Hello! Of course we had do this specific book tag during our annual Summer Sprint posts. Clearly it’s a perfect match. We saw this tag on Lois Reads Books awhile ago and saved it specifically for this. Check out Lois’ post here!
Lemonade: Pick a book that started off bitter but then got better
Bree: I guess I’d have to say, Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood. Due to it being a hate-to-love romance novella, told mostly in countdown flashbacks; so it gets off to a very brusque start. I totally ended up loving it though.
Tree: I DNF so liberally that I typically don’t finish these books.
Golden Sun: Pick a book that made you smile beyond compare
Bree: Every time I reread the Heartstopper graphic novels, I feel nothing but joy.
Tree: I was grinning the entire time I was reading Heartbreaker (out August 23!).
Tropical Flowers: Pick a book set in a different country
Bree: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall takes place in the UK, specifically London and the surrounding areas.
Tree: One True Loves by Elise Bryant takes place during a European cruise and it’s a perfect escapist summer read!
Tree Shade: Pick a book where a mysterious or shady character is introduced
Bree: Okay, but like all of the the characters in Holly Black’s Book of Night are shady AF. Like, every single damn one.
Tree: The duke in The Duchess Deal has some mysterious moments. This might be reaching a bit, but I love Ash so much. I finally reviewed this one, check it out here!
Beach Sand: Pick a book that was grainy and the plot barely developed
Bree: I really loved A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone (see what I had to say in our July Favorites post), but if you absolutely pulled my teeth (or whatever), I guess I could say that the plot was a tad speedy in its two-week relationship development. But what else would I have expected from a literary satire of a classic Hallmark Christmas movie?
Tree: I enjoyed this one, but Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt has a fake dating plot…that does not need to be there, but also is not really well explained. The rest of the book was a fun time, but this part just was not necessary for this story and not well developed.
Green Grass: Pick a character(s) that was full of life and made you smile
Bree: I just absolutely love Bitty from Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu. He is just so upbeat and peppy. And I am endlessly entertained by all of the baking shenanigans he gets into.
Tree: Felix from Felix Ever After is one of my favorite characters I’ve read recently. Also, the hype is real for this book if you have not already read it!
Watermelon: Pick a book that had some juicy secrets
Bree: I recently completely binged the webtoon, The Croaking by Megan Grey. I can easily say there are so many secrets about to boil over that I am extremely anxious about any further plot developments.
Tree: I hate spoiling books like this, but The Reunion by Meghan Quinn follows three siblings returning home and having to plan a party for their parents and they are all keeping things from each other.
Sun Hat: Pick a book with a vast, big universe / setting
Bree: Ahh! One of my absolute favorite universes is the one Romina Russel sets up in the Zodiac series!! Imagine if each zodiac sign was in fact a planet in one solar system and each one had it’s own population, with distinct traits traditionally attributed to each of the signs.
Tree: All of Sarah MacLean’s books are set in the same universe and some have more cameos than others. I reread Bombshell recently and wowie there are a lot of cameos/mentions in this one. We love to see it. Lit And Knits has been doing a whole series on TikTok where she connects all the books. It’s grand.
BBQ: Pick a book in which a character was portrayed as a hunk
Bree: I know ‘hunk’ is traditionally male terminology, but Harley & Ivy from the Harley Quinn: The Eat, Bang, Kill Tour comics fit the bill pretty well otherwise.
Tree: LOL basically any romance novel?? But most recently A Deal With the Devil by Elizabeth O’Roark.
We hope you’re enjoying your summer!
xoxo, Bree & Tree
Words About Words 