The truth about Daisy Jones and the Six is that readers are either going to love this book or hate it. This stems primarily from two facts. First, the story format itself is a departure from most of the previous novels by Taylor Jenkins Reid, framing the story of Daisy Jones and the band The Six through interviews and media coverage instead of a full narrative. And second, these characters are living the lives of rock stars, complete with copious amounts of bad decisions, sexual encounters and consumption of alcohol and drugs, which means they’re not always likable or easy to root for. So, unsurprisingly, this novel has had the most polarizing reactions from many folks who have read (or attempted to read) it. 

Personally, I was apprehensive when I started Daisy Jones and the Six. Did I think I would ever be interested in a tell-all type story about a rock and roll band? Not at all. Did I fret over the fact that this might turn out like Reid’s last novel release did for me? A fair bit. But it surprised me, this novel, and in a good way. 

It helps, I suppose, that I decided to listen to the advice of many other readers and listen to the audiobook. With a full cast (one voice actor for each role) and the incorporation of music, it made for an extremely engaging listening experience. It also made it easier to find the interview format a little less impersonal, since each narrator was excellent at making their given character stand out from the rest using mere inflections or affectations. So, before I go on, I must agree with others before and tell you that if you do get the chance to read this one via audiobook, I would also highly recommend it. 

I will say that I never expected to be as invested in Daisy Jones and the Six as I was, and I am confident in the fact that this happened because of the characters. These characters are all wonderfully complex, as readers will discover while getting to know each person involved in this tale with every succeeding interview. Reid certainly spotlights the many fine, admirable strengths these folks have, but she also doesn’t hold back in revealing their weaknesses and the terrible choices that lead to terrible circumstances. The interview format, in my opinion, worked well for this purpose, as it offered a multi-faceted perspective on each individual (based solely on who was talking about them at any given time). It all comes together to be a group of character studies, and I certainly admire Reid’s chosen approach in the telling. It’s not always easy to read about their ups and their downs, but there is a raw honesty to the portrayal of the series of events that make up the story of one Daisy Jones and her time with the band The Six before everything all falls apart. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was compelling, challenging and different from most of what I read this year, and I savored every single scandalous, intriguing second of it. While it certainly will appeal to a more niche set of readers and it still hasn’t eclipsed former novels of Reid’s to become my favorite, I thought Daisy Jones and the Six was well-done and one of my favorite reading experiences of the year. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was released on March 5, 2019 by Ballantine Books.

I'm so thrilled to be a part of the When She Reigns blog tour! If you've been reading my blog for over a year, you'll know that I adore Jodi Meadows and her novels so dang much (and I am truly honored to call her a friend). The Fallen Isles trilogy is one of my favorite young adult fantasy series with a strong political aspect, a main character I absolutely loved and related to and dragons (because who doesn't love dragons?). Today, I'm picking Jodi's brain about her characters and her books, and I'm excited to share our Q&A with all of you.

1. Mira has always been the main reason I love the Fallen Isles trilogy. What do you feel is the main theme that defines her character journey from start to end? And did you deliberately choose to highlight that theme as you wrote her story?

As cheesy as it might sound, Mira's main theme is love. 

Her gods are the Lovers, representing all kinds of love -- familial, platonic, romantic, etc -- and Mira has always been a believer in that power. It is, more than any of the abilities she displays in the series, Mira's truest gift. 

While Mira is really good at finding ways to love other people, however, she's less good at accepting love. She constantly doubts that people feel as strongly for her as they say they do. Some of this is because she's always been set apart and told to hide her "flaws," and some of it's just Mira's personal journey of learning to be loved. 

I almost never choose themes I want to write about; they almost always show up with the character and their personal arcs. But I do find that I write similar themes in lots of my novels, and love is absolutely one that repeats throughout my work.

2. The world of the Fallen Isles trilogy is complex in terms of politics and lore. Was it easy to decide which island and government Mira was a part of and how that would influence her story?

I always knew which island Mira came from, even before I knew the details of their beliefs and culture. I wanted her to come from a very prestigious island, one that had a lot of pride and wealth. I knew Mira had a very glamorous seeming life where everything was handed to her, even though she'd done nothing to deserve it.

And then I wanted to make her fight to regain everything that's actually important to her. Not the things (although she is a girl who will always love and appreciate pretty dresses), but the people. The ideals. The image she had of her island that was never really as true as she had believed. 

In the third book, Mira tells another character, "Maybe I don't know exactly how the world works, but I know how it should work." 

It's that -- learning to see what's broken, and figuring out how to affect change -- that I really wanted Mira to experience.

3. Apart from Mira, we also have a whole host of characters that have become equally important to the story (and dear to the readers) as part of Mira’s family, blood or found. Was important to you to have all these different relationships in Mira’s life?

Yes, absolutely! I love found family stories, and Mira definitely finds family in the other prisoners, and the friends she's known her entire life. 

Throughout the series, Mira's relationship with all of the other characters grows in some way, and they all affect her differently. One helps her understand her own strength, while another challenges her mind. Another gives her a very gentle, sweet companionship she'd never experienced before. And she gets unwavering loyalty and support from others. 

Each character helps Mira grow into her Ultimate Self. And she, in turn, helps them. 

Which character would be likely to...

1) Enjoy an all you can eat buffet?

Hristo. Hands down.

Aaru would be fascinated but worried about all the waste. 

2) Spend an entire day in the library?

Aaru, because it's quiet. 

Or Ilina, because she's Very Curious.

3) Have their own YouTube channel (and what would it be focused on)?

Hmm. I can think of a few who might, actually.

Gerel's would be a health/workout channel.

Chenda's would revolve around activism. 

Ilina's would be a self-help/inspirational channel.

4) Play video games?

Hristo and Ilina would play video games together. Sometimes Mira would watch.

5) Have a career in diplomacy or government?

Absolutely Chenda. 

6) Own their own company?

Ilina. 

7) Travel the world and blog about it?

Mira. 

Series: Fallen Isles #3

Previous Books in the Series: Before She Ignites, As She Ascends

Be warned that this summary may contain spoilers for the first two books in the series!

The Last Hope

About the Author

The Very Very Far North is a series of short stories that revolve around the every day life of Duane the Polar Bear. He moves to the Very Very Far North, settles in and just starts making friends.  Reading this book felt like a return to being a young reader, when you feel awesome for attempting to pick up a real book at either the school library or at the bookstore. Because this, well, it is a right proper novel for kids!

Duane is such a compelling character for this day and age and, even as an adult, I connect so much to him. And because I’m an adult, I see some pretty cool undertones as I read this book and see the friendships blossom. Like how this one character doesn’t like to be hugged and is comfortable expressing boundaries that don’t ruin the friendship… and surprisingly (or should I say refreshingly), our polar bear remembers and withholds hugs. Their friendship is stronger for it! Or how another character is so painfully in need of affirmation and their friends are as nice about it as they can be. 

But what really won me over is the combination of how pure Duane’s journey is and the simple yet profound way his tale is told. It’s like Winnie the Pooh but for a new generation. Pretty sure it isn’t the first book of its kind out there, but there is something about the journey you make with characters that make you form a bond with them... and some of those bonds are for life. This novel is an anchor to remind you that things can be this simple, and that sometimes, days do get a change of heart and decide to take you want to go. This book is pure and I would definitely buy it for people with kids to help preserve whatever whimsy and wonder they have. 

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you’ll likely know that I have a soft spot for stories about siblings and particularly, stories about sisters. Having two sisters of my own, it always interests me to see how that relationship is reflected in fiction, and She’s the Worst is one of the best portrayals I’ve personally ever encountered. Readers will only have a little over a day to spend with sisters April and Jenn, as they hang out and visit spots meaningful to them all around LA (which happens for two different reasons, depending on which sister you talk to). But Spieller writes about their relationship in a realistic and relatable way, claiming both the nostalgic love and fondness, as well as the misconceptions and hurts that are part and parcel of sisterhood. Interspersed with their sister dynamic, she also writes about their experiences visiting different parts of Los Angeles together, their complicated family situation and their relationships with other people (friendship or romantic). While it does end up feeling a little like the reader is getting shortchanged since we only get a brief glimpse into their lives due to the timeline, I still thought She’s the Worst was a good read and a whole lot of fun (with a slight dash of the feels). 

What are three places in NYC you consider significant to our (Rachel & my) friendship? Books of Wonder was a given, as it was the place we first met. Central Park, as we've visited it together fairly often on many of our days out in the city. And, of course, can't forget to mention Lincoln Center since we have our yearly ballet tradition these days!

She’s the Worst was released on September 3, 2019 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 

I received an e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley for review.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the second published novel from Adrienne Young, a story set in the same world as Sky in the Deep (which was one of my favorite reads in 2018). This novel switches back and forth between two character POVs: Tova, a gifted young woman who is searching for the place she belongs as she resides with a tribe that is not her own, and Halvard, a young man forged in a time of great conflict who has been bestowed with a heavy legacy of leadership. Readers will get to know both as the story progresses, and personally, it was all too easy to get invested in their individual journeys (and how they end up intersecting eventually). As it was in her debut novel, Young’s writing is compulsively readable and all too easy to fly through. And while there are plenty of nods to events in Sky in the Deep, it’s not necessary to read that story first – you can certainly check this one out as a standalone. In fact, it might even make the reading experience better for you, as both books share very similar plot elements (two tribes in opposition who are forced to decide between conflict or peace) and it was very noticeable to me, as someone who absolutely loved Sky in the Deep. This is not to say that the stories are the same, however; there’s just enough of a difference in the character personalities and external elements to allow this novel to stand on its own and still be an enjoyable book. So, while I didn’t love this one nearly as much as Young’s debut, I still really enjoyed The Girl the Sea Gave Back and would highly recommend it to both fans of Sky in the Deep and those readers new to Young’s work.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back was released on September 3, 2019 by Wednesday Books.

I received a galley from the publisher for review.

I'm truly excited to kick off the month of September by partnering with Disney Book Group for a new giveaway! It's always fun to be able to support series and imprints I love, and I'm happy to be able to support The Storm Runner series. I read and loved The Storm Runner last year (and Macky has also read and adored this one), and I'm looking forward to devouring the sequel The Fire Keeper soon. I've heard that it's got more shenanigans with Zane and the gang, including a brand new quest and more Aztec and Mayan gods and monsters popping up! If you'd like to join me in catching up on the series, this is your chance to win a finished copy. 

The Fire Keeper by J.C. Cervantes (Twitter | Instagram)

Series: The Storm Runner #2
Recommended for ages 8-12

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents, an imprint of Disney Book Group (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram)

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound

Zane Obispo’s new life on a beautiful secluded tropical island, complete with his family and closest friends, should be perfect. But he can’t control his newfound fire skills yet (inherited from his father, the Maya god Hurakan); there’s a painful rift between him and his dog ever since she became a hell hound; and he doesn’t know what to do with his feelings for Brooks.

One day he discovers that by writing the book about his misadventures with the Maya gods, he unintentionally put other godborn children at risk. Unless Zane can find the godborns before the gods do, they will be killed. To make matters worse, Zane learns that Hurakan is scheduled to be executed. Zane knows he must rescue him, no matter the cost. Can he accomplish both tasks without the gods detecting him, or will he end up a permanent resident of the underworld?

In this cleverly plotted sequel to The Storm Runner, the gang is back together again with spirited new characters, sneaky gods, Aztec royalty, unlikely alliances, and secrets darker than Zane could ever have imagined. Secrets that will change him forever.

About the Series

A contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology from Rick Riordan Presents! In Book 1, The Storm Runner, a lonely boy in New Mexico has a physical disability that makes middle school feel even more like everyone is watching him. But as he soon learns, his physical differences are merely the first clue to a family history that connects him to the Maya gods—and puts him in mortal danger.

About the Author

J. C. Cervantes is the New York Times best-selling author of The Storm Runner, which Booklist called “a rip-roaring adventure” in a starred review. Her first novel, Tortilla Sun, was a 2010 New Voices pick by the American Booksellers Association and was named to Bank Street's 2011 Best Book List. Jen grew up in San Diego and was fascinated by stories about Maya gods and magic.

About Rick Riordan Presents

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is dedicated to providing entertaining middle grade fiction based on various world mythologies. Rick Riordan is involved in the selection, editing, and promotion of these books, working with great authors to tell exciting stories inspired by the mythologies of their own heritages. Learn more about the imprint and its current and upcoming titles on their official site.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to the lovely team at Disney Book Group, I get the opportunity to host a fun giveaway for a finished copy of The Fire Keeper and a really cool branded cap and bumper sticker. This is a US only giveaway.

The Storm Runner fans, rejoice! Enter for your chance to win:
a copy of The Fire Keeper,
plus a branded cap and bumper sticker.

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney Book Group.

Rachel of Hello, Chelly and I have teamed up to bring you a collaboration that involves two of my favorite things: New York City & food. Welcome to Table for Two, where the two of us will be highlighting places to eat in NYC! I'll be talking about Parm today, while Rachel features Angela's Ice Cream.

Where | Parm, 235 Columbus Ave., between 70th and 71st St., New York, NY 10023

Cuisine | Classic Italian-American food

Price | $$ Moderate

What We Ordered | Mozz sticks, chicken parm (on a roll), meatball parm (on a roll) and s'mores ice cream cake

I've wanted to visit Parm for some time now, ever since I came across an Instagram post featuring one of their sandwiches that looked incredibly delicious. I'm glad I chose this spot for dinner to kick off my birthday month, because it turned out to be a really delightful experience! I was surprised by the ambiance of the particular branch we visited (which had plenty of natural lighting to brighten up the interiors, really cute wallpaper and a cozy, casual set of tables and chairs). The food was incredibly tasty (particularly if you're a fan of cheese in general, as Rachel and I are) and reasonably priced (for the portion) in New York City. I would totally come back to fill that particular craving again sometime (and I'm still thinking about that meatball parm)!

Rating | 🥂🥂🥂 Really good

If you’re in the market for a fantasy series that 1) follows a female lead who finds strength in being uniquely herself and doing what she knows is right, 2) weaves political maneuverings and questions of morality with magical mayhem and well-established story lore, 3) includes all sorts of relationships, but particularly focuses on the family you choose and 4) has dragons, well, you should definitely be reading the Fallen Isles trilogy. 

Before She Ignites kicks off the series, and readers will follow Mira as she finds a way to survive and escape from her imprisonment in the most secure prison in all the Fallen Isles while also discovering why she was arrested in the first place. After their escape from prison, As She Ascends follows Mira and her companions as they journey to help the dragons, all while unraveling what’s really happening in the Fallen Isles. And When She Reigns, the final installment of the trilogy, is when all of the plot threads woven into the first two novels find their conclusion - the disappearances of dragons, the threat of the Great Abandonment, the political corruption and manipulation, Mira’s own journey towards finding her strength and her courage.

I loved When She Reigns so very much! While I do think Before She Ignites and As She Ascends are also really great stories in and of themselves and it is obviously absolutely necessary to read both in order to get to this series finale, I will tell you that this is my favorite book in this series and that I felt like it was such a satisfying end to Mira’s story. 

It is pretty incredible to see how much Mira has grown from the start of the series, particularly because she gets stronger in many different senses of that word. I loved the fact that, despite the fact that she’s clearly grown, she’s also still so very Mira and the things that make up the core of who she is really don’t change - she just finds ways to embrace her own circumstances and play to her own strengths. I also loved seeing her relationships with her family, her friends (and budding romance) and her enemies play out, because they were such interesting contrasts against one another and catalysts for Mira becoming who she is by the end of the novel.

I also really love the way the plot unfolds in When She Reigns. Everything is woven together so neatly - the threat of the Great Abandonment and the gods (the islands) one by one rising out of the sea, the political machinations and corruption that engineered mass chaos and destruction, Mira’s journey to save the Fallen Isles and the dragons. It was really cool to see how it all slotted together, to witness the (mostly painful, occasionally wonderful) way things played out and it was so compelling that I couldn’t put this one down until I hit the very end (which, by the way, took a turn I did not expect and I quite liked it).

Since I don’t want to venture into spoiler territory, that’s about as much as I can tell you about When She Reigns (until you read it, that is). But this series finale is a testament to this author’s ability to bring multidimensional characters and a compelling story to life, and I would truly recommend picking these books up and binge reading this series.

When She Reigns will be released on September 10, 2019 from Katherine Tegen Books.

I received an ARC copy from the author for review.

Elisabeth was left on the doorstep of one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer as a baby, and so has spent her life growing up among the powerful, magical grimoires kept within its walls and vaults. Her greatest aspiration is to become a warden, working for the protection of the kingdom and the tomes, up until the night a dangerous grimoire escapes and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. When she is taken to the capital in order to face justice, Elisabeth finds herself in the center of a much bigger conspiracy that might just end the world. Together with young sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, his demonic servant and a couple of unexpected allies, Elisabeth will have to find a way to keep everything from falling apart.

Magical libraries? Powerful grimoires? Demonic companions? A group of ragtag allies banding together to save the world from impending doom? Honestly, Sorcery of Thorns immediately ticked my boxes with just these three elements of its premise alone… and it delivered a novel that went far beyond any of my actual expectations. I really loved reading this book and can foresee many other folks feeling the same way!

I was immediately taken in by the writing style, which was incredibly easy to sink into. This is my first experience with Margaret Rogerson’s work (confession: I skipped out on An Enchantment of Ravens on the recommendation of my friends), and it certainly won’t be my last. Rogerson made the settings come alive with just the right amount of detail, inviting readers to immerse themselves in this world and make themselves at home among these powerful tomes, mysterious townhouses and impressive facades. She also did brilliantly with her plot, revealing just enough with every chapter to guarantee that the reader will be rewarded with new information and intrigued enough to keep going. I loved her prose, found her storytelling extremely fluid and lyrical, and I devoured every single word with pleasure.

But what truly won me over was, in the end, the aspect of novels that tends to be the deciding factor in whether things are a hit or a miss for me: the characters. I didn’t particularly like the villain, as that individual came across as a bit generic in terms of his character, purpose and methodology. But otherwise, I really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters, for sure, and they deserved to be mentioned for the fact that they were individuals that I could imagine with lives off the page and weren’t just convenient vehicles for certain events to transpire. The character highlights center around three characters: Silas, who I was immediately keen on and who happens to be an utter delight with his mannerisms and skill set; Nathaniel, the young, dashing, mysterious sorcerer who engages in witty commentary, ill-advised courses of action and efforts at heroics more than he would like; and Elisabeth, a clever, capable heroine with a deep abiding love for the libraries and a deep desire to do the right thing no matter the obstacles. I love these three so, so much, and being privy to their interactions and individual forays was a real treat from start to end.

I loved Sorcery of Thorns, friends. It had the feel of classic young adult fantasy, and it certainly didn’t shy away from employing tropes that many an avid fantasy reader will recognize. But the engaging storytelling, wonderfully crafted world and well-written characters blended together into a story that I absolutely adored. I think any fantasy readers (whether new to the genre or old hands at it) would enjoy this tale as much as I did, and I’m already looking forward to my inevitable reread of this standalone fantasy read.

Sorcery of Thorns was released on June 4, 2019 from Margaret K. McElderry Books.
I received an ARC copy from the publisher for review.

Cassie is a female firefighter who has properly carved out a place for herself at her station and with her crew. On the night she’s meant to receive a commendation, everything changes when she has an aggressive encounter with a horrible ex. The only solution to the unexpected turn her life has taken? To accept the opportunity to relocate to another firehouse… that also happens to be closer to her estranged mother, who has requested that she come and stay for a year to help her out. Overall, Things You Save in a Fire was a decent read. Center did a commendable job depicting the life of a firefighter (and particularly a female firefighter) in a fascinating way. The themes explored – especially love and forgiveness – were equally interesting and inspired some food for thought. But I did struggle with getting into the narration style, which goes hand in hand with my difficulty in clicking with Cassie’s personality. The pacing was also uneven; the first 70% feels even-keeled only to be followed by the 30% that felt like a very dramatic series finale (and this is something that personally does not do it for me). While Things You Save in a Fire is not a new personal favorite, it was a diverting and quick read.

Would you relocate for a job? If yes, where? I love living in New York, so I'm inclined to say no. But, if I were going to make an exception, it would be if I could move to London or Tokyo AND had the ability to work remotely.

Things You Save in a Fire will be released on August 13, 2019 from St. Martin's Press.

I received an e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

Willa, Taylor and Finley had always planned to spend the summer after senior year sailing from Ohio to Key West. But when Finley dies before graduation, Willa and Taylor are left with a sailboat and a list of clues from Finley to lead them to different destinations along the way. As they sail together, the girls will have two months to learn how life works without Finley in it – and perhaps, find out more about themselves and their friendship along the way. Start Here immediately made it on to my radar, not only because it’s a Trish Doller novel, but also because it’s the story of a summer spent traveling on a sailboat. In true Doller storytelling fashion, it was an enjoyable, easy read. I loved reading about their summer adventure, from their attempts to follow Finley’s list, the peaks and pitfalls of their trip and the complicated nuances of their friendship. The novel could have benefited from being a touch longer, as this would have allowed for further character development. This, in turn, would potentially encourage a stronger emotional investment in the characters, which is something that I unfortunately lacked as I read. Despite this, I’d still recommend checking out Start Here. It’s definitely a good choice if you’re in the market for a quick summer read! 

What is the next place I want to travel to with Rachel? We do have a few ideas as to where we'd like to go on vacation together in the future! One of those places is Prince Edward Island, which has been on our list (and our friend Hannah's!) for a couple of years. It would be pretty epic for us as big fans of Anne of Green Gables...

Start Here will be released on August 13, 2019 from Simon Pulse.

I received an e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

Nina Hill is perfectly pleased with her comfortable life: employment at her local bookstore (including running their many book clubs), trivia competitions and movies, morning with her planner and nights blocked off for reading. It only takes one event to turn her life upside down: learning that her father has named her in his will alongside all the members of the rather large and unusual family that she’s never met. As Nina navigates all the new twists life is throwing her way, she might just learn to accept that life isn’t always going to happen according to plan. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a book I did enjoy, particularly because of Nina, who felt incredibly relatable to me on a personal level. Waxman does well in incorporating details that bring Nina and her world to life – the trivia nights, Nina’s penchant for organization and vision boards, her deep love of books and reading, the personalities of Nina’s extended family members and friends. The only thing that I didn’t love was the writing style. It felt very detached and impersonal, though that did improve a little bit in the second half of the story. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a charming, feel good contemporary story, and I’m ultimately glad I read it.

What kind of trivia night would you be good at? If we were competing regarding Disney movie songs or characters, I think I'd be a good team member to have!

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was released on July 9, 2019 from Berkley Books.
I received an ARC from the publisher for review.

Amelia Linehan finds her entire life derailed when the liver condition she's had since birth has a flare-up severe enough to land her in the hospital. As she waits for her chance at an organ transplant, Amelia grapples with the physical and emotional ramifications of her condition and its bearing on her life and future. Don't let the seriousness of the bones of this tale fool you - The Arrival of Someday is an emotionally intense read that reduced me to tears more than once, but it managed to delight and surprise me along the way.  Malone impressed me with her compelling take on what it is like for a teen to have to come to terms with a disease that affects their whole life. Her portrayal of how difficult it is to toe the line between optimistic and realistic, to not want your disease to define you, to dealing with the fear of the unknown - these things definitely added to the novel's raw emotional edge. Malone also took the time to flesh out secondary characters and Amelia's core relationships, allowing readers to see how each person who loved Amelia was affected by and reacted to this new development in her condition. Heartfelt, emotional and compelling, The Arrival of Someday was well worth the read (though you need to be prepared to experience heavy-hitting emotional ups and downs, especially if you've personally experienced a loved one having a life-threatening medical condition). 

Were you part of any competitive team events, athletic or otherwise, in high school? There was a very, very brief time when I was part of the swim team during our sports festival. But aside from that, I can't say that I was into competitive team activities!

The Arrival of Someday was released on July 23, 2019 from Harper Teen.
I received an e-galley from the publisher via Edelweiss.

I can't believe I finally got to cross a new place off my travel bucket list. The place in question, as the title of this post totally gives away, is Ireland. I've wanted to visit the Emerald Isle since I was a child, and to be able to have that experience and share it with three of the people I love best in the world - Macky, Mel & Rachel - was truly special. I'm very excited to share all about our trip!

[As a special note, anything I particularly loved during our trip is marked with a heart – it’s something I’d personally recommend taking the time to do if you’re planning to go to Ireland. I’m happy to answer any more questions if you’ve got them, so feel free to leave a comment or reach out via email or DM on Twitter or Instagram!]

Travel Tip #3: Book tickets online for timed activities. We did this for our visit to the Guinness Storehouse and the Book of Kells exhibition, it saved us a lot of time that might have been spent queueing up for tickets bought on the actual day.

• ♥ Trinity College (including the Book of Kells Exhibition and Old Library): We did see a bit of the actual university grounds, but our primary reason to pop into the college first thing in the morning was to see a very special room in person, at my request. We wandered through the exhibit that highlighted the Book of Kells (an illuminated manuscript Gospel book) and its history, before we ascended the staircase to see the Long Room in the Old Library in person. I felt an immediate sense of awe at being in a place filled with so much history, and rows and row of rare and old published work. It was so cool to finally be there in real life!
• ♥ Cliffs of Moher: Honestly, since I was a young girl, I have always wanted to visit these cliffs in person. (It may or may not have something to do with a specific Westlife video...) It was quite the drive to get there, but it was honestly worth it as we spent hours wandering down and back one of the cliffside paths. While we were there, we were blessed with both overcast skies and blue skies and sunshine and that worked in tandem with our walk to surprise us with different perspectives of the cliffs. Honestly, if we'd allotted more time for a visit, we'd probably have wandered even further or in the opposite direction, but I guess that just means we'll have to return one day.
• My Melody: We popped into this restaurant on a whim on our way back to Dublin. The place is small and cozy, and it seemed to be a place where a lot of regulars came. But personally, I thought the service and the food were both so-so and not particularly memorable.
• Sean's Bar: This was actually the real reason we were in the town where the restaurant above was, as it's got a place in the Guinness World Records as the oldest pub in the world. We wanted to be able to say that we'd stopped in and had a drink, though if we'd had more time and didn't have to make the drive back to Dublin, we'd probably have lingered to hear some of the live music and have more drinks.

Travel Tip #4: Check to see if your hotel or AirBNB is in a central location. Even if you end up paying a bit more, it'll be worth it if you can find plenty of options for food, shopping and sightseeing within walking distance from where you're staying.

I can't believe I finally got to cross a new place off my travel bucket list. The place in question, as the title of this post totally gives away, is Ireland. I've wanted to visit the Emerald Isle since I was a child, and to be able to have that experience and share it with three of the people I love best in the world - Macky, Mel & Rachel - was truly special. I'm very excited to share all about our trip!

[As a special note, anything I particularly loved during our trip is marked with a heart – it’s something I’d personally recommend taking the time to do if you’re planning to go to Ireland. I’m happy to answer any more questions if you’ve got them, so feel free to leave a comment or reach out via email or DM on Twitter or Instagram!]

• Chapters Bookstore: Thanks to Google Maps, we discovered that there was a bookstore just a few blocks away from the flat. Macky and I wound up dropping by on our very first afternoon, and were pleasantly surprised! There are two floors - the ground floor with all the new releases and merchandise, and the top floor filled with secondhand books, DVDs and CDs. We spent a good amount of time browsing through their selection and ended up walking out with four new books to add to our shelves!
• ♥ The Kingfisher Restaurant: Before the girls arrived, Macky and I ended up sitting down to dinner down the block. We had our hearts set on fish and chips (and we really liked their version), but we also tried their seafood chowder (A+) and bread & butter pudding (which I basically inhaled).
• ♥ L. Mulligan Grocer: Once the girls arrived and settled their stuff into the flat, we decided to walk over to this pub for a late dinner. It was well worth the 20 minute trek! It's got the feel of a traditional pub (which was a delightful way to spend our first night), and their offerings were tasty. We all tried a variety of alcoholic beverages (I tried a White Hag, Macky had a Godfather, Mel tried Trouble Brewing and Rachel picked out the Rascal Strawberry Milkshake) and shared Chicken Kiev, Scotch eggs and a side of corn.

Ireland Travel Tip #2: Wear comfortable shoes. If you intend to do a lot of walking (whether within Dublin's city limits or along the countryside) the way we did, you'll definitely want to ensure that your feet have the right support. It'll lessen the aches and pains you feel at the end of the day for sure!

Be sure to come back to the blog tomorrow to find out about the second half of our trip!

It's been a hot minute since I've done a blog post, due mostly to real life and the shenanigans that can bring. But I'm really excited about today's post in particular because 1) I'm partnering with Simon & Schuster for a giveaway and 2) it's for a series that both Macky & I are eager to dive into - the middle grade fantasy series Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. 

If you haven't yet heard about the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, allow me to share a little bit about it! The series centers around main character Sophie Foster, who discovers she's an elf from the Lost Cities. The revelation of her true identity marks the beginning of her adventures. But there's definitely more to Sophie and her past than anyone knows... Praise for the series includes the fact that the heroine is a  fascinatingly complex personality, the story will appeal to girls and boys equally and that there is a huge fanbase on Instagram invested in these characters and their relationships!

Personally, I actually didn't really have this series on my radar until last year (which is incredible considering the fact that there are over one million books in print worldwide). But after hearing about Sophie (who sounds much like Hermione from Harry Potter) and a couple of details here and there about her adventures (which I won't mention for fear of spoilers for anyone who hasn't yet read it), I knew I definitely was adding this series to my TBR. (Macky decided to when he heard that folks who enjoyed The School of Good and Evil series would like this, as he's definitely a fan of those books!)

Summer seems like the perfect time to indulge, as I'm dying to binge read the whole thing! I plan on participating in a summer readalong (aka #KeeperReadAlong) that author Shannon Messenger will be hosting, which started on June 10th and will go through July 29th. Each week is dedicated to a book (in series order), with a kick-off on Mondays, a fan question answered on the following Sunday and additional extras popping up all throughout the week! Plus, it'll get me caught up on the series before Book 8 (aka Legacy) is released on November 5, which is a major bonus.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Instagram | Twitter | Facebook)

Bonus Content: Reading Guides, book 7 trailer

Get hooked on the New York Times-bestselling series that’s taking the world by storm!

When Sophie Foster discovers she’s an elf from the Lost Cities, she embarks on an incredible adventure, discovering new abilities, and making new friends. But the secrets of Sophie’s past were buried for a reason and the truth she uncovers could put all of the worlds in danger.

photo credit: Devende Photography

About the Author

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She’s studied art, screenwriting, and film production, but she realized her real passion was writing stories for children. She’s the New York Times and USA Today-bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series, Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall series for young adults. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many different languages. She lives in Southern California with an embarrassing number of cats. Find her online at ShannonMessenger.com or Instagram.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to the lovely folks at Simon & Schuster, I'm hosting this awesome giveaway! Details for the prizing are below, and all you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter form. This giveaway is US ONLY.