Read and Wright

So when I picked up Other Engaged, I’m not going to lie. I totally judged the book by the cover, mildly absorbed what the inner description said, and tossed it onto the counter at Barnes and Noble. Swipe, purchased, it was mine to own. I was expecting a cute story about an engaged couple that had to deal with an ex-girlfriend returning but it would have a happy ending. 

UM. WRONG. This was the most deceptive cover art in the WORLD. I didn’t hate this book, but I also was just kind of confused, but also really loved elements of it. It was definitely not my typical style of book, but a mix of a hearty rom-com romance with a psychological thriller. 

To fully classify it, I’d say it was a light psychological romance thriller. 

I wasn’t really wild about any of the characters. I liked the secondary characters more, especially Kirsten and Lana. The main character, Molly, just didn’t do it for me. But then again, if my fiancé wrote a novel about a past relationship in such vivid detail, I think I may go a little crazy too. 

Here’s a quick summary: Molly and Gabe have been dating for two years and she thinks he’s going to pop the question any day now. Molly works in Corporate America, in the Human Resources of a marketing company in NYC. Gabe is a server by night with the hopes of landing a book deal. Which he eventually does, even though it’s a novel about a couple named Russell and Dahlia, who reminds Molly an awful lot of Gabe’s ex, Talia. The aforementioned novel is pop culture hit, Gabe’s career takes off, and Talia shows back up. While reading the novel, Molly begins to lose sight of reality and can’t differentiate between her love life and the fiction Gabe created. 

Gabe kind of made me really angry. I didn’t think he properly prepared Molly for what his novel was about. Though a lot of it is fiction, and the ending serves a purpose to show Molly why he chose her, I still felt disrespected for Molly. I don’t know, maybe that’s because I’m engaged and would expect full communication from my partner. 

But that’s kind of the whole point of Palmer’s book: communication. Molly fully admits to not being open and honest about her feelings and often bottling them up, especially due to the guilt she feels at still being attracted to her ex boyfriend, Charlie (who obviously makes a reappearance). 

I liked this book. It had a lot of quotable moments that resonated with me, as a 25 year old getting married in the near future. I finished it in about two days, so it definitely had me hooked, especially for the passages of Gabe’s book. To Palmer’s credit, my head was swimming trying to differentiate between the two worlds; Molly and Gabe’s world vs. Russell and Dahlia’s. 

I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. I think it’s worth a read, but don’t bump anything for it.

Also I am so so sooo excited for tomorrow’s post! Check back tomorrow for some exciting news tomorrow! 

This has been quite the week. I am so happy that I put my heart and soul back into this blog in the middle of February. I feel more motivated than ever to keep working at it. I’ve always wanted to blog, being an avid journal keeper my whole life. So thank you, to any of you that stumbled upon my little corner of the internet, only read one post, or check back every day. It means the world to me. 

This was also a fantastic week for reading! I finished two books, started a third, and received an advanced copy of a book I am so excited about! Let’s get into what happened this week. 

Books Read: American Princess by Stephanie Marie Thornton—read my full review here. I LOVED this one, friends. Truly, a great read and will most likely be one of my favorites of the year. 

Otherwise Engaged by Lindsey J. Palmer—full review coming Monday, so be on the look out for that but holy cats this book was not what I was expecting AT ALL. 

Currently Reading: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang—This has been popping up everywhere I know it was a favorite in 2018. I have a funny story about this book. Back in May, when it came out, I was the first person to pick it up from my library. I hadn’t heard any buzz about it and was like “Huh, yeah sure.” AND NEVER READ IT. I returned it unopened, and then all of sudden everyone was freaking out about it. I will never make that mistake again. 

Next Up: Husband Material by Emily Belden. A big thank you to Harlequin Graydon House Books for the advanced copy! 

I am exhausted at the thought of my weekend, but also super excited for next week. We are traveling to see friends and family once again! I’m hosting a bridal shower for my future sister in law. Here’s hoping I make it to Monday! Have a great weekend! 

American Princess by Stephanie Marie Thornton

When it comes to historical fiction, I wouldn’t say it’s my preferred genre. But every time I read a great one, I wonder why I don’t read more! I loved American Princess and flew through it, considering it’s a decently dense book. It inspired me to read more about American history, especially the influential women of the times. 

Before I read this book I didn’t have a great understanding of Alice Roosevelt and she was one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Frankly, I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about Teddy Roosevelt’s personal life. I knew a lot of his presidency but that’s about it! Now I’m even more fascinated with his life and family. 

I am a fiercely independent woman and I have strong feminist ideas. It blows my mind at how clever and careful women had to be before my time, but I am so grateful for the strong and capable women that did. My heart ached to read the injustices Alice dealt with, especially when it came to her marriage. To keep it short, Alice’s husband Nick Longworth was an alcoholic who repeatedly cheated on her right under her nose. 

Eventually, they were able to reach an understanding and she says he was her best friend but I can’t imagine dealing with that pain and betrayal and my parents telling me it would be more damaging to divorce. 

Oddly enough though, by the end of the novel I didn’t damn Nick Longworth’s spirit. He was said to be one of the most charismatic Speakers of the House in history, and that character trait leapt off the page. 

Alice did find happiness with an affair of her own, with the Lion of Idaho Bill Borah, one of the most legendary senators in history. I’d never heard of him until this book. If he hadn’t gotten involved with Alice, he would have been Calvin Coolidge’s Vice President. 

I am a huge fan of history and learning more about the women in history is a passion of mine. I was impressed with the research Stephanie Marie Thornton put into this novel. I rarely read the author’s note section but I was so intrigued by her style and dedication I knew I needed to read this one. I really think Thornton did an incredible job making the story flow and feel as authentic and personal as possible. She gave Alice a megaphone to shout her story from the rooftops of Washington. 

When I set out to write this review, I worried about “giving too much away” but it’s all already happened, so I don’t know if that’s possible. However, I didn’t know a lot of the details so I don’t want to spoil anything if you do choose to pick up this book.

This was a five star read for me and I truly recommend it! It might be one of my favorites of the year! 

Did you ever see The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez? What a classic, especially rewatching it and she was supposed to marry Alex Karev! (Grey’s Anatomy fans, please?) I always looked up to her character and how she handled her job with such grace.

I have always been an organized person. I take great pleasure in organization and have used a trusty Day Planner since I was in middle school. But when it came to start wedding planning, I quickly learned I was in over my head. 

I had heard people say that wedding planning is like a full time job. I scoffed in their face! Please, how hard could it really be? Fast forward to actually being engaged and wedding planning: IT’S HARD. So fun and so worth it, but it’s hard. 

Since I’m getting married in my hometown and it’s not a destination wedding, my family and I decided not to use a wedding planner. I’m doing it all on my own, with the help of my mom and my bridesmaids of course. I’ve really enjoyed it, once I took a breath and accepted that you do not need to do everything all at once. 

That would be my biggest advice: breathe, remember why you’re doing all this work, and lean on your fiancé and friends. This is supposed to be fun! And I am having so much fun. It’s a lot but I think it is going to be worth it when the special day finally arrives 🙂

Our wedding venue is so unbelievably wonderful and they provide you with a coordinator who handles everything that day and the days leading up to your wedding. I’m so excited by this service and love them so much already! 

Here is the wedding planner I am using to keep myself organized, as well as a binder that I keep all our schedules, contracts, and contact information in. 

A lot of my non-reader friends have always commented on how fast I go through books. In truth, I don’t think I read quickly as much as I read mindfully. Have you ever heard of intuitive eating? I think I practice intuitive reading. 

I mean that in the sense that I prioritize books and stories that I’m really interested in. I rarely read anything just to read it but I do always finish my books. Even if they’re not “for me” I can’t leave anything unfinished. 

There is a lot of content in the world today. Between social media, cable television, and streaming networks like Netflix and Hulu, we are oversaturated with things to watch and fill our time. I’ve found for me that if I’m struggling with a certain book, I have to prioritize reading it. Here are a few tips that work for me. 

How to Read More

1. Set a page goal: I try to read 100 pages a day. I tend to read books that are between 400 and 600 pages, so that usually means I can get through 1-2 books per week

2. Read every day: I read every day. Whether it is on the subway or just at home, I open my books at least once a day. 

3. Turn your phone on Do Not Disturb: My phone automatically go to Do Not Disturb at 10:30. If I’m in a show, I’m definitely not home by then. But if I am home, I try to turn off my TV around that time and read before bed. 

4. Try Audiobooks: I have learned time and time again that I really only enjoy Memoirs on audiobook. If you’re not a reader, I truly think audiobooks could be a great solution! It’s so convenient to pop one on while cleaning or walking around. 

5. Read what you like: If that’s romance, YA, comic books, biographies, whatever! Read what YOU enjoy. There can such an elitist side to reading and book culture and that’s just silly to me. Reading is reading, so choose what makes you happy! 

I hope these help! Have a great day! 

TW: This post contains a review and discussion on a book involving domestic violence, sociopathic tendencies, and emotional/verbal abuse. 

I don’t remember when Youtube launchd or if it had a profound impact on me. I do remember watching Jenna Marbles videos and Mamrie Hart’s You Deserve a Drink a lot, but I didn’t really get into the YouTube “culture” or scene until after I graduated from college. 

Honestly, I quickly became kind of obsessed. There is a raw honesty to people who vlog (video blog) their lives that it way less produced than reality TV. I particularly enjoyed Shane Dawson’s videos, because they made me laugh. If you’ve been following Shane, he recently rebranded his content and is now producing more documentary style videos. 

One such docu-series way about a friend of his who I’d never heard of: Brittani Louise Taylor. She was a fellow YouTube star pursuing an acting career in LA. Along her journey, she met and fell in love with a Serbian man named Milos. 

What followed is detailed in her book, A Sucky Love Story. I read the book in about a day, mostly because I couldn’t put it down and needed to know what happened, but also because it written very well in my opinion. A few YouTuber books have fallen flat for me, but I was really invested in Brittani’s story. 

Brittani met Milos on Tinder, and after reading her story, I’m really grateful I never had to use an app to meet my significant other. I don’t want to spoil everything, because I think it’s an important read that people need to experience on their own terms, but he was not a good man. 

I am extremely proud of Brittani for telling her story. It was hard to read about the manipulation he put her through. And honestly, it was one of the few stories of abuse that I sat there thinking, “Wow, I get why she stayed.” He was so manipulative and so good at fooling her, even I couldn’t doubt her choices. 

I can’t recommend this book enough. Especially if you are a single young woman on dating apps, I think it’s important to read and really remember to protect yourself. Financially, emotionally, and physically. 

I’ve stated many times how much I love memoirs. This isn’t quite a memoir, and I still kind of question why she chose the cover art she did, but it’s a true story that I think can help a lot of women. 

If you or someone you know is trapped in an abusive relationship, you are not alone and help is out there. Below are some resources you can contact for help. 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 

http://ncadv.org/

This was one of those weeks that seemed never ending and then I blinked and it was Thursday. But I’m not complaining! Nick gets back from a long work trip tomorrow so I can’t wait to see him! 

I’ve been feeling kind of anxious lately, because I have so much going on. A few exciting work things have come up, but lately it’s felt like every positive thing is a two sided coin; with every positive, comes a negative. But that just may be the balance of life, right? 

One of my goals for April is to finish 10 books this month! My monthly average is about 6 or 7 and I would love to break that! I’ve already finished two books for the month so hopefully it’s a trend that keeps up! 

Here’s what’s been going on this week! 

Books finished: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot (read my review here) and A Sucky Love Story by Brittani Louise Taylor

If you follow Shane Dawson on YouTube, he did a 3 part mini series style documentary on Brittani and her relationship with the father of her child. It’s a really scary and harrowing story. I found myself wanting to know more about the details so I was on the waitlist for it from the library. I finally got it and couldn’t put it down. I’ll do a full review on it next week! 

Currently: American Princess. I HAVE TO GET THROUGH MY PURCHASED STACK! Buying new books and adding to my TBR brings me such joy and is a favorite activity of mine, but it sometimes I worry I’ll never get through everything. 

Next Up: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. I’m exciting for this one! 

Hope you had a great week too! 

I always love rereading books. It’s kind of like watching a favorite movie for me. I’ll be going about my day and just think, “oh I really in the mood for that”. So last week after discussing some of my favorite wedding centric books, I knew I wanted to revisit Meg Cabot’s Royal Wedding. 

My friends. I think this might be one of the first times I reread a book and was like “WTF? Why did I ever like that in the first place?” 

Not that it’s a bad book, but it just wasn’t something that resonated with me anymore. Truth be told, I never read any of the Princess Diaries books. Obviously the movie is a classic in the canon of my childhood, but I never got into the books. 

However, last year i read the whole Mediator series by Meg Cabot after reading Remembrance, which was the equivalent of Royal Wedding, in the sense that we got to see Suz as an adult planning her wedding to Jesse. And I LOVED that series and the stand alone follow up book. 

Rereading Royal Wedding, I was just like “eh.” I really don’t like the diary style of writing and there was SO MUCH going on that didn’t really have any focus for me. Maybe if I’d read the other books I’d have been more into it, but this read was just kind of disappointing for me. I don’t remember if I loved it the first time I read it in 2015, but I must have liked it enough to want to revisit it! 

Have you ever been disappointed by a reread? Or discovered you had grown in a way that made you feel like you couldn’t connect to the characters anymore? 

I am the same age as Mia in this book and obviously we are both in the process of getting married to boys we’ve been with since we were teenagers. But other than that, I couldn’t connect. And not because of the whole princess thing, but just cause as a character she honestly kind of annoyed me! But that may have been the diary style of writing. 

Have you read all the Princess Diaries books? Should I try them? Let me know! 

Right after we got engaged, the thing that gave me the most anxiety and made me most nervous was any time anyone asked if I had gotten my wedding dress. I am definitely not a thin girl. I have struggled with body image and all of that pretty much my whole life. And if I’m being honest, I am still struggling with it now. 

I want to look beautiful on my wedding day. I want to be happy with the way I look in a dress that we are spending so much on and in photos that we are investing in. Photography is extremely expensive. But I haven’t lost any weight yet and I’m starting to feel nervous. 

I put off dress shopping for a long time. Mostly because we had a longer than normal engagement and because I wanted to look and feel my best…spoiler alert the time flew by and I didn’t feel happy with the way I looked. 

I woke up the morning of my Kleinfeld appointment and felt so self conscious. We had a bunch of friends in from out of town who were coming with me and if they weren’t there, I think I would have canceled. 

I always dreamed of what my wedding dress would look like. But I never thought I’d look “right” in what I wanted. But when I finally put on the first dress…I actually felt happy. To be clear, my body isn’t nearly where I want it to be. I have struggled and I know I will struggle for the rest of my life with it. But when it came to trying on dresses, I actually had one of the greatest days of my life. 

My Maid of Honor is my best friend from college. We lived together in an apartment off campus for our junior and senior years and those are the greatest memories I have. On Fridays, when we didn’t have class, it was “Friday Bride Day” on TLC and we’d watch Say Yes To The Dress for hours. Like HOURS. So when I got engaged, I knew I had to go to Kleinfeld at least to look. I do live in NYC after all! 

Stevie flew in all the way from LA to be with me, as well my best friend from high school Becca, who came from Boston, my other best friend from college Mark, who came from Florida, and my dear friend Sara, who came from Rochester, NY! When I tell you I have never felt so loved, I mean it. It was one of the greatest weekends of my life! 

Kleinfeld completely lived up to its hype. From reading wedding forums and talking to other brides, I know some women were not as lucky as I was to have a lovely experience. But I really could not have enjoyed our appointment more! 

It was crowded, but I was so focused on myself, my consultant, and my friends I barely noticed the other appointments. 

At Kleinfeld, you book a 90 minute appointment at least 4 months in advance. If you want a less crazy experience, I definitely recommend trying to go on a week day, though they are closed on Mondays! Within that 90 minutes, you meet with your consultant privately and discuss you wants and dreams for your dress. It’s helpful to bring pictures and have a clear vision, but also be open to trying new things! 

I had a very clear vision and in addition to the inspiration photos I brought, I told my consultant, Farrah, that I wanted something that was “Clean, classic, timeless, and special” and she definitely delivered! 

I was pretty convinced I’d found my dress there, much to my friends joy. But I left without saying an official “Yes” because we had to run it by my dad. He was totally on board with the budget and if I wanted it it, I could get it. But…I didn’t pull the trigger. I said I wanted to work on my body a bit more and then I’d try it back on and buy it some time in April. 

Then I visited a smaller boutique in my hometown…and fell in love. I’ll do another post on that experience! I won’t be sharing any photos until after our wedding. I want some things to remain special and I hope you understand! 

I wish I was the type of person that got excited for new releases. But if it’s not an author I love, I can sometimes be pretty skeptical! However, a new month brings lots of new possibilities to fill my ever growing TBR. 

Here’s what’s on my radar for the month! 

Stay Up with Hugo Best by Erin Somers—April 2, 2019

This sounds super fun and up my alley. It’s about a late night TV host that invites a woman to his country home for the weekend. It’s supposedly hilarious and relatable! 

Normal People by Sally Rooney—April 16, 2019

This sounds like a coming of age romance, but with actual depth! 

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi—April 9, 2019

If I read anything having to deal with a high school theatre program, I will pick it up. Hi, I will forever be a theatre nerd. 

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Grey—April 2, 2019

This one kind of intimidates me…but I think it may be worth pushing myself out of comfort zone to read it! 

The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth—April 23, 2019

This book is EVERYWHERE and highly anticipated. Perhaps 2019’s Gone Girl? 

What are you looking forward to this month?