Sue (BeautyBookCorner)

Yalll I’m back!!!!! My semester is over! 🥳 I’ve been so stressed my book buying may have gone a ~little~ overboard lately. Here are some new graphic novels I picked up! Do you stress-buy? It’s a bad habit of mine but I’ve actually gotten better even with all the new books I recently purchased. Progress! . #QOTD: What are you reading? I love YA but I’ve been reading only YA since January for school so I’m planning on reading some adult and middle grade books this week. I started The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren yesterday and I love it so far! . . . #newbooks #graphicnovels #currentlyreading #bookstagram #bookworm #yabooks #yagraphicnovels #bookhaul #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #librariansofinstagram #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks #ownvoices #dunegraphicnovel #almostamericangirl #themagicfish #bookish #bookcommunity #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CPBpomhriE3/?utm_medium=tumblr

The hype is real with this one! I recently finished Legendborn by Tracy Deonn and the world-building and magic system are amazing. The author did such a good job of explaining the history and politics of the Legendborn society without ever getting info-dumpy. But what I especially loved was how Black history was interwoven into the story. This is not a fantasy that just features a Black girl. This is about Black history, slave history, and the resilience and passion of Black motherhood. It's all weaved into the magic and setting. The combination of Arthurian legend with root magic makes the magic system fascinating as well. The romance is sweet but if Im being honest, I really like the OTHER guy so much more. If you read it, you know who I’m talking about. I wouldn’t mind a love triangle in the next book. . I think this is one of the best YA fantasies I've read in recent years. This has magic, exciting action, and romance! Non-spoiler review on Goodreads. Link in bio. . #QOTD: What’s a recent fantasy book you’ve read and loved? . . . . #bookreview #legendborn #tracydeonn #ownvoicesbooks #weneeddiversebooks #yabooks #yafantasy #fantasybooks #yalit #whynotya #simonteen #diversebooks #bookstagram #bookgram #booklove #bookcover #newbook #booksofig #bookworm #bookcommunity #booknerd #bookblogger #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/COJXEstLNU4/?igshid=158yikus38fmu

Friends, I am so tired this week. I have a ton of schoolwork due this weekend and I haven’t felt the best the past couple of days which pushed back my progress. Ergh! The two things keeping me going is BTS online concert streaming event BangBangCon (4/17) and the Shadow & Bone TV show (4/23). I seriously cannot wait for either. I need something good right now! . I’m such a Shadow & Bone heaux and will forever worship at The Darkling and Alina’s feet but seeing the trailer makes me super excited to see my Crow babies too. Kaz, Jesper, Inej are EXACTLY how I imagined the characters to look. . #QOTD: Tell me something positive! I need some cheer. I got to cuddle with my dog a lot yesterday. I think he knew I wasn’t feeling well because he was an extra good boy. 🐾 . . . . #grishaverse #shadowandbone #sixofcrows #leighbardugo #thedarkling #alinastarkhov #booklover #bookstagram #yafantasy #yabooks #yalit #fiercereads #gradschoolproblems #librariansofinstagram #bangbangcon21 #btsarmy #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #booklove #bookish #booksofig #bookworm #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CNrD7Qxruw8/?igshid=hrwqfj4nvzi8

💙 “Once upon a time, far from the green house at the top of the world, a girl stood alone on a frozen fjord under an empty night sky, clutching a ring that had turned from gleaming gold to dull silver. ‘I wish for my mamma to come back.” – The Wide Starlight . 💚 Soo... this was NOT the book for me. Reading The Wide Starlight reminded me that I am not a fan of magical realism. Most of the time I just kept thinking, “What the heck is going on?” Like I wasn’t sure if all the weird stuff happening were just metaphors or part of a larger fantasy world. This is 100% magical realism. You have to go into it suspending logic and just let the story take you where it wants. . 💜 This is pitched as The Hazel Wood and The Astonishing Color of After. The story follows Eline as she tries to remember what truly happened the night her mother disappeared on a glacier under the Northern Lights. Years pass and Eline and her dad are living a normal life in Cape Cod. A series of events leads Eline and her dad to move back to Norway. Her dad to continue scientific research, and Eline to find out how to find her mother and save her. . 💙 Like many magical realism books, the writing is lyrical and beautiful so I definitely feel there will be readers who will love this story. The setting in Norway and the Northern Lights is full of dreamy atmosphere. Non-spoiler review is on Goodreads. Link in bio! . 💚 #QOTD: Do you enjoy magical realism? I read a few and it’s just not my genre. If magic is mentioned, I want some kind of explanation or world-building. I prefer my fantasy and realistic fiction to be separate. . . . . #thewidestarlight #razorbill #penguinteen #booknerd #bookreview #magicalrealism #becauseofreading #bookblogger #yalit #whynotya #bookaesthetic #booklover #bookstagram #prettybooks #bookgram #bookobsessed #alwaysreading #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #igreads #booklove #bookish #idratherbereading #bookworm #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdqfwlLZXA/?igshid=1itxriwsosild

📒 How are you doing on your backlist books? I recently finished The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by @benphilippe and I really liked it. This is a 2019 YA contemporary novel about Norris, a Canadian teen who moves to Texas. He is a bit obnoxious but he felt real and relatable. I liked his sarcastic dry sense of humor even though he can be savage with his words at times. He goes to this new school with all these preconceived notions about the people there and he views things with this self-righteous air. But through new friendships and mistakes he makes, Norris learns a lot about himself. The author touches on topics like suicide, depression, homophobia, racial injustice, and police brutality. But he does this in a way that doesn’t feel too heavy but is still impactful. Overall this was a fun coming-of-age story! . 📒 #QOTD: Have you ever lived in a different country? I haven’t lived anywhere other than California. I don’t see myself moving out of the US but I’m not opposed to the idea either. . . . . #thefieldguidetothenorthamericanteenager #benphilippe #epicreads #yabooks #yacontemporary #comingofage #yalit #bookreview #bookstagram #yabookstagram #backlistbooks #tbrpost #amreading #bookcover #yellowbooks #booknerd #librariansofinstagram #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CM-id8ALXQE/?igshid=1ofiy1lsud2wo

🥷🏻 Do you read YA thrillers? Thrillers isn’t a genre I read but I just finished Killing November and it was such an addicting read. I didn’t have any expectations going in but this really surprised me. A secret society of assassins and strategists have been around in our world for centuries is super intriguing. And I love a boarding school setting. I couldn’t put it down. I was reading this with another book and I kept wanting to pick this one up. It was fun and fast-paced, but with all the plotting and suspense that took place the ending felt anticlimactic. I think adding another 100 pages or so and moving up the reveal would have made this a really fantastic standalone thriller. Non-spoiler review is up on Goodreads. Link in bio! . 🥷🏻 #QOTD: Would you rather be skilled with potions or knives? I think I’d choose potions although I’m terrible at chemistry and math. I just want to feel like a witch or alchemist. . . . . #killingnovember #adrianamather #getunderlined #yabook #yalit #yathriller #bookstagram #whynotya #mysteries #thrillers #amreading #bookreview #instabooks #yabookstagram #bookish #booklover #reluctantreaders #teenbooks #librariansofinstagram #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CM5hymXLIpV/?igshid=10ulq475clvf

I heard so many good things about The Merciful Crow. This was a solid fantasy that I enjoyed a lot! I liked the setting, caste/magic system, diversity, and the brutal world (it can get bloody). I felt some of the lore and romance was weak, but overall it was fun read. This is a story about overthrowing oppression and fighting for your rights and I loved watching Fie embrace her role as chief. I will definitely read the sequel as there were many things left unfinished (also, no cliffhanger). The next book will likely have more to do with politics so that should be fun. . #QOTD: What genre do you read the most? Fantasy id my favorite but I rarely read them back to back. I like to read different genres in between my fantasies as a sort of “palette cleanser.” . . . . #themercifulcrow #margaretowen #fiercereads #yafantasy #yabooks #bookstagram #macmillanpublishers #whynotya #fantasybooks #greatread #yalit #booknerd #alwaysreading #igbooks #librariansofinstagram #booklover #bookcover #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNpTylgsKL/?igshid=jvdanyjtgl80

🍲 A favorite book that I read in February was More Than Just A Pretty Face by @syed.m.masood. This was such a fun OwnVoices YA contemporary. The book follows our main character Danyal, a Desi/Muslim high school senior in the Bay Area in California. Danyal was the best. He’s funny, confident, and sincere. His love for food made me so hungry for Pakistani Indian food. There’s a restaurant he eats at in the book that’s close to where I live in the Bay Area that I have to try out now. Danyal is also one of the kindest, most thoughtful male protagonists I’ve read. The book has themes of family, food and cooking, love, and religion. And I adored the slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance! I haven’t loved a YA contemporary romance like this one in a while so I’m so happy this one was awesome. . 🍲 Thank you to @thenovl for sending me a copy to review! This book released last fall and I highly recommend it. I gave this 5 stars! . 🍲 #QOTD: What was your favorite recent read? . . SYNOPSIS: “Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he's funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn't approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal's longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect. When Danyal gets selected for Renaissance Man--a school-wide academic championship--it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he's smarter than they think. He recruits the brilliant, totally-uninterested-in-him Bisma to help with the competition, but the more time Danyal spends with her...the more he learns from her...the more he cooks for her...the more he realizes that happiness may be staring him right in his pretty face.” . . . . #morethanjustaprettyface #syedmmasood #thenovl #bookreview #yabooks #yalit #yalovin #yareads #bookstagram #bookgram #bibliophile #yaromance #romcom #diversebooks #bookstagrammer #weneeddiversebooks #ownvoices #booklover #booksbooksbooks #igreads #booknerd #librariansofinstagram #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CMATyLiAPFU/?igshid=1tmnr8u921cc2

💥 I did it. I finally read Illuminae. This book took my emotions on a wild ride. The beginning was exciting. The middle got confusing and a little boring, but then BAM! Phobos happened and things started getting batshit crazy. The last 40% is what really hooked me and things started coming together. And I actually loved the side characters more than the main characters! They really stole my heart. I loved AIDEN and my favorite character is Byron Zhang. His parts toward the ends BROKE me. . 💥 Overall, I really enjoyed this and could see myself rereading. Detailed, non-spoiler review is up on Goodreads. Link is in my bio! . 💥 #QOTD: Have you read Illuminae? Did you like it? . . . . #illuminae #illuminaefiles #amiekaufman #jaykristoff #knopfteen #getunderlined #yalit #whynotya #scifi #sciencefiction #bookreview #bookstagram #booknerd #amreading #yabookstagram #spacescifi #yareaders #bookworm #bookcover #amreading #igreads #librariansofinstagram #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CLzz1g1AFN7/?igshid=tvnzr60oj2tx

🧡 “And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.” – The Poet X . 🧡 #QOTD: Do you read verse novels (novels told in poems)? After reading and loving The Poet X, I’m more open to them. I’m starting The Black Flamingo soon. . 🧡 I recently finished The Poet X by @acevedowrites and I loved it so much. I was a little nervous going into it because the only other verse novel I’ve read is A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. But I loved With the Fire On High by Acevedo and I hard such amazing things about The Poet X. I was blown away. I listened to the audiobook while following along with the book and it made the whole experience just perfect. I didn’t know much about the story going in. . 🧡 Similar to WTFOH, this story is character driven. It’s about Xiomara as she tries to struggles to understand her relationship with her mom, twin brother, religious upbringing, her changing body, and wanted/unwanted attraction from men. It’s also a love letter to poetry. Poetry gives Xiomara a voice when she feels like no one is listening. I fell in love with Xiomara as a character. She’s strong, fearless, angry, vulnerable, soft, passionate but most of all, she’s genuine. She feels so real. I wanted to hold her and tell her that she’s beautiful and cherished. . 🧡 Detailed, non-spoiler review is up on Goodreads. Link is in my bio! I gave this 5 stars. . . . . #thepoetx #elizabethacevedo #epicreads #versenovel #novelsinverse #poetry #slampoetry #bookreview #yabooks #yalit #whynotya #bookstagram #bookgram #alwaysreading #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #igreads #booklove #ownvoices #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks #librariansofinstagram #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmlkNVAgGC/?igshid=1gdzvkhrhr0s0

🧚🏽 I love middle grade fantasy so I was super excited to receive Cathedral of Bones by A.J. Steiger. The synopsis sounds super magical. It follows 14-year-old Simon who has always wanted to be a great animist (those who do magic). Problem is he isn’t very good at magic and he’s relegated to working in a mailroom. His chance to be a hero comes when a letter arrives asking for help to get rid of a monster that’s terrorizing the village. . 🧚🏽 Early reviews have said this reads more like older middle grade or YA. It’s dark fantasy with elements of horror as it includes violence, necromancy, gore, romance, and drugs. I haven’t read any monster horror books because I’m a big wuss. Not even Frankenstein. So hopefully this doesn’t scare me too much. . 🧚🏽 Thank you to @harperkids for sending me a copy of this book to read and review! The book is out now so check your local library or bookstore. . . 🧚🏽SYNOPSIS: “Simon Frost lives in a curious place, where magic is used by the very best Animists to do wondrous things—like call upon imps, wraiths, and all manner of monsters to right wrongs, deliver justice, and accomplish feats no human could achieve. Simon Frost is not one of those Animists, though he’s been trying to become one for years. When a plea arrives from a distant hamlet, preyed upon by an abominable monster, Simon sees the opportunity to finally prove his worth. But upon arriving in the tiny village, Simon finds not just a monster but a key to his past—and a pathway into an unbelievable future.” . . . . #cathedralofbones #ajsteiger #newbook #middlegradebooks #middlegradefantasy #fantasybooks #kidlit #harperkids #harpercollins #bookstagram #bookcover #middlegradereads #fantasyreads #booksbooksbooks #booklover #tbr #tbrpost #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CLd18Bhg8mZ/?igshid=5wg98df3latq

💘 Happy Valentines Day! What better book to post today about than one thats all about LOVE! If you love a good romance, I highly recommend Lovely War by Julie Berry. It has not one but two amazing love stories set against the backdrop of WWI. And the story of these two couples are narrated by Greek gods. Aphrodite is the main narrator with certain parts told by Ares, Apollo, and my favorite dude, Hades. . 💘 This book took me on an emotional journey. I don’t cry reading books but this made me spill some tears at one point. Berry’s writing is amazing! It’s really lush and flowery when telling the love stories and gritty during the war scenes. Berry doesn’t shy away from the darker realities of war and the time period so content warnings for battle scenes, ptsd, and violent racism. See my detailed non-spoiler review on Goodreads. I gave this one 5 stars. Link in bio! . 💘 #QOTD: Are you celebrating Valentines Day today? I don’t really do anything on V-Day. I like the holiday because I like seeing places decorated in pink. My favorite Valentines activity was preparing a bunch if those silly Valentines grams with candy to give to classmates in elementary school. . . . . #lovelywar #julieberry #penguinteen #bookreview #historicalfiction #romancebooks #romancereader #valentinesday #pinkbooks #loveandwar #greekmythology #greekgods #aphrodite #yabooks #yalit #whynotya #bookstagram #librariansofinstagram #booklover #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CLSG9-XAYOQ/?igshid=7cc0pqab6df4

💗 I finished Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me recently and I loved it so much. In addition to the racial and LGBTQ+ diversity being wonderful, I think it did a fantastic job in getting its message across about the first loves and toxic relationships. People are messy. Relationships are messy. And as much as you love someone, if that relationship isn’t fulfilling or if it’s actually tearing you down, it’s time to say goodbye. I prefer full color illustrations but I liked the pink accents used throughout this. I gave this 5 stars. A detailed non-spoiler review is up on my Goodreads. Link in my bio! . 💗 #QOTD: Do you read graphic novels? I prefer standalone graphic novels like Laura Dean, Pumpkinheads, and Check Please. . . . . #lauradeankeepsbreakingupwithme #graphicnovels #lgbtqbooks #booknerd #yabooks #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks #yagraphicnovels #bookblogger #yalit #whynotya #bookaesthetic #booklover #bookstagram #prettybooks #bookgram #bookobsessed #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #igreads #booklove #bookish #bookworm #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CLIuIv-Atz-/?igshid=q2ek5t7wuzj

What Big Teeth by @rose.selavy.szabo is out now! Thank you @bookishfirst and @fiercereads for sending me a finished copy to read and review. This is one of my anticipated 2021 ya fantasy titles. I read the first three chapters and I’m loving all the creepy vibes. You follow Eleanor’s perspective as she’s running away from boarding school to go back to her monstrous family. It’s been years since she saw her family so there’s this awkward tension and fear she feels around them. It’s as if you’re dropped into this creepy Little Red Riding Hood story except you belong to a violent and gothic Addams Family full of werewolves and beasts, and you’re not exactly sweet and innocent yourself. I love it. I’m excited to continue reading this! . #QOTD: Do you make a monthly tbr? I don’t usually because I’m a big mood reader but I do have maybe 1-2 books I’d like to get to each month but I like to keep things flexible. . . . . #whatbigteeth #roseszabo #fiercereads #bookishfirst #bookstagram #yafantasy #tbr #tbrpost #whynotya #bookish #bookcover #alwaysreading #booksofinstagram #newbook #macmillanpublishers #gothicfantasy #igreads #booknerds #bookworm #bookblogger #librariansofinatagram #bookphotography #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CK9auAAgJ37/?igshid=jm1lshzat1r1

🌉 One of my goals is to read more historical fiction this year. I used to read so much before my bookstagram days. When I first read the synopsis for The Last Night At the Telegraph Club by @malindalo I was super intrigued. A sapphic live story set in 1950s San Francisco Chinatown featuring an Asian-American main character? YES PLEASE! This sounds so amazing and I know it’s going to pull on my heartstrings. I cannot wait to read this! Soon, my lovely, soon. . 🌉 Thank you to @penguinteen for generously gifting me a finished copy. The book is out now so check your library or local bookstore. . 🌉 #QOTD: How is your reading going? I’m flying through books since I’m reading a bunch for school. Thankfully they are YA books I got to choose so it’s been fun even if my every free moment is spent trying to catch up. . . . . #thelastnightatthetelegraphclub #malindalo #penguinteen #yabooks #yareads #yalovin #bookstagram #yabookstagram #historicalfiction #lgbtqbooks #sapphicromance #tbr #bookish #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooks #asianbooks #librariariansofinstagram #bookblogger #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CK2E3EtgmKC/?igshid=1kvjfn5b9ibw6

Currently reading Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston. I just love this @OwlCrate edition of the book. It’s simply gorgeous! . Personally I felt like Poston’s Geekerella was cute but really cheesy. This carries a similar twee tone just in a fantasy. It’s like reading a cute Disney channel movie. It has this nostalgic fairytale vibe where it feels like a middle grade fantasy novel but with the occasional F-bomb thrown around. It’s also reading very quickly, which is perfect for me right now. It’s too early for me to make up my mind about it. The story is interesting so far and it has a lot of elements I love like magical abilities, evil forests, and animal companions. . #QOTD: Do you have a favorite Disney fairytale movie? I love Tangled! I’ve rewatched it so many times. . . . . #amongthebeastsandbriars #ashleyposton #currentlyreading #yafantasy #yalit #whynotya #bookaesthetic #booklover #bookstagram #owlcrate #bookcover #prettybooks #bookgram #bookobsessed #alwaysreading #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #igreads #booklove #bookish #bookworm #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CKpBmYMALK_/?igshid=1hhgpfxgd27j4

🔎 I enjoyed The Silence of Bomes by @junehwrites despite not being a big reader of the mystery genre. The historical setting, religious/political drama, and murder mystery were fantastically written. Hur’s descriptive writing was so vivid that you can’t help but get sucked into the suspense and drama. I love how the murder mystery gets intertwined with personal aspects of Seol’s life. I never knew who to trust and as the stakes got higher, the action and suspense also amped up. . 🔎 I really appreciated how Hur didn’t water down how crazy brutal and closed-off Korea was in the past. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. This is definitely not a book for those who are squeamish. There are a lot of trigger warnings. Additionally, the characters live in a rigid caste-like society so the characters speak and behave with this misogynistic and classist worldview. . 🔎 My spoiler-free review is up on Goodreads. Link in bio. I include a brief list of trigger warnings but I recommend checking out other reviews as well. . 🔎 #QOTD: How are you doing? I started school today and I already have a crap ton of work to do. -_- But the Shadow & Bone Netflix promo images released today and BTS is dropping their Winter Package tonight so it all balances out. 😂 . . 🔎 SYNOPSIS: 1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned 16-year-old Seol is indentured to the police bureau as a damo, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman. As they delve deeper into the dead woman's secrets, Seol forms an unlikely bond of friendship with the inspector. But her loyalty is tested when he becomes the prime suspect, and Seol may be the only one capable of discovering what truly happened on the night of the murder. But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly. . . . . #bookreview #thesilenceofbones #junehur #fiercereads #historicalfiction #murdermystery #mysterybooks #yalit #yabooks #ownvoices #ownvoicesreviews #koreanbooks #joseon #koreanbooks #asianbooks #bookstagram #beautybookcorner https://www.instagram.com/p/CKkUZLMAn2O/?igshid=o5v71ethxmj4