This year I have decided to participate in a little bit of a reading challenge.  I say the word challenge with a bit of hesitation because I am not going to stress myself out trying to complete all of these topics and I am also letting myself use the same book for multiple topics.

Check back to see how I'm doing!  I'll be updating this post regularly.

1. A book with more than 500 pages
2. A classic romance
3. A book that became a movie
4. A book published this year
5. A book with a number in the title
6. A book written by someone under 30
7. A book with nonhuman characters The One and Only Ivan
8. A funny book
9. A book by a female author
10. A mystery or thriller
11. A book with a one-word title
12. A book of short stories
13. A book set in a different country
14. A nonfiction book
15. A popular author's first book
16. A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet
17. A book a friend recommended
18. A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
19. A book based on a true story
20. A book at the bottom of your to-read list
21. A book your mom loves
22. A book that scares you
23. A book more than 100 years old
24. A book based entirely on its cover
25. A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
26. A memoir
27. A book you can finish in a day  The One and Only Ivan
28. A book with antonyms in the title
29. A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
30. A book that came out the year you were born
31. A book with bad reviews
32. A trilogy
33. A book from your childhood
34. A book with a love triangle
35. A book set in the future
36. A book set in high school
37. A book with a color in the title
38. A book that made you cry
39. A book with magic The Pirate's Wish
40. A graphic novel
41. A book by an author you've never read before
42. A book you own but have never read
43. A book that takes place in your hometown
44. A book that was originally written in a different language
45. A book set during Christmas
46. A book written by an author with your same initials
47. A play
48. A banned book
49. A book based on our turned into a TV show
50. A book you started but never finished

Welcome to my first T5W post - the top 5 series I want to start in 2015.

5.  Falling Kingdoms | Morgan Rhodes

4.  The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon



3.  The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken



2.  The Grisha Series | Leigh Bardugo



1.  Mistborn | Brandon Sanderson


Happy Reading!
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The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Published: March 4, 2015
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 355
Book Depository

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. 

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

 Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Published: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 447
Book Depository

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? 


Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Published: April 30, 2014
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 371
Book Depository

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?


Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

Published: April 29, 2014
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 379
Book Depository

It’s time. 

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.




Do not let the covers of these books fool you.  This is a great trilogy if you're in the mood for something fast-paced and fun.  I was in a bit of a reading slump when I picked up the first book in this trilogy and had all three books completed within the week.  It is a fast-paced and action packed series with great characters.    

If you're anything like me you'll want to be friends with Anna and swoon over Kaiden.  I thought the concept of these books was unique and very captivating and the ending was very satisfying.  5/5 star series for me!
Happy Reading!
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A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. 

This is one of those books.  One of those books that you don't even know is going to have an impact on you.  It just sneaks up on you and WHAM - surprise.

I had high hopes for this novel since it has won many awards and I was not disappointed.  While there isn't much of a plot to this book, it is all about the journey.  The journey of two boys who are trying to figure out who there are and where they belong in this world.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Happy Reading!
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I don't know what it was about November but it wasn't my best month.  While I was always reading something it seemed to take me quite a while to get through each book - Netflix is probably to blame for that :)  None the less, here is what I was able to complete in November: