Hello there! Happy DAY FIVE of 2021's FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS where I attempt to post every day until Christmas. This post is...a couple days late since it's already December 29th but my motivation become completely non-existent the minute school ended on December 23rd. That and I got an eye infection so I was basically a pirate throughout the entire holiday, love that for me. Now that both eyes have regained their seeing function and I can stare at a screen without a headache, here's the final (late) installment for this year's Christmas series.

This list was quite hard to put together since I tend to have a hard time giving books five stars but after perusing my shelves I found that there are a lot of books I've accumulated that I am very excited for and really hope they will blow me away. 

the greenbone saga - fonda lee *
Another trilogy that I'm putting on this list but also one with a slight caveat because if I'm 100% honest, I don't think I have the guts to read all three books in 2022. I know without a doubt that this will destroy me just like it has everyone else and that will most likely result in a very high rating, but I'm also too scared to commit. This story has, to take it from the synopsis, intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kung fu. It's also been on my TBR since 2020 and one of my most highly anticipated books on my physical shelves. 

What are some of your 5-star predictions for 2022?

Hello there! Happy DAY FOUR of 2021's FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS where I attempt to post every day until December 25th. Do I sound like a complete Grinch if I admit that I made my first Christmas playlist this year? Maybe after years of both school and church choirs where we start rehearsing holiday music in September, I might have developed a small aversion to Christmas music. I guess 2021 is the year to change that because I've actually found some songs that don't make me want to wither up inside and yes they are mostly K-pop related. 🎄

my my - purple kiss

This is the song that inspired this post because prior to My, My I don't think I've ever paid attention to any group's holiday release. Purple Kiss is quickly climbing up my "groups I stan" list which is why I decided to give this song a listen and it's been on repeat ever since. The chorus is so catchy and I've been humming it non-stop, not to the mention that the music video also serves some major Christmas vies.

christmas without you - taeyeon

I absolutely adore Taeyeon and her Christmas album has truly been one of the few Christmas albums that I'll actually listen to during the holidays. Christmas Without You has to be my favorite solely because of her vocals which honestly, who is surprised? The harmonies, the backtrack, everything comes together so seamlessly and listening to the song make you feel like you're floating above the clouds while the world below is covered in a blanket of snow. 

the carol - loona

As an Orbit, I'm obligated to include The Carol on this list despite not listening to it that much until this year. 😬 However, it is currently on repeat as I am writing this post so I can confidently say that LOONA's songs never disappoint. I also adore the music video and it makes me want to go out and participate in Christmas-y activities that I've honestly never really done before. 

you can cry - btob
 
BTOB is one of my favorite groups but one that I rarely go back into their archives after becoming first discovering them in 2016. Their winter album came out in 2014 and I listened to it for the first time while putting this playlist together. Needless to say, it's now an absolute favorite and there's just something magical about their vocals and the fluidity of the rap line that just makes each of their songs a masterpiece.

christmas memories - loving caliber, jaslyn edgar

This is probably the only English song that I've actually enjoyed listening to during the holidays. I first heard this song in a vlogmas video and actually liked it so much that I tracked it down on Spotify. Something about the lyrics just brings a smile to my face and makes me feel a little lighter and brighter. Not going to lie it also makes me low-key feel majorly single because it's just such an adorable song.

Who would've thought that making a Christmas playlist would actually put me in the mood to listen to Christmas music two days before the actual holiday? All jokes aside, I'm so glad that winter break is finally here and even though I can't exactly go right into rest mode due to my other commitments, this playlist is 100% holding me over until then.

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

 Hello there! Happy DAY THREE of 2021's FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS where I attempt to post every day until Christmas starting December 20th. I originally wanted to do a Christmas playlist to books post today but was struggling to find books that matched the vibes so I thought I'd break that post into two and just share some books that give me all the wintery chills. 

I'm not much a seasonal reader but I have to admit that books with winter-esque settings or atmospheres tend to stand out to me more than ones with other seasonal references so here are five books from my shelves that fit perfectly with a cold winter night.

for the wolf by hannah whitten *

the bear and the nightingale by katherine arden *

There is no winter book list if The Bear and the Nightingale isn't on it. It's been a minute since I've gushed over one of my favorite books ever so this is an opportunity not to be missed. Set in the freezing village of Northern Russia, the story follows Vasya as she navigates the crushing societal boundaries of medieval Europe alongside the changing landscape of religion versus cultural mythology. The entire trilogy is absolutely perfect for the winter season but the first book in particular is full of incredible descriptions of the harsh but beautiful Russian winter. That coupled with the delightful mythological creatures and the challenging conversation of Christianity's blind fervor makes this story both a magical adventure and a thought-provoking analysis.
read my review here

the wolf in the whale by jordanna max brodsky *

This is one of those books that I bought on an absolute whim, have heard almost nobody talk about, have to read since purchased years ago, and for some reason cannot seem to give it up. All I know about the premise is that it follows an Inuit shaman and a Viking as they try to save the world and prevent the gods from tearing everything apart. It's a combination of tradition and folklore that I haven't explored before which intrigues me and it's also been on every winter tbr list I've made since I bought it. Maybe this winter will be the year that I get around to picking it up and finally see if the allure of the synopsis lives up to my expectations.

the silence of bones by june hur *
I'll admit that this book has been on my radar for a while and I've been actively avoiding it since. The main reason being that I'm not the biggest historical kdrama fan and that factor of the story was heavily pushed during its publication. But, I have seen reviews about the atmosphere and the haunting vibes of the story and after many months, my interest is slowly getting piqued. I have also picked up June Hur's sophomore novel and found myself enjoying her writing style so maybe that's a sign to finally give this Joseon historical fiction mystery a chance. With murder, an unlikely friendship, and the chance to finally speak up, The Silence of Bones is slowly but surely growing on me.

the wolf and the woodsman by ava reid * 
Did I not say this post was almost entirely made of wolf related books? I read this back in June and despite the blazing temperatures outside had chills the entire time. This is another story with creepy trees and a forest that's out to kill anyone who crosses inside, but it also has some high-stakes scenes that take place with a blizzard and that's pretty wintery in my opinion. The Wolf and Woodsman is also a commentary on social and religious class as well as the displacement of cultures and it's absolutely fantastic so if you haven't picked this one up, definitely do so for the upcoming winter months.
read my review here

Will you believe me if I said that writing this list gave me actual chills? It's bright and sunny at the moment with no snow in sight but I swear I could feel the winter wind. That sounds incredibly cliched but now I just want to be on break already and read these books. I officially have one more day (technically a half day) and both teachers and students alike are counting down the hours.

What's your favorite winter read?

Hello there! Happy DAY TWO of 2021's FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS where I attempt to post every day until December 25th. Apologies for starting off on a bit of downer with yesterday' review corner topic but I did read those books back in the fall so it seemed right to review them first before getting to some of my more recent reads. 

I've been attempting to incorporate audiobooks into my daily routine especially since I have a 45+ minute commute and it's allowed me to read some more these past few months. It has also allowed to me "rediscover" young adult contemporaries which was a genre that was always a hit or miss for me. Maybe it's just my luck but the past three books I've listened to have given me all the warm and fuzzy feelings and overall just brightened my day which have been so much appreciated so I'm glad to share my thoughts on them today!

pages: 320  | source: library, audio
publication date: November 10, 2020
genre: ya, contemporary
rating: 7.3/10

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow literally gave me pure serotonin as I was reading it and officially placed me on my contemporary kick. The story follow Lila Reyes who has been shipped off to England following a falling out with her best friend and a temporary break with her boyfriend. However, being away from her family, her grandmother's bakery, and her beloved hot Miami summer makes the trip to England more of a punishment than an adventure. Experiencing Winchester, England was supposed to be miserable until Lila meets Orion Maxwell who appoints himself as her tour guide and shows her all that England has to offer. 

I'm legitimately not kidding when I say this book had me smiling almost every day as I was driving home and it really is because of the characters. Laura Taylor Namey writes her characters and fills them up with a passion that just envelopes their personality without making it too obsessive. For Lila, it's making Cuban recipes that honor her heritage, and I was positively drooling every time food was mentioned. For Orion, who has also set the new standard for male love interests in stories for me, it's enjoying life's every little detail to the fullest. Their dynamic was both simple and complex if that can make any sense and I just adored them together so so much. 

In addition to the fuzzy feelings, this book also takes a look into the grief of losing a loved one, the fear of losing friends because of personal growth, and the challenges of adapting one's future to find new goals and dreams. This perfectly encapsulates the emotions of a "coming of age" novel in a way that felt so poignant and real that it made me want to take a step and just reminiscence on the past. This is a story that I can see myself revisiting in the future whenever I need that gentle reminder that growing up and growing apart is okay.

ultimate verdict - your dreams are allowed to change

pages:  336 | source: library, audio
publication date: May 11, 2021
genre: ya, contemporary
rating: 7.2/10

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    

The Other Side of Perfect did two things to me immediately: 1) It made me want to go see a ballet and 2) It made me go into my lesson plans and edit how I wanted to teach the Nutcracker's music and tradition to my students. Alina Kessler has just experienced the most traumatic injury of her life which leaves her dreams of ABT and becoming a professional ballet dancer in the past. The story explores the physical and emotional pain that comes from losing something you love as well as the healing process that follows. When Alina auditions for the school play to get her parents off her back, she doesn't anticipate the challenges of dancing again (ballet or not) and the relationships she makes with the cast that begin to help her reconnect with reality. 

This book really cemented my "lonely feels" because the relationships in this book were amazing. If you also love a little bit of grump x sunshine then you'll absolutely adore Alina and Jude's interactions. While Alina spends a good majority of the book pushing her friends and family away because she's unsure of how to process her injury, her character arc follows through the different stages of grief as she has to let go of something that was so crucial to her identity. Her experience branching out and trying for the musical and meeting new friends help her to slowly come to terms with what she thought was the most beautiful and perfect art form. I loved as well how Mariko Turk wove commentary on the Eurocentric gate within ballet and the unspoken prejudices in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. The story has a way of making you fall in love with ballet while also expanding your perspective and that coupled with a heartfelt story of healing warmed my heart and gave me all the feelings.

ultimate verdict - when your world is shattered, it's okay to not be okay

pages: 336 | source: library, audio
publication date: August 4th, 2020
genre: ya, contemporary
rating: 5.6/10

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    

So after I finished The Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, I was really in the mood for more of Laura Taylor Namey's writing so I picked up her debut novel The Library of Lost Things. Darcy Jane Wells is a reader and books are her haven especially when she has to deal with the stresses of senior year, her mother's struggle with mental health and obsessive hoarding, and a new landlord who has to power to render her homeless if he continues snooping around. When she finds a used copy of Peter Pan with scribbles all in the margins, Darcy begins to find a companion in the mystery owner's ramblings and wisdom to help her navigate her messy life.

Before picking this up, I had read a couple reviews that prepared me for how dependent Darcy was on books. She had to have 2 or 3 in her bag, her fingers always itched to touch the pages when she's caught in uncomfortable situations, she references book characters and plots in every other thought - it gets to be overwhelming. But it also drives the point forward that the author was trying to make: amidst the chaos of her mother's hoard, Darcy developed a strong dependent connection on reading and as soon as I came to that revelation, it became easier to understand why the author was bringing up Darcy's obsession with books so much. I'm actually glad that I got to appreciate what Laura Taylor Namey was trying to do with Darcy's character and using her love of words as a way to explore the effects of her mental health.

Like with her other work, I adored how Laura Taylor Namey wrote friendships and relationships. There was authenticity in Darcy and Marisol's bond and I appreciated the portrayal of both the high moments that make their friendship so amazing and the hurtful moments where they need to step apart to reflect. It brought out the characters' individual maturity and highlighted their growth as they realized how much they valued each other. The only aspect that I wasn't as on board with was the relationship with Asher but he still managed to shine as an individual character. Despite not being the biggest fan of Darcy x Asher, I could still appreciate their characters apart which slowly allowed me to root for them as a couple.

ultimate verdict - friendships and the wisdom of peter pan

Since finishing these three audiobooks I've been almost exclusively consuming contemporaries which feels incredibly weird to say and I'm starting to feel the urge to dive back into a fantasy book. I do however have a growing list of future audiobooks to check out so if there's a YA contemporary you love please share it with me!

What's the last book you read that made you smile so much your cheeks hurt?

Hello there! To say that I've been in the biggest reading slump of my life feels like an understatement. I've been struggling since May to find the motivation to pick up something to read and with the year coming to a close I'm feeling the self-imposed pressure to catch up on my reading goals. 

A couple years ago, I started a Twelve Days of Christmas  posting schedule leading up to December 25th (which I always never completed) and after much debating thought I'd try to revive that for this year on a much smaller scale to help me get into the holiday spirit because December's work schedule has been driving me insane. I've been slowly reading more and that's led to a bunch of books that I haven't gotten to share my thoughts about so here is day one of my FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 2021 series where I attempt to post every day from now till Christmas.

pages: 298 | source: own, physical
publication date: August 17th, 2021
genre: ya, mystery, dark academic
rating: 5.7/10

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    

To say that I was excited for this book was an understatement and I was so honored to be part of the street team #SinclairStudents to promote Katie Zhao's first venture into YA. Dark Academia has always been an aesthetic that I've appreciated from afar, but never quite got into so I was really hoping this would be the book that made all the pieces click together. How We Fall Apart follows a group of students at the prestigious Sinclair Prep in their senior year when the top student Jamie Ruan is found dead. Her former best friends are immediately the main suspects and an unknown individual called the Proctor is slowly revealing each of their darkest secrets to the public.

I wanted so much to love this book especially after knowing what the author's vision was behind the story. As a group, Asian Americans are often depicted as exceling students without acknowledging the cultural struggles we face so a story that shines light on that had me super excited. The pacing and storyline are incredible and I flew through the entire book in one sitting but something felt missing. While I could understand the characters' motives, Nancy as the MC just felt so overly ambitious and cutthroat. That was an aspect that was largely promoted in the story prior to its release but compared to the other characters, Nancy felt extreme. 

Since that's 100% a personal perspective, I can only say that I wish I loved this book as much as everyone else did. It could also mean that the ruthlessness of dark academia might not be my cup of tea. Regardless, this is an incredibly gripping story and if you're a fan of dark academia I'd highly recommend!

ultimate verdict - will you do anything to be on top?

pages:  449 | source: own, physical
publication date: November 17th, 2020
genre: ya, historical fiction, retelling
rating: 6.7/10

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    

So...this book took me almost an entire year to finish. When I say that attention stresses me out, I don't quite expect it to spill into the books I'm reading but it happened with These Violent Delights. Chloe Gong's debut has quite literally taken the internet by storm and truly cemented Juliette and Roma's supremacy in YA retellings. A retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette, the story follows the Montagov and Cai gangs in 1920s Shanghai as a strange madness and monster are stalking the streets. From stabby daggers, dividing loyalties, commentary on social structures, and of course angst, this is one of those stories that delivers on the hype it has generated. 

Each character is brilliant in their own way and there's really nothing that can be said otherwise. The writing is so immersive that this story really reads as if you are in the bustling streets of Shanghai with the fear of the madness and the tension between the White Flowers and Scarlet Gang. The author wove together Shakespeare's source material with her own and crafted a story that has all the elements to make it as timeless as its inspiration. This is a novel that I know I will want to revisit again and just experience as a whole because the characters have become so dear to me and the story itself will feel brand new and exciting with each read.

ultimate verdict - can love and hate truly separate?

pages: 336 | source: library, audio
publication date: August 17th, 2021
genre: ya, fantasy, retelling
rating: 4.3/10

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    

I was severely on the fence about picking up this sequel after feeling very meh about Raybearer, but I decided to try it as an audiobook to see if my opinions would change. In short, I really wish I liked Redemptor because it has all the elements of a story that I would enjoy. We've got an immersive world, well developed characters, and a storyline that captivates the reader right from the beginning which makes it deserving of all the praise it has gotten. But I just struggle with Tarisai. This is one of those frustrating moments where everything is essentially perfect about the story but I just could not click with the main character. 

The story picks up following the events of book one with Tarisai struggling to understand her new role as a Ray alongside Dayo and honoring her bargain to end the sacrifice of children redemptors. Her character development throughout the story highlighted the struggles of power and the alienation plus anxiety of burdening oneself to fix the world so vividly that it felt like such a real experience. In some cases, the narration of the audiobook was fantastic because it made everything so real but it also took away from the reading experience because I couldn't stand to be in Tarisai's head so much. Despite struggling to get through this, I did end up enjoying the last 25% of the book when Tarisai actually experiences the Underworld and I have to admit that Jordan Ifueko is incredibly masterful in how she brings loose ends and themes and ties them all together. 

In the end, I'm on the fence once again on if I should try and read this physically but in the meantime, I'm still curious to pick up anything of the author's future works because her storytelling is simply fascinating and fingers crossed I'll click better with her future characters.

ultimate verdict - betrayals of the heart bring more pain than the weight of the sun

I'll admit, I'm quite proud that I managed to write three reviews in one post because I haven't done that in forever. It feels a bit strange to start with a more "ominous" category for day one but I can promise that day two will bring a lot more sunshine into the mix. If you've read of the books mentioned, please let me know what you thought!

What is your favorite book that features betrayals (in a non-spoilery sense)?