Graphic Novel Review: Real Friends

Shannon's best friend moved away. While she found a new best friend, it just wasn't the same. When Adrienne moves back, Shannon couldn't be happier. Everything will be back to normal.

Except it isn't. Adrienne's happy to be friends with Shannon, but she wants to hang out with other girls too. She becomes friends with the popular girls. Shannon joins them, but the popular girls don't seem to like her as much. And they are sometimes mean.

Shannon wishes they could break away from the group. But then she might have no friends. Is having no friends worse than having mean friends?

My Thoughts: A hard book to read, but I devoured it. It's hard to read because it's true and it hits home. Middle school is the worst for friendship and figuring out life. Girls are mean. You're insecure. It's just a cycle. I really liked this book and how it ended. It should be required reading for all middle schoolers because it's that good and that important. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Librarian Recommendation: Buy this one immediately. And give it to everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday: Hallmark Movies

This week is another freebie. II'm a sucker for Hallmark channel movies, especially the Christmas ones. But also I love it when they turn a favorite book into a show or series. Would you watch these? Let's try to make this happen!

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Bluff Point series or just for their wedding movies in June

Large family - lots of laughs. Could be one movie or a movie on each of the books

Lucky Harbor - a series

A series for sure!

A movie with series potential

A movie with series potential 

Could be a series or just a Christmas movie

Could be a series or just a Thanksgiving movie

Another good wedding ones

A fun movie with series potential 

Bonus:

It's YA but gymnastics and would appeal 

Blog Tour: Royal Crush

Title: ROYAL CRUSH

Author: Meg Cabot

Pub. Date: August 1, 2017

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 192

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, TBD, Goodreads

Being the newest princess of Genovia is WAY more complicated than she expected, but Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison is getting used to it. She gets to live in an actual palace with two fabulous poodles, a pet iguana, her very own pony, and, best of all, a loving family to help her figure things out!

And right now Olivia, having finally admitted that she likes Prince Khalil as more than just a friend, could REALLY use some advice. What is a princess supposed to do once she's found a prince she likes? With her half-sister Mia busy enjoying her honeymoon, Olivia turns to Grandmere for help.

The third book in the middle-grade Princess Diaries spin-off series, written and illustrated by New York Times-bestselling author Meg Cabot.

 My Thoughts: I really adored this book, as I did the previous two books.  Cute illustrations too! I love seeing characters from the Princess Diaries books. I love how similar Olivia is to Mia and also how different she is. They both want everyone to like them. I like how Olivia also has a nemesis  and how she deals with her.  I like her interactions with Prince Khalil. I liked the bet she made with her best friend regarding Mia's baby names (even if it didn't work out the way she expected). I adored Grandmere as a chaperone, especially the Tupac scene. I loved the pop culture references. Olivia has a good heart and she wants to spread kindness, which is admirable. Excited to see what happens to her next!

Cover Thoughts: Love it!

Source: book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Get this one for your library! 

 

About Meg:

Meg Cabot is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. There have been over 25 million copies of Meg’s nearly 80 published books sold in 38 countries. Her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming.” She currently lives in Key West, Florida with her husband and various cats.

Website | Twitter |Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr | Pinterest | Instagram

Follow the Tour:

Week One:

7/24/2017- YA Book Nerd- Review

7/25/2017- Bibliobakes- Review

7/26/2017- Margie's Must Reads- Review

7/27/2017- Never Too Many To Read- Review

7/28/2017- The Autumn Bookshelf- Review

Week Two:

7/31/2017- Little Miss Drama Queen- Review

8/1/2017- The Book Nut- Review

8/2/2017- Becky on Books- Review

8/3/2017- Pervy Ladies Books- Review

8/4/2017- YA Books Central- Spotlight

 Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of ROYAL CRUSH, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Puppy Update

Some more puppy pictures for you. She's Growing! 

Still likes to share a bed

Eating her first custard

Which toy to choose?

Tuckered out

Sleeping funny

In My Shop: Christmas in July

It's Christmas in July at my shop, you can order a few things ahead of time.

Don't forget to use coupon code BOOKNERD17 for a small discount.

Snowglobe Necklace:

Harry Potter Ornaments:

Gift Tags:

These are just a few. I have more ornaments up, so take a look. Plus of my other items make great gifts too! 

Review: Lights, Camera, Middle School!

Now in middle school, Babymouse joins the film club. She wants a shot at being famous. The club will be making a film. But the club can't decide on what type of movie to make: romance, drama, or detective. Babymouse wants to combine them all and make an epic film.

For her contribution in getting everyone on board, the club adviser awards her the role of Director. Plus since it's her vision, Babeymouse gets to write the screenplay.

Excited about the prospect, Babymouse goes hog wild creating her vision. But she forgot to think about what her vision will mean for everyone else. Can they really shoot a scene in Paris? What about those elephants? How big is their moving making budget anyways?

My Thoughts: Alternating between text and graphic novel panels, Babymouse hasn't changed much. Sure she's older, but she's the still lovable mouse who has problems with her whiskers, trouble with her locker, and gets carried away. I loved watching Babymouse struggle to figure out how to make the movie. I love how her friends and club members took their roles seriously. Of course Babymouse lets her power go to her head, but it's funny and sweet when it all works out. I adore Babymouse and can't wait to read more about her middle school drama.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Scoop this one up, your readers will thank you. 

The Great British Baking Show

For the past two weeks, I've fallen down the rabbit hole of The Great British Baking Show (seasons 2 and 3). And it makes me want to bake...Everything.

It also makes me realize I could never be a baker on the show. And here's why:

I'm a traditional baker

 I don't play around and experiment with baking

When I do change a recipes, it's mostly because of spices I don't like

 I don't make up my own recipes

 I don't recognize many of the desserts they make

 I would lose it under that intense pressure

 They shoot the show in Britain (different measuring system)

I wouldn't want baking not to be fun anymore

I don't think I could handle Paul's criticism 

Clearly I wouldn't measure up, but it's fun to think about. 

But now I'm also critical of baking - in a Paul and Mary sort of way. But only just for fun.

Here's my most recent bake:

Blueberry Buckle: