For the first time since the pandemic started, I finally went on a trip and it's not an exaggeration to say that it was glorious. I basically haven't been outside of New Jersey / New York since March 2020 and getting away and having a change of scenery was exactly what my mental and emotional health needed. I know I sound super dramatic but that's truly how I felt! And I'm so glad my first real vacation in almost two years was a road trip to Vermont with Alexa! Traveling by car (or train) is all I'm comfortable with at the moment so this was perfect.
Day 2 • We picked up breakfast at Stowe Bee and Bakery (highly recommend) before venturing out on our two scenic drives! First we drove through Stowe Hollow and Little River Dam, which had breathtaking yellow foliage, streams, and winding roads. Then we stopped by Ben & Jerry's Factory (did you know they originated in Vermont?), and had lunch at Cold Hollow Cider Mill. From there, we drove through Edson Hill and West Hill, which still had beautiful foliage but also a lot of farmland (we really enjoyed seeing cows and horses everywhere!).
Then in the late afternoon we got to attend the Stowe Arts Fall Festival (I'm in love with the Kokeshi dolls by the artist I met there; I got one for myself!). It was fun to walk around and see all the local artistry. And finally, we ended the day with dinner at Swiss Fondue By Heinz, which was great. A word of advice though: make dinner reservations weeks in advance. We had a bunch of restaurants on our list but they were all completely booked for dinner. We were lucky we got this one!
For the newcomers: Alexa, DJ, Kristin and I unofficially formed the Paranormal Book Club and the goal is to re-read (or in some cases, read for the first time) old YA paranormal books. The plan is to read a book/series per season (which I'm tracking here) and after, we'll answer five questions.
Here are my thoughts:
- What were your initial thoughts about the book? Were you excited to read it?
I remembered loving this series until the couple I shipped didn't end up together. I still enjoyed the last book but I was definitely bummed about the ending. So even though I was excited to re-read this, I was worried that feeling might color the experience. But I'm happy to report that it did not! The book completely held up. I had remembered the main details: Clara, a half-angel, had moved with her family to a new town to fulfill her purpose, once she figured out exactly what it was. She knows it involves Christian, a boy at her school, but that's it. Along the way, she makes friends and meets another guy, Tucker, and naturally, there is a love triangle as a result. But I didn't remember all the little details and I found myself feeling impressed with this series all over again and wishing there were more YA angel books like this one. - What was your favorite quote or passage, and why did it resonate with you?
"So often we only do what we think is expected of us, when we are capable of so much more." Even though Clara says this when thinking of her purpose, I think it's a line that can resonate with all of us, myself included. - Which character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?
Probably Clara! Granted, I'm not a half-angel with a destiny of fulfilling my purpose but I think at that age and even when we're older, we're all trying to figure out who we are and what exactly we want to do with our lives (aka purpose). Clara has moments of doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty but she never gives up, and I loved that about her. - Was there anything you wanted to see more of in the book, like more page time for a secondary character or a plot point you wish was explored more?
I wouldn't have minded more Christian (but that happens in the next book!). - What are your final thoughts? Would you read this book again and/or continue with the series? Would you read another book written by the same author?
I really enjoyed re-reading Unearthly and my immediate instinct was to keep going. The only reason why I didn't is because I (nor NYPL) had the book but I wouldn't be surprised if I continued rereading at some point. And I would definitely read more from this author!
I had just been saying recently how even though I do enjoy all the rom-com books lately, what I've missed (and really wanted) were the romances with angst and sexy times. When Sparks Fly totally fit the bill! I actually went into the book pretty blind as my main reason for reading it was because Helena Hunting wrote it and she did not disappoint. Avery and her two younger sisters run their family business, the Spark House, a premier hotel/event space in Colorado Springs. Between a job she loves, her friends and sisters, and living in a condo with her best friend Declan, life is good. Then Avery is in a car accident which leaves her immobile for weeks. It's a sobering moment for all as it could've been much worse and brings up painful memories for both Avery and her sisters, and Declan insists on being her sole caretaker throughout her healing process. And this is when is get complicated (I love a complicated, messy relationship in my romances!).
Avery and Declan have a long history together stemming since college but suddenly being together 24/7 and him taking care of her every need (and I mean every need!), has them questioning and finally realizing what's between them. I absolutely loved the progression of their relationship. We got to see the good, the bad, and the ugly and I appreciated that while the author was ramping up on the romance aspect, she didn't neglect the fact that Avery was healing her body and how frustrating that was for such an active person. She also didn't shy away from Avery and Declan's issues, with the former dealing with hers head on while the latter preferred to shut down. It made the conflict that much sadder and intense and likewise, the conclusion that much sweeter.
Do I recommend? Yes! I really, really enjoyed this.
Here are some non-bookish articles I really liked this past month and my latest loves.
Do you have any links or loves to share?
Would love to hear about them!
On the blog
Book Reviews
|
Features
Life Lately / Personal |
- Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon (⭐⭐⭐⭐): This contemporary novel filled with dance, romance, and a hint of magical realism really surprised me, in a good way.
- Bright Midnight by Karina Halle (⭐⭐💫): I typically love Halle's "travel romances" but this was such a huge letdown.
- Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I really enjoyed this simple yet moving novel about three people who form an unlikely friendship and making dorayaki.
- Join Up (Island Series #3) by Tudor Robins (⭐⭐⭐💫): This Island series about horses has been consistently good and now I want to read everything in this author's backlog!
- Daughter of Fortune: A Novel (Del Valle #1) by Isabel Allende (⭐⭐⭐⭐): My second Isabel Allende book and by far the one I enjoyed most.
- Gilded Lily (Bennet Brothers #2) by Staci Hart (⭐⭐⭐): This series has been so cute and while the first is still my favorite, I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romance.
- Mum's the Word (Bennet Brothers #3) by Staci Hart (⭐⭐⭐): This novel was very much a literal insta-romance, which I normally don't like, but Hart makes it work.
- Faults (Island Series #4) by Tudor Robins (⭐⭐⭐💫): Again, the first book (and the second) is my fave arc from the series because of the heroine but I still enjoyed this and the other honest topics it touched on.
- In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle (⭐⭐⭐): I couldn't resist a new unicorn book from Peter S. Beagle and while it wasn't quite as magical or beautiful as The Last Unicorn, I still really liked the magical realism of it all.
- Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson (⭐⭐⭐💫): I really enjoyed reading about these two BFFs who have an adventure in the city where basically everything goes wrong but ends up working out in the best way possible (except one random POV should be removed completely).
- Oracle by Andrew Pyper (⭐⭐⭐): I listened to this audio-only book because Joshua Jackson was the narrator, and while the story itself was just okay, JJ's narration made listening to it absolutely worth the time.
- The Host (The Host #1) by Stephenie Meyer (⭐⭐⭐): Even though there were certain things I found problematic, overall I was genuinely surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this.
- Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren (⭐⭐⭐): I'm always saying how I miss Christina Lauren's older books so I had high hopes going into this one, so I'm sad to say that I didn't love this as much as I thought I would.
- The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): I binge-read this Russian folklore inspired fantasy in less than a week and I can't recommend it enough.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars | The Last Legacy is a standalone novel set in the Fable world and like every other book Adrienne Young has ever written, it's compulsively readable and sets the stage for her cast of characters really well.
On Bryn Roth's eighteenth birthday, she receives a letter from her uncle Henrik saying it's time to return home to Bastian and take her place among their family. We (and Bryn) quickly realize what this means as Henrik rules the family with an iron-fist and demands that each person play their role and show their loyalty as their dealings certainly fall on the murkier side. Bryn is eager to prove her worth, which leads her down an interesting road of self-discovery and what it means to be family. Of course, there's one person in this whole scheme who isn't related to her and as you can imagine, forbidden romance is on the horizon.
I was certainly intrigued by all the characters and I rooted for Bryn to outsmart her uncle and just about everyone in her path. But given this was a standalone, I did feel it needed to be longer because everything happened and resolved itself fairly quickly. I'd even go as far to say this could've been a duology. There was just so much history in their family, particularly Bryn's upbringing and parents, to unpack that it left me wanting to understand and know more.
Do I recommend? If you're a fan of Adrienne Young's books, it's fair to say you'll enjoy this one too. I'd recommend borrowing it though, as it isn't the strongest book in her backlog (IMHO!).
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars | I've read all of Erin Hahn's books and Never Saw You Coming is her best work yet. It's obvious how personal and close to the heart this topic is for the author and it shows in every word.
Meg Hennessey has been raised by conservative parents and her mother in particular has drilled certain thoughts and beliefs into her head for as long as she can remember. So when secrets about her life come to light, she decides to take a gap year before college and travels to meet and stay with family she never knew existed. As she learns more about her past, she also meets Micah Allen, a former pastor's kid whose dad is in prison, and as a result now has a complicated relationship with church.
It's no surprise that Meg and Micah strike up a friendship and later a romance. But what was surprising was the mature way it unfolded. Both are dealing with big heavy issues related to family, religion, and their conservative upbringings. For Micah, he's been dealing with his conflicting feelings for some time now but for Meg, the questions she's raising about her faith are new to her. Together, they inspire one another to find the answers they're each looking for and lend unwavering support on that journey. I was raised Catholic by two very devout parents but I have family who are Baptist so I'm familiar with their community and culture (is that the right word?). This book is a deep, honest look into all of that and I appreciated it so much because it's a perspective we very rarely see in YA books (the other two I can think of are Things We Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally and The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord). Growing up in a religious household is so common and I hope this is the start of normalizing that, without it being labeled a certain type of fiction.
Do I recommend? Yes! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Every element of the book (family, friends, religious) was solid.
I can hardly believe it myself but I've been blogging on here for 10 years (official anniversary date is Sept 30)! I honestly never thought I'd be writing here all these years later and there are times when I wonder why I still do. But the truth is, I genuinely still enjoy it! I think a big part of the reason why is that I've never really put much pressure on myself and have let my blog evolve and change to fit whatever my current situation is. I may never have the biggest following and that's okay, as long as I'm still happy writing here.
To look back on Hello, Chelly, I've put together a list of 100 significant posts from the last 10 years! It's a lot so feel free to skip around but it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane for me. It reminded me of how open I could be with writing on a personal level and all the fun ideas I had for posts, either with friends, authors, or just on my own. Let's get started!
 |
| 9 years ago! |
3. My Mom - one of the toughest things I've ever had to write.
4. Always the Bridesmaid - I'm going to lie, I'm glad my bridesmaid days are over!
5. Thinking about friendship. - I still think about friendship a lot.
6. Life Lately | How I’m Coping with Stress - Anxiety has been a very real thing for me lately so this was good to re-read.
7. Friends Can Be Soulmates Too - I still strongly believe in this blog post title (and what I had to say in it).
8. Fears of online dating - This hasn't changed either.
9. Designer’s Block (for the last few years) - I'm still jealous of my younger self's creativity.
10. (Not-so-quietly) ranting - I did not remember this post at all but wow, it totally took me back to that moment in time.
11. Looking back on 2012 - This was the start of my end of year reflections which I've done every year since.
12. Summer Bucket List - I did these summer bucket lists for 5 years!
13. Finding Time for Myself - I have to say that this is no longer an issue.
14. I decided to get my DNA tested - I love that AncestryDNA will update its findings yearly to provide more accurate results.
15. 31 Things You Didn’t Know About Me - It made me laugh to see that I mentioned owning 3 Anne of Green Gables books at the time I wrote this (fast forward to the present where I now own 40+).
17. Table for Two #5: Pandorica - I love doing this feature with Alexa but this was a special one because we drove upstate just to visit this Doctor Who-themed restaurant!
18. 10 Recipes I’ve Recently Tried and Loved - I still make a bunch of these meals pretty regularly.
19. My Favorite Filipino Recipes - I'm proud of how many Filipino dishes I've learned in recent years.
20. Table for Two #21: The Blue Box Cafe - Another special one that involved two of my favorites, Audrey Hepburn (Holly Golightly vibes!) and Tiffany's.
21. Foodie Adventures - Oh goodness, I miss going to food festivals in the city.
23. My Favorite Bags - I shared this for fun but it ended up making me evaluate my collection.
24. You're My Person | A Galentine’s Day Gift Guide - I loved doing this collab with Alexa, Kelly, and Hannah!
25. Mabuhay! Filipino Brands to Keep on your Radar - Some awesome brands, if I do say so myself.
26. What’s in My Bag | Paris Edition - Clearly I enjoy sharing my bags!
27. My Favorite Jewelry Brands - Missoma continues to be my #1.
28. My Experience with Rebag - Still my go-to for looking at pre-loved bags.
29. Product Review | Ink + Volt Planner - I don't use this planner anymore but if you love having goals as part of your planning, this is a great option.
30. My Bag Collection - My entire collection as of last month!
32. San Francisco Cousins Reunion Trip - This first and only (so far) cousins reunion trip will always been special to me.
33. Paris, je t’aime | Day 1 & 2 - Going to Paris with one of my BFFs will always be a much treasured memory.
34. Where To Next - I hope I'll be able to use these tips again soon!
35. My Travel Bucket List - My list hasn't changed.
36. London Calling, Part 1: British Museum, Harry Potter and dessert - My first and only solo trip was a memorable one!
37. Aruba | One Happy Island - I'd love to go back to Aruba.
38. My 7 Travel Rituals - My rituals haven't changed at all.
39. Iceland, Part 2: Waterfalls, Hot Springs and Glacier Lagoons - This was our first trip abroad together and certainly not our last.
40. Barcelona: Beautiful Sights to See - Truly a beautiful city.
41. Lovely Dublin, Part 1 - This feels like a lifetime ago.
42. The Travel Bug - After over a year of no traveling, I'm very much feeling that wanderlust.
43. Portland, Maine - My cousins and I were just talking about planning another trip here next year.
44. My (Humble) Guide to First-Time Solo Travel - I don't know when I'll travel solo again but I'll always treasure the memory of that experience.
46. All About Audrey: The Films - If you didn't know how much I loved Audrey Hepburn...
47. Every concert I’ve ever been to - I miss concerts.
48. What I’m Listening To | If You Ever Playlist - You know that feeling when you put together a really good playlist?
49. Adventures in Anime #5, Part 1: Sailor Moon - Rewatching Sailor Moon during quarantine was one of the best choices ever.
50. Every show and musical I’ve ever been to - I'd love to see a musical again sometime soon.
51. Let Me Tell You about Last.fm - When it comes to tracking my listening habits, Last.fm > Spotify.
52. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before | Viewing Party + Thoughts on the Movie - Best bookish themed party ever.
53. What I’m Listening To | Dawson’s Creek - I totally feel like listening to this now.
54. Madman with a Box - Watching Doctor Who for the first time was an investment and absolutely worth it.
55. Let’s Talk Music - I enjoy surprising people with my taste in music.
56. Website Tips & Tricks! - I didn't know where to put this so I added it here. In addition to being a designer, I was a web developer at the start of my career.
58. Living Room Update - Still proud of my living room makeover from two years ago.
59. Apartment Must-Haves - My must-have tips haven't changed.
60. One year at my apartment - I've been living here for 8 years now!
61. Living on my own (& loving it!) - Reading about how I felt a month into living at my apartment made me smile.
63. Festive Fun Day in NYC - Alexa, Kristin and I love coming up with traditions like "festive fun day" or going out on Galentine's Day so looking back on these posts makes me really happy.
64. Bestie Saturdate - Ditto with this one, it's one of my favorite NYC days!
66. Books In Real Life, Episode 1: Racing Savannah - This post exemplifies how Alexa and I are always down for a new adventure together and that it doesn't take long for us to be on the same page.
67. SS&D Surprise Party! To Susan, With Love. - We loved Something, Strange & Deadly so much.
68. BDB Party: Dream Cast - Alexa, Kelly, and I came up with the best cast for Black Dagger Brotherhood.
69. Capeside Revisited: Pacey + Joey Meets YA - Collaborating with my fellow Dawson's Creek lovers for these posts was so much fun.
70. MABUHAY! A Celebration of Filipino Culture in Literature - Celebrating my culture each year on the blog is super important to me.
71. Return to Green Gables: Re-read Reflections - Rereading this series in its entirety was long overdue and I'm glad I got to share the experience with Alexa and Hannah.
72. The Lexie Project: On BFFs - The one where Alexa and I talk about how we met and being BFFs.
73. Light Up the Darkness | What Throne of Glass Means to Me - Re-reading the Throne of Glass books in preparation for the final book's release with Alexa, Kelly, and Hannah was magical.
74. Book Boy Roulette - I totally forgot about this post with Alexa, Kelly, and Hannah and it cracked me up.
75. Thirteen Days of Ash & Fire - An Heir of Fire Blog Tour: Day 12 - I miss the days of planning yearly #MaasThirteen blog tours with Alexa.
76. Paranormal Cook Club: The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa - This book club with Alexa, Kristin, & DJ is still going strong and this year's picks in particular have been awesome.
77. Friends with ARCS | Crash Into You by Katie McGarry - Alexa and I started this collab in 2013 and it's still going strong.
78. Featurette! Emery Lord + Dawson’s Creek - I've retired this feature but looking back, I'm blown away by these authors' generosity in writing something for my little blog. I mean, getting to talk about one of my favorite shows with Emery...
79. Feaurette! Katie Cotugno + Dirty Dancing - ... and a movie I loved while growing up with Katie...
80. Featurette! Justina Chen + Before Sunset - ... plus my #1 favorite movie of all time with Justina, when hardly anyone knows about this movie, was amazing.
82. Book Recs: Horse Fiction - I've got more horse fiction to share!
83. BFFs & college | Just Visiting by Dahlia Adler - I enjoyed sharing my personal experience with applying to colleges and how that related to this book.
84. I’d Rather Be Reading: Lists & Questions - A great idea and challenge for a bookish post.
85. Book Recs: My Go-To’s - I still stand by this list.
86. Binge-worthy New Adult Romances - I miss angsty New Adult romances.
87. Book Recs: Underrated YA Contemporary Romance - I've actually been re-reading a bunch of these this year.
88. Tidying up is good for the soul - A non-fiction book that caused me to take immediate action and de-clutter my apartment.
89. Bookshelf Tour - How I organized my books on this shelf has changed since then.
90. Re-reading The Harper Hall Trilogy - I will forever credit this series with introducing me to fantasy.
92. BookBags (3): YAGB Edition - Seeing this post made me miss this feature (which I've since retired). Should I bring it back?
93. Bridal Shower! - Forever proud of this bridal shower I helped plan.
94. Latest Read: Tiger Lily - This is still one of my favorite books.
95. Rachel & Carina’s Infinite Playlist (63) - I had this feature with my best friend for years! She's not into blogging so I really appreciate how long she did this with me. I don't know why this playlist in particular is so popular though!
96. Latest Read: The Book of Broken Hearts - Wow, my reviews used to be so long.
97. SS&D Celebration: A Day in Paris - I wouldn't mind recreating this day if I ever go to Paris again.
98. David Levithan + End of the Summer Fun - I really don't know why this post gets so many hits given how simple it is but it was nice to remember these moments.
99. Latest Read: Love Is the Higher Law - Given that this month was 20th anniversary, it seems fitting to find this book here.
100. Latest Read: Lola and the Boy Next Door - Full disclosure: this was my least favorite of this trilogy.
Hi, I’m Rachel! New Yorker at heart, Francophile in spirit, and forever wanderlusting. I’m passionate about books, ice cream, photography and finding creativity in my every day life.
read more
Social Icons