Just like my Freaky Friday Interviews of aspiring authors, I’ve discovered that there’s a whole world of YA bloggers just starting out. I thought it would be fun to highlight some of these newbie bloggers because-lets face it-bloggers are freaky book lovers too and we should all work together in our quest to take over the world one YA book at a time. Today’s newbie blogger is Jessica Baker of Just a Booklover. Jessica and I are both native New York Staters so we absolutely hit it off as soon as we started talking, but let me share with you a million other reasons why you should get to know her too…
Could you tell me a little about you and how you came to be a blogger?
Well, I’m Jessica. I love to read (not surprising) and when I’m not reading, I like to write in my free time. It amuses me. You know, writing the story I would most like to read and all. I have three brothers and three nephews. I grew up in Buffalo, New York and lived there a majority of my life. Now I live in Texas where I read books, do schoolwork, and blog my booty off.
I became a blogger because I wanted to tell people what I thought of books. In school and at home, I’d always look around on B&N’s website and see the reviews posted and thought that I wanted to do that too–write things about a book for everyone to see and listen to when they are deciding whether or not to read or buy a book. But I was too lazy then and kept putting off actually making a blog, telling myself I’d do it later. But then one day one Twitter, Sarah Rees Brennan (author of The Demon’s Lexicon trilogy) posted a link to someone who gave The Demon’s Lexicon a bad review. (She liked the title of the post, so she decided to post the link.) I read the review and disagreed one million and twelve percent. I had LOVED The Demon’s Lexicon and had just finished the other two books in the trilgy, too. Again, they were amazing. Plus, the person that wrote the bad review hadn’t even finished the book and that kind of made me mad because how can you judge a whole book of you had only read a part of it? But that’s not the point. The point is that I started my blog so I could post a review of The Demon’s Lexicon trilogy that I believed was much more appropriate. It was the first review I’d ever written, and I kept at it on my new pretty blog ever since. (Well, the blog hasn’t always been pretty, but still. Improvements have been made, thank goodness.)
I love how you got started with a fiery passion! Who has had an influence on you in the blogging community. What have they taught you? Who do you look up to?
I HAVE to start this by mentioning Anna. Anna is my blogging idol. She has her own blog (obviously) called Literary Exploration and I look up to her the most out of any other bloggers. If I ever got to choose anyone to be my blogging big sister, Anna would be my pick without a question. She actually helped me with what to ask on my first author interview (being posted on June 8) and has given me a helpful blogging tip or two :). After Anna, I’d probably say there’s Jana. She has a blog called The Book Goddess and she’s the wonderful person who designed my blog badge. It is so gorgeous and perfect and I’ll love her forver for it! Plus, we’re on a DeamonInvasion team together, and she is always helpful with things when I ask her for help. Next we have Kreag who is super nice, and has a blog called I Devour Books. He helped me decide on whether or not to review a book one time and we’ve been friends ever since. Now we have Monica from Cover Analysis 🙂 She is one of my very best blogger friends. She’s let me borrow a book, I’ve sent her extra swaggish-things, and I made a button for her meme “What I Got.” We are also working on a challenge together. I’m not going to bore y’all with the details, but . . . yeah.
(((hugs))) I think we are all at our best when we’re helping each other out. Now I need to know your top 5 most loved books that have had an impact on you and why.
This question kills me! I’m just going to do top 5 most loved books AT THIS EXACT MOMENT, because my intense feelings for particular books change over time. As I read more things, one book could get bumped out by another book or something.
5. The Selection by Keira Cass. I just finished reading this book a couple days ago and this book made me so happy. I have to say the impact it has on me was just amazing-ness. Like, so good I was sad it was over. (My teams are important – Team Maxon.)
4. The Strange Angels series by Lili St. Crow, or if I have to pick just one of them, I’ll go with Jealousy. Or maybe Defiance. I adored this series. Dru is a stunning protaganist and Christophe is one of my favorite attractive male characters. This series is over, but I really wish it wasn’t. I was elated when I got the last book this past Christmas, though. A happy day, right there. (Team Christophe, obiviously.)
3. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Do you even have to ask what it is about this book? Well, there’s . . . urm . . . Peeta. And a lot of fun killing things. And epic archery. And Peeta. And Cinna. And Haymitch. And parts that make me laugh. And Peeta. And parts that make me cry. And Peeta. And parts that make me want to slap somebody. And did I mention Peeta? Hehe. (Team Peeta, CLEARLY.)
2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. This book was glued to my fingers from the moment I began reading it to the moment I finished. And all the while, I was crying inside because I kept getting nearer to the end. When a book has that kind of power over me, it gets on lists like these 😉 (I’m not too sure what team I’m on yet.)
1. Under the Never Sky by Veonica Rossi. This book surprised me because I didn’t think it would be anywhere near as epic as it was. But then I read it, and . . . well it’s number one on my list. And I’ve read a few books since then. I think that should speak for itself. Oh, and Perry. And Roar. Just saying. (There’s only really one team to pick here. . . PERRY.)
Quick statement: Divergent by Veronica Roth was almost on this list, but got bumped out a couple days ago by The Selection. But I love Divergent, too. Erudite all the way!
Thank you so much for asking me to do this interview!
♥Jessica(:
Yay!!! Happy to see some Apocalypsies on you list!!! I know what you mean about favorites always changing…there are just so many good books out there. And Jessica–thank you for taking the time to hang out on my blog. It has been lovely getting to know you better. Make sure you stop by Jessica’s blog Just A Booklover. You can also find her on Twitter as @makesmeworse12.
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