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a running list of all the noteworthy books I read this year

When I say "all", I don't mean all the books I post a full review for. I mean every. single. one. Yes, even that book I read at 1am after binging booktube videos for an hour on my Kindle underneath my covers (low-key exposing myself here). If I hated the book with a passion, I'll post a review here. If I loved it, I'll also post a review. The only reason I won't put one up is if it was so boring I refuse to dignify it with a review. Anyways, let's do this. January "The Ex: a mind-bending thriller" by Freida McFadden ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰  "A mind bending thriller" is actually part of the title. Don't ask why. This is the first book I read of the year, and it although it wasn't bad, I didn't like it.  I love plot twists, I really do, but the ending was too random. Ideally, the conclusion should be connected to the storyline and make everything feel full circle. Not in this book. To explain what I mean, here's a paragraph pulled from  F

Refuge from the World by Kim McMahill Book Blitz! (feat. excerpt + book giveaway!)

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Refuge from the World Kim McMahill (The Beartooth Chronicles, #1) Publication date: March 19th 2024 Genres: Dystopian, New Adult, Young Adult Ashley McPhee arrived in Beartooth with her mom, Sara, when she was three years old. Ever since Ash can remember, life has been simple and peaceful. She enjoyed a carefree childhood, tending honey bees with her mom and spending time with her best friend, Caleb Solomon. But, life in their idyllic mountaintop community is changing. After learning of the government’s plan to use a geoengineering process to cool the planet, Ash and Caleb realize they need to step up and take an active role in the community. Along with fear for how the process might impact their food supply, Ash learns her mom’s health is failing. Sara doesn’t want Ash to face an uncertain future alone and nudges her and Caleb into marriage. Even though they have known each other most of their lives, Ash and Caleb’s relationship has changed drastically in a short period of tim

Darkness Falls by A.E. Faulkner Book Blitz (excerpt + giveaway!)

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Darkness Falls  (Nature’s Fury, #1) By A.E. Faulkner Publication date: March 31st 2019 Genre: YA Dystopian Our family trip to the beach ended before it even began. Mother Nature made sure of that. Our parents…gone in an instant. It’s just me and my sister. 100 miles from home. No car. No phones. No money. Down to our last crumbs of food. But just when we figure out what to do, she vanishes. Mother Nature reached her breaking point and everyone’s paying the price. I have a feeling she isn’t done just yet. But guess what? Neither am I. Goodreads / Amazon Table of Contents: Excerpt Author Bio Giveaway Excerpt:  “Aidan, man, we should probably get going soon,” Jeff says, pulling me away from the threatening spiral of memories. His interruption is a welcome distraction. “You’re right,” Aidan says, his eyes locked with mine. “But before we go, Quinn, you need to know, you’re not safe here. Do you have somewhere else to go?” “What are you talking about?” My head volleys back and

The Art of Being Difficult by William Chekhov review (this book certainly lived up to its name because it was VERY DIFFICULT TO READ)

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introduction A Loveless Child. A Loveless Woman. Sweet Romance. Murder. Satire. Desperation. Fate.  That's it. That's the whole back cover description. I suppose the ominous, mysterious ambience was partly what drew me in, but that's what made me lose interest, too. Hey, I'm Paige, and this is a review of "The Art of Being Difficult" by William Chekhov. I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review, but these thoughts are my own. Thank you, Mendelssohn Press! it was confusing to read  I don't know how to describe Chekhov's writing style, except that it's a tough read for those seeking a straightforward narrative. To me, it looked like a bunch of scenes. There was no storyline. I think there might have been a hidden meaning or something, but I couldn't figure it out.  The lack of clear structure makes it challenging to follow the author's train of thought. it got boring soon Aside from the whole 'I do

go to a speech & debate tournament with me!! impromptu + declamation reflections (april 2024)

Hello to the ≈ 3 people who somehow stumbled upon this post (probably while looking for something else, lol). I am currently at a debate competition, and I have some extra free time, so... here I am. Note: This post is mainly for me. I like to wrap up debate tournaments by writing a reflection, and I decided to publish it on this blog because why not. So there might be some debate jargon or confusing bits that only make sense in my head. I'd like to apologize in advance for that.  This post was inspired by this paragraph in my monthly wrap-up for February . table of contents a little bit of context midpoint reflection thoughts right after the finals post-awards ramblings declamation full reflection impromptu full reflection conclusion a little bit of context It's 11:21 am (not pm, lol) as I'm writing this, and I'm between rounds 2 and 3. It's lunch break, but I finished eating early, so here I am.  The events I'm doing are impromptu and declamation , and I'v

#ThrowbackThursday April 2024 (Red Queen)

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I've seen bloggers doing book memes since the minute I started blogging, but I've never taken part in one myself... until now. The one I selected is monthly, and it's called Throwback Thursday. Here are the rules... The Chocolate Lady’s #ThrowbackThursday takes place on the Thursday before the first Saturday of every month You are encouraged to write a post about anything old that strikes your fancy! If you want to tweet or share this post, or someone else’s post, or the reviews being highlighted, please use #ThrowbackThursday! Please link back to her original page on your post. ( here's the link! ) So, without further ado, let's get right into it! this time last year, i was reading... I have an app on my computer named Sora to read books, and one of the cool features is that it shows a full history of all the books you checked out and when. So I scrolled all the way down to April 2023, and as you can see, I was going through a Red Queen phase back then. On April 3,

march monthly wrap-up

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hello. This month really flew by, didn't it? Well, I'm pretty sure I said the same thing last month, but whatever. This is the third monthly wrap-up I've written:  Here's my monthly wrap up for Jan,  and this is the one for February . table of contents posts I published this month music this month top artists top songs playlist of the month follow my spotify fav posts from other blogs conclusion posts I published this month february monthly wrap-up + finally recovering from the very happy yet emotional roller coaster that was the percy jackson tv series So this is last month's monthly wrap up, and it's... well, let's just call it interesting. It's the longest post I've ever written, and includes quite a few rants. the Wall by Brian Penn // why I DNF'ed this dystopian at 14 percent This book had been sitting on my Netgalley ARC shelf for, like, three months, and I finally reviewed it! 10:59 by N R Baker review: why this is one of the best novels I

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

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Lights. Camera. Lies.    Eighteen-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.     But the case is dredged up from the past when the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.   Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And—could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .    From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about o

bite-sized book reviews batch two (featuring nonfiction, booktok sensations, novellas, and more!)

I've been trying to write this post for the past two weeks, and I'm finally getting around to doing it. It's about time! This the second bite-sized review post I've ever written, and here's the first one .  The Summer of Broken Rules  by K. L. Walther (5/5 stars) I'm a little late to the party, but this booktok sensation definitely lived up to its hype! This contemporary YA novel is an escape into a summer filled with romance, family traditions, and the poignant process of healing, with Taylor Swift references sprinkled throughout. The story follows Meredith Fox as she navigates grief, love, and self-discovery during her cousin's wedding festivities .  It's different from other summer novels because of the amazing subplot: a game of Assassin . Basically, everyone gets a target (another guest at the wedding) who they try shoot with a water gun. The last people standing win. The Summer of Broken Rules is a charming mix of the Assassin element, a heartwar

a love letter to 10:59 by N R Baker

 Dear "10:59", From the moment I turned your first page, I knew this journey would be unlike any other. Your narrative, so intricately woven with threads of urgency and hope, captured my heart and refused to let go. It's rare to find a story that resonates so deeply with me, stirring a passion for change and a profound sense of connection to our world. Your tale is a masterpiece of speculative fiction, artfully blending the critical themes of environmental crisis and societal complacency with a narrative that is both compelling and deeply human. Your characters, so vividly drawn, became friends I cheered for, cried with, and, ultimately, learned from. Their struggles and triumphs echoed my own fears and hopes for our planet. Your brilliance lies not just in your ability to tell a story, but in your power to inspire action and reflection. You are more than a book; you are a clarion call to recognize the fragility of our world and the urgent need for change. Through your

10:59 by N R Baker review: why this is one of the best novels I've ever read!! 5/5 recommend.

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i loved this book. "10:59" by N.R. Baker isn't just a book; it's a journey—a thrilling rollercoaster that you wish had no end. Imagine diving into a story so immersive, every page crackles with the energy of the last piece of a puzzle clicking into place. That's "10:59." It's not often that a book grabs me by the soul and refuses to let go, but Baker has managed to do just that, weaving environmental concerns with a narrative so gripping, you'll forget to breathe. cover and description A deadly virus. An over-populated world. An impossible decision. The clock is ticking to the end of the world; and we’re already at 10:59. The most important book you’ll read this year. An apocalyptic thriller with a difference, 10:59 by NR Baker will have you questioning everything – and everyone – you thought you knew. If you held the lives of those around you in your hands, who would you save? And could you live with sentencing others to certain death? When teen

the Wall by Brian Penn // why I DNF'ed this dystopian at 14 percent

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In the vast universe of literature, where each book is like its own world, we readers often embark on journeys with high hopes, only to find ourselves disappointed. "The Wall" by Brian Penn was a book like that for me. It promised to be such an expedition at first, offering a premise that really piqued my interest. But somewhere down the line, the expectation didn’t meet reality. In fact, “The Wall” (regrettably) didn’t hold my attention beyond the 14% mark. So, with a somewhat heavy heart, I’m going to be sharing my candid thoughts on “The Wall” in this review post. He could live forever. But is he willing to pay the price?  It's 2099, and the former United States of America is in the midst of another civil war. In the wake of a revolutionary technology that grants people a second chance at life, an impenetrable wall divides the prosperous nation of Zion from the slums of MiddleLand.  When his uncle offers him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Asher is faced with an imp

february monthly wrap-up + finally recovering from the very happy yet emotional roller coaster that was the percy jackson tv series

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hello. Where do I even start? If it were up to me, I'd begin by aggressively running my fingers over the keyboard, for reasons I'll be getting into in the next paragraph. But I don't think that would be the best way to start a blog post, so I'm going to refrain from doing it (for now). It's a month and a half since I watched the very first episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and two weeks since I finished the finale. Ever since then, I haven't watched a single TV series. I watched a movie (I'll be getting into that later) but nothing else, simply because I hadn't fully recovered. Despite the urge to fill this whole post with Percy Jackson thoughts, I'm going to try to turn this into a monthly wrap-up. So let's get all the other stuff out of the way so that I can rant -I mean, write - about PJO at the end. Here's my monthly wrap up for Jan, by the way posts I published Shiene Lende by Darice Little Badger book review In  this book revi

A Valentine's-Themed Book Tag but Featuring All Genres

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( for people who don't like romance but want to participate in the fun ) Hey, everyone! Welcome to Pages Of Perfiction, a book blog where I discuss YA reads in this little corner of the internet. I know it's been eight days since Valentine's Day, but whatever. It's still February, so it's fine, right? Most Valentine's Day tags are about the best love stories, but in this one, we'll be talking about falling in love with books from all kinds of genres. I don't like romance novels that much, but I still wanted to participate in the February fun. This led to the creation of this tag. This is the first tag that I've made, and I hope you enjoy it! 1. First Love Share a book that introduced you to a genre you now love. How did it capture your heart? I'm never going to forget the very first YA fantasy book I ever read. I was eleven years old, and my family was going on a trip for spring break. We booked an Airbnb, and I remember finding a novel in the bo