Salutations Chapterlings! I mentioned this before in my Authors to Support during Self-Isolation article, but I am one of the many hard workers helping with the Social Distance Book Fest! There are so many incredible people coming together to put this together with Bethany from Beautifully Bookish Bethany spear-heading this whole entire event. If you haven’t checked out the event yet, make sure you check out all of our social media links; Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr! Now, without any further delays, let’s tackle this book tag and spill my answers for these amazing questions!
🌼 Worldbuilding in Speculative Fiction & Historical Suspense: Share a book with great world building 🌼
This is probably one of my most favorite books that has amazing world building! I remember when I was reading this book, I was constantly holding my breath and I swear, I could almost feel the atmosphere wrapping around me.
🌼 Tackling Consent, Gender, and Toxic Masculinity in Romance: Share a book with enthusiastic consent 🌼
Many romance books do this, but I could think of no better book! Not only does this book show positive consent between a man raised to treat women right and a widowed mother of three, but it also shows toxic masculinity and having a toxic person who uses misogynistic language to justify their actions, trying to shove their way into your life.
The Next Always (Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy #1) Review
🌼 So You Want to Start a Booktube Channel: Offer one piece of advice for aspiring book tubers 🌼
I will tell you the exact thing that was told to me when I express interest when I wanted to start my channel. Let go of the fear and just do it! I could sit here and tell you a whole list of things like be consistent, talk to people, etc… but you shouldn’t let fear hold you back from starting something you want to do or love to do. I held back from making my channel, my blog, my bookstagram because I had this fear of being unaccepted, being made an outcast, people attacking me for sharing my opinions and my love for the things I love, being hated for being myself and I reached a point where I just did it. It was the most liberating thing I did. When I let go of that fear, when I allowed myself to breathe and allowed myself to be myself, I made a place for myself in the book community and I’m really proud of it. I have made so many wonderful friends in this community, have had so many opportunities, and that would have never happened if I never let go of the fear. Besides, the best way to learn and let people hear what you have to say is to just start. I think that’s the best advice I can give to anyone who wants to get started in the book community or branch out past their perch.
🌼 From Boys in Outer Space to Magical Girls & Guillotines: Queer Voices in Science Fiction & Fantasy: Share a favorite sci-fi or fantasy book with queer representation 🌼
I kicked off the new year by reading The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum and what a book it is. I love this book with every fiber of my soul, my being, my whole heart and I’ll never be over it. There’s amazing lgbtqiap representation in this book and if I could, I would put this book in every person’s hands.
The Weight of the Stars Review
🌼 Beyond Stephen King: New Frontiers in Horror: Share a creepy book written by a woman, a person of color, or someone from the LGBTQIA+ community 🌼
If we’re being honest, I haven’t read a lot of creepy books. I was originally going to state Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez, but then I started to remember what that book did to me and then I said, “Nope, not today Satan!” So I chose Wilder Girls by Rory Power. Not only is this book written by a female author, but there’s plenty of body horror and lgbtqiap representation within this book. It wasn’t necessarily a creepy read for me, however, it is classified as a ya horror novel.
🌼 Fierce Femmes: Standing Your Ground: Share a book with a fierce female protagonist. 🌼
Let me just say this, I already love this book as a whole. However, my love for Ephyra in this book is an undying flame and what she chooses to do so she can save her sister, is my whole soul. She is a character who I still vividly remember after all this time since reading this arc in 2019. She is fierce, loyal, and would take any measure to protect the ones she loves.
There Will Come A Darkness (The Age of Darkness #1) Review
🌼 Navigating Latinx Identity in Fantasy: Share a fantasy book with Latinx representation 🌼
Although I still need to reread Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore, this author has a beautiful way of writing their books and bringing to life a story-line full of life. I think Anna-Marie McLemore is an author that deserves a little more boost for the worlds she creates. I’m currently hoping to pick up When the Moon was Ours soon!
🌼 Family, Friendship, & Determination in Middle Grade Fiction: Share a middle grade book with a great family or friend group 🌼
I debated so hard on this and I think I’m going to include two answers to this question. For starters, the obvious choice for me was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I remember reading that book in middle school, watching the movie and absolutely loving it! Not to mention, this is a group of friends that would ‘ride or die’ for one another and that’s kind of my own policy with my friends and family. So it hits a special place in my heart!
The second recommendation I have is Pax by Sara Pennypacker. I haven’t heard many readers talk about this book in the book community. However, this is a book that is sure to give you The Fox and the Hound vibes. This is a book that left me in puddles of tears and this is a friendship that’s sure to make any reader appreciate their furry companions.
🌼 New Voices in YA Panels (SFF and contemporary): Share an upcoming release that you can’t wait to get your hands on! 🌼
This is the absolute hardest thing to answer! I’m just going to send you to THIS ARTICLE!
🌼 From Sherlock Holmes to Veronica Mars: Variations in the Mystery/Thriller Genre: Share a favorite mystery or thriller! 🌼
I just recently read The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! and fell absolutely in love with it! I mean, I always love The Adventure Zone, but this book has to be my favorite so far! I love a good murder mystery (probably why I love Clue so much) and this was so much fun, so intense, and an all around great time. If you’re a fan of adventure/mystery books, then you should pick these books up!
🌼 Identity Formation & Deconstruction in Adult Fiction: Share a book that deals with identity in a positive or negative way. 🌼
Okay, I have two answers for this one as well! For starters, Mooncakes by Wendy Xu & Suzanne Walker is fantastic. We see two young teens navigating how they feel about one another and the representation in this graphic novel is absolutely fantastic!
I also want to add the Check Please books to this mix because there’s so many positive moments of coming out to friends, falling in love and developing a relationship, and then in book two, there’s so many good moments as well. So I can’t just pick one, it has to be both books!
🌼 Social Distance Book Fest: Share a bright spot from the past few weeks! A book you read, a moment of self-care, something that made you laugh etc. 🌼
I have been reading so much this month and I’m honestly surprised. The first few months of 2020 felt like such a hard hit especially to my reading and now I’m reading so many books that I’m trying to catch up on reviews. But the thing that makes me so happy about all this, I’m enjoying reading and despite being sick with some type of flu, I have really been enjoying myself. I just feel really happy right now, in this moment and with the things I’m doing. Plus, I found the music video I have been trying to hunt down for months!
Okay, friends! Those are all the questions for the Social Distance Book Fest Tag! I hope you all enjoyed my answers and I hope you all are making plans to join in the fun on Saturday, April 25th, 2020! Let me know down in the comments below if you’re attending the Social Distance Book Fest or if you did the tag as well, let me know so I can check out your answers! I will also leave all the questions down below as well as Bethany’s tag video so youcan also participate in this wonderful tag! Until next time, I hope you enjoy all the bookish magic on Saturday, I love you! 💕
🌼 Bethany’s Social Distance Book Fest Tag Video
🌼 TAG QUESTIONS 🌼
1. Worldbuilding in Speculative Fiction & Historical Suspense: Share a book with great world building
2. Tackling Consent, Gender, and Toxic Masculinity in Romance: Share a book with enthusiastic consent
3. So You Want to Start a Booktube Channel: Offer one piece of advice for aspiring book tubers
4. From Boys in Outer Space to Magical Girls & Guillotines: Queer Voices in Science Fiction & Fantasy: Share a favorite sci-fi or fantasy book with queer representation
5. Beyond Stephen King: New Frontiers in Horror: Share a creepy book written by a woman, a person of color, or someone from the LGBTQIA+ community
6. Fierce Femmes: Standing Your Ground: Share a book with a fierce female protagonist.
7. Navigating Latinx Identity in Fantasy: Share a fantasy book with Latinx representation 8. Family, Friendship, & Determination in Middle Grade Fiction: Share a middle grade book with a great family or friend group
9. New Voices in YA Panels (SFF and contemporary): Share an upcoming release that you can’t wait to get your hands on!
10. From Sherlock Holmes to Veronica Mars: Variations in the Mystery/Thriller Genre: Share a favorite mystery or thriller!
11. Identity Formation & Deconstruction in Adult Fiction: Share a book that deals with identity in a positive or negative way.
12. Social Distance Book Fest: Share a bright spot from the past few weeks! A book you read, a moment of self-care, something that made you laugh etc.
Chapter Malliumpkin 
Nice post.
I had a hard time reading the first couple of weeks during this period. But I have accepted it and began trying to leave NOT in fear but be proactive in my precautions.
I’ve watched more tv and books but I’m starting to read again
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That’s good that you’re starting to read again! Sometimes you need to step away and take a break from it all!
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My mind couldn’t concentrate and my neighbor who is a therapist said it was the uncertain nature of this Stay Home that has heightened our anxiety. Because there is no clear end to look to. I didn’t think I was having anxiety since I didn’t feel stressed but as an extrovert, being isolated was a challenge.
Now I feel like it we have made some adjustments. We walk and ride bikes. I have enjoyed it
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I can understand. I’ve started getting out more with taking walks because then it doesn’t feel like we’re locked away in our home. I’ve also been opening my windows more often to let in the fresh air or just sitting outside has also made things a bit easier. So I can understand and it’s good that riding the bikes have made things feel a little lighter for you.
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