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I get asked a lot how I read so much. I work full-time, I just graduated grad school in May, I started a new job, not to mention spending time with the hubby, running this blog, and just living life in general. The fact of the matter is - I love to read. I make it a priority. And while I may not be out there reading 20 books a month like some folks, I still read a lot. "They" try to say millennials are out here killing everything, but we've brought books back to life and kept independent bookstores alive. Here are six tips to try to incorporate more reading into your life and read just as much as I do (if not more).



1. Carry Books With You

This is my number one tip for how to read more. I carry a big purse and there is always a book inside. And if I'm close to finishing that book, I tote a second one just in case. I read when I get to work early, I read on lunch. I absolutely always take my book for errands and appointments, like the doctor's office or car services. Plus, I always read at least a chapter before I go to sleep every night.



2. Pick Stories You Enjoy

Trying to power through a story you don’t enjoy is a waste of time. Whenever you realize you don’t like a book, you should put it down. While some people may call you a quitter, giving up a novel you're hating simply means you have time to read one you'll actually like. Reading shouldn’t be a chore, so don’t make it one. You have no obligation to spend time on any book you don’t want to. (Even though I almost never DNF a book, so maybe I should take my own advice.)



3. Make Quiet Reading Spaces

For many people, myself included, reading needs concentration and focus. Because of this, it may be best to read in quiet spaces. Consider making a place you're comfortable in by closing the door, turning off the phone, and grabbing a blanket. You can even gather snacks and drinks. Sweet treats and a mug of coffee (or tea) go well with a book, so click here for the best chocolate peanut butter cookies. I tend to try to eliminate every possible distraction.



4. Read Many Different Books

This strategy doesn’t work for everyone, but reading multiple books at once can help the right type of person. I tend to only read one book at a time - I struggle to balance multiple stories at once. But if it works for you, what it does is keep the mind and thoughts fresh, so you don’t get bored quickly. You could keep different books in different locations- maybe a biography in the bedroom, a thriller downstairs, and a romance on-hand.



5. Join A Book Club

Like attending a fitness group, joining a book club can hold you accountable to actually finish a book you've started. If you’re the only one that doesn’t read that month’s novel, you’ll probably feel bad about it. While different book clubs have their own processes, most of the time being in a book club would motivate you to read more. Not only will you get suggestions from other avid readers, but you’re given a chance to discuss those books with them too. You may even want to consider an online book club, or online buddy reads, if fitting book club meetings into your schedule doesn't work. There are tons on Facebook or Instagram to choose from.



6. Give Yourself A Deadline

We tend to read library books much faster than those we own. This is because those books have a due date, whereas those you’ve paid for don’t. Because of this, setting yourself a deadline when you begin a new novel could encourage you to get it read. Alternatively, you could take part in a reading challenge. I participate in the Popsugar Reading Challenges every year because there's flexibility, but it's also incredibly motivating for me. Reading challenges also encourage you to read new stories.





















*This is a collaborative post. 

I received free product in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.



 

Since moving in together over nine years ago, hubby and I have mostly only collected larger pieces of furniture from thrift stores or hand-me-downs. I mean, we've bought bookshelves and some tables, but couches and bedroom furniture, we've never really taken the plunge to make a big purchase of furniture on our own. At this point, we're probably on our third or fourth living room set, but all had been used and therefore weren't typically in the best of shape when we got them.

To be clear, I hate our current living room furniture. I think the set is hideous, but it was handed down to us and we've been appreciative of having the set. We're hoping to purchase a home very soon, so we're holding off on making any furniture purchases (or really even housewares purchases) until we know where we're moving. Of course, we want to make furniture purchases that mesh well with the look of our new home. But every single day, I think about how much I truly dislike our sofa and loveseat.

So when a representative from The Slipcover Company reached out to see if I'd be willing to review some slipcovers, I jumped at the chance. It was an opportunity for a fun little refresh without having to purchase all new furniture.

Our set is not a sofa with basic cushions - instead the back of the sofa set is covered in a multitude of pillows. So a slipcover isn't necessarily the perfect solution, but adding those covers has really updated the look and comfort of our living room set.

I chose the gray twill two piece set for the sofa and the loveseat, but maybe I should've went with khaki or natural? That was an error on my end. The gray still is fine, but the more beige-tone colors would've likely fit better with the pillows on our living room set, but the gray is still a great neutral. Either way, I'm glad to have the majority of the hideous set covered. The twill is also a bit nicer to sit on than the original fabric, whatever it is. It was beginning to get a bit torn and ragged (having a cat scratching at it throughout the night wasn't a big help in that area).

The descriptions for the slipcovers claim the sofa slipcover works for sofas 84"-96" and the loveseat works for 30"-42". I will say I did not measure my sofas, and let me say... big mistake. I was able to get the slipcovers on, but wasn't able to get the straps connected in the back for that seamless look. We decided to stick with the covers, because it still looks better than the couches originally looked. But we were a bit disappointed by the covers not fitting perfectly. So I definitely encourage you to measure before you buy. What's interesting about the set we got is that it buckles in back, kind of like a belt, which holds it all in place and gives it a fitted look. Unfortunately, the slipcover buckles had about as much luck as me trying to buckle an extra-small belt around my hips. I don't think you can really tell though. And Courage is having a blast playing with those buckles on the back of the couch!


Check out our before and after pictures below. My hopes are this will discourage Courage from scratching the furniture apart anymore. Maybe now she'll just stick to the slipcover buckles. We'll see.


Before (without slipcovers)







After (with slipcovers)

*This is a collaborative sponsored guest post.
 




As hubby and I are in all the throes of trying to purchase our first home, we've been trying to learn as much as possible about the process while not losing our minds. And let me tell you - my mind is about gone. Hopefully this post will also be one that is useful if you're in the same boat.





Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you can make as a couple or individual. As scary as it can be to do this, there are a few things you should also do when it comes to buying a home. Don’t worry- they are all pretty easy and will help you in the long run.


Educate Yourself
When speaking with a few friends who purchased homes before me, they offered a lot of great advice. While it may seem easy to find the home of your dreams and purchase it, you should really educate yourself on the entire process no matter what is happening. Two ways you can do this and know that you are ready to buy a home is feeling confident about your decision making. Sometimes when you are ready to buy a home, things can move a lot quicker then you think and you have to make a very big decision within a few hours. If you do your homework and understand the various steps of the mortgage process, you’ll feel confident on the decision no matter what happens. Another good point is looking for programs that make it easier for you to afford a home. An example is a Fannie Mae’s Home Ready mortgage that lets you put down as little as 3 percent as long as you take one of their education courses.



Budget
When it comes to buying a home, it can be easy to think you can afford the biggest and the best. Your bottom line is actually more about what you are truly comfortable and what you can truly afford rather than what a lender will give you. Sometimes we’ve learned that these numbers can be surprisingly different. Have a long hard talk about what you feel is a good number and never go above that number. Of course with a very competitive market and multiple offers being presented (sometimes even a biding war), it can be tempting to spend more than you really should. Really take a good hard look at your numbers so you don’t get in over your head and become more ‘house poor’ then you originally thought.



Wish List
The home of your dreams may not be the first home you purchase. That being said, it’s good to have a top five wish list of items that you don’t want to settle on when it comes to purchasing your home. This can be anything from a two-car garage, four bedrooms, and an open concept. Think of all of these must have items when looking at home.





Another good point is when touring homes, see if there is anything you can do yourself to help save money. For example, as an avid reader, I would love to have a gorgeous bookshelf to display all my books but not many homes offered this option. A girlfriend suggested I try doing it myself which wouldn’t that be difficult because my husband is such a handyman. He has wood tools to create the bookshelf I’ve been dreaming of and found many of his tools at a local shop called Saw Trax. They offer cutting solutions for several customers in the Atlanta area. From specialized hand cutting tools, saw kits, and their most popular product the vertical panel saw, you can find anything you need to help your projects come to life. They also offer a new lineup of carts such as dolly max, panel express, and scoop dollys to help us move our projects into our home! I really appreciate all the innovation products that normally are not seen in the material handling marketplace, plus their customer service is extremely helpful when asking the experts on what items to use for a particular project.



Look At Credit Score
Did you know that without having a healthy credit score it can be extremely difficult to qualify to meet most mortgage loans. Having a high score can earn a lower interest rate which, besides saving thousands of dollars over the life of your loan, it helps you qualify for a larger loan. Having a little extra can come in handy when the market can be so tight. A score of 800 or above is considered to be excellent, but most scores fall between 600-750.




Hopefully these four home buying tips will help you create a well thought out decisions for your first home. This is such an exciting time for you, your family, and your future so you want to make sure your decision is one that you are excited about, affordable, and will be happy with for the next few years to come.

I did not start out strong in August. I really struggled through some books that really slowed down how many books I got through. Two of the five books I read were absolutely not for me, but the other three I really loved. So it wasn't a totally wasted reading month. You know the drill - scroll down for a recap.



Swipe Right for Murder* by Derek Milman ★★★★☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A

Brief synopsis:  Aidan is just your typical gay teenage boy who attends private schools, is best friends with models, and sleeps with older men through dating apps. Staying in a posh NYC hotel, he hooks up with a stranger a few floors up, then wakes up to a dead man, secret pictures of him on someone's phone, and a terroristic cult asking for something he's never even heard of. Framed for a murder he didn't commit, he has to hit the ground running and try to stop whatever crazy series of events is happening.

Overall thoughts: This book is entirely unrealistic, but oh so good. It's political and full of ethical dilemmas. This book is full of the things that make YA great, including diverse perspectives. This novel is a wild ride, but will certainly make you think! Full review here.





Hippie Cult Leader: The Last Words of Charles Manson* by James Buddy Day ★★☆☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A

Brief synopsis:  James Buddy Day is a documentarian with a fascination with Charles Manson. He pushed his luck by writing a letter to Manson requesting an interview, and low and behold, it worked. Over the last year of Manson's life, Day regularly talked with Manson to hear his side of the story. Alongside his Manson interviews, he spoke with several people inside and outside of Manson's circle to try to divulge the true story of the Manson family murders.

Overall thoughts: This book was a tough read. Reading about the Manson family murders was a hard task, and it didn't help that I felt the author sympathized with Manson. This book tries to capture the same story we've all heard over and over from a different perspective, but I felt confused most of the book. There were so many people involved and the writing didn't make it easy to keep them all straight. I think I would've been better off reading the popular Helter Skelter. Full review here.





The Whisper Man by Alex North ★★★★★
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A

Brief synopsis:  After the death of his wife, Tom Kennedy and his son Jake move to a small town to start fresh. But twenty years ago in that small town, a series of young boys went missing and were later found murdered. The Whisper Man was caught and has been in prison ever since. Now it's happening again, but it can't be the same guy because he's still in prison. But something's definitely not right and Pete, who was on the Whisper Man case two decades ago, is bound and determined to figure it out.

Overall thoughts: WOW! The hype surrounding this book is so real. It started off quite slow, but once I got into the story (exactly 100 pages in), I had a really tough time putting this book down. It's twisted and well-written. It's a beautifully written book that tells such a haunting story. Full review here.





Hello Girls* by Brittany Cavallaro & Emily Henry ★★★★☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A

Brief synopsis:  Lucille and Winona couldn't be from more different worlds. Lucy lives with her waitress mom and drug-dealing brother in a neighborhood with her extended family. She works part-time to help her family make ends meet. Winona, on the other hand, lives in a high-end home with her weatherman father and a fortune left by her mother, who overdosed when she was young. But Winona's father isn't the friendly neighborhood weatherman he seems - he's a controlling father, and Winona's mother? She's alive. And in Vegas. So Lucy and Winona make a plan to drive cross-country to find her, but they've got to make some pit stops along the way.

Overall thoughts: Marketed as a modern-day Thelma & Louise for the young adult crowd, this book is about friendship and how family is deeper than blood. I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I definitely recognized some problematic themes in the book, but overall it was really good. Full review here.





Ration* by Cody T. Luff ★☆☆☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: N/A

Brief synopsis:  In a far away dystopian future, girls are shipped into apartments where they're used for their skin and body parts - and not in a sexual way. Men no longer exist, and the upperclass, if there's still such a thing, are using the less fortunate for their parts. No part of a girl is wasted, being used for food and skin grafts, for health concerns. When one girl is shipped out for committing murder through ordering too many rations, her closest friend must learn to survive in the apartments in a new role.

Overall thoughts: This book was a whole entire cringe-fest of a read. For just over 200 pages, it should've been a quick read, but I truly disliked this book. It wasn't well-written, it was sloppy, and it was insanely gorey. Full review here.

















* denotes book was received free in exchange of an honest review. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own. 

TW: Pedophilia, child abandonment



I went into The Best of Crimes with such high expectations. I had read the synopsis several months ago when a publicist reached out and asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing it, but had since completely forgotten what it was even supposed to be about. Turns out, I was in for a totally controversial bit of literary fiction.



Walter is a bit of a prodigy. A child genius, if you will. Before turning 20, he'd earned two doctorates and had a job in the legal big league. Within years, married with a daughter. His childhood had flashed right before his eyes, so watching his daughter and her best friend, the neighbor girl, grow up became a pleasant experience for him. But his relationship with his daughter's best friend begins to grow and blossom in a way he never expected. Which could mean trouble for him. 




This novel was surprising, to say the least. The writing was great, easy to understand, but not necessarily poetic, beautiful prose. Which is fine. I love a book that is easy to read; a book that I don't have to feel like an idiot as I read it. But here's the thing - the entire book is about a grown-ass man and his feelings for a pre-teen girl. It's creepy as hell. What's worse is his commentary. The novel is written almost solely from Walter's perspective. And he feels so proud of himself whenever he doesn't act upon his un-pure thoughts. It's sickening.






I want to compare The Best of Crimes to Bryn Greenwood's All the Ugly & Wonderful Things, but it's really incomparable. AtUaWT is written in such a fashion that is so heartbreakingly beautiful. There's so much more to the story than inappropriate relationships, but that's basically the only story in Crimes. I wanted to enjoy this book, but I couldn't get behind the subject matter. I'm seeing lots of comparisons to Lolita - many saying if you enjoyed it, you'd enjoy this one. (I haven't seen or read Lolita, so I'm no help here - but it does seem to be a general consensus.) Me? I just felt gross.





Goodreads rating: ★★★☆☆

TW: Abuse, child abuse, violence, death, gore



Yikes. If I could sum up Ration in one word, that would be it. Yikes. This was an incredibly tough book to read and for more reasons than one. It was so gory and sickening, I was often sick to my stomach. This isn't necessarily a turn off. I tend to like books that are haunting and terrifying on a deep level. But the writing was not strong. In fact, I struggled to comprehend a lot of the story and found myself re-reading passages over and over again. Even though this book was just over 200 pages, it took me several days to finish it. I found myself doing anything but reading, and if I was a little nicer to myself, I likely would have placed it on my DNF shelf (which is nonexistent, because I can't make myself not finish a book I've started).



In a far away dystopian future, girls are shipped into apartments where they're used for their skin and body parts - and not in a sexual way. Men no longer exist, and the upperclass, if there's still such a thing, are using the less fortunate for their parts. No part of a girl is wasted, being used for food and skin grafts, for health concerns. When one girl is shipped out for committing murder through ordering too many rations, her closest friend must learn to survive in the apartments in a new role.




I found the epilogue to be useless. In terms of the main storyline, I'm not sure what its purpose was. It was briefly mentioned again, but had no relevance to the rest of the novel and I sincerely felt it could have been done without. That wasn't my biggest complaint though. This novel felt like it was trying so hard to be shocking and twisty, that the novel instead lost the appeal the story could have brought to the table.

The characters were walking contradictions. I couldn't quite distinguish who was "good" and who was "bad." In some writing, that can be a great thing - a beautiful conflict of personal values mixed with flaws that create a realness around each character. In this instance, it was a flaw in the writing. Characters were unreasonably horrible, then quite kind, then back to horror. It was messy and confusing, and I really had to push myself to finish reading the story. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and truly hated them all.

I'm considering the fact that the book was written as a character study on dystopian literature and the value of human morals in an apocalyptic society where we have to feed on others to survive. I haven't read The Handmaid's Tale, but I've watched the show, and it seems there was a lot of influence taken from that storyline and placed into this one. But while The Handmaid's Tale is based on realism and seems much more possible (and therefore, all the more terrifying), this novel became a more literal story about what we take from others. 







The outline of this book was incredibly interesting. It could have been impactful and maybe a twisted retelling and classic in dystopian stories, but the writing was too messy, the characters were too contradicting, and the overall execution of the storyline fell terribly flat. There was so much potential with this novel, but it all was implemented so horribly wrong.




Goodreads rating: ★☆☆☆☆