All the Light We Cannot See Book Review

5 out of 5 Stars 

5 out of 5 Stars 

This book was amazing. After a slow start (I had put it down for a few months), I finally picked it back up again and finished it in about a week and a half. Once you start reading, you can't stop. The chapters are super short which makes the story fly by. This follows two different perspectives. The first is a young girl named Marie-Laure who lives with her father in Paris. When she is six years old she goes blind. The other perspective is of a young German boy named Werner who finds a radio and realizes that he has a gift with fixing machines (not as boring as it sounds). The book follows the two as they live life while World War II is in progress. The story is enchanting. It draws you in. I would highly recommend this book. It is 530 pages of pure gold. It made me laugh, cry, and think deeply. I was talking to my grandma about it (she read it before me) and I agreed with her when she said that this was a book that "sticks." After I finished, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to know more. It is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!**

Friday Reads

Currently Reading 

Welcome back to Friday Reads, my weekly update of what I'm planning on reading over the weekend.

This weekend, I want to get farther in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This is a World War II story that follows a young German boy and a young French girl who is blind. I don't want to give much away, especially since I'm not that far into it. So far I'm enjoying it. It is an enthralling story with very short chapters which means I can move through it pretty quickly.

If, by the very slim chance that I finish this book, I might start Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. I've heard mixed reviews but I love Stephanie Perkins and would like to finish the Anna and the French Kiss companion series.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

The Assassin's Blade Book Review

Companion to the Throne of Glass Series 

4 out of 5 Stars 

I am a huge fan of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and was excited when I saw this novel at the library. I immediately picked it up and was anxious to dive back into the world. The Assassin's Blade is a bind up of five novellas that all lead to the events that occur at the very beginning of Throne of Glass. Each novella follows the main character, Celaena Sardothien, on a different adventure following the events of the previous one. I would highly recommend this bind up if you have read the Throne of Glass series. It can be read at anytime during the series. I read it after I had already completed the first and second books. Sarah J. Maas did not disappoint. The novellas are filled with action, romance, and betrayal. This is a great edition to the Throne of Glass world.

**WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK OR ANY OF THE OTHER THRONE OF GLASS NOVELS FOR THIS NEXT PART CONTAINS SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED**

Most Anticipated of 2015

I know that I'm incredibly late at putting this up but I thought I should anyway. These are my most anticipated books, TV shows, movies, and albums that are either being released for the first time or coming back for 2015. I'm so excited about each of these things and I can't wait for them to come out!

Books 
All Fall Down by Ally Carter- January 20
Fairest by Marissa Meyer- January 27
Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins- April 7
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas- May 5??
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan- October 6
Throne of Glass #4 by Sarah J. Maas
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Winter by Marissa Meyer


T.V. Shows
ONCE UPON A TIME- March 1 on ABC
Friends on Netflix

Movies
Cinderella- March
Avengers: Age of Ultron- May
Pitch Perfect 2- May
Pan 
Star Wars 7 - December 15
Paper Towns 

Music
R5's new album
Smoke and Mirrors by Imagine Dragons

Friday Reads

I've decided to post about what I'm reading/planning to read every Friday. Each Friday Reads post will include the book that I'm currently reading with a brief synopsis and any books that I might try to start over the course of the weekend. Hope you enjoy!

Currently Reading 

This Friday I plan on trying to finish The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas. This novel is a bind-up of five novellas from the widely popular Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas. Each novella follows the main character Celaena Sardothien on her adventure leading up to the events in Throne of Glass. Each novella is fast paced and very entertaining. It's been a while since I've read a Sarah J. Maas book and I was very glad to be re-emmersed in this world. I'm a little over half way done and so far I'm really enjoying it.

If I happen to finish The Assassin's Blade, I'll either pick up All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr or Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. I'm already part way through All the Light We Cannot See so I'll most likely pick that first.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

All the Bright Places Review

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is now available 

I was given the opportunity to read this book a few weeks before it came out because I had access to an advanced reader copy. This book had been described to me as perfect for someone who loves John Green and Rainbow Rowell's book." I am an avid fan of both Green and Rowell so I was immediately intrigued. This book made me laugh, cry, angry, annoyed, etc. I basically felt all the feels with this book. I ended up giving it a 4.5 stars because it left such an impression on me.

When the book begins, we meet Finch, a high school senior who is standing on the ledge of his school's clock tower contemplating suicide. He soon realizes that he is not alone up there. Violet Markey, one of the most popular girls at school stands on the ledge as well, unmoving. Finch eventually coaxes her back and the two head down together. Thus begins their story.

**Warning: Spoilers Ahead. Do not read if you don't want to be spoiled. I'm warning you***

5 Tips to Help You Start Second Semester

For many college students, winter break has come to an end and it is time to head back to school. The month off of school was pure bliss compared to the hell that is finals week. There was no homework to complete, no alarms set, and no dining hall food. For me, my second semester started last week Tuesday so I've already had a week of classes. It was hard to get back into the swing of things after not having any responsibilities for a month. Here are some of my tips to help you start the semester off right.

1.) Get a planner
      This one may seem obvious but trust me, a planner is one of the most helpful things you can ever buy for college. Mine is from Vera Bradley and it has a big calendar for the entire month plus places to plan out the week. It has been my life saver since day one of college. I can copy down all of my assignments and social events that I have going on throughout the month. Another tip is to buy colorful pens and color code your classes. My favorites are the marker pens from Paper Mate.

2.) Copy the syllabus into your planner
     In most college classes, the first day you will receive the syllabus that has assignments and due dates for the entire semester.  I'm in four classes this semester and I copied every single assignment from each syllabus into my planner. This helps keep me organized and prepared for class. I just have to look at the date and see what assignments I have due before the next class. It makes staying on top of work very easy.

3.) Take breaks while studying
      It can be hard to get back to school and suddenly have all of this homework and studying that needs to be done. It can be a tedious task that most students dread. My tip is to take short breaks while studying. It will help keep your mind fresh and not feel overloaded with information.

4.) Organize your notes
     Personally I love color coding my notes. My binder and notebook are the same color and stored together on the same shelf. I also love tab dividers to separate notes, handouts, worksheets, and schedules. It will make things so much easier to find when studying.

5.) Grab things you need the night before
     Another obvious tip, but it has saved me when I'm running late for class. The night before, I take    everything that I'll need for class the next day and put it in my backpack. I also fill up my water bottle and charge my phone. It may seem silly but it's definitely worth the extra minutes of sleep I get in the morning.

I hope these tips help you start off your second semester in a good way. It'll take a little bit of time to adjust, but once you're there, it's almost as if you never left campus at all! Have a great second semester everybody!