#selectionseries

The Selection Creamy Balsamic Pasta 🍓✨

Forget the palace drama, darling. Even a future queen needs a moment of quiet indulgence. Inspired by the soft, secret moments and surprising delights of The Selection series, we've created a pasta dish that’s as romantic and unexpected as America Singer herself.

This isn't your average creamy pasta. We're infusing sweet strawberries with a hint of savory garlic, then swirling it into a luscious cream cheese sauce that clings to every delicate farfalle. A crown of rich balsamic glaze adds that touch of royal decadence we all secretly crave. It’s light enough for a whispered confession, yet satisfying enough to fuel you through the next round of eliminations.

Perfect for a quiet night in, dreaming of your own happily ever after, or sharing with your chosen one. No Prince required (but always welcome 😉).

Here’s a sneak peek at the magic:

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Serves: 2 (or one very hungry monarch!)

Budget Level: Under $10.00 – because luxury doesn't have to break the royal bank!

Taste Profile: Creamy, sweet, savory, with a surprising tangy finish.

You’re so welcome, lovely! ❤️ I love giving fic/book recommendations, so I’m always here for that!

Yes!! You’ll love The Laws of Inheritance by @hushedhands then! Give her a follow too, she’s an incredible author, and has a couple other pieces of work set in the Selection Series world too, but definitely read TLOI first 🥳🥳🥳

It’s 2018!!!! Last year I read 20 books, so in honor of 2017 I picked my favorite reads out of this 20 books. Hope you’ll meet your next read.

1. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Goodreads summary: Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at a public high school. But she never imagined she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day. It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet soon it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

This book was such an emotional rollercoaster for me. It made me cry, laugh, jump. As the characters grow you grow with them. It’s so beautiful how Armentrout lets you connect with the characters so well. Their pain was my pain, and their now was my joy. This book will forever be in my heart and is just one of those books which you wouldn’t mind to reread over and over again. 

2.Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Goodreads summary: In a kingdom by the sea… In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word. A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love. Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them. Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

Shadowhunters!!!!!! Obviously at least one of the new books couldn’t stay out of this list. I was at first worried to start a new series after finishing TMI. I was so connected to the TMI characters that it was hard to imagine they would not be the main characters anymore and that we only would know glimpses of their life. However, I couldn’t bear to not submerge myself in the shadow world any longer. I’m so happy I did. I fell in love again with all these new characters, and there was more of the old characters in this book than I had imagined. Bravo, Clare, bravo. I can’t wait to read Lord of Shadows. 

3. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Goodreads summary: Darcy Patel is afraid to believe all the hype. But it's really happening - her teen novel is getting published. Instead of heading to college, she's living in New York City, where she's welcomed into the dazzling world of YA publishing. That means book tours, parties with her favorite authors, and finding a place to live that won't leave her penniless. It means sleepless nights rewriting her first draft and struggling to find the perfect ending... all while dealing with the intoxicating, terrifying experience of falling in love - with another writer. Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, the thrilling story of Lizzie, who wills her way into the afterworld to survive a deadly terrorist attack. With survival comes the responsibility to guide the restless spirits that walk our world, including one ghost with whom she shares a surprising personal connection. But Lizzie's not alone in her new calling - she has counsel from a fellow spirit guide, a very desirable one, who is torn between wanting Lizzie and warning her that...

I feel every aspiring writer should read this book. I loved the perspective of having the two stories in the book. Seeing Darcy doubts and struggles as a young writer, and how she grows and becomes more herself and that reflects on her writing. Then we have Lizzie’s world which is full of mystery, and death. The only thing I’m crossing my finger for is a sequel.