Hello. My name is Angela and I’m a bookaholic.

I was excited to find that I’d been tagged by Elou Carroll for this fun book tag! (The lovely banner I’m using in my post comes from Cristina @ Tiny Obsessions). Thank you so much for tagging me, Elou! I tend to only post reviews so it’s rather nice to post something different every once in a while 🙂 And don’t forget to check out Elou’s lovely blog!

Okay, down to business… 

What do you like about new books?

The crispness of the pages. That gentle crackling sound when you open the cover for its first time. The anticipation of what adventure is about to unfold. The knowledge that no one in the universe has read this particular book’s story yet or gotten their grubby cheese powder covered fingers all over its pages or sneezed on it.

I know a lot of people say they love the smell of books but I don’t really feel one way or another about it. It’s the feel of the book that I love.

How often do you buy new books?

More often than my bank account would like. I’ve gotten a lot better about checking the library first (although they usually don’t have what I’m hoping for) and asking several fellow readers their thoughts before lunging in with a fistful of cash to seize a book I might not like. At this point in my life I simply cannot afford to buy a book I won’t like. Books are expensive, but usually worth it 🙂

Bookstore or online shopping – which do you prefer?

If I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I want a particular book (or if it has a sweet preorder deal) then Amazon is the way I go. It’s just so much cheaper and money is a big factor for me. This being said, I do absolutely love spending time in a bookstore or library. I love spending hours just wandering the aisles, exploring the shelves, sitting on the floor barricaded by a stack of books to be perused and shifted into “Yes” “Maybe” and “No” piles. Even if I walk out with nothing I still enjoy just being in a bookstore.

Do you have a favourite bookstore?

Hmm…well I really did love this bookstore called Little Shop of Stories. I visited it a lot when I lived in Atlanta. They had great author visits, a wonderful book selection, and an overall cool vibe that I loved. Plus they were right next to a Starbucks and a Jeni’s ice cream parlor.

I’ve seen photos of amazing bookstores around the world but unfortunately I’ve not visited any of them so I don’t think they count for this post. And on the opposite end of the spectrum I will admit that I love Barnes & Noble. Sorry if you’re against non-indie bookstores but I simply can’t turn my back on good ol’ B&N when it holds so many memories for me of after school visits and empty pockets.

Do you pre-order books?

Occasionally. Only if there’s a really awesome preorder deal that I’m excited about. I like to preorder with Amazon because you can get the book for a significant fraction of the price but it’s even cheaper if you don’t buy it at all haha. As of late it’s been worth paying a little more for a book I definitely know I will enjoy.

Do you have a monthly book-buying limit?

No but where I live right now it’s a hassle to hop onto the interstate and drive to the nearest bookstore which yes happens to be a B&N. As long as I stay away from B&N or Amazon then I’m in the clear haha! But even when I am shopping for books my limit comes from my bank account. I need to eat and such 😉

Book-buying bans, are they something for you?

If I find myself starting to become a shopaholic then YES. I force myself to cut out any expenses that aren’t strictly necessary until I’m re-disciplined haha. But that’s a very rare issue. I do try and refrain from buying any books around my birthday and Christmas just in case someone thinks of choosing a book as a gift. However I keep my Goodreads page quite up to date with regards to my “Wish List” and what I own or have already read.

How big is your wishlist?

If you’d asked what my “To Read” list is like then I’d say MASSIVE. But my wishlist is actually rather small. I read lots of books but most don’t actually make it onto my physical bookshelves.

Which three books from your wishlist do you wish you owned right now?

Okay, so they’re all books from series. Right now I’ve either bought everything I want to read, I’ve read everything that I want to buy (yay ARCs), or I’m on the fence about buying them and taking that chance. But these three I know I want because I’m invested in the series and haven’t been disappointed yet.

Now I Rise (The Conqueror’s Saga #2) by Kiersten White

This series is about a gender-swapped tale of Vlad the Impaler. Her name is Lada and she’s cold, ice cold. The first book is huge but it was so good that even though I’d already read it as an ARC I still bought the finished book when it was released. It’s an alternative historical fiction and it’s really good. I definitely feel that it’s a niche type of book, where not everyone will enjoy it, in fact some might fall asleep, but for those who it clicks for oh my word it’s thrilling and bloody and so so good!
*My review of And I Darken (The Conqueror’s Saga #1)

A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas

If you’re looking for a great fantasy series that’s a bit more mature then this is for you (It’s categorized as New Adult, not Young Adult). I discovered it when yearning for something within the vein of Beauty and the Beast and I sure found it but wow it takes some exhilarating turns! I was skeptical that a book about high fae and faeries could be that good (because, well, they usually aren’t) but I was so wrong. There’s a strong current of romance but these books go so far beyond that. There’s a ton of action, utterly spectacular characters, and I am absolutely petrified to see how it will all conclude in this final book.
*My review of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1)
*My review of A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2)

Blacksouls (Blackhearts #2) by Nicole Castroman

Pirates? What? Hello! I met Nicole when I moved to Atlanta and began attending all those fun book events. I found out her book was launching soon and I just had to buy it. The series is about Blackbeard, the infamous pirate and one I know well from attending school in North Carolina. The first book is all backstory: the how and why Edward “Teach” Drummond becomes a pirate. It’s also a romance (not really a surprise haha). This sequel is the continuation of that so at last we shall be whisked out to sea and watch his fearsome transformation!

So many people felt betrayed that the first book contained pretty much zero pirate action but Nicole did say a thousand times that the first book was backstory and she really did do her research. Blackbeard wasn’t born a pirate (book one) but he sure became one (book two).
*My review of Blackhearts (Blackhearts #1)

Huzzah! Okay so there’s no specification on who or how many blogs to tag so I’m just going to open it up to all of you! Tags are fun little posts and I cannot wait to read your own answers 🙂

Cheers.

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