The Books I'm Thankful For (so far) in 2018

In tradition (well mine at least) of today being Thanksgiving Day (the USA version of it at least), here is a list of ALL the books I've read thus far this year that I've given my highest ratings to (5 out of 5 stars), which means I'm VERY Thankful for finding/reading them! Be forewarned though ... because of a major state-to-state move I did in 2017 (which I had actually mentioned in last year's book list too) AND because of my virtual assistant business expanding quite a bit within the past year, ALL of the novels listed below do not have their official book reviews from me posted and promoted yet. Opps ... ain't life fun. 🙂

➡️ So what are you getting out of this blog post you say? Well ... you are getting a glimpse of what my 5 star reads have been this year thus far (as even though their book reviews haven't been posted the first drafts of their reviews HAVE been written), some of my book reviews of these novels/novellas (if the FULL book reviews have officially been posted than they'll be linked), links for you to check out these novels/novellas for yourself, AND for the FIRST TIME ever I have a little video (at the bottom of this post) for you that compiles this list while inviting another BookTuber (ZaqLovesBooks) to share the two novels that she is thankful for this year too.

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** This site is a participant in various affiliate advertising programs through Amazon.com, Rakuten Marketing, Commission Junction, IndieBound, Smashwords, Book Depository, and more that are designed to provide a means for Jess to earn minimal advertising fees by showcasing the areas you can purchase the corresponding products that Jess discusses within her blog posts.
All of these affiliate links are obvious as to which ones they are. **

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As requested here are all my 5 star reads listed in the order of when I read them this year:

Halloween 2018 with a Plague Doctor | #photography @FromJesstoYouVA

Okay so I spent Halloween with more than just a Plague Doctor ... I also spent it with Superman AND Catty Noir from Monster High! But since I try not to show off my kids faces on my social sites here are some of the highlights from my day yesterday on Halloween (of course)! 🤣 ☺️ 🎃

Racist BOOKTUBE DRAMA? Reaction to Entitlement vs Elitism on #Booktube | @TheNovelLush

To quote Lauryn, "We gotta do better."
Below I am showcasing Lauryn, from The Novel Lush, recent video that was a mixture of a discussion video and a reaction/response video to another video that has been taken down. Lauryn eloquently states her position, which I highly agree with, against what this other BookTuber said about BookTube and POC BookTubers themselves. I had not seen the full videos from this other BookTuber I had just heard about her videos but Lauryn did track them down and included clips for us to understand both sides of the story more. What I saw from the clips is that this other BookTuber was quite ignorant and definitely has issues of her own. But I don't know her so for that I cannot be certain, yet it's hard to deny that her videos, for what I saw of them, were not something I would support at all.

So, the reason I'm posting Lauryn's response video here is because this ties into my previous blog support posts that I did which were Christina Marie's Christina Marie's Black Bookish Peeps Database & More & Jo's IS BOOKTUBE RACIST?. In Lauryn's video she covers it all including her response to the other BookTuber's videos. I wish I could get my thoughts across about the topic as well as Lauryn does but since I know I cannot I'm showing you hers.

In addition, underneath Lauryn's video I have included links to two other responses (one a youtube video and one a twitter post) that I feel should be checked out too.

A belated Week #21 of When & Where am I Wednesday & a Rant | #BookTuber #BookBlog @CherylCatMaster

WHEN & WHERE AM I WEDNESDAYS are a weekly bookish memes, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! To participate here's what you need to do:

• Based on the book your currently reading -- tell us when and where you are in your book, and possibly what "you're" (meaning the characters) doing or who "you" (meaning the characters) are with.
• Try NOT to include spoilers!!!
• Make sure to share the book information [title, author and/or book cover] so if someone likes what you write they can add that book to their TBR list.
• Please mention From Me to You ... Video, Photograph, & Book Reviews as to where you heard about this collaboration meme.

Week #20 of When & Where am I Wednesday | #BookTuber #BookBlog

WHEN & WHERE AM I WEDNESDAYS are a weekly bookish memes, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! To participate here's what you need to do:

• Based on the book your currently reading -- tell us when and where you are in your book, and possibly what "you're" (meaning the characters) doing or who "you" (meaning the characters) are with.
• Try NOT to include spoilers!!!
• Make sure to share the book information [title, author and/or book cover] so if someone likes what you write they can add that book to their TBR list.
• Please mention From Me to You ... Video, Photograph, & Book Reviews as to where you heard about this collaboration meme.

Week #19 of When & Where am I Wednesday | #BookTuber #BookBlog

WHEN & WHERE AM I WEDNESDAYS are a weekly bookish memes, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! To participate here's what you need to do:

• Based on the book your currently reading -- tell us when and where you are in your book, and possibly what "you're" (meaning the characters) doing or who "you" (meaning the characters) are with.
• Try NOT to include spoilers!!!
• Make sure to share the book information [title, author and/or book cover] so if someone likes what you write they can add that book to their TBR list.
• Please mention From Me to You ... Video, Photograph, & Book Reviews as to where you heard about this collaboration meme.

ABC News SPECIAL REPORT: The nation honors those who fell in 9/11 attacks

Everyone has their own story of "what they were doing on September 11, 2001 when the towers fell," today we honor those who unexpectedly left us.

If you can't see/watch the above video then click here to watch it.
If you want to assist Jess (owner of this blog), here's what you can do :

• SHARE this blog post Any and Everywhere!
• SHARE my previous blog post from 2015 titled Never Forget -- September 11 Remembrance: Click here to support

IS #BOOKTUBE RACIST? | @jthegreatbiblio

I'm sharing Jo from Jo the Great recent video about her thoughts on if BookTube is racist. Like she states, this is not the first video of this kind to be brought up about diversity within the book world but more specifically the BookTube community nor will it be the last as everyone else keeps sharing their own stances. However, I do agree with most of her points and feel like I should share her video around as I did for Christina Marie a while back.

As I tell my own children no one is perfect ... we all have our flaws even if we don't realize what they are ... but talking about our thoughts, getting them out there into the world, and calmly discussing them with others IS the only way I feel that we as a whole can move forward. So, please hear out Jo ... follow her ... follow me ... comment wherever you like and lets get this momentum of communication to begin.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out Christina Marie's Black Bookish Peeps Database too.

Week #18 of When & Where am I Wednesday | #BookTuber #BookBlog @LoriLFoster

WHEN & WHERE AM I WEDNESDAYS are a weekly bookish memes, hosted by Jess of From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews. Anyone can play along! To participate here's what you need to do:

• Based on the book your currently reading -- tell us when and where you are in your book, and possibly what "you're" (meaning the characters) doing or who "you" (meaning the characters) are with.
• Try NOT to include spoilers!!!
• Make sure to share the book information [title, author and/or book cover] so if someone likes what you write they can add that book to their TBR list.

99¢ #BookSale & Prize Pack #Giveaway | Spreading the Word @EntangledTeen

Summer may be winding down and the school year is kicking off soon. Beat those back to school blues with some of these great steals.



15 amazing YA reads on sale for just 99¢ each!



Fantasy, mystery, contemporary, paranormal and more! No matter what you are in the mood for you will find it here.