The One Where I Stopped Rating Everything | January 2017

This was the point where I stopped rating every single thing I read because I found it difficult to put my feelings into words and give a star rating after reading some books. Also this is where I set my Goodreads challenge to 12 books. One book a month is my goal for 2017 not including comics or graphic novels. New year, new me?

January 2017

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

This had been sitting on my shelf for the longest time and I'm glad I finally picked it up. It's the story of Sutter Keely in his senior year of high school. Academically he's an underachiever with no plans for college. What I learned about Sutter Keely by reading this book is that he likes to drink. A lot. He likes to party. A lot. He meets Aimee, a quiet girl from school that he had never noticed before  meeting her when he wakes up on some random person's lawn one morning.

I don't know. I liked that it dealt with some serious issues and wasn't sugarcoated, but there were moments where I wasn't sure if I was just uncomfortable or if I really hated Sutter. I didn't end up rating this book, because I didn't hate the story, but I wasn't in love with the characters. If you don't want to waste your time reading it they made a movie that's a good adaptation.

Girls Like Me by Lola StVil

This book is written in verse and text messages which I would have had no problem with if there had been a reason why. I thought I was the only who thought this, but after reading some of the reviews I realized I wasn't the only one. It just doesn't make sense. Because of this the story suffers. The characters aren't developed enough. The main character is the most forgettable one. I felt like I never really got to know her and I don't think there was any growth. I liked the concept behind this one, but unfortunately the execution fell flat. 2/5

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

I had been meaning to pick this book up ever since it came out. There aren't enough books out there that feature Latina main characters especially in original and unique stories. This is an amazing diverse book set in Los Lagos, a beautiful fantastical world. Alex is a bruja (a witch), on her Death Day she wishes that she didn't have her powers anymore and instead of getting rid of them she gets rid of her family. 

There were a few bumps in the story where the pacing slowed down for me. It felt like the characters or the story were just going in a circle. I loved the family members and their relationships with Alex. I loved Nova, and the piece of backstory we get for him. I didn't like Rishi. I found her annoying at times and felt like she almost dropped in out of nowhere. (Bad pun. I know.) I'm interested in seeing where the other books go as they follow the other sisters.

Currently Reading

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

February TBR

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi (TBR Jar Pick)

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo