Feminist Friday ⁠— My Favorite Female Authors

Happy Friday everyone! I haven’t written a Feminist Friday post in awhile (I know, I’m sorry!) but I’m back again to share with you some of my favorite female authors. These ladies write some of the best books and always manage to write such strong, female characters. Some of these authors are non-fiction writers but they do feminism such JUSTICE. I would consider all of these auto-buy authors as well! Here’s a list of some of my favorite female authors:

• V.E. Schwab / Victoria Schwab

Her Goodreads Author Description:

“Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say “tom-ah-toes,” “like,” and “y’all.”

She also tells stories.

She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.”

 

Listen, I will read anything that V.E. Schwab writes. I have read almost all of her books (I haven’t read the Archived or The Near Witch) and the ones I haven’t read are on my TBR already. I probably already own them too! I just recently got into her books last year whenever I read the Darker Shades of Magic trilogy for the first time. I fell in love with these books and the characters themselves. Her writing is impeccable — if you want to see intense world building at it’s finest, read a V.E. Schwab book. They’re always so intricate and captivating. I will continue to buy and read her books because they never fail to disappoint me. She’s also a female fantasy writer! I know that there’s more and more female fantasy writers nowadays, but it was a male dominated genre for so long. I’m pretty sure that’s why her adult books go by V.E. Schwab (bc sexism) but we still stan. Speaking of that, her female characters are always so BAD ASS. Lila Bard is the best but Marcella from Vengeful is insanely good too. I definitely recommend her books, if you couldn’t tell.

Read her books:

• A Darker Shade of Magic (Darker Shades #1)
• A Gathering of Shadows (Darker Shades #2)
• A Conjuring of Light (Darker Shades #3)
• Vicious 
• Vengeful (Vicious #2)
• the Truth Witch
• & more!

 

• Roxane Gay

Her Goodreads Author Description: “Roxane Gay’s writing has appeared in Best American Short Stories 2012, Best Sex Writing 2012, Oxford American, American Short Fiction, West Branch, Virginia Quarterly Review, NOON, The New York Times Book Review, Bookforum, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, The Rumpus, Salon, The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy culture blog, and many others. She is the co-editor of PANK and essays editor for The Rumpus. She teaches writing at Eastern Illinois University. Her first book, Ayiti, is a collection of fiction and nonfiction about the Haitian diaspora experience. Her novel, An Untamed State, will be published by Grove Atlantic and her essay collection, Bad Feminist, will be published by Harper Perennial, both in 2014.”

 

Roxane Gay is an important author for me because her book, Bad Feminist, introduced me to feminist non-fiction. I’ve shelved every single non-fiction feminist book since I started to read her books because she made me genuinely excited about them. I loved Bad Feminist because it was the first non-fiction book that truly caught my attention and kept it throughout. I didn’t even need to listen to this on audiobook because it was so entertaining. This book was actually one of my Employee Recommendations when I used to work at Barnes & Noble. If you’re looking to start reading feminist non-fiction, I highly recommend all of Roxane Gay’s books, not just Bad Feminist. Hunger was one of my favorite books I read last year because Roxane Gay’s words are always so intelligent and well-spoken.

Read her books:

• Bad Feminist
• Hunger
• Difficult Women
• an Untamed State
• Ayiti
• & more!

 

• Rainbow Rowell

Her Goodreads Author Description: “Rainbow Rowell writes books. Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS and LANDLINE). Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK and FANGIRL). But she always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they’re screwing up. And people who fall in love.

When she’s not writing, Rainbow is reading comic books, planning Disney World trips and arguing about things that don’t really matter in the big scheme of things.

She lives in Nebraska with her husband and two sons.”

 

Rainbow Rowell is the author who I started out with whenever I started venturing into the YA genre. I remember a picture of my first sort of  YA book haul that featured two of her books (Eleanor & Park and Landline) and I ended up loving them both. These two are obviously not my favorites now (Fangirl and Carry On are) but her books still remain so important to me. I buy all her new releases from the indie bookstore she signs at (Bookworm Omaha) and I’m always excited to receive them. Her character, Cath, made me feel so seen whenever I was in middle school/high school. I’m forever grateful that I found her books when I did and will continue to read anything she writes!

Read her books:

• Fangirl
• Eleanor & Park
• Carry On
• Landline
• Attachments
• Kindred Spirits
• & more!

 

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Her Goodreads Author Description: “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie grew up in Nigeria.

Her work has been translated into over thirty languages and has appeared in various publications, including The New Yorker, Granta, The O. Henry Prize Stories, the Financial Times, and Zoetrope. She is the author of the novels Purple Hibiscus, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award; Half of a Yellow Sun, which won the Orange Prize and was a National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist and a New York Times Notable Book; and Americanah, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was named one of The New York Times Top Ten Best Books of 2013. Ms. Adichie is also the author of the story collection The Thing Around Your Neck.

Ms. Adichie has been invited to speak around the world. Her 2009 TED Talk, The Danger of A Single Story, is now one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time. Her 2012 talk We Should All Be Feminists has a started a worldwide conversation about feminism, and was published as a book in 2014.

Her most recent book, Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, was published in March 2017.

A recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, Ms. Adichie divides her time between the United States and Nigeria.”

 

I discovered her books around the same time that I read Roxane Gay’s books and I am so glad I found them. She has two shorter books on feminism — We Should All be Feminists and Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions! I loved both of them and actually used these for a feminist essay I did to finish off my COMP I class back in high school. Comp I is a college course but I took it early. I loved writing that essay and these books made me realize how badly I want to write my own feminist non-fiction. We Should All be Feminists is such a great intro read to feminism and it’s so short so anyone can read it. It’s also a TED talk but of course, I prefer the physical little book edition. I learned so much from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and I own several of her fiction books. I plan to finally read Americanah by her this year and I can’t wait.

Read her books:

• Americanah
• We Should All Be Feminists
• Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
• Half of a Yellow Sun
• The Thing Around Your Neck
• Purple Hibiscus
• and more!

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ON MY RADAR → Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

On My Radar is a series I’ve been doing since I started blogging in 2016. I share with you books that may not have as much hype that I’m excited to read. I like sharing debut novels or books I just don’t think enough people are talking about. I usually find these books on Edelweiss and try to provide a review closer to the release date. I love doing these posts so I can boost some great books and help others find their next read!

“A gutsy, queer coming-of-age story perfect for fans of Nina LaCour, Rainbow Rowell, and Elizabeth Acevedo.

Juliet Milagros Palante is a self-proclaimed closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx.

Only, she’s not so closeted anymore. Not after coming out to her family the night before flying to Portland, Oregon to intern with her favorite feminist writer—what’s sure to be a life changing experience. And when Juliet’s coming out crashes and burns, she’s not sure her mom will ever speak to her again.

But Juliet has a plan—sort of. Her internship with legendary author Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff is sure to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. Except Harlowe’s white. And not from the Bronx. And she definitely doesn’t have all the answers…

In a summer bursting with queer brown dance parties, a sexy fling with a motorcycling librarian, and intense explorations of race and identity, Juliet learns what it means to come out—to the world, to her family, to herself.”

Edition: Hardcover, E-book

Release Date: September 17th, 2019

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

 

Are you looking forward to this book now as well? Don’t forget to add it on Goodreads to help the hype!

Pre-order this book at your local bookstore! Pre-orders help books out IMMENSELY.

the Breakfast Club Book Tag

I found this tag over at the Bibliophagist‘s blog but it was originally created by Bibliomaniac Bookworm! Thank you to both for letting me find this insanely cute tag. 🙂

• the Princess ➵ a book that is very popular and pretty on the outside, but you thought was uninteresting on the inside.

I recently read Autoboyography by Christina Lauren and I just don’t understand the hype. I wish I liked it more but it fell so flat for me. I hated the love interest and I thought the bi rep was questionable. The cover is beautiful, though.

• the Criminal ➵ a book that looks/sounds rough and bad, but ended up completely stealing your heart.

a Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab doesn’t seem like a bad book but it was intimidating at the time. It’s my favorite series now, though.

• the Brain ➵ a book that made you think.

I would have to say Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. I thought about this book for days after I read it. I think it was the last book to have such an affect on me. I have a review for it here.

• the Basket Case ➵ a book that people would call you crazy for reading.

I think maybe Priory of the Orange Tree by Samatha Shannon? I’m waiting for the paperback to come out but whenever I talk about wanting to read this book, people always mention the size of it and are surprised.

 

I tag whoever else wants to do it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMPTY VERSION:

the Princess ➵ a book that is very popular and pretty on the outside, but you thought was uninteresting on the inside.

the Criminal ➵ a book that looks/sounds rough and bad, but ended up completely stealing your heart.

the Brain ➵ a book that made you think.

the Basket Case ➵ a book that people would call you crazy for reading.

 

the Hunger Games is Getting a Prequel in 2020

YOU READ THAT RIGHT. The Hunger Games trilogy is getting a prequel. It even has a release date already: May 19th, 2020! Mark your calendars, folks. We’re headed back to Panem.

Suzanne Collins hasn’t written and published a book since about 2013 and the last Hunger Games novel, Mockingjay, was published all the way back in 2010.

The prequel has no title yet but it set to take place 64 years before the beginning of the first Hunger Games novel. To learn more about the prequel itself, here’s a link to the announcement article.

I have loved the Hunger Games trilogy for as long as I can remember. When I first started getting into reading, I read these books and completely immersed myself into the fandom. The movies were still coming out and I remember watching them all on release date because I was such a big fan. I also remember when I finished Catching Fire, I begged my mom to take  me to Walmart (We didn’t have any near bookstores) to find the last one, Mockingjay. The first Walmart we went to didn’t have it but my mom was willing to drive me all the way to another way to find it. I read it all it one sitting because I loved it so much. I don’t quite remember how young I was (maybe 13?) but I thought that the finale was more than perfect.

 

When the movies came out, I started to truly dive into the fandom world. I had a Hunger Games fan account, I had a folder of Josh Hutcherson as Peeta on my Ipod touch, I drew fan art of my internet friend, Peeta, Gale and I together. I became a little movie critic on my fan account when the first movie was released. I had all the magazines (I still have them, actually) that featured anything Hunger Games related. I took every poster from those magazines and hung them on my door. I loved this franchise so much and I truly don’t know if I would be such a fangirl if it wasn’t for this time of my life.

I decided to make this post because I am so excited for this release and I know there’s probably other people out there who’re just as excited! What are you hoping for in this prequel? I have no idea what to expect but I am still so, so excited.

 

 

 

5 Books I’m Extremely Excited About

Good afternoon! Here’s a little list of all the books I am EXTREMELY excited for. I have pre-ordered almost all of these books and I am just awaiting their release. Are you looking forward to any of these? Let me know!

 

• Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

“The story is supposed to be over.

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

With Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first. It’s another helping of sour cherry scones with an absolutely decadent amount of butter.

Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero’s journey might be over – but your life has just begun.”

Release Date: September 24th, 2019

Carry On is one of my favorite books and I’m so excited that it’s getting a sequel. I wrote all about why I love this book in this blog post dedicated to it!

• House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas

“Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. By day, she works for an antiquities dealer, selling barely legal magical artifacts, and by night, she parties with her friends, savouring every pleasure Lunathion—otherwise known as Crescent City— has to offer. But it all comes crumbling down when a ruthless murder shakes the very foundations of the city—and Bryce’s world.

Two years later, her job has become a dead end, and she now seeks only blissful oblivion in the city’s most notorious nightclubs. But when the murderer attacks again, Bryce finds herself dragged into the investigation and paired with an infamous Fallen angel whose own brutal past haunts his every step.

Hunt Athalar, personal assassin for the Archangels, wants nothing to do with Bryce Quinlan, despite being ordered to protect her. She stands for everything he once rebelled against and seems more interested in partying than solving the murder, no matter how close to home it might hit. But Hunt soon realizes there’s far more to Bryce than meets the eye—and that he’s going to have to find a way to work with her if they want to solve this case.

As Bryce and Hunt race to untangle the mystery, they have no way of knowing the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents, and down to the darkest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir…”

Release Date: January 28th, 2020

I’m SO happy that Sarah J. Maas finally decided to write an Adult fantasy series. I used to love Throne of Glass but was kind of sad about the direction it went. I haven’t read the final book, Kingdom of Ash, but will try to get to it sometime this year.

• Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks

“Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?”

Release Date: August 27th, 2019

I will buy literally anything written by Rainbow Rowell but this Fall theme SENDS ME! I am so pumped.

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

“The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.”

Release Date: October 1st, 2019

Listen, I love Leigh Bardugo’s writing but I cannot wait for this adult NON-GRISHA (Yes, you heard that right) book. I am living for the cult theme that seems to take place in this novel. I have it pre-ordered already because I’m beyond excited to finally read something by Leigh Bardugo that’s not the Grisha-verse. I’m also so happy so many YA authors are going out of their comfort zones to write books like these. Expect a review for this book!

• Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

“The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.

And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.

Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . .”

 

Release Date: November 5th, 2019

If there’s anything I needed from Maggie Stiefvater, it was another Ronan centered book but instead, I’m getting a whole trilogy! This sounds fantastic and you bet I already have this book pre-ordered.

Where I End & You Begin [MINI REVIEW]

“Ezra Slevin is an anxious, neurotic insomniac who spends his nights questioning his place in the universe and his days obsessing over Imogen, a nerdy girl with gigantic eyebrows and a heart of gold.

For weeks, Ezra has been working up the courage to invite Imogen to prom. The only problem is Imogen’s protective best friend, Wynonna Jones. Wynonna has blue hair, jams to ’80s rock, and has made a career out of tormenting Ezra for as long as he can remember.

Then, on the night of a total solar eclipse, something strange happens to Ezra and Wynonna–and they wake up in each other’s bodies. Not only that, they begin randomly swapping back and forth every day! Ezra soon discovers Wynonna’s huge crush on his best friend, Holden, a five-foot-nothing girl magnet with anger management problems. With no end to their curse in sight, Ezra makes Wynonna a proposition: while swapping bodies, he will help her win Holden’s heart…but only if she helps him woo Imogen.

Forming an uneasy alliance, Ezra and Wynonna embark on a collision course of mistaken identity, hurt feelings, embarassing bodily functions, and a positively byzantine production of Twelfth Night. Ezra wishes he could be more like Wynonna’s badass version of Ezra–but he also realizes he feels more like himself while being Wynonna than he has in a long time…

Wildly entertaining and deeply heartfelt, Where I End and You Begin is a brilliant, unapologetic exploration of what it means to be your best self.”

Edition: Hardcover

Release Date: June 4th, 2019

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

My Rating:  stars 4 ★★★★ out of ★★★★★ stars (4/5)

 

I was kindly sent an e-arc of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. The opinion is my own.

This review is SPOILER FREE!

I requested Where I End and You Begin by Preston North solely because the description got me immediately. Except, I don’t really know what I was expecting. I just know it wasn’t this. This book was so interesting, quirky and hilarious while also tackling things like depression and finding yourself when you have no idea who you are.

While mimicking Twelfth Night and Freaky Friday at the same time, it deals with the main character, Ezra, being completely confused about his identity. Not only is Ezra lost, but he also is dealing with his mental health and his situation in which he never sleeps. I think this book could’ve felt much heavier than it was but since it was still able to be humorous, it became a much lighter read.

I loved the author’s writing style because he gave his characters SO much personality. It was so fun reading Ezra’s constant thoughts even if they weren’t the happiest sometimes. I especially found it unique whenever the book finally hits the play. I think this type of writing is almost lyrical in sense that it’s so quotable. I highlighted so many lines on my kindle and it sucks I can’t share them all!

The only problem I had with this book was the mention of Johnny Depp’s abuse case. As of now, Johnny Depp has laid out endless evidence about how he was abused by his ex wife. I understand that while the author was writing this, he might’ve felt the need to mention that since Ezra was a huge Johnny Depp fan. I just don’t think it fit well within fiction. It disconnected me a bit but I still enjoyed the book nonetheless.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a hilarious yet meaningful read like Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Their writing is reminiscent of each other! Also, if anyone’s looking for a book about identity exploration, this book covered is so well.

 

Find Where I End and You Begin at your local bookstore!

 

To hear my thoughts elsewhere, follow me on social media: Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter

 

 

 

** I wanna note I wrote this LONG after reading it so it’s probably messy. I just needed to get a review back to NetGalley. I meant to write it after I read it but life got too crazy.**

LGBT+ Book Recommendation — Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

 “Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On – The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters.”

As many of you know, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell has been one of my favorite books from the beginning. In Fangirl, you get to read the fanfiction that Cath is writing in parts. She writes about Simon & Baz, a couple of students attending Watford, a school for magic.

Eventually, Rainbow Rowell realized how much she loved these characters and decided to write a full book of their own story called Carry On.

I bought Carry On the minute it came out and read it in one sitting. I remember the night I finished it, I called my boyfriend crying because of the ending. He obviously had no idea what was going on but I needed someone to talk to about it.

I love this book because it’s emotional, it follows a group of friends (kinda lol) and remains funny through it all. It’s very reminiscent of Harry Potter but in the best way. I love the chosen one trope in this book but more importantly, I love the relationship of Simon & Baz.

I remember waiting for the chapter where Baz finally comes into the book. I love their banter and how obvious it is that they love each other. This book is one of my favorite and it probably always will be. I cannot wait for more Simon & Baz in Wayward Son.

So, if you’re looking for an m/m book to read during Pride or in general, I would definitely recommend Carry On!

I also often get asked whether or not you need to read Fangirl first to read Carry On. I don’t think you have to because the book is an entire work by itself but reading Fangirl makes it more exciting. You feel more familiar with them.

 

Have you guys read Carry On? Let me know!

Movies I’ve Watched Recently

So, I might’ve gotten back into watching films whenever I’m bored instead of re-watching old TV favorites like Friends or Greys Anatomy. I have a profound love for indie movies or independent films. I don’t know why — a lot of them tend to be just okay but some of them become my favorites. I have a list of nostalgic movies and some of my favorite indie films are on there! Without further ado, here’s a list of the movies I’ve watched recently.

Quick Disclaimer: I’m not a movie expert or anything. I’m just sharing with you stuff I’ve watched recently. I’m not also fully reviewing these movies. Just giving you what comes to mind whenever I think of it!

 

• Always Be My Maybe (2019)

 “Childhood sweethearts have a falling out and don’t speak for 15 years, only reconnecting as adults when Sasha runs into Marcus in San Francisco. Although the old sparks are still there, the couple live in different worlds.“

Watch the trailer here.

Director: Nahnatchka Khan

Production company: Good Universe

Screenplay: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Michael Golamco

Producers: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Nathan Kahane

Watch it on Netflix.

My rating: five stars ★★★★★ out of five stars ★★★★★

I’m not really a big fan of romantic comedies. However, I noticed a bunch of people talking about this movie (mainly Jenny Han) and it’s on Netflix so I decided to watch it. It’s also an all Asian cast so HELLO Asian excellence. I loved seeing a strong, independent female lead. While it is a romantic comedy, the main character is still a full character. She’s not nothing without the love interest and I loved that. I also loved the friendship in this movie too. Overall, this movie was insanely adorable, hilarious and sentimental. I totally cried at the end and would recommend it to others!

 

• the Edge of Seventeen (2016)

“Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until an unexpected friendship with a thoughtful teen (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all.“

Watch the trailer here.

Director: Kelly Fremon Craig

Production company: STX Entertainment

Screenplay: Kelly Fremon Craig

Producers: James L. Brooks, Richard Sakai, Julie Ansell

Watch it on Netflix.

My rating: four stars ★★★★ out of five stars ★★★★★

I’ve seen this movie on every coming-of-age recommendation lists so I decided to finally watch it even though I heard it’s pretty “cringe.” I didn’t think it was horrible but it was incredibly emotional. I liked it but didn’t love it like everyone else seems to!

 

• Then Came You (2019)

“A terminally ill teenager and a 19-year-old hypochondriac help each other achieve their dreams and face their fears.“

Watch the trailer here.

Director: Peter Hutchings

Production company: Voltage Pictures

Screenplay: Fergal Rock

Producers: Nicolas Chartier, Alissa Phillips, Claude Dal Farra, Brice Dal Farra, Derrick Tseng, Brian Keady

Watch it on Netflix.

My rating: 3 ★★★½ out of five stars ★★★★★

 

I wanted to hate this movie because it’s literally a cancer romance movie mixed with a manic pixie dream girl but I didn’t. I didn’t hate it because the actors in this movie are too good. I love Asa Butterfield so I decided to watch it on a whim. Maisie Williams plays the lead female character who has cancer and finds out she only has very little time to live. It’s weird seeing her playing this type of character but I think she still did a great job. I can confirm this movie isn’t for everyone but I still found it enjoyable and definitely cried at the end. It must be too easy to make me cry during films now, eh?

 

• Rocketman (2019)

“An epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.“

Watch the trailer here.

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Production company: Paramount 

Screenplay: Fergal Rock

Producers: Elton John, David Furnish, Matthew Vaughan, etc.

Watch it on Netflix.

My rating: 4 ★★★★ out of five stars ★★★★★

 

My boyfriend and I went to see this in theaters recently and it was an insanely good movie! I didn’t know much about Elton John before but I’ve been listening to all his music after seeing this movie. I think Taron Egerton did an AMAZING job as Elton John and he looks so much like him when he was younger. I feel like it was kind of all over the place but it was still so much fun to watch. Also, I’ve heard people not watching this movie because it’s rated R and Elton John is gay but I’m telling you now, this movie isn’t as “vulgar” as everyone seems to be saying. I think they’re just saying that because they’re not used to seeing gay couples on screen. Anyways, great movie!

 

• Miss Stevens (2016)

“A high school English teacher (Lily Rabe) becomes a weekend chaperone for three students (Timothée Chalamet, Lili Reinhart) at a drama competition.“

Watch the trailer here.

Director: Julia Hart

Production company:Gilbert Films, Big Beach

Screenplay: Julia Hart, Justin Horowitz

Watch it on Netflix.

My rating: 3 ★★★½ out of five stars ★★★★★

 

 

 

What movies have you watched recently?

 

 

May Wrap Up 2019

May is finally over! May felt so much longer than it was this month. I swear it’s been month for more than 31 days, right? So, it’s time to share with you everything I read in the month of May. I finished two books this month which isn’t a lot but they both were really good!

• Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor 4.5 stars out of 5

I really enjoyed Muse of Nightmares but there was just something missing in it for me. I have a feeling this is because I hadn’t read Strange the Dreamer in a really long time but I still really enjoyed it.

1. Vicious by V.E. Schwab 5 stars out of 5

God, I love V.E. Schwab. Her writing never fails to amaze me and I always find myself falling in love with her characters. I didn’t not know what this book was about whenever I started it but I managed to binge read it all in one sitting because it was that good. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Right now, I’m currently reading the Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Priory of the Orange Tree by Samatha Shannon!

 

What did you read this month?

 

May Playlist 2019

Here are all the songs I listened to in the month of May! To be completely honest, I listened to less than I usually do. I did jam to the 1975 most of the month in preparation and after the concert I went to. But, I only put two of their songs that I seemed to be listening to way more than the rest of their music. Hopefully, you find some new music today! If you want to listen, here’s a link to the spotify playlist.

v. Mai

boys will be bugs – cavetown

formation – beyonce

man! i feel like a woman! – shania twain

don’t touch my hair – solange

michael in the bathroom – be more chill

K – mac demarco

infections of a different kids – AURORA

you – the 1975

i like america & america likes me – the 1975

earfquake – tyler, the creator

i think – tyler, the creator

guiltless – dodie

i wanna be your girlfriend – girl in red

4am – girl in red

 

What have you been listening to this month?