Welcome back to BOOK AND A BEVERAGE!

In case you don’t know the deal about Book and a Beverage, it’s a very simple yet fun feature: We read books, we drink beverages, we take pictures of them and then I share your photos and a little about you to the blogging world!

Give a big welcome to Emily and Jenn from Book Jems!

Name & Blog Name: We are Emily and Jenn from Book Jems!
Tell us a little about your blog! Books Jems is a book blog run by two (super hilarious, and wonderful) random women who met through the internet, and actually live on opposite sides of the continental United States. The blog was started in February 2012, and originally was called Ed and Em’s Reviews before Emily used Jedi Mind tricks to convince Jenn to join her in world domination/book reviewing. We stuck our names together and came up with “Jems,” and Book Jems was born!
What’s been your favorite post you’ve written so far? (Link us up!) Jenn’s favorite post is her review of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Emily’s favorite post is about her reading slump.
Got anything special coming up we should know about? We are constantly thinking of crazy things to feature. Who knows what will show up? You’ll have to pay heavy attention to the blog because we are super spontaneous (see: we procrastinate).

(Jenn on the left, Emily on the right!)

Whatcha reading? Jenn is currently reading Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis. Emily has her hands in multiple cookie jars, but her main focus is listening to the Nightmares! audiobook co-written by Jason Segel (who also voices the audiobook) and Kirsten Miller.
Where did it come from? (Library, purchased, publisher, etc) Jenn received a copy of Stitching Snow from the publisher via Netgalley. Nightmares! is the first audiobook Emily has ever purchased, and listened to (plus Jason Segel signed it for her at his book signing in Cincinnati, OH–she’s still screaming internally).
Any special reason you chose to feature this book? Jenn is always looking for new fairytale retellings, and both the title, and the cover intrigued her. Emily wanted to feature Nightmares! because it takes a fascinating look at a common struggles for people of all ages: fear, and nightmares. Plus Jason Segel does a magnificent job voicing all of the characters.
What’s important that we should know about this book? Would you recommend it? Jenn hasn’t finished Stitching Snow yet, so she can’t give it her full recommendation. So far, she is enjoying it, and thinks that fans of retellings, and fantasy will also like it. Just some advice: If you’ve read the Lunar Chronicles, try to keep an open mind as the two do have certain parallels. Emily is loving Nightmares! and would recommend the audiobook (and physical book) without a doubt. It’s a very entertaining read! The two authors do an amazing job of co-writing this story.

Whatcha drinking?  As she types, Jenn is currently drinking Shock Top: Honey Crisp Apple Wheat. Emily is drinking Pure Leaf Extra Sweet Tea, and is utterly blissful.
What’s your favorite thing to drink while reading? When Jenn is reading, she loves drinking tea. Earl Gray, Vanilla Chai, and Pumpkin Spice Chai are her favorites. Honestly, Emily doesn’t usually drink when she reads because she is incapable of doing two things at once. Sometimes, she will sneak in sips of mango lemonade, or Diet Coke, though.
Favorite beverage of all time. Go! Jenn can’t name just one favorite. She loves tea, and Dr. Pepper. Her exact words were actually: “Freaking Dr Pepper- if only it wasn’t so good!” Emily has a hot, and heavy relationship with Diet Cherry Coke.

What are your top three books you would recommend to other people? Jenn wholeheartedly recommends Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, and It by Stephen King. To any and everyone, Emily would recommend Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan.
What’s your proudest blogging/reading/writing moment?  For Jenn, it’s actually blogging. She’d always thought about giving it a shot, but never actually started blogging until Emily invited her. So she wants to thank Emily for working her Jedi magic, and getting her to join in. Emily (through her sentimental tears at Jenn’s statement) is most proud of finding the strength to come back to Book Jems after a three month personal hiatus, and working with her fabulous co-blogger again. She is also really proud of reaching her Goodreads reading goal every year since 2011.
Anything else you’d like to share? Jenn would also like it noted that she loves Emily (who wouldn’t though, Emily’s awesome). Don’t worry, Emily loves Jenn, too. And we both appreciate Brittany’s willingness to feature us this week!

Thanks so much, ladies! Excellent book recs (aside from It — WHEW, I will never be able to read that but hope it scared the pants off you in a good way!) and it was so much fun having you on the blog today!!

I hope you enjoyed getting to know the gals from Book Jems! Connect with them at the links below!
Book Jems Links: Blog // Twitter // Facebook
Jenn’s Links: Twitter // Goodreads // Instagram
Emily’s Links: Twitter // Goodreads // Instagram

And don’t forget! You can participate in Book and a Beverage at any time! Got a book? Got a beverage? Just tweet or post your photo on Instagram using the hashtag #bookandabeverage and I’ll retweet or repost your photo!

If you want to sign-up for Book and a Beverage, keep an eye out for sign-ups to re-open sometime in mid to late November! We’ll finally be catching up on the current schedule and I’ll be able to bring on some more people for the feature!