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63 Of The Best YA Books About Siblings (So Many Siblings! All The Siblings You Could Want!)

by 59 Comments

Because I have very little chill, I have made an immense list of YA books about siblings.

I could have listed ten or so?? But NO. I had to list as many as I possibly could (and I was still skipping some at the end of this!). I feel like YA has an unfair reputation for starring only-children. And while a lot of the famous YA books do fit snugly into that category — there is an inexhaustible amount of sibling rep in YA. All types. Older sisters, younger sisters, twins, brothers, etc. etc…

I absolutely love this.

I have far too many siblings myself and would trade them all for a single grape, but, fictional siblings are just so much better and I also can’t seem to write a novel without them. The relationships are complex, messy and often fractious. But I love the types of siblings who’ll fight each other but also fight for each other.

So let’s tumble in, shall we?

Caraval | Goodreads

I am starting off strong with one of my ever-favourite series! I adore Scarlett and Tella’s relationship because they manage to be so loyal and loving BUT…they also fight. 😂Scarlett is the sensible one, Tella the headstrong. Hufflepuff to Gryffindor. And look, I definitely like Tella more (she enjoys dresses and murder) but Scarlett is working through a lot of traumas and I respect that. These two.💛😫

Call It What You Want | Goodreads

One of the narrators is Meagan who has this really ferocious older sister who is the Perfect College Child…until she gets pregnant. And they are like CHALK and cheese but they end up really leaning on each other and AHHH. We stan this arc.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before | Goodreads

Possibly my most favourite wholesome sister trio ever. Yes trio. I do love when there are more than two siblings!! Lara Jean is the softest Hufflepuff who likes baking and scrapbooking and avoiding crushes but just writing letters to them she’ll never send. Kitty is a total energetic snark and sassball. Margot is a typical annoying older sister. 10/10 she is just what an older sister is like.

The Hunger Games | Goodreads

Okay probably the most obvious and famous sister pairing but hey ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I love them so they deserve a mention. Also Katniss is older, Prim younger. And they have a very “i would die for u” relationship that is super sweet and very unrelatable. 🤗

Grace & Fury | Goodreads

Here we have two sisters, both narrate, and the lovely older one is supposed to end up in a contest to win the prince’s hand, buuuuut the rebellious little sister gets in instead. It totally flips tropes and it’s really intriguing and I loved it!

ruined | Goodreads

SISTER POWER. Actually literal power, as the younger sister (Olivia) has powers that can snap spines. Ahem. So Olivia is actually captured in the first book and Em (tragically non-powerful) is doing everything to get her out. They are sisters you will…have mixed feelings about. Very different morals. Fascinating dynamics. Morally grey, bring it.

Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now | Goodreads

Tiffany was an only child…until her mum dies and she has to live with her dad and his new family and it’s like = instafamily, she now has about four sisters. I loved this book and Tiffany is amazing (also has an anxiety disorder), but it was really hard to read at times because her father is really strictly religious and abuses the power. That’s the point of the novel! It’s just upsetting and I ached for her!!

Ramona Blue | Goodreads

Ramona is the younger sister who’s just trying to figure out who she is, what her sexuality is, and if she’ll ever move on from this small claustrophobic town. One thing pinning her down is her pregnant older sister and Romana is so protective of her.

Things I Should Have Known | Goodreads

Basically Chloe is trying to find Ivy a boyfriend. Ivy is autistic and Chloe is the super loving and protective younger sister and I loooove them both. They’re not always understanding of each other, but they TRY and 😍I love positive autism rep.

Enchantee | Goodreads

This is set in France in 1789 and it’s about a girl with a magical DRESS and she ends up playing cards to rob rich people to pay enough to keep her house. She has a drop-kick older brother (we hates him) and she loves and dotes on her younger, fragile sister. Also did I mention MAGIC DRESS.

Odd & True | Goodreads

This is a paranormal/historical fiction and here there are monsters and girls who will fight them. It truly is an odd book but I really adored it and especially loved Odette and Tru as they try to save and love each other enough to make up for their terror stricken past.

 

(Surprisingly…I have NOT read many brotherly books. Which is tragic?! If you have recs, please let me know!)

The Boy Who Steals Houses | Goodreads

Oh hello; it’s my book. 😌I actually have an intense amount of siblings in here, with the love interest having 5 brothers/1 sister as well. BUT, Sam narrates and his fractious relationship with his older brother Avery is the heartbeat of the book. Sam would fite ‘n’ die for Avery, but he feels like Avery doesn’t love him enough. They really don’t take a breath to understand each other.😫THEY BREAK ME. These two autistic loveable disasters.

Reckless | Goodreads

Ok these are amazing and completely underrated I feel!! They’re translated from German, but this is the author if Inkheart!!! Jacob and Will are tragic brothers and they don’t talk, but they privately want to protect each other. And there are vicious fairy tale worlds and magic and it altogether stole my imagination.

White Cat | Goodreads

AGH I love these. Super underrated from our fame fae queen: Holly Black. This series has people who can curse you with a touch, and basically a motley pile of Slytherin brothers who are backstabbing and scheming and I freaking love it. Cassel is the youngest.

Ultimatum | Goodreads

hello hello to very messy brothers who do n o t get on. The book is a lot about them healing, to be honest, and about how you choose how you act and you can choose to change. They’re basically watching their father die in a hospice and having to reconcile their ugly pasts with each other.

These Gentle Wounds | Goodreads

Actually these sTABBING WOUNDS in my heart because this book will softly wreck you and not even apologise. It’s about mental illness and trauma and features half-brothers…Gordie basically relies on his older brother to keep him breathing after everything they’ve been through. It’s so sad. 😭💛

The Raven Boys | Goodreads

Shout out to the LYNCH brothers who are utter chaos to the core. Ronan and Declan, if left alone too long, would probably kill each other and Matthew is perfect and everyone loves him. I adore their fractious dynamics and honestly, this series is my favourite in all the world so I will [slams fist on the table] gush forever. Just you wait. Also Call Down the Hawk is going to feature the messed up bros more and I AM READY.

 

The Poet X | Goodreads

Brother/Sister twins; and they’re very close but in a desperate way because they’re mother is super religious and borderline abusive. Xiomara has to hide herself, her poetry, her personality because it’s being crushed out of her. Xavier has to hide that he’s soft and loves gentle things and is gay. They are written so so tenderly….this is an amazing book.

The Cruel Prince | Goodreads

Shout out to our favourite wildly terrible SISTERS — Jude and Taryn. (They also have an older sister, Vivi.) Their parents were murdered by their mother’s ex-husband, also a fae gentry, adn they’ve been raise din the lavish and gorgeous and vicious world of Faerie. Oh these are not the “nice” sort of sisters, but they’re complex and you root for them and rage at the same time?! Also this book is a Slytherin DREAM. I am obsessed.

One | Goodreads

This is about conjoined twin sisters and it’s all written in verse. It’s really bitterly heartbreaking and also sweet at times. It’s been a while since I read it, but I feel like the disability rep was thoughtful and respectful. It’s tragic but you know it’s going to be when they’re conjoined.

I’ll Give You The Sun | Goodreads

Jude and Noah are extremely different people and oh oh the book starts with you knowing something terrible happened between them, but you don’t know what. They’re artists of different kinds, Noah is gay, and Jude is grieving and the story is honestly phenomenal with the writing. I reeeeally need to reread because I haven’t picked it up since 2015!!

Fangirl | Goodreads

We can’t forget Cath and Wren…literally Cather + Wren so that their names ARE ONE NAME!? Ok, not happy with their mum either. But they’re off to college and Wren was Cath’s safe space, her crutch, but Wren sort of “dumps” her and just goes off to have a solo college experience. I’m still angry at her tbh. 10/10 felt everything for Cath but I love her arc and how she coped with social anxiety.

The Upside of Unrequited | Goodreads

Again twin sisters with Molly being the soft homebody while Cassie is more sharp corners and a go-getter. They definitely don’t mesh all the time, but they’re stronger when they lean on each other.

This Side of Home | Goodreads

Again I do not remember this one well enough except black twin sisters who feel like they’re drifting apart as they what they want begins to differ and they feel like they don’t understand each other anymore. These kind of growing-up-and-apart stories are really important for sisters too!!

Summer of Salt | Goodreads

We have sister twins who are, coincidentally, magical witches and they’ve got very different personalities but they’re not constantly at war. It’s on a rainy island and life is changing now that highschool is over and it’s very deeply about grief and recovery. (Also f/f romance!)

The Foxhole Court | Goodreads

Ok this is cheating because the twin brothers are secondary characters BUT their relationship is pretty integral to the plot (they absolutely hate each other’s guts; we are talking the infamous Minyard twins, Aaron and Andrew). They try to switch places on Neil just once. Only once. Because they FAIL. Neil can tell who his boi is, u fools.

Ink & Bone | Goodreads

Twin brothers who absolutely do n o t get along and never will. Jess is the bookworm and Brendan would rather put out his own eyes. He’s Slytherin to Jess’ Ravenclaw. I just, argh, I love their terse relationship but how they’re still there for each other. Lots of rivalry though. 👀

The Lost And Found | Goodreads

This has a really soft brother/sister twinship where they stick up for each other a lot because he has an anxiety disorder and she is an amputee. It’s also a gentle magical realism and will totally make you FEEL things about internet friends who cross half a continent to meet.

Two Can Keep A Secret | Goodreads

Here we have twins and MURDER…not the twins, uh, doing the murdering. They’re actually fairly close and loving and I thought their relationship was amazing — with a backdrop of solving murder mysteries. 🤗

Aurora Rising | Goodreads

Sci-fi time! We have Tyler and Scarlett who are twins and also utterly badass with their skillsets. He’s like the golden boy leader, she is the diplomat who knows how to get her way around anything and anyone. 🙌🏻This has such a solid misfit squad to save the doomed world. Bring it.

Slayer | Goodreads

This is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer story, but you can actually enjoy it without having seen Buffy (*cough*it me*cough*). We have Nina (soft, nerdy one) and her twin Artemis (tough badass fighter one) and how their roles get reversed and CHAOS. Also monsters and blood and quite a lot of sass.

White Rabbit Red Wolf | Goodreads

This is a mind-twisty thriller and I totally adored it but also was a bit “??!!??” the whole time. Peter has a anxiety panic disorder and Bel is the solid one of the two…but they get caught up in a government conspiracy and it’s madness and delicious to read.

 

 

A Thousand Perfect Notes | Goodreads

Am I going to nominate my own book? You get I am. 😌Beck is 15 with a 5yo half-sister who is basically a peppercorn on legs and he’s soft and depressed and beaten down by the world. He would 10/10 do anything for her and puts her wellbeing before his own ALWAYS. Sometimes she tries to bite him. But you know. Sibling bonds.

A Curse So Dark And Lonely | Goodreads

Harper has an older brother and he doesn’t come in heavily in the book till later (and he brings his doctor boyfriend 😌) but WOW I love these two. Super protective sibling bond and they get really angry at each other for risking their lives. Also Beauty and the Beast retelling but with way way worse monsters. 😏

Half Bad | Goodreads

Look if you want siblings that are actually horrible 🙌🏻look no further. Nathan is the bastard of the family, half black witch, half white witch — a terrible sin. And his older sister is MURDEROUSLY cruel while his older brother is super soft and lovely. Ughhghgh I love this book. It hurts me.

The Scorpio Races | Goodreads

Aka ONE OF MY LIFE FAVES. Puck has an older brother as well as a younger one, but Gabe’s pretty much moved on, while Puck and Finn are just trying to survive and hold their family home together. Also murder horses, sea aesthetic, it’s dreamy and bloody and gorgeous.

The Rest Of Us Just Live Here | Goodreads

Ok SUPERHEROES…but also the book is about the background kids who are just trying to cope. It has anxiety/depression and eating disorders rep and Mikey has an older and younger sister. They really really love each other and feel so alone.

The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice And Virtue | GOODREADS

Older brother/younger sister here too and WOW they do not get along or understand each other. Bless them. But their relationship really propels the book a lot. Felicity (15) is arguably more sensible than Monty (18) and they grow grudging repsect for each other in between being chased by pirates, armies, mercenaries and getting shot at during a 17th century rope around Europe.

Autoboyography | Goodreads

The sibling relationship isn’t the forefront of the story but Tanner does have a younger teen sister. They mostly view each other as heinous nuisances. But I freaking love this book because the romance is just😭💛Super cute and will make you sob. Tanner is bi and Sebastian is Morman and they shouldn’t even look at each other, but yEt–

The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer | Goodreads

Admittedly I do not remember this as well as I want to (reread is due!) BUT. I do remember Mara had an older brother and their relationship was really solid and kind. Also this story messes with your head and it’s sinister and thrilling!

You Asked For Perfect | Goodreads

This one is just TOO CUTE. Ariel is an overachieving stressaholic and it kind of rubs off on his little sister. And while he obsesses unhealthily over school, he gets such a wakeup call when he sees his 10-year-old sister doing it. They are PRECIOUS.

Spin the Dawn | Goodreads

This is a loose Mulan retelling but with tailors! And Maia goes off to be the imperial tailor disguised as her younger brother. So there’s not a lot of sibling bonds in the book, but it heavily depends on them existing! Maia super loves her family and it’s amazing.😭💛

The Last Namsara | Goodreads

Asha is the younger sister and her older brother is Dax and heir to the throne, but her father abhors him because he’s “stupid” (I suspect dyslexic rep) and they don’t interact a lot in this one, but he narrates book two and ajfkdlsad I love them both SO MUCH. They are badass siblings.

Starworld | Goodreads

Half of this one is narrated by Zoe, who is like the “pretty perfect nice girl” that everyone loves but no one really knows…and it’s really strongly about friendship and identity and it’s heartbreaking. Zoe also has a severely disabled younger brother and she loves him so much just how he is. 😭💛

Afterward | Goodreads

This is dual narrated between a boy who was kidnapped and returned…and a girl whose younger autistic brother was kidnapped but they found him before he was abused. It’s really dark and heart-wrenching and really really well written.

Princess Of Thorns | Goodreads

Aurora is disguising as a boy to find and free her kidnapped younger brother! Their relationship isn’t on page the whole time but they intensely love each other…and gee, her younger brother goes through hell. I was ready to beat my way into the book and rescue him myself.

Lady Midnight | Goodreads

So the entire The Dark Artifices series features…THE BLACKTHORN FAMILY, which has brothers and sisters of all shapes and sizes. They all make me cry desperately because I’m just that attached to them. It’s most intensely about Julian’s relationship as being the surrogate father for his younger sisters an brothers. And also his x Mark’s…Mark who is supposed to be older but was kidnapped by faeries and hasn’t aged and is totally suffering from PTSD. It’s also got A+ autism rep and is basically my all time favourite series haVE I GUSHED ENOUGH YET–

Darius The Great Is Not Okay | Goodreads

Darius is the older brother and his little sister is about 8 maybe? But anyway she is a bucket of sunflowers and he’s trying to deal with depression and feeling alone because he’s ostracised at school for being biracial. It’s such a beautiful book and mostly set in Iran too. #Ownvoices! He is so sweet to his sister!!

A Very Large Expanse of Sea | Goodreads

Older brother / younger sister! Shirin sort of resents her older brother a bit since her Muslim parents respect him more…she is like a bitter espresso and I couldn’t love her more tbh. But ultimately her brother invites her to join their breakdancing group and they are all BADASS. I love this book. It’s not exactly underrated, but, I think it deserves as much love as Mafi’s Shatter Me books!

Words In Deep Blue | Goodreads

Older brother/younger sister again. Also BOOKWORMS. Also George is really tough and bitey and sensible (reminds me of Blue Sargent a bit tbh) while Henry is just a little too whimsical and romantic and off getting his heartbroken brutally at all times. He’s such an idiot but I love him. Also this is set in a bookstore?! YES.

Little & Lion | Goodreads

These are adopted siblings! Suzette is bi and black and Lionel is white and has bipolar. The story takes off with them having been away for a while so they’re no longer sure how they fit together, but they love each other fiercely as siblings. And I think it’s important to have wholesome adopted sibling relationships too!!

Eliza And Her Monsters | Goodreads

Okay she has two younger brothers and she thinks they’re ALIENS because they like sporty stuff and being rowdy and she is like the wraith in the walls, drawing and doing fandom art, and hissing at sunlight. This one is about social anxiety and fandom culture!

On The Come up | Goodreads

Bri has a brother who is quite a lot older so sometimes he squishes in as an extra parent (she would like to whack him for that) but they have such a good relationship. And he sacrifices a lot to help keep the family together. Their family is in such strife, but they are SO CLOSE and loving. 😫

The Cresswell Plot | Goodreads

Looking for a big family who is also part of a cult and their dad basically keeps them locked up in the woods? That’s a very specific request, I realise, but hey…LOOK NO FURTHER. This one is for you. I really loved this book, and the siblings who were really tightly close for survival sakes.

My Sister Rosa | Goodreads

I am leaving this here for all of us who are secretly terrified of our younger siblings. 😘Okay but TRULY: This one is about Che who is an Aussie living in America and he’s 90% sure his adorable cherubic 10-year-old sister is a psychopath. This is chilling and really extremely well written. I’m still thinking about it three years later.

The Graces | Goodreads

I’m so obsessed with the aesthetic of this book. Lowkey witches and contemporary heartache. The Graces are the family everyone is secretly in love with. It’s actually narrated by Rain, who is an only child, but the book is super heavily about Fenrin and Thalia (twins) and their younger sister Summer. I, too, am in love with them. 😌

The Brilliant Death | Goodreads

Oh this one completely stole my heart! Italian-esque mafia fantasy world, and Teo has a huge family but she’s super close to her younger brother and I cry for them and their pure relationship. Also genderfluid magicians and an absolutely epic plot. Teo can turn people into objects btw. Love this life skill.

Charm & Strange | Goodreads

Omg I can’t forget this one…I’m rather obsessed with it and how it WRECKED ME. It’s brutal and dark and is deeply about mental illness spirals and delusions. Drew is the youngest in a super rich family (his older brother is amazing and makes me cry) and he goes through some dark stuff…it’s raw and gut-wrenching and such a good book.

And I Darken | Goodreads

And here is our disaster historical fiction retelling of Vlad the Impaler…but if he was a girl. Lada would literally stab your face and lick the knife, whereas Radu is younger and soft and gentle (and also a scheming Slytherin; I adore him). THESE TWO. I totally adore this trilogy.

Salt | Goodreads

Indi has an older sister, younger brother and younger sister and I LOVE THEM. Monster-fighting sibling squad who are looking for their missing parents. And it’s gut-wrenching and beautiful and full of the ebb and flow of tumultuous sibling feelings.

Here Lies Daniel Tate | Goodreads

This is slightly cheating to put on this list because technically Daniel is (a) not even Daniel because he’s faking being this missing kid, and (b) his siblings aren’t *really* his siblings. But they have the FULL dynamics there and he dotes on his littlest sister so much it’s adorable and I cry. Even if he is faking being their long-lost brother. It’s insanely twisty and so cleverly done. Also older brother/sister heavily involved in the plot.

 

 

| what do you think |

help me out and add to the list!! what are your favourite sibling books? do you have any brother recs because i seem to have a need here

 

The Boy Who Steals Houses #BookBlitz! (Ft. Signed Annotated Giveaway)

by 31 Comments

Did you know it’s been 2 whole weeks since The Boy Who Steals Houses came out?!

My son! Already so old and accomplished and honestly bringing me great joy. 😭💛The amazing AUSYA Bloggers team hosted a blitz for me last week and I don’t even know how to say how grateful I am! It went from the 19th-21st and I meant to post about it but…ok here’s the truth: I’m moving house and packing everything, including my brain. So I’m late to my own blitz but HI. Am here finally!!

So the most massive thankyou to everyone who joined in!

The buzz on Instagram and across the blogsophere was so so amazing. And it makes the world of difference for my small author self ajfdklsad can I just say how much I love that the blogging community has supported my blog AND now my books?? My heart😭🎉I looooove you.

I also want to give a super quick note that…I hope this post doesn’t come across as bragging. Look I’m not a bestseller, I’ve actually had a pretty hellish time with a lot of things regarding my publishing journey. But I am lucky and nice things have happened to me and I’m blessed by the community, so this is my thank you. 🤗And I am rooting for all you other writers’ successes too, ok?!

 

Anyway! Giveaway will be below! But before we get to that…

10 Favourite Moments of The Boy Who Steals Houses Release So Far!

1. I’ve made people cry ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Alright! Wait wait! Before you go thinking I’m a monster who thrives on tears (because that is not true at all 😌), I actually take so much heart in this because it means my little paperback novel of ink and printed words — has made people feel things. That’s actual magic.

People have sent me photos of tearstained TBWSH pages. When I announced the book, my editor basically tweeted “IT MADE ME CRY” which tbh is a life goal achieved. I’ve had dozens of “Cait!!!! First of all I CRIED” messages. And I just 😍 am thriving knowing my book has given people emotions.

2. It was put in an #AutismAcceptanceMonth Big display in Waterstones!

Curated by an autistic bookseller so like, I HAVE ASCENDED.

3. Some of my favourite authors have flailed over it!

Tbh my impostor syndrome is real. I know a lot of authors struggle with the whole “yeah but I’m not really much an an author” thing and bleashosrhgs I’m sure it comes from a place of anxiety. But this time round, I’ve chatted with several kind authors who didn’t have to take time away from their days to support me…but they did??? 😭They’re my heroes and I am starry-eyed.

So all the love and thanks to Mia Kuzniar, C.R.R. Hillin, Nadine Brandes, Helene Dunbar, Brigid Kemmerer, Mary Weber (also Laini Taylor said congrats to me on release day!!) and Marissa Kennerson!

4. The instagram buzz was SURREAL!

Release day was amazing! I was actually alone for the day and…ok I admit it. I had a pre-release cry. Overwhelm plus disappointment about some things that had gone wrong. I like to talk about the positives, but my string of disappointments and mishaps surrounding TBWSH was long and hard.

But then the 4th of April came and…bookstagram just gave me this intensely soft hug and whispered, “We’re proud of you,” and I just (!!!!) wanted to cry again, but for happy reasons. Thank you so so much to everyone who posted or messaged or cheered for me! If you think it didn’t matter? Pfshsfhsogh NO. It meant the world to me. Every single one.

5. It reached 39 bestseller on Book Depository!

And like freaking BOOK DEPOSITORY gave it a shout out on their instagram page?! I’m still confused as to why lmaooo. It was the best moment but I didn’t think they did that!

6. I commissioned fanart which turned out the actual best.

You’ll be able to win one of these in the giveaway! But I’ll also be giving away more on instagram eventually and potentially selling some?! Hold on for more news about that.

my heart = belongs to fanart.

7. My parents sent me flowers and I had my first magnum in like…5 or something years.😂

I knoooow. How dare I betray cake and not eat it on release day but can you look at this vegan magnum and tell me you wouldn’t want one. It was delicious.

8. It’s in bookstores!!

This is mostly in the UK and Australia…! But BOOKSTORES. Honestly this was the pinnacle of my life goal: walk into a bookstore and see my book. And no I haven’t seen TBWSH in stores myself yet (there are 3 people and 17 cows in our town…and the local bookstore solely stocks Harry Potter and The Hunger Games because nOTHING ELSE has ever been printed since obviously). But I will find it in a store soon! Moving house remember?! Going to the city. Bring it, civilisation.

I’m so grateful for people who send me photos of it in the wild! Better believe I SAVE ‘EM ALL.

9. I’ve had a lot of absolutely heartfelt and touching messages about it.

Like 10/10 I love the ones screaming at me. But I’ve also had people saying how much the autism rep meant to them, how they connected with the big messy De Lainey family, how the book has nestled into a very safe and special place in their hearts and they can’t stop thinking about it.💛I live for this.

Like there are simply thousands of books you could choose to read. But you chose mine. And I’m grateful.

10. So so many asks of “will there be a sequel?!”

Which as of right now: sorry, but it’s a standalone! Like I would want to write sequels, yes yes, but so much depends on sales and a few other things. Honestly at this point it doesn’t seem likely. But just knowing you WANT a sequel has me freaking out with happiness!! Look I miss the De Laineys too. But do you really think I should be allowed near Sam again? Do you reeeeeally. 😂 PART 2 OF RUINING HIS LIFE…ajdkfslad maybe we should all think about what we’re asking. 

And no, my writing career has been far from rainbows — but I enjoy talking about the parts I’ve LOVED!!

So I hope you don’t mind this gushy post!! I’m so thankful for everyone’s support and like??? I probably don’t deserve you all but AHHH. Ilysm.😘 And while I don’t have any more books under contract now (I’m trying but setbacks have been really devastating) I’ve decided to just enjoy TBWSH being out in the world to maximum 10000%. Look at my SON GO. So proud.

FIND IT:
Angus and Robinson, Booktopia, Amazon Australia, Fishpond.
Amazon US, Waterstones, The Book Depository, Wordery.

 

OPEN INTERNATIONAL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

thank you everyone who joined in the blitz!! 😘

and i am moving house so I’m sorry for being The World’s Worst Blogger right now. I will get my life back together in May I promise. (or, lol, I will at least pretend)

 

What Happened in March? (Ft. The Boy Who Steals Houses is Nearly Here + Book Tour News!)

by 35 Comments

I realise the title of my recap posts is “what happened in March”…but I am still not quite sure.

Like, a lot happened. But also it freaking d r a g g e d out 50 x longer than a normal month. Because sOMEONE’S BOOK COMES OUT ON THE 4TH OF APRIL WHICH IS OFFICIALLY…

5. DAYS. AWAY.

Only…only 5 days until The Boy Who Steals Houses is hereeeeeee.

(Except it’s actually out in Australia on the 9th so you all need to just suffer quietly in the background there ok. Sorry about that. At some point I will ask why books don’t release on the same dates, but publishing is a mysterious beast.)

So if you can help me celebrate release day on the 4th of April by posting about The Boy Who Steals Houses…I will love yoooooou forever.😍

Like, just a tweet or an instagram post or a mention in your instagram Stories or…anything!!! I can’t even say how much I’d appreciate it. Basically I’m a small author with a small release so ALL the help is appreciated. 🎉

UGH LOOK AT THIS ATTRACTIVE BOI.

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

➸ So obviously I’m freaking out with Author !!! nerves !!! here.

Everything about The Boy Who Steals Houses has been really really different to the lead up from my debut last year (A Thousand Perfect Notes). ARCs went out later, there are less reviews up, it’s not featured in any book boxes so I don’t have that to promote…etc. etc. I’m so nervous about it doing well?! I need it to. I desperately want to be able to write and sell more books — so it’s like all this ajfdskladj < error > ajfdksladjkl pressure in my head.

BUT. I’m also enjoying the anticipation. The messages from people! The excitement! I’ve read some such meaningful and lovely reviews my soul cried happy tears.

I’ve got one author-copy but I’ll get a box eventually and I can’t waaaaait for that either. (I’ve cleared out a place in my shelf haha.)

And I’m just freaking proud of this book, ok? I am. It has my heart and I’m still not fully over being immersed in it.

I’m just so so happy it gets to exist in this world.

 

➸ There’s going to be a UK blog tour!

My publishers organised this and I’m so excited for the content that’s going up!

I wrote a personal piece on Autism Representation in YA + another piece on all the inspiration behind the book. And remember how I was whining about cutting a cute fluffy scene about potatoes??

WELL GUESS WHAT YOU GET TO READ!!!!!

It’s going to be up! Extra content!! So make sure you keep your eyeballs on this tour, ok, and I’ll be shouting out links here + on my social medias. (Even my publicist said it’s super cute ok 😍)

 

➸ And reviews? Reviews are so helpful.

So if you’ve read it or are going to read it = I’d loooove if you reviewed it! Goodreads, Amazon, retailers, your blog, etc. etc. Of course there’s no pressure. But it’s so so helpful and I would give you, like, half the kingdom if I could.

 

➸ I also splurged and commissioned fanart.

I’M SO EXCITED. I’ve got prints coming, so I’ll reveal it when they arrive but ajfdkslad it is the actual most best thing.

 

➸ I also blogged about my publishing journey for The Boy Who Steals Houses!

So don’t forget to catch that here if you want to read it! Plus here are some books to read while you’re waiting for release date. (PS. I recommend these wholly!)

 

➸ Speaking of blog posts…I’ve done some interviews with amazing bloggers, so please do check them out!

  • Over on my publishers blog → I list 10 things you need to know about TBWSH before reading!
  • Reading Anyone → I talk about motivation to keep writing and the pressure of blogging vs writing.
  • Everlasting Library → I talk about the importance of writing books about mental illness and disabilities + my favourite book worlds!
  • Chasm of Books → I give querying tips and talk about my author inspirations!
  • Keturah’s Korner → I talk about how I found an agent and landed my book deal + talk about how many buried book drafts I’ve written.
  • Imi Reviews Books → we do an epic back-and-forth discussion style and both chat about writing styles and writing ownvoices autism rep!
  • Uwadis → super excited about this behind-the-scenes interview wtih Thy Bui, my cover designer! There are some early drafts of the cover here too. Thanks to Etinosa for organising this!!
  • Book Dragonism → am chatting to Rain about why I wrote a genderbent Goldilocks retelling + how I handle the ups and downs of publishing.

(Also PS. if you want me on your blog for an interview?! I WOULD LOVE TO. Just email me cait@paperfury.com and we’ll get it set up!)

 

➸ And lastly…Laini Taylor said THIS:

So basically I can retire now omgggggg.

 

➸ My goals is 18 books per month…but I’m struggling.

yes yes I might also be a bit distracted with book releases etc. But I’m constantly behind on ARCs and I feel bad. Also I used to always read 200 books a year with zero problems?! Now I barely know when to possibly fit in writing time, gah. So I’m probably going to cut back. Even by just a book or two. But #DoNotLike this reality check that I’m not superhuman.

((all covers link to goodreads))

BOOKS BOUGHT…

From library

FROM AUTHORS…

FROM PUBLISHERS…

FROM NETGALLEY / EDELWEISS…

excuse me while I be ridiculously proud that I actually read a ton of these the MONTH I GOT THEM. 😂 The bar for being proud of me is on the ground.

What Reviews Do You Want To See First?

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(hover over covers to flip them for a mini review !! and click to see full-length review!)

 

I really enjoyed doing a full Grishaverse reread before tackling King of Scars too!

I’m still listening to the audio of Crooked Kingdom but hopefully I’ll finish it today or tomorrow. So just imagine it’s here haha. I definitely think Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom are her masterpieces, but I just looove the world. AND NIKOLAI.

Overall it was a good reading month but mostly rereads? And the really only new one I feel completely in love with was Red, White & Royal Blue.

 

➸ And YAY for April because it’s #AutismAcceptance Month! Yeah we’re skipping the “autism awareness” slogan because (a) that’s from Autism Speaks who are confirmed garbage, and (b) people know about autism, they just don’t accept it. I also saw someone call it Autism Pride month and I’m like 💖✨💕😍🎉 to this title too.

Anyway I hope to do some autism posts! I have a collab idea in mind and am gathering some autistic friends to contribute. And I’m gonna give you some book recs too! Also this is like the PERFECT month to read The Boy Who Steals Houses because the main character’s brother is autistic and I love him so.

 

➸ Also…I’m moving house again. Look someone call me out about writing a book where a character craves a steady home while I move around all the time looool (CUE SOBBING IN THE BACKGROUND). No, but I’m keen for this move, I just hate the actual process. I will, however, have a good local library again. That is worth everything. I’m not sure the exact date we’ll go? But probably in a month or so. Watch me spiral into stress. Because you know who handles change well? Not me.😌(And yes, I do still live with my parents for health reasons.)

 

➸ And because of moving house…I had to rearrange my shelves. Ok here’s the story: I had my main bookshelf in the centre of my floor so I could use both sides. I have a lot of books ok. Now apparently this isn’t conducive to selling a house if you try to walk into my bedroom and you have to squeeze through this narrow gap between shelves. (WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM.) Cue entire room rearrange. But it looks good so I’m happy!

And, omg, I had a massive book clean out. We’re talking culling like 140+ books. I donated to the library and the local secondhand stores. It hurt to see them go. But I also didn’t…even…like…those books? Where is the sense, son, where is it.

Anyway I like to contemplate my MORTALITY AND SURE DEATH while sleeping below this. I don’t have a bed, ok, I have bookshelves. (Also you can see my A Thousand Perfect Notes Beck/August fanart! And those are edit notes on my wall…for mysterious things.) And yes there’s a shrine for ATPN. As there should be.

The rainbow shelf is still here of course!

So basically I rearranged everything for photos + selling the house. And in a month I’ll have to pack it all up to do the actual moving-house. So 😂 who’s exhausted already? Meeeee.

I left space for my author copies of The Boy Who Steals Houses!

And you know the real problem here? I did all this and NO ONE brought me cheesecake as a reward. I live in a fallen world.

Now when you think to yourself, “Wow I bet Cait is busy prepping for her book’s release,” you can know I do indeed have 100 things I need to do. I am procrastinating 99 of them by reorganising my shelves.

 

➸ Most of my news goes up on Instagram and Twitter! So do follow me there if you want to know what’s going on. I mean not that *I* know what’s going on. But between the three of us (you + me + the ghosts in the walls) we should figure this out. 🙌🏻

 

right, so what have you been up to in March? what was your best vs worst read? do you often rearrange your shelves? and are you ready for my book to steal your house!!!! 🤗

 

Books To Read While You’re Waiting For The Boy Who Steals Houses!

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With just 10 days to go until The Boy Who Steals Houses is out, some of us just want to read it already.

Enough waiting okay.

Well, “some of us” does not include me, because I have read this book so many freaking times I can close my eyes, point to a page number, and know what scene it is. (Although tbh, if you guess “SAM WAS SAD HERE” then you’re 90% right for every page. But that’s beside the point.)

So it’s time for me to haul out some book recommendations…

6 books to read while you wait for the boy who steals houses!

I did a similar post before A Thousand Perfect Notes came out too, so it is becoming a thing. And I am okay with that. 🙌🏻 I love increasing your TBRs and your chances of being buried alive by good books. I’m just that kind of lovely friend.

Also these are “you might like…” sort of recs. TBWSH is a Goldilocks retelling but still most thoroughly my own monster.

OTHER POSTS TO READ

➸ What Is It Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published?
➸ Q&A About Publishing The Boy Who Steals Houses

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

 

…For big family shenanigans 🗝

One of my favourite things to write in TBWSH was the De Lainey family! They have 7 kids, they’re grieving the loss of their mother, their dad is so Chill™ he legit doesn’t notice Sam living in their house for, um, the whole summer, and there is at least 5 dramas happening at all times. Like I just loved writing this ok?! They are loveable chaos. There is a scene where Moxie rates her brothers on Usefulness Rankings. What can I say.

Anyway…you must absolutely try My Life Next Door which also features a Sam (a female one) and her next door neighbours are the messy and loveable Garrett family. This one is way more fluffy than mine loooool.

 

…For runaways looking for a place to belong 🗝

Am still not over Boomerang and how much it made me feeeel. It’s also about Sean who ran away from a neglectful home life and *found* a better family and a place in the world. Except now Sean has to go back home and he’s leaving people he absolutely loves, but his real-mum wants him back. It’s a book that tugs your heart all over the place. It’s also softly queer and softly stressful.

In my book ➸  Sam also runs away from home, with his autistic older brother Avery. But Sam breaks into houses when the families are home and just lives there. He has so many tragic dreams it’s just !!! kid, you need a hug and a hot drink.

 

…For autism rep 🗝

In When My Heart Joins The Thousand, Alvie is 17, autistic, and living alone and trying to be emancipated. But she is so lonely. Then she connects with this boy with such fragile bones that he can barely move without hurting himself. It’s an amazing story, and I just loved Alvie’s portrayal of autism?! She represents so many of we autistics: she’s got a job, she can take care of herself…but then she falls apart in so many ways that society doesn’t deem “acceptable” for her age.

This is pretty much Avery from my book. He’s vulnerable and naive and Sam basically gets grey hair the whole time trying to explain to keep Avery safe. Avery can hold down a job. He’s verbal. He has a wicked sense of humour and is so Soft™ and literally craves hugs. But he absolutely can’t see BAD THINGS COMING because he still trusts people. 😭 Dammit, Avery. Also these brothers have some co-dependancy issues and Sam is only 15, so he messes up a lot. He’s basically raising Avery, but the line between “protecting” vs “isolating” gets blurred.

 

…For found-family and disaster decision makers 🗝

Look The Foxhole Court is like my favourite thing so I had to find a way to mention it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I shan’t apologise. But look in this book we have NEIL who is on the run from an abusive father…but sacrifices safety because he so badly wants to play Exy and have a family. Have a place. And his team gives him that.

All I’m saying is that Sam and Neil have the same issue. “I don’t need anyone,” they say, while clinging to their new family and freaking out when they hold keys because it means they have a place.

Do their bad decisions come back to bite them? Yes.

 

…For neglected boys 🗝

The Wicker King is actually one of my all-time favourite books. I CRY. 😭 In my top 5, easy. And it’s about August watching his childhood friend spiral down into delusions and mental illness while the adults in their lives fully just neglect them. August and Jack just bREAK me…and their soft realisation that it’s ok to love each other through all of this is just everything.

In my book ➸ Sam has the similar experience of just turning to adults who aren’t there for him. At all. He’s totally ruled by his anxiety (like August) trying to keep it all together by himself. Part of why Sam holds so fast to the De Laineys is that for once he doesn’t have to be the adult. But if he’s not looking after Avery, then who is???

 

…For anyone looking for a Goldilocks retelling! 🗝

I can’t even recommend any other Goldilocks retellings?! I dare say Im not the first lmao, I juts haven’t found any. So HERE is to my genderbent Goldi-Sam-Locks who steals into houses and eats their pancakes, not porridge.

I have a ton of references too, so keep your eyes peeled for the Easter Eggs! Like the fateful Saturday when the book begins, Sam breaks into 2 houses before the 3rd is…just right.

have you read any of these? (and do you know of any ya Goldilocks retellings?) and if you’re a writer ➸ tell me what books you’d compare your current project to? i’m very curious!

 

What Is It Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published? (Ft. I Have A Finished Copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!)

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In exactly 12 days, my second novel (The Boy Who Steals Houses) will be out in the world.

Why yes I am absolutely 1000% freaking out, how are you. The weeks leading up to release day are equal parts thrilling and terrifying — and I still feel like I’m trying to find my footing after my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, came out just last June. Yes. That was only 10 months ago.

Am I tired??? Dude I am Very Tired™.

When I got to make the official announcement for The Boy Who Steals Houses’ release date + title, a lot of people said, “I can’t believe you have a second book already!” But I actually announced I had a 2-book deal right up front! So this was always always coming! I still have to pinch myself that I even landed a 2-book deal in the first place.😍 TBWSH wasn’t even written! It wasn’t even a blimp in my imagination yet! Being trusted — and wanted — like that was such an encouraging way to start my career.

My emotions were !!!!!!!!!!! for days and days.

 

So I thought I’d outline how The Boy Who Steals Houses came to be.

I was going to do this closer to release day but then I realised: “CAIT. IT IS CLOSE TO RELEASE DAY HOLY HECK GET ON THIS.” This is also a good time to admit I have very limited time-and-spacial-awareness. I’m the person who cheerfully believes, every. freaking. time., that I can fit 6 hours of writing into 30mins before bed. And then I wonder why I never sleep, but anyway.

 

Also I hope you are beholding the GLORY that is the finished copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!! I got sent two (the rest of author-copies will come later) and I may have just cried over my package. (I sent the second one off to my critique partner Maraia who this book seriously wouldn’t exist without.😘)

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

Also NOTE: It’s out in Australia on the 9th, instead of the 4th! So you get to suffer and wait longer.

I wrote The Boy Who Steals Houses in November 2016.

It was a NaNoWriMo novel! It was also a heckin’ mess. So if that doesn’t encourage you to resuscitate your beloved but also catastrophically messy NaNo drafts — then what will. There is hope out there, in the darkness.

I’d signed my 2-book deal (starting with A Thousand Perfect Notes) back in June of 2016, so I didn’t know what that “untitled 2nd contemporary” was going to be. My plan was to write a ton, cry a bit, and pitch ideas to my editors. I ended up writing two full novels and coming up with a few other pitches. Writing grew strangely hard right then. I had ATPN signed and in edits and there fore I had plenty of time to panic. (Ex: COULD I EVEN WRITE?!?! WAS ATPN A FLUKE!?!? have i ever written a novel in my life).

Am I dramatic?? Pshaw.

Anyway. The pitch that everyone pointed to with a YES was for → The Boy Who Steals Houses.

(What about the other contemporaries I’ve written and pitched? Some got rejected, as that’s the business. And some I’ve scoured their cold corpses and gone through their pockets to take scenes for other books.)

 

TBWSH was officially confirmed to be my 2nd novel around November 2017.

That’s pretty fast ok!! Almost exactly 1 year since it even crawled sulkily into existence.

And next?

edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits

Actually the whole process of how TBWSH got to be a final draft felt very different from how it went with my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes. So basically n o t h i n g is certain. Except cake. Bless cake.

➸ The Boy Who Steals Houses required a rather large edit.

The first things authors do when asked to rewrite something is: cry. I cried. It was a daunting taste and I was a New Green Author Hatchling still (ATPN wasn’t out yet remember). I was also insecure about writing about two things that were very personal to me: (1) anxiety, and (2) autism. When you splatter your heart on the table and people say, “Hm, this needs to be better,” it’s a terrifying moment of: I’m wrong. How could I be so so wrong. I shouldn’t be writing this. Cue me staring into the bottomless pit of despair.

So that life meltdown lasted, um, one day. Then I wanted to work.

The thing with being a traditional author and working with your editor is: they are ON YOUR SIDE. They see your work, they see the imperfections and the gnarly edges that you don’t see. Because you’re way too close to your own vision of the project. Half of my intentions for the story where still in my head. NOT on the page. They kinda needed to be on the page!

So we fixed it. We got MY full vision on the page. I worked with my editors ideas. (My agent is really supportive and close in my journey too and weighs in when I need her!) We made the book 100 x better, kept my vision, polished it, and turned out a book I’m so intensely in love with it makes my heart fit to burst.

Changing your story, your baby, will always be scary. But writing a novel isn’t a one person job. If your editor knows your book’s heart and knows *your* heart, then you’ll both work your hardest to turn this story into a fully incredible novel.

I emphasis this because I get a lot of unpublished writers tell me, “Yeah but I don’t want anyone to *change* me.” And look, I get the stubborn feels? Like I said: this is our baby. Our hardest work. But your editor is here to make it your best work. Not just your hardest. You’ve got the passion. They’ve got the professional knowledge to get your passion into trim shape.

ugh i love just love having people help me with my work lmao otherwise I’m a mess

 

Things That Changed Between Drafts

  • I added in the flash backs!! I LOVE THE FLASH BACKS. These were my editor’s idea.
  • Also fun fact: I legit wrote “backflash” every single time in the manuscript and my editor is like, “Uh did you know it’s flashback?” Well there.
  • I trimmed some scenes. I felt sad losing them, but also…the book was really long and as cute as the scenes were, they were pointless haha. (But you WILL get to see a deleted scene as part of my blog tour! More details will come!)
  • Avery’s character got a large overhaul. He’s my autistic character and I was scared to change him — but also the way he is in the final book? It’s 1000% what I wanted but didn’t quite get to originally.
  • The violence…had to be…toned…down. (Lmao. I swear I’m nice in person in real life.)
  • Approximately 39849839 typos had to be fixed.
  • I actually changed almost ALL the De Lainey kids’ names! The sole De Lainey who kept their name was Jeremy. I named him after A CHILD’S PICTURE BOOK ABOUT A KOOKABURRA.
  • And we did a bit of UK vs Australian translating. Apparently the British do not have “eskys”. What’s wrong with you lot.

Right! So the massive edits were finished! Then what?

Then waiting. Looots of waiting. I’d maybe do a few more tweaks. Copy edits came in. I did a last minute panicked fix of the very final pages.

I got to see the cover! It’s designed by Thy Bui who also did covers for: Shadow & Bone, The Astonishing Colour of After and Everless! I originally did hope it was going to be more yellow, because it’s a Goldilocks retelling. But in the end it’s perfect and I was stoked with everyone’s reactions. The keys are utter perfection and fit in with the story so well!

Acknowledgements writing time: aka when I freak out because WHAT IF I FORGET SOMEONE. I got all emotional while writing them though, so when you read the acknowledgements: picture me with my heart melting like a pot of warmed chocolate.

The dedication? I used a line out of the actual book:

if lost please return to the De Laineys

This captures both everything Sam feels and everything my readers also feel (!!) because, no joke, I am getting constant messages saying “I WANNA BE ADOPTED BY THE DELAINYS TOO.” Mood, my friends.

 

And on April 4th it’s going to be in bookstores 😍 and I’m going to be a happy mess.

This book stole my heart. It is both a story where I wrote vulnerable things and also heart things. There were so many times I thought it wouldn’t make it — but it did. And I just…!! Do you want to get an umbrella so I can cry on you, maybe? Because, me right now.

And look, I don’t know what happens after TBWSH. Being an author isn’t a place of guarantees. I have fingers so tightly crossed that TBWSH will do well, sell well, and be loved — and that I’ll be able to sell another book and keep telling you all my heart’s stories. So we’ll see, OK!?

Right now I’m excited and anxious about release day. I’m in love with this book and I can’t wait for you to meet my disaster son, Sam, and his desperate wish to find the home and family he is looking for.

 

Do You Want To See The Cover for The Boy Who Steals Houses?!

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I’m absolutely beaming right now because it’s time to share the cover for The Boy Who Steals Houses!

We are coming ever closer to the April 4th release date (70 days to go, to be specific) and I’ve been doing exciting things like writing acknowledgements (still a surreal experience!!) and seeing page proofs and excitedly awaiting the moment when I get to hold a physical copy of TBWSH. Which is, arguably, the very best moment of all.

But the cover…!!

Are you ready?!

 

Book Depository | Hachette UK | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Booktopia Australia

Preorders do so much good for new small authors (like meeee) and bonus, the book is usually a bit cheaper before release day! If you’re in the USA, your best option is Book Depository! They do free shipping too. Amazon US will get it in, but so far only the kindle is up for preorder. I think this is because I’m not published in the US. But who would know!

and you can add it on goodreads…!

 

🗝 yes there will be ARCs and it’ll be up on Netgalley UK!

This should happen early February, but I’ll keep you updated from where you can request. (Physical ARCs will only be for those in the UK and Australia, as far as I know.)

 

🗝 and this is a good time to say…if you ever want to interview me or share about TBWSH or ask any questions — GO FOR IT.

I do not bite (well, not on weekends anyway) and I love you so much. I’ve had a few people message me starting off with, “I’m so sorry to bother you…” pfftshtfffsfs. YOU ARE NOT A BOTHER. I’m immeasurably grateful to you.

 

🗝 The Boy Who Steals Houses is not a sequel to A Thousand Perfect Notes.

They’re set in the same universe though!! There may or may not be a wonderfully placed cameo or mention or two.

 

🗝 It’s 360 pages!

Compared to ATPN’s 288…so someone got long-winded ha ha. Although, as I was reading through for the 180th time and crying over copy-edits, I pledged to myself never again to write over 300 pages. So much more to edit. Why do people write 100K books. Why…why would they.

 

🗝 The keys on the cover mean things.

So many things…

 

🗝 There’s a lot going on in this book and I’m very proud of it.

It has homelessness and big messy families. It has anxiety and autism. It’s set in summer, so there’s popcorn and mangoes and a soft yellow pocket of happiness before everything goes really bad. It has brothers with a very intense relationship. It has a very soft and tentative romance (between a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin). It is a genderbent modernised Goldilocks retelling. There is banter and snark…and also tears and bloody knuckles. When I say “I’m going to make you laugh AND cry…” dude, I mean it.

It is dark and light and about being lost and found.

It’s about looking for something and stealing the impossible.

And there is a heck tonne of brownies in it because I drafted it for NaNoWriMo 2016 and I was home alone for a week and brownies is one of the few things I can bake. So like. There sits the truth of my inspiration.

 

🗝 I’m never going to get over this whole AM AN AUTHOR thing.

It’s just my dream, ok?! The process isn’t all perfect and I still have so many wishes I’m desperate to come true. But just !! knowing people read and enjoy my work, having publishers and an extraordinary agent who root for me, and being able to unravel the stories that make my heart beat faster…I’m so so grateful.

(And wouldn’t be here without my blogger-friends’ support! So thank YOU.)

 

me @ not being able to wait to take proper photos of it

well I am a happy swamp right now!!!! what do you think?! are there fairy tales you wish were done in contemporary and/or genderbent? ready to be broken by meeee again? 

#AmCurrently ~ Officially A Published Author (omg) + TBR Is Taller Than Me (oh no)

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“So how does it feel to be an officially published author now?!” you might be asking.

A Thousand Perfect Notes has been out for 3 weeks now…which is…absolutely mind-blowing?! It’s already been 3 weeks?!? Speaking of which: how is it also JULY.

So anyway. How am I feeling?

Utter mood right now. I’m fiiiiine.

Now let me tell you all about my month! Because wow. It was an intense one. And my #AmCurrently post is my recap of what I’ve been reading, books I’ve collected, life things, and exactly how many times I’ve screamed lately. * So much fun!

Also I hope you appreciate my first photo in this post, where I’m measuring myself in books. It doesn’t take many. I am smol.

* This is a complete lie. One cannot count these.

So my debut novel came out with Hachette UK which is KIND OF A BIG THING JUST SAYING. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m not even exaggerating: 7 YEARS IN AZKABAN AND NOW I HAVE A BOOK. It’s in bookstores. Sometimes it’s featured in bookstores. People actually buy it?!? People bUY IT BECAUE THEY WANT TO???? What is this world.

I’m not…I’m not crying. This is my waterfall cosplay.

I’m so freaking happyyyyyyyyy.

Just in case you haven’t read it yet…

You can find it on Amazon (there’s only 12 left in stock so um, if you’re in America…GET ONTO THAT.) And also Booktopia, Book Depository (free world wide shipping!), Wordery, and add it on Goodreads!

(Also PS. I could really use reviews on Amazon! I need 50 for it to be counted properly / recommended, and I only have 10!)

  • OMG WHERE DO I EVEN START????
  • Probably by being so frikkin’ humbled and proud all at the same time. Because I was honestly scared my little book would just be a slight hiccup in time. I mean, I’m an unknown author. It’s a debut…it’s kind of dark (which isn’t everyone’s thing), I’m not able to be physically present or go sign in bookstores or meet people, ergo what if IT ALL JUST IS A QUIET MELLOW RELEASE etc. etc. (Hi, yes, I have anxiety.) But it’s been amazing. I worked really really hard and it worked and I JUST AM !!!!
  • Cosplaying the waterfall again, look at me go.
  • So it got to rank 119 on Book Depository (we’re talking out of thousands of YA books)! It also got to “bestsellers in romance” which cracks me up because it’s so unromantic. August says “I like you” and Beck literally sprints 40 miles in the opposite direction. But looooook! I’M NEXT TO BECKY ALBERTALLI. (Probably alphabetically for this list but hush!!)
  • It also hit #1 on Amazon…for the YA music section lmao…which has like 10 books in it all up BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M TAKING IT.
  • People actually find it in bookstores!!! (THIS IS MY DREAM.) And so many times it’s actually been shelved in prime positions, with cover facing out to catch attention. I am so lucky, wow.
  • I opened my annual Booktopia newsletter and…IT WAS FEATURED. This was so unexpected?! And I died a little when they’re like “you might know Paper Fury!”… Yeah. I do. She’s climbing the walls currently but ok.
  • It was featured in the Illumicrate May box! With bookmarks. And signed book plates. It was so fun signing those. And it also had red-stained pages so like…my eyeballs are in love.
  • I still haven’t gotten my author copies yet, so I literally just have the Illumicrate one. Haha….sob.
  • But when I do get them, I can do some more giveaways!
  • I’ve done so many interviews, a twitter chat, instagram takeovers for Hachette NZ and AUS, and it’s all intense and also completely surreal. (Little me?! So many opportunities?! ajfkdasldf)
  • 0_0 <—- mood
  • mY TWITTER CHAT TRENDED.
  • The #AThousandPerfectNotes hashtag is wild and I love it and it’s no longer just me! Nice!
  • MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST MY MUM LIKE IT.
  • My sisters actually all pulled through and proved themselves useful and bought copies. This is the only reason I tolerate having 4 sisters.
  • My editors sent me flowers! Which is the actual sweetest thing!!
  • People have been so kind, and so supportive, and I hope you absolutely 10000% know that I wouldn’t be able have my heart stuffed so full with all this incredible news if it wasn’t for your help.
  • I LOVE YOU, OKAY.

LOOK I’M IN BOOKSTORES!

(Literally this was the pinnacle of my dreams. My book —> in a bookstore! I have yet to actually go see it myself due to living in a town without a bookstore. And also being too overwhelmed to go to the city right now. BUT SOON I WILL LIVE THAT DREAM.)

 

 

AND READERS ARE STILL HAVING FUN.

UM LAINI TAYLOR SAID CONGRATS, SO CLEARLY I HAVE PEAKED AND CAN RETIRE NOW.

 

I’m so so exhausted haha oh wow. Ok. I’m done. And I PROMISE I WILL NOT ALWAYS GO ON AND ON ABOUT ATPN. It’s just a special time for me right now!! ah!!

Oddly…publishing a book equals less time to read?!

I actually am kind of devastated that this year will be like my least-amount-of-books-read in the last 3 years?!? I know it’s still a lot of books. And it’s ridiculous to be disappointed! But yet here I am. Overachiever me is suffering. I’m still on track for my Goodreads goal but I also feel a little slumpy.

I’m reading less —> but not collecting less books. #OHNO

I also wanted to read a ton of lgbtqia+ books for Pride month and I barely read any. Ughhhhh. So disappointed @ me. I ended up only reading 6.

Review copies vs books I bought!

Actually I say that, but Smoke and Iron is on the wrong side lol lol. I am dysfunctional. Anyway, I’m on the blog tour from that (thanks Berkley Publishing!) so look out for it next week!! SO EXCITED. THIS SERIES IS MY LIFE.

Also thank you Bloomsbury, Flatiron US, Allen & Unwin, Nadine Brandes (who sent me Fawkes herself!!) and Bloomsbury! ALSO PENGUIN FOR THE REVIEW-COPY OF BRIGHT WE BURN AHHHHHHHHH. And Jo for sending me through her ARC of The Unpredictability Of Being Human (which is about an autistic girl and it’s soooo good!).

 

FROM EDELWEISS OR NETGALLEY

     

 

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  • I mastered the ice cream sandwich ok. This is me reaching the pinnacle of my life achievements. Forget being published — I can make ice cream sandwiches. (Also they were strawberry and chocolate and dairy/sugar free, meaning they are HEALTHY. Meaning I can eat, like, all of them.)
  • Through all the publishing madness I STILL managed to outline another book!! And no it’s not sold or anything, but I’m still pleased I managed to finish it despite my brain being a complete beehive lately.
  • My Etsy store is dying and basically I’m waving hopelessly at the funeral pyre haha. Omg.
  • My dad built me some new shelves! Which I sorely needed. The fact that they’re directly above my bed is a tiny bit disconcerting, but you know what? Life is short. Bookworms are supposed to live perilously. Here’s the Before vs After:

  • Those sheets on the wall are edit notes!!
  • There is my dog, Atticus’ butt.
  • Also he absolutely blends with my bed and the walls. How and why.
  • I’m so so excited to read Bright We Burn (!!!) absolutely busting out of my skin right now!!
  • Also if you loved A Thousand Perfect Notes, jUST REMEMBER: next year I’m going to ruin your life with The Boy Who Steals Houses! #excite
  • Anyway.
  • My sister is visiting so hopefully we’ll watch lots of Brooklyn 99.
  • I’ve literally done nothing except answer DM’s and eat ice cream sandwiches this month so I’m not sure what else I should say here except: send help.
  • No really, help. I washed my white jumper, got it all pleasantly clean, and went and made strawberry jam. Ah ha, Cait. AH HA HA HAHAH (crying). So my jumper is no longer white, and how are you.
  • HOW DO PEOPLE CALL ME INTIMIDATING. PEOPLES. THIS IS LITERALLY ME SPILLING JAM ON MY SHIRT.
  • My plans for July include: (a) reading a sheer ton of books because my TBR is stressing me out. I’m so behind. And (b) I hopefully will draft a new book! Also (c) never never wear white again.

 

what book are you MOST excited to read soon?!? (and do tell me what I should be reading I need help hahaha) tell me what happened in your June! are you ready for July? and important: what’s your favourite kind of ice cream??

My Publishing Journey! How I Got An Agent And a Book Deal

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It’s getting to the point where I realise my debut novel comes out in less than a week, and I’m just sit here thinking, “I DID IT???”

I’ve been working towards this for so so long. I often say “IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS IN AZKABAN” because it absolutely has and that’s no small length of time if you think about it. These last 5 years have been absolutely exhausting and full of heartbreak and encouragements and successes and nerves and triumphs — and now I get to actually hold my book???? I sometimes don’t know how to believe this is real.

I’ve been busting to share the details of my publishing journey with you! Every author tumbles into publishing a different way, but it’s interesting to read all the versions…so finally, here we go!

And please FEEL FREE when this post ends, to ask me questions! About publishing or A Thousand Perfect Notes! I may use some of the questions in a little Q&A on release day too.

Do you want to know how I started writing? I have one of those fantastic and heart-warming origin stories.

I was about 6 or 7 years old. I “wrote” the Three Little Bears out with eloquent illustrations and then told my family I’d invented it. HEARTWARMING, SEE? Later, at 12, my little sister started writing stories and was getting way too much attention, so I joined in. But it wasn’t till I was actually 15 that I finished a real book (it was probably barely 40K in retrospect ha) and thought, “Yep, this is going to be my life.”

Author. Bestseller. Adored all over the world. Etc. etc.

I grew up as a rather adorable book monster, the kind who’d hide with Tintin and Narnia on Christmas and ignore everyone, and my house was filled with books…so NONE OF THIS IS MY FAULT. I was doomed. I’ve always been obsessed with storytelling and had an incredible imagination — so figuring out I could tell my own stories plus control the ending plus (obviously) get famous for it someday was life changing.

What more could a little sharp-toothed, curious-eyed book monster want?

At 19, I was ready to start querying.

When I say “I researched”, I mean I was freaking obsessed with it. I still am, honestly. I still research and read and watch and listen to so much about the publishing world.

Before I queried, though: I had critique partners. I’d written dozens of (awful) books. I was really into a few teen writer communities and had feedback from authors. I religiously read advice and tips. I didn’t just work hard, I overworked hard, just in case you wonder if younger-me had some chill?

HAHA HAH AH. NEVER, NO.

 

  • Writing out several versions of my query and ANGUISHING over them.
  • I entered a few contests to get critiques.
  • One (professional) author said, not only did my book not work, my query was awful too.
  • I cried.
  • Seriously querying is super hard on your self-esteem.
  • I queried in the UK and USA. I’m in Australia, but this was 2013 and as much as I researched, I couldn’t find many Aussie agents?! I remember the biggest one took ONLY snail mail! Which they posted back to me…ya, thanks.
  • I pretty much angsted and freaked out over making sure I followed every individual agent’s guidelines.
  • I GOT REJECTIONS.
  • I didn’t actually track it very well, because the rejections were devastating for me and I’m sooo not the whole “Put your rejections on the wall!” type of writer. My opinion on that: the heck no. I put encouragement on my walls, thanks.
  • I did about 20-30 queries? Maybe less.
  • They were all form rejections except…maybe…2?????
  • Mostly there was nothing.
  • Technically I’m still waiting to hear back from about 10 agents.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  • I started to think Professional Author Who Said I Wasn’t A Good Writer was right…
  • Then I got one yes.
  • I only needed one yes.
  • I signed with Polly Nolan @ Greenhouse Literary UK (who is, by the way, a super agent and our visions for my writing click so so well and I couldn’t be happier)!!! Seriously best moment.
  • This took about 10 months all up.

Things did go slowly at first.

I was signed for a dark YA fantasy that I’d been rewriting and rEWRITING since I was 15, so it was like The Story™ but it needed help. We did a lot of editorial work first. (I still have no idea why I got signed loooool. I’m relieved I did! Don’t get me wrong! BUT HOW DID I GET SIGNED.) Then we went out on submissions to UK publishers.

Then we got rejected.

So my agent said, “What about another book? What about a contemporary?”

And I being (a) desperate, (b) incredibly motivated to work my eyeballs out, (c) wanting this dream to be a reality mORE THAN ANYTHING, (d) being excruciatingly good at saying “yes” and thinking later, and (e) really open to advice…

I said “I’D LOVE TO!”

(Note: I had written 15 books before this. None of which were contemporary.)

Apparently, it seems, I am tolerably good at contemporary. I insert a smug little cute smile here.

Because in 2015 I wrote a little book called “Tremolo.” After revisions and edits, my agent suggested the title, A Thousand Perfect Notes.

In 2016, when I was twenty-one, I signed a 2-book contemporary deal with Orchard / Hachette Children’s UK.

I actually got the email at 4am, because WHO SLEEPS (#insomniac #life) and waited until about 8am for my family to rise from the dead so I could just lurk awkwardly and stare at them which is absolutely how you convey you have a book deal. I swear, I’m super good at communication.

I stood atop a mountain for about 6 months, just screaming in relief. I am a good writer. I am worth a book deal. I worked so freaking hard and long for this and I made it.

(Also I apologies to everyone I ABSOLUTELY LIED TO for the 16 months between signing my deal and announcing it. Ha ha hahaha. Oh wow. I am great.)

Has it been a super easy road?! OH YOU SWEET SUMMER CHILD.

Haha hahha no.

As you can see, I didn’t have any magical shortcuts. I didn’t do query contests or pitchwars (I didn’t even have a twitter for ages?!) and I didn’t have 4989 agents asking for me or 9389 publishers vying for my book. I am the poster child of: “IT JUST TAKES ONE YES” for publishing. And it is so true. This is success and I am proud and happy! And freaKING NERVOUS.

I have social anxiety and autism, which makes communicating hard for me, but my agent and publisher has been 100% onboard with meeting my needs. I have a big online audience, but it actually did 0% in getting my book deal. (It’s the writing that’s important, peoples!) And little things went wrong along the way…like my ARCs didn’t have my copy-edits in them, and I didn’t get to do a cover reveal, and there’s been lots of niggling things behind-the-scenes that haven’t been perfect. I have stressed. I have eaten through a few brick walls.

I’m not telling you that to complain. I’m saying publishing isn’t perfectly smooth for anyone! It has its highs and lows. I’m pretty sure 0% of debut authors have got it all together.

And between all the waiting and hoping — I was writing. If I can ever give one piece of advice to writers pursuing publication: WRITE AND WRITE SOME MORE. Write literally millions of words. Nothing makes you better and more confident than sheer amounts of practise.

 

And the things I still can’t stop happily freaking out about??

Getting translation deals! Seeing people wanting for my book without me having to spend 398 years begging them to read it like I did pre-getting-a-deal (HAHAH LIFE IS SWEET). My editors saying the most AMAZING things about my owrk. Also my editor crying…oh oh my halo just slipped can someone grab that for me.

Having people understand my work. Having professionals improve my work and now my writing is 100 x better and I still can’t get over that. Having my book go to book festivals in Europe! Getting a gorgeous cover (!!!) Knowing I have a SECOND book coming out in 2019. My publishers bought a book off me that didn’t even EXIST yet. I still can’t get over how amazing that is.

And holding my hard work in my trembling paws and knowing that I finally finally did it after I thought I might never get here.

I am all sparkly and my heart is so full right now!

 

Also, I will just say: getting a book deal is wonderful for the self-confidence. 10/10 would recommend.

Thanks for coming along on this publishing journey! Even if you’ve just started reading my blog or been here for the last 7 years…it’s been amazing to share this with you! Look I’m getting emotional, ugh, someone bury me.

A Thousand Perfect Notes is out in just 5 days!

if you’re a writer, feel free to tell me what your journey has looked like so far! plus ASK ME QUESTIONS! about my book(s) or publishing! i am answering!

Announcing My Second Novel (The Boy Who Steals Houses) Coming Out in April 2019!

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I am practically beaming with happiness right now okay?! Let me introduce you to my second soon-to-be-published novel!

If you remember from when I announced A Thousand Perfect Notes back in October, I said it was a 2-book deal. And here is news of my sECOND SON. My second novel is called The Boy Who Steals Houses and it’s coming out in April 2019, with Hachette Children’s / Orchard UK! Which is actually less than a year away already.

I’m growin’ up so fast omg hold me.

Now it is still so so early so I’m not going to say a lot (!!) but I’ll do a fun little Q&A for this post and basically continue beaming until I outshine the sun. I know it looks like, “WOW Cait is coming out with all these books so fast!!??!” but trust me there’s been 7 years of work behind this and quite a few sacrifices to the trees and a criminal amount of chocolate.

But I’m so so happy and my heart is so full. There were so many times I nearly quit and screamed myself into another dimension…but here I am. Author of two books. That you will soon be able to read. And I just…my current state is: !!!!!

THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES

Can two broken boys find their perfect home?
Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he’s ever known. Now Sam’s trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he’s caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing – each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie.
But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.

Goodreads  Book Depository  Waterstones  Amazon UK  Pinterest Board!

 

To be clear, on one has asked me anything yet. But I am prepared. Hence here is a presumptuous Q&A where I will answer questions no one asked.

Q: What’s the title?
A: The Boy Who Steals Houses!

Q: Why is this vaguely familiar to me, a keen observer of your blog.
A: Because, you clever finch, you might remember me talking about this project back in 2016 when I wrote it for NaNoWriMo! It was a book I finished in 3 DAYS and I was pretty excited about that. I never knew if it’d end up being an actual published novel but look!! look!! I’m so happy I can’t even explain !!!

Q: So is this a sequel to A Thousand Perfect Notes??
A: It is not. It is a standalone, but it’s in the same world as ATPN and it’s set 1 year later. In fact Beck and August from ATPN go to the same school as Sam and Avery from TBWSH.

This is page 18 in A Thousand Perfect Notes…

I am ridiculously pleased with myself and my Easter Eggs, ok. RIDICULOUSLY PLEASED. The scheming here from me is wild.

Q: Can we call agree TBWSH is a horrible acronym and looks like mouthwash.
A: Yep. I’m gonna go ahead and agree.

Q: Also tell me about the title.
A: Can you believe I, the infamous horrific titler, actually TITLED THIS ONE MYSELF. I’m so proud. (FYI A Thousand Perfect Notes was named by my agent! I originally called it Tremolo because I cannot title.)

Q: How do you steal a whole house.
A: You know what? You’ll have to wait and see.

Q: Will there be ARCs?
A: I assume so but it is waaay too early. I have literally only just sent back an early round of edits. This isn’t quite even book-shaped yet.

Q: So do you have a favourite between your two sons now?
A: Nooooo. I mean, I love them both to death and each has a special place in my heart. But TBWSH has definitely stolen (har har) my heart and it’s one I can’t ever stop thinking about. Sam and Avery are the softest cinnamon sons, who also make such bad decisions I have no idea how they’re still alive. This book is dark. It’s very raw and honest. It’s extremely special to me.

Q: Are there dragons this time????
A: um, still no

Q: Is there cake?
A: YES. Actually, funny story: when I wrote this, I was living alone (my sister doesn’t count as a person because she was there but useless in the kitchen) for a month and basically living off sandwiches and brownie because apparently cooking is hard and I am small and tired. In the end there was brownie in like every third chapter of TBWSH. It’s not quite that bad now, but the whole book is an ode to brownie.

Q: Will I cry tho. Is it happier or sadder than ATPN????
A: Dude, you know it is sad. You already know. And it is just as dark as ATPN…

Q: What’s with all the yellow?
A: Yellow is a really important colour in the book! Also I’m not sure if the protagonist, Sam, is a Hufflepuff or Gryffindor…I will get back to you on that. And also, this is a genderbent Goldilocks retelling!

Q: So you are writing about autism.
A: Yes! There is an autistic character in here from an autistic author. And look, I just want to smile in a very deviously satisfied way to all the people who’ve told me that autistic authors DON’T get published. They do! Hello! I know I am very lucky, but I’ve also worked monstrously hard and I’m not undermining that by saying it’s all luck and timing. And while this book has an autistic secondary character in it (Avery), it isn’t actually about autism. Because autistic kids get to have plots and narratives too. This also isn’t the “usual” autism narrative you see. Avery isn’t a math genius, he has a lot of stims/tics, and he gives me a chance to talk about the autistic kids who aren’t low or high functioning and how the world either demands too much or too little from them.

Q: What does this mean for the blog then?
A: You get to put up with me mentioning two books all the freaking time. Please don’t go.

Q: When will we see the cover?
A: I haven’t even seen the cover! Probably not for quite a while!

Q: Anything else you want to spill? Look I can see you shimmying around. Just spill it.
A: OKAY!! So if you’ve preordered a copy of A Thousand Perfect Notes, there is actually a sneak peek (half of the first chapter!!) of The Boy Who Steals Houses in the back!! YOU GET TO MEET MY SONS, SAM AND AVERY, VERY SOON. In 19 days to be exact. And then you get to wait 320 days for the rest. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Q: What else goes down in this book?!
A: There are two homeless brothers + also a very very big messy chaotic family + a lot of banter + the cutest awkward romance ever + more bad decisions than is healthy for anyone tbh + a glitter catastrophe like you’ve never seen + one of the biggest character-casts I’ve written + it GETS DARK.

Q: Tell me something cool.
A: um on Waterstones it’s being compared to “Perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer Niven.” And I just !! That’s pretty neat! Don’t mind me as I explode into the sun!

APRIL 2019. I’m so happy you’ll meet Sam and Avery!

Bookshelf Tour + See How My Bookshelf Has All Growed Up Over 4 Years!

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If I could only list two things I’m very very proud of, they would be: (1) my ability to forget a character’s name 3 seconds after I read it, and (2) my entire bookshelf.

I love my bookshelf. It is my actual pride and joy, my smol nest, my long-suffering pile of wood, my visual representation of all my hopes and dreams, and also BONUS: it hasn’t fallen over and killed me yet!! I acknowledge its kindness!

So today I want to give you a lovely bookshelf tour! And fun story: while planning this post I thought, “Oh it would be cool to do a Bookshelf Tag or something, right?!” So I googled for questions and HA, CAIT, HAAAAAA…the first two posts to come up on google were mine. Right. OK. So I’ve done a bookshelf tag in 2014 and 2015. But bookshelves, like small children and cakes left out too long, are apt to change! And many of you are NEW so I figure a new tour is still in order.

Plus, let’s be real, my shelf is freaking fantastic and we should all just admire it for a while and then admire me for my fantastic curating abilities.

ME THO

The first order of business is definitely too look waaaaay back to when dragons were still household pets and helped grill our toast — to when I first bought my shelf!

Now fun story: this is the very very first piece of furniture that I owned myself. I’m the 2nd youngest of 6 kids, so basically everything is 3rd or 4th hand by the time it gets to me. BUT NOT THIS, SIR. THIS IS MINE. It’s just an IKEA shelf and I coveted it for many many years.

Also I’d like you to note that in 2014 that was ALL the books I owned. Someone has developed hoarding tendencies. But we won’t name names.

2014

2015

2016

2017

HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU OWN:

After I moved in June this year, I counted 600 that I packed. I’ve maybe added 40 since then?? Look I could count again but I can’t squeeze that into my busy day of existential crises and writing books where everyone you love dies. Excuse me.

 

WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR BOOKS FROM:

I’m going to calculate my book-acquiring-ship in my stats this year for a definite number! But I estimate that about 60% are sent from publishers. I’m extremely lucky I KNOW. And extremely grateful because I can’t afford to buy many books. I’d say 20% are from library sales and thrift stores, so we’re talking $2 for a book or less. Then the other 20% are books I buy myself! Most of those too actually payment for a freelance blogging job I have for an Aussie bookstore.

 

WAIT, SO CAIT, YOU ARE NOT AN EXTREMELY RICH PERSON?

I do get a few snide comments on bookstagram about my collection and how “rich” I must be. But eh. People can say and judge how they like. I am lucky and blessed and I appreciate how lovely publishers have been! But last year, no joke, 65% of my books came from libraries too. VIVA LA LIBRARY.

 

BUT YOUR SHELVES ARE COLOUR-CODED…HOW DO YOU FIND ANYTHING????

Look I remember the colour before the title anyway. I can tell you where EVERY book is immediately. It’s my only talent in life besides being super good at eating brownies.

 

DO YOU SPLIT UP SERIES?

Sometimes! Other times I use my two other very very smol shelves or the other side of this shelf but shhhhh. I’ll show you soon.

 

While we’re here, I might as well walk you around my evil lair too.

I did this earlier this year but I MOVED HOUSE UGH. (Forever displeased.) Now my room is half the size of my old one, much like a cosy shoebox. And I just killed a spider with my bare hand. Either I’m the Chosen One or the next Spiderman or about to be dead. We don’t know. Exciting.

So first you walk into my room and are greeted with:

Now in an ideal world my shelf is supposed to be screwed to the wall. I’m letting it live its life in freedom now, because (A) I want it to experience life to the fullest and not be held back by hardware, and (B) I can now use both sides. #GENIUS My room is smol so I do what I must.

AND NO IT WON’T FALL OVER ON ME. I CLIMBED IT AND IT DIDN’T EVEN WOBBLE.

Also my bed is on the floor??? Because the frame didn’t fit with my shelf. Obviously I have priorities here.

This is my new TINY shelf! Which is like two shelves in a trench coat.

My mum just came in 2 minutes ago and leaned on the little white one and it nearly fell over so THAT’S FUN. Honestly I’m just trying to live life to the fullest and take risks and etc. etc.

It’s also mostly empty because it’s for transferring books from my TBR to my shelf.

DON’T JUDGE HOW MANY COPIES OF CITY OF BONES I OWN. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

Now this is the top and other (less pretty) side of my bookshelf.

I mean obviously I hide the ugly things. Would we pick visual honesty over visual prettiness? OF COURSE NOT. So the other side of my bookshelf is for most ugly things and the colour overflows and the top of my shelf is my TBR of shame.

Sometimes I lie under on my carpet and look at up at my TBR and think about mortality.

Slightly daunting.

LOOK I’LL GET TO IT??? IT’S NOT LIKE I’M BUSY OR ANYTHING. [insert me screaming under 901 commitments]

And lastly, these are my hardcover shelves…which I…um…stole… from my sister that one time.

You know what if you leave stuff lying around, you should expect it to go missing.

Also please view my STIEFVATER SHRINE. It doesn’t even fit The Scorpio Races OR All The Crooked Saints and I’m a little bit distressed.

 

Now as an author, it’s obvious I need space to work. It’s also very obvious I have no desk in this room. So I have three options for writing and they are:

 

#1 = SITTING ON THE FLOOR

I actually want to shout out to Owlcrate right now because I use one of their boxes as a desk. 10/10 recommend.

Also Red Rising is everywhere in this post because I’m currently reading it and it’s also very attractive. The ugly notebook beneath it is my bullet journal that died about 3 weeks after I started it. Now it just contains list of books I can’t buy but I appreciate its effort.

#2 = A TINY SQUARE OF FLOOR

I mentioned this recently in my monthly recap post, but I also tend to fold myself into a tiny huddle between my bed, bookshelf, and beanbag. On the floor. Not, you know, anywhere comfortable. I get very hyperfocused, okay?!? But sometimes I do also sit on the beanbag but then my dog gets offended because he thinks it’s his.

Could I actually sit somewhere better and more logical?

 

#3 = MY ACTUAL GENERAL BED

And don’t look @ me wanting a photo. Do you think I was going to make my bed for this. Hilarious.

I’m extremely professional. YOU WANT TO BUY MY BOOK. 180 days to go.

1. LASTEST BOOKS YOU ACQUIRED.

2. BOOK SERIES YOU WISH YOU HADN’T TRIED.

    

3. BOOK YOU DIDN’T THINK YOU’D LIKE BUT YOU DID!

   

4. FAVOURITE COVERS YOU OWN.

5. LAST BOOKS YOU’VE READ LATELY.

   

  • DIVIDING EDEN: Look I was whinging that I hadn’t read this last week AND THEN I READ IT!! So proud. Pity it wholly sucked but oh well. ★★☆☆☆
  • AMERICAN STREET: This was really brutal and gritty and amazing! Let’s lowkey ignore the fact that I got a whole lot of racists commenting on my Goodreads review. Ugh. People. Why. ★★★★☆
  • THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE: Yes I’ve read this twice this year and I shall not stop. It is my favourite. My favourite. ★★★★★
  • THE LOVE LETTERS OF ABELARD AND LILY: Look it was good? With #ownvoices ADHD rep! Which I thoroughly appreciated. Buuut the ending left me feeling very sour and the autism rep was not…great. ★★★☆☆

And because you shouldn’t have to put up with a post from me without A PUPPY PICTURE…here’s my dog, Atticus.

He’s poking his tongue at me and then looking very very very tired about my life choices, which is basically his entire aura. Also YES I bribed him with a treat to actually sit on my bed for a photo. I’m that kind of low species but don’t judge me because at least you get a photo!!

And thus concludes my bookshelf tour!

Yes I just said “thus” because I’m slightly pretentious.

I am basically one smol bean surrounded by a lot of books and the ultimate aim is, obviously, to become a book. I’m not even sure how to exist if there aren’t books in every direction. Also shoutout to my parents and I as we managed to fit this many bookshelves in this room. Wizardry was involved. Probably the darkest kind.

Ah how my books have grown in 4 years. Just think! In 4 more years you probably won’t be able to see me as I’ll be living in a book igloo. #Goals

#ATTRACTIVE

tell me about your bookshelf! do you have the shelf of your dreams? how do you organise it? (pls tell me there are some other rainbows out there???) also while we’re here, tell me what you’re currently reading!!