TOP 17 IN 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can't believe 2017 is over. What a year. It's been full of ups and downs but overall I am thankful for all my friends and family I had to support me through it all. I wanted to do a top 17 in 2017 and so that's what I've done.

These are my top favorite books of 2017 and it was difficult to narrow it down to just 17, but I am pretty happy with my reading year. I read a total of 113 books! That's a lot of books and in 2018 I hope to read 125. We shall see how it goes...

Here are my top reads (which are not in any particular order):

Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon 

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

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

The Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima 

The Darker Shade of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab

Fullmetal Alchemist Series by Hiromu Arakawa

Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy

Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

Saga Series by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty 

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera 

Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

While technically this is more than 17 books, I decided to lump the series together as one book because I can. And there you have it. My top 17 in 2017! Let me know what some of your favorites of 2017 were or what you are looking forward to in 2018.

Here's to a great reading year! 

Otherworld by Jason Segel Event Recap & Giveaway!!

Hi guys! Today’s blog post is a really special one because I am not blogging alone! Enna and I are collaborating together to talk about JASON SEGEL’s event at Bookshop Santa Cruz! Celebrating the release of his newest novel, which he co-authored with Kirsten Miller, Jason was on tour for OTHERWORLD.

About the book

The company says Otherworld is amazing—like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They say it’s addictive—that you’ll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld will make all your dreams come true. Simon thought Otherworld was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of reality. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted. And it’s about to change humanity forever. Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could have seen it coming.

Highlights from the Event:

Joss: MEETING JASON SEGEL OMG. Look at his face. LOOK AT IT.

Joss: Okay, in all seriousness this was an awesome event! He’s charismatic, funny, (good looking), and so talented! It was so great being able to hear him talk about his career as an actor, writer, and composer. It was inspirational.

I loved his Nightmares series he wrote with Kirsten Miller. And I told him I loved his series and he personalized all my books for me! I managed to speak like something resembling a normal human being. He pronounced my name correctly, which never happens because of the strange spelling. He was sweet and I will never forget our 30 seconds we had together.

Here are some pictures from the event!

Enna: I wholeheartedly agree with Joss! The event itself was amazing! Jason was in conversation with Steve Palopoli from the Good Times and it could have not been any better! I especially loved it when Jason spoke so candidly about his journey through the different facets of creativity he immersed himself in and how it’s a learning process. Just like Joss said, it was so inspirational, especially to those who want to become actors, writers, or pursue a career in a creative field. And the fact he was so down to earth and such a nice guy made it really easy to talk to him.

Both Enna and I are also really excited because we are giving away a signed copy of OTHERWORLD! Details how to enter are below:

Giveaway Details:

One winner will get a SIGNED copy of Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

• 1 Entry - Must be following both @jossd17 and @booksboysandblogs on Instagram.
• 1 Entry - Like the both our photos.
• 1 Entry - Tag a person in the comments who would be interested in the giveaway!
• US only.
• Ends NOV. 15TH. Winner will be announced on Nov.16th.

Good luck!

via GIPHY

Review: Illegal Contact by Santino Hassell

Illegal Contact (The Barons #1) by Santino Hassell

Publisher: InterMix

Pub. Date: August 15, 2017

*Thank you to the NetGalley and InterMix publishing for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 

I tend to find sports romance novels to be one and the same. Hot sports athlete who is jaded. But in comes this girl/guy who changes everything. Boom it's love. 

There are quite a few variations of this trope and I'm not saying I don't enjoy it. I do. It clearly works and sells because people keep coming back for more. I haven't read a ton of sports romance novels, so all these thoughts come from my limited knowledge of what I have read.

But Illegal Contact absolutely BLEW ME AWAY. It was everything I needed in the sports romance genre. It was a fresh spin and it seriously so so good. 

Our main character, Gavin Brawley is a seriously angry football player who is on house arrest for six months when a video of him in a brawl goes viral. He is forced to hire a personal assistant to run his errands, get his groceries, ect. He had a tough upbringing and football was the only thing that kept him grounded.

Enter Noah Monroe and his Clark Kent glasses. He's a recent college grad with crazy amounts of debt and in desperate need for a job. He was recently fired from his job for having an affair with his boss. He is an openly gay man and dreams of working in an organization that helps LGBTQIA+ teens. Instead, due to his crippling debt, he is forced to take the job of Gavin's personal assistant for the next 6 months.

The two of these guys get off to a rough start. For starters Gavin is always moody and angry and Noah is stubborn and is not afraid to stand up to Gavin. Slowly the two of them form a middle ground but the attraction is hard to ignore and things spiral out of control.

I loved the both of these characters! I just want to hug Gavin and tell him that everything was going to be okay. He had a tough upbringing and being bisexual football player isn't accepted which is why he hides that part of himself until he meets that person that makes me questions everything.

Noah was such a badass (and an asshole at times too but a lovable one). He was not afraid of who he was and was definitely not afraid to call Gavin out on his crap. He kept Gavin in check and the two of them form and honest and real friendship.

This story was seriously funny and filled with so many adorable moments between these two goofs. The side characters were amazing as well! All of these characters had chemistry and you could definitely tell that they cared about one another. I never wanted the story to end. It was a slow burn but it was worth the wait. I cannot recommend this book enough.

This was my first introduction to Santino Hassell and I will definitely be reading more of his work. Down by Contact is the second book in the Baron series which follows Gavin's best friend and NFL star Simeon Boudreaux and I can't wait to read it!

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up!

Places to buy:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Review: The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
Publisher: HMH
Pub Date: July 4, 2017
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
Where to Buy: Barnes and Noble. Amazon. Audible. 

"Sometimes I imagine what it would be like if there was music in everything. If stars could sing, or shadows scraped along where they fell. Or if the wind made leaves tinkle like wind chimes."

What would happen if things you take for granted suddenly disappeared? Things like being able to dream, see the stars in the night sky, or even look at your reflection in the mirror. That is what has been happening in the small town of Sterling. Every 7 years there is a disappearance and no one knows just what is going to be taken from them next. 

Fifteen year old Aila just lost her mom and has been shipped off to the small town of Sterling where her mother grew up. She is beginning to unravel the mystery that is the disappearances all while trying to figure out who her mother truly was and why she kept her secrets. Aila is desperately trying to solve the mystery and clear her mother's name before it's too late. 

Wow. Just wow!

The story is set in the 1940s during WWII chock-full of mystery and other fantastical elements. I could not put it down! There are some eerie yet magical elements to this story. I just adored this book and it is quickly one of my favorite reads this year! The writing was beautiful, the characters felt so honest and real to me, and this unique story line is unlike anything you have ever read. 

I had the great opportunity to meet Emily and she is just the kindest person you'll ever meet. I was a part of a wonderful pre-launch party for Emily. We painted ceramics, talked about books, and ate cookies. I was able to paint Emily this plate: 

Before

After

Me and Emily with the plate and her finished book!

This was such a fun experience and I had the most amazing time with Emily and I'm still in denial about her move to St. Louis. You seriously need this book in your life. It's one of those stories you do not want to miss!


I have created a playlist for this book! Music plays a role in the book and plays an important role in my life, so I put together 7 songs that I believe fit the story well. I hope you enjoy it!

"I want to tell him, Sometimes I almost think I can hear the music again, whenever I'm with you." -Aila Quinn

20 Years by The Civil Wars 
"There's a note underneath your front door. That I wrote 20 years ago. Yellow paper and a faded picture, and a secret in an envelope...I'll be praying for redemption and your note underneath my door."
I Don't Want to Live There by The Lonely Forest
"Give to me miles of tall evergreens. And the smell of the ocean. And the cool mountain breeze won't you please?"
To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra 
"There is a house built of stone. Wooden floors, walls, and window sills. Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust. This is a place where I don't feel alone. This is a place where I feel at home...Until it disappeared from me, from you..."
Soon We'll Be Found by Sia
"Well it's been rough but we'll be just fine...Turn around. I know we're lost but soon we'll be found."
Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine
"It's a melody. It's a battle cry. It's a symphony."
Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation 
"I'll seek you out. Flay you alive. One more word and you won't survive. And I'm not scared of your stolen power. I see right through you any hour."
Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine
"The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out. You left me in the dark. No dawn, no day. I'm always in this twilight. In the shadow of your heart."