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! 

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Publication Date: October 20, 2016)

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.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo (Publisher: Ten Speed Press | Publication Date: October 14, 2014)

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

At the start of the year, I shared a post that featured our favorite TV shows of 2018, and if you’ve read it, Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku will be familiar. This slice of life series centers around four office workers in Japan who are seemingly ordinary… until you discover that all four of them happen to be otaku! From there, the series explores the lives of the four otaku and how it affects them as individuals and in relationships and it is delightful. I fell in love with the main characters immediately, partly because I could see facets of my personality reflected in each one and partly because they called to mind people I adore in real life. It was really my level of personal investment in these characters and their lives that led to my deep love for seeing their day-to-day unfold (which makes up majority of the plot) and, in turn, my deep love for the anime. It was a real treat to experience the events of the anime all over again in manga form, as doing so normally allows me to catch more details (in the illustrations and dialogue) than I would by seeing it on screen. I definitely finished this volume feeling exactly the same way as the show left me feeling: unable to stop smiling and eager to find out what happens next.

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!)

I’ll be completely honest: I picked Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul up because of the title and the cover. I had the vague knowledge that it was a poetry collection in the back of my mind, but eventually realized that it was a combination of poetry and prose when I finally picked it up last month. Nikita Gill utilizes imagery inspired by fairytales and folklore in a clever way, though it does lean towards being very heavy-handed with its emphasis of the themes of female and self-empowerment. It also embraces the more modern style of poetry, if that’s something you take into account in deciding on whether a collection is for you or not. On the other hand, the thematic message is very clear from start to finish and I did appreciate the sense of empowerment that I felt after I finished reading it. While I don’t necessarily feel like this is a standout collection, I did think it was worth checking out, especially if the themes (both in terms of imagery and message) appeal to 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!)

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!)

Set forty years after the first series (AKA The Dragonrider Chronicles), Savage and Harbinger set the stage for the Dragonrider Legacy series. There's a fresh set of characters primed to take on what could possibly be the worst threat the kingdom of Maldobar has ever seen since the days of the young half-elf named Jaevid.

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!) 

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

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

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.

About the Author: 

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!

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.

I tend to go through moods where all I really want to read is a cute contemporary romance, and Kasie is one of the YA authors who delivers solid work on that front. Fame, Fate and the First Kiss is certainly no exception! While her latest hasn’t eclipsed Love, Life and the List or Pivot Point as my favorites of her work, it was still enjoyable. I’m a sucker for being interested in stories with premises that are evocative of a DCOM or fan fic, so to read about an aspiring teen actress and her first experience filming professionally (and what that entails) was immediately appealing. Luckily, I wound up liking Lacey a lot. She’s a study in contradictions: confident and ambitious in some ways, insecure and vulnerable in others. Because I got on with her character so well, it was all too easy to be interested in her story (including the romance, which was very cute). If you’re in the market for a lighter read or want to add a YA romcom to your list, you should check this one (and Kasie’s other work) out.

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? 

As a kid who loved the Disney film and has always been interested in adaptations of the original tale, it’s no surprise that I started A Curse So Dark and Lonely with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I’m really pleased to report that this novel was unique in comparison to any other Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve encountered! It’s fun, it’s well-paced, and I really ended up enjoying Harper and Rhen (though Grey was immediately my favorite, and I just need more of him in my life, please and thank you). While the tale unfolds with all the usual touchstone moments of the story, what makes this retelling different is the fact that Kemmerer chose to incorporate a heroine with modern-day sensibilities and juxtapose her with a people and a kingdom still set in a fantasy-medieval era. The marked differences between both made for interesting situations, and certainly served as the catalyst for the many changes that occur in Emberfall while Harper is around. I devoured this story, and while it hasn’t quite cemented itself as a new favorite, it was worth the read, and I’m looking forward to the sequel. 

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!) 

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.