Melanie Martinez's Cry Baby Album!

Cry Baby

Okay. Wow. I need to calm. I fangirled way too much since Wednesday because Melanie Martinez's debut album, Cry Baby, finally came out! Officially, it was released today in iTunes. It's been on freakin' repeat at work, in the car, and right now.

I've been waiting for this album since I first saw her on The Voice around three years ago when I fell in love with her voice. She sang a rendition of Toxic by Britney Spears to impress 3 judges. Of course, I had to check her out at YouTube to see if she had any other covers and found some originals that I love—especially I think I'm Crazy and Birthing Addicts.

Prior to the album release, Melanie released her Dollhouse EP with 4 awesome songs; Dollhouse, Carousel, Dead to Me, and Bittersweet Tragedy. She also teased her album with 3 singles; Pity Party, Soap, and Sippy Cup.  That held me off quite a bit but I was still anticipating the release of her debut. 

Cry Baby is a wonderful album! Great beat accompanied with a beautiful, raw voice.  I have seen her live twice in Philly where she rocks the crowd with her vocals and beats. A very talented young woman!

3 songs to check out aside from her singles: Mad Hatter, Mrs. Potato Head, and Cake.

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One additional cool thing I found about the Cry Baby album today. Melanie wrote a story connecting each song titles of her album. Like, what is talent?! She defines it. She is amazeballs, many balls of amazes, and over the top amazing! The ebook is beautifully illustrated by Chloe Tersigni. I just checked out her instagram (@chloetersigni), and I'm definitely following her now. Incredible artwork!

Melanie has the story available online on her website. Click the book to read the illustrated story. *Warning: story not for children.

Have a bookful day and happy reading, lovelies!

♡Prys

#BookTubeAThon2015 Fail!

First off, I should've done a BookTubeAThon TBR list, but I didn't have an actual solid list, go figure (haha). I'm the type of person that would change things around and just go with my reading flow.

Secondly, I've failed to complete some of the challenge. I tried so hard juggling work and reading. At the least, I've accomplished 5 of the challenges even though only 3 of the books will go towards my 2015 reading challenge on goodreads.

I will list the books in the order I've read them.

Book 1: Read a book you really want to read
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5

Nimona is a graphic novel. It's a story about a girl who was recruited to be a villain's sidekick. Let's just highlight the ending of this book. Not what I had expected, two thumbs. The book has cool art. (I also read this book in one sitting.)

Book 2: Finish a book without letting go of it

Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings

Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5

Selp-Helf is written by Miranda Sings, a YouTuber. This colorful book was quite enjoyably funny. It's filled with lots of advice Miranda would totally give. She even gave us activities.

Book 3: Read a book by an author who shares the same first letter of your last name
Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira
Rating: ☆☆☆☆¾/5

Love Letters to the Dead was a very beautifully written story. It reminded me of Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower (one of my favorite read books of this year) because of the letter structure instead of actual chapters. The story is about a teenage girl, Laurel, losing her big sister, May. Laurel tried to be strong and more like her perfect, fearless sister, but throughout the book, Laurel came undone as she finds herself and finally becomes herself. I shed tears reading this one.

picture source

Book 4: Read a book with blue on the cover
Fairest by Marissa Meyer
Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5

Fairest is Levana's story. I started reading the Lunar Chronicles in the beginning of this year and I am highly anticipating Winter to come. Through this book, I've come to find out that Levana is batshit crazy and she can't be fixed. Her life was sad but she puts it upon herself to make it unbearable. But of course, fans of the Lunar Chronicles should get this book.

Book 5: Read the last book you acquired
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Rating: ☆☆☆☆½/5

Cruel Beauty is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It's definitely not your typical Beauty though. She has a twin and she's a very dark character. I fell in love with the Beast in this book. For a demon lord, he's caring and a sweetheart. This was my first Beauty and the Beast retelling read.

I didn't complete read someone else's favourite book and read seven books. I will try again next year! I did complete last year, but I had a week off from work because I had taken my top wisdom teeth out.

Time for chillaxing read without deadlines. Whew.

Have a bookful day and happy reading, lovelies!

♡Prys

Island Beach State Park

Had a Sunday Beach Day with friends yesterday! I had loads of fun. Sure, I had to wake up early in the morning. And yes, the waves were high in the morning which was hell for a non-swimming such as myself. BUT I can't complain. It was definitely a Sunday well-spent with great company.

We also ate at Joe's Crab Shack. It was utterly divine. They had cute little bibs for us to use. I was titled Crabulous, and Francis was Crab Daddy!

Ohh and this is not just a lifestyle post, it is also a book haul from Goodwill! Check out these bad boys.

Quick synopsis of each book:

Entwined is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale (you can read the fairytale by Brothers Grimm here). I know I read this one before and I think it goes like this: The  12 princesses were supposed to be asleep but they sneaked out and danced the night away until their slippers were in pieces.

Incarceron is about a futuristic prison. I know nothing more about it. Funny story, I actually had this book at home. I remembered some instances where I pondered in Barnes and Nobles about purchasing said book and I completely forgot that I my book buying itch won and actually purchased it a while back. This, and I also have a long TBR list.

Eon is a book about dragons and magic. Eon is actually Eona, a female protagonist who disguises herself as a boy. I've been wanting to own and read this one and I was so glad I found it.

This is how great yesterday was—beach, crabs, and books!

Have a bookful day and happy reading, lovelies!

♡Prys