Right now, I just want to lie down and sleep for a bit.
But I got stuff to do and I want to read.

I need to sort out my priorities.

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ON THE BLOG

I didn't do much blogging for this week because I wasn't feeling it. I only have one post and it's not even book-related but I am happy about it since it's my first post that doesn't talk about books. I have more lined up but they need more editing so I don't know when to post them for now.

• I Don't Get Tired Of Them: Pixar Films 

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BOOK TALK

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LIFE TALK

SCHOOL

• That's pretty much my week in a nutshell via tweets
• For Tuesday class, I've never felt so much pressure working on a (illustration) plate 
• I DON'T LIKE HAVING A TIME LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO ART
• I felt awful last Tuesday and I hate what I felt because looking at my work, IT WASN'T ENOUGH
• And what's worse is that the professor in-charge of that class is famous of failing his students
• I'm mentally breaking down
• But I'm trying so hard to be positive right now
• Also my class schedule changed
• I was one of the unfortunate ones to be transferred to the Saturday afternoon class from my Friday morning class
• I'd rather have my classes early in the mornings than late afternoons BIG SIGH
• I have FIVE PLATES to do (2 down, 3 to go)
• I really need more extra time
• On the lighter side of things, I do feel motivated and determined so I guess that's good?
• I'm tired and running out of ideas but I'm not letting it get to me
• This is... a lot to take in I'm so sorry

OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

• I met with a close friend yesterday
• And I rambled to him about life
• And it felt good to let it out to someone who also listens
• And the rambling was done with pizza
• I missed eating pizza

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FIRST POST THAT ISN'T BOOK-RELATED!! FINALLY!! I've been wanting to do this for a while now. I love talking about movies, tv shows and music as much as I do with books so I decided to start this. Also a bonus of getting to know me a bit.

I hold animated movies close to my heart and they're a big reason why I'm fond of animation and why I pursued the arts in college.

So about this, I have watched all of Pixar's movies. I have all of them in my laptop and my favorites are on DVD. The earliest one I could recall was A Bug's Life and I was fascinated because the movie looked so different from the Disney Classic Films which were in 2D.

Anyway, here are my favorites!!

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A Bug's Life (1998)

On behalf of "oppressed bugs everywhere," an inventive ant named Flik hires a troupe of warrior bugs to defend his bustling colony from a horde of freeloading grasshoppers led by the evil-minded Hopper.

One of the movies I truly enjoyed when I was a kid. I never really thought I would be fascinated by insects but Pixar did a good job of making me feel bad for ants even though they like to bite me when I'm just minding my own business. And in the process, I really viewed the bird as the evil one when it was just trying to be a momma to her kids and looking for food lol.

Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters.

I wasn't fond of this movie after watching the trailer. It's why I didn't watch this at the cinema when it came out. However, this was played on Disney Channel on TV during a countdown to the new year - I forgot what year that was - so I sat down and watched while waiting for midnight and well... it was actually fun. And now I've rewatched it a bunch of times. Props to Rascal Flatt's Life is a Highway though because that song's catchy and perfect for a road trip playlist. I don't like the sequels though.



Brave (2012)

Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Mérida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Mérida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Mérida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Mérida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall.

Someone from Tumblr pointed out that Merida reminds them of Clary Fray (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare) because of the hair and now I can't unsee it. And she kinda reminds me of Avery Morgansten too (Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout) and very appropriate too how Cam calls Avery "Shortcake". For some reason I love rewatching this. Partly for the humor and the other for Merida's relationship with her mom. I love my mom so this one really hit in the feels.

James Sullivan and Mike Wazowski are monsters, they earn their living scaring children and are the best in the business... even though they're more afraid of the children than they are of them. When a child accidentally enters their world, James and Mike suddenly find that kids are not to be afraid of and they uncover a conspiracy that could threaten all children across the world.

I still smile so wide whenever Boo says "Mike Wazowski!". It's so cute. The scene from at the sushi restaurant is something that I will remember forever because Disney had that scene on TV as a promotional clip when this movie was about to be aired on TV for the first time. I mean Boo saying "boo!" to a bunch of monsters and them freaking out over a little girl was iconic.



Toy Story (1995)

Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.

My all-time favorite Pixar movie. Hands down. This movie was the movie that made me appreciate animation so much after watching a special episode or documentary of the Toy Story franchise's history. I loved all three movies. The fourth and recent one was kinda okay for me. I didn't love it on the same level as the first three but it was still... okay. Anyway, the Toy Story movies are just a favorite and I've literally memorized all the scenes. Legit. I still remember when I was a kid, I'd leave my toys unattended in my room during playtime and pretend to walk away then I'd open the door like some kind of member of the S.W.A.T. team to see if some of them moved or if there's any suspicious change of positions lol those were the days.

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Lovely. It's Sunday!
Nothing much has happened in my life except that I miss my cats and dog.

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ON THE BLOG

I only have two posts for this week:

• Book Review: Broken Knight by L.J. Shen (2 out of 5 stars)
• WWW Wednesday #05: Romance Books and a Movie

I also decided to share some of my favorite music finds or songs on repeat here and it gives me an excuse to gush over music. If anyone is familiar with #MusicMonday, I'll be posting music if I can on Mondays.

So far, those are the ones I planned to post.

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BOOK TALK

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LIFE TALK

SCHOOL

• So far it's alright.
• Got to use Adobe Illustrator during Graphic Design class WITH AN IMAC. I'm a Windows user (PC/laptop) through and through and I swear it was foreign as heck. I felt so lost. I mean I've used an iMac before from my previous workplace but ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR WITH AN IMAC AND I HAD TO USE THE FREAKING PEN TOOL?? Ground, swallow me whole. Right now.
• I love graphic design but this class is about to end me.
• Love how I still get to have lunch with two of my friends who aren't my classmates anymore. One is a Cinema major so he has different classes and schedule, the other is an Advertising major like me and we have the same classes but our schedules are different. The only common thing I have with them is the lunch-break time.

LOVER ALBUM

• Okay I love this album and how soft it is
• Cruel Summer! Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince! Paper Rings! Cornelia Street! Death by a Thousand Cuts! London Boy! Afterglow! Daylight!
• I replayed Afterglow over and over than any track.
• Soon You'll Get Better had me crying.

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Hosted by: Taking on a World of Words

THE THREE W'S ARE

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

CURRENTLY READING:

I actually haven't fully started this yet - still on 12% - but I have a plan to marathon the entire Wedding Belles Series by Lauren Layne some time... today. 

I've done nothing but skim Welcome to the Underworld by Con Template last night and today. I'm just rereading (okay, skimming) my favorite books as of now because I just finished a book that I wasn't that much of a fan of. Anyway, Welcome to the Underworld Series is one of my favorite mafia (KOREAN MAFIA) fanfiction-turned-published books that left me in such an emotional state.

Hopefully I'd get to reading mode and enjoy the series. I'm always in the mood for something Lauren Layne. And due to my Welcome to the Underworld marathon last night, I'm also quite in the mood to read something sad and tragic... or just something heavy on the emotional scale.

RECENTLY READ:

L.J. Shen's Broken Knight was lost to me. 

I already wrote a review for this so I don't wanna talk much about it anymore here. But let me just say how this book got me tired of the enemies-to-lovers and hate-to-love tropes. A shame, really. I love and enjoy those tropes but having to write it really depends on how it's executed for this trope to work.

Oh well. I'm not a huge fan of the series but I still do want to read Angry God which will come out next year. I do like Vaughn and I like his parents (my favorite couple from the Sinners of Saint Series). I just wish his love interest gets a name already because people are hinting that it's "this girl" (if you've read Broken Knight, you'd know) and I definitely approve. It's just kinda tiring if the author keeps playing with the fans like this. You can hype a book in different ways though without stressing your fans/readers and without causing tension between the fandom (because fans are popping out theories here and there that there might be another girl and at this point I just wanna mute everyone talking about this). 

TO-BE READ:

I_HAVE_NOTHING.MP3

I don't know what to read yet, I mean yeah.. obviously it's gonna be the Wedding Belles Series but I wanted to put another book here and... nothing comes to mind yet. I'm currently busy watching Enchanted (2007) and singing along to the songs (I LOVE THE SONG "SO CLOSE" SO MUCH I CRY EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THIS NOW THAT I'M AN ADULT HAVING FULL KNOWN HOW SAD THAT BALLROOM SCENE WAS). I might look for some fairy tale-ish books. This movie really got me singing "I'VE BEEN DREAMING OF A TRUE LOVE'S KISS~" (the scene where Prince Edward started singing that line but got hit by the cyclists instead always has me in hysterics). 

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Title: Broken Knight
Series: All Saints High, #2
Author: L.J. Shen
Publication Date: August 17, 2019
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 stars)

Not all love stories are written the same way. Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.

Luna Rexroth is everyone’s favorite wallflower.

Sweet.
Caring.
Charitable.
Quiet.
Fake.
Underneath the meek, tomboy exterior everyone loves (yet pities) is a girl who knows exactly what, and who, she wants—namely, the boy from the treehouse who taught her how to curse in sign language.
Who taught her how to laugh.
To live.
To love.
Knight Cole is everyone’s favorite football hero.
Gorgeous.
Athletic.
Rugged.
Popular.
Liar.

This daredevil hell-raiser could knock you up with his gaze alone, but he only has eyes for the girl across the street: Luna.

But Luna is not who she used to be. She doesn’t need his protection anymore.
When life throws a curveball at All Saints’ golden boy, he’s forced to realize not all knights are heroes.

Sometimes, the greatest love stories flourish in tragedy.

I'm giving this book 2 stars: one for Rosie, the other is for the Spencer family.

I'm not attached to this series nor I am with its prequel. I did like Vicious though and Vicious and Emilia were a couple whose love story was a ride I went with. Daria was a character I treasure in her book but Pretty Reckless was too full of drama that was BS at most points. Still, Daria was a treasure. Knight, Luna and Vaughn are the kids of the SoS characters who intrigued me enough to continue this series. Knight and Luna's friendship? Vaughn as mini Vicious and got his mom's artistic heart and talent? Like I said, enough.

So I was lowkey looking forward to this book. What I got instead was unnecessary drama, the lack of trust and communication, unreasonable and out of place actions, and back-and-forth mixed signals.

We could've had a best friends to lovers story and not the typical hate to love that seemed to be the only formula repetitively done by this for this series and the its predecessor. Let me tell you, best friends to lovers trope IS CAPABLE ENOUGH to deliver an angst. Let's not limit to one trope, please. I know the author is capable of doing more than the same, tired, repeated trope.

Also, was that kiss - y'all know what I'm talking about - truly necessary??? If this was a fanservice (and I've read that there were even pins of this in the book's Pinterest board) then this was just a bad move. Don't bait your readers/fans like that if they just ask for representation and diversity. This ain't it. I've encountered author/s who've done this before and let me tell you, it never ends well.

Now let's get spoilery. Highlight if you want to read the spoiler: [Like I said, I'm not attached to these books. But I'd be lying if I say I didn't want Rosie to have a better life and more happiness. I'm pissed because it seemed like her death was essential for this book to progress with its plot and main characters. Why.. why would you do that.. ??? I get she's sick and not in a good condition but did her life had to prolong until this book was out? It was so uncalled for. She's lived long enough and then this happened??? 

I'm also going to be honest here. I didn't like how teasers or little breadcrumbs were dropped during promotion about the idea of her dying. If it means to promote how heavy on the angst scale this book would be, then that's just annoying and unfair for this character/couple's fans. I just can't believe it.. it's like her dying became part of the hype.

And then there's Dean. REALLY? REALLY??? I know it wasn't explicitly stated that he's moved on but it doesn't take a genius to put the hints together that HE HAS MOVED ON. REALLY??? REALLY??? A YEAR LATER??? REALLY???? That was just so frustrating and I don't even ride on this ship. But the disrespect on Rosie's part. Ruckus was an entire book dedicated to their love and how much they progressed and grew as a couple and individuals but I'm given a few words in the epilogue A YEAR LATER that he's moving on. I'm so sorry if I sound bitter AF but you don't get to do this to two of your characters who have such dedicated and loyal fans who love them and their story that easily and quickly.]

I don't like writing spoilers in my review but I had to let this one out.

There are still some few things I liked like how the writing style is fine and how fleshed out the writing for some characters could be. And because of these, I know the author's capable enough of delivering creative stories with a different approach that doesn't involve hate between the main characters. Sadly, I have low hopes for this to happen.

At this point, I'm just waiting for Vaughn's book to come out. I like this kid but I really hope his book doesn't end up being another typical hate to love because I've read enough of it. And him being another asshole/jerk because... that's really nothing new.

After that, I'm done with this series. I have so much more to say though but I think it will be more of a rant than a review and I don't want that.

It's been a while since I've done a Sunday Post because I didn't seem to get enough time to sit down and make a blog post for this thanks to school and with me leave the house again. I live off-campus but it's like a five-minute walk to the university anyway. It's an apartment building with majority of the tenants are students of my school. It was quite a busy few weeks because when I came back to the apartment, it really needed some cleaning time. It was unattended for two months and I think a week or two. I left before May ended and came back last week Monday. Happy my fam decided to help with the cleaning though. 



There's not much this week on the blog. I've been slow with blogging lately.

• Now Playing: 1989 by Taylor Swift - Book Tags
• Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I'd Love to be Besties With

BOOKS READ THIS WEEK:

• Sea Witch Rising (Sea Witch, #2) by Sarah Henning (★★★.5 / I haven't updated Goodreads for this yet.)
• The Guy on the Right by Kate Stewart (★★★★ / Same for this. I actually enjoyed this one. I was skeptical of this at first.)
• A Place in the Sun by R.S. Grey (★★★★ / I'm going to write a review for this soon.)

CURRENTLY READING:
I was supposed to be reading The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata but decided to put this down first. I stopped at chapter two. IT WASN'T BAD. I stopped because I keep reading the name LUNA and realized that it's Luna from her other book Luna and the Lie. I decided to give Luna and the Lie a go first because I want to get to know Lenny aka the main character of The Best Thing. But I don't have the book yet.


BOOKS I GOT:

I actually got the top row books two weeks ago but I just wanna share them like how I also shared them on Twitter: House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig / Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker / The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai / Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning

I also got the entire Wedding Belles Series by Lauren Layne! Okay I got the novella, first and third book way before but I haven't read any of them until I got the book two. In which I did just this morning. 







WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO:

• The Blog - As you can see, if you've been here in my blog before, I changed my theme. I've been tweaking the theme to my liking and I'm really, really happy with this. I still want to change some of the colors though but not right now since my apartment's wifi is still a work in progress. I'm also trying to comment back as much as I can though.
• School - Proper classes will start either this week or next month so I really hope I'll be able to balance school work and my book blogging life. I started blogging again after a very long hiatus around summer after the last school year. Now it's a new school year so I hope I'll be able to juggle these two things. I might also share some personal posts from time to time relating to school. Maybe show you guys some of the artworks I'm working on. 
• Big Bad Wolf - Anyone familiar with this? I am so excited to go to this big book sale this Wednesday (I don't have classes this Wednesday so yay!). It's been a while since I've bought physical copies of books ON SALE. Also this is gonna be my first time going to this sale because I missed it last year.

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I went around the blogosphere and found these tags related to Taylor Swift. I wasn't tagged but since I love her songs, I decided WHY NOT? I'M BORED. I'M DOING THIS. Also blasted the RED album while I was making this post.

I merged the two tags because it's pretty much all about TSwift anyway. There's another TSwift book tag I found after I did this though but I guess I'll do that one in another post. I do love the questions on that tag.

Taylor Swift Book Tag by The Book Life (I think there are questions added/missing in this tag that I didn't get to include since I got the questions from another book blog and not from the video source)
1989 Book Tag by Reviews from a Bookworm

So here it is.
Now, these answers slash opinions are personally mine. 

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We Are Never Ever, Ever Getting Back Together 
(a book/series you were pretty sure you loved but then wanted to break up with): A Court Of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas. I loved and enjoyed the first two books but fell out of love with it.

Red 
(a book with a red cover): The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh. ACOTAR also fits for this.

The Best Day 
(a book that makes you feel nostalgic): Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. I love this series a lot.

Love Story 
(a book with forbidden love): Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1) by Cassandra Clare. Emma and Julian? Parabatais falling in love? *dramatic gasp* SCANDALOUS. Though I don't know if it's like that the whole series since I haven't read the second and third book. And most couples in CC's Shadowhunter books are pretty much forbidden anyway.

I Knew You Were Trouble 
(a book with a bad character you couldn’t help but love): Luca Vitiello from Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles by Cora Reilly. This is his POV novella/book since Bound by Honor was told in Aria's POV aka his wife. Anyway, he's Capo of the Vitiello mafia family. He's worse than trouble. He's killed someone by crushing their throat with bare hands :D

Innocent 
(a book that someone ruined the ending for): I don't have one for this as far as I can remember.... people have spoiled things for me but not not the ending directly.

Everything Has Changed 
(a book with a character who goes through extensive character development): Lily Calloway and Loren Hale from the Addicted Series by Krista and Becca Ritchie. The loves of my life and I'm so incredibly proud of them. I could write a whole essay of how much they mean to me, how proud I am of them, how much they make me happy, how much I love them, etc. Seriously we could be here all day.

You Belong With Me 
(my most anticipated book release): Love Her or Lose Her (Hot & Hammered, #2) by Tessa Bailey. I'm excited for the marriage inconvenience trope.

Forever and Always 
(my favorite book couple): I have a lot of favorites though but let me give this to Riley Mckenna and Sam Compton from Sex, Love & Stiletto Series by Lauren Layne. They're my favorite from the series.

Begin Again
(a series that deserves a second chance): Knitting in the City Series by Penny Reid. I wasn't that into the first book as much as I hoped I would but I still do want to continue the series for some reason.

Wonderland 
(a book that features your favorite fictional world): The world in The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. I love the world-building Marchetta created.

Last Kiss
(a series that you’re not ready to let go, even though it ended): Not because I'm obsessed with this series or it's a favorite but more like I don't want to let The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater go yet because it felt like it needed a better final book. The events in the fourth book was honestly just underwhelming for me. It deserves better and I know it could be better but well, it ended. 

Clean
(a series where you’re glad it’s over): MmmMmMmMmm... nothing comes to mind. If I don't like a series, I wouldn't continue wasting my time reading the rest of the books anyway. Plus if there IS a series I'm glad it's over, it's not really over OVER. Like a few months or years later, the author would announce another book coming out.

Wildest Dreams 
(your favorite fictional guy–it’s preferred but he doesn’t have to be a bad boy): I have a lot of favorite fictional guys but let me give this to Adrian Everhart from the Renegades Series by Marissa Meyer. I have a soft spot for him and he's actually one of the sweetest guys YA could offer.

Enchanted
(a book you found by chance that you ended up loving): The Curse Workers Series by Holly Black. I don't remember how I stumbled on this series but I really enjoyed it and I love Holly Black's writing.

All You Had to Do Was Stay 
(a book you didn’t finish that you wish you had given another chance): The Descendants by Joan He. I DNF-ed so early because I wasn't feeling it. I don't know though if I'll give another chance but we'll see.

Teardrops on My Guitar 
(a book that made me cry a lot): "cry a lot " is a stretch but All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover really did made me tear up. This book was just so emotionally heavy and the Graham's letters? That added more to the waterworks. 

Shake it Off 
(a book I love so much that I just shake off the haters): Hmmm.. I don't have one I think. I'm trying my hardest to remember but nothing comes to mind.

Blank Space 
(my favorite autographed book): Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. The book's really special because it's The Reason I enjoyed contemporary romance and it's also the first book that I got autographed. And my first book signing! 

Today was a Fairy Tale 
(my favorite retelling): One of my favorites is Stain by A.G. Howard. This is a retelling of Princess and the Pea!

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"You can want who you want, boys and boys and girls and girls."
WELCOME TO NEW YORK (a book with LGBT themes): Recently read Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Alex and Henry went from "are we nemesis" dorks to "maybe we're friends" to "ok so news is that i love you". 

"You can tell me when it's over if the high was worth the pain."
BLANK SPACE (a book that hit you right in the feels... but was totally worth it): Another recent read is The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker. I've only read three books by this author so far but this is my favorite and the one that hit in the feels.

"The rest of the world is black and white, but we're in screaming color."
OUT OF THE WOODS (a book which had vivid world-building): The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The districts! The Capitol! The entirety of Panem! The arena! I had a THG phase back then.

"I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream."
BLANK SPACE (a book you hated... but loved the cover): Hate's a strong word but anyway, it's Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I had issues with this book.

"The haters gonna hate."
SHAKE IT OFF (a book or series that everyone seems to love but you can't help but hate): I don't hate this series but it's something I don't want to remember and it's the Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth.

"I've got a blank space baby, and I'll write your name."
BLANK SPACE (your latest book boyfriend/girlfriend): Another Blank Space song lol alright, I got Kiara Falcone here from The Camorra Chronicles by Cora Reilly. This series is a spin-off of Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles and Kiara here is Luca's cousin. I. LOVE. HER. Her character development is one of the great things I've read in this series and I can't wait to read more of her in Twisted Bonds (and yes, she's the lovely lady in red on the cover)

"I wish you knew I'll never forget you as long as I live."
I WISH YOU WOULD (a book or series you know you will always love): The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare. The London Institute fam forever lives in my heart even though I haven't talked about them in so long.

"I can see the end as it begins."
WILDEST DREAMS (a book or series you wish could have gone on forever): Gone on forever is another stretch but I do like reading more of these characters from Lauren Layne's Sex, Love and Stiletto Series and its spin-off the Oxford Series. I love reading how characters from both series actually have bonds with each other. It's such a fun and loving group.

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