Rachel Reads: 5 Non-Fiction Favorites
January 30, 2019 • book review, by Rachel, Charles Duhigg, Dale Carnegie, Elle Luna, Marie Kondo, non-fiction, Shonda Rhimes
I have a special treat for you today, readers! We have a new guest reviewer to welcome on to this blog: my baby sister Rachel. I've been so proud of the fact that she's been reading a lot more these days, and since her tastes run different from mine (she's mostly into non-fiction), we both thought it'd be fun for her to share brief thoughts on the things she's read. Hope you'll give her a warm welcome and encourage her to do more guest posts in the future! Without further ado, here are a few thoughts from Rachel on some of her favorite non-fiction reads.
It feels like the year just started yesterday, and now we're in the last week of January - which I still can't believe. This isn't Alexa, if you're wondering. It's actually Rach, her little sister! I thought that it would be a good time to share some self-care books I've personally loved. It's because, even more than just the good changes and new experiences everyone looks forward to in the year, I have always believed in the beauty of appreciating and learning more about the process (of growth) too.
So, here I am crashing my sister's blog for the first time (which is an honor) and sharing some of my must-read self-help books in the hopes that they'll help you embrace yourself and make this year fully yours like never before!
This book is for folks who need more support and encouragement to get out of their comfort zones. Most people might think that it's going to be a step-by-step guide on how to saw yes, but it's more raw and personal with true stories from Shonda Rhimes as she lives out a year of just saying yes. Even better, instead of feeling like you're reading someone else's story, it felt like you were actually in a conversation with a friend where she was personally telling you how she said yes to challenging situations. I absolutely loved this book! It took me around five days to finish it, because I was wanted to apply some of the things she said to my own life. It's relatable and inspiring, and I would definitely recommend it.


This is, by far, one of my top five self-care books of all time. It combines unique storytelling with hands-on creativity, making it both eye-catching and inspiring. It's a book meant for those who can't seem to figure out their direction in life, or who are continuing to look for a larger purpose. This snack-size book allows you to understand your life from a different perspective, and even includes some practice tests to let you dig deeper into who you are and what you want. While I was initially drawn into it for the aesthetic, I really appreciate the creative execution of the quotes and thoughts for making this one more fun to read. Personally, I came across this title when I was 21 and I believe it to be a fated intervention at a time when I was really struggling in terms of career, love and life. After reading this book, I realized that there were so many things I wanted to try to do (even if I was scared!). It also helped me to gain a clearer picture of what I wanted to do. It might not have been a complete portrait of my future, but it definitely helped me create a draft filled with just enough details to get me moving. I would definitely recommend this book as a gift, both for yourself and for others. The stories, quotes and food for thought bits, combined with the pretty details, will be a bright, fun and motivational addition to your shelf.


The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and in Business by Charles Duhigg (Publisher: Random House | Publication Date: January 7, 2014)
This is another read that's part of my top five self-care books I've read so far! Honestly, the first time I read it (inspired by one of my best friends!), I didn't know if I was going to like it because it sounded like it would be very serious and scientific. But it's actually the type of book that gets better with ever page, even as it requires patience and time to really digest. You'll come across many true stories and factual proof, but the real significance of this book is how it'll impact you. Honestly, the best way to describe this one is "learning from the experiences of others", as it'll help you evaluate your own habits and how to change them. This book, thanks to the author's narrative style, really emulated a mentor-style relationship for me, which I'm really thankful for.


You. Have. To. Read. This. Don't just watch the Netflix show - actually give the book a read! I'm glad I actually got to read it before it became the sensation it is now. This one is definitely for people who want to make their spaces (and lives) more positive with the help of organization! There is a lot more to it than just being a guide for tidying your space. It presents a new mindset for how objects ought to be treated, as well as inspiration to aspire towards the lifestyle you've always wanted to have. Growing up in a very organized family, I was surprised to learn that certain methods we used weren't necessarily the most efficient or recommended ones. It was great to learn new methods, improve my current methods and do away with things that weren't really working. The specific aspect of the KonMari method that really left a strong impression on me was the way the author talked about objects, putting real value into what she owns, purchases and discards. It made me think of my things with more appreciation, and I hope to continue to do so in the future! Fair warning though: finishing this book will make you want to tidy everything. I absolutely loved this one, and trust me, you don't have to be a minimalist or extremely neat to appreciate it!

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (Publisher: Gallery Books | Publication Date: October 1, 1998)

Okay, so last year, for the first time ever, I joined a book club! It's with the company I work for, and it was really amazing to be able to share ideas, thoughts and common interests with other people. Anyway, this book is for those who seek the advice mentioned in the title. Just like The Power of Habit, tips and tricks are paired with real life examples. It might come across as a bit serious, but readers will come to realize that their statements are actually real possibilities since other people have experienced it already. What I love about this one, among many other tidbits, is how it really encourages you to focus on the details, like remembering someone's birthday or listening to someone without talking over them, and how that can mean so much to the other person. This book is definitely one that you have to read constantly to fully digest (as the author mentions at the start), and I personally would suggest it as something to read a chapter or two of before you go to bed.

I’m looking forward to sharing more books with all of you, but for now I wish you all a good year—supporting you live another best year for yourself yet!
Abbreviations #79 | Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, Fierce Fairytales + An Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason
January 28, 2019 • Abbreviations, adult fiction, An Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason, book review, By Alexa, Fierce Fairytales, Fujita, historical, manga review, Nikita Gill, Virginia Boecker, Wotakoi, young adult fiction

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita | Series: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku #1 | Publisher: Kodansha Comics | Publication Date: April 17, 2018 | Source: Gifted by Kristin (Thank you!)

Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill | Publisher: Hachette Books | Publication Date: September 11, 2018 | Source: Purchased the paperback
I had been looking forward to reading An Assassin’s Guide to Love and Treason since I first heard about it. I’m happy to report that, overall, it didn’t disappoint me! The novel centers around two main characters: Katherine “Kit” Arundell, who is determined to take her father’s place as part of the rebel Catholics and assassinate the queen, and Toby Ellis, a spy for the queen who is tasked to root out the rebels. Our star-crossed pair are cast opposite one another in Shakespeare’s newest play, which is to be performed in front of Her Majesty, and from there, mistaken identities, dangerous situations, sparks flying, well, it turns into quite the adventure. I was surprised to find that this story was easy to read! I’m always under the (clearly mistaken) assumption that historical fiction will require extra effort to get into, but that was not the case at all. The three things I liked best about this one are: 1) the historical aspects woven in (both the real and the fictional), 2) the use of Twelfth Night in the tale (which was still less than I would’ve liked, but I still loved it so because it’s one of my favorite Shakespeare plays) and 3) the two main characters (who were such interesting individuals). Though this was enjoyable, I did feel like I wasn’t ultimately invested in the outcome of the tale (nor did I worry overly much that the characters wouldn’t survive their terrible circumstances). Perhaps it’s because I’m too much of an optimistic, or perhaps it’s because the entire thing read as a playful gamble in a theatrical way? Whichever it is, it ultimately resulted in this one simply getting a solid 3.5 stars from me overall.
An Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Publication Date: October 23, 2018 | Source: ARC from the publisher (Thanks!)
Macky's Middle Grade Round-Up: Uncovering Mysteries, Riding Dragons and Rescuing Unicorns
January 25, 2019 • Ally Condie, book review, Brendan Reichs, by Macky, Dragonrider Legacy, fantasy, Harbinger, Kamilla Benko, middle grade fiction, Nicole Conway, Savage, Secret in the Stone, The Darkdeep, The Unicorn Quest
Don’t you just hate it when bullies drive you over a cliff? I’m sure Nico Holland thought so after his most recent encounter with the local bullies (and his ex-best friend Opal) sends him plummeting into Still Cove, the forbidden part of town. Panicked, his friends Tyler, Emma and even Opal plunge head first after him where they discover exactly why Still Cove is off-limits. They find something that they have learned to call the Darkdeep and it changes their lives… forever. (*cue ominous PG-13 music*)
The Darkdeep is a summer adventure with a mystery involving something that has the potential to destroy the sleepy little town, and these four friends are the only force able to prevent the worst from happening. Do I spy my favorite genre of all time? The “me and my friends save the world together” genre? You bet.
All of my favorite elements are here! Life in a small town upended by an unexplained mystery that is plausible in its scariness and its capacity to be managed by children? Check! Character relationships that are light enough to follow, but deep enough to love? Yes! Fairly exciting climax as our would-be heroes face off against whatever it is the Darkdeep actually is? Double check!
The whole thing feels like a neatly written summer blockbuster for kids. The lore isn’t too heavy, and is, in fact, a bit too light for my tastes, but it serves the story well enough. It’s for kids! It’s an adventure through the great unknown! I would recommend it for good summer reading. It won’t make my personal reread pile, but it’s got a place among my recommendations.
The Darkdeep by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs | Series: The Darkdeep #1 | Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books | Publication Date: October 2, 2018 | Source: ARC from BEA 2018 (Thank you!)

Unlike the first quartet centered mostly on Jaevid, the story for this new series seems to shift POVs between Reigh, a human boy living with the elves possessing a dark and terrible secret, and Princess Jenna of Maldobar, Dragonrider extraordinaire!
Interestingly, I feel the story is good enough to stand on its own, so you can actually jump straight into Savage without having read the other series. Of course, the flavor and the nuance of having events prior to the last forty years does enhance the experience of reading through Savage and Harbinger.
I’d say Nicole Conway’s writing style hasn’t fluctuated much, so if you like the accessible high fantasy tone that she employs in her character conversations, vernacular and descriptions, then these books should slide down smoothly. Moreover, she gets a chance to embellish on the lore of her Dragonrider world. Personally, I like it and I like that she gets to really open up the world beyond just Maldobar and the Elven kingdom of Luntharda. It makes for a pleasant and engaging read! Like dragons and dragon riders? Like accessible high fantasy? Pick these up. They’re like comfort food, if comfort food was middle grade fantasy.
Savage and Harbinger by Nicole Conway | Series: Dragonrider Legacy #1-2 | Publisher: Month9Books LLC | Publication Dates: September 26, 2017 and August 14, 2018 | Source: Purchased for Kindle

Secret in the Stone is one of the most sequeliest sequels ever in the history of sequels. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, the only thing bad about this is that anyone who loved book one, and hopefully loved book two as well, will just desperately want the third book already. Book series can be funny little things and where a series is actually just one big story with one big plot point, then book three cannot come soon enough.
And with that rant for book three over, allow me to present the next installment in the adventures of Claire and Sophie Martinson! Not long after they stumbled upon the fireplace at their great aunt’s house (that apparently leads to the magical land of Arden), they found themselves deeply embroiled in a campaign to help bring the unicorns back! Their decision to stay has begun a chain of events that will change the face of Arden yet again.
I believe Kamilla Benko is laying out the exposition to wind up to something pretty significant in the story. Sophie and Claire are not the same as when they first started out and who knows what they will be when they’ve completed their goals. I can’t say much because there isn’t much that isn’t spoilers but I will say that fans of the first book will love this second installment (coming out February 19, 2019). And what’s not to love? Deeper trek into Arden, new characters, deeper insight into what truly threatens the land and a deep dive into the lore. Five stars all around!
Secret in the Stone by Kamilla Benko | Series: The Unicorn Quest #2 | Previous Book in Series: The Unicorn Quest | Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books | Publication Date: February 19, 2019 | Source: ARC received from the publisher (Thank you!)
Circle of Shadows Gift Guide (+ Giveaway)
January 24, 2019 • blog tour, Circle of Shadows, Evelyn Skye, gift guide, giveaway
It's been some time since I've gotten the opportunity to put together a gift guide for you, friends, and I'm happy to be sharing one inspired by Circle of Shadows, the latest novel from Evelyn Skye. You'll find out more about the novel below, and have the chance to enter to win a copy (and a tote) for yourself! But first, check out all the goodies below, which I picked out inspired by different elements of this fantasy series starter.
item sources: TNT Fireworks Assorted Lightning Blast | Rose Quartz Crystal Stone | Emerald Dragonfly Necklace | Wolf Ring | (minus the) Leather System Moto Jacket | Ninja Throwing Stars | Black Drawstring Backpack
Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 22nd, 2018
Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied behind his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.
As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging to the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark. So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group.Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.
Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart.
Evelyn Skye is the author of New York Times bestsellers THE CROWN’S GAME and THE CROWN’S FATE. Her new series, CIRCLE OF SHADOWS, will be published on January 22, 2019.
Evelyn has a B.A. in Russian literature & history from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win. | Author Links: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
There's going to be a tour giveaway! One lucky winner is going to get a finished copy of the book and the tote with a design below. All you've got to do is enter via the form!
Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour stops!
January 21st - Bookish Lifestyle - Top 5 Reasons to Read Circle of Shadows and Tote Design Reveal
January 22nd - The Reader and the Chef - Places To Visit in Circle of Shadows
January 23rd - The YA Book Traveler - Author Interview
January 24th - Alexa Loves Books - Gift Guide
January 25th - YA and Wine - Review
January 28th - Twirling Pages - Author Interview
January 29th - MTMC Tours - Quotes from Circle of Shadows
January 30th - Paperfury - Feature
January 31st - It Starts at Midnight - Feature
February 1st- The Books Buzz - Transforming into a Taiga
Friends with ARCs | Fame, Fate and the First Kiss + A Curse So Dark and Lonely
January 23, 2019 • A Curse so Dark and Lonely, book review, Brigid Kemmerer, By Alexa, contemporary, fairytale retellings, Fame Fate and the First Kiss, fantasy, Friends with ARCs, Kasie West, young adult fiction
In Fame, Fate and the First Kiss, Lacey finally has a chance to pursue her dream of being an actress when she lands the leading role in a book-to-movie adaptation, sharing top billing with one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. But as Lacey tries to find her footing in the public eye amid completing her senior year requirements, developing feelings for her tutor and figuring out who is determined to sabotage her on-set, she just might find that life won’t always go according to plan.

Favorite zombie movie? I don’t watch a lot of zombie movies, as zombies are not my cup of tea in general. But there is one movie that popped immediately into my head: Zombieland. It’s still not something I normally would have watched on my own (I’m pretty sure friends convinced me to see it), but I do recall it being entertaining and making me laugh.
Fame, Fate and the First Kiss by Kasie West | Publisher: Harper Teen | Publication Date: February 5, 2019 | Source: e-galley downloaded from Edelweiss (Thank you!)
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, told from the perspective of both “Beauty” and the “Beast”. Harper is the “Beauty” from Washington DC, solely focused on protecting her terminally ill mother and beloved older brother from their diminished circumstances, and so, you can imagine that getting swept away to the enchanted world of Emberfall is not on her to do list. It’s there that she encounters the “Beast” of the tale, Prince Rhen, who is the heir to the throne and cursed by an enchantress to live his out his eighteenth year repeatedly without end unless a girl falls in love with him. As the two teens are forced to work together in order to overcome a variety of difficult circumstances, both find themselves irrevocably changed by the experience. But will it be enough to break the curse?

What fairytale world would you want to portal into? In all transparency, I almost said Beauty and the Beast post-Belle’s return, but the real answer would be the world of The Little Mermaid. I love that fairytale so darn much, and to be able to see (and befriend) the mermaids, and to live in a kingdom by the sea… I can’t pass that opportunity up!
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer | Series: A Curse So Dark and Lonely #1 | Publisher: Bloomsbury YA | Publication Date: January 29, 2019 | Source: ARC received from the publisher (Thank you!)
My 2019 Happy Planner
January 22, 2019 • 2019 Happy Planner, Happy Planner
I briefly mentioned using a Happy Planner as a crucial part of my methods for staying organized this year, but I wanted to take the opportunity to go into detail about it because I'm really excited about mine! I've been dying to show you all how it came together, with the help of my friend Hannah of So Obsessed With.
In fact, I'm taking a page out of Hannah's book (she has a set of posts all about her Happy Planners that you should definitely check out) this year, and going for some "frankenplanning". What that essentially means in the world of Happy Planners is that you take parts of different planners (or, in my case, parts of a Happy Planner and Happy Notes) and combining them into one. I used the Classic size for my planner this year, and it really works for me (even though it's less portable than the Mini I used to have).
When you open up it up, you'll immediately see the typical title page for a Happy Planner, where you can write your name (and your contact info). I've taken the liberty of placing a couple of stickers on the cover where I can identify my different Zebra mildliner colors, but more on why I did that later.
The first section of my planner is dedicated specifically to the month I'm currently in (plus the next month once I get halfway through the current one), which is a set of pages pulled from my yearly Happy Planner. There's a monthly page where I jot down important events and make a list of goals to complete, and I leave the other items blank to complete at the end of the month. This is followed by a monthly calendar that I decorate with stickers to mark birthdays and events, and there's also a space to the left of the calendar where I make a list of my planned TBR for the month (though I'm terrible at sticking to them).
Weekly spreads follow the monthly calendar, and there are actually a variety of layouts that are available depending on which Happy Planner you pick. As you can see, mine has a monthly calendar in the top right, for easy reference, and there's another lined space underneath, which I am currently using to track my reading progress in a week. The actual weekly spread has an empty box up top, which I use to write down what I'm grateful for that day. The lined area underneath is what I use to jot down my to do lists, mark off days with important event plans and occasionally use to write down memorable quotes or experiences that I don't want to forget.
Behind the monthly spreads, I have a couple of extra pages: one for tracking my spending and reading habits, one for tracking the movies I've seen*, and one for tracking a miscellaneous set of things (anime, fandom merch, video games, movies, etc) that I consume in 2019.
The second section of my planner is dedicated specifically to books and blogging. I pulled the pages for this section from Happy Notes, specifically the kind with dot grid pages so I could essentially treat it as a bullet journal. There are also a number of pages designed by Hannah in this section. Here's a full list of the pages below:
- Stats tracker, resolutions & books to read in 2019 - On the top half, I made an area where I could track a variety of stats I wanted to look at this year. I'm curious to monitor everything's growth to figure out what needs to be worked on! On the bottom half, I wrote down all of my resolutions for easy reference and I also made a section where I get to pick a book a month that I really want to prioritize reading.
- Books Read in 2019 - This is a slightly more detailed version of the Goodreads challenge tracker page. I have a pixel area where I get to color in the box depending on the type of read it is, and there's room to list the title, author and star rating per month. This is the first section where the Zebra Mildliner colors come into play, as I have colors and symbols assigned for different categories.
- Trackers for Friends with ARCs and Buddy Reads - Can you tell I like making pages with the space to track things in lists? This page covers the two collaborative parts of my reading life: Friends with ARCs, a feature I do with Rachel of Hello, Chelly, and buddy reads.
- Goodreads Challenge tracker* - This is a simple layout where I get to color a box in every time I finish reading a book.
- Picky Pledge Challenge tracker and planning* - These pages will help me track what I've read to complete this particular yearly challenge, as well as give me a place to jot down my potential TBR for any categories.
- Trackers for Rereads, Series, Classics, Genre - I did mention that I love my lists. This page covers different aspects of my reading that I wanted to track this year, and I get to either check off an item or add to the list when I read something that fits the category.
- Events - Inspired by Kristin of Super Space Chick, this page exists to track any bookish events that I get to attend in 2019. I'll also include a note to find out whether I got anything signed, or picked up any books during the event.
- Book Haul - This page exists to track any books that I receive or purchase in 2019. The Zebra Mildliners come into play again, as I have different colors and symbols assigned.
- Mini book reviews - I started jotting down brief review notes after I finished a book in August of last year, and it's been a wonderful help in actually penning the reviews you read on the blog and for doing What We Read videos on the channel. I don't really go into a lot of detail (since that's generally just how I am as a reader and reviewer), but I do try to take note of things I want to mention when I talk about the book.
- Read or Die challenge tracker* - Hannah was kind enough to make me a checklist of all the books I had on my TBR at the end of 2018. I do so love checking off lists, so this is extra motivation to get more of these titles read so I can check them off.
- Instagram tracker, planner and challenge tracker* - I can track when I post on Instagram, jot down potential ideas and keep track of any challenges I want to take a part in on these very cute layouts created by Hannah.
- End of the Year Survey* - Inspired by Jamie's survey, Hannah created these pages as a place to write down potential answers up through the end of the year.
- Bookshelf, Kindle shelf and audiobook library* - These pages are just fun visual representations that I can fill in every time I read (or listen) to a book that corresponds with the categories. The audiobook section is filled in, mostly because I rarely read via audio and these are the ones I own but haven't read yet.
- Series tracker* - I'm extra fond of these pages too, because I am trying to catch up on/finish a lot of series that I'm still interested in. These are simple enough layouts that I can keep track of what I've read in each series.
And there you have it - a little look into my Happy Planner for 2019! I'm really grateful to Hannah for all of her fantastic pages (and you can likely DM or email her about them if you're interested) and all the inspiration she's given me with how to set up mine, as well as Kristin for her inspiration for some of the bookish pages.
Are you using a planner this year for personal or bookish things? I'd love to hear about it!
*Any pages marked with an asterisk were created by Hannah.
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