First Page Friday - Fifteen Fantastic Picture Books

Alright, I know I'm a children's librarian, so it makes sense that I love picture books. But they're so good, I honestly don't know why more adults don't read them. In the hopes that maybe this list will inspire some of you to read more of them, this week I have for you a list of fifteen (ish...don't count them, I definitely cheated) of my favorite picture books!

Cake by Sue Hendra

Cake has just been invited to his first ever party, and he is so excited! He wants everything to go just right, so he goes shopping for the perfect hat to wear. Then when Cake gets to the party...things don't go exactly as planned.

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

This one is a rhyming book about what kinds of food all of Farmer's animals eat, culminating in the big reveal of why the cow loves cookies! There's also a special appearance by one of my favorite picture book animals, the duck.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

This is a beautifully illustrated story about a little girl and her magic box of yarn. And it's about knitting, so of course I love it. 😉

Hangry by Drew Brockington

What happens when a little monster is craving a hot dog from his favorite spot but can't get one? He gets HANGRY! I identify pretty strongly with that little monster, so I loved this one the moment I saw the cover.

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Elephant is feeling grumpy one day when a lovely surprise arrives - a box full of hats! One by one, he visits his friends, sharing the joy that awesome hats can bring. I love this book so much that I even made a felt version of the story!

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black

What happens when a bored little girl discovers a talking potato? Read and find out!

Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman

On Monday, Llama discovers a pile of cake and, of course, eats it all. He doesn't know it, but by the end of the week, this will result in the destruction of the world. What do you think might happen if he discovers a pile of pies?

Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera

I mean...it's about underwear. Underwear is funny.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

I'm a sucker for a good interactive story, and this is one of the best! You start off with a yellow dot on the page, and who knows what might happen if you press it? Read and find out, my friends. Mix It Up is also excellent.

Quackers by Liz Wong

We covered in The Cow Loves Cookies that I have a thing for ducks in picture books, and here you are. Another duck book. Meet Quackers, an adorable duck who is one of a kind. So one of a kind, in fact, that some of the other ducks don't even think he's a duck! But if he isn't a duck...then what is he?

Square, Triangle, and Circle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Busted, this is three books! Yep, you got me. This is possibly my favorite picture book series in the universe. Once again, Jon Klassen's illustrations are magic, and Mac Barnett is so funny, I can hardly handle it. These books are existential and hilarious, and I love them.

Stegothesaurus by Bridget Heos

Stegothesaurus sometimes has a hard time getting along with the other stegosauruses, so he is thrilled when an equally verbose allothesaurus befriends him! Until he discovers their friendship may not be what it seems.

There's a Dragon/Monster/Elf in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

Wait...is this another three books in one? BUSTED. These are more of my favorite interactive books, and they hold a special place in my heart because after sending a copy of There's a Dragon in Your Book to my niece for her second birthday in April, I've read it to her over video chat a few times, and it makes my heart grow three sizes Grinch-style every time I do. Plus, come on. Who doesn't love a cute baby dragon/monster/elf?

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

By now you might be wondering...does Dewey have a thing for Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett? I SURE DO! I had to stop myself from making this a list of my top twenty faves and including even more of their books...but I resisted. Y'all, this book. I cackle every time I read it. It starts off following a tiny fish who stole a big fish's hat and is now making a getaway. What happens to the little fish when Mr. Big Fish realizes he stole the hat...made my mom question whether this book was appropriate for children. 🤣

Why? - Adam Rex

Super Villain Dr. X-Ray launches his evil attack on a mall, but his plans immediately start to go awry when a little girl shopping with her mom has a question for him..."why?"

First Page Friday - Favorite Audiobooks

Howdy howdy! My sister told me I've been posting too many book lists, but look...sometimes book lists are where it's at. For today's list, I decided to share some of my favorite audiobooks, since folx who may be struggling to sit and read a physical book might have better luck listening to one. Audiobooks are my jam, I love them, so if there's a book not on the list that you think I need to listen to, let me know!

1. The Accident Season and Spellbook of the Lost and Found - Moira Fowley-Doyle

What's that? My first recommendation is a two-fer?! That's right...I continue to not be able to make up my mind. These are both somewhat supernatural stories set in Ireland, and not only does listening to them on audio a. give you the proper accent and cadence for anyone not familiar with Irish accents, but b. especially for Spellbook, I found it really helped me get to know the characters. If you're only going to listen to one, make it Accident Season, but I mean...why would you only listen to one?

2. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire Saenz

I've included this in other lists and reviewed it, so hopefully I don't need to get super in-depth with selling this one. Let me just say, in case you haven't read any of that that this is read by Lin Manuel Miranda. Fucking LIN MANUEL MIRANDA, friends! It's a magical experience, truly.

3. Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

Worth listening to just to hear Baz get frustrated with Simon over and over and snark, "Crowley, Snow."

4. The Cruel Prince - Holly Black

Gaaaaaaaasp! A book I actually haven't recommended yet? That's right! This is the first in a trilogy about a mortal girl and her twin sister who are both raised in the land of Faerie after their parents are murdered by a Red Cap who turns out to be the father of their older sister. Mortals aren't exactly held in high esteem in Fairie, but Jude isn't content to be stepped on all her life. She wants a place on the high court, and before long, she'll discover just how much she'll have to sacrifice to get it.

5. Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon

I went back and forth about whether to recommend this or The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Not only are both books amazing, but they're read by Bahni Turpin, who is one of my favorite narrators! Honestly, you could listen to anything read by her and enjoy it. She does an amazing job.

6. The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

Not only is this series a classic, my doggo is named after the main character, so...do you even need more reason to listen to it? You do? How about the fact that it's read with a full cast? Each character is voiced by their own narrator, and oh. my. god. Iorek Byrnison is incredible.

7. Half Bad - Sally Green

Have the tissues ready for this trilogy! This is another audiobook where hearing distinct character voices really makes the story. Nathan and Gabriel in particular, just...they have my heart forever. This series is intense and emotional, and I will admit that the first book got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but from there...roller coaster. It's very worth it.

8. How to Save a Life - Sara Zarr

It's been about four years since I listened to this one, and I still think about it sometimes. How to Save a Life is a story about grief, coping, and what makes a family. It's a poignant story, and the narrator is great.

9. The Illuminae Files - Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I talk about these a lot, I know. This is one of my favorite series in existence, and listening to the audio is truly like listening to a movie. Such a theatrical experience. Amazing narrators, incredible action, and just...everything about it is so good.

10. Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds

Will's older brother, Shawn, was just murdered, and this book follows Will on his elevator trip down to go after his brother's killer and get revenge. Jason Reynolds is a genius, and everything he writes is incredible, but if you need more reason to listen to this, he also narrated this story, and his reading is...whew. It will give you chills.

11. Love from A to Z - S.K. Ali

Zayneb and Adam both have a lot going on when they meet on a flight, but they find themselves drawn to each other. Maybe it's that they both keep a journal. Maybe it's that, inspired by a piece of art, those journals both track the marvels and oddities they encounter in life. Whatever it is, Zayneb and Adam are drawn to each other, even when they worry that it might not be a good idea. There are some heavy things in this book, but though serious at times, it's a very heartwarming listen.

12. The Nerdy and the Dirty - B.T. Gottfred

Oh my god, you guys. This book is simultaneously the most awkward and hilarious book I have ever read. Benedict Pendleton is a genius destined for great things who, inexplicably, finds himself struggling to get a girlfriend. Pen Lupo has a boyfriend but finds herself tiring of constantly pretending to be someone she isn't to please him, her family, and her friends. NSFW warning: If frank discussion of sex is not for you, maybe pass on this one.But if you're ok with that, give this audiobook a shot. It's incredible.

13. Someday, Someday, Maybe - Lauren Graham

Written by Lauren Graham, read by Lauren Graham...that was reason enough for me to give it a listen. It's a witty, entertaining story about a struggling actress with six months left on her self-imposed time limit for making it big or giving up going back home to teach.

14. Track series - Jason Reynolds

Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu. Four team members on a middle school track team, leaning on each other for support in running and in life. This series is fantastic, and it is read by Jason Reynold's best friend growing up, Guy Lockard. He does an amazing job, particularly with Sunny, who is my favorite character.

15. The Witchlands - Susan Dennard

Ahhhhh, Susan Dennard! If you haven't read any of her books, my god, what are you waiting for? Susan is amazing - so amazing that she actually did a choose-your-own adventure Twitter story based on one of her manuscripts, which lasted for about six months and was one of the greatest reading experiences I've ever had. The Witchlands world is so rich and complex that it's hard for me to sum up what to expect out of the series in a short little paragraph, but do yourselves a favor and listen to these! The narrators are fantastic (Sightwitch is read by Bahni Turpin, COME ON!), the world is incredible, and it's adventure from the first page to the last.

First Page Friday - Best Friends

Without getting into anything super heavy right off the bat, I'm going to be frank with you all and admit that with everything going on, it has been challenging for me to focus on new reading material. I'm putting this out there because I'm a person who loves book and reads a lot, so being a reader is a big part of my identity. It has been hard for me to come to terms with the fact that with all the "free time" I have, my reading time has gone down instead of up, and I suspect there might be other readers out there who feel the same way. Y'all, let's recognize this together right now: Sheltering in place during a global pandemic is not "free time," and there is nothing wrong with the way we are responding to the traumatic experience we are currently living through.

Seriously, let's be gentle with ourselves. Now take a deep breath, in for five...out for five...and I hope that one of these best friend pairings strikes your fancy and helps you unwind a little.

1. Cara and Bea in The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle

No matter how many times I listen to this book, it always gives me chills. From the changelings and the wolves to the mystery surrounding Elsie being in all of Cara's pictures to the accident season itself...it all gets me. Plus I'm honestly a little bit jealous of Cara and Bea's friendship. The two, along with Alice, Cara's sister, and Sam, her former step brother, form a tight-knit quartet, and Bea and Cara together are so witchy and strange, I can't help but love them. Honorable mention also goes to Cara and Sam. 💖 If you're into audiobooks, this is a book I feel is best when listened to.

2. Aristotle and Dante in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I've reviewed this one, but I don't go into much detail, so I'll try to expound on my love for Ari and Dante. The two are such an unlikely pair, but that's exactly what makes them work so well. Where one is soft, the other is hard. Where one is weak, the other is strong. They compliment and lift each other up, and their relationship is a perfect example of what relationships should be. Read this and try not to fall in love with them, I don't think you can do it.

3. Penelope and Simon in Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Yeah, I know, I recommend this in every list I do, and I've reviewed it. Stop talking about Carry On, Dewey! Look...I'll stop talking about it when it stops being amazing, how's that? In the meantime, I stan Penelope and Simon, and if possible, I stan them even more in Wayward Son.

4. Cristina and Emma in The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare

I chose Cristina and Emma for this best friend pairing, but take your pick, really. There are so many amazing relationships in this series, it's hard to call one my favorite. (Ok, fine, it's not...Livvy and Ty, obviously.) The vibrant characters are one of my favorite parts about the Shadowhunter books, and whether it's this series or another, you won't go wrong picking up one of Cassandra Clare's books.

5. Gideon and Noah in Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills

Yep, another one that I won't stop talking about (or reviewing). But seriously, take a look at this preview of their friendship:

"I was born six weeks early, you know," [Gideon] says quietly.

 "Really?"

Yeah," Noah says. "And just look at him." He closes the fridge. "Seriously, look at him." Gideon straightens up and begins doing a model walk across the room and into the hall, swinging his arms, fingers extended, kicking out each foot with his head held high.

"Look at those legs," Noah says. "Look at that bone structure. Look at those eyes, you could get fucking lost in them."

"You need GoogleMaps to find your way out of my eyes," Gideon says, executing an elaborate turn before catwalking back. "Or at least a comparable navigation app."

They are so goofy and genuine together, and they also just...unabashedly love each other. At the risk of being super cheesy, reading about the two of them feels like a hug to me. Their friendship (and pretty much everything else about this book) is beautiful.

6. Pablo and Tice in Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi

Y'all, I love Mary H.K. Choi so much that when my sister gave me a signed copy of this book for Christmas, I started straight up bawling. This is another book that I've reviewed, and it's actually one of my longer reviews, so I won't say much. Just that we all need a friend like Tice, someone who isn't afraid to call you on your bullshit and tell you to straighten out when you need some tough love. Also, I want someone to make me a quarantine Hot Snack (tm).

7. Simon and Leah in Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Honestly, just thinking about this pair makes me want to reread this book. Leah is the best kind of snarky, and Simon is just...so Simon. They're a great pair, and their whole friend circle is wonderful. No wonder Becky Albertalli can't resist writing more about them. They're such a heartwarming group to spend time with.

8. The quartet in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Ok, this is an oldie, but it's a goodie, and I couldn't not include this group in a post about best friends. They have magic friendship pants FFS. If you're in it for the good feels, stop after Forever in Blue. If you're in it for all the feels, read Sisterhood Everlasting.

9. Aza and Daisy in Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Ooh, another one with a longer review, and one where I specifically talk about what a great friendship Aza and Daisy have! I'll just reiterate that I love the way they genuinely love and support each other, even when they're angry with each other. Would that we could all have a friendship like Aza and Daisy's.

10. Emoni and Angelica in With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

These two are pretty much the definition of Ride or Die friends. They have each other's backs through thick and thin, and they're always there to go to bat for each other when one of them needs support, whether it's something huge like Emoni's pregnancy or smaller things. This is Elizabeth Acevedo's second novel, and once again, she does not disappoint.

Mask of Shadows - Linsey Miller

My rating: ⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But genderfluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper class - and the nobles who destroyed her home.

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of the Left Hand - the Queen's personal assassins, named after the rings she wears - Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive."

FYI before we get started: I'll be using she/her pronouns for Sal since that is what the description defaults to.

Story time. I just bought a book journal, and I was SUPER excited to start writing in it. SO PUMPED. The journal happened to arrive at the beginning of April, and this book happened to be the book my book club is reading in April, so it made sense for this to be the first book I included in my awesome new journal. I drew a little sketch of my version of the cover ("my version" meaning it isn't very good), I wrote down the title, and I had all my pens and markers ready to record favorite moments and quotes and such.

And...

And...

It was a real struggle to come up with anything to add to the journal.Because y'all...I did not love this book.

I wanted to. The premise is interesting, the cover is beautiful, and I was looking forward to reading it. But it was all so very "meh" for me. Everything about it was underdeveloped. Sal is a great thief...based on...the fact that the book tells you she is, I guess, because (spoiler, I guess?) she steals someone's purse with the flyer about Left Hand auditions in it in chapter one (speaking of...why did some noble lady have a flyer about the Left Hand auditions in her purse?) and has murdered her super powerful and intimidating boss and headed off to the audition by the end of chapter three, so there is literally no world-building or character development to introduce you to Sal or this world.

We get to chapter four, where auditions begin, and it's like "WHOA. This is super serious, a fight to the death. I am but a simple street thief, I'm not prepared for this!" But after the first day, no one really messes with Sal (at least not in any way that made me nervous at all). And while we're talking about the auditions, Sal pretty much sucks at everything...but is leading the pack from the get go? I don't buy it, my friends. Nah.

Then the Big Reveals start. But they aren't big reveals, because...oh yeah...we don't know anything about Sal, her motivation, or this world! If you want me to be like "GAAAAASP, this guy is at court?!" then maybe like...tell me about that guy first? Same with the romance between Sal and the "intriguing scribe at court." There was so little build-up that it all seemed forced and stilted. Even the other auditioners are barely developed, which is a huge let down given that the bulk of the story revolves around auditions. Honestly, the only characters I felt had enough personality and development for me to connect with them were Maud and Ruby.

Ultimately, while I wanted to enjoy this book, it was a drag from start to finish. I struggled to get into it, and finishing it felt like running a 5k through water. Pass.

When - Victoria Laurie

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father's premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually death dates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one.

Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching death date of one client's young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not the how, she's unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie.

Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie's whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it's too late?"

Ok, ok, I know it says right there in the description that Maddie ends up part of a homicide investigation and a target for the murderer, but uh...it still caught me off guard what a thriller it was. I know, I know. Kept me on the edge of my seat, though! In fact (**spoiler alert!**) I was into it until the very end, when everything wrapped up superneatlyperfectly, and then I was like meh...that's a little Disney movie-esque for a book about a serial killer. Also, it killed me that when she got home at the end of the book and smelled the cigarette smoke, knowing full well that there's a serial killer following her around who smokes and has left cigarette butts at the scene of each crime, she decides that her mom has miraculously gotten out of rehab, rather than recognizing that hey, maybe the murderer got into my super unsecure house. Unforgivably dumb of her. Maddie, be a little less naive. (/spoileralert) Ignore my gripes, though, because really, it's a great book. I was a big fan of the character development, I thought the concept was super intriguing, and it's pretty intense and gripping. It's definitely worth a read!

First Page Friday - Books That Feel Like a Hug

I would love to do an actual book review for y'all, but I just don't have it in me now, so instead I've got another list of quarantine recommendations coming your way! This one is all about comforting reads. It was going to be a top ten, but there are a few repeats from last week, so I added some bonus titles. Do you have another comforting book to recommend? Leave it in the comments!

1. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

Beauty's father in a wealthy merchant, but when he loses his fortune after tragedy befalls his fleet of ships, her family is forced to auction off what remains of their worldly possessions and relocate to the small town her sister's fiance is from. It's a difficult transition, but ultimately the family finds their groove in this new life, and things are going well until, journeying home in the middle of winter, her father gets lost in the woods and finds himself at the Beast's enchanted castle. Just like in the original story, Beauty takes his place, and things unfold from there. I've read this book so many times, but I still lose myself in it every time. Bonus, it's actually the first in a trio of fairytale retellings, so if you like it, you can keep reading! (And let me know what you think of Rose Daughter and Spindle's End, because confession: I have not read either of them)

2. Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

I double checked whether I had reviewed this book on the blog before, and at first I was a little surprised that I hadn't. Then I realized that of course I haven't reviewed it here, because I don't know what to say. This book is hard to describe, but perfect to read. It's Penny's first year of college, and...that's what it's about. Navigating somewhere new. Learning how to live with roommates, making new friends. Managing your anxiety. It's a book about real life. If you read this one and don't like it, I'm begging you, please don't tell me, because it is probably in my top three favorite books of all time, and I love it so much that it makes me nervous even recommending it.

3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I threw this in with last week's list, and maybe I'll just keep bringing it up until I wear everyone down and convince them to read it. It's similar to Emergency Contact, Cath's first year at college, learning to navigate new and unfamiliar spaces while dealing with extreme anxiety. Again, nothing horribly consequential happens, but it feels so familiar because, hello! It's your first year of college, you've lived a version of this! I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I consider this the perfect book. So again, please don'tt ell me if you hate it. ;)

4. Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills

Oh, I've reviewed this one! You guys, I read to my husband before we go to bed, and this was the last book he chose to read. Not even lying, there were moments where the dialogue made me laugh so hard I had to stop reading and compose myself. I love this book, Gideon is so purely kind and lovely, even just remembering it gives me the warm fuzzies.

5. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee

Yeah, I know, a repeat from last week, but it's so good! There's some serious stuff in there, but Monty is so snarky and wonderful, just reading his dialogue is like hanging out with a friend.

6. Harry Potter 

We all know who it's by, I'm not going to include her TERFy name. If you read these as a child, it's a journey back to those days. If you're like me and read them when you were a little older, maybe it's not a nostalgic trip back to when you were waiting to get your Hogwarts letter, but it still warms my heart to reread them and spend time with some of my favorite characters.

7. The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

What better to take your mind off a worldwide pandemic than some epic hobbit adventures? Dragons, elves, orcs, magic rings...

8. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Another that I've reviewed before! Leah kicks ass, and she has some of the best one-liners ever. If foul-mouthed tough women are your thing, you'll love Leah.

9. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

It's a classic, y'all! This book is truly a revisit of my childhood, and it makes me so happy thinking back to my book-loving, nerdy young self (not that I'm not book-loving and nerdy now, but you know...I was going to say I was slightly shorter then, but I don't know how true that is. I was younger, for sure.). If you haven't read it before, give it a shot! This or Anne of Green Gables, they were my favorites back then. To this day, every time I drive through Blythe, California, I give a little sigh thinking of Gilbert Blythe.

10. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I really thought I had reviewed this one before, but I haven't! This is the first book Becky Albertalli wrote in the same world as Leah on the Offbeat, and oh my, I love it so much. Simon has a virtual penpal, and he's pretty head over heels for him, but there's a small catch - he doesn't know who he is in real life. There's some shittiness and drama, but Simon's friends are amazing, and this book makes my heart happy.

11. Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

You can revisit my review of this one here. Or you can just trust me that this book will not only make you want to go camping, it will warm your heart to its very cockles.

12. This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

Ohh, a recent review, and another Emma Mills book! She writes such great dialogue, and her characters are way too easy to fall in love with. I found this book incredibly touching, and I hope that you will too.

13. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Yep, another repeat. I said it last week, and I'll say it again, these books are a trip back in time to when the most stressful part of your life was what the person you had a crush on thought of you. Lara Jean is so sweet and serious, and watching her navigate high school and dating just...melts my heart. And Noah Centineo is perfectly cast as Peter Kavinski, if you have not watched the movies on Netflix, I don't know what you're waiting for.

14. The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

Another book that I've reviewed before! This one and Foolish Hearts kinda remind me of each other, but that isn't a bad thing. They're both light-hearted and wonderful. And this one features a food truck, so prepare to be hungry basically the entire time you're reading - seriously, have snacks handy.

15. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

Marin is running away from her old life, but parts of it keep pulling her back in, refusing to let her go. Months later, she's alone at college in her empty dorm, waiting for her best friend to visit and dreading confronting everything that Mabel's presence will force her to confront. This book is kind of a departure from most of this list because it's actually very sad, but in an...oddly comforting way? Maybe read this one sandwiched in between Foolish Hearts and This Adventure Ends.

First Page Friday: Series to Read During Quarantine

Many of us have found ourselves with more time than usual on our hands due to physical distancing and shelter at home measures, so I figured instead of reviewing one book, why not share my top ten favorite series to keep you occupied while you're home. Is your top ten different from mine? (For the record, I hope it is) Share your list in the comments!

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Celaena Sardothian, the legendary and formidable killer for hire known as Adarlan's Assassin, is rescued from the slave mines of Endovier by the crown prince to compete to become the king's royal assassin - the same king who sent her to Endovier in the first place. On her way to claiming the position, Celaena discovers that the magic she thought had been crushed during the king's vicious campaign for control of the empire is not quite as dead as it seemed...and that this magic might have fallen into dangerous hands, leaving it up to her to save the world she loves. With seven books, plus a prequel compilation of short stories from Celaena's past, this series will keep you busy for quite a while, unless you're like me and can't put them down. If you're into her style of writing, you can also check out A Court of Thorns and Roses.

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Look, I'm reading this right now, so of course it HAS to go on the list! Every year in Panem, two children are chosen from each of its twelve districts to compete in a battle to the death known as the Hunger Games. When Katniss Everdeen's twelve-year-old sister is chosen for the games, she volunteers to fight in her place, finding herself entering the arena with Peeta Melark, a boy who saved her and her family from starvation after her father died when she was eleven and who (he claims) is in love with her. Honestly, I've read this book so many times, and I still cried reading the first chapter. I just...I love it. And three books, four movies? Should meet your content needs at least for a little while.

Plus, a Hemsworth brother? Come on.

3. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Oh, did I enjoy this series? I know, I hardly ever talk about it, so it must come as quite a surprise. You can read my reviews for Illuminae, Gemina, and Obsidio if you're super curious about them, but if you're looking for an epic space adventure featuring some badass leading ladies, this might be the trilogy for you. I'm still waiting for them to make it into a movie, get a move on already! (CW, given the current state of the world: a pretty heavy feature in the first book's storyline is a highly contagious illness)

4. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Clary Fray is just a normal teenager until the day she runs into a trio of Shadowhunters at a club with her best friend and has her first brush with the secret world her mom has spent the last seventeen years shielding her from. When her mother is taken hostage and her home left ransacked, Clary is plunged headlong into that world and has to learn to navigate her new life as a Shadowhunter, part-human and part-angel warriors who protect the world from demons. This series is fantastic, y'all, and I just want Jace to be happy! Is that too much to ask? Bonus: It's part of Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles, so if the six books in this series catch your fancy, you can also enjoy trilogies The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices, short story anthologies The Bane Chronicles, Tales from Shadow Hunter Academy, and Ghosts of the Shadow Market, and the first books in her two newest series, The Red Scrolls of Magic and Chain of Gold. PLUS there's a movie version of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments series (excellent if you can forgive the ending) and a TV series (now canceled, it could have been better but was ok), so entertainment for weeks!

Look at him. He deserves to be happy.

5. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

So this is a duology, I'm not sure if that really counts as a series, but you can throw Two Can Keep a Secret in there if you'd like a third book to read. All three follow high school students who find themselves embroiled in mysterious deaths. In One of Us is Lying, a student dies from an allergic reaction after drinking from a cup coated in peanut oil while serving a detention . The four students in detention with him find themselves suspects in a murder case and must band together to prove their innocence, but, as the title suggests, is one of them lying? Could one of the classmates they've grown up with be capable of murder?

6. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow, the Mage's Heir and the most powerful magical being ever to exist, is at war. Not only with the Insidious Humdrum, an evil entity who sucks the magic out of places, leaving "dry" areas behind where no magic can exist, but also with Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch, his roommate at Watford School of Magicks for the past seven years and his arch nemesis. Baz has spent their entire time at school trying to kill him, and Simon spends the bulk of his time thwarting Baz's evil plots and trying to prove that his roommate is a vampire. When they find themselves thrown together for a common cause, they find they aren't quite at each other's throats as they expected...but after seven years enmity, how long can that last? Technically at the moment there are only two books in this series (with a third on the way!), but you can also enjoy Fangirl, which is about Cath, the original author of Carry On, Simon. I know Rainbow Rowell says that Carry On shouldn't be read as Cath's fanfic, but I'm sorry...it's headcanon for me. And Fangirl is, in my humble opinion, the perfect book. PS I wrote all this out before I remembered that I had reviewed both Carry On and Wayward Son, so feel free to check out either of those reviews if you remain unconvinced that these are worth your time. (Spoiler alert: They are.)

7. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Kendra and her brother are off to spend part of the summer with their mysterious grandparents while their parents go on a seventeen-day cruise (madness, have you ever been on a cruise? They're fucking horrible, I would murder everyone else on board if you trapped me on a boat for that long), and they are not thrilled about it. Then they discover that their grandparents' land is actually a hidden sanctuary for magical creatures and things that a lot more exciting. As it turns out, though, there are some pretty important rules to follow when you're living among magical creatures...and Kendra and Seth are about to find themselves in some pretty hot water. This is a middlegrade series with five books, so it may be a bit of a faster read than some of these others, but it should still do a pretty good job of filling a weekend! And if the last book doesn't make you cry...don't tell me about it, because it makes me sob.

8. Half Bad by Sally Green

Ok, for real this series will make you cry. You've been warned. In a world where Black Witches and White Witches are at war, Nathan is an abomination, born to a White Witch but fathered by the most terrifying and powerful Black Witch in existence. For much of his teenage years, Nathan is caged and tortured by the White Witches in power, believed to have some connection with his father that can lead their hunters to him. After he escapes, he falls in with a resistance trying to remove the corrupt White Witches from power, and his life, while still a never-ending struggle, changes in ways he could never have expected. Seriously, y'all, seriously? Have a box of tissues handy for the last book. Seriously.

9. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

When Lara Jean Covey has a crush, she writes them a letter. The idea is that this will help her get those feelings out of her system, but when her five love letters end up mailed to her former crushes, it turns out that may not have been the case. I'll be honest with you, this trilogy is pretty low-stakes in that not much of serious consequence happens in them, but that's the beauty of them, especially right now. Journey back with Lara Jean to a time where the biggest worry you had was what your crush thought of you and what other people at school were saying about you. Enjoy the purity and sweetness of Lara Jean and her love life. Then watch the movie versions of the first two on Netflix! The aquarium scene in the second movie is, in my opinion, the most perfect thing to ever be committed to film.

They're heartwarming.

10. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee

I reviewed The Gentleman's Guide way back in 2018, and I included the second book, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy shortly after in a series of brief reviews. Now there is also a novella, The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky, and a third book, The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks, slated to come out later this year. These books are the perfect blend of humor and heartache, and I love them so much. What better way to while away some afternoons than by reading about the Montague siblings and their adventures?

Bonus: The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer 

YEAH I SAID IT.

It's a fuckin home run!