Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

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 was a good and bad week. I was really disappointed, when my eye procedure was canceled two hours before I was supposed to go. *Sad* BUT, the good thing is that my prodigal daughter has returned! I am so happy to have her for these two weeks.

On the Blog:

• Monday: Review - Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
• Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday - Anticipated 2018 Debuts
• Wednesday: Can't-Wait Wednesday - The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith
• Thursday: Discussion - 2018 Reading Challenges
• Friday: In a Nutshell Reviews - Prince in Disguise, R.I.P. Eliza Hart, Here, There, Everywhere. 

STACKING THE SHELVES

It was a very light week. I was sort of sad, when I realized that the galley I requested on Netgalley was NOT the whole book, but only a preview. I checked and double checked the request, it was not indicated that it was only a preview, but I read it anyway. I was delighted to get the new Catherine Bybee though, because I love her books, and am a fan of the Not Quite series.

ARCs

• Not Quite Crazy by Catherine Bybee
• Sightwitch (preview) by Susan Dennard

Won

I won another Goodreads giveaway! The best part about it, I got the book 2 days after I was notified, and the print is big enough for me to read. I was quite delighted by this. 

• Little Big Love by Katy Regan

A post shared by Sam Kozbial (@kozbisa) on Dec 16, 2017 at 9:09am PST

What I Read Last Week

I feel like a reading beast this week, and I am happy that I got to some older ARCs. I was left a snotty mess by some of these book, but they were worth all the tears. My favorite book this week was A Taxonomy of Love. This as in the vein of Top Ten (which I also loved), but I think people will like this one more, because it's told in a linear format, AND you get closure at the end (which was my pet peeve with Top Ten).

• Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi: I knew it would be wonderful to revisit this world, and it was. This tale is darker than the previous book, but still had the magic and wonderful friendships that I loved so much in the previous books. I hope Mafi will keep aging these characters up, because there were these wonderful little "peek aheads" that made me want more of their lives when they reach that upper YA age. ★★★★
• What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold (audiobook): This was a painful and dark look at being a teenaged girl. Nina's understanding of love was slightly distorted due to her home life, and it took quite a few missteps for her to see that there was more and it could be better. I was grateful for the positive growth Nina experienced, but this was a really emotional journey to get there. ★★★ 1/2
• The Speaker by Traci Chee: Another #BloggerShame book. I put this one off so many times, and then it was as good as I thought it would be. Chee taught me even more about this world, Sefia's parents, and how all the book drama really came to be. She also introduced me to a slew of fabulous characters; however, she didn't let me keep all those characters, and there were tears. You know what I loved the most though? That she turned up the swoon. There were quite a few really beautiful moments that brought sappy tears to my eyes. The ending was fantastic too. (Yes, you heard that right!) I am really excited for the next book, and cannot wait to continue this story. ★★★★ 1/2
• Together at Midnight by Jennifer Castle: This was such a delightful story of searching for identity. Both of the main characters were slightly adrift and were trying to figure out their next move. In that week between Christmas and New Year's, they rediscover each other, go on a quest of kindness, and make some big decisions. I really enjoyed tagging along on their journey.  ★★★★ 
• A Taxonomy of Love by Rachael Allen: The note from the editor called this a YA When Harry Met Sally, and I couldn't agree more. The story spans six years, which is a long time in YA, and we get to see Spencer and Hope's relationship ebb and flow. I cried veritable buckets of tears throughout this book, and my heart ached often, but in the end, there were tears of joy. I also have to mention that Spencer had Tourett Syndrome, and I learned a lot about the different issues someone with TS deals with. This book has been added to my made-me-happy list. ★★★★★
• Busted by Gina Ciocca: Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was on the lighter side, and had a sweet little romance going on in there. However, there was a side plot, that I didn't feel was necessary, and I think that the original "feel and flow" of the main story got a little lost in it. Still, I was smiling at the end, and Ciocca wrapped it up nicely. ★★★ 1/2
• I Hate Everyone But You by Gabby Dunn and Allison Raskin: More #BloggerShame here. I was really excited about this book, until the reviews started rolling in and were less than favorable. I am in the middle with this one. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. The format was used well, and an important, cataclysmic time in a young adult's life is explored. The dialog is witty, and I found myself wanting to keep reading. However, I was sort of turned off by Gen, and although we eventually get a little bit of an explanation for her reactions, it is practically on the last page of the book, and my relationship with her could not be salvaged. ★★★
• Sightwitch by Susan Deanery (preview): So, once I got over the disappointment of realizing I only got a preview from NG and NOT the entire novella, I read it, and it was as fabulous as I expected. I had previously talked about Sightwitch as a Can't-Wait Wednesday pick, and my excitement for this book has grown even more. This is Ryber's story, and Ryber was a character I wanted to know more about, because she was sort of shrouded in a little mystery. A few things got me excited in this preview. It's a Sightwitch diary that Ryber wrote for Kuller -- to help him remember! This gives me hope for him. I was destroyed when he was cleaved, because I was shipping him and Ryber really hard. Thanks for keeping the flame of hope lit, Susan Dennard. Also, tons of Sightwitch history and background regarding their magic and purpose is revealed through diary entries, pictures, book excerpts, and even songs. This "taste" made me even more excited to read the rest, and to find out how Ryber's "quest" turned out. ★★★★

What I Am Currently Reading

I am FINALLY starting Graffiti Moon! Crowley won my heart with Words in Deep Blue, so I am excited to be reading more of her work. I am more than half way through Ghosted, and I have to say, it is living up to all the fabulous things I am hearing about it. I love second chance romances, and alternating time line has me wanting to listen just a little bit longer each day, so I can find out what happened!!!

• Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
• Ghosted by J.M. Darhower

What I Plan to Read

I have no idea if I will get all these books read, since we have holiday obligations, but I am hoping to read a bunch of January books so I don't fall behind like I did recently.

• Love and Other Train Wrecks by Leah Konen
• The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren
• Layover by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer
• As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

How was your week?

Let us know in the comments!