Birthday Book Haul, Birthday Update & What Am I Currently Reading!

YAAY!

Last week was my birthday, and I turned 21 years young. Yes, young! No one here is old...

I didn't have a crazy birthday party, with hundreds of people and I didn't get any extravagant gifts. But I did have dinner with the closest people to me, at the Cheesecake Factory, and received some smaller meaningful presents. The weekend of my birthday was absolutely crazy busy, with my birthday on a Thursday, my celebrations on Friday, Halloween on Saturday, and trying to catch up on school work on Sunday!

But I loved it, and had so much fun!

Originally I wasn't expecting any gifts from the parentals, simply because they bought me a brand new laptop at the start of the school year. But they did end up buying me a new pair of boots for the winter, and a laminator for my Etsy shop.

Joshua and I spent the night before my birthday together, and waited for midnight to finally come, to celebrate the first few minutes together. After counting down the seconds, and wishing me a happy birthday, he surprised me with a Barnes and Noble bag full of books.

Before I get into the books he got me, I want to explain why this was so special to me. He told me days before he wasn't sure what he would buy or what I would like. You would think after five years of being with someone, you would know exactly what they like...but let me tell you, from my own experience, it gets harder and harder every holiday. Anyways, he instead promised to take me out and let me pick something. I don't really like the idea, because it isn't meaningful. 

Joshua also doesn't read. He isn't the type of guy who will come with me to grab a coffee and stroll around the book store. So when he came around the corner with a Barnes and Noble bag, he not only picked up books I've been dying to read, but he also went out of his comfort zone, to go look for them. 

...I know I'm killing you with anticipation, so here's what he picked me up!

The Infinite Sea, by Rick Yancey.

P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han.

Library of Souls, by Ransom Riggs.

I couldn't contain my excitement, so I've already picked up and finished P.S. I Still Love You, AND LOVED IT! I can't wait to finally get to the other two!

The books I'm currently reading are...

Life and Death, by Stephanie Meyer.

Being Audrey Hepburn, by Mitchell Kriegman. 

This are the goodies I've received for my birthday, and the goodies I'm indulging in right now! But what books have you recently picked up? What books are you currently in the middle of reading?!

Goodreads Choice Awards 2015?!

Is it already that time of year again? Where we, book lovers, unite and vote for some of favorite reads on one of our favorite websites? WHY YES IT IS!

I usually only vote in two of the twenty categories ( Young Adult Fiction & Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction ), but I love seeing what other awesome books are out there.

This is usually the time of year where I branch out of my reading comfort zone, and pick up some of the nominees for other categories!

Best Young Adult Fiction:

There were so many amazing books, and authors listed in this category it was honestly hard to choose! The books in this category, that I haven't already read, are officially added to my wish list, and I can't wait to get my hands on them!

My 1st Choice...

Winter, by Marissa Meyer.

My 2nd Choice...

The Heir, by Kiera Cass.

Queen of Shadows, by Sarah J. Maas.

Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell.

The Heart of Betrayal, by Mary E. Pearson.

Firefight, by Brandon Sanderson.

The Wrath & The Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh.

An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir.

Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard.

A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas.

Gathering Darkness, by Morgan Rhodes.

The Winner's Crime, by Marie Rutkoski.

Uprooted, by Naomi Novik.

Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo.

Dead of Winter, by Kresley Cole.

Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction:

My 1st Choice...

P.S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han.

My 2nd Choice...

I Was Here, by Gayle Forman.

All The Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven.

Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli.

Mosquitoland, by David Arnold.

My Heart and Other Black Holes, by Jasmine Warga.

Wild and Reckless, by Ginger Scott.

Every Last Word, by Tamara Stone.

I'll Meet You There, by Heather Demetrios.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye, by Cynthia Hand.

Nowhere But Here, by Katie McGarry.

More Happy Than Not, by Adam Silvera.

Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon.

Made You Up, by Francesca Zappia.

Saint Anything, by Sarah Dessen.

So many AMAZING books! It was hard to just pick on in every category! The ones I didn't chose and haven't read yet, have already been added to my wish list. I can't wait to see how these books became award nominees! Which did you chose? What would second choice be if you could have one?!

Book Review: The Good Neighbor

The Good Neighbor, by Amy Sue Nathan

Release Date: October 13, 2015.

"When small lies have big consequences…

Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends—and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman—Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.

Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? Then, her blog soars in popularity and she’s given the opportunity to moonlight as an online dating expert. How can she turn it down? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in-real-life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are. That’s when Mrs. Feldman steps in, determined to show her neighbor the havoc that lies can wreak. If Izzy’s honest, she could lose everything, and everyone. Is the truth worth any cost?"

The Good Neighbor is a book I usually wouldn't reach for. The entire story revolves around a single mother, learning to depend on herself, and take care of her young son. She's in her late thirties, soon to be forty, and struggling with her relationship to her ex-husband, as well as dating. 

I'm only twenty one years old, don't have children, and spend most of my time attending school, working on my etsy, reading, blogging or with friends. I don't really face the same struggles that Izzy does. My biggest worry when picking up books like this one, is that I won't be able to relate and ultimately find myself bored. 

So why did I end up accepting this one for review? Because she blogs. Izzy has all of this stuff going on around her, but blogging takes her away from all of that, and gives her joy. I wanted to see my feelings towards blogging put into real words. The joy and the excitement blogging gives me is hard to explain. So much can be going on around you, and so much could be stressful, nerve wrecking or worrisome, but blogging makes all that go away. You can be your true self when blogging, or you can be someone completely different. That's why I picked up The Good Neighbor.

If you didn't scroll up and take a quick glance at the synopsis, you should, because I don't want to summarize the entire thing for you. Basically it revolves around a single mom, who is struggle to find herself again, and be dependent on no one, but herself. Besides that she is attempting to distinguish Bruce as her ex-husband from her son's father. Throughout the story, Izzy attempts to let go of the grudge she's been holding against Bruce, and allow him to be the best father to Noah, without blaming him for things he did in the past.

There are a lot of other things going, but ultimately the story revolves around finding your way in life, even through tough times, family, friends and love. It's a "feel good" story!

Overall I enjoyed the story, and could almost imagine seeing this on the big screen some day as a romantic comedy. Honestly I can't even think of a single thing that bothered me or rubbed me the wrong way. I do, however, wish there was more focus on the blogging, and her new job as a anonymous writer, because that was initially the only reason I picked The Good Neighbor up. 

As the reader, I did experience a little bit of her writing career, and her blog, but throughout the story needed it less and less. I feel in love with Izzy's elderly neighbor, I adored Noah, and I couldn't wait to see how the truth about Mac would surface. There was a lot more in The Good Neighbor, that held my attention and kept me reading, than just Izzy's love of writing.

The story made me feel happy, and reminded me that happiness can be found in the strangest places, and the most random of times.

Have you picked up The Good Neighbor yet?

*I was sent this book, in exchange for an honest review from MacMillan. Thank you!*

TBR: October 27 2015

Two of the three midterms I had to take, took place yesterday. The third one isn't until next Wednesday, which means I'm finally able to do some reading again! Studying takes up so much of the day during midterms and finals, it's absolutely ridiculous.

But I'm ready to finally dig back into my TBR pile, and here is what I plan on reading before next Monday...fingers crossed!

The first three books I'm reading are books that I received for review, one of which I already have an author interviewed lined up!

The Good Neighbor, by Amy Sue Nathan.

"When small lies have big consequences…

Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends—and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman—Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.

Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? Then, her blog soars in popularity and she’s given the opportunity to moonlight as an online dating expert. How can she turn it down? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in-real-life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are. That’s when Mrs. Feldman steps in, determined to show her neighbor the havoc that lies can wreak. If Izzy’s honest, she could lose everything, and everyone. Is the truth worth any cost?"

Being Audrey Hepburn, by Mitchell Kriegman.

"Lisbeth comes from a broken home in the land of tube tops, heavy eyeliner, frosted lip-gloss, juiceheads, hoop earrings and “the shore.” She has a circle of friends who have dedicated their teenage lives to relieve the world of all its alcohol one drink at a time.

Obsessed with everything Audrey Hepburn, Lisbeth is transformed when she secretly tries on Audrey’s iconic Givenchy. She becomes who she wants to be by pretending to be somebody she’s not and living among the young and privileged Manhattan elite. Soon she’s faced with choices that she would never imagine making – between who she’s become and who she once was."

The Marriage Pact, by M.J. Pullen.

"Marci Thompson always knew what life would be like by her 30th birthday. A cozy suburban home, charming husband and two brilliant children. A celebrated career as an established writer, complete with wall-to-wall mahogany shelves and a summer book tour. A life full of adventure with her friends and family by her side.

Instead, Marci lives alone in 480 square feet of converted motel space next to a punk rock band, hundreds of miles from her friends and family. She works in a temporary accounting assignment that has somehow stretched from two weeks into nine months. And the only bright spot in her life, not to mention the only sex she’s had in two years, is an illicit affair with her married boss, Doug. Thirty is not at all what it is cracked up to be.

Then the reappearance of a cocktail napkin she hasn’t seen in a decade opens a long-forgotten door, and Marci’s life gets complicated, fast. The lines between right and wrong, fantasy and reality, heartache and happiness are all about to get very blurry, as Marci faces the most difficult choices of her life."

As soon as these three books are read and reviewed, I'm going to indulge in two books I've been dying to dive into!

Life and Death, by Stephanie Meyer.

The Heir, by Kiera Cass.

"Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought."

These are the five books I'm reading in the next few days! What do you plan on reading? Have you read any of these books? What did you think?

Update: School, Internships & Networking!

Things have been a little busy around here, with juggling two midterms on Monday, writing resumes and cover letters, attending career and internship fairs, as well as regular school work.

School isn't too stressful, surprisingly! I was expecting to drown in homework, studying, and reading chapters, simply because I'm in the business school and attending higher level classes. I really like my teachers, one of them is a bit vague with her expectations and requirements, but so far things are going well. I'm attempting to make this quarter's Dean's List, and trying my absolute best to do so!

It's my junior year of university, which means it about time I start searching for an accounting internship. Sounds easy? ...not really. I've never written an extensive resume, and honestly, don't have very much work experience. I do, however, have a lot of volunteer experience, so that makes things a little better. I've also never written a cover letter (still haven't just yet) and I'm extremely nervous! Have you written? What do you recommend writing about?

I've already found two places I plan to apply to, and can't wait to see if I hear back from them. One of them is an auditing company not too far away from school, and another is a forest product company, only about thirty minutes north. Which isn't far, compared to the internships that take place across the country!

With trying to do well in all of my classes, and receiving an internship opportunity, comes networking. Being in a professional environment isn't something I'm used to, besides attending classes at the university. I also haven't really experienced a job interview (my last barista job didn't really have one, they kind of just hired anyone who turned in a resume).

I'm excited to see what the future brings, and what kind of opportunities arise!

Please leave any suggestions down below when it comes to internships, resumes, cover letters and job interviews! It would be very much appreciated!