The Liebster Award ☼

The Rules

• Thank the person who nominated you and link their blog.
• Give your readers 11 random facts about yourself.
• Answer the 11 questions from the blog who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 bloggers to receive this award.
• Come up with 11 questions for your nominees!

I was nominated by the lovely Pavi from For The Love of Fictional Worlds to do The Liebster Award! Go visit her blog, her posts are awesome and she is a wonderful human being. Thank you for the nomination! ♥

11 Random Facts about Me!

1. I often think that I was born into the wrong generation, as 80’s movies and music are my favourite.
2. I am a Girl Guide and I have been for about 5 years. (Yes, we do more than just sell cookies)
3.I can play little bits of guitar, but I would like to become more advanced in the future.
4. I am often told that I am very good at being supportive and giving advice to those in times of trouble. So I am thinking about being a youth counselor in the future.
5. My fatal flaw is believing people have the ability to be more than just people.
(Expecting too much of people)
6. I am a hopeless romantic, and I love everything to do with love.
7. My greatest musical influences are Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran.
8. I have recently discovered that spoken word poetry and slam poetry has the ability to inspire me.
9. Words in general are what drives me. I connect with any emotion that can be portrayed in words, through poetry, music and of course books.
10. I suffer from stress headaches, and have to deal with them daily.
11. I have the ability to think very deeply about topics, and I have always been told I could be a writer, but I am never happy with what I create.  

 11 Questions from Pavi

1. The book/author that you owe your reading obsession to?

I owe my reading obsession to the one and only J.K Rowling. Her books were what started it all for me, as my Mum started reading them to me as a child, and they have been a huge part of my life since then. I have re-watched the movies hundreds of times and I am currently re-reading them again.

2. Your first fictional love.

My first fictional love was Michael Moscovitz from The Princess Diaries series. He is perfection. (Ah, swoon)

3. Your top 5 fictional role models and why?

My top 5 fictional role models would have to be:
– Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
– Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games
– Juliette Ferrars from Shatter Me
– Violet Baudelaire from A Series Of Unfortunate Events
– Thalia Grace from Percy Jackson

These characters are my top 5 role models because they are all strong female characters, they are very passionate about what they believe in and they all have great qualities in which I hope to one day possess.

4. Which book/series has influenced you the most?

The novel Thirteen Reasons Why, I feel like has influenced me the most as it really affected the way that I think and my view of the world. This book was very emotional and really hits home about the importance of how we treat one another.

5. Where do you find new books to read from?

Most of the time I find new books to read from the internet on Instagram and Booktube, but also from my friends who also enjoy reading. We often recommend books to each other as we have similar reading tastes.

6. One person (can be anyone) whose reading recommendations you would follow blindly?

I follow my Guide Leader Rebecca’s (Bec and Charlie Reads) recommendations blindly, as we share many different opinions both good and bad about popular books that we have read. She is always recommending books for me to read that I end up loving. So whenever she tells me about an amazing book she has just read, I add it to the top of my TBR pile.

7. Who is your go to listening partner for all things fictional?

My listening partner for fictional things is my best friend Dana, as we are both avid readers we understand the need to express our feelings about the events or characters in a book, despite the fact that the other may not have read it yet. We have a mutual understanding between us when it comes to all things fictional.

8. One fictional world you would give up everything to live in.

I would give up anything to live in the Harry Potter world, and attend Hogwarts. I feel like this is a common answer between many of us booknerds, but honestly I couldn’t think of anywhere else I would rather go.

9. The one book that has bought you out of a bad time.

I don’t really have one specific book that has helped me through a bad time, but reading and fiction in general always makes me feel so much better, and gives me motivation the keep moving forward and not dwell too much on the past because we all have a finite existence. 

10. Book/Series that you wish would turn into a TV Serial so as not to compromise on any detail.

I would really love to see the Mara Dyer series as TV series as I feel like it would have a large audience because of multiple aspects of the novels. As well as the fact that the books are so well pieced together, it probably couldn’t be adapted to the screen any other way because of the intricate plot lines.

11. One book that is your go to recommendation for any reader.

I highly recommend Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi as it would appeal to many readers, and the writing is so poetic and amazing. The series has a female protagonist that undergoes massive character development and is a great role model. Overall it is just a great dystopian read! Plus the covers are gorgeous! 

My Nominations:

Sorry, I don’t have 11 nominees, but I am very new here and I don’t know have many blogger friends yet! But here are my nominations!

Alina (Radiant Reads)
Ashley (What’s She Reading?)
Bec & Charlie (Bec and Charlie Reads)
Becca (Becca and Books)
Michelle (The Unfinished Book)

11 Questions for my Nominees
1. Who are your top 3 favourite authors?
2. What character would you like to have as your Best Friend or Side Kick?
3. If you could meet any actor that played a character from a book/s, who would it be?
4. If you could choose one author to write the story of your life, who would it be?
5. What was your least favourite book ever?
6. What is one book that you love, but everyone else on the planet hates?
7. What is your favourite book that is not in the Young Adult genre?
8. If you got to play a YA book character in a movie or TV series, who would it be?
9. What was the shortest time it took you to read a book?
10. Which book do you believe should receive more hype?
11. What is your all-time favourite standalone novel?

Let me know if & when you answer my questions, as I would love to read them!
Thank you all for reading my responses!

Until next time,
Emma x

The Reader Problems Book Tag!

I was tagged by the awesome Alina to do The Reader Problems Book Tag!
Thank you so much, I’m really excited to be doing my first tag on my blog!
Let’s get into it!

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1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

When it comes to my TBR pile, I usually have a rough idea on the next couple of books I want to read. Most of the time, they are just the next books in a series that I am currently reading. A lot of the time, I just go into the library and just choose a book off the shelf that I have been wanting to read for ages. However, sometimes I just pick one that has been sitting on my shelf the longest and just give it a go.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or commit?

Usually I have a very set mind in committing to a book, even if I am not enjoying it, as the ending of the novel might just finally give me a reason to like it. However, if I am really struggling through it, I will put it down, and try to come back to it some other time.

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close yet so far away on your Goodreads Challenge. Do you quit or commit?

I would commit to my challenge, but try not to put too much pressure on myself. If I get stressed out about the books I need to read, or the amount I have to read, it becomes unenjoyable for me. Although, when setting a goal on Goodreads, I keep it reachable, as I can set the bar a bit higher if I reach it early.

4. The covers of a series you love DO. NOT. MATCH. How do you cope?

Most of the time, I do not cope. I really like when all my covers match, and are the same height as they look better on my bookshelf. However, I can’t justify buying another copy, when I already own a perfectly readable one, as I just don’t have the money.

5. Everyone and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

I bond a lot with my best friend, as she usually has a similar view on the books that we have both read. I am very lucky that we share a lot of opinions, however, when we do disagree I talk to my amazing guide leader Rebecca (becandcharliereads). Between the three of us, we usually have the same or similar feelings about a book. And of course, I would talk to everyone in the book blog community!

6. You’re reading a book and you’re about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

I just let it out. I am a very emotional person when it comes to the books I’m reading, or the movies I watch. So I would just cry in public, and just ignore everyone who was staring me. What can I say, I didn’t choose the fangirl life.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a summary on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?

If the first book in the series was one I really enjoyed, I would re-read it. However, if it was kind of whatever, I would try to find a summary, or just go into the second book blind. Most of the time, after a couple of chapters, it will have refreshed my memory about what happened in the previous novel.

8. You don’t want ANYONE borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people “nope” when they ask?

I really don’t like people borrowing my books, however I do let a couple of my closest friends borrow them, as they often let me borrow novels from them, and like to keep them in good condition also. Although, when it comes to other people, I usually just tell them I borrowed it from the library, or another friend of mine is already reading it. So yeah, I basically just lie. I’m a horrible person, but a little white lie is better than hurting someone’s feelings right??

9. You’ve picked up and put down five different books in the past month. How do you get over your slump?

Whenever I’m in a slump, which I currently am, (UGHHH) I try to just focus on other things going on in my life. I don’t force myself to read, because in the end, whatever book I’m reading I begin dislike anyway. So, sometimes I’ll just wait a while, and then pick up a book that will either be a light and enjoyable read, or one that I have been anticipating for a long time.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you are dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

When new books are released, most of the time, I don’t buy a copy for myself until I have borrowed it from a friend or the library. I’m very cautious of buying new releases that I’m not sure whether I will like, as I don’t have enough money or room on my shelf to hold books that I don’t like.

11. After you’ve bought a new book you want to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf until you actually read them?

If I have been anticipating the book for ages, I will usually pick it up straight away, However, I do have books on my shelf that I haven’t read yet, so I try to get to them as soon as possible. So that could mean I read them in the next couple of weeks or months, or they stay on my shelf unread for the rest of time. Depends on what I’m in the mood to read.

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Oh the struggles of being a reader!

I tag:
Pavi (For The Love of Fictional Worlds)
Ashley (What’s She Reading?)
Bec & Charlie (Bec and Charlie Read Books)
Becky (Blogs of a Bookaholic)

Until next time,
Emma x

Favourite Quotes From Young Adult Novels!

Hello everyone!
Here is a collection of quotes that I love from novels in the Young Adult genre! I hope you can gain some inspiration from within the words of these beautiful quotes!
Also, all of these books are AMAZING, and I hope these quotes convince you to read them.

1. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2. “When I look at my room, I see a girl who loves books.”
― John Green, Looking for Alaska

3. “But the you who you are tonight is the same you I was in love with yesterday, the same you I’ll be in love with tomorrow.”
― Gayle Forman, If I Stay

4. “No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.”
― Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why

5. “Maybe the truth is, there’s a little bit of loser in all of us. Being happy isn’t having everything in your life be perfect. Maybe it’s about stringing together all the little things.”
― Ann Brashares, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

6. “To really be a nerd, she’d decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one.”
― Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl

7. “One must always be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

8. “He’s a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Until next time,
Emma x

My Rating System! ★

Hello everyone!
As I would love to eventually do Book Reviews on this blog, I thought it would be beneficial for me to share to all of you how I rate books out of the Goodreads’ 5 Star System!
So here goes!

★☆☆☆☆ 1 out of 5 stars = I HATED IT. I either put this book down after reading only half way, OR struggled all the way through strongly disliking all the characters, plot & writing style. I will definitely not read on, if this is a book in a series.

★★☆☆☆ 2 out of 5 stars = I DISLIKED IT. I most likely finished this book, but disliked the characters for the most part of the novel. However, I was probably able to deal with the writing style, but certain parts were quite annoying.

★★★☆☆ 3 out of 5 stars = IT WAS OKAY. I enjoyed the story line and liked the ending, but it took a long time to get into. Most often I am not invested into the story, and cannot relate to the characters. Overall was an alright read, but I probably won’t read it again.

★★★★☆ 4 out of 5 stars = I REALLY LIKED IT. I really liked this book, and enjoyed the plot choices and writing style. I connected with the characters, but sometimes did not agree with them. I’d definitely read on, if it was part of a series and would check out other novels by this author. I would possibly read this book again in the future.

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars = I LOVED IT. This book was absolute perfection, and I will recommend it to every person on this planet. There was nothing that I could fault this novel for, and would highly anticipate either the next book in a series, or another novel written by this author. I will definitely re-read this book more than once.

NOTE: I often use half stars, (e.g 3.5 stars) and this is because I am often undecided about whether I should give it a higher or lower rating for different reasons, so I will put it in between. For example, I liked it, but didn’t REALLY like it. Or I really really enjoyed the plot lines, but didn’t like some of the characters.

I hope this will be helpful for when I start to post reviews! Let me know if you have a similar way of rating the books you read!

Until next time,
Emma x

Hello Book Blog Community!

Hello everyone!
I’ve been wanting to create a book blog for such a long time now, and now FINALLY I have taken a massive leap and actually done it. I’ve always loved books, and I really wanted to share my obsession, fangirl over book boyfriends and have just a couple of shoulders to cry on over the soul crushing feels that we all experience. So here I am, joining the amazing people in the book blog community!
I’ve included a whole bunch of facts both about books, and just myself in general, so you can get to know me!

1. My name is Emma, I’m almost 15 years old and I live in Australia!
2. I started reading for pleasure when i was about 9 or 10 years old.
3. The first novels that I can remember reading are The Princess Diaries series, The Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter!
4. My favourite authors are J.K Rowling, John Green & Lily Paradis.
5. The genre I read the most is Young Adult Fiction. (Contemporary, Dystopian, Paranormal & Fantasy)
6. My favourite series/ trilogies are Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Hunger Games, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer & Shatter Me.
7. My favourite standalone would have to be The Fault in Our Stars or The Book Thief. I just can’t decide between them.
8. I read both physical copy books as well as ebooks. I prefer physical copies, but ebooks are cheaper!
9. I own a very well used library card, as I like to read a book before I buy it, just in case I don’t like it.
10. And finally 10! I love taking photos of my books, and I post all of my bookish photos on my Instagram!  (@shereadsbooksx)

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment!

Until next time,
Emma x