Top Ten Tuesday: I.M. T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L. 2018

Top Ten Tuesday #38

Happy Tuesday, book nerds!

First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you that private messaged me kind words/thoughts about my dad’s surgery last week. All seems to be going well so I sincerely appreciate the love and support.

Second, this Thursday  happens to be my 4-year wedding anniversary to my high school sweetheart. So trust me when I say I’m already feeling super sentimental going into this week’s Thanksgiving post!

Third, I really hope y’all read the explanation of the prompt because I meant every last word. Love you all. ❤️

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Hosted by Jana at ThatArtsyReaderGirl, this week’s prompt is “Thanksgiving/Thankful Freebie,” which basically means we get to do whatever we want. And since y’all seemed to really enjoy my acronym/acrostic backlist reads post last week, I decided to do it again this week! But instead of picking backlist titles for every letter, I’m going to pick a book I was thankful to read in 2018…

…which is where y’all come into the equation. I cannot adequately express how thankful I am for this community and the friendships I’ve made over the past year. I know at times things can go off the rails (#dicksoap, anyone?), but for the most part y’all are the found family I never knew I needed.

I was such a green little newbie when I entered into all this back in 2017. I had like 50 friends on Goodreads. I wasn’t aware of books-selling sites beyond Amazon like BookOutlet, Book Depository, etc. I didn’t know what ARCS were or how to acquire them on sites like NetGalley/Edelweiss, etc. I didn’t know about book festivals, author events, meet and greets, and most importantly, I didn’t have a single soul to fangirl about books with. Until y’all. Y’all truly showed me that I wasn’t alone in these crazy fandoms and the fire they inspire. Y’all helped recommend books I NEVER would have encountered in my daily life and gave me some of my all-time favorites. Y’all helped push me to increase my goals helping me hit bigger and better numbers than I ever have before. And y’all were my friends through it all. And I know it might sound stupid, but I can’t describe how different my life has been since discovering this community and for that I will be forever thankful.

Now that the sappy part is done let’s dive into my T10T list of Titles I.M. T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L. For In 2018.

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1) I’

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff  📖 Finished: 03/23/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“The universe owes you nothing, Kady. It has already given you everything, after all. It was here long before you, and it will go on long after you. The only way it will remember you is to do something worth remembrance.” 

Fun fact: After meeting Jay & Amie this year on the Obsidio tour I was inspired to dive into this sci-fi series. I’ve never read anything as visually engaging as this series and I couldn’t recommend them — or their audiobooks — more!

2) M

Dear Martin by Nic Stone 📖 Finished: 08/09/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?” 

Fun fact: This book doesn’t actually start with an M. 😂 But I had to make it work for the acrostic so I appreciate you bending the rules for me. Nic Stone is one of the nicest authors I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I honestly don’t believe she gets the hype she deserves.

3) T

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 📖 Finished: 02/11/18 & 10/14/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“What could I become if I stopped worrying about death, about pain, about anything? If I stopped trying to belong? Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.” 

Fun fact: This is the book that came in my FIRST EVER subscription box (Jan. 2018 Fairyloot) and it changed the dang game. I’ll give you one guess who inspired this purchase…were you right??

4) H

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills 📖 Finished: 09/23/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 .25

“Maybe the best thing’s not always the best thing. Maybe shitty things have to happen to get you to the right place.”

Fun fact: Like Dear Martin, this book doesn’t start with the letter it’s representing. But it does represent a book I adored so I think that’s sufficient. Right?

5) A

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett  📖 Finished: 02/13/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 .5

“We all really do contradict ourselves and contain multitudes. How do we even figure out who we really are?”

Fun fact: This was my first ever Jenn Bennett book and I don’t know why I waited so long. It’s cheesy, but grin inducing, and everything I’m looking for in an easy, breezy contemporary.

6) N

Nevernight Jay Kristoff  📖 Finished: 07/23/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“The books we love, they love us back. And just as we mark our places in the pages, those pages leave their marks on us. I can see it in you, sure as I see it in me. You’re a daughter of the words. A girl with a story to tell.” 

Fun fact: This is the first — and hopefully last — book my puppers ever destroyed. As you know from my Illuminae fact, I was lucky enough to meet Jay and have him sign, and personalize, my first edition of this book. Months later, I come home to find my dog made it her dinner. 💀💀After 5 minutes of freaking out on Twitter (because only my found bookish family would understand the trauma), Jay messaged me that he’d make it right. Less than 2 weeks later I had a new signed, personalized copy complete with extra goodies and drawings of Mr. Kindly.

7) K

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 📖 Finished: 06/26/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“All the things that make you different make you perfect.” 

Fun fact: This #ownvoice contemporary was Hoang’s debut novel, which still blows my mind because it was near perfection. It’s not shocking to me at all that this gender-swapped Pretty Woman “retelling” has already been auctioned off to film producers. And I personally can’t wait to see it on the silver screen.

8) F

Fence Vol. 1 by C.S. Pacat  📖 Finished: 09/08/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 .5

Fun fact: This was my FIRST EVER purchased — and read — graphic novel/web comic! I know, y’all, super late to the genre and game! Luckily for me, I picked a good one and can’t wait to explore more findings in this category!

9) U

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson  📖 Finished: 04/19/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“Spells are just prayers with more steps and a name that scares people.”

Fun fact: This was my FIRST EVER buddy read with the one and only Destiny! She was kind enough to show me the ropes, break down “the rules,” and answered all of my silly BR-related questions. She clearly was a great teacher because I’ve had at least one buddy read per month since UGG.

10) L

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo 📖 Finished: 11/07/18 📖 Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“We were not made to please princes.”

Fun fact: This is one of the prettiest books I’ve ever read. Not only for the eye-catching cover art, but namely for the intricate illustrations that line every page and continue to evolve until the story is complete. I’ve never read a book of folk lore tales and I sincerely hope this is a pattern that picks up in the publishing community.

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You made it through my I.M. T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L. 2018 list! Have y’all read any of these highly-starred books? Are you thankful for any of these authors or titles? Did you like this week’s twist on the topic? Let me know below!!

And, as always: Happy Reading!

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