April TBR: Festival Addition!

I usually don’t do TBR’s, I pick as I go. Maybe sometimes I’ll have a theme to my reading, like summer books during summertime (groundbreaking, I know), but other than that I mostly go on mood. However at the end of the month, I’m heading to the LA Times Festival of Books.  I used to go to this festival when I was young and it was at UCLA, but I’ve been to this iteration at USC for the past four years.  I’m also going to YALLWEST the first weekend in May. I spend most of my time at these festivals at author signings. I bring my suitcase with all my books of the writers I’ll be meeting that day.  I hate going to a signing having not read the author’s book, so my reading for the next month will be dedicated to finishing off the list of the writers I’ll be seeing.  Some I’ve already read but others were recently released so I’m only getting the chance to read them now. I won’t say much about them, obviously, because I haven’t read them yet, but also no spoilers!

Emergency Contact – Mary H.K. Choi

I’m currently reading this right now and so far, I really like it. A big part of that is because it’s set in college

I Have Lost My Way – Gayle Forman

I think her writing is pretty extraordinary so I’m excited to dive into this.  Probably my next pick for the month.

Dream Things True – Marie Marquardt

 Pretty generic, but so am I

The Summer of Jordi Perez – Amy Spalding

I really dig Amy as a person.  She has a funny Twitter and a colorful Instagram.  I really enjoyed Kissing Ted Callahan but I DNF’ed The New Guy. Who knows how I’ll feel with Jordi Perez, but the fact that it’s set in LA is a huge plus.

Leah on the Offbeat – Becky Albertalli

I’M SO EXCITED! A lot of my enthusiasm is because this “world” is fresh in my head after two viewings of Love, Simon.  But a plus-sized badass like Leah? PUMPED!

Tyler Johnson Was Here – Jay Coles

Can you blame me if I said a lot of my reasoning for this book is that cover…?

Something in Between – Melissa De La Cruz

Honestly this book is probably my lowest priority if I don’t get everything else read. I don’t know how I feel about writers who crank out books as fast as she does…

Winner Takes All – Laurie Devore

The cover makes it seem to be lighthearted but the synopsis seems like the opposite.  Surprise me!

Broken Beautiful Hearts – Kami Garcia

This is another book that is pretty low on my list.  I feel like it’s going to be a generic teen romance with not a lot else going on.  I hope I’m proven wrong!

The Dangerous Art of Blending In – Angelo Surmelis

This seems like it’s going to be a really tender and beautiful story.

Other books I’m bringing but I’ve already read them:

Down and Across – Arvin Ahmadi

A little slow at the beginning, but all-around a good story.

Little and Lion – Brandy Colbert

LOVED it.  I’m pretty sure it was in my Best of’s at the end of last year.

The Authentics – Abdi Nazemian

This book went a different direction than what I thought.  Definitely brought more depth to a story that could have been superficial.

American Panda – Gloria Chao

Reviewed a few weeks ago.  Great college book that explored cultural differences between a family.

Dear Martin – Nic Stone

I wanted this to be so much longer! I was so in it, I think I read it in one night.

Grace and the Fever – Zan Romanoff

I’m a sucker for a good music-centered book

E. Lockhart:

We Were Liars fucked me up

Gayle Forman:

I’ve read all her books (except Sisters in Sanity) and I enjoyed all of them, but my favorite is probably I Was Here.  A little more mature, dealing with the grief of losing your best friend.

Marie Marquardt:

I’ve read two of her books (with one on my TBR) in very close proximity of one another.  I think I would have enjoyed them more if I had a separation time between.  She writes a lot about immigration and illegal aliens so the two books felt extremely similar.

The 12 Steps to Normal – Farrah Penn

Review coming Friday!

Becky Albertalli:

WHAT A QUEEN!

Love, Hate, and Other Filters – Samira Ahmed

Heavily hyped but did not disappoint.

One of Us is Lying – Karen M. McManus

This book got me into reading more mysteries!

 

Let me know if you’ve read any of these books and what you thought!