The Reading Hideaway

Holy nuggets it's been a while! Four years to be exact... oof. I was updating my "About Me" page because I'm no longer in high school... or college.  (Spoiler alert: your girl graduated - WOOT WOOT!)  But I figured I might as well write an update post, too. Thanks to quarantine and what spare time I have since I'm no longer a student, I've dove headfirst back into the book world which I absolutely love and I have missed so much.  Seriously so refreshing to escape reality by launching myself into some other story, amirite?  I think today was week four in a row that I've been to the library.  I think the volunteer at the door probably recognizes me at this point.  I should introduce myself to be completely honest.  I digress... I made a quick Snapchat story to send to my best friend about my book haul from the library when I remembered about my book blogging days and the light bulb went off in my head. I can blog again. Not that I couldn't before, but ho...

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at  Breaking the Spine.   It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions) Author: Amy Spalding Synopsis (via Goodreads):  A ridiculously cute, formerly famous, new guy dropping into your life? It’s practically every girl’s dream. But not Jules McCallister-Morgan’s. I realize that on paper I look like your standard type-A, neurotic, overachiever. And maybe I am. But I didn’t get to be the editor of my school’s long-revered newspaper by just showing up*. I have one main goal for my senior year — early acceptance into my first choice Ivy League college — and I will not be deterred by best friends, moms who think I could stand to “live a little,” or boys. At least, that was the plan before I knew about Alex Powell**. And before Alex Powell betrayed me***. I know what you’re thinking: Calm down, Jules. But you don’t understand. This...

Title: Countdown Author: Michelle Rowen Publisher: Harlequin Teen Rating: 2 Synopsis (via Goodreads) : 3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped. 2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game. Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis. 1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it. Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape. GAME OVER. Review: *I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest re...

I will admit it... I live in a Marvel family.  Captain America, Iron Man, the whole Avengers shebang; however, over spring break I wanted to do something with the broski and we both love trips to the movie theater to check out the latest blockbuster.  So, on the premiere day of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we planned to attend a matinee show.  We weren't expecting much - like I said, we're a Marvel family - but it's impossible to pass up the opportunity to see Ben Affleck as Batman!   Hello . Anywho, some D.C. fans will be happy to hear that we were pleasantly surprised with the film in the end.  The acting was fantastic all around the board (Jesse Eisenberg gave me chills!), the stunts were thrilling, and the action was nonstop.  The final question is: Team Batman or Team Superman?  I'm Team Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, had a minor role in the film but she easily stole the show.  Her character played a part of hi...

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read.  Title: The Unexpected Everything Author: Morgan Matson Synopsis (via Goodreads):  Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks). But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing - if everything's planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that? My Thoughts: First of all, this cover is A-DOR-A-BLE.  I wish I was the model at this photo shoot - it would've...

Title: Red Author: Alison Cherry Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Rating: 1 Synopsis (via Goodreads):  Felicity St. John has it all—loyal best friends, a hot guy, and artistic talent. And she’s right on track to win the Miss Scarlet pageant. Her perfect life is possible because of just one thing: her long, wavy, coppery red hair. Having red hair is all that matters in Scarletville. Redheads hold all the power—and everybody knows it. That’s why Felicity is scared down to her roots when she receives an anonymous note:  I know your secret.  Because Felicity is a big fake. Her hair color comes straight out of a bottle. And if anyone discovered the truth, she’d be a social outcast faster than she could say "strawberry blond." Her mother would disown her, her friends would shun her, and her boyfriend would dump her. And forget about winning that pageant crown and the prize money that comes with it—money that would allow her to fulfill her dream of going to ar...

Title: The Martian Author: Andy Weir Publisher: Crown Rating: DNF Synopsis (via Goodreads):  Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive — and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark's not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills — and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength – he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany experti...