Booked with Abby

 We have officially conquered the first month of 2021! My reading goal for this year is 100 books. According to Goodreads, I'm right on track so let's get started with my January wrap-up! Book Reviews: Almost Home  by Joan Bauer My Rating: 3 stars Almost Home was sad but repetitive. My Review The Queen's Assassin  by Melissa de la Cruz My Rating: 4 stars Series:  The Queen's Secret Wow! This was such a good book! Between the Alex & Eliza series and The Queen's Assassin , I think Melissa de la Cruz is becoming one of my favorite authors. My Review Glass Sword  by Victoria Aveyard My Rating: 4 stars Series: Red Queen book 2 I've been waiting forever to get my hands on the sequel to Red Queen  and it was pretty good. My Review Wonder Woman: Warbringer  by Leigh Barduhgo My Rating: 4 stars Series: DC Icons For my first Leigh Barduhgo book, I was really impressed. After Warbringer , I definitely want to read more of her books, starting with  Shadow & Bone. My

What if Wendy first traveled to Never Land with Captain Hook?      Wendy's life is as boring as can be. She doesn't want to be a pretty lady for the rest of her life. And she definitely doesn't want to be sent to Ireland to become a governess. So it seems Wendy will have to take matters into her own hand if she'd like some fun. But when Wendy trades Peter Pan's shadow to Captain Hook in return for passage to Neverland, it proves to be a fatal mistake. Now, Wendy will need to save both Neverland and London from its impending doom. I had an interesting experience with this book. At first, I loved it. I could not put it down. But shortly after Wendy's visit to Mermaid Lagoon, I became a little less interested. But by the last 150 pages, I was in love with this book again. So, I liked Straight On Till Morning. Straight On Till Morning  was a great take on Peter Pan . I was pretty invested in the story. Liz Braswell has some amazing descriptions in this book that I l

Selena Kyle finally makes her return to Gotham City after a two-year hiatus. Returning as Holly Vanderhees, she attends every gala and party there is. But as soon as all the guests disappear, Holly disappears and Catwoman emerges from the shadows. It isn't long before she's on the prowl, teaming up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. Batman's away so it's up to Batwing to fill the role of Gotham's dark protector. But Luke isn't sure he has what it takes to bring down Gotham's newest villain.     The beginning of Catwoman: Soul Stealer  was okay. I'll admit, I didn't really enjoy the first few chapters but I ended up enjoying this book a lot. At first, I didn't really see the point of the first two chapters which were kind of like an epilogue. I skimmed over them because they got boring but by the end, I looked at them in a whole new light.     Most of the book didn't seem to have a plot. It was just Selina pulling off jewel heists and flirting

I love the musical Dear Evan Hansen. It’s probably my favorite and I can’t wait for the movie to come out soon. In honor of the musical, here are so Dear Evan Hansen book recs! Anybody Have A Map All for One  by Melissa de la Cruz During All for One,  Eliza tries to navigate motherhood while her husband is busy working just like Hedi and Cynthia. Waving Through A Window Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs In "Waving Through A Window," Evan talks about her feels invisible and this reminds me how Jacob used to feel ordinary and unspecial.  For Forever Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas  This song reminds me of the scene where Yadriel and Julain were driving the car. Sincerely Me The Mall by Megan McCafferty "Sincerely Me" is probably my favorite song in the musical. It's so much fun just like The Mall . Requiem The Year After You  by Nina de Pass "Requiem" is a sad song about mourning. While Zoe refuses to feel sad for

Evan Hansen has never been important before. He's been invisible his whole life. Connor Murphy felt the same way. But then Connor commits suicide with a letter addressed to Evan in his pocket. A letter that Evan wrote to himself. When the Murphys find it, they are convinced that Evan was Connors's one and only friend. He thought he was giving the Murphys what they needed. Evan thought that he could make everything easier for everyone. All he did was dig himself deeper into the lie he created. Dear Evan Hansen was based on the Broadway musical of the same name and boy did I sing my way through this book. I could find lyrics from all seventeen songs. And I sang. Every. Single. One. I don't think a book has made me cry as much as this one. There are just so many parts that make you want to curl up and ball your eyes out, And let me tell ya, I cried. I cried a lot. I'm surprised my tears didn't fill up a lake. If I cried even more I would have needed a Wonderland-style

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A boy who had just inherited his family's fortune worth well over a billion dollars. After getting in some trouble with the police, Bruce finds himself serving community service at Arkham Assylum. While there, he meets Madeline, a girl full of mystery. While Gotham City is being terrorized by the Nightwalkers, Madeline holds the keys to the information Bruce needs to finally stop them.     I've had an interesting experience with Maire Lu... Over the past three months, I've read three of her books, and Batman: Nightwalker is the only one I haven't DNF'd. Back in November, I read The Kingdom of Back  which I didn't like. It was so boring and I just couldn't get into the story. In early December, I read Legend  which I really liked but put down because there was another book I got that I really wanted to read.      Nightwalker was so captivating. I was instantly hooked from the beginning. I love the Batman movies so it

This year, I want to bring back my recent reads posts. I did a couple last year but then suddenly stopped. In 2021, I'd really like to keep it consistent. I'm going to try and post a recent reads every other Wednesday. Let's see how long I can keep this up! Catwoman: Soulstealer  by Sarah J. Maas  Dates read: January 3 - January 5    I didn't like the beginning of the book. It was really boring and hard to get into. By the end, I really liked this book. I had such high hopes for Catwoman: Soulstealer . I've heard so many amazing things about Maas's writing (most of it coming from the ACOTAR fandom that somehow keeps popping up on my Instagram feed). Catwoman is also my favorite DC character so naturally, I was excited to read this book. I just was really disappointed. Synopsis:     Selena Kyle finally makes her return to Gotham City after a two-year hiatus. Returning as Holly Vanderhees, she attends every gala and party there is. But as soon as all the guests di

 If you haven't heard already, the monstrous year known as 2020 is over. Though lots of great books came out last year, this year has so many great ones in the line-up. I'm sure that they'll we lots of new favorites but for now, here are five unreleased books that I'm dying to read! 5. Cast in Secrets and Shadow by Andrea Robertson Release Date: June 1, 2021 Last year, I read (and loved) Forged in Fire and Stars.  The book was amazing and I can't wait for the sequel. I don't want to spoil anything for the sequel so you can check out my review of the first book linked below. Forged in Fire and Stars review 4. Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard Release Date: May 4, 2021 I loved the Red Queen series so naturally, I'll be buying Vicotia Aveyards next book, Realm Breaker.  The cover of this book is just stunning and I'm so excited for it! Corayne lives at the end of the world and watches her mother sail away year after year. When a deadly assassin shows up

Diana is the daughter of immortals. Living with the legendary Amazons, Diana has wanted nothing more than to prove her worth to her sisters. She finally gets the chance to be a hero when she discovers Alia moments after ship weck. By saving the girl, Diana is risking everything including exile. She discovers Alia is a Warbringer, the direct decedent of Helen of Troy. People are hunting Alia. They would do anything to see her dead. But it's up to her and Diana to stop an impending war.     WOW! This book was amazing! I've heard so many good things about Leigh Bardugo's writing and all the praise seems to be well deserved. After reading Warbringer , I want to read more of her books.     The beginning of the book was a little slow but I liked that we got right into the plot. Some authors hold off so long building up to the beginning of a journey which can honestly get a little annoying.     I think Leigh Bardugo did such a great job at portraying Wonder Woman. I've always

  Red Queen was an amazing book! I fell instantly in love with it and like I did with many of my other favorite books, I put together a playlist of seven songs that remind me of Red Queen. Test Me- Melanie Martinez the 1- Taylor Swift Fake Smile- Arianna Grande Power- Katy Perry Heavy Crown- Iggy Azela feat. Ellie Goulding Never Be the Same- Camila Cabello The Principle- Melanie Martinez

 Mare Barrow has red blood. But she has silver abilities. There are others like her out there. She now joins forces with the Scarlet Guard. Mare only has days to find the other New Bloods and train them. But Maven is also after the New Bloods. And he will make sure every one of them is dead.     I love Cal! I know in the first book I was totally on team Maven but after seeing more of Cal and Mare, I ship them. Cal cares so much and they are adorable together. Another couple in this book that I'm totally in love with is Farely and Shade! They are such a good match!     I cared so much for the characters in Glass Sword . I found myself cheering on Mare during fight scenes and weeping over other characters. I was also so happy that Mare got to reunite with her family. There are so many emotional moments in this book. Victoria Aveyard is definitely the type of author that will destroy you with character deaths.     One thing that I did notice while reading Glass Sword  is the writing s

Shadow has always wanted to be part of the Guild. She's been training her whole life to become a skilled fighter. Caldon is the kingdoms deadliest weapon. Bound by an oath made long ago, he serves as the Queen's Assassin. He won't be free from her will until he can recover the Deian Scrolls. When the two cross paths, Shadow convinces Cal that the Queen sent her to be his apprentice. As the two grow closer, they start to uncover a shocking web of lies.     I heard so many good things about this book, I just had to read it! After loving the Alex & Eliza Trilogy , I was so excited for Melissa de la Cruz's next book and I wasn't let down! The Queen's Assassin was thrilling at every turn.     I loved Cal and Shadow as a couple. I spent the first half of the book just waiting for them to kiss! By the end of the book, they were so in love and it was adorable!      The plot of this book was always moving forwards which I liked. There never seemed to be a dull or slo

Sugar's life is tough. She and her mother struggle to get ends meet and one day, they lose it all. They move to Chicago for a fresh start but that can't come soon enough. The two become homeless. After her mother has a breakdown, Sugar is put into foster care. All she has left is her dog, Shush. Sugar learns that home is wherever the heart is.      This book was okay. It's not something I would rave about or something I would go back and reread. To me, Almost Home  was an average book. Sugar wrote poems to deal with tough stuff in her life. I hated the poems. Eventually, I just started skipping over them.     There were a few weird things in this book. First, Sugar called her mother Reba. Sugar also called her father Mr. Leeland and I never really understood why.      Sugar also has a weird tendency to write thank-you letters. The letters weren't boring, they just felt a bit out of place. I'm not sure if they were there just to fill space or to force upon us the fac

      It's officially 2021 everyone! I have so many new exciting books and I'm sure I'll gather more as new releases come out but here's my starting TBR for 2021! Batman: Nightwalker  by Marie Lu     I've had a hit or miss relationship with Marie Lu so far. I DNFed both The Kingdom of Back  and Legend . I couldn't get into The Kingdom of Back . I really liked Legend but I quite the audiobook because there was one I was more excited to listen to. However, I really like Batman so hopefully, I love this book.      Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City and their next target is Burce Wayne. Slowly, the elites of Gotham are being murdered in their own homes. Meanwhile, Bruce has just turned eighteen and is about to inherit his family fortune and manor. However, after a run-in with the police, Bruce is forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum. In Arkham, Bruce meets Madaline, a girl with links to the Nightwalkers. Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Mass      I