The Birthday Book Tag

Technically, my birthday is tomorrow, but as you know, tomorrow is Tuesday, and as per tradition, Tuesdays are for Top Ten Tuesday, so doing this tag today. My birthday is bitter-sweet because it is also the day I came out, which carries some pain. All the posts I looked at say that Antonia’s Always Books created this tag.

BIRTHDAY CAKE: A BOOK WITH A PLOT THAT SEEMS CLICHÉ, BUT YOU ADORE IT ANYWAY

Goodreads Blurb:

I am not in love with my ex-boyfriend.

You know those stories where high school sweethearts reunite to find their happily-ever-after bliss together?

Well, that won’t be me.

Sure, my ex-boyfriend, Rob, has the smolder down to a science, which makes sense, because to him, everything is science. He’s a famous YouTuber, making a living using that beautiful brain of his.

He’s destined for greatness … which means he’ll leave … again.
And this time, I won’t be falling for him.

The battle is on. Rob thinks he’ll win me back, but I’m fighting him with all I’ve got.

My heart is locked up tight, behind an obstacle course with every booby trap imaginable ….
Wouldn’t you know it? Rob happens to be an expert at finding his way around locks and obstacles. Just my luck.

Definitely, the enemies to lover trope.

PARTY GUESTS: YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASE FOR THIS YEAR

Goodreads Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest’s biggest classical piano competition. But that’s not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane’s stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Plus, Miles’ new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that he’s playing like he “doesn’t know who he is”—whatever that means.

Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does—and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date so they can score an invite to a couples-only Valentine’s party, the ruse turns real with a kiss, which is also definitely not in the plan. If only Miles could figure out why Eric likes him so much. After all, it’s not like he’s cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin. He’s not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles. Nothing’s ever been as easy for him as for other people—other boys. He’s only ever been almost enough.

So why, when he’s with Eric, does it feel like the only person he’s ever really not been enough for…is himself?

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS: A BOOK THAT SURPRISED YOU WITH HOW MUCH YOU LOVED IT

Goodreads Blurb:

War forces her to choose a side…

1942, New York. As war rages in Europe, Lily Rose is grateful for her perfect life: a wealthy family who love her and a dream job working uptown as a restaurant chef. Times are changing for women and Lily is determined to run her own kitchen one day. She hopes handsome Tom Morelli, son of Sicilian immigrants, will be at her side. Together they work late, dreaming up delicious meals for New Yorkers struggling with wartime rationing and the threat of sons and sweethearts being called up…

Then Tom receives a devastating telegram that changes everything: he is drafted to fight in Italy.

Suddenly alone, Lily turns to her parents for support. But when her mother finds out about Tom, she is furious. When the war ends, Lily’s duty is to marry the man picked for her, keep house and raise children. They give her a heartbreaking ultimatum: end her relationship with Tom or lose her family and inheritance forever.

In the middle of the war, Lily is left in an impossible position. Will she choose to stay with her family and live the safe life she has always known, or will she follow her heart and her dreams?

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” SONG: A BOOK THAT CERTAINLY DESERVED ALL THE HYPE IT GOT

Goodreads Blurb:

After a disastrous and publicly humiliating rejection at a cosplay convention, naive yet hopeful romantic Paula Suarez is left with another crushing failure in her quest for love – and her dream of becoming a costume designer. But when she stumbles upon feisty mixed-race journalist Nita Funmaker, a friendship blossoms which may soon grow into something much more.

Embroiled in a bitter divorce and immersed in pursuing her latest scoop, Nita isn’t sure if she’s ready for another try at love. But with her father’s paper on the ropes and her ex still hounding her, maybe a bit of fun and relaxation is exactly what she needs.

Drawn together by a series of increasingly amusing and absurd events – from Paula joining an underground drag wrestling show to Nita’s secret passion for ice skating – Paula and Nita must navigate their increasingly tumultuous emotions, help each other face their deepest fears, and maybe even find true love along the way

HAPPY MUSIC: A BOOK WITH SOME VERY BEAUTIFUL AND TRULY MEMORABLE QUOTES

Goodreads Blurb:

She is an orphan, independent, unattached and free of any personal ties.
So why is Purdie Davis, an unexceptional nurse from New Zealand, receiving unsolicited gifts? Nothing ordinary but unusual, valuable antiques that must have a story behind them. Purdie doesn’t know their source, and has no idea of their significance. Is she wrong to find this attention menacing?
A romantic saga spanning three generations, The Lost One begins as Kyril Komarov flees Moscow, escaping the Russian Revolution. The story crosses the globe as Purdie learns about her family and of the treasure entrusted to their protection at the dawn of the twentieth century, a treasure that now could put Purdie’s own life in danger.
Balanced between the past and the present, with history, intrigue and fabulous Russian treasure, The Lost One unfolds one family’s legacy.

Favourite Quote:

“It seems to me that many people just give up too quickly. Those who hang on, regardless of anything else, seem to get where they want to be in the end. You’ll be a star one day.”

GETTING OLDER: A BOOK THAT YOU READ A LONG TIME AGO, BUT YOU THINK YOU WOULD APPRECIATE MORE IF YOU READ IT AS A MORE MATURE READER

Goodreads Blurb:

Her story is a phenomenon. Her life is a disaster.

In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, she’s LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves the online one, and she has no desire to try.

Then Wallace Warland, Monstrous Sea’s biggest fanfiction writer, transfers to her school. Wallace thinks Eliza is just another fan, and as he draws her out of her shell, she begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile.

But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart.

SWEET BIRTHDAY MEMORIES: A BOOK THAT KEPT YOU INCREDIBLY HAPPY DURING A SAD OR DEMANDING PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE

Goodreads Blurb:

Who gave Jonathan Van Ness permission to be the radiant human he is today? No one, honey.

The truth is, it hasn’t always been gorgeous for this beacon of positivity and joy.

Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye , Jonathan was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so…over the top. From choreographed carpet figure skating routines to the unavoidable fact that he was just so gay , Jonathan was an easy target and endured years of judgement, ridicule and trauma – yet none of it crushed his uniquely effervescent spirit.

Over the Top  uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today. In this revelatory, raw, andrambunctious memoir, Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen. JVN fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic sayings, but there’s much more to him than meets the(queer) eye.

Tagging:

Today, I indeed don’t know who to tag because I have no idea who has their birthday, soon or soonish.

Alex