The Romance Bookie

 Hello Everyone! To all the Mother's out there, Happy Mother's Day! Today, is my first ever Mother's Day, and my husband made me a quiche for breakfast, gave me the beautiful bouquet of mixed roses, and surprised me with my first ever iWatch 😱 (that one was an absolute shock to me! Usually, I have an idea of what he is going to get me, but had no clue today!). Being a Mom, has been the magical time of my life.  I absolutely love being a mom, I love watching my little man grow each and every day.  I love holding him, cuddling with him, seeing him smile when he sees our faces.  He and my husband are my world, and I have no clue what I would do with either of them 💖. It's been a very nice and relaxing weekend so far, and yesterday I ended up getting quite a bit of reading time in (our little guy has been sleeping a lot, we think he is having a growth spurt), and I finished another book! This time it is Maureen Johnson's new novel Hello, Cruel Heart , which tells the ...

Hey Everyone! I finished The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon this morning! From Goodreads : Natasha: I'm a girl who believes in science and facts.  Not fate.  Not destiny.  Or dreams that will never come true.  I'm definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him.  Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica.  Falling in love with him won't be my story. Daniel: I've always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents' high expectations.  Never the poet.  Or the dreamer.  But when I see her, I forget about all that.  Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store--- for both of us. The Universe:  Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment.  A million futures lie before us.  Which one will come true? My Thoughts: Nicola Yoon h...

Hey Everyone! Finished another audiobook on my way to work!  This time it was Wonder  by RJ Palacio. I have been seeing Wonder  on store shelves for years now.  It caught my eye after a while, because I was just constantly seeing it everywhere! It's been on my radar for a while now.  I used to work at an elementary school, and one of the fifth grade teachers, read this book out loud to her class, so made me gain even more interest. It turns out this book has been popular for good reason! From Goodreads : I won't describe what I look like.  Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school.  Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid -- but his new classmates can't get past Auggie's extraordinary face.  WONDER, now a #1 New York Times Bestseller and included on ...

Hello! So my husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day a few days late, because of work and us both having gotten the flu.  So Saturday we spent a nice day out, getting Nitrogen made Ice Cream at a place called Sub Zero, eating a late lunch out, and seeing the movie Fifty Shades Freed .  Even though this series's luster has died down a bit, since its insanity began a few years back, I still find these to be a guilty pleasure.  While the first movie, I found there to be a few things missing, I loved the second one!  I found the character growth to be phenomenal!  The part where Christian bows down to Anna and you see that moment of submissiveness in him, I found to be incredible! So yesterday my husband and I saw the final installation in the series.  Now, thinking back on it, it has finally hit me that this is it!  There will be no more, and to be honest, I am going to say the one thing that many people will not agree with me on...I wish they had sp...

Hey Everyone! Back in May I finished the book Everything, Everything  by Nicola Yoon .  It was the first book to get me out of my reading rut, at least for a little while, this year.  It was hard to put down, it had a great story line, characters, and was very well written to me.  So it's been a crazy few months (when isn't right?!), and I was never able to catch the movie in theaters.  I tried, I really did, but it just never seemed to work out.  But anyway, on Tuesday the movie version of Everything, Everything  hit Redbox, so I reserved my copy, and picked it up after work! My review of Everything, Everything , the movie: Image is from IMDb.com I really liked the cast.  Now to be fair, I already had seen the cast, before reading the book, so I was imagining them as the characters already as I read.  Amandla Stenberg, who you may remember as Rue in the first Hunger Games movie, played a really good Madeline.  She was very c...

***WARNING!!!***This Post Contains Content NOT intended for anyone under the age of 18!!!*** Hey Everyone!! So the other day, my amazing boyfriend went with me to see Fifty Shades of Grey  in XD (or IMAX, depending on what theater you go to). What was cool was that because it was a Tuesday and the show was at 4 in the afternoon, we were literally THE ONLY people in the entire theater!!!  So it kind of felt like a private showing for just the two of us!!!! I know, I know, I am very late in reviewing this one; since everyone who wanted to see it, saw it most likely during opening weekend.  We just couldn't get ourselves to do it.  Valentine's Day was spent as a quiet evening, making dinner, and watching a movie in bed, which honestly our preferred choice any day of the week. But anyway, lets get to the review!!! From IMDb : Literature Student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian G...

Hey Everyone!!! So I did something incredibly exciting a while ago...I got the amazing unbelievable opportunity to see an advanced screening of The DUFF , based on the novel of the same name by the equally amazing Kody Keplinger!!! I've been a HUGE fan of Kody since early 2011, when I first read The DUFF , for the first time.  Since then, I've read it close to half a dozen times, and continue to love it each and every single time. When I was contacted to help bring news on the movie and promote it, I was beyond stoked on life.  I can't even tell you how much I squealed!! Anyway, before I was going to promote this movie, I of course, wanted to see it.  I was going to lie to my readers and promote something I either hadn't seen, or something I didn't even like!!! But anyway, I saw it..and...I LOVED IT!!!!!!!! Holy moly, I can't even tell you how much I loved it!! No joke, no way am I saying this to make the PR company happy, I honestly, and truly ...

Hey Everyone!! The DUFF  hits theaters THIS Friday!! How exciting is that??!! I am so excited to see it again!! My review will be up this Friday too, from when I saw it early last month (what an amazing opportunity that was!!) Anyway, today I'm here to share with you some of Kody Keplinger's highlights from the Los Angeles, CA premiere!! So wish I could have been there...darn you work, and darn me for having to be a grown-up all the time!! Anyway, next time! Here are a couple of questions I got to ask Kody about her red carpet experience! The Romance Bookie:   Was there anyone you were extremely starstruck to see? Kody:  Technically, I didn't see her - but apparently Aubrey Plaza was in the theater for the LA premiere.  Multiple people in my group spotted her, but they didn't tell me until after.  Which is probably for the best because - as a huge Parks & Recreation  fan - I might have had a stroke.  And she wasn't the only Parks &...

Hey Everyone!! So I'm back!!! Just flew back in last night from my ten day Florida vacation!! We had an amazing time!!!  I'm definitely planning on posting pictures of our awesomeness in Disney World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the next couple of days, so if you're interested keep your eyes open for that! :) Anyway, last night on the airplane, I FINALLY got to watch the movie version of Gayle Forman's Best Selling novel If I Stay , featuring Chloe Grace Moretz (as Mia) and Jamie Blackley (as Adam). I've been holding out on watching If I Stay , because well, I just haven't been in the mood to cry.   If I Stay  is one of the saddest, hardest books I've ever read.  The story is so powerful and good, but at the same time extremely depressing. Now before I tell you what I thought about the movie, here's a little description: From  IMDb : Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. ...

Hey Everyone!! So this marks the last day of #ReadTheDUFF Read-a-long! I am currently in Florida, enjoying a much needed vacation with my amazing boyfriend at Walt Disney World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but I still wanted to share with you guys once again, a book that is very special and close to my heart! So this is the first time I've ever done this, but for the first time ever I, The Romance Bookie, will be RE-Reviewing a book!!!  Wow, I can't believe I'm doing this! But when you feel so passionate about a story, and it's been years and years since you've reviewed it, why not?! Anyway, I reviewed Kody Keplinger's debut novel, The DUFF back in 2011 ( HERE is that review), shortly after it first was released, and it was one of my very very first reviews! No joke! One of the reasons, why I'm Re-Reviewing The DUFF , is because back in 2011, The DUFF did not get a proper review on it's own.  It was put together with a bunch...

Hey Everyone!! I am so unbelievably excited to be sharing this news with you!! I am so sorry, it's a little late, but a new semester started this week, so I'm getting back into the swing of things, learning to juggle my new school schedule, a new campus, and work! But anyway, I'm here to announce... #ReadTheDUFF!!!!!!!!!!! What is that? You may be asking?   Well, some of you may have heard about a book called The DUFF , by Kody Keplinger.  What some of you may also know is that The DUFF , has been made into a movie, and that it is hitting theaters next month on February 20th!!!  I'm very happy to say, I got to see it last week, and absolutely loved it!!  It was soon funny!!!  My review will be going up on February 20th, so be ready for that!! Anyway, in the mean time we have some very exciting events coming up!! Along with a few other fabulous bloggers, we are hoping to get a bunch of people to either read for the first time, or RERead T...

Hey Everyone!! Here's another movie review!! So again, just like The Maze Runner   which I reviewed today as well, we watched Divergent  for Christmas!  Now, I actually saw this one when it was in theaters, but for some reason I guess I completely forgot to review it! Description and picture from  IMDb : In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late. My Thoughts: Just like the first time, the second time I saw Divergent  it was still really good!  We actually own this one now, it was a Christmas present, so I can watch whenever!! Anyway, another Dystopian, where I couldn't get into the book.  To be fair, I may have not been in the mind set when I first started reading this one, but I also own it on Audiobook, so maybe one day I'll give...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! Wow, I can't believe it's already Christmas!! 2014 is almost over!! I just can't wrap my head around it! So my family has a tradition, where every year for Christmas Day we spend the day in our PJs watching movies all day and eating left overs from our Christmas Eve/my mom's birthday party.   So we first started the day with The Maze Runner , which yes I will admit, I have not read the book.  I know, I know, that is probably pretty terrible for some of you, but honestly while I'm not a huge fan of Dystopian books, I've read quite a few and just can't get into them, I still enjoy watching the movie adaptations.   So for my review, because I haven't read the book, I am solely going to base it on my opinion of the movie, with absolutely no bias toward the book! Description and picture from  IMDb : Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all tr...

Hey Everyone!! I know I know, the last couple of months, barely anything in posting, and now for three days in a row, there have been posts?!! Well, I actually have an entire week off from one of my jobs, and am A TINY bit ahead with my homework, because that is how I do ;), so I've actually had a little bit of extra time!  Plus, I think I am getting my groove back when it comes to reading :). Anyway, my mom and I went to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1  this afternoon!! From  IMBD I reviewed Mockingjay  back in 2011, and didn't really know what to think of the end of the series.  To this day, I'm actually really curious as to know what was going through Suzanne Collin's head as she was finishing up the series. One thing I was certain of though, before seeing the movie was how could they split a 300-something page book, where not much really happens in the first half, into TWO movies??? I mean, I get it! MONEY, MONEY! That's life, un...

You guys!! I completely forgot to let you know something!! So shortly after I started The Romance Bookie in 2010, I came across a book, that became my utterly favorite book ever!! It was a book that I could relate to, unbelievably, it was hilarious, and it was written by an author that has been so unbelievably inspiring for me, that I have done everything in my power to support her all of these years! Well, anyway, that book is The DUFF ! DUFF stands for the Designated Ugly Fat Friend, which for those of us always felt like the outcast in our friends' group, then this is a book you can definitely relate to! Earlier this year, Kody Keplinger, the amazing author of The DUFF , announced that The DUFF  was being made into a movie! It's that time now, where the trailer has been posted, and I'm here to share it with you guys!! So...here it is... The DUFF  official trailer! :) YAY!! So while there seem to be some changes, which Kody has addressed HERE , it...

So yesterday, I once again went into the world of John Green, but this time through a different perspective...through the big screen. I saw The Fault in Our Stars  featuring Shailene Woodley (as Hazel) and Ansel Elgort (as Augustus). I know, I know, pretty much everyone has already seen it!  But due to a very busy fun weekend last week (I celebrated my first anniversary with my boyfriend), I was unable to see it.  In one way I'm very glad that I didn't have to deal with crowds, because I heard theaters were PACKED!! Anyway...to the REVIEW! From IMDb : Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel's other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. My Thoughts: Wow!  Let's just say I went through another box of ...