Monthly wrap-up – January 2018

Book discussions, , 176 Comments

Hello friends, happy Wednesday! Today it’s time again to wrap-up the month… and I want to say, FINALLY. Is it just me, or has January been dragging on for three months ??

in real life

January has been THE LONGEST MONTH, I feel like we should already be in April. Everything was painfully slow.

If I am thilled that the Christmas season is over and that all the tourists I mentioned last month are now gone, everything otherwise has been quite predictable and… well, nothing much has happened. I took some steps outside of my comfort zone this month though, sending some dreaded emails, meeting some people, being rejected yet one step closer to what I would like to do and would make me happy, professionally. I think. Slow steps, everyone.

Anyway, let’s hope February will be MUCH QUICKER than January, people. I’m looking forward to a couple days’ off at the end of the month, but also to MORE BOOKS, food, sleep and watching The Good Place, Dynasty and the rest of the Harry Potter movies (ALWAYS HARRY POTTER).

on books

So far, I’m doing okay with my reading: I have read 6 books this month and I really enjoyed ALL of them. I am ahead on my Goodreads Challenge AND I have read 3 backlist titles and 3 new releases… LOOK AT ME JUGGLING THESE BOOKS RIGHT. Let’s take a moment to be proud, okay?

I also have to mention that I did not buy any books this month, at all. I’m feeling really lucky to have received / won two books this month (Eliza and Her Monsters as well as How To Disappear). Let me set things straight right away, though: February has my most anticipated release of… THE YEAR coming, THE BELLES and I will buy that one for sure because I NEED IT SO BADLY.

Books I read

For someone who didn’t know a damn thing about Batman’s story, I really enjoyed that one? You can already read my full review here.

I loved that adorable contemporary so much and wanted to hug everyone. You can read my full review here.

As a huge fan of the Mara Dyer series, I expected to fall in love with that one. I enjoyed it a lot, but it has been too long and somehow missed some of the magic? Full review coming soon!

Highly anticipated by SO MANY people, The Hazel Wood was a really great, captivating and imaginative read. You can read my full review here!

 

I expected to love that one. Spoiler alert: I DID. I also felt emotions and RELATABLE AND AHHH. Full review coming soon!

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was not disappointed. It was so relatable, the characters were GREAT and Arvin is making its way in my authors-to-follow list. Full review coming Friday!

 

 

in-real-life

I actually have an announcement here, friends. FOR REAL. Sometime at the beginning of this month, I actually opened my Word doc again and started the very stressful process of re-reading my WIP. I was expecting to cringe, to throw my computer away and cry every two lines because it was so bad.

Yet, I was surprised. I didn’t cry (so far). I didn’t throw my computer on the floor (so far). I actually managed to link together plot elements and I actually like my characters??

My re-reading is taking a LOT of time, as I only take time to do so on the weekends. I’m about 50 pages in (my word doc is around 120 pages). As I am re-reading, I know I still need to work on things, such as world-building and characters-shaping. But I think I didn’t write something that bad, somehow?

on the blog

It’s been a… crazy blogging month overall. I’ve been feeling inspired, motivated and the blog hopping force was with me as well. Let’s hope this lasts??

Book reviews

Click on the book covers to be redirected to my reviews.

Discussions

Book Blogging

Writing

Nyx’s Corner

Hello friends, I actually bookmarked tons of amazing blog posts this month, so BE READY to discover ALL of them from the book blogging sphere below. I probably missed some, but I did my best.

 

How was January for you? Did you also feel like that month was endless?? Anything positive happened to you this month?

What was your favorite book this month? Let’s chat in comments!

Posted by

Book blogger, travel blogger, writer. 📚 |🌍 | 💞 Writing & Communications Graduate. French. Living on love, wanderlust and ya books.

176 thoughts on “Monthly wrap-up – January 2018”

  1. HELLO HAPPY FEBRUARY!!! I commented but didn’t see if I actually click * post comment * or not so I’m writing again LOL! First I LOVED THIS POST!!! I’m so happy for you, you read six books WOW! I was only able to read 3 books but I’m planning to read more books this month❤️ I loved Girl Againts the Universe, I’m glad you liked it too😊 Good luck with your WIP! I

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh thank you so much, Nicole! It is so scary, so far I think it’s going okay, let’s hope it stays that way 😂
      Oh and well, you’re welcome ahah, there were so many great posts this month 😀
      Thank you so much for your sweet comment! ❤ ❤

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  3. Thanks for sharing my post!! I’ve been a bit absent this month but I found 2 of your posts I need to go back and read! I hope you LOVE Eliza and Her Monsters! I think it’s pretty great to be honest.
    I hope you have a better month! Hopefully it doesn’t drag out and you get a few less rejections. Plus YOUR WIP! I’m so in awe of anyone who has written a novel, because I can’t understand how. Also, what is this anticipated book 0.0 ??

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    1. You’re so welcome, Shar! ❤
      I can't wait to read it – I will get to it this month for sure and I can't wait. It sounds exactly like the kind of book I would love 🙂
      It's The Belles!! I can't WAIT to read this book, my pre-order is supposed to be coming soon and I am so excited ahahah 🙂
      Thank you so much!! I hope you will have a great February ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Aw thank you so much my sweechie ❤
      I'm so sorry that January was a bit of a mixed month! I hope that February will get better for you, I'm always here if you need to rant. Sending you all the love ❤ ❤

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  5. I love that Hazel Wood cover, is it the UK edition?

    I also realize I need to have more on my blog than just hauls, challenges and reviews. I’ve always been hesitant about making discussion or just normal blog posts for some reason. Hoping to break out of that this year!

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    1. Yes, it’s the UK edition! I feel like The Hazel Wood has amazing covers, no matter the edition ahah 🙂
      Oh, why are you hesitant? If you’re feeling inspired, go ahead! I’m sure you will have tons of fun 😀
      Thank you so much for your sweet comment! xx

      Liked by 1 person

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      2. Oh that’s NOT silly at all, it’s a valid reason! But I’m sure people will come and comment, discussions always make people want to talk, even more than reviews, I think 🙂 At least that’s the general trend, haha 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  6. I agree so much – January was loooong and I felt like it was neverending. February has already been better for me but granted it has only been one week *keeps fingers crossed* 😅
    I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed so many of the books you read this month! AND I’m so happy that you still love your WIP! ♥ It can be hard rereading what you’ve read, so it’s a pleasant surprise that you like a lot of it 🙂 I hope that happens to me as well *glances at unfinished WIP from NaNoWriMo*

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    1. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that February will keep on being great for you! 😀
      Thank you so, so much for your sweet words! I am sure that when the time will come, you will be able to re-read your WIP and will be surprised by the amazing things you managed to write 😀

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      4. AAAAAAAAAAAH I’m so happy to hear that!! It’s because somewhere, your mind just ended up going over and over what you did, thinking it was sh*t, but it surely is NOT. I’m so happy you liked what you read 😀

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  7. January really did feel like it took forever! However, it looks like you had a really great month. I absolutely love The Good Place, and am so sad that the season finale just played and that I don’t know what will happen next! Also congratulations on working on your WIP again! It’s great when it’s not as terrible as we expect it to be!! I hope you have a great February! 🙂

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    1. Oh thank you so much, Jenn! x
      I am sooo impatient to watch The Good Place again. I need the new season to be released right now, I miss it already so much 🙂
      I hope you’re having a great month so far! 🙂

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  8. Yayyy! I had an excellent January, and it looks like your was super busy and hectic but it also sounds like you achieved some pretty awesome stuff! How exciting that you’re rereading your WIP! I only have one finished WIP but and I’m too afraid to read it, but maybe I need to pull it out and just do it… We’ll see.

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  12. Yay Marie, I’m so glad you were brave enough (wow, this sounds so dramatic) to open your WIP and read through it! I’ve literally only started writing my story but I already don’t want to read it over because it’s BAD XD and I’ve just started the Mara Dyer series and so far I’m really liking it! I’ve heard some mixed reviews on the new Noah Shaw book but I can’t really make any comments because I’m only at the first book and I don’t really have an opinion on Noah yet XD

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    1. It IS a bit dramatic, when you think about it? 😅 I’m still afraid I’ll want to throw my computer out the window, but I am doing something, or trying, so I guess that’s good? 😅
      OH YAY I am so happy you are enjoying the Mara Dyer series, fingers crossed you will until the end!! ❤ ❤
      AND WHAT – tell me your opinion on Noah as SOON as you have one, I NEED TO KNOW.

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      1. okay well I’m only 20% in but so far I’m liking Noah??? he kinda seems like the cliché perfect YA love interest, but I really like the way he teases Mara and stuff?? and he has a British accents so OBVIOUSLY that makes me like him already! (is he gonna end up being the bad guy tho?? idk i have this feeling he isn’t just some random dude from her new school hmm…)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, I think that’s what bothered some people, how cliché he seemed, but…. I like him, I think it’s the British accent that has my heart 😂
        AND I WON’T SAY anything, you’ll have to wait and seeeeeeee 😛

        Liked by 2 people

      3. oh my goooosh Marie! WHY DIDN‘T YOU TELL ME THE BOOK WOULD BE SO ADDICTING. I literally stayed up until 6am to read and then I slept for 3 hours and woke up to continue reading 😂

        And I have to say I really like Noah now! He‘s a little cliche and a bit too controlling and possessive at times but it‘s actually bearable and he‘s so good to Mara 😭😭 I love them so much, I CAN‘T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT BOOKS.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Well, because I wanted you to have the surprise – and the terrible lack of sleep, too 😂😂
        I CAN’T WAIT for you to read the next books, I hope you’ll love them all and PLEASE never forget to fangirl with me, I want to hear ALL your thoughts on this!!

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Ahah thank you! Harry Potter is just so, so, so great ❤
      I get it. I use my lunch break and long commute to read, I always wish I had more time to read ALL the books I want to, though!
      I hope you are having a lovely month! 🙂 thank you for your comment!

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    1. Oh best of luck for your exams!! ❤
      And please, don't let my thoughts on Noah Shaw influence you too much – I think I did the mistake of not re-reading the Mara Dyer series before, which left me a bit confused at the beginning of the story. If you re-read everything, I think you might find yourself into the story a bit more? 🙂
      I hope you'll love it 🙂
      Thank you so much for your sweet comment ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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