Monthly Wrap-Up: June ’21

Oh June, we did not get along. I have not felt as slumpy this year as I did in June. I wanted to read, but making myself read was incredibly difficult. Honestly, the only reason I read an average amount this month was because of a blog tour I had coming up. If it wasn’t for that, I probably would have read two books at most. So this month I picked up five books (special shout out to graphic novels for keeping me afloat the latter part of the month). Not my best, but you know, not my worst either. I did post more reviews than I have been averaging and I feel kind of proud of this. There have been months where I’ve only posted one or two reviews which is not great. So here’s the deal with my upcoming blog hiatus. I’ve been planning this for a while and will have an official announcement next weekend, but basically I won’t be back until mid-August. Usually when I take these breaks, I still read a lot, but I think I am going to make myself take at least a week and not read on purpose. I don’t remember the last time I did that. We’ll see how that goes.

(Book covers below are linked to my reviews, unless otherwise specified.) 

Favorite Book This Month:

C.L Polk’s Witchmark was easily my favorite read of the month. I loved the world-building and the romance. It’s one of those books that I would consider a quiet fantasy and I just love those so much.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

No book received lower than three stars from me.

Reviews Posted This Month:

(Covers linked to reviews)

Notable Blog Posts:

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for Second Half of 2021 – The second half of 2021 has some great titles coming out. Here is a look at my top ten most anticipated releases.

Book List: Twenty Summer 2021 Release I’m Excited For – If you’re interested in summer releases I have on my radar, check out this list.

What I Watched/Am Watching:

Vagabond – I really enjoyed this K-Drama. It made me super emotional and I have a real soft spot for the lead. It made me want to watch more thrillers, so if you have any recs, let me know in the comments. As much as I love K-Dramas for the romance, it’s nice to get a break and the action scenes in this one were phenomenal. I didn’t know it was going to end on a cliffhanger though and season 2 hasn’t even been announced, so that’s a special kind of torture.

The K-2 – I haven’t finished this one yet, but started it because of how much i enjoyed Vagabond. I feel kind of eh about it though. I will say that it features this really great dynamic between the lead who is a bodyguard and the stepmother of the girl he is supposed to fall for. They have more chemistry than the main ship, so much so that I had to look it up to see if I was imagining all that tension and I wasn’t. There are a lot of people who love them and it’s probably my favorite thing about this show even though it clearly wasn’t done on purpose.

July Releases I’m Excited For:

What was your favorite June read? Let’s discuss in the comments and feel free to leave me a link to your own wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to visit!

Monthly Wrap-Up: May ’21

Happy Pride, friends! Hope this month is full of acceptance and celebration, whether you are out or not ❤ Reading-wise, May was a fantastic month for me. I haven’t read so much in probably a year. I read eight books and am now back on track for my Goodreads goal. I got my second dose of the covid vaccine earlier in the month and celebrated my birthday. The end of the month is making me feel a little stressed however. I had to take my dog in to the vet and am trying to get her in again. She’s getting old and I am not sure what is wrong with her, so this and some other personal stuff is just really weighing on me. Contemplating a blogging hiatus come July. I have one obligation for the beginning of the month, but after that I think I will be taking a break. I just completed month two of learning to roller skate and have unlocked how to transition. It’s the hardest thing I’ve had to learn so far. I just found an outside rink that I visited for the first time this week and am so excited to go back already.

(Book covers below are linked to my reviews, unless otherwise specified.) 

Favorite Book This Month:

I read so many good books this month, but my favorite is probably Jonny Garza Villa’s debut Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun. This book took me through so many emotions. It’s definitely my favorite debut of 2021 so far. My review for this one will be up tomorrow. Cover linked to Goodreads.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

No book received lower than three stars from me.

Reviews Posted This Month:

(Covers linked to reviews)

Notable Blog Posts:

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Most Recent Reads – A round up of ten of my most recent reads and a few thoughts on them.

What I Watched/Am Watching:

Mortal Kombat – I didn’t watch a ton of new stuff this month, but I did finally watch the new Mortal Kombat movie. It was cheesy and yet so much fun.

Chocolate – Yes, this is a rewatch, but never underestimate the power of a comfort watch.

June Releases I’m Excited For:

How was your May? Which June releases are you looking forward to? Let’s discuss in the comments and feel free to leave me a link to your own wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to visit!

Monthly Wrap-Up: April ’21

Hello, friends! I feel like I’ve been more present in April, but am still struggling with the WordPress block editor, so I’ve been dragging my feet when it comes to sitting down and working on the blog. I will try to do better in May. I have several drafts that need to be rewritten with said editor and I’ve been procrastinating. Is there a WordPress block editor support group out there because I would like to join. I got my first covid vaccine shot earlier this month and am scheduled for my second next week. Crossing my fingers that I don’t have any side effects because the day after is my birthday. Speaking of my birthday, I really want to get to 900 followers on IG before then, so if you are into books by authors of color and florals, I’m your girl. You can follow me here. A little sample of the photos I take:

I didn’t read a ton this month (this is starting to become a pattern), but that’s because I picked up a new hobby. I got an early birthday present…roller skates! I have no experience, so this month has been really interesting trying to learn. I am such an overthinker and that does not always serve me well when I am trying to teach myself something where I could fall over any moment. A week ago, I went outside for only the second time and fell several times, but I got back up and that’s what’s important. If there are any fellow beginner roller skaters out there who want to start a DM group to support one another, hit me up. So I read three and a half books (I am counting this half because it’s a 500+ page book and it feels like it should count as two). Not a great number, but I am hoping to pick up the pace in May. I am still behind on my Goodreads goal and need to catch up. Wish me luck!

(Book covers below are linked to my reviews, unless otherwise specified.) 

Favorite Book This Month:

Anna-Marie McLemore’s The Mirror Season was heartbreaking and beautiful and one of the most unforgettable books I’ve ever read. My review for this one should go up this month. Cover linked to Goodreads.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

No book received lower than three stars from me.

Reviews Posted This Month:

(Covers linked to reviews)

Notable Blog Posts:

Top Ten Tuesday: 2021 Releases with Great Color Schemes – Take a look at some of my favorite colorful covers for 2021 releases.

What I Watched/Am Watching:

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Well this was such a fun ride! I really enjoyed the dynamics between Sam and Bucky. There were times when I wished the show would go a little further with its storylines, but it’s Marvel, so I don’t expect it to make revolutionary statements. Still, I enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing what happens next to these characters.

Teen Wolf – Like last month, I really wanted to watch something familiar. I haven’t seen Teen Wolf in years but really enjoyed the first few seasons and so I binged away. I am actually at the end of season 3b and am already crying knowing what happens at the end.

May Releases I’m Excited For:

Which releases are you looking forward to in May? Let’s discuss in the comments and feel free to leave me a link to your own wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to visit!

Monthly Wrap-Up: March ’21

March was going fine and then I had the rug pulled out from under me. You might have noticed I was MIA the last couple of weeks and that was on purpose as I had things I had to deal with and I did not have the mental capacity to deal with the blog as well. Still not doing all that great, but I wanted to get back into the swing of things to give myself something else to focus on. Also it looks like WordPress has finally made the leap to this new editor (where is my classic editor, I need you, I miss you) and I am utterly lost. It’s going to take some getting used to, so if posts look a little wonky for the next few weeks, you will know why. I only read three books this month, but I am going to let myself off the hook because this month was just so hard to get through. Patting myself on the back anyways.

(Book covers below are linked to my reviews, unless otherwise specified.) 

Favorite Book This Month:

My favorite read in March was Daka Hermon’s Hide and Seeker. I finished this at the beginning of the month which feels like something that happened a year ago. This had the perfect amount of horror for a middle grade and I know that younger me would have loved this one. Cover linked to Goodreads.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

No book received lower than three stars from me.

Reviews Posted This Month:

(Covers linked to reviews)

Notable Blog Posts:

Top Ten Tuesday: Spring ’21 Releases I’m Excited For – I am so excited for so many spring releases. Check out my top ten most anticipated releases this season.

What I Watched/Am Watching:

Crash Landing on You – I threw myself into my favorite comfort drama because I needed some comfort. Just in case you were wondering, Crash Landing on You is just as good the second time around and I got just as emotional rewatching it.

April Releases I’m Excited For:

What have you been watching lately? Do you have a comfort show or book? Let’s discuss in the comments and feel free to leave me a link to your own wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to visit!