March 2020 - Booked J | in the Land of Stories

Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Five Star Reads (#86)

11:00 PM

This weeks topic was actually Ten Signs You’re a Book Lover--but I couldn't think of any answers beyond BECAUSE. Which, you know, is 100% valid and eloquent. Truly. And, instead, I wanted to focus on books that have made me happy this year so far. It seemed appropriate, given where we all are presently in the pandemic. Is everyone else finding that the...

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If You Thought Heaven Was Delectably Edgy and Enthralling, Just You Wait for Dark Angel | Review: Dark Angel by V.C. Andrews

10:54 PM

The second installment of the Casteel Series is far more engaging compared to its predecessor--yet, it is just as twisted. Dark Angel is a different kind of dark and I'm totally here for it. My V.C. Andrews quarantine and binge read continues with Dark Angel! ...

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Wildly Cringe-Worthy and Entertaining | Review: Heaven by V.C. Andrews

7:00 AM

Quarantine reading means V.C. Andrews binge-read. When the world is a dumpster fire, dive into the extensive V.C. Andrews backlist. One of V.C. Andrews greatest triumphs in her legacy is the fact that she has a character named Heaven Leigh. I stand by that. Oh, well, here we go! Time for the Casteel series to begin! ...

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Somehow Addictive AND Boring | Review: Out of the Attic by V.C. Andrews

6:30 AM

Clearly I've gone on a bit of an Andrew Neiderman and V.C. Andrews binge. The things that a simple pandemic quarantine will do to a girl, am I right or am I right? That's right, it's time for a review of Out of the Attic--the 10th book in the Dollanganger Saga. ...

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An Improvement on the Christopher's Diary Series | Review: Beneath the Attic by V.C. Andrews

6:00 AM

Me: I'm never reading any of those new Dollanganger prequel books that Andrew Neiderman, as V.C. Andrews, puts out. Never, ever, ever. Coronavirus, 2020: Hey, it's a pandemic! You have to stay inside for the foreseeable future! Social distancing! The world is a dumpster fire! Me: Guess I'll read the new Dollanganger. ...

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A Fictional Glimpse of Grace Kelly | Review: The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher

7:30 AM

When I was little, I was completely obsessed with Grace Kelly and viewed her almost as a legend. A fictional character, rather than a woman who once lived. The Girl in White Gloves, too, crafts a fictionalized account of the woman--but does so beautifully. ...

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A Striking Conclusion to the Original Dollanganger Saga | Review: Seeds of Yesterday by V.C. Andrews

7:00 AM

A definite improvement upon If There Be Thorns and right up there with Flowers in the Attic as one of the more solid installments of the series. ...

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!jessica rereads things

A Poignant Look at Grief and How to Move Forward | Review: Saving Zoë by Alyson Noel

6:30 AM

With the film adaptation being available on Netflix, I figured the time was now to refresh my memory on Alyson Noel's Saving Zoë. It feels like a lifetime has passed since I first read the novel so it's easy to see why I was excited to give it a reread. Especially since I remembered so little. ...

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The Weakest of the Original V.C. Andrews Novels | Review: If There Be Thorns by V.C. Andrews

5:00 AM

The Dollanganger Saga continues with If There Be Thorns--this time, following Cathy and Chris' children. ...

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Scribd is Free for the Next Month! | 30 Great Audiobooks and eBooks to Check Out

7:00 AM

Last week, in the midst of nearly everything temporarily shutting down due to coronavirus, Scribd announced that it'd be making its entire catalogue (which includes a variety of books, audiobooks and magazines) free for the next month (no credit card or commitment required: click here to take advantage of this offer) to combat boredom during social distancing. And as Scribd is one of...

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A Stunning YA Contemporary | Review: Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner

6:30 AM

What an impressive novel--Gae Polisner really did THAT. And it goes without saying... I loved Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me. ...

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A Different Brand of Disturbing | Review: Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews

6:00 AM

Petals on the Wind was nowhere near as "good" (ah, I use that loosely) as Flowers in the Attic. But V.C. Andrews was a pro at bringing the tragedy and drama. So, there's that! ...

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Is it Summer, Yet? | Review: What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

5:30 AM

Okay, okay, I'll admit this now: I requested an ARC of this book solely because of its adorable cover. BUT, YES, OKAY, ALL SHALLOWNESS ASIDE, this book was more than just cute cover design. ...

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Gothic Fiction at its Most Horrifying | Review: Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

5:00 AM

With us all seemingly on lockdown for the unforeseeable future, and memories of my complete roast of these books last year, I decided to dive back into V.C. Andrews' highly disturbing Dollanganger Saga. First up: Flowers in the Attic. In truth, I realized that not only did I not remember clearly which books I had and hadn't read (aside from the few of...

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Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite YA Trilogies (#85)

11:00 PM

For today's genre freebie, I couldn't think of just one genre that I wanted to cover. Instead, I decided to just talk about my favourite YA trilogies of all time. Which is a topic I've been wanting to explore, anyways! And, of course, in these uncertain times... it's always good to look back on favourites and embrace bright-spots whilst we cannot embrace each...

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Wickedly Indulgent and Dramatic | Review: Anna K by Jenny Lee

9:24 PM

Anna K is exactly what I wanted it to be: a delightful and indulging spin on Anna Karenina, with just the right sprinkle of Gossip Girl vibes. Yum. One of my favourite classics just got a dazzling makeover. ...

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A Sparkling End to a Killer Trilogy | Blog Tour, Review + Playlist: Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

6:30 AM

RIP, me after reading Ember Queen and realizing that the Ash Princess trilogy is officially over. Have no worries, Ash Princess fans: the final novel is burning bright. ...

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Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2020 TBR (#84)

11:00 PM

It's time to spring things up a bit. My Spring 2020 TBR was already posted via this post. I'm feeling decidedly un-creative and decided to narrow that list down to ten books I'm looking forward to reading this spring! ...

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Delightfully Sharpened Claws and Romance | Review: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

6:30 AM

You Deserve Each Other is a highly addictive, humorous, self described lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance. AND I'M HERE FOR IT. I'm a trash for all the tropes used in this one, y'all. (Why do I keep saying y'all? Ugh.) ...

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amy rose capetta

Addictive, Highly Entertaining and Sparkling with Life | Review: Sword in the Stars by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

1:56 PM

Get ready for the next installment of Once & Future: the delightfully queer and adventurous spin on the classic Arthurian Legend. IT'S TIME TO GO ON A HEIST, PEOPLE! Sword in the Stars, here we come. ...

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Another Solid and Thrilling Release by the Dynamic Duo | Review: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

6:30 AM

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are back with their third collaboration: You Are Not Alone. If you love their previous releases, this is a total must read! ...

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!jessica talks botm ya

Book of the Month: March, 2020 Picks + Add On Recommendations

8:00 AM

It's that time of the month again! Let's dive into Book of the Month's March, 2020 selections. Now that they've officially absorbed BOTM YA back into their main subscription, there are SO many great options out there for new and longtime members. As a BOTM affiliate, I can honestly say that not only are they my favourite book box to team up with:...

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Equal Parts Thrilling and Chilling | Blog Tour + Reivew: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

7:30 AM

Might be A LITTLE (see: completely) obsessed with The Hunting Party. This book was truly something, you guys. READ. IT. NOW. ...

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Best. Shadowhunters. Novel. Ever. (So Far!) | Review: Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

5:00 AM

BRB, rereading Chain of Gold again and again and again and again. (And then again for good measure because oh-my-god, I'm obsessed.) ...

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Hypnotic, Addictive and Utterly Captivating | Review: Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

5:00 AM

FINALLY, I can talk a bit more openly about this stunning novel. I read Darling Rose Gold in one sitting when I received the ARC back in October of 2019. It. Was. Intense. And I loved every minute of it. If you are aching for a new thrill, look no further than this gem. ...

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Magically Vivid and Romantic | Blog Tour + Review: The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis

6:30 AM

The Raven and the Dove is more than just a beautiful cover. It's a beautiful read. It's incredibly magical. And it's a definite can't-miss. ...

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Nine Recent and Upcoming YA Books You Need to be Reading

7:30 AM

Or! Also known as: nine books that Jessica has been obsessing over since finishing. (OH MY GOD, 2020, YOU'RE LEAVING ME WINDED ALREADY AND IT'S ONLY MARCH. HOW?!) ...

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Charrming, Sweet and Upbeat | Review: Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli

7:00 AM

Am I forever in awe over and obsessed with the illustrated cover design? YES. Was this novel just as gorgeous as its cover? ABSOLUTELY. Attention, attention: you need to reading Grown-Up Pose. Now. ...

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The Most Magical and Enthralling Installment | Review: Magic Required by Obert Skye

6:30 AM

Wizard for Hire fans, assemble! Book three is just about a month away and it's the best installment of the series. Obert Skye truly saved the best for last. That's right, Magic Required is ALMOST HERE. (Internal squeals.) ...

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This Rom-Com is Ready to Steal Your Heart | Book Blitz + Giveaway: The Plan by Whitney Dineen

7:30 AM

Brighten up your spring with Whitney Dineen's third installment of The Creek Water series: The Plan. (Also, I'm completely obsessed with this cute cover art design. Swoon.) ...

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Top Ten Tuesday: Non-fiction Books I Need to Read (#83)

11:00 PM

This weeks TTT topic was fairly simple: Authors Who Have a Fun Social Media Presence. Unfortunately, I don't follow many authors on social media just because. (Don't meet your idols, and all that.) Instead, I came up with my own topic. I use 'my own' loosely because I'm almost certain this is just a variation on about a dozen topics. BUT, you get...

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Secrets, Secrets, Are No Fun. But This Book IS! | Review: What the Other Three Don't Know by Spencer Hyde

10:30 PM

Spencer Hyde's highly anticipated new novel, What the Other Three Don't Know, is pure brilliance. If you loved Waiting For Fitz, this novel is just as great! ...

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Check Out This Historical Fiction! | Blog Tour + Excerpt: Madame Fiocca by Suzy Henderson

6:30 AM

Do you love historical fiction that is based on true stories? Madame Fiocca is right up your alley and definitely worth the read. ...

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Icy Cold Violence and a Fiercely Addictive Tale of Love | Blog Tour, Review, Playlist + Favourite Quotes: The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett

6:30 AM

What do you get when you mix an angsty and highly murderous family, an icy setting, a spellbinding romance and an alarming curse? Perfection. An enthralling fantasy that leaves you guessing with the chill of its prose. In other words? The Winter Duke. And a newfound desire to read literally anything that Claire Eliza Bartlett puts out, you know, ever. ...

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Marie Rutkoski is Back and Better Than Ever! | Blog Tour + Review: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

6:30 AM

The Winner's Trilogy fans, rejoice! Our Queen Marie Rutkoski is back with a new series set within the same world: The Midnight Lie. And it's everything you'd want from a WLW fantasy! (Meaning: IT IS SO GOOD AND I'M OBSESSED.) ...

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Single-Word Titles (#82)

11:00 PM

Not going to lie, at first I was like, "Do I know any single-word titles?" And then it hit me I KNOW A LOT. This week's TTT topic is making me THRIVE and also use my two remaining brain cells. Love this for me. ...

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All the Pretty Pages | Upcoming 2020 Book Releases to Get Excited For!

6:30 AM

2020 is shaping up to be another fantastic year in literature. We're only three months into the new year and already I've been blown away by all the intriguing releases. No matter the genre, there's a ton of books that are headed our way. Here are some upcoming books that have recently caught my eyes! ...

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Did It Take Me Nearly Two Years to Finish This? Yep! | Review: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

6:00 AM

It's been a bumpy ride for me and the Throne of Glass series. Kingdom of Ash was one of my most anticipated reads... in 2018. But, it was released at an odd time. And then I was like, "I don't want this to end!" and then I was like, "Actually, please make this stop." AND FINALLY, I finished it. ...

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american royals

Katharine McGee is This Generation's Cecily von Ziegesar... AND I'M HERE FOR IT | Review: American Royals by Katharine McGee

5:30 AM

I know, I know, but hear me out: this is one of the last of my catch-up-reviews from 2019! You've probably already heard me freaking out over the delectably stylish drama that is American Royals, but this time we're going in depth. Kind of. (Okay, probably not, but HELLO, REVIEW.) ...

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Welcome, Welcome

BOOKED J was created by a group of friends who wanted nothing more than to discuss literature with the world. In the time since, Booked J has gone through a number of changes in name and content.

Presently run by Jessica, a freelance writer, singer, Goodreads Librarian and avid reader, Booked J is--somehow--still going strong. With several years of book blogging under her belt, and a desire to work with the literary community in making it more diverse, she is always open to collaborations.

You can always find Jessica obnoxiously singing show-tunes into her morning coffee. When not reading or researching true crime, she is likely running around outside with her dogs and generally making a fool of herself.

Please read our review policy before submitting any business or review inquiries/requests.

As of 2020 I no longer accept digital ARCs. This change is indefinite. If you send an email inquiring about digital review copies I will likely not respond.

It's important to note that at Booked J we are open to all genres and as our audience grows, so does our taste in literature. However, we do have a set type when it comes to our content.

Timing is everything and sometimes, due to an influx of requests or book mail, it may take a little while for us to reply/post. If you have a preferred timeline for reviews to be posted by, you can always include this in your request.

If there are any special requests re: social media cross-posting that you'd like to address, please refer to such in any emails. Booked J can be found primarily on Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, Tik Tok, Twitter and Tumblr.

I will likely not respond to any emails that aren't relevant to my postings. Reviews, interviews, blog tours, guest posts and still relating lifestyle posts or subscription boxes are welcome.