Anticipated Book Releases of July 2019

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to talk about some highly anticipated releases that I’m hoping to read in July, even if I’m not sure I’ll be able to.  July is gonna be a weird month for me because I’m going back home to Colombia after almost a year of living in Spain, so I don’t really know how much I’ll read. But anyway, let’s talk about some books that sounds amazing and that I’ll try to read if not in July then as soon as I can.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Release Date: July 2nd 2019

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen’s new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan’s most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story . . . until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.

Searching for the truth about Ingrid’s disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew’s dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building’s hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent. (Goodreads)

Why am I anticipating it? 

Recently I started to get back into mysteries and thrillers and I was looking for some to add to my tbr and I found this one, I have never read a Riley Sager book but I have heard great things about his books and the synopsis of this one sounds so intriguing and the whole dark history behind the luxury concept is something that I enjoy in books.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Release Date: July 9th 2019

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book. When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options: 1) Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 2) Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).3) Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page. (Goodreads)

Why am I anticipating it? 

First of all, Berkley has been publishing some amazing romance books lately, so I’m excited to check out their new releases, and second, the main character in this book sounds like the kind of main character I like to read about.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Release Date: July 9th 2019

It’s been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty’s life out from under her.

It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don’t dare wander outside the school’s fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.

But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there’s more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true. (Goodreads)

Why am I anticipating it? 

After loving the cover of this book – one of the most beautiful covers for a YA books that I have ever seen – I was a bit unsure about reading this one based on the synopsis, but then I heard someone described it as sapphic horror and I was sold.

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory

Release Date: July 16th 2019

Maddie and Theo have two things in common:

1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other
   

After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won’t fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn’t looking, agreeing they would end it once the wedding is over. When it’s suddenly pushed up and they only have a few months left of secret rendezvouses, they find themselves regretting that the end is near. Two people this different can’t possibly have a connection other than the purely physical, right? But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don’t fall in love. (Goodreads)

Why am I anticipating it? 

This is the third book in The Wedding Date series and , while I had some issues with the first book in the series, I liked the second book so much that I can’t wait to see if the third one will be as good. Also, this is a hate to love romance, which is one of my favorite tropes.

Gods of Jade and  Shadow by Silvia Moreno- Garcia

Release Date: July 23rd 2019

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld. (Goodreads)

Why am I anticipating it? 

This has Mayan mithology and a mexican protagonist and it sounds amazing, add that to the fact that I always try to support Latinx authors and you know I’ll be reading this. But if I’m honest, I am a bit nervious because I didn’t like the only book I have read by Moreno-Garcia that much, I’m still excited tho.

What July book releases are you anticipating? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned? Have you read any of them already? what did you think about them?

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Top 5 Books I’ve Read in 2019 So Far

Hi everyone! Since it’s almost the end of June and that means we are almost half way thorugh the year, I wanted to highlight the top 5 books I have read so far in 2019.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

This book is magic, it reminded me why I love fantasy and it reminded me how awestruck I can be by a new magical, whimsical world. The writing is stunning and it sets a tone of wonder and curiosity and posibility, that goes perfectly with the mystery within the story, which is intriguing and captivating. The main character Lazlo is precious and there are so many other fascinating and complicated characters, that it’s imposible not to root for them. The combination of all these things sucked me into this story of gods and monsters and made me feel invested until it hit me with the shocking and heartbreaking ending.

“And that’s how you go on. You lay laughter over the dark parts. The more dark parts, the more you have to laugh. With defiance, with abandon, with hysteria, any way you can.” 

The Wicked King by Holly Black

The Wicked King is highly entertaining, full of twist and turns, and brimming with complex and compelling characters and relationships. This is filled with angst, betrayal, deceive, lust, murder, mind games, viciousness and wit, all of it is so enthralling and intoxicating and Holly Black’s writing works perfectly to reflect that. But my absolutely favorite thing about this book is Cardan and Jude’s relationship, which is angsty, spiteful, deep and complicated, and it’s the epitome of the enemies to lovers trope.

“The Folk doubtlessly learned this lesson long ago. They do not need to deceive humans. Humans will deceive themselves.” 

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro 

A Study in Charlotte is an enthralling and entertating read, that brings a unique spin to a beloved classic, with characters that are as captivating and complex as the ones in the original version. The fact that the main characters are related to the original Watson and Holmes gives this book an interesting and unique premise that it’s very well executed. The real strengh of the book lays in the main character, Charlotte and Jamie, and the relationship between them. They have an engrossing and strange dynamic, their dialogue and banter is incredibly entertaining, and the honest moments when one or both of them are being vulnerable are so precious that I feel like crying just thinking about them.

“We weren’t Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. I was ok with that, I thought. We had things they didn’t, too. Like electricity, and refrigerators. And Mario Kart.”

Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Morena

It’s not often that a book breaks my heart and makes me sob, but this book managed to do just that. I fell in love with this book because of its beautiful writing, the complex but lovable characters, a community that’s like a huge family, and the brilliant and  bittersweet way it explores the feelings of a granddaughter of immgrants; the feelings of confusion and guilt for belonging to two places at onces, speaking biligual words, not knowing exactly where she comes from and not knowing what happened to the family that stayed behind.

“My dreams were founded by a loan made long before me, and I paid it back in guilt and success. I paid back by tending a garden whose roots I could not reach”

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

We Set the Dark on Fire captured my heart with two beautifully complex main characters, a forbidden love story,  a fascinating mythology, an infuriating world and a flawed and complicated rebelious group. The latinx feel that this has is icing on the cake, it’s the respectful and wonderful representation that we have been waiting for in fantasy. Beyond all those amazing things, the strengh of this book lays in the way it addresses immigration, privilege, poverty and opression, because it manages to evoke so many emotions and be incredibly thought provoking, it’s brilliantly done.

“In a battle between two men trying to control her, she’d chosen herself.” 

What are the best books you have read so far in 2019? Have you read any of the books in my top 5? Did you enjoy them?

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5 Amazing Queer Books I’ve Read in 2019

Hi everyone! Since it’s Pride Month, I want to talk about some incredible books that I have read in the last few months and that include LGBTQIA rep.

Without further ado, here they are:

 

Darius the Great is not Okay by Adib Khorram

This book is about a biracial, gay teenager, who has depression, and that travels to Iran to meet her mother’s family in person for the first time. Darius is discovering his sexuality in this book and there is a sweet friendship between him and a boy he meets in Iran, but the main focuses of the book are family, tradition and mental health.

 

Graham’s Delicacies by Em Ali

This is a collection of three queer love stories. There’s one about a Black bisexual women with anxiety and a chubby and anxious nonbinary baker, another one about a nonbinary baker and a Korean foodie vlogger, and one about a gay Mexican-American man and his gay Black coworker. If you are looking for diverse romance stories with low angst and so much cuteness that you’ll smile most of the time while reading them, this is for you! (Full review)

 

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This book is about the love story between Alex, the Mexican-American son of the President of USA, who throughout the book realizes that he is bisexual, and Henry, the gay prince of England. It’s a swoon worthy, heartwarming romance! Also, this book has a huge political aspect, that’s fascinating, because Alex’s mom is up for reelection and because there are international political consecuences to their relationship.

 

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

This is a Latinx fantasy book with an f/f romance that captured my heart. In this world, men have two wives, a Primera and a Segunda, each one with a different role in the family. This is the story of a Primera and a Segunda who fall in love and get involved with a rebelious group. Dani and Carmen, the main characters, are Latinx and Queer and they have a complex and captivating relationship.

 

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria

This book has five main characters and three of them are Queer. One is an ace, plus sized POC that has severe anxiety; another one is a bisexual POC; and the other is a gay teenager that was a victim of parental abuse. This book is about a heist in a world where there’s magic and the story is full of twists and turns, which makes it entertaining and engaging the whole time. (full review)

 

What amazing queer books have you read in 2019? Have you read any of the books I mentioned on this list? What queer books are you anticipating for the scond half of 2019? 

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Anticipated Book Releases of April 2019

Hi everyone! It’s that time of the month again when I talk about books that are coming out and that I can’t wait to read a.k.a the reason I’m broke!

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

Release date:  April 2nd 2019

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. 

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light.

Why am I anticipating it?

THIS SOUNDS SO COOL! that’s the main reason I want to read it, honestly! A gothic fantasy that has been getting great reviews, what more could I ask for?  This has my ultimate favorite thing in fantasy which is powerful morally grey characters! Also, one of the main characters is bisexual and I’m always down for that.

Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller

Release date: April 9th 2019

Camille couldn’t be having a better summer. But on the very night she learns she got into a prestigious theater program, she also finds out she’s pregnant. She definitely can’t tell her parents. And her best friend, Bea, doesn’t agree with the decision Camille has made.

Camille is forced to try to solve her problem alone … and the system is very much working against her. At her most vulnerable, Camille reaches out to Annabelle Ponsonby, a girl she only barely knows from the theater. Happily, Annabelle agrees to drive her wherever she needs to go. And in a last-minute change of heart, Bea decides to come with.

Girls on the Verge is an incredibly timely novel about a woman’s right to choose. Sharon Biggs Waller brings to life a narrative that has to continue to fight for its right to be told, and honored.

Why am I anticipating it?

This book deals with abortion and I my undergraduate thesis was about abortion in Colombia and I got to interview women that had had an abortion and doctors who perform it and it’s a subject that I’m very interested about, so I’m excited to give this book a chance, especially since I have heard amazing things about it.

Brief Chronicles of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid 

Release date: April 30th 2019

The summer after senior year is not going as eighteen-year-old Lu Charles expected: after her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her, Lu can’t write a single word, despite the fact that her college scholarship is tied to her columnist job at hip online magazine Misnomer. Then, she meets Cal.

Cal’s ever-practical girlfriend Iris is looking ahead to her first year of college, and her plans do not include a long-distance boyfriend. When Lu learns that Cal and Iris have planned to end their relationship at the end of the summer, she becomes fascinated and decides to chronicle the last months the couple will spend together.

The closer she gets to the couple, the more she likes them, and the more she wants to write about them. The summer unfurls, and Lu discovers what it really means to be in love. On the page, or off it. The book is touching exploration of love and how it shapes us both during a relationship and after it has ended.

Why am I anticipating it? 

First of all, I love the fact that the main character in this book is in college, I would to have more contemporaries that have college age main characters. Also, I love books where the main character writes for a website or magazine, I usually find this trope in romance and it’s cool to see it in YA contemporary too.  Lastly, I have discovered recently that I really like books about break ups for some strange reason. Honestly, this sounds right up my alley!

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He 

Release date: April 9th 2019 

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, dreaming of an unremarkable life. But when her beloved father is found dead, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of a surprisingly unstable kingdom. What’s more, Hesina believes that her father was murdered—and that the killer is someone close to her.

Hesina’s court is packed full of dissemblers and deceivers eager to use the king’s death for political gain, each as plausibly guilty as the next. Her advisers would like her to blame the neighboring kingdom of Kendi’a, whose ruler has been mustering for war. Determined to find her father’s actual killer, Hesina does something desperate: she enlists the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by
death, since magic was outlawed centuries ago.

Using the information provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of Yan at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

Why am I anticipating it?

It sounds like this book revolves around political intrigue and I’m always a fan of fantasy books that focus on that aspect more than in the action. Also, I have heard amazing things about it from people that got ARCs, so I can’t wait to see if it lives up to the hype. I really hope it does!

What April book releases are you anticipating? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned? Have you read any of them already? what did you think about them?

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Anticipated Book Releases of March 2019

Hi everyone! Today I’m talking about books coming out in March 2019 that I’m really excited about and that I can’t wait to read!

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

Release date: March 1st 2019

In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.

The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaks—refugees Carolinia routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to make change, Noam accepts the minister’s offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the minister’s son—cruel, dangerous, and achingly beautiful—and the way forward becomes less clear. Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far he’s willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.

Why I’m anticipating it? Honestly, I can’t wait to read this one because I have heard Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams talk about it non stop. Also, the main character is a Latino bisexual teen, which makes me even more excited to read it!

Graham’s Delicacies by Em Ali

Release date: March 5th 2019

Saccharine: Jen goes to work, agonizes over college, and looks forward to the stolen moments in the kitchen. There she can watch Emilie bake love into every morsel. Their delicate friendship takes a step towards a budding romance, but will Jen’s anxiety help them survive their first hurdle?

Delectable: James has never been kissed but he wants to be. Especially by his co-worker Sam, who he can’t talk to without turning into a little jerk. Sam is made of all the good stuff, but will James’ deepest insecurities allow him to kiss the boy?

Ravenous: Alex won’t let some foodie with a video camera bash their beloved bakery, even if it means to be petty. Except they’re nowhere ready for Yujin, the one who got away and is now romancing them. Will Alex’s pride let them see the gold heart the bashful king hides?

Why I’m anticipating it? After reading and loving Soft on Soft by Em Ali, I’m so happy to be part of the blog tour for Graham’s Delicacies. This is a collection of three short stories that are full of diversity. There’s Black, nonbinary, bisexual, fat, gay, Latinx, Korean and anxiety rep.

Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera

Release date: March 5th 2019

At night, Las Mal Criadas own these streets.

Nalah leads the fiercest all-girl crew in Mega City. That roles brings with it violent throw downs and access to the hottest boydega clubs, but the sixteen-year-old grows weary of the life. Her dream is to get off the streets and make a home in the exclusive Mega Towers, in which only a chosen few get to live. To make it to the Mega towers, Nalah must prove her loyalty to the city’s benevolent founder and cross the border in a search for a mysterious gang the Ashé Ryders. Led by a reluctant guide, Nalah battles other crews and her own doubts, but the closer she gets to her goal, the more she loses sight of everything—and everyone— she cares about.

Nalah must do the unspeakable to get what she wants—a place to call home. But is a home just where you live? Or who you choose to protect?

Why I’m anticipating it? This was on of the first 2019 releases that I added to my tbr, this is a dystopian written by a latinx author, about latinx characters and with a Mad Max vibe…. what else could I ask for?!!

Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith

Release date: March 5th 2019

Having just been dumped by his girlfriend, British-born Hugo is still determined to take his last-hurrah-before-college train trip across the United States. One snag: the companion ticket is already booked under the name of his ex, Margaret Campbell. Nontransferable, no exceptions.

Enter the new Margaret C. (Mae for short), an aspiring filmmaker with big dreams. After finding Hugo’s spare ticket offer online, she’s convinced it’s the perfect opportunity to expand her horizons.

When the two meet, the attraction is undeniable, and both find more than they bargained for. As Mae pushes Hugo to explore his dreams for his future, he’ll encourage her to channel a new, vulnerable side of her art. But when life off the train threatens the bubble they’ve created for themselves, will they manage to keep their love on track?

Why I’m anticipating it? Honestly, tihis just sounds like the cute, fluffy contemporaries that I like to read when my anxiety is giving me a hard time and since lately that has been the case, I’m looking forward to having some new contemporaries to read!

Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale

Release date: March 19th 2019

Fresh out of high school, Babe Vogel should be thrilled to have the whole summer at her fingertips. She loves living in her lighthouse home in the sleepy Maine beach town of Oar’s Rest and being a barista at the Busy Bean, but she’s totally freaking out about how her life will change when her two best friends go to college in the fall. And when a reckless kiss causes all three of them to break up, she may lose them a lot sooner. On top of that, her ex-girlfriend is back in town, bringing with her a slew of memories, both good and bad.

And then there’s Levi Keller, the cute artist who’s spending all his free time at the coffee shop where she works. Levi’s from out of town, and even though Babe knows better than to fall for a tourist who will leave when summer ends, she can’t stop herself from wanting to know him. Can Babe keep her distance, or will she break the one rule she’s always had – to never fall for a summer boy?

Why I’m anticipating it? This sounds cute and it has a bisexual main characters, which I’m always excited about! I’m lucky enough to be participating in the blog tour organized by the lovely Lili @ Utopia State of Mind and I can’t wait to share my review and some other fun things with everyone!

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum

Release date: March 19th 2019

Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends.

One day she meets Alexandria: a furious loner who spurns Ryann’s offer of friendship. After a horrific accident leaves Alexandria with a broken arm, the two misfits are brought together despite themselves—and Ryann learns her secret: Alexandria’s mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.

Every night without fail, Alexandria waits to catch radio signals from her mother. And its up to Ryann to lift her onto the roof day after day until the silence between them grows into friendship, and eventually something more . . .

Why I’m anticipating it? This has a hate to love slow-burn f/f romance and I’m so ready for it! Also, there’s a polyamorous relationship between some of the secondary characters, which I can’t wait to read about!

What March book releases are you anticipating? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned? Have you read any of them already? what did you think about them?

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10 Cities that Books Made Me Want to Visit | Top Ten Tuesday

Hi everyone! When I started blogging I participated in Top Ten Tuesday regulary and I loved the fact that it allowed me to interact with so many people from the community, because I miss that, I decided to start participating again!

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018!

Today, the topic is places mentioned in books that I’d like to visit, so I decided to write about 10 cities that are the setting of some amazing books and that play such an important role in the story that after reading the books I can’t help but want to go visit them myself.

*If you click the title of the books, it will take you to the Goodreads page for the book

Without further ado, here are the 10 cities that books made me want to visit:

If The Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman-—> Manila, Philippines

Honestly, all the #romanceclass books I have read made me want to visit the Philippines, but If the Dress Fits is my favorite #romanceclass book and it’s the one that mentions more especific places from Manila like the Dangwa flower market and the Manila Metropolitan Theatre, as well as different types of food that sounded delicious.

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan —–> Taipei, Taiwan

I really want to go to Taipei, and especifically, the food markets that are constantly mentioned in this book, I’m just so excited to try delicious food! Also, the observatory inside Taipei 101 sounds so cool, I really want to see the city from that height.

Darius the Great is not Okay by Adib Khorram —-> Yazd, Iran

Iran is the most recent addition to this list, I read Darius the Great is not Okay in January and I fell in love with the way Darius talked about Iran.  I would love to go to Yazd and see the Jameh Mosque, the Towers of Silence and the Atashkadeh.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan —-> Singapore

While reading Crazy Rich Asians, I couldn’t help but be incredibly intrigued about Singapore. I can’t wait to visit the food markets and the impressive buildings, especially the Marina Bay Sands and the gardens by the bay.

Idyllic village Oia (Ia) on Santorini island, Greece with famous church with blue domes. Click for more images: [url=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=6413055][img]http://santoriniphoto.com/Template-Greek.jpg[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9724165][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9724165[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9701552][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9701552[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9701515][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9701515[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9701504][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9701504[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9701472][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9701472[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9701450][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9701450[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9701281][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9701281[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9697520][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9697520[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=2637803][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=2637803[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9751572][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9751572[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9749064][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9749064[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9728858][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9728858[/img][/url] [url=file_closeup.php?id=9728820][img]file_thumbview_approve.php?size=1&id=9728820[/img][/url]

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares —-> Santorini, Greece

I’ll confess that my desire to visit Greece is due to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books and the movie, as well as to the Mamma Mia movies. But, even if the Mamma Mia made me want to go to Greece even more, it all started with Lena and her trip to Santorini in the first book of the series.

City of Ghost by Victoria Shwab —-> Edinburg, Scotland

There are so many European cities that I want to see and to be completely honest, Edinburgh wasn’t one of them until recently when I read City of Ghost. Now I can’t wait to go to the Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh Vaults! Also, I’m so excited by the fact that book 2 is taking place in Paris and especifically in The Paris Catacombs, which I have been to.

View of a small crescent beach hidden away among green hills and forests. Punta Islita Beach, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Long Way Down by Krista & Becca Ritchie —-> Costa Rica

Ryke and Daisy are my favorite couple in this series and they talk so many times about Costa Rica that it put this country at the top of my list. I’m not sure which city or region they were in, but I would love to go to Cahuita, which is supposed to be a place to relax and find peace.

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo – Los Angeles

I have wanted to go to L.A. for as long as I can remember, but the last few years, it had been slipping further and further donw the list of places I wanted to visit, until I read this book and it made me want  to go to L.A. so badly! As I said on my review this is a love letter to Los Angeles, there’s commentary on different neighborhoods, who primarily lives there, what type of activities are done and what types of food are sold in them. It simply made me feel excited about going to L.A. again.

Like Us  Series by Krista & Becca Ritchie – Philadelphia 

I already was interested in going to Philadelphia thanks to the original Addicted/Calloway Sister series, but if I’m being honest, the Like us series was the one that really made me want to go to Philly. It’s just that the bodyguards talk about their city with so much love that I can’t help but being curious!

The Bean

Knitting in the City Series by Penny Reid – Chicago, United States

I loved this series, I have already read like 10 books in this series between novels and novellas and I have spent so much time with the ladies of this knitting group that I can’t help but want to visit their city!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – Prague, Czech Republic

I had never thought about visiting Prague before this book, but then I read this and soon after I met a dear friend who is from Czech Republic and so I knew the universe was telling me that I needed to visit this beautiful city. It’s being almost five years and I’m happy to say that I’m visiting my friend in April in Prague and I’m so excited!

What books do you want to visit because of a book or series? HAve you ever visited a city because I book was set in it? 

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Diverse Pride and Prejudice Retellings

Hi everyone! As someone who loves Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, I’m always looking for retellings and adaptations.  I love to read new takes on this classic story and I love the diverse retellings that have been coming out lately even more. I know Pride and Prejudice is loved by many of you too and I thought it would be a good idea to share some diverse retellings for those of you who enjoy a new twist of this beloved classic!

Without further ado, here are some diverse Pride and Prejudice retellings that I read and loved:

 Pride by Ibi Zoboi

In this book, the main character Zuri is Haitian-Dominican and the love interest, Darius, is black. I love their dynamic, they are always bantering and bickering, but the main reason this book is amazing is the way it dicusses gentrification and class, including these subjects adds to the original story and makes it more relevant to our time. Also, the representation of a Haitian-Dominican family, in terms of the religion, the food and the family dynamics is so fascinating to read.

 

The Story of Lizzy and Darcy by Grace Watson

The main change in this retelling is (obviously) that Darcy is a woman and she is biracial and bisexual, while Lizzy is a lesbian. Also, instead of Mary Bennet, we get Mark, who is aroace and Colonel Fitwilliam is Will, a trans man. There’s a lot of diversity in this book and it’s well integrated to the story. Lizzie and Darcy have so much chemestry and they both work in publishing industry, which gave this book a cool setting.

 

Well Played by Katrina Ramos Atienza

This is a Filipino retelling, it takes place in a university and it’s very interesting to get to learn a little bit about how things work in the educational system in the Philippines. The main character in this book, Patrice Reyes, is a passionate soccer player, and Paul Damacio, the love interest, is a math nerd and he’s very similar to Darcy from the book. Actually, this is a pretty faithful retelling, at least when it comes to the main romance.

 

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick 

This book is a companion for the webseries The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, which I LOVE!! You can definitely read this without watching the webseries, but I recommend you watch it since it’s fantastic. This is a pretty close retelling in terms of the main plot points of the story, but it’s set in modern day and Lizzie Bennet is a Youtuber and Darcy runs a media company. Now, the really cool thing is that Bingley is actually Asian and his name is Bing Lee and his sister is, obviously, Caroline Lee. Also, Charlotte is Asian as well!

DIVERSE RETELLINGS I WANT TO READ 

Those were some of the diverse Pride and Prejudice retellings that I have already read, now here are some diverse retellings that I can’t wait to read! Three of them were released recently and one of them is going to be release in 2019.

 

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin 

Two Muslim main characters and an arranged marriage between the wrong people. I think this gonna be a very unique take on the Austen classic and I can’t wait to experience it for myself!

Pride & Prejudice and Passports by Carrie Garrett 

This takes place during the 2016 presidential elections in the United States and the main family, the Benitez, are undocumented immigrants. This retelling seems to give a strong political background to the classic story, which I found fascinating, and I’m excited to have another retelling with Latinx main characters!

Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev (Release date: May 7th 2019) 

For what I have heard, this is a very  loose retelling with a gender flip. In this story, Trisha Raje is a Indian neurosurgeon and Dj Caine is a Indo-African chef, they are from different backgrounds and they don’t like each other at first. I have heard this has interesting discussions about class and cultural difference and I’m excited to give it a chance.

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal 

The Bennets are the Binats in this retelling set in modern-day Pakistan.  Out of these retelling this seems to be the closest to the original, the Binat family has fallen on hard times, the 5 daughters are unmarried, then Jena meets Bingla at a wedding and everyone is waiting for a proposal. Meanwhile, Alys and Darsee don’t seem to like each other that much.  I have heard great things about this one and I can’t wait to read it!

Have you read Pride and Prejudice? Do you like P&P retellings? Have you read any of the retellings that I mentioned? Are you looking forward to reading any of them? 

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