September Plans

As I'm sure you guys know, I recently moved my blog here from Wordpress. The end of August proved busy as I made that transition, but it's nothing compared to what I'm planning for the future.

I didn't move my blog without reason. I simply felt Blogger was a better platform when it came to expanding Kittens and Books and letting it reach its full potential. That said, I have so many plans for September. Here are a few things you can expect:

An appealing, easy-to-navigate layout. 

This may take more time than one month, but it's definitely a priority. While I don't plan for this to be nearly finished by the end of September, you can expect small improvements throughout the month - new banners, social media buttons (I'm working on these currently), and things of that sort.

New posts.

If I'm honest, I'm bored with some of my weekly posts. In September, I'm discontinuing WWW Wednesday and Friday Finds posts on this blog. If I'm bored writing them, I can only think that my readers will be bored with them as well.

Instead, I am going to stop being so strict about my posting times. I am not going to do so many weekly book memes, because they're beginning to feel limiting. Instead, I'm going to do a mixture of posts, although I will keep Top Ten Tuesdays and stick to my twice a week book reviews.

I will be bringing in some recommendation posts as well. This will be very similar to the Tuesday Tropes post I tried out, where I take different tropes or characteristics and recommend books based on that. These will be a mixture of books I have and have not read, in order to expand the number of books I can recommend.

I will also continue Travel With Pepper posts. These posts feature different parts of the world (cities, countries, continents, etc.) and books that are set in that place. It's a way to show off some books that might not usually get attention, and I'm hoping it will broaden my reading as well.

Lots of experimenting.

I do ask that you guys stick with me here. I'm really trying to find out where I want this blog to go - I don't want to feel like 'just another book blog.' If I'm going to keep blogging, it needs to be a unique space.

My two main goals are for myself to enjoy blogging, and for my readers to enjoy my posts. It's all I really want from Kittens and Books, and I don't think we're quite there yet.

Book Review: This is Falling by Ginger Scott

Quick Facts

My Rating: 4 stars

Series: Book 1 in a series of companion novels

Date Read: August 13, 2014

Source: Review copy from Netgalley

Publication Date: August 29, 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Genres: New adult, romance

Summary (taken from Goodreads): First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to live with the living. I just didn’t know how.
And then I met Nate Preeter.

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.

And then he showed me how to fall.

Review

I began this book very shortly after reading Ginger Scott's other novel, How We Deal With Gravity. I loved it, unexpectedly, and I was afraid this one wouldn't meet my expectations.

I was wrong. The first few pages were a bit rough for me, but the rest was great. I was hooked and ended up reading most of it at once. I liked the writing style, and I loved these characters.

Rowe was so brave, and so easy to sympathize with. She clearly went through a lot before getting to the beginning of this book, the time when she finally decided to move on. And Nate was sweet and understanding. He knew not to push her too far and really proved himself and his love for Rowe throughout the story. I also adored the way they joked around with each other.

It does seem like it should be said that the plot was predictable. The storyline itself isn't anything amazing, but that isn't the point of this book. It's a quick read with lovable characters and great romance - and I think it does a fantastic job at that.

Goodbye Summer Readathon TBR

I'm going to be taking place in the Goodbye Summer Readathon! It's hosted by Bookmark Lit and is all about reading those books that you planned to read this summer, but never got around to. I think this is such a great idea, especially because I have so many books I need to get read these next few weeks.

Here are the books I plan to read between now and September 15th:

I might stray from these books or pick up other books as well, but these are some that I really want to get to soon. I began Dream On yesterday, but since I've only read 20 pages or so I'm still counting it for the readathon. I'll just subtract what I've already read from my total page count.

I'm not planning on posting updates here, although you can follow my reading on my Goodreads page and by following me on Twitter.

If any of you are participating, leave links to any posts below and I'll check them out! If you're not, go ahead and tell me what you're reading this next couple weeks anyway. And have you read any of the books on my TBR? Let me know what you thought out them.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

 

Dream On by M. Kircher

I really love the plot idea behind this, and I was super excited to read it. Now that I've read the first few chapters I'm not quite so excited, but we'll see how it goes. Maybe it'll be better once I get into it.

What did you recently finish reading?

 

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

This one was so great. I had really great luck with books for awhile, which was really cool. I went through so many amazing reads and this one didn't disappoint in the slightest.

What do you think you'll read next?

Once Upon an Ever After by Angela N. Blount

I'm not positive that this will be my next read, but I am reading it soon! This is a review copy that doesn't come out until November, but my review will be up on September 18th.

Tuesday Tropes: Road Trips

Tuesday Tropes is a weekly series on the blog where I talk about books that fit a certain characteristic or trope. It can involve plot, characters, anything.

This week the theme is books that contain road trips!

Read

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I feel like this is a pretty regularly recommended road trip book, but it's for good reason! If you like road trip books and haven't read this one, I highly recommend it. (And Morgan Matson's other work, even though they're not all about road trips. I just love her writing.)

If you haven't heard of this one, it's about Amy, whose mother decided to move across the country. Amy is still struggling with her father's death via car accident and refuses to drive, so her mother asks a family friend, Roger, to go with her. What starts off as annoyance at driving around with this boy she barely knows, ends as an amazing journey in both distance and emotions.

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

When Jordan and Courtney were together, they planned to go to the same college. Of course, they were going to ride together to orientation. And then they broke up. It's too late to change plans, so they're stuck together.

I remember this being such a quick, pleasant read. The writing style is easy to read and very conversational. 

Unread

 

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern

Lil's best friend Penny has faked her own kidnapping in order to get away from family problems and an abusive boyfriend. Tired of everyone's questioning and almost positive she knows where Penny went, Lil takes a trip to find her friend. With her she brings Josh, her friend.

Along with finding Penny, Lil needs to find out more about her and Josh's relationship. Are they meant to be together, or will it only ruin their friendship, as Josh believes?

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

After graduation, Colby and Bev were supposed to travel Europe with Bev's band. But when Bev ditches all plans for college, Colby is left to keep those plans on his own, while wondering the whole time about Bev and about his own future.

 

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

When Emma finds out she had a twin brother who died two days after his birth, she finally has an explanation to why she never felt whole. She decides to take a trip to his grave along with her neighbor, Peter. 

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole

After her mother's death, Anna and her best friend Kat decide to go on a road trip across the USA. What started as a fun trip turns into more, into the girls discovering themselves and Anna coping with her past.

Top Ten Tuesday

Here is a link to the Top Ten Tuesday information from The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s theme is Top Ten Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet.

 

1. The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

I read an excerpt of the first couple chapters or so awhile ago now, but I still can't get this one out of my head! It's one that's always on my list, always on my mind, but for some reason I just haven't bought it yet.

2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I'm waiting for the next book to be released until I start this one, but I really, really want it! I've had my eye on the series for so long.

3. Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

I added this to my TBR purely because I read so many great reviews. A lot of people seem to love this book and I'm nearly positive that I will too. But I haven't bought it yet - I need to finish my immediate TBR pile first.

 

4. A Blue So Normal by Holly Schindler

This has the same reasons as Faking Normal. Great reviews, no time to read yet!

 

5. Butter by Erin Jode Lounge

This one was recommended to me. I read the excerpt and then stopped, and keep putting off purchasing it.

 

6. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

I have wanted to read this for so long! It's exactly my type of book - I love road trip books - but for some reason another book always gets in the way when I go to buy this.

7. Angelfall by Susan Ee

This is another series I've wanted to start for awhile, but never found time for. Series are so tricky because of release dates and multiple books and things.

 

8. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Ever since I read her other book, I've wanted to read this one. This is probably one I should have bought, because if I did I probably would have already read it.

9. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

I read the beginning of this awhile back and considered buying, but I wasn't in the mood for it back then. Ever since then I tend to forget it when I'm looking for a contemporary, but I really want it!

10. Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

This is another one I probably would have read soon as I bought it, but I've been putting it off for exactly that reason. I'll buy it soon as I know that I actually have time to read it.

Book Review: Random by Tom Leveen

My Rating: 3 stars

Series: N/A

Date Read: August 20, 2014

Source: Read free on Pulseit

Publication Date: August 12, 2014

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Genres: Young adult, contemporary

Summary (taken from Goodreads):  Who's the real victim here? This tense and gripping exploration of cyberbullying and teen suicide is perfect for fans of Before I Fall and Thirteen Reasons Why.

Late at night Tori receives a random phone call. It's a wrong number. But the caller seems to want to talk, so she stays on the line.

He asks for a single thing—one reason not to kill himself.

The request plunges her into confusion. Because if this random caller actually does what he plans, he'll be the second person connected to Tori to take his own life. And the first just might land her in jail. 
After her Facebook page became Exhibit A in a tragic national news story about cyberbullying, Tori can't help but suspect the caller is a fraud. But what if he’s not? Her words alone may hold the power of life or death.

With the clock ticking, Tori has little time to save a stranger—and maybe redeem herself—leading to a startling conclusion that changes everything…

 
I have to be honest - this book didn't do much for me. But I also don't think I'm the target here. This was geared more towards teaching a lesson than anything, and for certain people I think it will help. I'm just a little sad that this book didn't get past saying, "You shouldn't bully."

At the beginning, we meet Tori and she seems desperate and innocent. I was almost thinking that maybe she hadn't done anything. There could have been false accusations of some sort.

Then we learn what happened. We see the Facebook pages, the chats where she and so-called "friends" made fun of Kevin. People tell Tori again and again - sometimes subtly, sometimes straightforward - that she was wrong. She continuously denies it. Why? Because she "didn't kill him."
Because she was joking. Because people get picked on all the time and that makes it okay. Because Kevin should have been tougher.

I feel like she deliberately missed their points. And I understand that, because how hard would it be to know you caused a suicide? I even understand her anger towards Kevin, her putting blame on him. It felt like a natural reaction to me, and very realistic.

Really, I just expected more from this. More than, "Oh, hey, I'm lucky to be alive." More than endless apologies that didn't feel real. It's awful to me that Tori knew Kevin, but didn't seem sad for him. Only for herself. And until the end, it felt like that was all she cared about.

Overall, it was a quick read. I was hooked from the beginning, although the last 20% or so took a turn I wasn't expecting - and not in a really positive way. The twist was great, but afterwords it seemed to go downhill. There were so many questions left unanswered, and finding those answers were the main reason I was reading the book. It also didn't have the emotional aspect I was looking for - I didn't feel Tori's pain, or her guilt or sadness. It made her difficult to relate to.

I did like Noah and Tori's brother, though. The way they stuck by her was admirable and I did enjoy the loyalty shown throughout the story. I also think this carries a message that will stick with some readers. It just didn't feel genuine to me. It almost seemed like Tori saying sorry for the hundredth time and half meaning it was enough - although to be fair, I think she was supposed to actually feel sorry. It just happened too fast to feel realistic.

 

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