I think I’ve forgotten how to write a blog post.
I have some ideas (by which i mean only-titled-drafts of course) but putting them into words is another matter entirely. It used to come naturally, but then I give it a break and that spark is just… gone? Like hello didn’t anybody teach you it’s rude to just get up and leave like that? I sifted through at least 4 different intros before deciding I’ll just inform you guys about my latest existential crisis and declare that my eloquent introduction to this post. A round of applause for my amazing critical thinking skills please.
Ok so. I found this tag over at Georgia’s blog and since my coping mechanism includes blasting taylor swift on the speakers, it seems perfect for my life situation really.
State Of Grace – Best Opening Book In A Series
We are alone with our changing minds
We fall in love ’til it hurts or bleeds, or fades in time

Fable by Adrienne Young
This is literally the first question and I’m already cheating but we don’t talk about bruno my nefarious habits loudly ok? So this isn’t actually a series (um. i haven’t completed any series in a year. so.) but a duology and I found the first book better than the second. Anyway I don’t know how anyone of you can pass up this HOOKing (get it??) pirate adventure.
Red – a book that makes you feel a whole spectrum of emotion
Forgetting him was like tryin’ know somebody you never met
But loving him was red

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
See when I said this book was an emo rollercoaster I really meant it. It made me feel emotions I did not even know existed. I was giggling one moment, shocked-with-my-jaw-hanging-open the next, tearing up and then laughing through my tears. Quite the ~experience~
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Yeah like there was the all consuming pity for Elle, then anger on her behalf (and *ahem* possibly murderous feelings towards her stopmom and stepsister), then the nail biting tension and of course the happily ever after.

Treacherous – a slow book that you ended up loving
And I’d be smart to walk away
But you’re quicksand

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal
This was loooong and sloooow. And the sequence went like desert desert desert bang fighting desert desert. A very tempting DNF for sure. Yet I loved it for some reason? (the reason being: plenty of banter, moral greyness, knife to throat, enemies to lovers slow burn)
I Knew You Were Trouble – a book you knew would be bad and ended up being bad
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Barnes
After the overhyped jumble The Inheritance Games was (oh how i wish it had been a standalone), I did not have high hopes for the sequel. But somehow it managed to be even worse than I had thought? The romance had me gagging and the plot was weakly tied up.
All Too Well – the book that has stayed with you the most
Is this a sign from the universe? I am not able to pick a book for the signature song of the album?? What sorcery is this?
22 – coming of age book
It feels like a perfect night
For breakfast at midnight
To fall in love with strangers

In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens
I felt like most people would choose a contemporary for this prompt, so I went with a fantasy instead (away from the crowd am i right?). Anyway. This one is a sea adventure with mermen and royalty and court politics – highly recommend!
I Almost Do – the one you keep almost reading and don’t
That I can’t say “Hello” to you
And risk another goodbye

The Red Palace by June Hur
Does it make sense that even though it’s been only three months since this book got published, it seems like I have had it on my tbr forever? Like everytime I see a glowing review, I promise people that I am going to read it real soon PLUS its sitting ready on my kindle but I still haven’t got to it? Oops.
Stay Stay Stay – a book everyone dislikes but you love
Stay, stay, stay
I’ve been loving you for quite some time, time, time

Portrait Of A Thief by Grace D Li
It’d be a bit of a stretch to say EVERYONE dislikes this, and also a stretch to say I LOVE it, buut yeah pretty close I guess? I’ve been seeing negative reviews upon negative reviews and while I 100% agree with some of the flaws pointed out, there was a lot of good too.
The Last Time – what was the last book you read?
Find myself at your door
Just like all those times before
I’m not sure how I got there
All roads, they lead me here

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
This was definitely much darker and grittier than I was expecting, and it ended up being a bit of a disappointment. There were no sub-plots at all, and the entire focus was on one and one character only- not saying that’s necessarily bad, but it didn’t feel right to me.
Holy Ground – a fan-favorite book
Back to a first glance feeling on New York time
Back when you fit my poems like a perfect rhyme

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
I randomly went through my goodreads shelves looking for hyped up books and this one was the first I found. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a review of this book that is not some starry eyed fan gushing about the wonder this story is. So. My expectations are sky high.
Sad, Beautiful, Tragic – a book with any of these words in the title
Long handwritten note
Deep in your pocket
Words, how little they mean
When you’re a little too late

Beautiful People Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Oof well I haven’t read this one either but I’ve heard loads about it! Someday maybe *fingers crossed*
The Lucky One – a book about fame
Now it’s big black cars and Riviera views
And your lover in the foyer doesn’t even know you
And your secrets end up splashed on the news front page

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich
Everyone knows fame and boy bands go hand in hand. If this gets out deals with all the things that come in a package with being a teenage heartthrob – and not all of them are autographs and selfies.
Everything Has Changed – a book that changed how you view something
All I know is you held the door
You’ll be mine and I’ll be yours
All I know since yesterday
Is everything has changed

The Wave by Morton Rhue
It’s a short read, but so much learning is stuffed between those pages like?? It’s eerie that I used to be as skeptical about nazis as the students in the book (because how could someone with an ounce of common sense support that man?) but this book showed me how very possible and realistic it was to “brainwash” people.
Starlight – a book that makes you feel warm and cozy and magical
Don’t you see the starlight, starlight
Don’t you dream impossible things

The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
To those of you who thought I’d finally gotten over rambling about this book in every other post, the joke’s on you ha! Yeah no I very much have not forgotten what a delight this gem of a book was. Puppy eyes emoji in book form.
The Moment I Knew – a book that looks happier than it actually is
But there was one thing missing
And that was the moment I knew

Heartstopper Volumes 1-4 by Alice Oseman
I was taken by surprise when what appeared like a cute fluffy contemporary delved into several heavy topics BUT that doesn’t mean I love my boys any less.
Come Back, Be Here – a book series you want to make a resurgence OR a book series you want to be finished/the author to come back to
Taxi cabs and busy streets
That never bring you back to me
I can’t help but wish you took me with you

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Choksi
Series are intimidating. Ok yeah I know I enjoyed the first book, but something about actually continuing the series and maybe finishing it makes me want to run in the opposite direction. And that wouldn’t do at all right?? Who would write this lovely blog right here?
With that we’re done! I skipped some of the prompts, so if you’re interested in doing the tag you can find the entire prompt list over on Georgia’s blog (linked above). I’m not tagging anyone but feel free to do this on your blog, I’d love to read your answers!!

What’s your favourite song from Red? Have you read any of these books? Which is a book that made you feel a whole spectrum of emotions? (And can someone yell at me to read The Red Palace?) Let’s chat in the comments!
~Rachel
I love so many songs on the red album it’s hard to choose, but I think the moment I knew and all too well (10 minute version) are definitely up there! Also, I totally feel you on the forgetting-how-to-write thing
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ha yes all too well is iconic.
yess welcome to the club!
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Love this tag and love your answers! I’m starting the Heartstopper books today and I’m so excited cause I am addicted to the show!
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thank you georgia! ahhh omg that’s highly exciting!! i myself read the heartstopper comics not too long ago :))
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Oh this looks like such a fun tag! I love a lot of Red as it first came out in such a transitional period in my life. 22 if I’m in a happier mood, otherwise State of Grace or Red
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Same, it has become one of my favourite Swift albums! Ahh 22, State of Grace and Red are coincidentally my top 3 too!!
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WHAT NO SONG FOR ALL TOO WELL??? jk jk it’s so hard to pick a favorite book…we hunt the flame is SO slow but also so worth it just for the banter alone😭 great post rachel!!💜
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IT’S A CRIME I KNOW.
exactly!! the banter is top tier and altair carried a huge part of the book alone so!!
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Yes, Our Violent Ends gave me so many different emotions!
It’s cool that you’ve read The Wave! I had to watch the movie in history class and it was really interesting and eye-opening to see how easily it is to “manipulate” people into thinking a certain way.
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oooh yes that was exactly the whole point of the story, and it was definitely eye opening!!
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👏👏👏👏👏 (This is the applause you wanted for your eloquent introduction 😜 Seriously, though, I can never come up with anything to say, either, so I just end up informing people about my life and rambling a lot 😂)
But anyway, your choices for these prompts were perfect! I almost squealed at the Starlight one, and when I saw you’d squeezed Heartstopper into this post, my heart just about burst with happiness! 🤗
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aw thank you, you’re a very obedient audience!! ah yes life rambles for intros>>>
Cerulean Sea is definitely squeal-worthy! and heartstopper too!!
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such a fun tag!!! loved your choices ❤
AND GO READ THE RED PALACE!! you're mising out on the good stuff
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thank you gauri!
ahh there’s the yelling i needed, i think i’ll finally be picking it up soon, and its AAPI montha after all so the timing couldn’t be better
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dfkjdsfk i’m so late in commenting- sorry ahh!!
OVE is more experience than book to be fair, lol. i’m glad you enjoyed ‘we hunt the flame’ and yess the knife to throat scene had me sCREAMING
‘hawthorne legacy’ was so meh ah. i feel like the grinch when it comes to this book because practically *everyone* is in love with it -from what i’ve noticed- so it’s great to find someone who dislikes it too😂
ooh, i’ve been wanting to read ‘red palace’ for a while too but have never gotten to it, oops. want to BR?
ah yes ~heartstopper~ i truly feel like the only person on earth who hasn’t read it, lmao.
great post, loved reading your answers!!
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omg yes exactly, its a constant rollercoaster of emotions.
same same, knife to throat just hits different. #1 love language.
yeah like inheritance games was actually better than the sequel, yet a lot of ppl think otherwise? idk.
sure, i’d love to! i’ll message you later so we can discuss the details :))
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but I experienced all those feelings reading geekerella too? Especially the urge to painfully poison Elle’s stepmother. ( can we murder her together… as a part of our fan club of course)
And I just never read Hawthorne legacy after hearing the terrible things about it, but I think I may have made the right choice at the end ;))
Andd ohh I’m sorry to hear the girls I’ve been was a bit underwhelming, it seemed so good!
loved this tag!
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yess it will be a murder date MWAHAHA *rubs hands evilly*
oh yes that was a very wise decision. once you read it, you can’t get the details out of your mind (believe me i’ve tried)
thank you!!
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umm, NO, joke’s on you because i like how The House In The Cerulean Sea finds its was into so many of your posts (dark magic maybe??) LUCY IS SO PRECIOUS!! 😭
and i competely agree with you on the girls i’ve been! the end was kind of abrupt and left us on a cliff-hanger-ish AND THERE SHALL BE NO SEQUEL??? #evil. ALSO MAYBE I WANTED MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE MC’S PAST??
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oh yeah it has to be some dark magic because it’s not natural how much i love this book. OMG YESS I LOVE LUCY!!
yeeeah like i’ve sort of mixed feelings?? it was very heavy with the abuse and all but i didn’t exactly like the actual bank heist plot soo
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