Hi friends! ☀️ It’s JANUARY!
I hope you will all have a wonderful, wonderful 2020 filled with love, happiness, kindness and all the books!
3/6 months left of winter and seasonal depression.
That’s my mood, summed up, basically.
December has been all kinds of complicated. In case you’re not aware, there have been massive strikes in France all thorough the month, making me wake up extra early and go home extra late, just to be able to go to work. This has made me anxious and stressed out all thorough the month, from not being certain to be able to get to work to not being certain to do my usual 562 km across France for the end of the year.
December hasn’t been too kind and I’m tired, that’s all. 3 months left and it’s spring again here on this side of the world and I can’t wait.
I haven’t managed to read a whole damn lot this month either, which made me feel… well, a little disappointed in myself, I’m not going to lie. I also know that reasonably, I still read a lot despite it all and with the time I had, but well. Doing my best, I guess.
? Books I read
WHEN THE STARS LEAD TO YOU ☂️ I kind of fell in love with this book and I’m just so, so happy I read it and hope you will ALL read it. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and important and I love it.
THE SPEAKER ☂️ Okay so this series is way too underrated and you should read it. This second book was stunning and complex and this series gets more and more amazing.
TWEET CUTE ☂️ I found this way too adorable and it made me smile a whole damn lot and YES to this.
HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? ☂️ I love Holly Bourne. I love how unapologetically REAL her books are and feel and don’t shy away from…. well, life. Read Holly Bourne’s books OKAY.
- Goodreads Challenge: 75/60 books ?I think I kind of rocked my reaching challenge this year?? I’m pretty proud that I managed to succeed at this and to read more books than I ever did, my record being 73 books. I’m trying not to think too much about numbers, but allowing myself to be proud, too.
- Year of The Asian Reading Challenge: 10/10 books ! I MADE IT!!!
? Currently reading
I’m still deep into edits for my WIP, trying to make this draft 4 a readable and hopefully good one. I haven’t settled down with my writing as much as I would have liked to, but I’m doing my very best to pay more attention and to write a little more each month, too.
Otherwise I will never, ever finish this draft.
- Words written: 11 455
I guess my mood affected my blogging a tiny bit, even if no one probably felt it.
I managed to keep up with my usual posting dates for the most part and I’m really happy about it. I also LOVED writing all of the end of the year blog posts and most anticipated blog posts and I am hoping that this motivation about these kind of posts will seep into the new year and into new blog posts this January. Fingers crossed!
? Book reviews
Click on the book covers to be redirected to my reviews.
? Book discussions & tags
As usual, I’ve been cruelly slacking on the blog hopping and commenting part. I adore you all and wish I could do more, I’m sorry. Here is my little selection of the month, hoping you’ll enjoy it!
? Books & Reading
- Olivia @ Purely Olivia is sharing 12 Books That Will Give You All the Cozy Fall Feels (Even Though It’s Almost Over)
- Laura @ Green Tea & Paperbacks shared an amazing blog post with 67 Very Exciting 2020 YA Releases
- Noémie @ Tempest of Books wrote a great blog post I loved: The memories I made reading while growing up ?
- Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsical made me discover some amazing books in her blog post: Unattractive Book Covers That Hide Fantastic Stories
- Caro @ Book Cheshire Cat shares with us her first reading challenge and it sounds AWESOME : Out of Your Comfort Zone 2020 Reading Challenge Announcement ?
? Book Blogging
- Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea wrote an incredible how to post: What Makes me Keep Reading a Post? + Tips on How to Implement those Things!
- Kal @ Reader Voracious is being her amazing self again and sharing her INCREDIBLE Book Blogger / Reader Spreadsheet Template (2020)
? Writing, Lifestyle & Other Posts I Loved
- Nicole @ Thoughts Stained With Ink wrote a wonderful blog post about writing: Today, I’m Thankful For Writing
- Sophie @ Me and Ink gave some amazing tips in her blog post How To Improve Next Year? ?️
Is there a blog post you are particularily proud of this month? Feel free to send it along with your comment!
How was your December? Did you have a great month? Anything exciting happening or anything you’re looking forward to? Share something positive that happened to you this December?
What were your favorite books this month? Are you ready for a New Year to start? Tell me everything in comments!
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Happy new year, I hope you have an amazing 2020 ??
Thank you so much, happy new year to you too!! <3 <3
You’re welcome and thanks ??
Happy New Year, Marie!
I also have the same feelings about the winter months. December has actually been a pretty warm month over here, so I’m entering the new year braced for a cold spring. I hope that you stay safe during the strikes and that you continue to be able to make it to work and back.
THE SPEAKER sounds amazing. I’ll have to check out book 1.
I started plotting a novel last year and hope to write it in 2020. Best of wishes with your WIP!
I hope that blogging in 2020 goes well for you as well! I recently wrote a Best Books of the Decade post. I’m really happy with it since it took a lot of time to compile and then type up my thoughts about each book.
Happy New Year to you too!! Thank you so much for your sweet words, this means so much <3 I hope that spring won't be too cold for you, thankfully we only have a couple months left to go through haha 🙂
AH YES! I hope you will read The Reader, it's such an incredible book and the series continues to amaze me.
I hope you'll get to write and blog and read a whole lot of amazing books this year as well, Crystal! 🙂 <3
I think I could have had a better reading month, but this one book I’m reading has taken a long time to finish so I haven’t been able to read other books that I wanted to. Here’s to a great 2020!
Ohh well some books just take more time than others, it’s okay! 🙂 I hope you’ll have a fantastic year, Nicole, and thank you! 😀
The strikes have been so difficult to deal, and I am so sorry they have your life a lot more difficult and tiring. Hopefully, it will start to settle down soon (I have no idea what to expect however). Did oyu manage to go home for New Year’s like we talked about? Because honestly, my trains being cancelled and not being able to spend Christmas with my family was way more difficult that I would have thought. A lot more cyring was involved. So I hope things went okay for you! ♥
You still read quite a few books! The fact that you also enjoyed them is a positive thing. And congratulations on achieving both your challenges, you did THAT and it’s amazing! I set my goodreads reading challenge this morning like every year, I love this little tradition ♥
THANK YOU SO MUCH for mentioning my little post on your wrap-up, I am so happy you enjoyed it enough to talk about it. I’m really happy with how it came out, and it was right from my heart, so it’s lovely to see it resonated with people too ♥
I wish you a happy new year, and I hope 2020 is kind to you ♥
I really hope they will settle down soon, it’s getting really, really tiring. I’m so, so sorry that you couldn’t be with your family, Noémie! 🙁 I hope that you will be able to see them sooner rather than later <3 <3 I got lucky with my train and got to spend new year's with my love thankfully, a little bright light in my month. I'm really hoping that you will be able to see your family soon and that they will just. settle. down. it's been SO long ahah. <3
Of course, you're so welcome! I loved your post so much and it made me so happy to read a post I really connected with <3
I hope you'll have a wonderful new year and wishing you all the best, happiness, kindness and love all around this 2020, Noémie. It's been so good chatting with you next year and I hope this continues for a while! <3
Depression is so hard! Hang in there, I’m wishing you the best.
Thank you so, so much, this means a lot <3 <3
Awesome job at reaching and surpassing your goodreads goal! That is so awesome! I’m hoping to read 31 books this year. (I know, it’s a silly number. I mostly came up with it because it made my squares on my book bullet journal look more uniformed XD ) I hope you have a fabulous 2020, Marie! 🙂
Amber @ Escape Life in the Pages
Thank you so much, Amber! Ahhhh but this is such a great goal, damn! I wish put a sort of random number on my challenge now, it sounds much more fun that way ahah 🙂 Wishing you all the best and hope you’ll have great reads this year! <3
Hello Marie!
You’ve made me curious about Tweet Cute and Loveboat, Taipei. Definitely want to give these book a try 🙂
That’s awesome that you’re continuing to edit draft 4 of your WIP! Looking forward to hearing about your progress! I haven’t been writing as much in December compared to November, however hoping to buckle down and get more writing done in January 🙂
Hi Sophie!!
I hope you’ll get a chance to read both books, they’re amazing <3
It's taking a while and will probably take me…. another while ahah, but I'm trying not to give up, I guess that's what matters ahah. I hope you'll get to do more writing this month! <3
Not giving up is the most important part 🙂 Let’s both do our best when it comes to our writing goals this year!
Yes, we can do this!❤️
Happy new decade! ??
Happy new year to you Carol!!! <3 <3
Happy New Year Marie!! ?
Here’s to a beautiful 2020! 🙂
Happy new year to you too!! Here’s to an amazing year filled with great reads and adventures <3
I’m sorry about your seasonal depression, Marie, I know it is something that a lot of people suffer from. January and February are the worst months for weather, but at least the days are starting to get longer again.
Thank you so much, Angela, yeah usually January and February aren’t my favorite months ahah, but at least we’re getting a little more light so that’s good 🙂
I hope you’ll have a wonderful month! <3
Only 3 months to spring!! Hang in there, I’m right there with you <3 I wanted summer yesterday 😉
YES counting down the months! Thank you so much!! <3
Happy New Year, Marie!! <3 I hope you have a truly wonderful year, spring comes early for you, you're able to read all the wonderful books you want and your heart feels fully and content at the end of every day. I hope your muses are kind to you and the words are always flowing, that you get to eat good food and get to travel to someplace magical! I can't wait to support you in 2020 as you continue to be amazing and inspiring! <3 <3
PS: Thank you for sharing my post, ohmygosh! *cries*
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU NICOLE <3 and thank you for being such a supportive friend all year long, you've been incredible and I adore you <3 <3 I hope you'll have a fantastic year, filled with books and writing and all the love <3
And of course! I loved your post so much <3
*is filled with warm fuzzies*
I am so thankful for you and our friendship! I adore you and cannot wait for another year of friendship, support, blogging, reading good books and writing wonderful ones! <3
Ahh I’m so thankful for you, thank you for being here, I’m just so happy to talk with you always ❤ ❤ ❤
Oh, right back athca, lovely!
Ooh I can’t wait to read Tweet Cute and When The Stars Lead To You so glad you enjoyed!!
Ahhhh I hope you’ll love both of these, they’re amazing!! 🙂
I hope you start feeling better soon. I’m also in the middle of seasonal depression (with anxiety) and it’s horrible. I hope that 2020 will be a great year for you.
Thank you so, so much, hoping for the same for you <3 sending you lots of love and support! <3
Thank you so much.
Aahh I hope you’re staying safe from the strikes, Marie!! And I’m so sorry to hear that your seasonal depression is making it hard for you this time of year. If you ever need anything, I’m always here, and we are all cheering you on!! ??
I’m so happy you enjoyed Tweet Cute!! I’m hoping to read it this month and I’ve heard so many great things about it, so I’m super excited! Congrats on going beyond your Goodreads goal—you’re a powerhouse ??
I hope you have a good January and 2020, Marie!!
thank you so, so, so much for the love and support, May, this means the world ???
I can’t wait for you to read Tweet Cute and I hope you’ll love it, it is such an incredible read and ahh I adored it so much <3
I hope that 2020 will be kind to you too, sending you lots of love ?
You’ve really made me want to read Tweet Cute – it sounds freaking adorable, and sometimes that’s exactly what I want. 🙂 I have been seeing the strikes in France in the news a lot, and I haven’t even considered how it would be so stressful and difficult to get to work. 🙁 I do hope the situation will improve soon.
Congratulations on reading more than ever before!! That’s such a big thing, and you 1000% deserve to be proud of yourself. I think it’s okay to care about the numbers as long as you concentrate on the good ones, haha. Thank you for highlighting my post, I’m happy you enjoyed it. 😀
Happy 2020, and I hope you’ll have a wonderful year! 🙂
Ahh this makes me so happy, Tweet Cute was such a wonderful,funny, adorable read and I hope you’ll love it!! <3
I hope the situation gets better soon, fingers crossed. thank you <3
Thank you so much, Veronika! I hope that 2020 will be incredible to you! <3
Happy New Year! Here’s to a wonderful 2020 (and hopefully spring will come earlier this year *wink*) 🙂
Happy new year to you too, Alex, wishing you all the best for 2020!! <3 <3
I’m so sorry about the strikes and the fact that it’s still very wintery where you live, Marie. I’m thinking of you and I hope things get better soon! I hope this year is filled with new favorite books with adorable characters and love and chocolate, too. <3
Congratulations on exceeding your Goodreads challenge, that's amazing!! And the Year of The Asian Reading Challenge, too! You're killing it, don't forget that. <3
Thank you so much for mentioning my post, it means the world! I'm very happy you enjoyed it. Truly wishing you the best January and new year, my friend!
Thank you so, so much, Olivia, let’s hope so <3 <3 and thank you for your sweet words and support ahh I don't deserve you, thank you <3
I hope you'll have a beautiful January and new year just as well! <3
Happy New Year, Marie! ? I hope you have a great 2020 😀
I barely read anything in December because I felt sort of burnt out after reading so much in October and November, but I did manage to read one book so at least I read something ?
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too Louise! I hope that 2020 will be beautiful and bright <3
Aahh I'm so sorry! At least you read one book so that's a good start, I hope that your reading mojo will come back soon <3
Great job reading! I love seeing people surpass their goals 😀
Ahh thank you so much!! 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that December hasn’t been an easy month for you, with all the strikes and seasonal depression. I hope this month will bring a better month and experience! ?
Thank you so, so much, fingers crossed! <3
Love your writing style! Love France as well, we travel there every month, but weren’t able to make it this december. Happy new year to you to Marie! Will be following you from here on..
Oh thank you so much! Happy new year to you too 🙂
Oh I’m so sorry that December hasn’t been treating you very well. I’m glad you completed your Goodreads and YARC goals 🙂 Hope that January goes well for you!
Thank you so, so much Charvi! I hope that January will be kind to you <3
Happy new year, I hope you have an amazing 2020! ?? I’m sorry to hear that December has been a bit stressful with the strikes making things complicated, but I’m happy that you enjoyed a lot of books! I loved The Speaker earlier this year as well, it took the whole series to a new level ? Also thank you so much for shouting out my reading challenge that means a lot to me!! ??
Happy new year to you tooo, Caro! Thank you so much for your sweet words, it means a lot <3 and I can't wait to continue with The Reader series!
Of course, I hope that your challenge will be an amazing success!!
amazing wrap up! Congrats on going above and beyond on your reading challenge and happy new year!!
Thank you so much, happy new year to you too!! 🙂 <3
Hello Marie!! And happy 2020, I hope this year is wonderful for you!! I hope spring comes early for you as well. The travelling for work sounds very exhausting, I’m so sorry that is happening to you and I send you all the best!!
I’m so glad you are still enjoying The Reader series, I definitely want to pick it up!! I hope you love the third one too!!
I’m so glad you liked Holly Bourne’s book as well!!
Congratulations on completing both of your reading challenges, that’s amazing!! I am going to participate in the YARC this year. I was looking up books for it and got way too carried away!! ?
Well done on your progress for writing, what I’m learning is that blogging and writing are really hard to do together. I have no idea how to balance them– I’m always behind on one of them and I hate that feeling. So you should definitely be proud of what you’re doing!! <3 I did have a good writing month– I hit 40,000 words which was my end of year goal. I haven't wrote since so I think I need to set monthly goal to make me actually do it!! I really enjoy it when I do it as well!!
Thank you so much Marie for sharing my post, that means so much and I'm glad you enjoyed it !! I love writing that one as it made me feel excited for life (if that makes sense)!!
I hope you have an amazing January!! <3
HAPPY NEW YEAR SOPHIE! I hope that 2020 will be good to you and I’m sending you all the love and positive vibes <3 <3
I so get that – I find it so hard to balance it all, blogging and reading and writing and life and sometimes I just don't know what to prioritize, it can get quite frustrating. I hope that you'll get to write more this year, we both can do this! <3
Thank you so much for your sweet words, have a beautiful month! <3
Thank you so much Marie, that means a lot!! <3
It is difficult but yes we can definitely both do this!! <3
Thank you so much!!
Happy New Year! <3 I hope that your January will be better than your December! <3
Happy new year to you too!! Let’s hope so 🙂
Happy New Year <3 I'm sorry your December was so intense and hard *hugs* I hope 2020 vastly improves for you.
congratulations on totally killing it with your goodreads challenge!!
My 2019 wasn't too great. I'm really glad to see the back of it but I did cross my GR challenge too and book wise, it was a great year 🙂
thank you so, so much for your sweet words, this means a lot <3 <3
I hope that you'll have a better 2020 overall, I'm sending you all the positive vibes! <3
Congrats on crushing your Goodreads goal, that’s awesome! I’ve personally intended to pick up The Reader so many times (I think I’ve checked it out from the library at least twice), but I just haven’t made the time. I definitely need to make it a priority, because I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about it.
When the Stars Lead to You looks GORGEOUS, I’m definitely heading over to your review. XD
And omg, all of those blog posts look so good, thanks so much for sharing!
Ahh thank you, Amy! I really hope you’ll read The Reader at some point, it is such an underrated, incredible series, I am amazed by the way the author came up with such a complex story. I hope you’ll love it 😀
Thank you so, so much, I’m so so happy you enjoyed this post and hope you find some new bloggers here 😀
Thanks, me too! I definitely think I will.
Happy new year!! I hope the rest of the dark, cold Winter months aren’t as bad and that it’s Spring time before we know it.
I honestly can’t wait to read Tweet Cute and When The Stars Lead To You. They both sound so good and I’m so happy you liked them! 🙂
Happy new year to you to!!! Thank you so much, let’s hope so <3
I hope you'll get a chance to read both of these soon, they're wonderful <3
I hope you start feeling better soon. Struggling with depression is so hard sometimes. I’ve been feeling so down for the last few months as well and I am just ready for better days. *hugs* I am really looking forward to reading Tweet Cute. I hope I get the chance soon. Nice job with your Goodreads challenge and completing the Asian reading challenge! I hope you have an amazing 2020.
Thank you so much, Ashley, I’m so sorry you’ve been feeling this way as well. sending you hugs and positive vibes and hoping we can get through this soon <3
I can't wait for you to read tweet cute, I hope you'll love it 🙂
Have a beautiful 2020, sending you all the love!! <3
i can’t wait to read Tweet Cute and When the Stars Lead to You! I feel like I’ll fly through them, and enjoy them a lot <3
i'm so sorry that you're still going through seasonal depression, and that the strikes are affecting you like this <3 i really hope things will settle down soon. sending so much love from the Philippines <3 <3
and congrats on meeting your reading challenge and your goals for YARC! that's amazing <3
AH I am so excited for you to read both of these, I loved them SO much, I hope you will too! <3
Thank you so much, it means a lot, let's hope so. days are growing longer, second by second and I'm hanging onto that ❤
thank you!! you're wonderful, your comments always make me so happy. thank you ❤❤❤
I’m sorry to hear that your December was stressful, but I hope January will be kinder <3. The beginning of my December was also a tad stressful: I started my first semester of college last year, and finals season hit me harder than I anticipated. Being on winter break now though has been nothing but lovely, and I hope I'll stay refreshed as I head into my second semester soon. It's awesome that you were able to read 75 books last year! I am shooting for 52 in 2020 but we'll see how it goes. Happy new year! :))
claire @ clairefy
Thank you so, so much, let’s hope so 🙂 <3
Marie ❤️ Aaah, it feels so good to write this comment!
Okay. I’m so sorry about the seasonal depression thing & the strikes, that must suck so much ?
Tweet Cute is on my TBR. Everyone is freaking out about how cute it is so I can’t wait to read it.
Happy New Year & I hope from the bottom of my heart that there will be tons more comments on your post from me xx
MICHELLE ❤️ it feels so good to read a comment from you ❤️
I really can’t wait for you to read Tweet Cute, it’s such an adorable read! 🙂
I wish you the best year ever, Michelle and hope that you’ll make all of your dreams come true! Ily tons ❤️
I’ve never heard of When The Stars Lead To You, I’ve added it to my TBR!
ahhhh this makes me so happy, it’s such a great read, I hope you’ll love it 🙂