Kickin’ It is a feature at The Bucket List where I round-up the whole month in one post, bringing you reviews you may have missed, other awesome bookish things, and even what I’m currently obsessed with in other media besides books. It's a new year and I'm hoping for big things to happen. I have some goals, bookish and otherwise, to accomplish this year and I'm well on my way to completing some of them already. Especially my bookish goal -- I read 16 books this month! I don't know how I did it, maybe through a balance of reading and listening to audiobooks. I'm ecstatic about that turn out and can't wait to read more. Here's my January wrap up:



Match Me If You Can by Tiana Smith (4 stars) : This swoon-worthy book needs to be on your radar. It has everything I love in it—matchmakers, handsome boys, and a romance that will knock your socks off. Also, it gives off major She’s the Man vibes, where everyone is in love with everyone else!

American Panda by Gloria Chao (3 stars): My main reasons for picking this up, besides the cutest cover, was my expectation of a fluffy romance and a Taiwanese female lead who stands up to her parents. It sounded remarkable! Sadly, there was minimal fluffy romance scenes (however, I cherished every scene with the two together). And while standing up to her parents was empowering, I felt like a lot of it was glossed over and could have explored the dynamics and emotional break more than it did.

Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen (5 stars): Love, love love! If this series could go on for forever, that would be great. Please and thank you.


The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (5 stars): Soon after rereading the first book in the series, it was finally time to continue and this book blew away all my expectations. Mara Dyer was such a fantastic unreliable narrator in the first book but Hodkin kicks it up to a whole new level. And that ending leaves you in dire need of the third and final book!

Inception: the Shooting Script by Christopher Nolan (5 stars): One of the best films of all time! This book allows for you to get up close and personal to a few panel-by-panel storyboards, as well as the wonderful script. There's also a wonderful introduction that gives readers an inside look into the film. And even a detailed instruction manual of the dream machine from the movie.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (5 stars): It seems I’m reading all the five star reads this month—what’ll be left for the rest of the year? A contemporary take on Beauty and the Beast that will certainly have you on the edge of your seat. It was so difficult to put this one down with its non-stop action, strong female protagonist, and slow burn romance!


Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler (3 stars): I wasn't expecting the book to be so heavy in the wolf debate. I was expecting much more boy drama than there was. And even though Chandler gets us deep in the discussion of protecting the wolves, the characters felt rather flat. The brief romance was also understated and rather strange. I didn't really connect to anyone-- and while the topic was interesting, it wasn't enough for me to really love the book.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (3 stars): I adored the writing! It was fast paced and funny- sometimes downright hilarious! From a title like Hex Hall, I was expecting a bit more magical boarding school vibes than we got. The eclectic cast of creatures was pretty cool- not only were there witches and warlocks but fairies and vampires too. The book really opens up a lot of questions that remain unanswered.

This Is Kind of An Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender (3 stars): The diversity is amazing in this. Plus, I've never before read a book about a character who uses ASL (American Sign Language). It was a really cute story. Except... most of the characters were a bit flat. There's minimal development, which was disappointing. I liked it, but I really wanted to love it and that didn't happen.


The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (5 stars): I rarely read graphic novels but I just had a feeling about this one. It is an absolutely lovely and endearing story. And the art is stunning! It holds such a powerful message to all readers. And it is definitely a book I will return to again and again.

Black Wings Beating by Alex London (3.5 stars): London creates an intricate world that was a bit confusing in the beginning. The story follows twins, Kylee and Brysen, who embark on a journey to capture the Ghost Eagle to save Brysen’s boyfriend from his debts. It was entertaining and fast paced with fun action sequences.

Saving Hamlet by Molly Booth (3.5 stars): This was such an adorable read! It's a lovely time travel romance and as much as it doesn't explain or develop a few things, it was a fluffy contemporary. And, of course, with Shakespeare- how could one go wrong?


Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (3 stars): I really liked the first book, Suite Scarlett, so I went into this with a considerable amount of expectations. And it was going good and I was liking it as much as I liked the previous book until that ending happened. Which should not be called an ending since we are left, basically, in the middle of the story.

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee (4 stars): I was so hesitant to pick this up. All I’ve seen were piles of mixed reviews and I found Felicity annoying in the first book. However, I am so glad I read this. There were times where Felicity grated on my nerves but for the majority of the novel, I absolutely adored everything about it! Girl power for the win!

Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh (4.5 stars): I finished this in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop reading. Flame in the Mist was great but, dare I say, the sequel was better. There are a few issues that really stopped the book becoming a 5-star read for me though, like some of the plot felt underdeveloped.


The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (4 stars): This one had everything I wanted and more. Two different worlds, fairytales, a creepy house with moving rooms, and a quest to find out what happened to her mother. That superb writing also makes me want to pick up everything by Albert in the future!





Enchantee by Gita Trelease (2/5/19): If there’s a book set in France, you can be sure that I will be reading it. The book follows Camille who must provide for her frail sister after her brother leaves with all their finances. She decides to use forbidden magic to pursue a catch at the royal court. Her game is a dangerous one.

Honor Bound by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre (2/19/19): I’ve been waiting ever since the first one, Honor Among Thieves, released for this sequel. It’s one of the only sci-fi novels I’ve ever adored so I have pretty high expectations.

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West (2/5/19): This sounds like a classic Kasie West and I just can’t wait for all the romance!



I’m reading much more than usual so you’d think I’d be watching less than usual but nope. I don’t quite know where I’m finding all this time to read but it isn’t coming out of my watching time. Strange. I watched some amazing things this month. Starting with Netflix’s Dark, which was absolutely captivating. It’s a time travel mystery that simply blew me away. I’m working my way through Release the Hounds which is as unbelievable as ever. Also, I just started Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo which is interesting and I’m gaining a bunch of inspiring organizational tips I’d love to try in the future. As for movies, I saw Glass which was good, yet entirely disappointing. Overall, lots of amazing TV shows this month—what a great way to start the year!