The Thank U, Next Book Tag!

Hi friends; happy Tuesday! I hope the week has been kind to you so far and that the days only get better. Me, on the other hand? I’m going to a Queen concert this weekend, and I am dying/freaking out/not okay in every sense of the word(s).

I know I’ve mentioned this concert at least a gazillion times, so I apologize but because of who I am as a human being, I can’t not talk about it. Also, I consider it semi-related to this post??

When I’m not talking about books, I’m probably talking about music. That’s why I was so beyond excited to see that Sofii over at A Book. A Thought tagged me for the Thank U, Next book tag! Sofii’s answers to this tag gave me so many new books to read, so be sure to check her post out.

I really loved the fact that this tag combines music and books, and I’m so here for it. So, let’s get started!

---

✨ The Questions ✨

1. Name a book that you said “thank u, next” to, i.e. DNF’d (did not finish).
2. Name a book that taught you love (i.e. a book you loved).
3. Name a book that taught you patience.
4. Name a book that taught you pain.
5. Name a book that you loved at the time of reading but in hindsight you do not like as much anymore but which you still learned some other quality from.
6. Name a book you’re currently talking to, i.e. have the hots for.
7. Name the book that gon’ last – the book of you – the book that helped you love yourself a little bit more.

---

Name a book that you said “thank u, next” to, i.e. DNF’d (did not finish).

Let’s start a controversy!! I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson is a book that I tried to read about four or five different times, and I’ve never been able to make it too far into it. I think that it’s been difficult for me to connect to and immerse myself in immediately, but even some of my all-time favorite books are “boring” for the first hundred pages or so. Plus, I’ve heard so many rave reviews about this book and how life-changing it has been for a number of people, so I would love to give it at least another shot!

---

Name a book that taught you love (i.e. a book you loved).

As someone who fell hard in love with Me Before You, I’ve got to say, One Plus One by Jojo Moyes is SO unbelievingly underrated. It’s a complex story that tackles a number of issues (i.e. divorce, bullying, love, and relationships), and I was addicted to the story the second I started it. One Plus One is complex and lovely and beautiful, and I think I’m due for a reread soon.

---

Name a book that taught you patience.

Who knew that a book with a title telling me exactly what was going to happen and when it was going to happen would make me even more impatient than I already am?? The whole time while reading They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera, I hoped that maybe, just maybe, I was being lied to. Maybe they both wouldn’t die, and maybe it wouldn’t even be at the end. But, I guess Adam Silvera doesn’t particularly enjoy happiness in his books, does he?

---

Name a book that taught you pain.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein actually ruined me in every way you could imagine. Not only is it a book with a dog (Enzo) as a main character, but Enzo is actually the narrator of the story. Seeing his owner grow up, start a career, and build a family is all well and good, but this is easily one of the most heartbreaking books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading—let it be known that this is the first and only book to have ever made me cry. There’s also a movie adaption coming out, and I don’t think I’m strong enough to see it; I couldn’t even stand to watch the full trailer.

---

Name a book that you loved at the time of reading but in hindsight you do not like as much anymore but which you still learned some other quality from.

When I say that I was a huge Colleen Hoover fan, I mean that I own just about all of her books, signed. November 9 was one of my absolute favorites, and I recently reached for it to get out of a slump. Unfortunately, since first falling in love with November 9, I’ve noticed quite a few elements of it that are no longer my favorite, and some of these elements are problematic (in my mind). But, I did start reading Colleen Hoover books pretty early on after figuring out that I actually did like reading, so I’m pretty sure her stories will always hold a place in my heart.

---

Name a book you’re currently talking to, i.e. have the hots for.

I’ve read some stellar books in the past few months, but I genuinely haven’t stopped thinking about my most recent read which was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Just like the rest of the internet, I easily fell in love with the realistically fake Evelyn Hugo and was immediately wrapped up in her story. But, I won’t gush about it too much in this tag; you can read my full review here!

---

Name the book that gon’ last – the book of you – the book that helped you love yourself a little bit more.

Reading this prompt immediately made me think of one character in particular that has affected my life for the better, but he’s in my best friend’s unpublished (for now) novel. I’m really excited for all of you to meet him though; you’re going to love him.

(hi ayla, I hope you don’t mind me mentioning this)

But, because I can’t really talk about that…

I cannot even imagine me finding the right words to describe my love for Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Wonder focuses on self-acceptance, friendship, love, and kindness, and even from just the first page, I knew that this was going to be a special book. Even though some of the morals are seemingly simple (like “you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out”), I learned quite a lot from this wonderful little book.

---

Ah! I had so much fun completing this tag, and the prompts were so unique and interesting! Although, I will say, it was so hard for me to not include my usual favorites.

I tag:

Jenna @ Bookmark Your Thoughts || Gerry @ The BookNook UK || Sara @ My Year of Reading Dangerously || Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams || Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books || and anyone else who is interested!

If you decide to do this tag, please link me to it! I would love to read your answers.

Did I include any of your favorite books? Are you adding any of my choices to your TBR? Are you seeing your favorite musical artist in concert this summer and are freaking out just like me?? Let’s chat!