Tree came across this tag on StoriesWithShak’s BookTube channel (check out their video here), but it was originally created by Wilde Book Garden and you can check out that video here!
So, if you don’t know what this tag is about you should definitely check out Six: The Musical, which is a reimagining of the 6 ex-wives of Henry the VIII. Six flips the tired, old tale on it’s head for a better one where each woman has their own sense of agency. Also the songs are almost too catchy. We really can’t recommend checking it out enough. We’re both obsessed.
Anyways, on to the actual tag!
#1 Ex-Wives: A female-centered retelling or reimagining (if you don’t read a lot of retellings, could also be nonfiction, historical fiction, etc.!)
Bree: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyers of course!! Each book introduces a updated sci-fi chic version of a classic fairytale princess, in one long, connected story! This series is the first retelling I always recommend to someone.
Tree: I love Geekerella by Ashley Poston! The rest of the series is a lot of fun too. I have reviews for book two (here) and three (here).
#2: No Way: A character with strong convictions whom you admire
Bree: Hahaha I guess I pick Jude Duarte from The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. I don’t know if I necessarily admire her though. She’s quite stabby and cutthroat.
Tree: Puck from The Scorpio Races. Her life has been a struggle (especially in the last year) and yet she doesn’t let that stop her.
#3 Don’t Lose Ur Head: A character who makes terrible choices but you can’t help loving them or sympathizing with them
Bree: I feel like Luc’s life is in shambles for at least 90% of Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. You can’t help but want him to get it all together and get to keep the guy!
Tree: Both Marianne and Connell in Normal People… Oh these two!! They can’t make a good decision to save their lives. Fun Fact: I paired this book with Bastille’s song Bad Decisions for a book club thing and it is very true. This book is full of bad decisions by these two.
#4 Heart of Stone: A non-canon OTP or a canon one that didn’t get enough pagetime (if you don’t read books with romance, choose a character that didn’t get enough pagetime)
Bree: I’ve only just finished book one of The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, but I can already tell I will be sad when Cassie makes the eventual choice between her two boys. Sigh. What is it with Jennifer Lynn Barnes and really convincing love triangles?!
Tree: I’m just going to piggy back off of Bree’s answer because I low key wanted Cassie to pick the other guy. But, also JLB writes love triangles so well that it didn’t bother me *that* much.
#5 Haus of Holbein: A female-authored work you read in translation
Bree: Recently I read Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, which was translated from Japanese. But in college I also read The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, which was translated from French.
Tree: I believe the Ruby Red trilogy is translated from German! Also, Goodreads informed me that this is not “The Ruby Red Trilogy” but called The Previous Stones trilogy, but it’s The RUBY RED TRILOGY in my mind forever.
#6 Get Down: A character you’d like to get down with…interpret how you will! Date, be friends with, party with, etc.
Bree: I know I mentioned The Folk of the Air already this tag, but I feel like Cardan would throw one hell of a party, and I would definitely love to attend lol. Especially if it’s at all like any of the revels in the books.
Tree: I want to be friends with Alex Claremont – Diaz from Red, White & Royal Blue like a lot. See Bree’s review here.
#7 All You Wanna Do: A book that would have been much better without the romance OR a female character you feel was unfairly defined by her romantic relationships
Bree: I definitely think I would have enjoyed the Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson a lot more towards the end if we didn’t have to deal with that whole weird romanctic spiral Stevie and David go through. I just wanted more platonic Nate and Stevie snark!!
Tree: Look I love a romantic subplot! In fact, I rarely read books without romance, but If the Shoe Fits (review) by Julie Murphy would have been better either without the romance or with a better romance, but the main character deserved a better romantic storyline because the man she ends up with is…bland.
#8 I Don’t Need Your Love: Share a seriously underrated female author
Bree: Just gonna use this to plug our favorite self-published romance writer, Mariana Zapata. Great writer of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (my review) and From Lukov with Love (Tree’s review)!!
Tree: I read The Agency by Y.S. Lee in high school and dang I wish more people read this series!
#9 Six: Tell us about one of your favorite bookish Girl Squads or female friendships
Bree: I don’t know it they technically count as a squad, but I love the Chloe, Danica, and Eve from the Brown Sisters romance novels. They are just so clever and snarky and bookish, each and every one of them. It’s great!
Tree: The female friendship in Bombshell are *fire emoji* they are basically a vigilante girl gang which was EVERYTHING TO ME. I also love the friendships in Kate Clayborn’s Chance of a Lifetime series.
Thanks for reading!
xoxo, Bree & Tree
Words About Words 