Top Ten Tuesday: Let's Be Friends (Book Characters I Want As My BFF)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

Book Characters I Want As My BFF

There's not a lot to say about the topic this week so I'm just going to dive right in. Here are my picks for the characters I just know could be my best friends.

LILY | ADDICTED/CALLOWAY SISTERS SERIES
Krista & Becca Ritchie
I've always felt such an affinity with Lily. Rose could be fierce and intimidating. Daisy was a daredevil. But Lily... she was sweet, a little shy, she loved fiercely, a little nerdy (in the best way possible), and, even with her amazing growth as a character, she depended heavily on Loren. I could so be best friends with this sweetheart.

MOLLY | THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED
Becky Albertalli
When I read The Upside of Unrequited I felt as if Becky somehow got a peak inside my memories and was writing about seventeen year old me. I related so much to Molly and for that alone I would want to be friends.

MONTY | THE GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE
Mackenzi Lee
Monty managed to be completely self-absorbed and yet still totally lovable. He was witty and sarcastic and with him as a BFF there would never be a dull moment.

MEREDITH | AWAKENING AUTUMN
Lora Richardson
You know that one special friend you had when you were younger? The one who totally accepted you without judgment, was loyal and trustworthy, and you were so close you felt more like family than friends? That would be Meredith. I loved this girl for so many reasons and would love to call her my best friend.

HAZEL | JOSH & HAZEL'S GUIDE TO NOT DATING
Christina Lauren
Hazel is an absolute ray of sunshine and I would love to have her as a friend. She's quirky and fun and I love to be around people who tend to be as positive and upbeat as I am.

CORA, SHAW, SAINT, ROYAL & AYDEN | THE MARKED MEN SERIES
Jay Crownover
I want to be friends with these women! They were such a tight-knit group and were there for one another through good times and bad. These were the friends who could call each other any time and they would drop everything to be there for one another. (If you're a Marked Men fan you'll notice that Salem isn't listed. That's because I never liked her and I've kicked her out of the squad. LOL)

WARREN | MAYBE SOMEDAY and MAYBE NOW
Colleen Hoover
This guy... he's a hot mess but I love him. He proved himself to be such a good friend to Sydney - even though he'd been friends with Ridge for much longer. He was brutally honest when he needed to be, but also stood by her when things went bad (without any I told you so's). He's the jokester in the crowd but he's also a fantastic friend with a good heart.

KATY & DEE | THE LUX SERIES
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Katy and Dee are such down to earth girls. Well, one is an alien and one is a hybrid... but they're still down to earth. Katy is a book blogger who gets totally excited over book mail and new releases and who can't relate to that. She and Dee have been through A LOT but they're great friends and I want to be a part of their friend group.

TINK | THE WICKED SERIES
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Okay, so Tink isn't even human, but I'm not holding that against him. He's sassy and overly dramatic and has a serious addition to Amazon Prime, but he's also loyal beyond measure and simply hilarious. I so want Tink as my BFF.

THE INNER CIRCLE | THE ACOTAR SERIES
Sarah J. Maas
This is the ultimate friend group. They are total squad goals. Rhysand, Feyre, Morrigan, Cassian, Azriel, Amren... this tight-knit group is fiercely loyal and have seen each other through war, death, betrayals, separations, heartbreak, and more. There is a familiarity among them that comes from many years of togetherness and they are more family than friends. And even though Amren would terrify me... I still want to be friends with this amazing group.

WOULD ANY OF THESE MAKE IT AS YOUR BFF?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Ban the Slump

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

Books to Pull You Out of a Reading Slump
Sooner or later it happens to all of us: the dreaded reading slump. Whether it's because of a recent read or just one of those things, no one likes a reading slump. Sometimes you just have to let it run its course, but sometimes the right book at the right time can help you bounce right back. Here are my picks for the books that help me ban the slump.

Re-read an all-time favorite.

I very rarely re-read but I make an exception for the Lux series. I've re-read the first few books in series several times and it's my go-to for when I'm in a slump (or just need a Daemon Black fix).

Example: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Laugh a little.

Sometimes you just don't have it in you to concentrate on silly things like plot and characters. Why not grab a lighthearted memoir or some humorous essays? Have a few laughs with little brain power required.

Example: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

Cute contemporary for the win.

No matter what genre you typically enjoy, if you're feeling slumpy you probably don't want to delve into anything too heavy or complex. A light contemporary might just do the trick.

Example: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Grab some middle grade.

If, like me, you never read middle grade books, and you're mired in a reading slump, consider giving it a try. The shift in POV to that of a child might do you wonders.

Example: Wonder by R.J. Palacio (see what I did there?)

Try a different genre.

If you read from one (or two) genres almost exclusively, try switching it up the next time a slump hits. The times I've branched out to mystery/thrillers have usually been a big hit!

Example: Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent

Short stories, anyone?

My last reading slump lasted months and I rarely felt like reading at all. And even when I did I found my attention span was short. Short stories to the rescue! 

Example: My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Novellas are your friend.

Along the same line as short stories, novellas are also a great option. If a favorite book or series offers up a novella, chances are you'll enjoy revisiting those characters or that world again.

Example: The Favorite (A Selection novella) by Kiera Cass

More cute contemporary FTW.

It bears repeating - a cute contemporary will always, always do the trick for me. Contemporary romance is already my genre of choice so when I'm feeling slumpy I usually still go the contemporary route. I just make sure I go for something cute and light instead of dark and angsty.

Example: Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley

Same book... different format.

This is possibly my favorite tip/trick/hack for breaking out of the dreaded slump. I pick a favorite book, a plot I loved, characters I adore, but instead of trying to re-read it I go the audio route. There are several books that I listen to again and again on audio and they never get old... even during a reading slump. 

Example: Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Explore a new world.

Sometimes losing yourself in a totally new setting can re-energize your reading. Grab a fantasy, a sci-fi, or even a contemporary that's set in a faraway place, and be transported.

Example: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Do you experience reading slumps?
What's your best trick to get past it?

The Character Fight to the Death Tag

The lovely Amy @ A Magical World of Words tagged me to take part in this one so let's see how it goes.

Here are the rules:
- Write down the names of 30 characters
- For every question randomly draw two names
- Answer the question using the two names drawn

Here are my characters:
Alexander Belov, Alina Starkov, America Singer, Amren, Bellatrix Lestrange, Cath, Connor Cobalt, Daemon Black, Dimple Shah, Feyre, Four, Hermione Granger, Jace Herondale, Jamie Fraser, Juliette Ferrars, Katniss Everdeen, Kenji Kishimoto, Lisbeth Salander, Magnus Bane, Meg Corbyn, Molly Peskin, Myrnin, Peeta Mellark, Prince Maxon, Rhysand, Rose Calloway, Simon Spier, Tessa Gray, The Darkling, Vladimir Sanguinati

And here we go...

You only have one more spot on your spelling bee team. 
Who gets it?

  

Rose Calloway (The Addicted Series) 

VS 

Jace Herondale (The Mortal Instruments)

Sorry Jace, but Rose wins this one hands down. Rose is brilliant, focused and competitive. 

She'd slay in a spelling bee.

Both characters want to kill you. 
Who would you kill first to have a better chance of survival?

    

Vladimir Sanguinati (The Others Series)

VS

Myrnin (The Morganville Vampires)

Seriously? I managed to pull two vampires? I am so screwed.

Well, assuming I could kill a vampire, I'd try to off Vlad first. 

Myrnin was often less scary and just... eccentric. On a good day.

You're on The Bachelor/Bachelorette and down to two characters. 
Who gets your rose?

   

Amren (A Court of Mist and Fury)

VS

Jamie Fraser (Outlander)

Having never seen a single episode of The Bachelor, I'm assuming giving a rose means you pick that person?

I like Amren, but frankly she scares me. LOL And Jamie is, well... it's Jamie Fraser people. Need I say more?

You've been chosen for the Hunger Games. 
Who's most likely to volunteer in your place?

    

Tessa Gray (The Infernal Devices)
VS

Alina Starkov (The Grisha Trilogy)

Oh wow, I could see either of these characters volunteering to take someone's place.

They are both strong, brave, headstrong and fearless. And they both have compassion.

It's really a toss-up but I'll go with Alina.

You're stranded on an island and must engage in cannibalism to survive. 
Who do you eat?

    

Lisbeth Salander (The Millennium Trilogy)

VS
Four (Divergent)

Bahahaha!! Do I even need to think about this one? Sorry, Lisbeth.

I know you've had a hard life, but you're about to be served up while I kick back island-style with Four. 

You're the next Marvel superhero (with your own TV show, of course). 
Who's your sidekick?

    

Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter)

VS
Magnus Bane (The Mortal Instruments)

Another no-brainer. I'll take the wickedly cool Magnus Bane over Miss Crazy Pants any day.

You're a manager of an avocado company. 
Who would you fire for poor communication skills?

    

The Darkling (The Grisha Trilogy)

VS

Meg Corbyn (The Others Series)

An avocado company? WTH? But okay... 

I've only read the first book in the Grisha trilogy so far but already it seems that the Darkling is secretive and manipulative and not exactly forthcoming with the truth. Whereas Meg is open and honest and has managed to ingratiate herself with all different types of people (and species).

Darkling... you're fired.

You've just finished a book in which your favorite character dies. 
Which of these two characters is more likely to comfort you?

    

Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

VS
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Katniss has a good heart but isn't exactly warm and fuzzy. Hermione would be a lot more likely to hold my hand and give me a hug.

Ugh, it's high school. 
Who would most likely be part of the popular clique?

    

Rhysnad (A Court of Mist and Fury)

VS
Juliette Ferrars (The Shatter Me Trilogy)

I think it goes without saying that Rhys would rule the school. LOL

The day has arrived - you're finally a year older. 
Who would have the nerve to forget your birthday?

    

Prince Maxon (The Selection Series)
VS

Cath (Fangirl)

Maxon is a total sweetheart and would probably plan some super elaborate surprise for my birthday.

Cath, on the other hand, would be in the midst of writing Simon Snow fanfic and completely forget I existed.

You've just found an up and coming YouTube star. 
Who is it more likely to be?

    

Kenji Kishimoto (The Shatter Me Trilogy)

VS

Feyre (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Kenji! I could totally see Kenji becoming a YouTube sensation. He make a name for himself doing stand-up comedy or hosting some cheesy dating show. LOL Feyre? Not so much.

Sleepover time! Unfortunately you can invite only one person. 
Who will it be?

    

Simon Spier (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda)

VS
America Singer (The Selection Trilogy)

America Singer is NOT invited to my sleepover. She would work my last nerve and I'd end up booting her out before midnight. But Simon... we could totally hang. We'd stay up all night talking about boys and eating Oreos.

Bam, you're pregnant. Who's the father/mother?

    

Molly Peskin (The Upside of Unrequited)

VS
Connor Cobalt (The Addicted Series)

Bam, I'm pregnant? Did I at least get dinner first? Geez.

Sorry Molly. I like you, I relate to you, but we're talking Connor Cobalt.

Narcissist. Genius. Smartass. And apparently the father of my non-existent child.

You've just sent a super important text. 
Who would see it and not reply?

    

Daemon Black (The Lux Series )
VS

Alexander Belov (The Bronze Horseman)

Oh, this is a good one. It could go either way. Daemon would totally blow off a text if he wasn't in the mood to deal with it. And if asked about it he'd even say, "Yeah, I saw it." Alexander would ignore the text because the technology would confound him, seeing as how he's in Russia in the 1940's. But I'm going with Daemon because it's likely he would not reply just to be a jerk. LOL

You've just woken up and it's time for breakfast. 
Your mom has been replaced by... ?

    

Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games)
VS
Dimple Shah (When Dimple Met Rishi

Wow, my mom probably hasn't made me breakfast in 25 years but okay, that's cool. :)

Dimple may seem like the obvious choice, just based on gender, but I'm going with Peeta.

He's an absolute sweetheart and could bake me all sorts of yummy breakfast breads.

So there you have it. Did any answers surprise you? :)

I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you feel like playing along

then consider yourself tagged!

Top 5 Wednesday: Paranormal Creatures

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at GingerReadsLainey.

Click HERE for a complete list of participants and future topics.

This week's Top 5 Wednesday topic:  Books Featuring {Paranormal Creature of Your Choice}

I don't read a whole lot of fantasy or paranormal; therefore I don't read a lot about any one creature. So instead of focusing on one type, I'm just going with my favorite books that feature some kind of paranormal being.

Fae: Rhysand | A Court of Thorns and Roses Series

I’ve read books where Fae are the “good guys” and books where Fae are the “bad guys.” Either way, I enjoy reading about the different types, their different abilities, and the various lore about them. Rhysand will always be at the top of the list, though.

Brownie: Tink | The Wicked Saga

 

I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered another Brownie before Tink. Maybe that’s because he is one of a kind. Equal parts snarky and sympathetic, Tink steals every scene he’s in.

Demon: Roth | The Dark Elements Trilogy

Who would’ve thought that when it came to who main character Layla would end up with I was firmly on the side of the Crown Prince of Hell? Yeah, maybe his title is a little off-putting, but Roth was seriously the total package. Demon FTW!

Vampire: Vladimir Sanguinati | The Others Series

I absolutely love the vampire contingent in The Others series. Vlad is always so calm and collected and the brief glimpses of his sense of humor are priceless. And Grandfather Erebus likes to watch old movies and has a soft spot for main character Meg, while still being the most powerful vampire in their world.

Alien: Daemon Black | The Lux Series

Did anyone really doubt that Daemon would be making an appearance on this list? You know me, I’ll find a way to work Daemon and/or the Lux series into any list. My favorite paranormal series and my favorite book boyfriend. ‘Nuff said.

Do you have a reading preference when it comes to paranormal creatures? Are vampires your thing? Werewolves? Let's chat about it!