Reading Challenge Update: November

Oh boy! Where does the time go? It's hard to believe that December and the holiday season is already here. It really seems like it was just yesterday that The Hardcover Lover got a makeover and new features were unveiled.

One of those features was The Hardcover Lover's Reading Challenge Update. So just what is this post about? I'll tell you...

At the end of 2015, I decided that I was reading too many similar books and too many books that were inside of my comfort zone. To change this, I decided to try reading some different books, and the best way to do that was to join a few different reading challenges, especially challenges that focused on genres that I don't typically read. To keep track of the reading challenges, I came up with a way to keep track of the books I was reading for the challenges, and it is the very generically named Reading Challenge Update.

Book Review: What Light

Title: What Light

Author: Jay Asher

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: October 18, 2016

From Jay Asher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thirteen Reasons Why, comes a romance that will break your heart, but soon have you believing again. . . .

Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other.

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.

By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.

What Light is a love story that's moving and life-affirming and completely unforgettable.

Reading Challenge Update: October

At the end of 2015, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to read more books, but not just more books in general... I wanted to challenge myself to read more books outside of my comfort zone and outside of the genres that I normally read. To do this, I decided to join a few different reading challenges, hosted by many different bloggers in the book community. To keep track of the reading challenges, I came up with a way to keep track of the books I was reading for the challenges, and it is the very generically named Reading Challenge Update.

Reading Challenge Update: September

At the end of 2015, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to read more books, but not just more books in general... I wanted to challenge myself to read more books outside of my comfort zone and outside of the genres that I normally read. To do this, I decided to join a few different reading challenges, hosted by many different bloggers in the book community. To keep track of the reading challenges, I came up with a way to keep track of the books I was reading for the challenges, and it is the very generically named Reading Challenge Update.

Reading Challenge Update: August

At the end of 2015, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to read more books. But not just more books in general... I wanted to challenge myself to read more books outside of my comfort zone and outside of the genres that I normally read, so I joined a few different reading challenges, hosted by many different bloggers in the book community. To keep track of the reading challenges, I came up with a way to keep track of the books I was reading for the challenges, and it is the very generically named Reading Challenge Update.

Reading Challenge Update: July

At the end of 2015, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to read more. That meant that I was going to try to read in more genres and participate in more reading challenges. To keep track of the reading challenges, I came up with a way to keep track of the books I was reading for the challenges, and it is the very generically named Reading Challenge Update.

Reading Challenge Update: June

At the end of 2015, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to read more. That meant that I was going to try to read in more genres and participate in more reading challenges. To keep track of the reading challenges, I came up with a way to keep track of the books I was reading for the challenges, and it is the very generically named Reading Challenge Update.

Now I know it's a little late for me to be posting this because it's already the middle of July, but things got in the way and I just didn't really feel like blogging. Now that I'm feeling a little better and more motivated about keeping up with my blog, I've got a rewind of my what I read in June.

Reading Challenge Update: May

Okay... so you know all those reading challenges that we all sign up for at the end of every year? Yes? Okay, good. In order for me to keep up with the many reading challenges that I signed up for, I decided to do a monthly update about them this year. At the beginning of every month, I post these Reading Challenge Updates to keep you up to date on what I read in the past month and to remind me what challenges I need to work on.

Reading Challenge Update: April

Way back in December of last year and January of this year, I decided to sign up for some reading challenges. Despite my complete failure in participating in most of them during 2015, I thought I'd do a lot better this year. To keep myself on track (and to let you know what I've been reading), I came up with these Reading Challenge Update posts that I'll share at the beginning of every month. Each post will cover the books that I read and counted for reading challenges during the previous month.

Reading Challenge Update: March

Can you believe that we've already gone through three months in 2016? I can't believe that we're into April right now. The year is flying by so quickly!

Many of you know that I'm participating in a few different reading challenges this year. To keep myself on track (and to let you know what I've been reading), I came up with these Reading Challenge Update posts. Yes, I know they aren't very original, but because of them, I've been keeping track of the books I've been reading for the many reading challenges I signed up for at the end of 2015.

Alright... so let's see how I faired for all of my challenges in March!

Reading Challenge Update: February

Two months down and ten to go! Who would have thought that 2016 would fly by as quickly as it has been, right?

Many of you know that I'm participating in a few different reading challenges this year. To keep myself on track (and to let you know what I've been reading), I came up with these Reading Challenge Update posts. Yes, I know they aren't very original, but because of them, I've been keeping track of the books I've been reading for the many reading challenges I signed up for at the end of 2015.

So... let's check in on my progress for February!

Book Review: Joyride

Title: Joyride

Author: Anna Banks

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: June 2, 2015

Source: From Author for Review

Add it to Goodreads

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.   

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2016: First Half of 2016

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is a reading challenge hosted by Danielle at Love at First Page and and Jess of Gone with the Words. It's all about reading contemporary romance novels. I decided to join because I read a lot of YA contemporary romances, and because I also enjoy reading adult romances novels.

This year, I'm participating, and I've actually already read a few books that I'm counting for the challenge. I'll share more about them at the end of the month, but today, we're looking at some of the contemporary romances that come out between now and June.

ARC Review: Underwater

Title: Underwater

Author: Marisa Reichardt

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

Publication Date: January 12, 2016
Source: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux for Review

Add it to Goodreads

Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself.

But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.

When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.

Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.

ARC Review: Firsts

Title: Firsts

Author: Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Source: ARC from St. Martin's Griffin

Add it to Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, FIRSTS is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2016

It's time for me to tell you all about another reading challenge that I'm joining for 2016! This challenge is the Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge, and it's hosted by Jess of Gone with the Words and Danielle of Love at First Page.