Hi! Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/. Our love of lists inspires this bookish meme, and brings the book blogging community together. Each week, Jana will pick a prompt, and we readers will make our list based on that prompt. We also have the option of doing our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for that week. This week, our topic is things that make me not want to pick up a book. This can include Triggers, turn-offs, and deal breakers.
1-Student Teacher Romance
I tried one book of this trope, and it wasn’t for me. I just am not a fan of this trope.
2-Erotica
While it has its place, and I’m glad it exists for fans of it, It’s not for me. As someone who Is Demi-Sexual, it’s not something I want in my books.
3- Books with a spice rating above a 7 or 8
I will ask before I start a book or look into how spicy a book is before starting the book. This is another turnoff because I identify as a Demi-Sexual/on the A-Sexual Spectrum.
4-Horror
I’m putting this here for the moment. I want to look into Horror books I could enjoy. I’m not a fan of scary things, which is why I couldn’t get into a horror book.
5-Books with lots of violence
I’m not a fan of books with a lot of violence towards the characters. I’m okay with some, but after a while, it gets too intense for me.
Hi! Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/. Our love of lists inspires this weekly meme and brings the book blogging community together. Jana will post a list each week, and we readers will make our list based on that topic. We also have the option of doing our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for that week. This week, we have the topic of things getting in the way of reading right now which was done by A Cocoon of Books during a freebie week. This is an entertaining topic, and I’m excited to dive in. I’m going to be using right now, as the month of May so far in this case.
Theater things
Luckily things are slowing down this week, but most of my month so far has been spent running music for a local production of Into the Woods Junior. I am having fun, and I love helping the kids, I just wish I had more time to read a book while there. Tech Week and Opening weekend are now done, so I have more time in the afternoons this week.
2-Content on Streaming Services
I am so behind on streamed shows and movies. I try and have them on and catch up while I read, but that’s hard with the shows I really love and I want to focus on them. I hope to reach a point in my media backlog where I can do both at the same time.
3-Twitch and Youtube Streams and content
I try to read while watching a Twitch Stream. I find that if the streamer is playing a game I want to watch, or the streamer is talking to me, I feel the need to respond. Much like with TV and movies, I want to be able to watch Twitch streams and Youtube content at the same time.
4- Family Obligations
Spring and summer seem to be the busiest times of the year for me. Once it slows down I hope to bring books to family events or read in the car. My family talks to me while I read, so that’s what prevents me from reading when we’re just hanging out.
5- Video and Mobile Games
I know this could have gone in the streams section, but I am loving playing video games right now. I am trying to read and play video games simultaneously, but I have a hard time putting the book down at the beginning of a round, and getting back into the story when I pick it back up while waiting for the next round. I have to crave out the balance between reading and gaming.
6- Other Audio media
This is specifically about the two audiobooks I have going right now. Some days I just don’t feel like listening to an audiobook because of my podcast backlog, or musicals I want to listen to. My idea for this is that I downloaded what I most want to listen to from Spotify, so I’m hoping to use a car ride, or sometime around the house to listen to those. I could do the same for the podcast backlog as well.
7- Work and content creation
I’m a freelance writer, and I have my blog here. I want to get back to three days a week minimum of blogging here and on Instagram. I have reviews to write, so I’m taking reading time to write the content. I have personal fiction projects as well that prevent me from reading because I want to work on them.
8- Social Media
I feel like this is true for a lot of people today. I spend so much time checking in on Instagram when I could be reading. Discord is also a big culprit of this.
Hi! It’s been a few months since I’ve done this meme, but I’ve missed it, and I want to start doing this meme again. This weekly meme was created by https://www.wishfulendings.com/2023/05/i-cant-wait-for-in-shelter-of.html. This meme is inspired by Jill @ http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/ who created Waiting on Wednesday. Each week, we talk about a book that we can’t wait to read. Usually, these books are unpublished. This week, I’m featuring Juileta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu. All information comes from Goodreads.
Julieta isn’t looking for her Romeo–but she is writing about love. When her summer writing teacher encourages the class to publish their work online, the last thing she’s expecting is to get a notification that her rom-com has a mysterious new contributor, Happily Ever Drafter. Julieta knows that happily ever afters aren’t real. (Case in point: her parents’ imploding marriage.) But then again, could this be her very own meet-cute?
As things start to heat up in her fiction, Julieta can’t help but notice three boys in her real life: her best friend’s brother (aka her nemesis), the boy next door (well, to her abuela), and her oldest friend (who is suddenly looking . . . hot?). Could one of them be her mysterious collaborator? But even if Julieta finds her Romeo, she’ll have to remember that life is full of plot twists. . . .
From the author of Love in English comes a fresh take on love and romance, and a reminder to always be the author of your own life story.
why I want to read this
I enjoyed Love in English by this author, and I’m curious about how this one will be. As a lover of Shakespeare, I wanted to see how this story would go. As a writer, I also love the idea of this story. I can’t wait to see which guy Julieta picks.
Hi! I’m back from my unplanned break last week. Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com. This weekly meme was born out of our love of lists and brings the book blogging community together. Each week, Jana will post a prompt, and we readers will make our list based on that prompt. We also have the option of doing our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for the topic that week. This week, our topic is books I’d recommend the most. This is fun, and I have separated the books by genre.
Middle-Grade
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
This is my favorite Middle-Grade series. I read these as an adult, but they’re delightful, and fun with a lot of heart. At the start of the series, we meet Percy, a 12-year-old who hasn’t had the best luck in school. Over the course of the series, Percy finds out more about his father Poseidon. Especially if you’re a fan of Greek mythology. Read these books.
2-Shannon in Spotlight by Kalena Miller
This is a recent release, and I was on the blog tour a few weeks ago. The theater kid in me loved this story, and I loved seeing the mental health rep as well. If you love The Sound of Music, I think you would in particular love this book. The writing is fantastic; the characters are delightful, and the story is both heartwarming and fun. I loved the journey that Shannon and her friends went on over the course of the book.
The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan
This is the second series in the Percy Jackson Universe. Among the two series I’ve completed, I prefer Percy Jackson. I think this might be because I’ve always preferred the Greek Mythology to Roman. This series combines both Greek and Roman mythology and tells the stories of both in a fun and interesting way. There are characters I love in this series, like Piper and Reyna, and Jason grows on me every time I reread the series.
Young Adult
4-Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, or seen my other posts, you know that I love this book. This queer YA story is a lot of fun and has a lot of heart. Simon tells a story that is relatable to some of the audience. There’s also a theater element to this story which I love.
Honorable Mention: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertallli. I’m in the middle of this book, and I would have swapped it out. I love this book a lot, and I really love the characters and the story. There’s also a fake dating trope.
5-Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Orsmbee
This was the first book I read with an Ace lead. As someone who was newly thinking I was on the Ace spectrum, this was the book I needed at the time. I also had a huge web series phase, where I would watch a lot of Literary Web series on YouTube, and this had those vibes as well. I just love this book, and I’ve recommended it to a number of people.
6-All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
This was my favorite YA book last year. I love the story, and the dual timelines in the story. Sal and Noor are fantastic characters, and I loved seeing Sal’s mother in the story as well. I’m planning to reread the book this year because I loved it so much, and the story hasn’t left my mind in over a year.
7- Heartstopper by Alice Osemen
If you want a graphic novel, try this one! I was a little late to the hype of reading this one, but I just love it so much. This is another queer story that follows Nick and Charlie. The characters are fun and delightful, and the story has a lot of heart. Heartstopper has a large cast of characters, so there is one or two characters who you will be interested in following their story.
Adult
8- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I keep meaning to reread this book but never make room on my TBR for it. Hopefully next month, I will squeeze in a reread because not stopped thinking about this book since the summer of 2019, and next month seems like the perfect time for a reread. I love Evelyn, and I want to get my mom a copy so she can read it.
9- The Brown Sisters Trilogy by Talia Hibbert
This series is delightful. I have read Get A Life, Chloe Brown three times, and my most recent reread was my favorite. I am continuing the series and loved Dani Brown even more than Chloe Brown. I think it was the fake dating trope in Dani Brown.
10- The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir
This is 100% a wild card if you know my reading taste, but Gideon the Ninth blew me out of the water, and I’m planning a reread when I finish my current trilogy. This series really makes my brain work, and I just love it.
After Shannon accidentally lands a lead role in the summer musical, she realizes she has bigger things to worry about than stage fright in this contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD.
Shannon Carter never considered herself much of a theater person. Not like her two BFFs, Elise, an actress, and Fatima, a techie. Shannon’s always been content to stay backstage, helping wherever she can. But when the director of the summer musical hears Shannon singing, he encourages her to step out of the wings and into the spotlight.
At first, Shannon is hesitant. As a twelve-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she depends on routine. But when she braves the audition, she discovers that center stage is the one place where she doesn’t feel anxious. She lands a lead role, and everyone in her life is ecstatic . . . except Elise.
To make matters worse, Shannon’s eccentric and opinionated grandmother moves in with her and her mom after a fluke house fire. As opening night approaches, Shannon feels pressure to save her friendship with Elise, to make Mom and Grandma Ruby act like grown-ups, and to follow the old theater adage The show must go on.
playlist
The Sound of Music from The Sound of Music
The Girl I Mean to Be from The Secret Garden
I Want to Live Out Loud from A Little Princess
Quiet from Matilda
I’d Rather Be Me from Mean Girls
Reveiw
Rating: 5 stars or 9.57 out of 10
Characters — 10. The characters in this book are fantastic. Each character in the story has their own personality and history. I loved Shannon and the supporting cast of characters. Shannon was my favorite character in the story, and I loved how she was brave enough to star in her first musical. Grandma Ruby was a great supporting character, and I loved seeing her interactions with Shannon as the story progressed. Elise and Fatima were Shannon’s best friends, and they both supported Shannon when she needed it, which I loved seeing.
Plot — 9. I really enjoyed the story of Shannon in the Spotlight. As a theater person who did theater in middle and high school, I loved the story, bringing me back to that time. The other side of Shannon in the Spotlight was the story of Shannon and her OCD, and I loved seeing mental health being represented in this book. We go on a journey with Shannon, and I love how much she cares about those around her, and how hard she worked on the show.
Writing — 10. The writing in the book flowed so well. Writing is not usually a 10 unless I’m pulled into every element of the story, and the writing really pulled me into this story. I loved how the writing pulled me into the story and gripped me from beginning to end. I loved how the writing was both lighthearted and heartwarming at the same time.
Enjoyment-10. I loved this book so so much. I loved how it brought me back to the theater, and how it tugged on my heartstrings. By the end of the story, I was rooting for Shannon and her friends.
About Kalena Miller
Kalena Miller is a writer, teacher, editor, and scone enthusiast. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and lovable, if slightly neurotic, dog. When she isn’t writing, Kalena enjoys tap dancing, scrapbooking, and watching an embarrassing amount of reality television. Her debut YA novel, The Night When No One Had Sex, winner of the Minnesota Book Award, is available now! Her debut middle-grade novel, Shannon in the Spotlight is forthcoming from Delacorte Press on April 25, 2023.
Characters — 7- I enjoyed the characters in this story. I loved Cassandra and her story, and Chandler was also a prominent character. The characters were a little to like The Phantom of the Opera for me, and if you know anything about musical, you could see the similarities between the two stories. Getting past that, I was still able to enjoy these for who they were. The supporting cast was also fun, and I really enjoyed getting the story from their perspective as well.
Atmosphere — 8- the audiobook helped pulled me into the atmosphere of this story. I really enjoyed the listen with the full cast and the sound effects. It executed the circus atmosphere of this story well, and pulled me.
Writing — * I’m rating the audiobook-8 This audio was fantastic. I really enjoyed the full cast experience with the dialogue and different POVs. This was the first audiobook like this, and I loved how the voice actors came in with lines of dialogue like would find in a written book. The other audiobooks I was used to having single-narrated chapters.
Plot — 7- The story of this was good! I really enjoyed the story between Cassandra and Chandler. The mafia family side story was fun, and I enjoyed seeing the characters figure out elements of the story along with me. This story also hit on one of the elements I love (fan and famous person)
Intrigue — 7- I was interested in this story. The story and the characters still intrigued me even though there were some plot elements that bothered me, There were twists and turns that kept me interested in the story.
Logic — 8- this was a book where I could see how they got from point A to B. Obedience was an easy story to follow, and I could see the logic in all the choices made.
Enjoyment —8- I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I had fun, and it really had me feeling all the emotions. I think if you enjoy romantic suspense with spice, you will enjoy this one.
Hi! Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/. Our love of books brought together this weekly meme and the book blogging community together. Jana will post a topic each week, and we readers will make a list based on that topic. We also have the option of going our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for the topic that week. This week, our topic is Animals, submitted by Rachel @https://www.livingonthesunnyside.com/. We could go in a lot of different directions with this prompt. I am highlighting my favorite books that feature animals. Books are separated by genre.
Children’s
1-Curious George by H.A. Rey and Margret Rey
2- Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
3-The Story of Babar (Babar # 1) by Jean de Brunhoff
4-What Do You See, Spot? By Eric Hill
5- Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Middle Grade
6- Amelia Gray is Almost Okay by Jessica Brody-MC has a dog named Biscuit
7- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
8- It Happened on Saturday-MC rides horses
9- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Adult
10-The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman-MC has a cat named Phil.
Hi! Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/. This meme is based on out love of lists, and bringing the book blogging community together. Each week, Jana will post a prompt, and we readers will make out list based on those prompts. We also have the option of doing our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for the prompt that week. This week, our topic is Indies, and I want to talk about Indie books I want to read. For this list, I used: https://www.yabookscentral.com/category/books/ya-fiction-indie and https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/indie-books to make my list this week.
The Books
1- Scorpionfish by Natalie Bakopoulos-Literary Fiction
2-Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller-Literary Fiction
3-The Silver Eclipse: Akkron by Kristy Dixon-YA Fantasy
4-Your Dream for Me by Ailson Schaffir -YA Contemporary
5-Hearts We Leave Behind: A Novel by Myriana Merkovic- Literary Fiction
6-A Walk Between Raindrops by Amalia Jahn-YA Contemporary
7-Katie Watson and the Painter’s Plot (Katie Watson Mysteries in Time Book 1) by Mez Blume- Middle-Grade
8-Making Friends With Monsters by Sandra L Rostirolla-Middle-Grade
9-Jester by Brielle D. Porter-YA Fantasy
10-Behind the Label by Lorna Schultz Nicholson-YA Contemporary
Top Ten Tuesday-Books to read if you like Becky Albertalli
Hi! Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/. Our love of lists inspires this weekly meme and brings the book blogging community together. Jana will post a prompt each week, and we readers will post our list based on that topic. We also have the option to do our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for the topic that week. This week’s topic is Books to Read if You like X author. I picked my favorite YA author, Becky Albertalli.
Queer Characters
Perfect on Paper By Sophie Gonzalez (YA Contemporary)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (YA Contemporary)
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (YA Contemporary)
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee (YA Historical Fiction)
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (YA Contemporary Graphic Novel)
Books with Characters who do theater/performing arts.
As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter (YA Contemporary)
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills (YA Contemporary)
When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord (YA Contemporary)
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dylan Sheldon (YA Contemporary)
Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green (YA Contemporary)
Hi! Jana hosts Top Ten Tuesday @https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com. Our love of lists inspired this weekly meme, and bringing the book blogging community together. Each week, Jana will post a prompt, and we readers will post our topic based on that topic. We also have the option of doing our own thing if we don’t have any ideas for the prompt. This week, our topic is an old TTT Topic Topic freebie, and so I’m going with genre tropes I love which I’ve seen used before. I’m focusing on Romance today.
1- Online but they know each other in real life
Rec: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
2- Grumpy X Sunshine
Rec: The Love Hypthosis by Ali Hazelwood
3- Enemies to Lovers
Rec: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
4- Misunderstandings
Rec: Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
5- Freinds to Lovers
Rec: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz,
6- Fake Dating
Rec: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
7- Siblings Best Freind
Rec: Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
8- There’s Only One Bed
Rec: Deliliah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
9- He falls first
Rec: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
10- Soul Mates
Rec: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas
Let’s Discuss
What are your favorite romance tropes? Do you have any recs for me based on mine?
Paiges of Novels 