I can’t even believe it. My tiny little blog is growing up and I’ve had (and am still having) SO MUCH FUN with it. Some of you have been with me for years, some of you, from the very beginning in fact, And some of you are just finding and joining our amazing book-community, and I LOVE that you’re jumping right in with us.
‘Cause you know we get silly here, and while books are always our #1 topic of discussion, they tend to spur us into other conversations that have us laughing out loud. Sometimes we’re so connected, chatting, responding immediately, that it truly feels like we’re all in the same room together. I FORGET that we’re online. I SEE you guys in my head. I see you laughing, chortling, snorting, and rolling on the floor. I SEE our book-blankie fort, and I see all of our shenanigans.
I am so delighted, that this blog has created a whole other “real world” for us.
And today, we’re going to reminisce… and my book crew has asked me a bunch of fun “book and book blog questions” so it’s going to be enlightening, too!
Amy: Eight years?!? I sense some celebratory martinis on the horizon!!!
bev: We need cupcakes to celebrate.
R: Cupcake martinis…
MichelleS: 8 years! Wow. I found your blog April 2011, so I missed 2 years of goodness… which was probably full of PNR! Dang it. But it’s been fun ever since. I find almost all my books here! Yay! Love all you ladies!
Leslie: Congrats Maryse!!! I think I found you in 2011, but held my tongue for a very time.
Yours is only blog I have stuck with consistently. You rock!!!
bev: Walk down memory lane. I believe I stumbled upon the blog in 2011, same as Leslie. I think it was KA’s Sweet Dreams, 95% sure. But could of been Beautiful Disaster. When I first started having conversations I believe it started with MichelleS. And you all used to make me hungry. I think we talked a lot about Nutella. Biggest laugh has to be Amy’s peanut throwing. First br was The Tied Man. Oh, and the books. The Sea of Tranquility: A Novel, Slammed: A Novel, The Edge of Never, The Sweet Gum Tree, On the Island: A Novel, Rock Me (Ross Siblings Book 2), Hearts in Darkness (Hearts in Darkness Duet Book 1),Perfection (A Neighbor From Hell Series Book 2), Ten Tiny Breaths: A Novel (The Ten Tiny Breaths Series Book 1), Painted Faces. And many more and many since, but it is here I started delving into indie.
MichelleS: Bev – we must have been lurking st the same time! My first Maryse book was Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour Book 1) then Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain Series Book 2)! …Nutella! I remember that! Remember the Nutella salami! I bookmarked her page in 2011 as “Mary’s Book Blog”.., and never changed it. Hi Mary!
Maryse: LOL MichelleS!!! Do you know how often I’m still called that (in emails I receive)…
R.: I pronounced your name Marcy for the longest time and even after I figured it out, it took a while to break the habit.
Fabi: I originally came to Maryse’s site (I think around 2011 also) looking for my next PNR book. I stayed and started reading indie NA and CR because of this blog. It took me a couple of years before I started commenting I think. I know for a fact that BD suggested here kicked off my NA reading binge.
Leslie: The things I remember most about blog when I first stumbled upon it is that Maryse is Twilight fan and I remember wondering if that pretty pic of half a face was her. Hee hee
Maryse: Awwww Leslie. <3 Yep, it’s me. Many moons ago.
See what I did there? I said moons. ‘Cause Twilight.
Nay: Sounds like I started lurking here at around the same time as many of you. I know it was back when Maryse read mostly PnR.
Ela: I remember starting off on here in the “discuss” area, WHICH IS STILL BROKEN AND THE BOOK BOYFRIEND THREAD WAS MISSING, but like most I was a lurker….checking on new rec’s AND it was around the time that Fifty Shades was published AND Beautiful Disaster AND Thoughtless (although I believe that one was still free)! WOW GOOD TIMES!!!!!! You know in the Discuss area of this blog I’ve made some really good friends whom I still to this day talk with???? AND whom I even met at YOUR (Maryse’s) Book Bashes???? YUP IT’S TRUE!
Maryse: I love our discussions here… it’s how we’ve become friends, and not just “book friends” (although book friends are great, too). But I feel like I KNOW you guys, you know? More than just our love of books, but our lives, current events, food, other hobbies, family… it makes me happy.
Anna: Congrats Maryse! I first found your blog when looking for something to read after Beautiful Disaster. Your blog has helped me find new books that I would not have discovered otherwise. Thank you for making my reading life better.
TashaJ: Congrats Maryse! I’ve been following since 2012. I started getting back into reading after 50 Shades and was looking for what to read after I think and Beautiful Disaster from your blog came up! I’ve been a die hard follower ever since!
Jan: I’ve been blogging here since 2015 (I think) but used to regularly read (and love) it for a while before joining in the discussion.
bev: Maryse do you have celebration posts planned? … Or let’s ask Maryse all the bookish questions.
Cristina: Congrats Maryse!! Here’s to many, many more!! Thank you for blasting open my reading world and connecting me with so many beautiful people on here!! I’m so happy to have found you all! I don’t really know many people who read the types of books we do, so it’s great to find people who get and understand me. I think a “Maryse Interview” is a fabulous idea!
YAY!!! YES!!! Questions sound like so much fun, so let’s jump in, shall we?
Q: Tessa: Maryse, did you ever read a book you were not sure you’d like and it blew you away?
Fabi: Tessa, I bet Maryse will say The Martian to your question: “Maryse, did you ever read a book you were not sure you’d like and it blew you away?” That one seemed so far out of character for her and she just loved it.
A: Maryse: Fabi THAT is the one. And I’m dying for more like that. I was hooked on The Martian, and fell head-over-heels over a guy that wasn’t even a romance hero, or part of a love story. NOW THAT is fun. When a character can mesmerize you so, that you fall for ’em, even without the usual “romance tropes”. He was smart, he was incredibly industrious, he was a survivor, and best of all, he was HILARIOUS. Even during the worst of times, he always pulled himself together and entertained himself (as well as us) while he solved his next life-or-death situation. *swoon* The perfect man. I’d live on Mars with him, any day!
Q: Tessa: What book do you do to get out of a book fog?
A: Maryse: Since book fogs usually occur after I’ve fallen hard-in-love with a character in a romance book, or have my heart shatter over a sad story (whether love, or life…), to get out of that book fog, I go for either a super-scary thriller (I love a good adrenaline rush), or a super-funny comedy romance (true belly laughs always make me feel better). Those always do the trick for me.
Q: Tessa: Top ten books that most influenced your reading.
A: Maryse. Oooooh boy. There are many that I 5-star loved, that I’d recommend in a heartbeat, but only a few that influenced, and directed, my reading so intensely. Okay I’m giving it a go!
- Twilight (set me in the biggest love fog of my life)… it lasted MONTHS (years!!!) with me desperately trying to find more like it (at least “feel-wise). This is the book that set me reading again and inspired this blog.
- Beautiful Disaster (the book-love of my life – yes I understood that I should run as far away from the intensity and chaos that was Travis, but I would have loved him to the end of time, despite the “co-dependant, unhealthy, red flag” warnings). I never thought I’d fall in love with someone this hard again after Edward, but I did. And Travis was it. And Travis STILL is it.
- Fifty Shades of Grey (a stalker-type that was even more messed up than Travis? So damaged, so broken, so needing love that I couldn’t help but to love him, because he deserved it, even though he sometimes made it SO hard). And then that scene in book #2…? Yeah. I fell in love. Don’t tell Travis.
- Thoughtless. This love triangle tore my heart out, and I REALLY struggled with the fact that I was as “in love” with Kellan as I was with my beloved Travis. No matter, this one took me on an emotional, heartachey ride, and IT. WENT. THERE. Gasp worthy. I LOVED IT and this will always be the pinnacle of all love triangle books. It was real, and they made some awful decisions and yet… they were so human. Each one of them.
- How to Kill a Rock Star (so eloquent, so raw and real, and destroyed me HARD at one point, and once I was done, I needed to feel THAT again),
- The Martian. Who knew I could fall in love with a hero that was not a romance hero at all? I was fascinated with every single facet of this book, but especially how incredibly self-reliant he was. And even more so because he made me laugh all the way through. You’d think this kind of scary story would be stuffy, or too serious? You’d be wrong. Hilarious and addictive to the very last page. I’m worried I’ll never find another like it.
- Comfort Food. This one introduced me to dark reads and I was SHOCKED AND APPALLED that I could actually feel myself falling for, or wanting to please, or wanting to be loved by, such a deplorable “Master”. UGH. And yet, it had ME experiencing Stockholm Syndrome, and I had never felt that before. Any book that could affect me in that way, and make me cry with heartache, when I should be wanting to flee and never look back, definitely set the stage for my dark-read guilty pleasure needs.
- Rainfall. To me? Most clever twist that I didn’t see coming, until it happened, and then an even better twist that I couldn’t even fathom until it was too late. And an ending that I will NEVER EVER EVER FORGET. This is the “crazy twist” book that sets the standards for all of my search for more surprise twists that have me reacting that hard.
- Here I’m just going to say Tarryn Fisher. Anything from her, because all of her heroines are flawed (reacting in ways that, at times, are absolutely cringeworthy), but with true humanity at their core. Selfish, and loving. Tragically so at times, and sadly, to their own detriment, most of all. And yet so real. She makes me feel like it’s okay to be me, in all of my goodness, and in all of my badness. And so when I read her books, I know I will be reading pain, growth, selfish love, and self-sacrificing love, too. And not necessarily in that order. That’s another thing I love about her stories. Unpredictable. You never know how they will end. You never know where they are going. But I’m always so indulged the whole way through.
- <— ??? I’m still thinking about it… I know it’s going to be obvious once it comes to mind and I’ll be all… how could I have almost missed it! So I’ll wait and finish this one in a bit…
Q. Tasha: Who are your top 3 favorite authors?
A. Maryse: Oh boy I have quite a few, and it really depends on my mood. But these are the authors that I realized I read everything they release: Colleen Hoover, Tarryn Fisher, Taylor Jenkins Reid. (I could add Emma Scott, Alessandra Torre, Suanne Laqueur, Karina Halle and Leylah Attar). And there are more…
Q: Tasha: What is your favorite book quote/passage?
A: Maryse: I’m devastated to say I don’t have any quotes specifically “saved” apart from all of the highlights I make in my favorite books. And I have been absolutely moved by a few breathtaking thoughts in books. The one I’m choosing now is not necessarily eloquent and life-changing (and trust me, there have been SO many beautiful, life changing moments for ME, in the books I have read), but back in the day… this one cinched my “in love” so HARD. Beautiful Disaster: A Novel. And it still does. There was just so much realistic build-up to here… no insta-love, no insta-anything…
“I know we’re f*cked up, all right? I’m impulsive, and hot-tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then you need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don’t deserve you…but I f*cking love you, Abby. I love you more than I’ve loved anyone or anything, ever. When you’re around, I don’t need booze, or money, or the fighting, or the one-night stands…all I need is you. You’re all I think about. You’re all I dream about. You’re all I want.”
Q. Tasha: Have you ever skimmed a book rather than thoroughly read? If that makes sense (obviously not one you’ve reviewed)
A. Maryse: When I find myself skimming too much I just stop reading… if I have to skim, I’m just not into it, and there are SO many books I DO want to read. I do tend to skim sex scenes. Back in the day when I first started reading romance and erotica, sex scenes blew my mind, and were so much a part of the “love” experience for me, but over time… I dunno. Things have changed. LOL!! I tend to skim ’em (unless the buildup of the relationship is so intense that I’m reading without even realizing that it’s about to happen… and then it’s happening and then it happens… and wow. That is the best kind of sex scene). LOL!! I dunno if you get what I’m saying…
Q. Tasha: We all have an extensive tbr list, but can you name 3 books that you’ve always wanted to read but haven’t gotten around to?
A. Maryse: SOOOOO MANY Tessa. So many. But right off the bat, I’ll say God-Shaped Hole: A Novel, The Fault in Our Stars, and Cruel & Beautiful.
Q: bev: Top 3 heroines you’d be friends with in real life?
A: Maryse: None of ’em ’cause I’m jealous of ’em all!!! LOL!!! 😛 Er… well I suppose Ana from Fifty Shades so I can meet Christian’s brother and be his girlfriend. 😉 *snort* Umm… I’d say Abby so I can meet Travis’s brothers and be one of their girlfriends, but I’d be WAY TOO jealous of Abby… so no. Any of Kristen Ashley’s heroines, because they seem like the best bunch of girls to be best friends with. Oh how I’d LOVE to be a part of their crew. Honestly? I’m too busy BEING the heroine in these books, so focused on the hero, that I tend to forget the heroines as specific people because, done right? They were ME. Ya know? But yeah for real life? I’d love to be a bad-ass heroine like Cat from Cat and Bones.
Q: bev: any book ever make you want to visit a real place?
A: Maryse: Yes. All of Kristen Ashley’s Colorado Mountain books. When I read those books, I AM THERE. Those have such a feel-good mood, but with bad-ass guys, and well… that’s the dream, you know? And I went to Denver with my BFF and smiled and smiled and smiled… I was home. Sorta. LOL!
Q: Anna: Maryse I have a few questions for you. What are some of the coolest things that have happened to you as a result of the blog? Ex: Getting to meet authors, cover models, getting sent an arc you were dying to read…
A: Maryse: ALL OF IT, Anna. All of it. I have met the most amazing authors, become friends with some, have some treasured signed books that are SO rare, have met terrific and very sweet cover models (one in particular that was my favorite since my reading start, and he’s so down to earth and such a great guy), being a part of Book Bash that just was one of the most magnificent moments of my life. TWICE. Reading books that have changed my life forever. Making friends that are my absolute best, now. ALL of it, Anna. All of it. I have been, and am SO blessed. Books are life. And in so many ways.
Q. Anna: Top Ten favorite heroes? I think I can guess who would be #1.
A: Maryse: Travis, Zsadist, Kellan, Brian, Edward, Christian, Eric, Jamie, Barrons, and…. Tate. Not necessarily in that order (except for Travis and Zsadist, and you can consider them BOTH in my #1 spot). 😉
Q. Anna: If you could make everyone read one book which would you choose?
A: Maryse: Beautiful Disaster because every time I read it, it has the same effect on me!!!! Utter swoony falling in love. In fact, I’ve had TWO readers that have just discovered our world and have just discovered Kellan and LOVED him and now are delving into Travis next. I was so JEALOUS that this would be their first experience of them.
Check out each part of our “8th Birthday Blog Reminiscing + Q& A” trilogy” here:
Hah! Am I first? Haha!
Wow. Fascinating reminiscences, Maryse. Congrats on the eight great years. I love this blog (even though I’ve only been following for a couple).
Maryse wants to be friends with the heroines of the heroes she loves.
Maryse is a Taryn Fisher heroine.
Congratulations. Those are awesome answers.
I love your answers! You Beautiful Disaster passage was perfect, it made me want to do a re-read! And I completely understand what you were saying on the skimming of the sex scenes, except how you sort of get caught up in it when you don’t realize and it’s great. I do it too!! 🙂
I love this post!!!!! I was totally getting all squirmy and excited in my seat and nodding my head and thinking, “yes…yes…OMG that’s so true!!”
But the Tarryn Fisher part…THAT is the one which made me go nuts because HOLY MOLY! So. Freaking. Accurate. And the Rainfall bit. And Thoughtless. And Beautiful Disaster. And…okay, I’ll stop.
*snort* Amy. You are TOTALLY my book-twin. No doubt about it. 😛
I love this! And now I want to re-read the end if Rainfall!
Happy birthday to your blog, Maryse! I’ve been reading your reviews for years now. I think we’re book soul sisters sometimes with the way you absolutely nail it! Just can’t thank you enough for all the great reviews, perfect recommendations, and humorous stories in between. You put so much into this and it’s reflected in how popular your blog has become. Congratulations!
This feels like home!!!!!!!!
*hugs Fabi*
It feels like home to me too, especially because you guys are here with me.
Happy 8th Maryse! I still remember finding your blog back in early 2013 – and to think you’d been going strong for years before that! Congratulations.
I agree with Amy. I’ve been sitting here reading saying YES YES ME TOO. And couldn’t agree more with the bit about Tarryn. Forever fave! Lol.
I love that you guys feel the same way I do about books (even if we have different opinions on which ones we love). But the fact that you “get me” with how I react to some things… tropes, various authors… we really have found “our tribe”. <3
Happy birthday!
It was the best day for me when I stumbled along your blog!!!
Love this post I was asked one night if I had to choose 8 people from anywhere in the world for a dinner party and I named you as one! Hell yes could you imagine!
I wish I commented more on your blogs but I just don’t have the time but the banter is always great on them! Could you imagine a convention for maryse fan…, now that would be epic!!
Cait, I’m just glad you’re with us… it makes me so happy!
Ha Cait. That would be awesome. I’ll come!
Yay!!!! Maryse just picked my March read for the challenge!!!! Rainfall, it is! This is so much fun… I remember the night we made the shirts and the blankie forts, it was epic around here! *big squeezy hugs* you’re the best, Maryse!
Awwww I’m excited you’re reading it, Grey!! 😛
Eeeeeeeeeep!!!
Awwwwwww! Beautiful Disaster! Makes me want to re read it!
I was thinking the same thing Ela.
I think it would be my 4 re-read! I love that book THAT much and sadly his brothers’ stories DON’T COME ANY WHERE CLOSE!
On another note I’m trying to think of a really good question for Maryse but I’m coming up blank!
Ela I have a whole slew of questions I’m answering today, and maybe even a third post. 😉 You might get inspired. LOL!
Thanks for answering my questions. Maybe we should do a BR to revisit our old friends Travis and Edward?
Wow! Congratulations!! Although I spend most of my time lurking in the background I’m here and enjoying everyone on this blog. I have discovered so many wonderful books. new authors, new genres – and it goes without saying that I have had more “book-hangovers” than I ever had before. Maryse & all the gals, you are wonderful! Thank you!!
Robin – did I just seriously see that you want to re-read the end of Rainfall. I floved that book so much, but it hurt me so badly and so deeply – that I walk wide circles around it. I NEVER want to relive that ending, even though I will never forget it.
I’m confused on the multiple twists. I tend to forget a lot of books right after I read them, and now I’m wondering if I remember the ending. I don’t want to read it for fun, so if someone wants to message me LOL
” I NEVER want to relive that ending, even though I will never forget it.”
I’ve never wished for mind-bleach as much as I have since reading that book.
Why is it I forget most books 24 hours after reading them and the one I WANT DESPERATELY to forget, I can’t erase from my soul?
What a horrible, horrible, horrible ending to a romance novel. UGH!
good! email me and tell me how it ended!
Someone probably DIED….duh brings back another book to mind &^%*^*&%^&^(*^&*)&(^&%(*&())_*(&*^%$$
Might as well email me too cause if I’m right then I’m not reading it… 🙄 😆
*slowly raises hand*
Um, I’ve re-read the ending of Rainfall. And the ending of Me Before You. And Tristan & Danika. And Arsen.
Because sometimes I just need to get a good FEELS smackdown.
Ela, it’s worse than that.
*takes notes of all books just mentioned by Amy*
Hey now!! That doesn’t mean all those books had unhappy or less-than-perfect endings, just that they were so full of emotion I was exhausted (in the best way) by those parts!!
That’s ok. I’d rather be warned than burned.
By Arsen?
*snort*
*blinks* *sends message to Amy*
I read the end of Rainfall, lol. Nor death but one of the most used soap tropes.
Man, I used to love soaps. *sigh*
Okay, clearing this up (thanks, Tessa :D)…
It’s the end of book THREE of Tristan & Danika that I’ve re-read. Beautiful and gut-wrenching at the same time. 😉
HAPPY HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY MARYSE!!! Wish I’d been here a bit earlier but now that I am I’m here to say. So blessed to have found this amazing community. xoxox.
Part 2 is up…and I was first. :p
AMY ARSEN ROCKS BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND WHAT CAN BE WORSE THAN ONE OF THE H’S DYING OH BOTH OF THEM DYE OR LEAVE BECAUSE IT’S FOR THEIR OWN GOOD…….NOW I’M PISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD
Slowly puts hand up. The Turning Point? Oh, the ending. I sobbed out loud! And ya know I *hate* those kinda books. But I *loved* that one so much. I know. Sometimes I don’t really get myself either….. The pain of that book, but oh, the feels….
Maryse, yes. this is our tribe. One of my sons is just starting uni (college) doing nursing, and he said to me on the phone last night he was fitting in really well – that ‘these are my people’. That’s how I feel about this blog 😀
WE ARE OUR PEOPLE….*snort* totally makes sense in my head, that line does
I’m not seeing any emails!
sorry Ela, here you go, *hands lenses back* I’d borrowed your glasses 😉
Congratulations Maryse!! I am so thankful I happened upon this blog. Changed my *reading* life!
I can’t seem to remember the ending of Rainfall. Maybe I did what Fabi wants to do and bleached it from my mind!!
Amy, I can think of better ways to get the “feels.” 😉
Robin, if you got the ending of Rainfall then please email it to me too.
Thanks, Fabi! I was wondering where they went too 😉
Just sent Ela
Ela, I thought you were kidding about wanting the ending to a book you haven’t read yet. If you’re serious, I’m happy to send it to you, but it will ruin the story for you if you decide to read it in the future.
Thanks Fabi! Robin sent it already, so ruined….NOT sure I’d want to read it anyway…THAT ENDING SUCKED DONKEY BALLS AND I’D PROBABLY BE JUST PISSED OFF…
I thought you’d already read it!! ELA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*snort* See what happens when ya start spoilin’ stuff? 😆
I can’t believe ANY of you want to relive that damn ending!! Lalalalala, covering eyes and ears and grabbing Manny Jr. tight!!!
Ela, Lisa, oh my gawd!!! I love ya’ll. I thought I was the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD pissed off over what the author did in that book.
Fabi – I was more hurt than pissed. I just couldn’t believe the unfairness…I still ache over it!! If I had it in paperback, I would put it in a room all by itself and walk wide circles around it.
What is this “Rainfall” you are all going crazy over??? Author? 🙂
Teri, Melissa Delport https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29467087-rainfall?from_search=true
*covers Fabi’s mouth*
Teri…it is a freaking GREAT book!!!
MmmMmmmMmMmmnnnnnnnnn
Ok, it’s officially on my TBR list!!!!
Congratulations! I think I have been following you since 2012! Definitely since Travis! I love your blog and follow it religiously! ❤️❤️❤️
And I’m so tempted not to read the blog because I’m scared you guys are going to spoil Rainfall on me lmfao! Rainfall is going to be my March challenge book for Marmy month!
I’m late to the party! Congrats Maryse! It is so awesome what you do and how you’ve brought us all together with our love of books! Love you guys!
Well Grey – it’s already March 3, whatcha waiting for, huh? We can’t hold our tongues forever on Rainfall. The butler did it!! In the drawing room, with the lead pipe! Pbllllllllghhhhh!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Maryse!!! Wow 8 years!!! I have been following you since 2012 and remember your recommendation of Beautiful Disaster. I had the pleasure of meeting you two years in a row at Book Bash. (I also have a picture with Paul Marron :). Keep up the good work. I miss Book Bash.:(