#ShelfLove Challenge 2016: February Post

February's #ShelfLove Challenge question is: Who is you book boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend? What qualities does this character have that makes him/her the best?

This is a tough one, because I don't get attached to book characters the way some people do. I never dreamed of being Bella so I could have Edward (and yes, I did know someone like that lol, and no, I was Team Jacob anyway).So I went the best friend route- and the only character that came to my mind was Jessica Darling from the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty. The books are set roughly around the same time I was in high school, so the world events and pop culture references are very relevant to me. Plus, Jessica reminds me of my best friend from high school, Liz. Jessica is very smart, driven, athletic and sarcastic- which was pretty much Liz. All the supporting characters were people we knew in high school, just with different names. Reading those books is like reading about me and Liz, and I love that. Sadly, my relationship with Liz fell apart after she went away for college and I stayed here. But every time I read one of those books, I feel like I'm friends with her again, and that's something that's hard to find in a series.

The Complete Jessica Darling Series: Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, Perfect Fifths

Who would your book bestie or boyfriend/girlfriend be? Let me know in the comments below!!

Books Read Update: I haven't read any books from my TBR pile yet. Well, Side Effects May Vary was one, but I don't  know if I can count it because I started it in December and finished in January.

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#ShelfLove 2016 January Post: My Goals

So a few days ago I mentioned that one of the reading challenges I was going to participate in this year is the #ShelfLove Challenge. This is where you read books that you already owned prior to the start of the new year in an effort to save yourself some money and to mow down your TBR pile. You can also add to your pile responsibly (meaning, you can't spend all your money on books all the time), but library books and textbooks don't count (sorry students).

Each month also comes with a post prompt, and if you complete it, you can add it up to a monthly linky (all the details here) for a chance to win an Amazon gift card at the end of the year. It sounds like a lot of work, but what's a little work for something you love (that would *hopefully* be reading).

This month's post is just to let you know that I've joined the challenge, and that I've set a goal of reading five books from my TBR read. I purchased a good amount of books last year, with no real opportunities to read them, so this should work. I'm also thinking that five is a good number because I'm going to try and use them for the other challenges I'm hoping to complete this year, and I only have a minimal number that will do double duty.

Krystelle's Book Club in 2016

I've decided not to do one of those new year/new me posts this year. In the past I've hoped that by making my goals public, I would become more accountable to achieving them. But I've found that even in typing my goals for the world to see, I still don't really accomplish them. So this year I will make my goals privately, and if I accomplish them, I'll share them. And if I don't, well, then you'll never have to hear about them. Deal? Good.

source

I would like to share with you the three book challenges that I'll be trying out this year though. I've set my goal at reading fifty books, and I think participating in these challenges will help me get there. This will be a tough one, since I only read ten books last year and my goal was fifteen, but I'm hoping that these reading challenges will get me back into the reading spirit, and get me motivated to post more here. One of the sections I have here on the blog is Krystelle's Book Club, and I think I've only reviewed about five books. I'm hoping to change that this year (whoops, I let one of my goals slip already), so we'll see.

*2016 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge (22 books to read, 2 book related actions)
*Popsugar 2016 Reading Challenge (41 books to read- one item requires reading two books)
*Reads the Books 2016 Reading Challenge (32 books to read, 14 bookish actions)

Luckily for me, there are a few common items on these lists, so I can cheat a little bit and count one book for more than one list or category. I think that will make it a little more manageable. That, and the challenge from Reads the Books has other book related things that help break up the monotony of just reading, but still keeping you in the book-loving spirit.

source: Tumblr tag via Google search

Do you ever participate in reading challenges? Do you find that they work for you, or add too much stress in wanting to complete them? Or do you just have an awesome book recommendation? I'd love to hear it!!

Edit 01/18/16: I have joined another book challenge! What am I doing to myself? Its the Shelf Love Challenge, and you just read books that you already own that were obtained before January 1st, 2016. There are monthly prompts to write about, and overall it just seems like a lot of fun. Thanks to Alice at The Geeky Burrow for cluing me in!