Halsey Book Tag

Hi, friends! I feel like doing a tag post today and since my friend Lisa tagged me on her tumblr to do the [queen] Halsey book tag, I reckon it's the perfect time to jump right into writing one. This tag was created by the Paper Riot squad [original post here] and you can read Lisa's post here. Alright, let's get right to it! (✿◠‿◠)

CASTLE: YOUR FAVORITE QUEEN

2016 didn't start off that well for me regarding books, but I read this fantastic trilogy by Rae Carson and its heroine Elisa from The Girl of Fire and Thorns has quickly become one of my favorite characters of all time. She's one kick-a queen, alright! She's intelligent, kind, supportive and compassionate as a person; honest and fair in her ruling. She does everything in her power to give her people the life they deserve and she doesn't let her defeats, sacrifices or her love life get in the way of achieving the goals she has for her people. 

HOLD ME DOWN: A SERIES YOU JUST CAN’T SEEM TO QUIT, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY

Hah, I just had finished a series like that. I didn't really love the first two books from the Bad Habits series. I guess you could say that it's more up the alley "it's not you, it's me" since I rarely love romantic comedy books, I'm more of an angst kind of gal. The first book brought no emotions out of me and it had some major slutshaming themes going on; the second was a boredomfest which I skimmed the latter half of. HOWEVERRRRRRR my otp of the series whose scenes I devoured from other people's POVs had the third book to their own and FINALLY I got to rate these books higher than 2-3 stars. I loved Tricky and Rose's book, so I'm glad I suffered it out ✨(っ＾▿＾)۶✨

NEW AMERICANA: THE FICTIONAL FRIEND GROUP YOU’D WANT TO BE YOUR FIGHT THE APOCALYPSE SQUAD

The Under the Never Sky squad. They're all skilled fighters, they're all super passionate and ready to put their lives in danger for one person let alone for an enitre team. Plus this gives me an excuse to mention Perry and Aria because my precious children who I heart so so so much :') My second choice is the Unraveling crew because dude they stopped the apocalypse so it can't get any better than that, right? Also, Janelle is so kick-a; I love her!

DRIVE: A COUPLE THAT NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE BETTER

I'm going to go with Karou and Akiva from Daughter of Smoke & Bone for this one. There's so much hurt between them and mistakes and feelings but the one thing that makes them more vulnerable as a team and couple is that they don't say what they think or feel. It's absolute P-A-I-N to watch this but I'm rooting for it so hard asdfghjkl; you don't understand. I just want them to have their happily ever after IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK???? [An honorable mention: Tricky and Rose from Last Call because they really don't know how to use 'em words and 90% of the hurt between them could have been avoided by merely talking to each other.]

HURRICANE: FAVOURITE STANDALONE

THE SUMMER OF CHASING MERMAIDS. It's by far my favorite standalone of 2015 and one of my favorite standalones ever. There's something so magical about Sarah Ockler's writing and this gorgeous, gorgeous modern take on The Little Mermaid is simply stunning. I have undying love for this book. I read an eARC but I've purchased the hardcover and you can bet your sweet self I'm going to buy the paperback too when it comes out. In addition to it having a poc family as some of the main characters, it tackles feminism, sexism, women's sexuality, cross-dressing kids etc and it's told with an authentic voice as per usual with Sarah's novels. The prose is to die for! There is some Trinidian culture combined into the novel as well and I have so much love for the romance, friendships and family dynamics; I simply love this book through and through!

ROMAN HOLIDAY: CUTEST CONTEMPORARY COUPLE

I have a few that came to mind both from Young Adult and New Adult categories:

• Annie and Jason from Whatever Life Throws at You
• Katie and Matt from Things I Can't Forget
• Lola and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door
• Cath and Levi from Fangirl
• Zach and Cammie from Gallagher Girls
• Hannah and Garrett from The Deal
• Kit and Jessa from Come Back to Me
• Reese and Ben from Five Ways to Fall

These are all from novels which I loved and they're all such adorable couples (when certain things/events aren't heartbreaking at the time); my heart is full just thinking about the cute ♥ (ˆ‿ˆԅ)

GHOST: MOST TRAGIC BREAK-UP

Lara Jean and Peter from To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Whichever one of their break ups you want -- take your pick. They're all tragic as hell and my shipper heart broke every. single. time. Also my otp from Burn for Burn trilogy; this goes out to Amber and our broken hearts! That was so tragic i'm still in denial of the last book's last 30 or so pages because ...

COLORS: ONE OF YOUR FAVES WHO HURTS YOU A LOT BECAUSE THEY MAKE TERRIBLE DECISIONS

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Prince Magnus Lucas Damora aka smol emo trash prince i can't believe the things you have done thanks to Morgan's imagination; it's actually quite brutal how much of it can be explained with his upbringing and his emotionally and physically abusive father and the cold Limerian environment he has had to live in throughout his entire life. He isn't an evil character, more like morally ambiguous and someone who in his heart of hearts wants good, but still makes bad decisions? I find him very intriguing, and he's most definitely my favorite male POV from the Falling Kingdoms series, but I'll be forever hurt by one of his actions and I can't believe that he did that.

STRANGE LOVE: CHARACTER A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T GET BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE

Lily Calloway from the Addicted series. I feel like so many people love her, but at the same time, a lot of people don't get her. They're annoyed and feel as though she's super gullible and foolish and selfish and needy (or that her sex addiction isn't real which is really fucking ableist okay). Well, newsflash! Addicts are selfish. Plus, she's a sex addict and having sex is in our nature. She's obsessive and compulsive about it, because her mind doesn't work like a healthy person's does. She's also one of the cutest characters I've ever had the pleasure to read about and I adore her goofy, supportive, loving self so much. Seeing her go from a very insecure girl who is so embarrassed and hates her mind to a girl who is more confident and owns that she is different and that's ok? I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about her growth because it's written beautifully in a really authentic way and I'm glad she's in a more healthy place now.

COMING DOWN: BEST SEXY TIMES SCENE

I have to got with Holder and Sky from Hopeless with their first non-kiss. It's technically not even a kiss but you guys *shakes you* y.o.u.  g.u.y.s!!! ALSO EDIT: I AM READING ARCHER'S VOICE RIGHT NOW AND HOLY GUACAMOLE THIS BOOK IS SO HOT MY HEART IS POUNDING I'M ~~

HAUNTING: A BOOK OR CHARACTER YOU’RE STILL THINKING ABOUT

Saving Francesca, The Piper's Son and On the Jellicoe Road. Praise Lisa for finally getting me on the Marchetta train. I find myself re-skimming these books a lot and every time I tear up, because such brilliant such amazing! I find each and every character so interesting and I'd love for them to all have their own books. Tom is my precious trash son and his book h.u.r.t. ok. So did Frankies, hah. Whereas TPS is my favorite from Marchetta that I've read so far, and I cried A LOT during SF & TPS, nothing could have prepared me for the feelsfest that was Jellicoe Road ;_________;

GASOLINE: FAVOURITE (SELF-)DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER

Loren Hale from the Addicted series. He was so self-destructive at first, but look at where (and who) he has (be)come! I'm so proud I'll just hug myself because there is no way to hug him *i haz a sadz* Proud of you, bro!

CONTROL: BEST VILLAIN

Sybella's father in Dark Triumph. The things he did to her, to everyone? I cried when I found out Sybella's whole story and it's one of the most horrible things I've ever read about. I have only hate for this despicable character. *honorable horrible mentions: Scott Van Wright (Addicted series), King Gaius (Falling Kingdoms), Thiago (Daughter of Smoke and Bone), Queen Levana (The Lunar Chronicles)

YOUNG GOD: CHARACTERS THAT SECRETLY WORSHIP EACH OTHER

Fetus Coballoway (from the Addicted series). *cracks knuckles and prepares for all caps* YO! I LIVE AND BREATHE FOR THIS SHIP -- THEY HAVE H-I-S-T-O-R-Y THAT REACHES BACK TO WHEN THEY WERE 14 AND 13; THEIR FIRST INTERACTION WAS A BATTLE OF FACTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN RIVALS EVER SINCE BUT THEY SECRETLY WORSHIPPED THE GROUND THE OTHER WALKED ON AND WERE FASCINATED TO THE MAX ABOUT EACH OTHER OK? AND AND AND LATER IN LIFE (throughout many, many years) THEY HAVE HAD EPIC NERD STAR BATTLES AND ROSE IS CONSTANTLY TELLING CONNOR: "SHUT UP, RICHARD!" AND HE JUST GRINS AND HIS HEART IS FULL OF STARS AND UNICORNS (not really, he doesn't believe in anything that can't be explained by science and logic) AND SHE JUST GIVES HIM THE DEATH GLARE AND HE ONLY GRINS MORE AND SHE GLARES HARDER AND HE IS SO WHIPPED HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT (and vice versa).

*honorable mentions: Tom Mackee and Tara Finke (The Piper's Son), Johan Griggs and Taylor Markham (On the Jellicoe Road), Perry and Aria (Under the Never Sky)

WALK THE LINE: BEST RETELLING/REWORKING

The Lunar Chronicles. I originally didn't realllllly love this series, because.. well.. look. Sci-fi isn't my thing and it was so descriptive about mechanics when I first started Cinder, but the idea of this is so unique and different! I do agree that there are problematic aspects (read more here), but the way Meyer has combined the original tales into her stories? Pure magic here!

IS THERE SOMEWHERE: OTP WITH OBSTACLES

Daisy Calloway and Ryke Meadows from the Addicted series. There are so many obstacles on their way:

1. Age gap
2. Loren Hale
3. Daisy's parents
4. The media
5. *the list continues with things I can't mention because Fuel the Fire/Long Way Down spoilers*

I love how they work things out together and communicate well; they know each other through and through and never want the other to compromise their dreams, so they always encourage each other and, of course, the rest of the gang helps them which is brotp goals :')

*honorable mention: Blue Sargent and Richard Campbell Gansey III from The Raven Boys for obvious reasons, hah!

EMPTY GOLD: AN OTP THAT BECAME A NOTP

Lara Jean and Peter from To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I meaaaaan I ship it but then again not really? Idk. I'm lukewarm about it after the disaster that was PSISLY but I still ship it more than I ship John and Lara Jean which I don't ship at all.

TROUBLE: TOXIC RELATIONSHIP YOU SHIP EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW BETTER

Lmao I feel like the obvious answer would be Alarkling but I don't ship it the least bit. It's one of my biggest NOTPs. I find Kestrel and Arin from The Winne'rs Trilogy pretty toxic as far as their relationship has gone thus far though(and I dare say that Ms. Rutkoski agrees with moi since she has said that they can't be together until they have done personal growth, worked out the issues and problems surrounding their lives and their relationship etc). They have so much s*!t to work through, because right now they're not the kind of ship that should end up together, but omfg do I ever want them to end up together and, please Marie Rutkoski, end our misery because HOW DO WE LIVE WITH OURSELVES IF THERE ISN'T A HEA ON THE HORIZON FOR THESE TWO TOGETHER????

This was super fun and I'm passing the fun and pain onto some of my many favs (if you haven't done this already of course):

Jess @ My Reading Dress

Jae @ A Bookish Bluebird
Jasprit @ The Reader's Den

Nick & Nereyda @ Nick and Nereyda's Infinite Book List

Cait @ Paper Fury
Jeann, Alia & Jenna @ Happy Indulgence
Sil & Mana @ The Book Voyagers

Amber @ Books of Amber
Mel @ The Daily Prophecy
Jaz @ Pixelski

So yeah; this is it for my rambly post hah. Let me know below if you (dis)agree with any of my picks [without spoilers, please!] and I hope you have a great day :)