Flashback Friday: Old Books Still on my TBR

Hey guys! We made it through another week! Got any exciting plans for the weekend? My plans? Spend as little time doing homework as possible, lol.

Anyway, Flashback Friday is a weekly meme hosted by my friend Maya @ HerBookishDesires where we get to talk about oldie but goodie books. Honestly, there are so. dang. many. old books on my TBR, that I’m going to have to narrow it down somehow. So instead, I’m going to focus on older books my friend Grace has been telling me to read for years. Even that isn’t narrowing it down enough, lol, but I’m picking the ones I really do plan on reading.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket.

In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat.

The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist.

Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/ bloke about town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous though utterly romantic results. But will she ever see him again?

Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of the 13 little blue envelopes. (from Goodreads)

This looks so cute, right? My only excuse is that I have to be in a very specific mood for a romantic comedy.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

One girl’s nightmare is this girl’s faery tale

She’s a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.

She’s a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. she’s leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.

She’s a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

She’s a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother’s murder—but she’ll have to save the world first. (from Goodreads)

This one looks so neat, I’m not sure why I haven’t tried it yet. But it is very high on my list, so maybe this summer?

Well, those are the big ones! What are some older books on your TBR? Hope you guys have an awesome weekend and happy reading!
Hayden

Flashback Friday: Trickster Characters

Happy Friday, everyone! Excited for the weekend? Got any plans? I’m camping, so that’s going to be fun. Anyway, Flashback Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Maya @ Her Bookish Desires. This week, we talk about trickster characters, in honor of April Fool’s. To be honest, I kind of blanked, but I’ll share what I’ve got.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Well, I hate picking books that everyone is familiar with because you probably don’t need reminding of them, but Fred and George. I love them.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

I love the movie for this one, and I got the book out of a free stack a while back. I really need to read it! Because Matilda definitely pulls some epic tricks on her terrible parents.

Well, that is it for this week’s Flashback Friday! I know very well I’m overlooking some awesome trickster characters, but I totally blanked! Had to google for inspiration for Matilda, lol. Does anyone have some to remind me of?

Happy reading and hope your weekend is great!
Hayden Warren

Flashback Friday: Historical Fiction

Hey guys! Praise God it’s Friday!! I am very ready for the weekend, lol. How has your week been? Got any fun plans for the weekend? Today I am back with another Flashback Friday, which is a fun weekly meme hosted by Maya @ HerBookishDesires, where we get to talk about older releases. This week’s topic is historical fiction novels, which I must admit is not my favorite genre. However, I do have 1(?) on my TBR, and a couple that are old favorites. If you want more historical fiction novels, you should check out Maya’s post! I’m excited to see what books she picked. 🙂

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey has big dreams but little hope of seeing them come true. Desperate for money, she takes a job at the Glenmore, where hotel guest Grace Brown entrusts her with the task of burning a secret bundle of letters. But when Grace’s drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers that the letters could reveal the grim truth behind a murder. (From Goodreads)

I own this one, so I have no excuse. I really need to prioritize it on my TBR!

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Fattuhi Lovejoy

In an ancient Arab nation, one woman dares to be different. Buran cannot—Buran will not—sit quietly at home and wait to be married to the man her father chooses. Determined to use her skills and earn a fortune, she instead disguises herself as a boy and travels by camel caravan to a distant city. There, she maintains her masculine disguise and establishes a successful business. The city’s crown prince comes often to her shop, and soon Buran finds herself falling in love. But if she reveals to Mahmud that she is a woman, she will lose everything she has worked for. (from Goodreads)

Ugh, I love this one! Revenge and romance and an awesome heroine. It is short and very sweet.

They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth

16-year-old orphan Martitia Howland has been transplanted into a Quaker farm family of five intimidating sons and one disapproving daughter. As Martitia runs their gauntlet, she suffers their teasing but finally begins to bloom. Valiantly she acquires the skills they expect of her, and discovers other gifts all her own. Her achievements earn respect in the end and more, her heart’s true love. (from Goodreads)

Another old favorite of mine. The heroine has such a big journey, and I also love the sweet romance. It’s a great coming-of-age story.

Ok, I guess that sums it up, lol. What is your favorite YA historical novel? Have any recommendations for me?
Hope you guys have a great weekend and happy reading!
Hayden

Flashback Friday: Books With Unicorns

Happy Friday, guys! Has your week gone well? Do you have any fun weekend plans? I’m back to school craziness, so. My hope is to spend as little time as possible doing homework. 🙂 Anyway, Flashback Friday is a fun weekly meme hosted by Maya @ Her Bookish Desires where we get to talk about oldie but goodie books. This week’s theme is magical creatures. It’s supposed to be leprechauns because of St. Patrick’s day, but I fudged a little. Sorry, Maya. Somehow I ended up with unicorns…

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire… fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil… until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don’t exist), and they’re shocked she survived. They’re even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl’s family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King’s feast—as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl’s starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she’s definitely dead if she lets down her family. What’s a sunlight-loving vamp to do? (from Goodreads)

Ok, you may argue that this is a vampire novel. And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong, lol…but there is a unicorn. Fascinating combination.

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

In 1842, thirteen-year-old orphan Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor, her family’s ancestral home in an charmed village in England’s West Country, and she feels as if she’s entered Paradise. Her new guardian, her uncle Sir Benjamin, is kind and funny; the Manor itself feels like home right away; and every person and animal she meets is like an old friend. But there is something incredibly sad beneath all of this beauty and comfort, that shadowing Moonacre Manor and the town around it. Maria is determined to learn about it, change it, and give her own life story a happy ending.

The enchanted valley of Moonacre is shadowed by a tragedy that happened years ago, and the memory of the Moon Princess and the mysterious little white horse. Determined to restore peace and happiness to the whole of Moonacre Valley, Maria finds herself involved with an ancient feud, and she discovers it is her destiny to end it and right the wrongs of her ancestors. Maria usually gets her own way. But what can one solitary girl do? (from Goodreads)

I just read this one, and it is so fun! Such awesome characters and a magical setting. Full review coming soon.

Alright, that’s all. Unicorn books are slightly limited, lol. Although I did consider including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. 🙂 Can you think of any others?? Have you read either of these?
Happy reading,
Hayden

Flashback Friday: Friends to Lovers Novels

Happy Friday guys! How has your week been? Done anything fun this week? We’ve been camping at a lake, so that’s been fun! I love spring weather. Anyway, Flashback Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Maya @ Her Bookish Desires, where we get to talk about oldie but goodie books. This week’s theme is actually about books with our favorite tropes, but friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite, if not my all-time favorite trope, so I thought I’d bend the rules a little. 🙂

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

This one isn’t really a romance novel, but the romance is very sweet, slow, and friends to lovers. They end up being pen pals, and it is so adorable.

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered has a childhood friends to lovers romance, and it is so cute and intense. Honestly, I guess there are two separate childhood friends who become love interests, and they’re both very sweet.

The Girl With The Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti

Ugh, I love this one! The romance is very slow burn, and I love watching their friendship develop and then become something more.

Well, I guess that is it for this week. Hope you guys have an awesome weekend! What is your favorite trope? Do you have a favorite friends to lovers novel?
Happy reading!
Hayden

Flashback Friday: Dystopian Novels

Happy Friday, everyone! Yaaay! I have had a crazy week, and I’m very glad Friday is here. Although…I have to take the GRE tomorrow, so I guess this weekend could be better. 😂 Oh well. Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Anyway, Flashback Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Maya @ HerBookishDesires where we get to talk about older releases. I inevitably end up wanting to re-read something. Oh, if only I had unlimited time. 😂 This week, the theme is dystopian novels, which I must admit is not my favorite genre. However, there are a couple I want to talk about.

On My TBR: The Giver by Lois Lowry

I really enjoyed the movie, but I haven’t read any of the books in this series. I’ve heard they’re good, so I really need to get on it!

I Want to Re-read: Legend by Marie Lu

I read this one years ago, and I don’t think I ever finished the series. Which is just sad. So I want to go back and re-read this one, then continue with the series.

What is your favorite oldie dystopian novel? Have you read either of these?
Happy reading and enjoy your weekend!
Hayden💚

Flashback Friday: Paranormal Romance Novels

Happy Friday, everyone! Whoop, whoop, it’s practically the weekend. Very exciting. Also exciting is Flashback Friday, which is a fun weekly meme hosted by Maya @ HerBookishDesires, where we get to talk about oldie but goodie books! (yay) This week the topic is paranormal romances. I talked about Twilight the other week, so I think I’m going to focus on werewolf romances this week.

Rules:
1. Link your post to my (Maya’s) blog!
2. Comment the link to your post so I (and others) can see it!
3. There are no set number of answers! You can include 1 or 2 or 5 (or more) oldie but goodie novels in your post! They can be a minimum of 5 years old to be considered old; there is no max age. 
4. Feel free to use my (Maya’s) picture above!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I love this one! Seriously, every time I do these posts I am reminded of books I want to re-read. This is definitely one of them. 😂

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I love this one too! Seriously, I love almost every werewolf story, and I love how Barnes writes Sci-fi/fantasy.

Well, I could only think of two this week. Does anyone have any werewolf recommendations for me? Because seriously, I cannot resist them. 😂
Anyway, I hope you guys have an awesome weekend!
Happy reading,
Hayden 💚

Flashback Friday: Novels I Wish I Could Read For the First Time

Happy Friday everyone! Aren’t Fridays the best? I mean, I have to give a group presentation today (😭), but otherwise, it’s a beautiful day. As you might know, Flashback Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Maya @ HerBookishDesires where we get to talk about Oldie but Goodie books. It is incredibly fun to participate in, and Maya and her blog are awesome sauce (can I still say that?)! Anyway, you should totally participate and go check out Maya’s Blog, if you like. This week, we get to talk about books we wish we could read for the first time, all over again.

Rules:
1. Link your post to my blog!
2. Comment the link to your post so I (and others) can see it!
3. There are no set number of answers! You can include 1 or 2 or 5 (or more) oldie but goodie novels in your post! They can be a minimum of 5 years old to be considered old; there is no max age. 
4. Feel free to use my picture above!

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

I read this one for the first time so many years ago that I have a hard time remembering my original thoughts. And now, my feelings are definitely wrapped up in sentimental attachment. So I’d love to read this again for the first time.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart

This is one of those books that is just never the same after you’ve read it. It’s still fun to re-read, but the puzzles lose their flare. I’d love to be able to read it again for the first time!

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

This is another one that I read so long ago I can’t remember my initial thoughts. I’ve re-read it a bunch of times, but it would be awesome to be able to read it again for the first time.

What is a book you’d love to read for the first time??
Hope you guys have an awesome weekend!
Happy reading,
Hayden💚

Flashback Friday: Romance Novels

Happy Friday everyone! I asked yesterday about weekend plans, but I guess I should have asked today, lol. So again, got big plans this weekend? Or a quiet one in? I am spending the weekend with a single friend of mine (because yes, this girl is single 😂), and we have a full itinerary of movies based on books. I kid you not, lol. That is probably a dorky way to spend Valentine’s weekend, but I don’t even care. I’m totally looking forward to it. 😁

Anyway, on to the topic of this post! As you may know by now, Flashback Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Maya @ HerBookishDesires. Maya’s blog is awesome with incredibly thoughtful content, so if you haven’t already, you should totally check it out! Flashback Friday is a meme that explores books published at least five years ago, and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, this week’s theme is romance novels.

Rules:
1. Link your post to my (Maya’s) blog!
2. Comment the link to your post so I (and others) can see it!
3. There are no set number of answers! You can include 1 or 2 or 5 (or more) oldie but goodie novels in your post! They can be a minimum of 5 years old to be considered old; there is no max age. 
4. Feel free to use my (Maya’s) picture above!

To be perfectly honest, I read many more books that I think of as fantasy-with-a touch-of-romance than actual romance novels, but I can definitely think of a few….

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris–until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all…including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? (from Goodreads)

Ok, this is probably the most obvious oldie romance novel there is. But that is for a very good reason; Anna and the French Kiss is awesome! It is the epitome of best-friends-to-lovers and it has you hooked the entire way. Honestly, thinking about it is getting me in the mood for a re-read…and if you somehow haven’t read this one, you totally should!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along. (from Goodreads)

I know that To All The Boys is very hyped right now (thank you, Netflix), but before I ever loved To All The Boys, I loved The Summer I Turned Pretty. Poor Belly is the youngest and surrounded by boys. She has had a major crush on one of them for basically her entire life, but he never glanced at her…until now? Lol, sorry for the mini extra summary. All I can say is that this is definitely a series worth reading if you haven’t already.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him—and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be—that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight is a love story with bite. (from Goodreads)

Ok, I may have been wrong about Anna and the French Kiss being the most obvious choice. Twilight is also pretty up there. 😂But, it really is more of a romance than a fantasy. And shockingly…it’s getting pretty old, lol. I feel like people either love it or hate it…what is your vote?

It is so fun to be nostalgic about old books! What is your favorite oldie romance?
Happy reading,
Hayden

Flashback Friday: Books With Fallen Angels

Happy Friday, guys! Whew, this as been a crazy week. I had three tests…why do my professors do this to me?? Anyway, I’m happy to be participating again in Flashback Friday, a weekly meme hosted by Maya @ HerBookishDesires. Basically we get to talk about older books we like, which is so fun! This week we are talking about books with fallen angels. The pictures are linked to Goodreads, btw.

Rules:
1. Link your post to my blog!
2. Comment the link to your post so I (and others) can see it!
3. There are no set number of answers! You can include 1 or 2 or 5 (or more) oldie but goodie novels in your post! They can be a minimum of 5 years old to be considered old; there is no max age. 
4. Feel free to use my picture above!

That I’ve Read

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…(from Goodreads)

If we’re going to be completely honest here, this is not a category I’ve read a ton of. I tend to steer clear of fantasy with obvious spiritual elements. So, of course, I’ve picked the most obvious option available, lol. And I’m really talking about this entire series, more than just City of Bones. I’m still reading this series (I am very late to this, I know), and it is so good! I am starting book four (City of Fallen Angels, lol) soon, and I can’t wait!

On my TBR

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again. (from Goodreads)

This one looks so neat, and I’ve heard great things about it, but I haven’t yet gotten around to reading it. I really have no excuse, because it’s on Kindle Unlimited. I need to get on this, lol.

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Flashback Fridays are so fun! Do you guys have any fallen angel books you love? Old or otherwise? 🙃
Hope you have a great weekend and happy reading!
Hayden