Author: Jana

2017 Statistics Survey

Posted December 29, 2017 by Jana in About Me / 5 Comments

I’m a huge fan of numbers, and I love participating in Andi and Brittany’s year-end statistics survey every year!

Number of…

Number of books read…
Under 250 pages: 14
Between 251-399 pages: 23
Between 400-449 pages: 7
Between 450-499 pages: 1
Over 500 pages: 0
Over 1000 pages: 0

Number of…
Audiobooks: 3
Re-reads: 0
DNFs (did not finish): 5ish?

Number of books rated…
Five Stars: 10
One/Two Stars: 18 (wow, that’s sad…)

Number of authors met in 2017:
None… Wow. That’s really, really sad!

Number of book events attended in 2017:
None… hence the number above.

Number of books you read in one day:
1.

Number of books that made you cry:
None.

Number of 2018 books you have on pre-order:
3.

By the Books

Book read furthest away from home (vacation reads?):
Read on my cruise to Hawaii: Full Steam Ahead by Valerie Chase, The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas, and Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas.

Book that took you the longest to read:
The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Skye took me 41 days to read because I really didn’t like it.

Book that you personally connected with the most:
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. I connected with Lucy, but I can’t remember why! Hehe.

Book that made you love the villain:
I’m super intrigued by Legend from Caraval by Stephanie Garber.

Book you said you’d come back to but still haven’t picked up again:
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. Ahhh! I know!!!

Book you read waaaay before it’s publication date:
I read The Crown’s Fate by Eveylen Skye. I started that almost 3 months before it was released because I was SO EXCITED!

Book you read on your birthday:
According to Goodreads I wasn’t reading anything on my birthday! Sad!

Book with a character who shares your name:
This has only happened once, and it was a few years ago. And that Jana was crucified within the first quarter of the book. So great.

Book you weren’t entirely truthful about when rating (Fluff up any ratings? Rated even though you didn’t finish?):
I fluffed up my rating of Public Relations by Katie Heaney and Arianna Rebolini because my friend loved it and sent it to me and I wanted to love it, too!

Book you read in 2017 but already want to re-read:
I didn’t even have to think about this: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne!

Book you borrowed from a friend a long time ago and still have:
I don’t have any friends who love to read and can actually lend me books. lol. They’re all far away.

Book you which you could go back and read for the first time again:
Till Death by Jennifer Armentrout. Now that I know how it turns out, re-reading just won’t be as exciting!

Most books read by one author this year:
It’s a 3-way tie between Mary Higgins Clark, Rob Thomas, and Jill Shalvis. I read two books by each of them.

This and That

Happiest & saddest:
Happiest: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Saddest: I don’t read sad books… So maybe I’m the saddest about hating The Crown’s Fate.

Longest & shortest…
• By page number:
Longest: The Witness by Nora Roberts (492 grueling pages)
Shortest: Beauty and the Beast by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont (34 pages)
• By title:
Longest: Kiss Me On This Cold December Night by Charlotte Phillips
Shortest: Hunted by Meagan Spooner
• From buying to reading:
Longest: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (I waited 8 years to read this!!)
Shortest: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (I waited 3 days. lol)

Best & worst…
Average rating on Goodreads: 3.69 stars
Series enders: I didn’t read any series enders this year.

First & last…
• Reads of 2017:
First: Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Last: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
• Books on your bookcase (1st book on the top left and last book on the bottom right):
First: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Last: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Most disappointing & biggest pleasant surprise:
Most disappointing: The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Skye
Biggest pleasant surprise: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (I had no idea just HOW MUCH I would love it!)

Fandom you joined & one you abandoned:
I didn’t do either, actually!

Series you picked up & series you quit:
Picked up: Katie Ruggle’s Search and Rescue series
I didn’t quit any this year.

Most lenient & harshest ratings:
Lenient: Public Relations by Katie Heaney and Arianna Rebolini
Harshest: I wasn’t too harsh, I don’t think! I really think everything I rated harshly deserved it. lol

Most hyped & furthest under the radar that you read:
Most hyped: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Furthest under the radar: Of Monsters & Madness by Jessica Verday

Grab Bag

Book you read that is red:
A Study In Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Starts with X, Y, or Z:
None.

Book you hugged when you finished it:
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne… lol. See a trend?

Book you wanted to throw across a room:
The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Sky… See another trend? I’m seriously heartbroken about this!

Food you craved while/after reading a certain book:
I don’t feel like I had any craving of note!

Book that became an instant go-to recommendation:
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco!

Furthest out of your comfort zone:
I didn’t really branch out of my comfort zone this year.

Read on a recommendation (that you may not have picked up yourself):
Public Relations by Katie Heaney and Arianna Rebolini

Forced yourself to finish:
Ugh. SO MANY. This was a really bad year for me, book-wise. lol. Lost Girls by Merrie Destefano, The Crown’s Fate by Evelyn Skye, The Witness by Nora Roberts, Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda, Public Relations by Katie Heaney and Arianna Rebolini, Never Apart by Romily Bernard, and The Shivering Sands by Victoria Holt.

Series or author’s works you binged (whether all at once or throughout the year):
I binged the Veronica Mars books, but there were only two… so does it count? lol

Blogging Life

First…
Post of 2017: The first link-up for the Debut Author Challenge. but that’s boring. So let’s go with: Top Ten 2017 Debut Books I’m Excited About
Review of 2017: Beauty & the Beast by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont

Last…
Post of 2017: I will be: My 2017 In Books
Review of 2017: Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

Number of posts in 2017:
141

Number of reviews posted this year:
42.

Least coherent review:
Nothing stands out this year!

Post with the most comments (posted in 2017):
Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings – 2017 Edition (37 comments)

Post you wish you could re-write:
I love all my posts!

Brittany Pearlman’s Favorite Winter ’17-’18 YA Books | Guest Post

Posted December 27, 2017 by Jana in Guest Post / 1 Comment

I’m so excited to welcome Brittany Pearlman, publicist at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, to the blog today to share with us some of her favorite books coming out this winter! I’ve been excited to read many of these, and now I’m even more excited!

Hi Bloggers!

I am so excited to share some of my favorite books coming out this winter! I’m always looking for new books to dig into (especially when I’m cold and don’t feel like braving the NYC weather), but I’m usually in the mood for something very specific so here is a list of rec’s broken down by my favorite categories as well.

Wishing everyone a very “Belle in the library surrounded by books and a warm fireplace” kind of holiday!

—

High Fantasy:

Working in YA right now, I read a lot of fantasy (I’m not complaining at all, that’s just a fact). It’s really rare that I come across a YA fantasy that feels as remarkably original as Tomi Adeyemi’s debut, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE, does! This is an entirely new world inspired by African culture and mythology– with a fascinating magic system and an even more compelling story. You will root for Zelie as she tries to bring magic back to her disenfranchised people, and you will come to love the whole cast of characters that entirely real. Thoroughly engrossing, you won’t remember what year it is let alone that it’s 12 degrees outside when you start this one.

Jane Austen Vibes:

If you’re like me, you can never have too much of Jane Austen. Unfortunately, the pool original work is rather small, and I’ve basically already read everything published that is somewhat related. Enter THE FORGOTTEN BOOK by Mechthild Gläser! It’s a standalone YA that combines the magic of books with Jane Austen vibes to create a beautiful world that feels super reminiscent of your favorite Austen classics such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma!

Pirate Adventure:

I have been obsessed with pirates ever since that fateful day I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl in theaters in the summer of 2003, and ever since I have been an apologetic sucker for any and all things pirates. If you haven’t read the first book in this duology (Daughter of the Pirate King), you need to stop whatever you’re doing and pick it up IMMEDIATELY. It’s a dashing high seas adventure with a badass female pirate and a super sexy romance. In the sequel, DAUGHTER OF THE SIREN QUEEN, Tricia Levenseller delivers on the promise of the first book– and I promise you that this book will keep you nice and toasty on a cold winter day ;)!

Modern Retelling:

I love Emma Mills. Everything she writes gives me all the feels and FOOLISH HEARTS, her modern retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is no exception. If you’ve read either of Emma’s first two novels (First & Then and This Adventure Ends), you know that NO ONE does dialogue better and that is certainly still true in Foolish Hearts. With a super sweet romance and a heartfelt friendship story at its core, FOOLISH HEARTS is the perfect read when you’re in the mood for something light, breezy, and ultra satisfying.

Contemporary:

Sometimes you just need a good cry. Listen, seasonal depression is a thing (at least it is for me) and sometimes I just need a book that will let me get out all my feelings. IN SEARCH OF US is that book. Ava Dellaira’s sophomore YA novel explores the complicated relationship between a single white mother and her biracial daughter, told in dual points of view of each of them at the age of seventeen. The story unfolds to reveal secrets from the past that inform the present, and both of their coming of age stories. This will make you think and it will make you cry, so get your tissue box before you pick this one up. It’s so worth it!!

Graphic Novel:

It took me a long time to get into graphic novels. I just couldn’t figure out how to read them! If you’re like me and you struggle with learning how to really enjoy this format, then I’d recommend transitioning from a world you’re familiar with (like The Lunar Chronicles), and reading the next adventure in graphic novel form. WIRES AND NERVE Volumes I and II by Marissa Meyer are the perfect introduction. They have all the trappings of the bestselling novels, but give you a new and refreshing visual perspective to accompany your reading experience. After you’ve dipped into these, there are several other amazing graphic novels coming out this winter, including THE PRINCE AND THE DRESSMAKER and BRAZEN that I’d also recommend!

Mystery:

Who doesn’t love a good mystery during the cold winter months? Snuggle up with Caleb Roehrig’s sophomore YA mystery, WHITE RABBIT, and find yourself caught up in an enthralling, high-stakes thriller! Full of teenage angst, queer romance, and of course, MURDER, White Rabbit is an entirely modernized take on what would happen if The Hardy Boys realized they were actually gay, and I never knew how badly I needed this in my life.

Which of Brittany’s favorites are you excited to read?

Top Ten 2018 Book Releases I’m the Most Excited About

Posted December 25, 2017 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 24 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas yesterday! I certainly did, and got lots and lots of books!

I suppose you’ve heard the news now, so I thought I’d mention it here as well: We at The Broke and the Bookish have decided to close our doors after next week’s Top Ten Tuesday (1/9/18). Life has taken us all in so many different directions, and we’re going to miss blogging together. Starting January 16th, Top Ten Tuesday will live here at That Artsy Reader Girl! The schedule is available in my top menu bar through March. I’m really excited about this, so please help spread the word about the move so nobody is confused!

Today we’re looking ahead to next year and all the books we’re excited to read in 2018. I’ve got my eye on so many books already! This list will not include any debuts, as I’m posting about some of the ones I’m excited about later this week.

Top Ten 2018 Book Releases
I’m the Most Excited About

1. Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco (no cover yet)
I love this trilogy (especially Hunting Prince Dracula), and I can’t wait to read this adventure that takes place on a ship!

2. Legendary by Stephanie Garber
I loved Caraval, and cannot wait to read more about this world.

3. Furyborn by Claire Legrand
I keep hearing amazing things, and I’ve been seriously craving a great fantasy.

4. Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton
The final book in the Rebel of the Sands trilogy! I’m so excited for it!

5. Love & Luck by Jenna Welch Evans
I’ve had my eye on this for ages, and am so excited it’s coming out soon! I love books that take place in other countries, and this cute contemporary romance set in Ireland sounds right up my alley.

6. The Comfort Zone by Sally Thorne (no cover)
I honestly don’t even know what this one is about, but I loved The Hating Game so much that I don’t even care!

7. Survive the Night by Katie Ruggle
I love Katie’s romantic suspense, and this one sounds amazing.

8. Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
I love outdoorsy/survival stories, and this one sounds like a lot of fun!

9. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
More of the Remnant Chronicles universe! I can’t wait!

10. Pacifica by Kristen Simmons
I just found out about this exciting pirate novel while I was putting this post together, and got SUPER excited for it.

Which 2018 releases are you excited about?

Firework images created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Merry Christmas 2017!

Posted December 25, 2017 by Jana in Personal / 6 Comments

I hope you have loved A Bookish Little Christmas as much as I have this year. I can’t believe it’s over already! Thank you so much for coming to celebrate with me and my friends, and thanks to all my friends who wrote up posts for this event. I can’t wait to put it on again next year!

I hope you have a very special day with your loved ones, and that it’s filled with happiness and cheer. For this last Bookish Little Christmas post I wanted to share a really amazing video that encapsulates everything I truly love about this holiday. The end is particularly inspiring, so make sure you get through the entire song! It’ll be the best 4 minutes of your day. Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Memories (with Little Jana Pictures!)

Posted December 24, 2017 by Jana in About Me, Personal / 6 Comments

Celebrate the Christmas season with That Artsy Reader Girl and her bookish friends!

Celebrate #ChristmasWithJana: Instagram ✦ Twitter ✦ Event Schedule

Merry Christmas Eve! Boy, this month sure has flown! I can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Day. There’s just something about Christmas that makes me all nostalgic and look back on my life, particularly my childhood Christmases. Today I’m sharing a few pictures of my Christmases as a child. I grew up a military brat, so I’ve lived in lots of places. My mom and little sister have always been my best friends because we’ve really been the only constants in each other’s lives!

My Christmas Memories

Top left: My mom, little sister, and I have always loved baking Christmas cookies together each year. Here we are together in our kitchen living on base in Monterey, California. I wonder which cookies we were making in this picture!

Top right: This is my mom, my Oma, my little sister, and me in front of our Christmas tree in our house in Monterey again. I only wore skirts and dresses as a child and never wore a pair of pants until I moved to Louisiana (Louisiana winters are colder than California winters!) when I was 9 years old. That was quite an adjustment. lol. I’ve always loved dressing in festive colors at Christmastime!

Bottom Left: My first Christmas! We were living in Misawa, Japan at this time and my mom dressed me in my cute little dress and red tights for church. The picture is a little too small to really notice, but she also glued a red bow to my head…

Bottom Middle: My little sister and I loved throwing the wrapping paper up in the air like snow as kids. lol. This picture is in our Louisiana house. I went through a Tweety Bird phase, and this is my Tweety nightshirt.

Bottom Right: Every Christmas my family and I sit in a circle and take turns opening our presents, one by one. Here we are in our house in Arnold, Maryland. I loved this robe soooo much! The body was like a sweatshirt and the arms were like a cozy plaid button-up. We still have those same stockings, which I have always loved. They’re made out of yarn and knitted like a sweater. They hold a LOT of stuff.