the silver boxes that are sold on the street.  But is it worth the money and guilt to take advantage of what those boxes contain?

So the consensus?  Yep, you guessed it.  I highly recommend that you buy this book.   

The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories will be released on October 1, 2012

*The other is Boys of Summer.

Nat

Top Ten Books That Broke Nat's Heart A Little (or a lot)

This our first time participating in Top Ten Tuesday.  Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish .

It's no secret that I am a total sap when it comes to reading books so I thought it very fitting that I share with you....

Top Ten Books That Broke My Heart A Little (or a lot...)

If I Stay by Gail Forman -  Every page of this book broke my heart.  I am honestly not sure how I am still standing.

Where She Went by Gail Forman - How can the hot rockstar that has continued to love the girl that broke his heart in the most excruciating manner not be heart breaking?

Marley and Me by John Grogan - The only book that has made me cry more than this one is Gayle Forman's If I Stay.  Let's just say that I hugged our dear sweet dog for quite some time.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Beth March.  Need I say more?  Oh and really Laurie and Jo?  Really?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - Not sure why but Sam's battle to keep his identity moved me more than I would have imagined. 

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas - Romance novels don't make me cry but this one DID break my heart a little.  The classic tale of a footman falling in love with the aristocrat's daughter was told with enough intensity that I found myself holding my breath more often than not.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - A story about teens and cancer.  Beautifully told by the great John Green.  Of course it broke my heart.

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn -  Michael is in love with his happily married cousin's wife.  Unrequited love of course causes broken hearts.  Particularly mine.

Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa - Oh Ash.  Your entire quest to become human was heart-wrenching. 

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Oh geez. Reasons this book broke my heart....Katniss, Prim, Rue, Peeta...should I keep going?

There you have it.  Books that broke my heart.   Now I think I need a tissue.....


~Nat