Alyssa’s Monthly TBR: The Read Along Edition
Hey, guys! My name is Alyssa and I am so excited to be a part of We Are Word Nerds. Each and every month, I am going to share with you a few books from my TBR (To Be Read) pile and while I’m not going to be discussing every single book that I plan to read for the month, I will be spotlighting three that I’m especially excited for. Each month I’m going to theme my TBRs and this month is no exception – this month is the month of the read alongs.
I feel so lucky to be a part of this book blogging/BookTube community – I have made so many wonderful friends who share my love for books – and it only makes sense that, eventually, we’d start reading books together.
So, without further ado, here are three of the books that I’m reading with friends…
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
This poor book has been sitting on my shelf, collecting dust, for years. I initially purchased it way back while I was in college because a friend who knew that I love historical fiction thought that it would be right up my alley. Well, here goes nothing. To be honest, I have been totally dragging my feet when it comes to reading this book and I have no idea why. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the Gemma Doyle trilogy! Oh well, right? My expectations aren’t too high on this one – I’m not very excited to read it and I haven’t felt drawn to it since I purchased it. Thankfully friend, Allyn, suggested that we read it together this month. She’s a bit more ambitious than I am and has opted to marathon the entire trilogy in one fell swoop – or so she says. I’m going to just stick to the first one and hope for the best. Have you read this book? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments below!
I am reading A Great and Terrible Beauty along with Allyn, who you can find on YouTube and Twitter.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
This book has been on my wish list forever but because I’m so frickin’ cheap, I refused to purchase it until I found it on Book Closeouts (formerly Book Outlets) for super cheap. For some reason, this book has been calling to me since the moment I laid my eyes on its cover and I am convinced that it’ll kick me into the holiday spirit. Why? I don’t know, don’t ask me these questions! I don’t think that it has anything to do with Christmas and I’m going to blame my insistence on the fact that it is about love and takes place in an airport… which makes me immediately think of one of my favorite holiday movies – Love Actually. As you will very quickly come to know, I absolutely adore contemporary YA and so I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one. It doesn’t hurt that I just finished This Is What Happy Looks Like by the same author and I really enjoyed that book too.
I am reading The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight with Abbi, who you can find on YouTube and Twitter.
If You Come Softly and Behind You both by Jacqueline Woodson
I read If You Come Softly a looong time ago (and loved it!) and only recently learned that it had a sequel. It was fate that I found the bind up at Ollie’s for only $2.99 – while I was in Virginia meeting up with my BookTube friends. I knew that a read along was in my future because a couple of us purchased it together and I’m excited to finally find out what else happens. If You Come Softly is the story of Ellie – a young Caucasian girl who has to deal with a unhappy home life and Miah – an African American boy who is one of the only black kids at their school. Despite the odds, the two meet and fall in love and have to deal with their disapproving families. This story is touching and sad and beautiful all at the same time… and am so intrigued by the fact that there is a sequel! Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that this duology is perfect for a “In Your Pants” TAG (If You Come Softly Behind You…) – you can’t make this stuff up.
I am reading If You Come Softly and Behind You with Ke-sha, who you can find on YouTube and Twitter, and Geraldine, who you can also find on YouTube and Twitter.
I have high expectations for November and can’t wait to finally cross some books off of my TBR. What are you guys planning on reading? Let me know in the comments!
–Alyssa