Books For Circus Lovers

I love a good circus setting. A book featuring a circus can be whimsical or dark, realistic or magical or supernatural, and murderous or romantic. There's no end to the things a writer can do with a circus or carnival. Circuses intrigue so many because it's all about the mystery of what lies beyond the flap of the tent. It could be anything! Will I be astounded or terrified? 

I remember going to the Big Apple Circus in Manhattan in elementary school and have found them enchanting ever since. So, of course, I've been DYING to see a Cirque De Soleil performance for years. Someone buy me tickets, please!

The only one of these books I've read is The Night Circus, so I can't speak to how good or bad these books are, but they all seem to have great reviews on Goodreads. Let me know if you've enjoyed any of these novels. 

♥ The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (literary fantasy, touch of romance)
♥ Joyland by Stephen King (horror, mystery)
♥ Johannes Cabal The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard (gothic fantasy, supernatural, comedy)
♥ Menagerie by Rachel Vincent (urban fantasy, fantastical creatures)
♥ Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (literary, historical fiction, romance)
♥ Geek Love by Katherin Dunn (horror, fantasy)
♥ Girl on a Wire (Cirque Americain #1) by Gwenda Bond (young adult, magical realism)
♥ The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day (historical fiction)
♥ The Lady and The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof (romance, historical fiction)
♥ The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy by Stewart O'Nan (non-fiction, historical)
♥ Big Fish by Daniel Wallace (literary, magical realism)
♥ The Barnum Museum by Steven Millhauser (fantasy, magical realism, short stories)

Do you like the circus? 

Which of these have you read?

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Inspired By: New January Books

As much as I'm happy that my goal is to read all of the unread books I own, I can't help but want to read the latest releases. Getting a fresh, new book is so exciting and these sound utterly fantastic. Luckily, I've already read RoseBlood because of NetGalley and it's an awesome book. You can read my review here. Do you have your eye on any of these novels? 

RoseBlood

{Click for item info}

Written by A.G. Howard; Rune Germain moves to a boarding school outside of Paris, only to discover that at this opera-house-turned-music-conservatory, phantoms really do exist. RoseBlood is a Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling in which Rune’s biggest talent—her voice—is also her biggest curse. 

Going to school like Rune? Stick to fun basics, like a graphic tee, distressed jeans, musical note earrings, and red flats. Or if you're headed to a party put on a dark red dress, a gray cardigan, rose earrings, and lace-up metallic flats. 

Add to Goodreads

Caraval

Written by Stephanie Garber; Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live. Scarlett longs to see Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, and finally her invitation arrives. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

The colors on the cover are stunning, so throw on a navy blue dress, a red dress, a choker necklace, and lace-up black flats. Or go for something strange and whimsical: an eye print sweater, black jeans, a gold star cuff, and black booties. 

Add to Goodreads

Wayfarer (Passenger #2)

Written by Alexandra Bracken; Etta Spencer didn't know she was a traveler until the day she emerged both miles and years from her home. Now, robbed of the powerful object that was her only hope of saving her mother, Etta finds herself stranded once more, cut off from Nicholas -- the eighteenth century privateer she loves -- and her natural time. 

If you're time traveling to faraway places, you need to be comfortable, so wear a purple embroidered tunic, black leggings, a pirate pocket watch, a purple ring, and booties. Or put on a gray lace sweater, jeans, a silver necklace, and black oxford flats. 

Add to Goodreads

Wires and Nerve

Written by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate; In her first graphic novel, Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with an action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. 

Take on wolf-hybrid soldiers and swoon over cute boys like Iko, all while wearing a red scarf, a black cardigan, a gray tee, black and gray leggings, and patchwork sneakers. Or instead put on a red sweater, black jeans, navy stud earrings, this awesome watch, and Converse sneakers. 

Add to Goodreads

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Outfit: Jewel Tones Are Life

How perfect is this Book Nerd pin?! I spotted it at the Strand Bookstore while shopping with my friend Brittany. I was good and didn't get any books because my TBR shelf is overflowing. But I had to get this pin; it's shaped like a book, the o's are glasses, and it's a bright pink-orange! How could I not?

You can never go wrong with jewel tones. Amythst. Citrine. Emerald. These deep colors are beautiful and go with everything. I got this mustard yellow scarf from Primark AKA my new favorite fast fashion store. Both the scarf and sweater are so soft that I never want to take them off. 

Also, can you believe this bag is from Cracker Barrel??

Jacket: Old Navy | Sweater: Primark | Scarf: Primark 

Jeans: American Eagle | Booties: DSW | Bag: Cracker Barrel

Book Nerd Pin: Andrew Brozyna via Strand Bookstore

Lipstick: Kat Von D's Lovesick

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Watch | Read | Listen {January 2017}

Happy 2017, everyone! It's a new year and a new month, which means all new movies, books, and music! Get excited!

January is a good month to like young adult fantasy because there are so many fantastic new books hitting shelves. I'm so tempted to pre-order all of them, but I'm going to be good and only order Wires and Nerves. Are you pre-ordering any books?

MOVIES

Hidden Figures

The film recounts the story of the African-American mathematician Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) and her two colleagues, Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), who, while working in the segregated West Area Computers division of Langley Research Center, helped NASA catch up in the Space Race. Using their calculations, John Glenn (Glen Powell) became the first American astronaut to make a complete orbit of the Earth. 

This movie looks so incredible! (January 6)

Alone in Berlin

In 1940, a working-class couple in World War II-era Berlin, Otto (Brendan Gleason) and Anna Quangel (Emma Thompson), decide to resist Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, after receiving the news of the death of their only son. An additional impetus for their growing resistance to the regime is the fate of an old Jewish woman living in their building. Impelled by all this, the couple starts writing postcards to urge people to stand against Hitler and the Nazis and protest against them, and furtively placing the cards in public places.

The trailer is so arresting and I have no doubt the movie is just as emotional and thrilling. (January 13)

Bakery in Brooklyn

Vivien (Aimee Teegarden) and Chloe (Krysta Rodriquez) are cousins who have inherited their aunt's bakery, which has been a cornerstone of the neighborhood for years, but Chloe wants a new image while Vivien wants to make sure nothing changes. So they decide to split the restaurant with a line down the middle. 

This movie looks like a lot of fun! I'm in! (January 20)

Split

Split is a thriller that delves into the mysterious recesses of one man's fractured mind. Each of Kevin's (James McAvoy) 23 distinct personalities manifests a unique physical attribute. Now his 24th personality is about to be unleashed after he kidnaps three young women. 

This movie looks CA-RAZY! It's in the same world as Unbreakable, but looks a lot darker and scarier. (January 20)

A Dog's Purpose

Based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron, this movie shares the story of a devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad), who finds meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. Also stars Dennis Quad, Peggy Lipton, and Britt Robertson.

ADORBS! Nuff said. (January 27)

Other movies coming out:

• Underworld: Blood Wars (Jan 6)
• 100 Streets (Jan 13)
• Live By Night (Jan 13)
• Sleepless (Jan 13)
• Antartica: Ice and Sky (Jan 20)
• The Founder (Jan 20)
• Bastards (Jan 27)
• I Am Michael (Jan 27)
• Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Jan 27)

BOOKS & MUSIC

A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn -- London, 1887. Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell receives an invitation to visit the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women. There she meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task—saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Accused of the brutal murder of his artist mistress Artemisia, Ramsforth will face the hangman’s noose in a week’s time if Veronica cannot find the real killer. (January 10)

Frostblood by Elly Blake -- Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge. (January 10)

Windwitch (Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard -- After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak—which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed. (January 10)

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard -- Rune Germain moves to a boarding school outside of Paris, only to discover that at this opera-house-turned-music-conservatory, phantoms really do exist. RoseBlood is a Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling in which Rune’s biggest talent—her voice—is also her biggest curse. (January 10)

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth -- On a planet where violence rules, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world? (January 17)

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to a Happy Life by Meik Wiking -- Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. (January 17)

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera -- When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, dies in a drowning accident, his universe implodes. Even though Theo had moved to California for college and started seeing Jackson, Griffin never doubted Theo would come back to him when the time was right. But now, the future he’s been imagining for himself has gone far off course.To make things worse, the only person who truly understands his heartache is Jackson. But no matter how much they open up to each other, Griffin’s downward spiral continues. He’s losing himself in his obsessive compulsions and destructive choices, and the secrets he’s been keeping are tearing him apart. (January 17)

The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins -- For as long as she can remember, it’s been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel’s mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and Gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire. A novel in both prose and verse. (January 24)

4321 by Paul Auster -- Archibald Isaac Ferguson’s life will take four simultaneous and independent fictional paths. Four identical Fergusons made of the same DNA, four boys who are the same boy, go on to lead four parallel and entirely different lives. Family fortunes diverge. Athletic skills and sex lives and friendships and intellectual passions contrast. Each Ferguson falls under the spell of the magnificent Amy Schneiderman, yet each Amy and each Ferguson have a relationship like no other. (January 31)

Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oakes -- Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland. The vicious father she always feared has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother and turned the kingdom against her.nNow hiding in the lush and mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice—to leave Wonderland forever, or stay and fight her father for the throne. (January 31)

By Your Side by Kasie West -- When Autumn finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. He’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her. (January 31)

Caraval by Stephanie Garber -- Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. But it turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. (January 31)

Wires and Nerves by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate -- In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new,action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold.When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. (January 31)

2017 Grammy Nominees (January 20) | Third Eye Blind's We Are Drugs (January 20)

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Favorite Books of 2016 + 2017 Reading Goals

2016 was a good year for reading! I read more books in one year than I ever have before, which is pretty freaking awesome! I think I'm allowed to call myself a reading wizard because of that, and if you also surpassed your reading goal then you should, too. I only really hated one book (you can read the review here) and the majority of the novels I picked up this year I enjoyed immensely, which made picking my top 12 books really, really difficult. 

Let me know if you read any of these books and what you thought! What were your favorites?

MY FAVES:
♥ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
♥ The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
♥ P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
♥ This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
♥ I Am Princess Savage by Cherie Priest
♥ Lois Lane: Double Down (Lois Lane #2) by Gwenda Bond
♥ A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
♥ Madly (The Potion Diaries #1) by Amy Alward (and the second book too!)
♥ Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
♥ Scythe by Neal Shusterman
♥ Junior Hero Blues by J.K. Pendragon
♥ The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo #1) by Rick Riordan

According to Goodreads, I read 94 books in 2016, but in reality I read 106! Crazy! I've never read over 100 books in a year before. The reason it shows 12 less than I actually read is because I listened to A Series of Unfortunate Events (which I realize now I forgot to review on my blog oops) and I just counted it as one big book. 

In 2017, my two reading goals:
1. Read 85 books
2. Read as many of the unread books on my shelves as possible by using this "Read More Books" jar. I'll be picking a new book out of the jar whenever I finish a book. Hopefully this will help me read my TBR shelf! I've already picked the first book of 2017 and it is....Everland by Wendy Spinale!

What's your 2017 reading goal?

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