Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2021

This was an okay reading month. And blogging-wise I think I did pretty good too! All my pre-scheduled posts are out already though, so I need to work on getting more of those done 😅

Review: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Three by Jack Townsend

Title: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Three

Series: Tales from the Gas Station #3

Previous books in this series: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One | Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Two

Author: Jack Townsend

Genre: Adult, horror comedy

Publication date: April 2020

Published by: Jack Townsend

Source: Purchased ebook & audibook

Add it on Goodreads

Read the stories it's based on for free on the blog!

Listen to the stories it's based on for free on YouTube!

Buy it: Amazon | Audible | Book Depository

Synopsis: An army of monsters walks among us, hidden in plain sight. They’re fast. They’re strong. They’re unrelenting. And they only want one thing: the sh*tty gas station at the edge of town.

Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, Jack—night-shift clerk and local crazy person—has found himself neck-deep in the middle of yet another world-ending terror. And this time around, nobody can be trusted. Not that tough-as-nails cop who probably knows a lot more than she’s letting on. Not the adorkable new employee who might be something far less innocent than she appears. Not even Jack’s best friend/emotional support human, whose mysterious past seems to have finally caught up with him.

In this latest installment of the Gas Station saga, Jack’s world will change forever. Questions will be answered, and answers will be questioned. Friends become enemies. Strangers become enemies. Frenemies become enemies. (You know what? Jack is going to have a lot of new enemies.)

Prepare yourself. Things are about to get weird.

My rating: ★★★★★

I love this series, and the beginning of this volume in particular was absolutely amazing! It starts off like a cliché horror movie, except in this case it’s in the POV of a side character... but OUR main character of the book, Jack. It was hilarious!

Review: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Two by Jack Townsend

Title: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume Two

Series: Tales from the Gas Station #2

Previous book in this series: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One

Author: Jack Townsend

Genre: Adult, horror comedy

Publication date: August 2019

Published by: Jack Townsend

Source: Purchased ebook & audibook

Add it on Goodreads

Read the stories it's based on for free on the blog!

Listen to the stories it's based on for free on YouTube!

Buy it: Amazon | Audible | Book Depository

Synopsis: Nightshift clerk and high-functioning insomniac Jack is back to work, trying his best to keep out of trouble. But when his chain-smoking coworker discovers a mysterious radio signal revealing the guarded secrets of their town, Jack will learn that an annoying new dayshift manager is far from the worst of his problems.

In this second installment of the Gas Station saga, Jack finds himself entangled in his most harrowing adventure yet. With the newest crew of coworkers along for the ride and the resident psychopath out for his blood, our hero(?) must navigate the drama of small-town murder conspiracies, vigilante justice, and demonic summoning rituals...whether he wants to or not.

My rating: ★★★★★

I absolutely loved this book! Because I’ve listened to the free narrations you can find online (I heard them over on MrCreepypasta’s YouTube), I sort of knew where the story was going in regards to the Russian radio. But what I love about this book is that it elaborates on those things and adds a lot more detail, so I really didn’t mind one bit! Just like the last book, this one wasn’t plot-driven like most books I read. It was definitely more on the character-driven side and I was surprisingly okay with that! It did have a lot to do with the fact that I love these characters and the wacky situations they find themselves in.

Review: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One by Jack Townsend

Title: Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One

Series: Tales from the Gas Station #1

Author: Jack Townsend

Genre: Adult, horror comedy

Publication date: October 2018

Published by: Jack Townsend

Source: Purchased ebook & audibook

Add it on Goodreads

Read the stories it's based on for free on the blog!

Listen to the stories it's based on for free on YouTube!

Buy it: Amazon | Audible | Book Depository

Synopsis: Working at a dead-end retail job in the middle of nowhere can be hard. The long hours. The helpless customers. The enormous eldritch horror living deep below the building...

As the only full-time employee at the twenty-four hour gas station at the edge of town, Jack has pretty much seen it all. But when he decides to start an online journal documenting the bizarre day-to-day occurrences, he unwittingly attracts the attention of much more than just a few conspiracy theorists. With the body count steadily on the rise and a dark, ancient force infecting the dreams of everyone around him, Jack will do everything in his power to stay out of the way and mind his own business.

After all, he’s just a gas station clerk. It’s not like he’s getting paid enough to wage battle against the nightmarish aberrations plaguing his community. Besides, he already has his hands full attempting to manage all those mysterious lawn gnomes, the mutant raccoons, and the charming phantom cowboy who lives in the bathroom.

Based on the award-winning creepypasta by GasStationJack, Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One is a love letter to the pioneers of classic horror tailored to a generation that grew up in the era of smartphones and WiFi.

My rating: ★★★★★

There was always something strangely comforting in the consistency of this place’s disconnectedness. The gas station always felt like a place outside of time, not really connected to the rest of the world but still technically part of it. If the gas station were a planet, it would be Pluto. If the gas station were a vowel, it would be Y. If the gas station were an X-Man, it would be Wolverine. (And that is probably the nicest thing anyone will ever say about the gas station.)

I love listening to horror narrations—MrCreepypasta’s narrations, to be specific. A while back, he started a story called Tales from the Gas Station and I just absolutely loved it! I was always looking forward to more episodes from that series. I don’t even remember how I found out about this book, but when I realized that it was that story in book form, I got really excited! And then I was even more excited when I found out that MrCreepypasta was the one who did the narration for the audiobook too! It was all just too perfect! So I bought it immediately, and it totally lived up to my expectations!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #233: Uh, IDK...

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #270: Still Catching Up

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Finish the Series #16: Sci-Fi and Vampires

Last month I didn't pick out a series to finish because I just wasn't sure what mood I was going to be in, but I did end up finishing something!

Review: Goodnight Kiss 2 (Goodnight Kiss #2, Fear Street Super Chiller #10) by R.L. Stine

Title: Goodnight Kiss 2

Series: Goodnight Kiss #2 | Fear Street Super Chiller #10

Previous book in this series: Goodnight Kiss

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: July 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Vampires are stalking the small resort town of Sandy Hollow. Billy knows it; his girlfriend was one of the victims last summer. Now Billy is back - and he wants revenge.

His friends don't believe him. But nobody can explain the bodies found on the beach - with two puncture holes in the neck. Or the swarm of bats that appear each night.

The undead are here, and Billy's going to beat them.

Or join them.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

The first book in this duology was so much fun, so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it was not as great as Goodnight Kiss.

Review: Goodnight Kiss (Goodnight Kiss #1, Fear Street Superchiller #3) by R.L. Stine

Title: Goodnight Kiss

Series: Goodnight Kiss #1 | Fear Street Superchiller #3

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: June 1992

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Matt, his girlfriend April, and best friend Todd look forward to a summer of sun and fun at the beach. But as dark shadows flutter over the sand, they soon find themselves plunged into a horrifying world of endless night.

"What's happening to April and Todd?" Matt wonders. "Why are they so pale, so weak, so...changed."

The twin puncture wounds on their throats give Matt a clue. The menacing bats hovering over the beach offer another.

April has been lured away by the kisses of another boy - strange, intoxicating kisses that leave her weak, hungering for more. The kisses of a vampire.

Can Matt rescue April in time? Only he realizes that her next goodnight kiss may be her last.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was so much fun! Which surprised me because I'm not super into vampires anymore. But I was pleasantly surprised!

Review: Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer

Title: Wires and Nerve

Series: Wires and Nerve #1

Prequel series: The Lunar Chronicles

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA, graphic novel, sci-fi, fairy tale retelling

Illustrator: Doug Holgate

Publication date: January 2017

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Winter, and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I was so excited to find out that there was a follow-up graphic novel to The Lunar Chronicles because I was just not ready to say goodbye to these wonderful characters just yet. This takes place after Winter but before the short story Something Old, Something New that is in Stars Above.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #232: I Think I'm Done Witch Sci-Fi (For Now)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #269: Catching Up

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Review: I Saw You That Night! (Point Horror) by R.L. Stine

Title: I Saw You That Night!

Series: Point Horror

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: July 1994

Published by: Scholastic

Source: Purchased paperback

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Sand. Surf. Sun. Roxie lives for the summer. But this summer things aren't going the way Roxie planned.

It all started when she broke into Lee Blume's house just to win a stupid bet. Because while she was in Lee's house, Roxie saw something she shouldn't have seen. Heard something she shouldn't have heard.

And now someone's looking for Roxie.

Someone who wants her... dead.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

This book was a mess. First of all, that bet... It was NOT a fun bet! Especially not when the bet is over dating a guy! And doubly NOT when the girl already has a freaking boyfriend! And yet she’s over here thinking about another guy.

Movie Review: Fear Street 1978

Title: Fear Street Part 2: 1978

Series: Fear Street #2

Previous movie in the series: Fear Street Part 1: 1994

Based on Fear Street by R.L. Stine

Rating: R (bloody horror violence, sexual content, nudity, drug use, and language throughout)

Release date: July 9th 2021

Run time: 1 hr 49 min

Genre: Horror, suspense, mystery

Production company: Chernin Entertainment

Director: Leigh Janiak

Stars: Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Ryan Simpkins

Watch it on Netflix

Synopsis: Shadyside, 1978. School's out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.

My rating: ★★★★★

I don’t know why, but I am so surprised at how much I am enjoying these movies! I loved this one!

Review- Blackheath: Resurrection (The Blackheath Witches #2) by Gabriella Lepore

Title: Blackheath: Resurrection

Series: The Blackheath Witches #2

Previous book in this series: Blackheath

Author: Gabriella Lepore

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 2016

Published by: Oftomes Publishing

Source: Purchased ebook

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Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the Fallows disappearance, the Tomlins brothers learn to cope without Maximus's guidance. Determined to develop their powers, Joel and his brothers practise the art of witchcraft in the safety of the mansion. But when a surprise arrival shows up at their door, the boys are divided. With Maggie caught in the middle, and the Tomlinses at risk, the small town of Blackheath prepares for a new power to take over.

A storm is coming.

In fact, it's already here.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I adored the previous book! It was a very fun book about a cursed girl who seeks the help of her witch-y classmate and then sparks fly. It was just great, so I was very excited for this one! And while I did enjoy it, I actually didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #231: Back to Sci-Fi, Please

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Reading Tastes Tag

I saw this fun tag over at The Book Critter, and it was originally created by Sophia at Sophia's Thoughts

Mid-Year Check In: Reading Challenges

My hope is that I'll have all these challenges at least 50% done... but honestly I don't even know how I'm doing. Lol. I guess we'll see.

Review: Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Sweet Venom

Series: Medusa Girls #1

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates.

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it's also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters...

My rating: ★★★★☆

I was very excited to read this book—the idea of triplet descendants of Medusa fighting monsters just sounded incredible! And while I did enjoy the book overall, it did fall a bit short of my expectations.

Movie Review: Fear Street 1994

Title: Fear Street Part 1: 1994

Series: Fear Street #1

Based on Fear Street by R.L. Stine

Rating: R (strong bloody violence, drug content, language and some sexual content)

Release date: July 2nd 2021

Run time: 1 hr 47 min

Genre: Horror, suspense, mystery

Production company: Chernin Entertainment

Director: Leigh Janiak

Stars: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr.

Watch it on Netflix

Synopsis: After a series of brutal slayings, a teen and her friends take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries. Welcome to Shadyside.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I don’t normally do movie reviews around here, but guys, there are Fear Street movies coming out! I have been waiting for these movies since they were announced YEARS ago. You know I love my Fear Street even to this day... I’ve read about 85 Fear Street books so far, and that’s not including the ones I may have read back in middle school! I still have quite a few to go, but I’m just ridiculously excited that this series finally has an adaptation. And you know what? I really enjoyed it! So I HAD to talk about it!

Review: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Heavenly Fire

Series: The Mortal Instruments #6

Previous books in this series: City of Bones (#1) | City of Ashes (#2) | City of Glass (#3) | City of Fallen Angels (#4) | City of Lost Souls (#5)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2014

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

My rating: ★★★★★

“Heroes aren't always the ones who win,” [Clary] said. “They’re the ones who lose sometimes. But they keep fighting, they keep coming back. They don't give up. That's what makes them heroes.”

Here we are—the end. I was not ready, but I did it. And I loved it! As I knew I would, but I just didn’t want it to end 😩

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #230: Thrillers and Sci-Fi

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Mid-Year Check In: Reading Stats

One of my favorite things to do at the end of the year is look at my reading stats. I have never done this before, but I thought that this year I'd take a look at those stats halfway through the year! I am excited. Lol. I wont have anything to compare these numbers to since I didn't do this at the halfway point last year, but I think I'll compare them to the overall stats from last year and see how I'm doing so far.

2021 Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

It's that time again for the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag! I did this in 2018, 2019, and in 2020. This was HARD. I wanted to put Capture the Crown in ALL the categories cause I just loved it that much, but my rule is no repeats for this exact reason 😂

Top 10 Favorite Books of 2021 (So Far)

I can't believe we're already halfway through 2021! That's crazy! So far this year I have read 40 books...

And here are my top 10 favorite books of those 40!