Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
This has just been a tough week for me. I am pretty sad about saying goodbye to my ONLY child and leaving her hundreds of miles away from me. BUT, I am very proud of her, and wish her good luck as she begins her career. Advice: Don't let your children grow up.
Aside from this, I also had to miss BEA and BookCon. I felt a little twinge of sadness as I scrolled through my feeds, but also happy for everyone, who were getting awesome books, meeting amazing authors, attending incredible panels, and doing lots of fun stuff.
Don't forget: Our #giveaway is still open. Go forth and enter.
On the Blog:
- Monday: In a Nutshell - Dating Disasters of Emma Nash, My So-Called Bollywood Life, Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over
- Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday - Ionic Performances of the 2000s
- Wednesday: Can't-Wait Wednesday - Snow in Love
- Thursday: Discussion - What Inspires You?
- Friday: Blog Tour - The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
Bought/Free
- What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
- The Resolutions by Mia Garcia
- Meant to Be Broken by Brandy Woods Snow
- Hole in the Middle by Kendra Fortmeyer
- The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason
What I Read Last Week
I read a lot of fun books this week, but my favorite, by far, was This is How We Roll.
- Marek by Sawyer Bennett: I love this series so much, and never want it to end. I really enjoyed this second chance romance. It started out really angsty, as both were wounded from their past, but as the ice melted, wounds healed, and my heart was melting by the end. ★★★★
- Summer Skin by Kirsty Eager: This one required a lot of patience from me, and the relationship was so messy. My patience paid off, because the ending was great. ★★★ 1/2
- The Future of Us by Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler (audiobook): Reviews are really mixed for this book, but I liked it. It was sort of fun and fascinating to look back at our world pre-internet explosion. I thought the magical elements were a fun way to makes these two examine their relationship. I would have liked a little more at the end, but overall, really enjoyed it. ★★★★
- A Date with Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt: Who doesn't love a bookish heroine? I had a lot of fun reading about when life in and outside a book collide. This leaned toward the rom-com side, which I always enjoy, and I am a fan of many of the characters. I am looking forward to see where Schmidt goes with this series. ★★★ 1/2
- How We Roll by Natasha Friend: I loved this book so much! It was such a lovely story about friendship, family, forgiveness, accepting and being honest to yourself. The ending was so sweet, I think I actually hurt my face with the ginormous size of my smile. ★★★★ 1/2
- Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan (audiobook): I still appreciate this writing duo, but I am not a huge fan of super angsty characters. There was still a lot of humor and ideas about love to appreciate though. ★★★
What I Am Currently Reading
I am in the midst of two sequels right now. I am ashamed at how long it has taken me to see how Dangerous Creatures ends, and I was a big Aurora Skye fan, so I am really happy to be back in her world.
- Kissing Games by Tara Eglington
- Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia, Margret Stohl
What I Plan to Read
Since someone else is doing the driving home from Chicago, I am hoping to get some reading done in the car, and maybe get to one of the books I was supposed to read last week.
- The Thief of Happy Endings by Kristin Chandler
- Tell Me No Lies by A.V. Geiger
- From Twinkle, With Love by Sandya Menon
- Screwed by Kelly Jamieson
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
As you know, I totally understand the feeling of loss when a child moves out. Imagine the shock and sadness I felt when my daughter sprung this on me--"Mom, I got a full time job managing the dorm for summer school students so I'm not coming home this summer." So the house is much emptier and so is my heart. On to better things as my concert band kicked off our summer schedule on Friday night and we got a standing "O" and lots of compliments.
ReplyDelete((HUGS)), mom. Once my daughter got the apartment when she was an undergrad and ditched the HS boyfriend, she didn't come home as much, but Syracuse was only a few hours away. I only saw her twice last year, while she did her graduate degree, so I hope to see her more this year.
DeleteI don't have kids, so I don't know what it's like, but kudos to you for raising a daughter that's so confident and independent to be able to move to a new city by herself.
ReplyDeleteShe is doing pretty good, and I am proud of her.
DeleteDid you change blog themes yesterday? Feeling like I'm just now noticing it! Lol! It's very cute! And omg, I am feeling the envy of everyone at BEA and now Bookcon. It hurts. Though I am happy they're having fun. I just can't afford NYC on my own and it seems like they will never put BEA back in Chicago. I thought I heard that's where it originated. The Midwest (where I live) gets ignored when it comes to major book events. It's terribly sad.
ReplyDeleteNice new reads!! They are all new to me ones but I hope you enjoy each and every one of them!
Here's my STS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Yep. This was my mother's day gift. The Sloth-tastic design is not fully implemented, but Kiersten wanted to go live. I love it.
DeleteAww, sorry about the move. Hopefully she’ll visit as often as she can. I also get sad seeing all the people having fun at BEA. I’ve never been to an event like that. I hope you have a good week. Enjoy your new books!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Yep, kids leave, but hopefully she will be able to work her way back east. My goal is some sort of bookish event next year. BookCon, if nothing else.
DeleteI can imagine the move was really tough. Also missing BEA. Looks like you picked up some good books this week. Enjoy them and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteBEA is not as big a draw for me, since I don't really like reading physical books, but I love the panels.
DeleteGood luck to your daughter. Is she starting a new job? I can imagine how tough it was for you. It was even harder for my mom since my sister and I are 10000 miles away! I hope you enjoy new books this week. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how your parents survived you going so far away. ((HUGS)) to your mom! Yes, the child has graduated and now has a full-time job. It's amazing seeing your little ones do such big things.
DeleteIf you figure out a way to stop kids growing up I think parents everywhere would both thank and hate you. It's sad you're daughter has moved away but you'll adapt to it. I didn't realise BEA and Bookcon were on either, shows how out of it I've been of late. But next time you go it'll be all the more fun for you. I hope you have a good week.
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to get on that project. ;)
DeleteI have not done well with my empty nest for the past 5 years. I had hoped when school ended, she would get a job in NYC. I would get to see her all the time. I can still dream.
Sorry you had to say goodbye to your daughter. At least you have great books to comfort you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have had to do it every year for the past 5 years. Goodbyes are hard.
DeleteI'm sorry about your daughter leaving. I don't think I will handle it well when my kids leave. :( I've never been to BEA but I've always dreamed of going. Just not feasible for us, unfortunately. Sigh. Maybe someday. I hope you have a good week! And your blog looks so cute! I love the new design.
ReplyDeleteBEA was pretty intense. I only went once, but I went to BookCon every year. . Thanks! I love the sloths and was so excited when Kiersten made it live.
DeleteMy son is only 3 but watching him grow up so fast is scary! I don't want him to leave him one day :( but hopefully time will slow down a bit and I won't have to face that soon.
ReplyDeletegreat week in book reading tho :)
What a fun age! It's bittersweet watching your babies grow up. I always strive for a good reading week.
DeleteMy son still lives at home but I know that day is coming for me as well. I shudder thinking of rambling around the house all by myself. Looks like some fun summer reads. Enjoy:)
ReplyDeleteMy Sunday Post
At least absence makes the heart grow fonder. I am looking forward to my first visit with her (maybe Oct for my birthday), because she won't have any school work for the first time ever.
DeleteYour new theme is so cute! The background is so freaking adorable. I adore hedgehogs (I think this is how they are named in English). *.*
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your daughter moving away. I'm sure is also hard for as it is for you (I moved away for uni and it was difficult leaving the nest... and I visited it every weekend.) I only hope your new books can help you feel better - books always make me feel better when I'm sad.
Wishes of a great week.
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
This is a design by Kiersten as an homage to her doll, Sloth. My daughter was always too far away when she was at school for weekly visits. I saw her twice during grad school, but I will probably see her more now, because she travels for her job. Fingers crossed she gets some assignments on the east coast.
DeleteI thought for a second I was on the wrong blog! Love the cute little hedgehogs. Sorry you're missing your daughter, though---I'm not looking forward to the day I have to face that.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It's the circle of life. Sad, but true. Thanks! Kiersten did a very sloth-tastic design for me.
DeleteI could not imagine having your child move that far. That has to be very hard. Although always good that they are successful! I have to start What to Say Next I keep putting it off!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Brooklyn near my grandparents, my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Now we are all spread out. That's the way families are these days. I am not starting any non-review books for quite a while, but the sale was too good for What to Say Next and I loved the other three books I read from Buxbaum.
DeleteThe Resolutions sounds great. I'm also glad that you liked The Future of Us. I read it a few years ago and remember liking it a lot.
ReplyDeleteKrystianna @ Downright Dystopian
I was really surprised by the negative reviews for The Future of Us. I really enjoyed it.
DeleteAwww, I can only imagine how hard it must have been to leave your child so far away. My child is only 10 but I already dread the thought of when he will grow up and leave the nest.
ReplyDeleteOMG though, your new theme is the cutest! I am in love with the color scheme and of course the sloths.
You have 8 more years to convince your child to go to a nearby college =) Kiersten did an amazing job on the design. I am very excited to get all the graphics.
DeleteI don't know why I haven't picked up What to Say Next yet. I really liked Tell Me Three Things. I really want to get my hands on The Resolutions. I also need to get to From Twinkle. Hope you have a really good week.
ReplyDeleteI read Tell Me Three Things and Buxbaum's adult novels. All were great, and the sale was too good to pass up. Twinkle was adorable. Menon has officially joined my list with KWest and Jenn Bennett for adorable contemporaries, which make me happy.
Delete