As usual, this Sunday I am linking up with Kimberly @TheCaffeinatedBookReviewer for The Sunday Post! I have had a crazy week and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Tuesday: My Favorite Book Covers
Thursday: Review - To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han
Saturday: Reading and Writing Stationary Essentials

To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han

This week has been insane! My schoolwork has amped up a lot, but I am having so much fun our school prepares for Homecoming. Last week, I got my learners permit, and today I went on my first drive!

I always love a good rewritten fairytale, so when I saw Hunted in my local library I could not pass it up! I am glad to saw the novel exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more.

Yeva lives a comfrontable life in the aristocratic part of town. However, her mind craves the freedom and openness of the forest. When he father loses his fortune, Yeva's family is forced to move to the old hunting cabin in the outskirts of town. At first, Yeva is pleased to return to the woods, but the forest takes its hold on her father, and he disappears into the wilderness seeking a supposed "beast".

Concerned, Yeva tracks her father through the thicket and uncovers a creature unlike any she had ever known. Torn between wolf and man, the Beast leads Yeva into a whole new world where music cuts the silence of the wood and childhood dreams become reality.

Hunted definitely ranks as one of my favorite books of 2017! The story was beautifully written, and I could not put it down.

• The setting is beautifully crafted and creatively executed. Hunted takes place in Medieval Russia in a small town surrounded by woods. While the town is not elaborately described, the forest creates a sense of mystery and isolation. Characters are surrounded by life, yet they finally feel free from the trap of their lives
• Every chapter begins with a beautiful quote from the Beast, so readers can experience his perspective alongside the story of Yeva.
• Meagan Spooney manages to utilize the key aspects of Beauty and the Beast while leaving some elements out. The elimination of singing household objects and joyful songs helps to create the dark and mysterious atmosphere which helps to drive the story. This said, the aforementioned characteristics are flawless in the Disney film! I just appreciated the fresh take on the classic Beauty and the Beast story.
• In Hunted, Yeva has sisters! And they aren't evil! Instead, they have supportive and loving relationships with Yeva. There is nothing like good sister love in a book!
• Yeva's character is fascinating! She is headstrong, confident, and compassionate. No matter how hard things get, she keeps a clear mind and focuses on her goals. She also provides a nice contrast against the other women of Medieval Russia. Despite societal standards, she takes pleasure in hunting and accepts herself for who she is.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner is the perfect choice for Beauty and the Beast enthusiasts as well as readers who are seeking a beautifully written and enticing story. I fell in love with Yeva and I closed the book wishing for more! Also, isn't the cover art gorgeous?

As you all have probably noticed, I use Weebly to manage my blog! I have noticed a large percentage of bloggers use Wordpress as their platform, and I have nothing against Wordpress. In fact, I think Wordpress is excellent for many people. However, Weebly is my choice for a few small (but important) reasons.

I definitely prefer Weebly as my blogging platform, but there are a few disadvantages when it comes to blogging.

• ​There is no recent posts widget.
  
• Users must subscribe to the blog via Bloglovin' or social media unless the site creator has a premium plan.​

Those are the pros and cons I have discovered about using Weebly as a blogging platform. I will update the post as I uncover more advantages and/or disadvantages of Weebly. Let me know in the comments what blogging platform you use and why!

Take a look at the book blogging community. Everyone and their mother seems to be on Goodreads. Readers are constantly adding to their TBR, clicking the satisfying "I've finished this book button", and discovering their next new read.

A few months ago, when I started Scripturient, I redownloades Goodreads and was greeted with a box to set my annual reading goal. At the time, I was ambitious, so I set my goal to 100 books. In the middle of July. As of right now, I have around 40 books completed, and who knows if I will hit my goal. This said, I have so much fun scrolling through the endless lists of book reccomendations and authors.

However, Goodreads has its drawbacks. A massive TBR becomes daunting as users are overwhelmed with over 100 books they must read. A ticking countdown to the end of the year creates a frenzy over hitting an annual reading goal. Competition arises as users strive to read the most books and write the best reviews.

But, is this what reading should be all about? Should we care how many books we read in a year, or should we take it all in stride? Do the benefits of Goodreads outweigh the cons? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you use Goodreads? How does it impact your reading?

Another week has passed, so the time has come to link up with Kimberly @TheCaffeinatedBookReviewer for The Sunday Post! This is one of my favorite weekly posts as I love sharing my latest reads with you all!

Discussion: How Does Goodreads Impact Reading Habits?
How to Balance Life with Blogging
Book Review (Book to be determined)

School is in full swing and I am definitely swamped with homework! Luckily, I still have time to stop by here! Halloween is coming soon, so I want to read something spooky. Let me know of any good Halloween related YA novels!

I had been wanting to read Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch for a long time, so I could not pass it up when I found it at my library. With all of the tragedy and fear in the news right now, I needed a pick me up, and this was the perfect choice. I fell in love with this book and will definitely try to read more of Welch's work!

After the tragic death of her mother, Lina is whisked away to a summer in Tuscany, Italy. However, she only makes the trip because it was her mother's dying wish for her to meet Howard, her father. Her life seems as if it is falling to pieces, and she struggles to find peace with her new life.
Everything changes when she is given her mother's journal. Suddenly, Lina discovers Italy through her mother's eyes and learns about the truth behind her parentage.
If Lina's life was not crazy enough, she meets Ren, a charming boy who shows her the magic of Italy. Together, they put the pieces together to uncover the story of Lina's mother.

This was a wonderful novel to kick off my September reading! I adored many aspects of this book including:

• ​The Setting: I have always wanted to go to Italy, so the setting swept me away. I loved to feel as if I was Lina walking the streets of Italy with a fantastic guy and a cone of gelato. The author also makes many references to the history and art of Italy which added a strong foundation to the already-whimsical setting.
  
• The Journal: The story was beautifully crafted as Lina's mother slowly revealed bits and pieces of her life through a journal. I enjoyed witnessing mother and daughter working together to uncover the entire truth. Even from the grave, Lina's mother remained a strong presence through her journal.
• The Characters: Jenna Evans Welch created an astounding cast of characters who I found likeable and relatable. Lina's grief is depicted excellently, and she has the right amount of spunk where she is able to find herself. Ren is incredibly sweet and supportive as he helps Lina to discover the truth about her family. Howard is endearing as a father and adds nice comic relief when things get intense. All of the characters blended well together and helped to formulate a beautiful story.

Love and Gelato is an amazing book and I reccomend it to anyone looking for fun, romantic read. It was a beautiful story and is a book I will not easily forget!

​Rating: 5/5

I am so, so, SO grateful that the amazing Rachel @RachelsReadings tagged me in the Disney Book Tag! I have always (and will always) been a fan of everything Disney, so I am excited to write a post dedicated to my favorite animated characters.

1. The Little Mermaid - A character that is out of their element, a fish out of water
My answer for this one is definitely Tillie from Spinning. After spending a good portion of her life ice skating, she is forced to move away from the home she knows and loves. Suddenly, she is forced to make new friends as she evaluates her future.

2. Cinderella - A character who goes through major development
For this one, I would definitely have to say Katie from Rethinking Normal. The memoir tells her story of how she accepted her sexuality after a childhood of bullying and torment. Her story is moving and demonstrates incredible character development.

3. Snow White - A book with an eclectic cast of characters
For better or for worse, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher definitely fits the bill. The book tells the story of thirteen individuals and how they influenced the suicide of Hannah Baker. The story is tragic, but there is a wide array of characters with unique back stories and personalities.

4. Sleeping Beauty - A book that put you to sleep
I cannot recall a recent read that I found boring, but I do read a book every night before bed to relax! Last night, I read Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch.

5. The Lion King - A character that had something traumatic happen in their childhood
For the sake of spoilers, I will not say who, but Mia from If I Stay definitely has a traumatic experience as a teenager when people she loves die after a tragic car accident.

6. Beauty and the Beast - A book that was a beast (a.k.a a big book that you were intimidated by but in the end found beautiful)
Recently, I read Caraval by Stephanie Garber, and I was in love! While the book itself was quite large, the story inside was incredible, and I had no problem reading it in only two (very long) sittings!

7. Aladdin - A character who has their wish granted for better or for worse
One notable character who has their wish granted for better or worse is Paige from Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind of) Liked Me. After being recruiting by a government agency, she finally has the chance to find her parents who disappeared on a journalism project in a country full of terrorists. However, the chance to find her parents comes at a price. She must aid the agency in top-secret missions imperative to the well-being of the United States.

8. Mulan - A character who pretends to be someone or some thing that they are not
Definitely Lisa from Highly Illogical Behavior! In an effort to be accepted into a prestigious psychology program at a top university, she pretends to act as a psychologist for Sol, a boy suffering for agoraphobia, without his knowledge.

9. Toy Story - A book with characters who you want to come to life
I would LOVE it if Julian and Adam from A List of Cages came to life! They both seem like incredible guys, and I think they would be a blast to hangout with!

10. Disney Descendants - Your favorite villain
Hmm, this one's tricky, but I will have to go with Voldemort from the Harry Potter Series. His character development is impeccable, and he is just so evil.

I hope you enjoyed reading The Disney Book Tag! I tag anyone who wants to do the tag because I want to spread the Disney love! Let me know in the comments: what is your favorite Disney movie? Favorite character?

When I entered the blogging community, I was not entirely sure what to expect. Would there be a large cluster of teens? Or would the demographic consist primarily of adult readers and writers?

Over the last two months, I have been thrilled to discover bloggers from all ages and backgrounds. I love reading blogs from all sorts of perspectives and gaining new insights into the world of books. Through Twitter and blog comments, I have established connections with other bloggers which have allowed me to grow and interact deeply in the community. For me, age almost has not mattered in relation to my blogging experience. Yes, I read primarily YA novels as a result of my age, but there are many adult bloggers who have similar reading habits to my own. And I cannot begin to list all of the amazing books I have discovered as a result of blogging!

Although I have enjoyed every moment of blogging, it is a massive time comitement and requires a signifigant amount of my free time. Between academics, extracurriculars, and spending time with friends and families, sometimes it seems tricky to balance my life with the additional work involved with blogging. However, for me it has come down to careful scheduling and a passion.

To elaborate, I set time aside for blogging. It is not an afterthought but a part of my daily/weekly plan. My love for reading and writing does the rest. I use my time reading and blogging as a means of self-care away from the stresses of school and activities. I indulge in blogging during my spare time, sometimes swapping a Netflix binge for a few blog articles. Of course, balance is key, and I do love to watch The Blacklist when I have time!

I am so happy to share a glimpse into my blogging journey with you all! Now, I would love to hear about how you manage blogging along with other commitments. Are you a teen blogger? Share your experience in the comments! How do you balance high school/college along with a blog? What has your journey into the book blogging community been like? I am always on the lookout for new teen book bloggers to follow!

It is time to link up with Kimberly @TheCaffeinatedBookReviewer for The Sunday Post! Every week, I use this meme to update readers on future posts and my latest book hauls. Enjoy!

Discussion: Teens in the Book Blogging Community
The Disney Book Tag
Review: Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Sadly, I only had time to read one book this week! Luckily, City of Bones is amazing, and I am so excited to continue the series!

These books were purchased for my school curriculum, but they are still a haul and I am excited to read them!

I survived my first week of sophomore year! It was so much fun, and I am really excited for this year! So far, I have been able to balance blogging and academics, so things are looking good!

For most bibliophiles, there is no greater joy than opening a new book and turned the pages after emerging from a bookstore. However, a voracious reading habit can break the bank as your wallet struggles to keep up with the quantity of books you purchase. I am in high school, so I can't afford to purchase a book a day to read and review!  Luckily, I know a few ways to get books for free. All of the ways mentioned in this post are legal (authors deserve the credit and compensation for their work). Let me know in the comments if there are any ways I missed or if you like to use any of the methods I describe below!

I am not gonna lie.  It is a LOT easier to get free digital copies of books to read than it is to get physical copies.  However, it is possible, so here are a few methods I use to get a precious hardcover or paperback free of charge.
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I can almost guarantee you know what a library is, but I am listing it here anyways because people often forget how AMAZING libraries are!   Libraries often have the latest books in stock along with oldies-but-goldies.  You may not be able to keep the book, but having free access to read the newest releases?  I think that's a win.
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There is no guarantee of a free book, but Goodreads giveaways are always worth a try!   Winning may seem like a long shot, but I promise, it happens.   Just a few weeks ago, I won a copy of Spinning by Tillie Walden from a Goodreads Giveaway!   They are incredibly easy to enter, and there are a plethora of ARCs in the giveaway selection.  Of course, if you receive an ARC, it is always appreciated if you write a thoughtful review after winning.
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While Freecycle does not focus entirely on books, it is easy to come across someone who is giving away free books!  Freecycle is a website where people who wish to give away stuff "freecycle" it by giving it to people who want their stuff for free!
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4. Twitter
Twitter has an insane number of authors and book bloggers hosting giveaways for FREE BOOKS!  Sometimes you can even get signed copy or awesome swag along with the book if you win!  Most giveaways are rather simple.  Entering may only require a like, retweet, and follow!
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​5. Paperback Swap
Paperback Swap is an awesome website where users list their books and swap them with other users.  The rule is: if someone wants your book, you pay to ship it to them.  If you want a book from someone else, they ship it to you free of charge.
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6. Craigslist
This one is pretty straightforward.  If you go to the Craigslist website, there are books listed for free in the free section!
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7. Book Crossing
Book Crossing is an awesome program where users leave books at coffee shops, gyms, or other public locations.  Then, the location of the book is posted on the website, and users can track the book down. If they find the book, it's their's!
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8. Host a Book Swap
It may require a little bit of work on your part to host a book swap, but it is a super fun way to share your favorite books with friends!  When you host a book swap, have all guests bring a book they have read and loved.  Then, have guests trade books with each other to share the love of a book with someone else!
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Luckily for readers with electronic devices, it is super easy to get free access to hundreds of thousands of e-books.  After extensive research, I have compiled the best and easiest methods of obtaining free e-books.
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1. The Kindle Bookstore
The Kindle Bookstore has thousands of books from all genres available for free!  If you do not own a Kindle, you can still access the store's collection by downloading the free Kindle app onto your device.
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2. The Nook Bookstore
The Nook Bookstore has a similar premise to our previous suggestion.  The Barnes and Noble Nook Store has a plethora of free e-books for individuals with a Barnes and Noble account.  
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3. Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is a volunteer-run website which provides over 54,000 free e-books, especially books where the copyright has expired.   You can find a variety of classic novels on the site from Peter Pan to Pride and Prejudice.
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4. Feedbooks
Similar to Project Gutenberg, Feedbooks is a website where users can access free public domain books on their phones, tablets, and computers.  Feedbooks is convenient because books can be downloaded onto the device directly from the website.
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5. Smashwords
Smashwords is an online collection of e-books written and posted by indie authors.  The website currently offers over 70,000 free books in a variety of genres.
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6. Overdrive Media
Overdrive is an incredible application where users can check out e-books from their own public library!   It is a great way to read the newest books for free without having to leave your home!  A large percentage of libraries use Overdrive, so it is a great way to read for free!
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7.  iBooks
iBooks is the Apple bookstore and can be accessed on most Apple devices.  The store offers a massive selection of free and discounted books.  
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8. Open Library
Open Library is a website with a vast selection of e-books which are free to read.   Titles are organize by genre.  There are over 40,000 books about religion alone!

9. Many Books
Many Books is a well-designed, seamless website which provides a large library of free e-books.  In addition to their webpage, they have an active presence on Facebook where they inform followers of the latest books in their selection.

10. Wattpad
Wattpad is perfect for discovering stories you cannot find anywhere else. Anyone can publish on Wattpad, and while it may take time to find the perfect book, there are many hidden gems on this wonderful app!

I hope this list of sources for free books helps you with finding your next read!  If I discover any new websites or sources, I will update this post.  I did not go into detail about obtaining Advanced Reader Copies because I have another post about the subject coming soon.  Thanks for stopping by and let me know in the comments if you give any of these methods of a try and find a book!