Friday, July 31, 2015

A Very Harry Potter Appreciation Story


Today is a very special day for the oh-so-many Potterheads in the book community as it marks Harry Potter's thirty-fifth birthday. But that's not all! If you're a huge fan, you already know that Miss Rowling gave Harry her own birthday. To honor both Harry and Jo, I'm finally giving the Harry Potter series a post of its own on The Hardcover Lover.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Book Review: What I Thought Was True + GIVEAWAY


Title: What I Thought Was True
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Source: Purchased
From the acclaimed author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-you-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Book Review: Very Good Lives

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: April 15, 2015
Source: Purchased
In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force.
 

Sunday, July 26, 2015

2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour: The Perks of Being a Bookworm


The 2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour is a summer-long event that's similar to a blog tour. Instead of promoting books, we're promoting bloggers. Each week, everyone on the tour will be featuring a different blogger, and it's your chance to get to meet some bloggers you might not have already known.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Soundtrack Saturday (32)



Hello, and Happy Weekend to all of you Hardcover Lover readers! I know I forgot to post a Soundtrack Saturday last week, and I apologize for that. I've just been really, really busy.

Although I'm busy at work all day again today, I was sure to create a Soundtrack Saturday post ahead of time for you all to enjoy.
In case you're new to The Hardcover Lover, Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly feature that I started to share playlists with my readers. There's a catch, though. All of my playlists are based on books that I've read!

As with all bookish memes, there are a few easy steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:
  • Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading - any book is fine!
  • Create a mini (four songs) or full soundtrack (ten-fifteen songs) for that book based on characters and plot details
    • For more detailed instructions, please visit the meme's homepage.
  • Please credit me somewhere in your post
    • It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
  • Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
  • Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Summer of Sarah Dessen Book Review: Someone Like You

Title: Someone Like You
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak (paperback reissue)
Publication Date: June 2012 (originally published in 1998)
Source: Penguin Teen

Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Their friendship may bend under the weight, but it'll never break--because a true friendship is a promise you keep forever.





It's My (REAL) Blogiversary Today!



Hey, there, everyone! Today is an exciting day for me because, as you can see, it's my blog's first blogiversary! That's right! One year ago today, I started my book blog, The Hardcover Lover. During that day, I had a few different bookish blog names, (Break the Spine, Turn the Pages, etc.), but I am glad that I settled on The Hardcover Lover because it really represents who I am as a reader and book collector. My shelves are filled with hardcover books. Don't get me wrong... I do have a few paperbacks, but hardcovers are my first love. 

Anyway... This post is one that I've been waiting for a year to write because I made it a goal of mine to reach one year when I started this blog. While I covered a lot about blogging and my blogiversary about a week ago in a previous post, I wanted to take the time to thank some of the many people who have helped me during my first year of blogging.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on.

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:

  • Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
  • Be sure to credit Jill in your post
  • Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Sunday, July 19, 2015

2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour: The Book Bratz


The 2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour is hosted by Amber and Jessica from The Book Bratz. The purpose of the promo tour is to get to know other bloggers and introduce them to your readers through various types of posts.

This week, I'm featuring none other than The Book Bratz themselves! In this guest post, you'll get to learn about Amber and Jessica's favorite book-to-movie adaptations and how both of them think adaptations should be done. So sit back, relax, and get to know a little bit more about Amber and Jessica!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Hardcover Lover Confessions (12)


Hardcover Lover Confessions (or HCL Confessions) is a discussion post feature on The Hardcover Lover. In the posts, I confess bookish habits, thoughts, or other random things with my readers, and then I encourage everyone to start discussing that comment with one another.

There really isn't an order as to when I post my Confessions - I kind of come up with them when an issue arises or a thought pops into my head. Ergo, there could be one a month or there could be a few a month. It just all depends on what's going on in the book community or how I feel.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight some of the many upcoming releases that we are all patiently (but most likely impatiently) waiting on.

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:

  • Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
  • Be sure to credit Jill in your post
  • Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog

Monday, July 13, 2015

Blog Tour: The Summer of Chasing Mermaids




Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to be able to share one of my favorite 2015 releases, The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler, with you once again this year! This blog tour is one that I jumped on because I adore Sarah Ockler. I think she's an amazingly talented author, and I've found something uniquely special in each of her books.

Most of you might remember that I read a galley of this book a few months ago, and that I absolutely fell in love with Elyse's story. If you don't remember, please feel free to check out my review to familiarize yourself with the charming novel a little more. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, and it's definitely Sarah Ockler's greatest book to date! 

Below, you'll find some more information and purchase links on The Summer of Chasing Mermaids. If you haven't read this book, be sure to pick up a copy because it's amazing, and one of my favorites of this year. Seriously... what are you waiting for? Make this your next beach read!

The Class of July 2014 Book Bloggers' Anniversary Bash + GIVEAWAY


Something very special happened last July in the book blogging community! Quite a few, then new, book bloggers all decided to start up blogs way back in July 2014. Little did we know that one year later, a lot of us would bond and create friendships, but we have! It's all very exciting! So today, and through the rest of July, we're celebrating together as the Class of July 2014 Book Bloggers!

Sunday, July 12, 2015

2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour: Wonderland Novels


The 2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour is a summer-long event hosted by Amber and Jessica from The Book Bratz. Each Sunday during the tour, bloggers highlight and promote other bloggers from the book blogosphere. It's a great way to get to know your peers and their bookish habits.

This week's featured blogger on The Hardcover Lover is Alice from Wonderland Novels. Today, she'll be sharing bits and pieces of her personal library with you in the form of shelfies and words.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Soundtrack Saturday (31)



Hello, and Happy Weekend to all of you Hardcover Lover readers! Although I'm busy at work all day, I've prepared another edition of Soundtrack Saturday for you, and this time, it's with a very recent release! 
Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly feature that I started to share playlists with my readers. There's a catch, though. All of my playlists are based on books that I've read!

As with all bookish memes, there are a few steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:
  • Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading
  • Create a mini (four songs) or full soundtrack (ten-fifteen songs) for that book based on characters and plot details
    • For more detailed instructions, please visit the meme's homepage.
  • Please credit me somewhere in your post
    • It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
  • Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
  • Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight the upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that Waiting on Wednesday is one of my favorite memes because I just love sharing all the beautiful books that are going to be in the world one day.

  The rules for participating in Waiting on Wednesday are pretty easy to follow:
  • Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
  • Be sure to credit Jill in your post
  • Link up to the Linky on Jill's blog
  • Comment on Jill's post

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday (24)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by the awesome ladies at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this particular feature because they love making and sharing bookish lists with their readers. Well it just so happens that I am also a fan of list making, so I try to participate in Top Ten Tuesday as much as possible.

The steps to participating in Top Ten Tuesday are pretty simple:
  1. Go to The Broke and Bookish to get this week's theme
  2. Make a Top Ten list with your picks
  3. Post your list and make sure to link to The Broke and Booksish somewhere in it
  4. Add your name to the link up on their blog

Monday, July 6, 2015

ARC Review: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls


Title: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls
Author: Lynn Weingarten
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Source: ARC from Simon Pulse

Gone Girl meets 13 Reasons Why in this stylish, sexy, and atmospheric story about friendship packed with twists and turns that will leave you breathless.

They say Delia burned herself to death in her stepfather's shed. They say it was suicide.

But June doesn't believe it.

June and Delia used to be closer than anything. Best friends in that way that comes before everyone else-before guys, before family. It was like being in love, but more. They had a billion secrets, tying them together like thin silk cords.

But one night a year ago, everything changed. June, Delia, and June's boyfriend Ryan were just having a little fun. Their good time got out of hand. And in the cold blue light of morning, June knew only this-things would never be the same again.

And now, a year later, Delia is dead. June is certain she was murdered. And she owes it to her to find out the truth...which is far more complicated than she ever could have imagined.

Sexy, dark, and atmospheric, Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour: Uncreatively Zoey



The 2015 Summer Blogger Promo Tour is hosted by Amber and Jessica at The Book Bratz. The purpose of the summer-long tour is to get to know other book bloggers while promoting their blogs so that others can discover the many great bloggers in the book blogosphere.


This week, I'm featuring Zoey from Uncreatively Zoey. In case you didn't know, Zoey is an aspiring author. When she told me a little bit about her WIP (work in progress), I just knew that I'd have to highlight it in any way because writing a book is a huge accomplishment. Below, you'll find an excerpt from Zoey's WIP, Shadow Crowns, so be sure to read it and give her all the love it deserves!


Saturday, July 4, 2015

Soundtrack Saturday (30)



Good day, little Hardcover Lovers! (And Happy Fourth of July if you're an American!) It's Saturday, so that means it's time for another edition of Soundtrack Saturday! Soundtrack Saturday is a weekly feature that I started to share playlists with my readers. There's a catch, though. All of my playlists are based on books that I've read!

As with all bookish memes, there are a few steps to follow to help you create your own perfect Soundtrack Saturday post:
  • Choose a book that you've read or are currently reading
  • Create a mini (four songs) or full soundtrack (ten-fifteen songs) for that book based on characters and plot details
    • For more detailed instructions, please visit the meme's homepage.
  • Please credit me somewhere in your post
    • It can be as simple as "Soundtrack Saturday was created by Erin at The Hardcover Lover."
  • Leave a comment on my blog post if you enjoy the feature
  • Add your name to the link-up tool at the bottom of the post

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (32)


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme created and hosted by Jill at her blog, Breaking the Spine. The meme helps bloggers and readers spotlight the upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

It's pretty simple to participate in Waiting on Wednesday:
  • Create your own Waiting on Wednesday post that features an upcoming title (or titles)
  • Be sure to credit Jill in your post
  • Add your link to the Linky on Jill's blog