The Lover Book Tag: Round 4

Don’t act so surprised.

Both Drizzle & Hurricane Books and twenty-seven letters did this tag, which I took as a sign that I HAD TO DO A FOURTH LOVER BOOK TAG.

It’s fate, really.

Written in the STARS, perhaps?? (Not that that matters, as Western astrology follows the Tropical Zodiac instead of constellations, but IT’S A NICE PHRASE.)

I love how Nish and Ngoc used Taylor Swift’s lyrics to create prompts. This tag is well-made.

The Rules

1. Link back to the original creator of the book tag.
2. Thank the person that tagged you and link to their post
3. TAG AS MANY SWIFTIES AS YOU WANT! (Or non-Swifties, maybe inspire them to listen to our Queen)

I Forgot That You Existed – A book that you want to forget you ever read

“It isn’t love, it isn’t hate, it’s just indifference”

A missionary recruiter passed me a copy of Live Life on Purpose in 2015.

For months afterward, I panicked.

I’d thought I was living a worthy life; now this book was telling me I’d wasted all that time NOT evangelizing?

The recruiter also put me in touch with different Christian organizations to ensure that I used my degree for God’s glory.

Despite me telling them my degree was in research rather than media, the recruiter pushed me to consider various media outlets.

They even set up an interview without my consent and oversold my interest to the understaffed coordinator.

Don’t tell me how to use my “gifts,” you pushy, Bible Belt stranger.

 

Cruel Summer – A book you turn to when the going gets rough

“Killing me slow, out the window. Always waiting for you to be waiting below.”

Oh, so many books.

When I’m feeling really nostalgic, I like to restart The Princess Diaries series.

I spent almost a decade following this series.

I like being reminded of that history.

 

Lover – Your book OTP

“Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever?”

Spoilers for Fruits Basket

 

HOW MANY TIMES do I HAVE to tell you how much I love Kyo and Tohru?????

I fought other fans in defense of this pairing.

Behold, my pairing won out.

My pairings NEVER win where love triangles are concerned!

That happy day tied me to this pairing forever.

 

The Man – Your fave kick-ass female protagonist

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can. Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”

I just…really love Karou’s hair.

A lot.

I just think she’s really cool…and talented…and pretty…

Does she wear leather jackets or did I make that up?

AM I IDEALIZING HER?

Why am I even asking myself that question? PROBABLY.

 

The Archer – A book with good mental health representation

“All the king’s horses, all the king’s men couldn’t put me back together again. ‘Cause all of my enemies started out friends.”

I recognized my own anxiety and depression in The Rest of Us Just Live Here.

Prior to reading this book, I’d never seen my own struggles that clearly represented.

The chapter featuring Mikey’s therapy session still guts me.

I so want him to be okay.

 

I Think He Knows – Your fave fictional crush

“I want you, bless my soul, and I ain’t gotta tell him, I think he knows”

……

……

……

HOW IS TUXEDO MASK SO HOT, THOUGH???

He’s so TALL, too.

Yes, the culture’s exaggeration of human sexual dimorphism influenced my desire for a male mate who makes me feel like a dainty lady.

The fact that he also has killer blue eyes DOES NOT HURT.

 

Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince – Fave angsty romance

“It’s you and me, there’s nothing like this. Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince. We’re so sad, we paint the town blue. Voted most likely to run away with you.”

I DEFY you to find an angstier romance than Nevermore.

 

For anyone wondering WHY the male lead’s cheekbones are SO pronounced, this book came out during the HEIGHT of the emo craze.

I recall ALMOST NONE of the plot details, but I believe Emo Boy could…travel into the world of Edgar Allan Poe’s writings??

This book was (and is) A HECKIN’ MASTERPIECE.

 

Paper Rings – Book with an ugly cover that you absolutely adored

“I love shiny things but I’d marry you with paper rings”

Oh yikes, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit isn’t the best-looking book.

This cover in no way hints at the story’s surprising humor.

SURELY WE CAN DO BETTER BY IT.

 

Cornelia Street – A book or series you never want(ed) to end

“I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends”

In theory, The Neverending Story kept going and going. In actuality, the book ended.

Using that idea, though, I would have loved if Once Upon a Marigold kept going and going forever and ever, amen.

Sure, I wanted that happy ending, but I would have followed the characters into their ever after.

As far as children’s lit is concerned, this book is both a great ensemble piece and lovely homage to fantasy novels.

(Dare I say this is what Kill the Farm Boy COULD have been.)

Pay no attention to the sequel and you’ll be golden.

 

Death By A Thousand Cuts – A book or series that deserved a better ending

“I can’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not, it’s death by a thousand cuts”

Spoilers for Gone Girl

 

 

Gone Girl was never going to be my favorite book, but did the ending have to be COMPLETELY hopeless?

No one deserves to be manipulated.

I would not wish a partner like Amy on ANYONE.

I felt really gross after reading this book.

My roommate (who read the book just before I did) and I felt like we’d wasted our time.

 

London Boy – Your fave British male protagonist

“They say home is where the heart is, but God, I love the English”

Hey, Harry.

You’re up.

How could I pick anyone else?

Harry and I grew up together.

I had a hard time thinking of him as British, to be honest.

He was a hero AND the Chosen One. Surely that made him American?

(To my international readers: please don’t unfollow me.)

 

Soon You’ll Get Better – A book that your heart will never recover from

“This won’t go back to normal, if it ever was. It’s been years of hoping…”

Spoilers for Toil & Trouble

(CW: rape, abuse, imprisonment)

Several of the stories in Toil & Trouble really got me.

I understand that “Why They Watch Us Burn” made for a logical final story, but I was not ready.

Look at our handprints. Memorize our names.

We did not go quietly.

Women are powerful creatures.

I wish this was a story we didn’t have to tell.

 

False God – A character you would leap into the burning pits of hell to save

“We were crazy to think, crazy to think that this could work. Remember how I said I’d die for you.”

HOLD ON, RONAN.

I’M COMING.

I WILL ALWAYS COME BACK FOR YOU.

YOU ARE WORTH HELL.

 

You Need To Calm Down – A book with a powerful message

“Say it in the street, that’s a knock out. But you say it in a Tweet, that’s a cop-out.”

Trust women and trans/non-binary people.

Trust people who possess uteruses.

Trust those you’ve written off as “hysterical.”

Please trust us.

 

Afterglow – A book you want to give a second chance

“Hey, it’s all me, in my head. I’m the one who burned us down. But it’s not what I meant. Sorry that I hurt you.”

How did Anna-Marie McLemore go from my nemesis to one of my favorite magical realism writers?

I really like her prose.

With that being said, I feel like I should give The Weight of Feathers another shot.

Maybe I’ll have a better time now that I know what to expect.

 

ME! – Best character development

“I’m the only one of me. Baby, that’s the fun of me.”

(CW: abuse)

This is the perfect place to put Adam Parrish.

Watching him grow, though painful at times, was ultimately a pleasure.

I love how far he’s come.

 

It’s Nice To Have A Friend – Fave friends-to-lovers story

“School bells ring, walk me home…something gave you the nerve to touch my hand…Church bells ring, carry me home.”

I WOULD SAY LITTLE WOMEN, BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

(Was that a spoiler or is it common knowledge?)

Oh, and just GUESS which expletives I’ll use if someone suggests Ron and Hermione.

Far From the Tree has two (or three?) really cute romances that start as friendships and I love them with my whole heart and soul.

 

Daylight – If you could only read one book or series again and again, what would it be?

“I don’t wanna look at anything else now that I saw you. I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you.”

(CW: sexism, death, violence)

Oh, COME ON.

YOU know.

I know.

We ALL know it’s The Scorpio Races.

I can’t help it. It’s the best.

NO ONE ELSE HAS WRITTEN A TEEN ROMANCE/FAMILY DRAMA ABOUT MURDER HORSES.

At least, not one as lovely as this.

It’s perfect.

Might I say this was the easiest Lover tag yet?

I have more Lover content planned.

Don’t groan. It’s quality stuff.

If you’re truly bothered, go listen to Reputation and come back when you’re finished.