Musings: Self-care from a psychologist, for recharging the Resistance

easy self-care tips 

Fighting the man is hard, and you can't do it if you're about ready to collapse. Here are a few basic ways to recharge your batteries. 

Self-care from a psychologist!

1. Set aside "worry" time. In this case, set aside "reading depressing news articles and making calls" time. Choose a time limit and stick to it. This helps avoid the internet news rabbit hole and makes space for positive things in your life. 

2. Light candles. Smell some good scents. Creating a space in your home that feels safe and comforting. 

3. Do something healthy (like showering, eating, taking a walk) even though you don't want to. It's called behavior activation. Not doing things --> Depression --> Not doing things --> you're probably getting the point by now. It requires forcing yourself at first, but it's the best thing you can do to break the cycle. 

4. Keep a journal of happy or positive things. This helps to prevent selective attention on negatives. 

5. Take a step back. You need a day to lie in bed and do nothing? Then do it. Don't do too many in a row (see: item 3) but don't forget to recharge either. 

6. Talk to someone who isn't going to piss you off. 

7. Do a mindfulness exercise or meditation. We use these in our insomnia group: https://caps.byu.edu/audio-files

8. Get an app! There are awesome apps to help with self-care. The VA makes some great ones (especially CBT-I coach and ACT coach) and there are other good ones like Headspace, Virtual Hope Box, and Relaxation Melodies. 

9. Don't take deep breaths. Deep breaths activate your sympathetic nervous system. Take SLOW breaths. Aim for 8 breaths per minute. Exhaling slowly is more important than inhaling. Inhale (pause) exhale (pause) and repeat. Do this for a few minutes. 

10. Do a puzzle. Paint something. Ride your bike. Sit outside. Read a book. Pet a cat. Watch a tv show. Make yourself a list of pleasant activities for when you can't think of any.

What are your favorite self-care techniques? 

Book Blurb Breakdown: Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

book blurb breakdown

Book Blurb Breakdown is a Sarcasm & Lemons feature where your anal English degree-holding author (gently) rips apart jacket blurbs to pin down what makes her want to pick up the book instantly--and what makes her want to throw it at the wall.  See the original post for more detail.  It's also just an excuse to talk about books I'm excited for in a fun way. 

If you'd like to do a breakdown, here's a snazzy little button!  Post your link in the comments. 

today's blurb

Status:  Unread

Goodreads

the blurb: as is 

from Goodreads

Perfect for fantasy fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, the first book in this new duology features a compelling gender fluid main character, impressive worldbuilding, and fast-paced action.

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class―and the nobles who destroyed their home. 

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand―the Queen's personal assassins, named after the rings she wears―Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge. 

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

the blurb:  shredded 

Perfect for fantasy fans of Sarah J. Maas (Meh.) and Leigh Bardugo (Yay!), the first book in this new duology features a compelling gender fluid main character (Cool! LGBTQ+ fantasy for the win!), impressive worldbuilding (This is kind of vague.), and fast-paced action.

Sallot (We're going to have to talk about linguistically appropriate names, aren't we. Also I'm thinking of shallots now.) Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid (This seems like a weird place to throw this in, since nothing else about this sentence relates to gender fluidity.) Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery (Not sure I'd call it drudgery?) of life as a highway robber and get closer (This language is sort of weak.) to the upper-class―and the nobles who destroyed their home. (Ooh, I'm intrigued! There's a story here.) 

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand―the Queen's personal assassins, named after the rings she wears (We really don't need to know why it's named that in the blurb. It's superfluous.)―Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge. (Cool premise. I can see the Maas comparison. A little weird to be auditioning assassins, but I'm willing to suspend a little disbelief.)

But the audition is a fight to the death (Nice.) filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers (This gives me a sense of the tone and kind of antics to be expecting, and I'm excited.). A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. (Nice. We know the problem and the stakes.) And (But) as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing (This is a weak description. Intriguing why?) scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive. 

the verdict 

3.5/5 stars
would i read it?:  yes 

This is pretty good over all.  It's a little generic in some of the language and could be more specific in places (and less in others).  However, it's short and to the point, which I like.   It outlines the backstory, the premise, and the stakes in a way that draws the reader in without giving too much away.  Half the blurbs these days tell you the entire book. 

Plus, the content is enough to forgive the stylistic annoyances.  It's awesome to see a genderfluid main character in a fantasy (Laura Lam's Pantomime comes to mind).  Books about genderfluid-ness and identity and all that are super important, but books about genderfluid people just doing their thing (in this case, their thing being robbery and assassin-ing) are just as important.  I adore fantasy, and it can only benefit from being more diverse.  

I'm also really intrigued by the game mechanics.  Game books (like Caraval) seem to be all the rage these days.  So even though the premise is a little hokey, a talented writer can pull off something whimsical and epic.  I'm definitely picking this one up.  

your thoughts

Does this blurb grab you?  

Do you agree with my thoughts?  If not, how so?  

Have you read it?  Does the blurb match the pages? 

Do you have any recommendations for blurbs I should shred?  

 

Cover Love: The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi

cover love 

What better time than now to highlight the exciting upcoming middle grade novel about an adventurous Muslim girl written by a fierce, bravely outspoken Muslim woman?  I love a good middle grade cover.  The illustrations and bold colors and themes bring back so much nostalgia.  This is definitely one I'd have grabbed quick as a kid.  The mechanical game board and bold title are perfect visual representations of the book's action-packed premise.  I love that sinister green looming over everything.  You can already tell that this book is going to be vibrant and unique.  And I love how the title text and author name fit into the image!  That's one of my favorite design elements and it can be so hard to pull off, but this one nails it.   Goodreads

ARC Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

review         book

title: The Bear and the Nightingale
author: Katherine Arden
pages: 336
format: Paperback
buy it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
rating: 3.5/5 (from hated to loved) or 8/10 (all books I've ever read)
recommended for: Fans of Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones, or And I Darken by Kiersten White.

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

in depth

• A dark, atmospheric fairy tale with the sensuous charm of Wintersong (though much lighter on the romance!), the woodsy old country tone of Uprooted, and the scope of And I Darken.  It's a slow-burning tale that breaths life into Russian folklore and history.  

• It's slow, almost painfully so in the beginning.  Many readers will be lost here.  Arden starts before Vasya is ever born, and spends quite some time with her mother and father.  I kept with it because I was entranced by the language and the world.  I'm glad I did, because the story creeps up on you, languidly unfolds into something entrancing. 

• Vasya is a spirited, fae character.  She befriends kitchen devils and talks to horses.  She's the strongest character, and easy to love.  Her father is next, well-meaning but somewhat oblivious, the prototype of a kindly boyar.  Then there's her stepmother, whom I loathed.  In a good way.  Her cruelty isn't exaggerated like in some tales.  It's believable, the fervent viciousness of someone who believes what they do is in service to God--led on by the golden-haired priest whose narcissism drives him to become an idol to the people of the isolated town.  

• Other characters were somewhat underutilized.  I wanted more of Vasya's brothers and of Dunya, her wise nursemaid.  There was so much muchness in this book, so much expansiveness in the world.  Too many stories to be adequately contained in one book, so naturally a few were left a little limp.  

• The worldbuilding and language worked together to create a home for these characters, and for the reader.  Arden's prose is lyrical and visceral.  She borrows old phrases and sprinkles Russian words judiciously.  There's a sedate magic in the way her phrases build on each other.  They sneak up on you, slowly, and then suddenly your head is in the chilly forest and there are stars in your eyes.  It's rich with quirky creatures (I seriously want to squeeze the domovoi, whom I pictured as a Pignite for no good reason) and superstition.  

• The plot is intriguing, but a bit convoluted.  It took me a while to get my bearings.  (Get it, bearings?)  Once I did, I found myself reading rapidly.  The character dynamics were fascinating.  There was something very Dostoyevsky-esque in the atmosphere Arden weaves, in her large cast and their complex interpersonal struggles.  It was deeply human as much as it was fantasy. 

• Then it stopped rather abruptly, when I was just getting to know the night king.  More Morozko, please?  I wanted the book to start later in the story and end later in the story.  The last page was like an unfinished sentence, a breath cut off by a knife to the throat.  I don't know that I want a sequel, because sequels so often spoil a good standalone, but maybe a novella? 

• All in all, it was a powerful reading experience.  I'd read it again.  Arden's folktale, though perhaps more expansive than its current bounds, is rich with old world mystery, modern sensibility, and subtle wit.  

in a sentence

The Bear and the Nightingale is a slow-burning fairy tale that captures the chilly magic of Russian folklore.  

rating         

I'm between 3.5 and 4 stars. It's so hard to rate! 

will i read this author again?  Yes, definitely 
will i continue the series?  N/A 

Note: I received this copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.  The price of the book and its origin in no way affected my stated opinions.

Books by Theme: Reading for the Resistance, inspired by #WomensMarch

books by theme                feminism

The #WomensMarch was amazing!  I was in Memphis and I was so overwhelmed and proud to see women and men of all ethnicities, religions, nationalities, languages, disability statuses, and classes come together to fight against T/rump's administration.  So, in honor of feminism and intersectionality, a list of books to get your blood pumping!  #WeNeedDiverseBooks and #OwnVoices lead the way! This is just a short list and not inclusive of every identity, so post your favorites in the comments and look out for additional lists!  

Here We Are edited by Kelly Jensen 

A scrapbook of stories, essays, poems, and more by authors, celebrities, and other feminist icons, explaining the true meaning of feminism for teens. An intersectional guide to empowering women of all kinds.

Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley

A diverse group of teen girls take to the streets in this video game-esque monster-bashing science fiction thriller.  Written by a black woman.  What better inspiration to get out there and kick some establishment ass? 

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

A genetically engineered young woman who was supposed to be exterminated infiltrates the anti-poor, anti-science establishment and explodes it from the inside. Sensing any parallels here? Written by a white female author. 

 

A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

Four friends, including one badass girl, navigate the underground sex trade in their devastated post-apocalyptic fairy city and fight against the troll ruling class.  Fight the power!  LGBT characters written by a Jewish LGBT woman.

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Cinderella gets a steampunk upgrade with a young white girl subverting the patriarchy to make a name for herself as an inventor, and finding her own happy ending.  A feminist fairy tale written by a white woman.

 

Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

A girl and boy in a world inspired by the Middle East and Ancient Rome are on different sides of a war--one from a conquered people, fighting back, one from the ruling class, dissenting from within.  Written by a Middle Eastern Asian woman.

What books would you add? What books are your feminism? What books inspire you to fight?  

ARC Review: Windwitch by Susan Dennard

review         book

title: Windwitch
author: Susan Dennard
pages: 401
format: Paperback
buy it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
rating: 5/5 (from hated to loved) or 8/10 (all books I've ever read)
recommended for: Fans of Throne of Glass who want something more complex and diverse, fans of Tamora Pierce, The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski, and Court of Fives by Kate Elliott.

Sometimes our enemies are also our only allies…

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.

When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her—yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?

After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife’s edge—especially when the pirates’ next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands.

in depth

• Happy release week to Windwitch!  I was lucky enough to read this book early, thanks to Tor Teen, and it was well worth the wait.  Susan already had a sensation on her hands with Truthwitch, but its sequel has raised every stake, heightened every tension, pulled every character to their limit, all with razor sharp writing and expansive worldbuilding.  Sophomore slump is a thing of the past.  

• Meet Merik Nihar.  You don't love him?  What's wrong with you!?  Just kidding. You're entitled to your opinion. I'll just be sad, because I love this grumpy hotheaded cinnamon roll, especially after his arc in this book.  As a counterpoint, we get the POV of his sister, Vivia, villain--OR IS SHE!?  The deadly sibling rivalry between them is the thread holding this story together.  Betrayals.  Secrets.  Conspiracy.  Uncertainty.  Merik's blind rage and Vivia's brittle facades.  Both of them grow tremendously throughout the story and become complex people you want to read more about. 

• Our other leads aren't the cover star, but Sooz doesn't skimp on their stories.  Safi is hobnobbing with Vaness in the east, coming across pirates and Hellbards as they go.  Aeduan and Iseult are thrown together to protect a strange child and have some spectacular, spine-tingling sexual tension.  Susan shifts the POVs seamlessly back and forth.  The voices of her characters are stronger and more distinct than ever.  

• New side characters get some screentime too. There's Cam, Merik's crewmate, who keeps him grounded and and is struggling with their own identity. There's Stix, Vivia's best friend--and more?  Vivia's father, infirm and bending Vivia's emotions to his will. Caden, the mysterious Hellbard.  And Owl, the silent little girl with unusual gifts.  Cam was a little too chipper for me and Caden was too guarded this book for me to get a sense of him, but I look forward to seeing how they all grow.  

• With so many characters and subplots, it's no wonder it's a complex book.  Reading it was like watching an episode of Game of Thrones.  So much happens and yet, by the time it's over, you're wondering how so much time could have passed!  The plot is ever shifting and explosive, with crisis after crisis and so many shocking twists that I was getting whiplash.  Plus, the worldbuilding runs even deeper in Windwitch, introducing us to new lands, fleshing out the magic system, teasing more hints about the Puppeteer, and solidifying the Witchlands as a lush and vibrant world worthy of exploring.  

• This whole package is tied into a neat little bow by Susan's sharp writing.  Her voice has grown more polished and precise since the first book.  There's a mastery of word choice, a vibrancy of description, a frenetic energy that rips you along breakneck and makes you feel vivid and alive.  Each character has these internal refrains that echo across chapters, tying the story together just like Iseult's threads, giving it a literary and old epic feel.  Plus some wicked snarky dialogue.  I was utterly entranced.  

• The only downside is a long wait until book three.  That's pretty good for a flaw.  

in a sentence

Windwitch is a breakneck, epic addition to a series that promises to be a fantasy classic. 

rating         

will i read this author again?  Lol. Is that even a question? 
will i continue the series?  Can I has now?    

Note: I received this copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and for participating in the street team.  The price of the book and its origin in no way affected my stated opinions.

Cover Love: The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes

cover love 

I love how unique this cover is!  The central image on white is so stark and visible, and WHOA.  It takes the typical girl face cover and subverts it into a twisted conflagration--which I can only guess will become super important.  It screams VIBRANT MURDER MYSTERY.  And the text is weaved in so perfectly, with the fire leading the eye up from the tagline to the title and author name and then away in smoke.  It's like something you'd see in a Surrealist art exhibit.  I can't wait to see it in person.  Goodreads

Blog Tour: Giveaway: The Tsar's Guard Spotlight Tour for The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye

I'm so excited to be part of the Tsar's Guard tour in anticipation of The Crown's Fate, the long-anticipated sequel of The Crown's Game, which was one of my favorite books of last year.  Today I'll be sharing with you my dream fancast for the main cast.  Or as close as I could get with the powers of Google and Pinterest combined.  My original intention was to use all Russian actors but that turned out to be a lot harder than it sounds.  Before we get started, feast your eyes on this gorgeous cover and the scintillating synopsis, then catch the end for information about the lovely author, a giveaway!, and additional tour stops. 

Hardcover, 432 pages

Expected publication: May 16th, 2016 by Balzer + Bray

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kepler's Books

The gorgeous and darkly compelling sequel to The Crown’s Game—perfect for fans of Red Queen and Shadow and Bone.

Magic is growing, shadows are rising, and the throne is at stake…

Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.

Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.

For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.

With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.

	vika The enchanter of Ovchinin island. A wildfire with flaming hair, fierce and vibrant, loyal and clever.
nikolai The enchanter of Moscow, by way of the Kazakh steppe.  An artist in soul, imaginative and kind, guarded and dreaming.
	pasha The tsesarevich of Russia.  A lionhearted playboy, hopeful and loving, expansive and trapped.
yuliana The princess of Russia.  A lioness with claws out, feisty and brilliant, underestimated and indomitable.
	renata Servant of Galina, confidante of Nikolai. A wistful daydreamer, loyal and self-sacrificing, forgotten and forgiving.
sergei Vika's father.  A woodland baron, rugged and simple, mysterious and powerful.
	galina Nikolai's mentor.  An extravagant noblewoman, vain and uncompromising, ruthless and cunning.
ludmila The owner of Cinderella's Bakery.  An un-fairy godmother, generous and open, sly and loving.
	aizhana Nikolai's mother.  A witch of the steppe, otherworldly and vicious, single-minded and betrayed.

...

Evelyn Skye is the New York Times bestselling author of THE CROWN’S GAME (out now!) and THE CROWN’S FATE (May 16, 2017). 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. When Evelyn isn’t writing, she can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies.

Author Links: Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Tour Schedule Link

Jan. 9th - Brittany's Book Rambles: The Crown's Fate Review

Jan. 10th- Sarcasm & Lemons: Fancast

Jan. 11th- The YA Book Traveler: History of Russian Crowns

Jan. 12th- Picnic Reads: Character-Based Book Tag

Jan. 13th- Book Nerd Addict: Inspired Tote Design

Jan.16th- Dazzled by Books: Top 5 Reasons I Love The Crown's Game

Jan. 17th- Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile: Characters Matched to Teas

Jan. 18th- The Book Buzz: New Enchanter

Jan. 19th- The Aus. Library: Famous Russian Fairytales

Jan. 20th-  My Thoughts Literally: Character Inspired Dessert

Jan. 23rd- Omg Books and More Books: Books that Characters of TCG Would Enjoy

Jan. 24th- It Starts at Midnight: Virtual Tour of Russia

Jan. 25th- Next Page Please!: Character Blog

Jan. 26th- The Book Nut: Playlist

Jan. 27th- Arctic Books: Make-up Looks

Jan. 30th- Two Chicks on Books: Pinterest Recipe Board

Jan. 31th- Lost in Ever After: Typical Date for Nikolai & Vika

Feb. 1st- Alexa Loves Books: Fashion Book Look

Feb. 2nd- Sophie Reads YA: Russian History In and Out of The Crown's Game

Feb. 3rd- 21st Century Once Upon A Times: Drink Your Way Through The Crown's Game

Feb. 6th- The Eater of Books: 10 Reason I'm Excited for TCF

Feb. 7th- A Thousand Words A Million Books: Top 5 Magical Moves in The Crown's Game

Feb. 8th- Seeing Double in Neverland: Fanmade Bookmarks & Swag

Feb. 9th- A Page With A View: YA Fantasy Books set in Russia

Feb. 10th- Dana Square: Recipe from The Crown's Game

Feb. 13th-YA Wednesdays: Favorite Quotes from The Crown's Game

Feb. 14th- Juniper Reads: Sorting Characters into Fandoms

Feb. 15th- Nicole's Novel Reads: Nail Polish Looks

Feb. 16th- The Queen Reads: What the Characters of TCG would take to a Deserted Island

Feb. 17th- A Perfection Called Books: The Crown's Fate Review

Book Fun: End of the Year Book Survey 2016

Welcome to the (slightly belated) end of the year book survey!  Questions are courtesy of the lovely Perpetual Page Turner.  I cut some out, though, because there were so many and I'm lazy. 

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

i think. this was really hard!

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

  

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone? 

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 

 9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

 

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

kaz brekker

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016? 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

oooh i'm really going to have to think about this... but the scene between blue and gansey on the clifftop was pretty damn amazing 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

blue/gansey

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

the boys + blue

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based solely On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure?

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016? 

kashmir

23. Best 2016 debut you read? 

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read? 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year? 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016? 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

but obviously i loved it 

what were your picks? also i swear i didn't mean to put the raven cycle on this list so much but GAH.