Happy May, friends 🌷 It’s that time of the month again where I’m sharing what I read, did, wrote and blogged about in the past month. Let’s get started, shall we!
I feel like April has been a little bit better, thankfully. The weather has been kinder and more spring-like, too, which has done wonders on some days for my mental health. Not going to lie, it’s still been a bit of a rollercoaster and I am still having a rough time in some aspects of my life, but well.
I was able to see my family this past month for a couple days, which was obviously the bright spot of this entire month. We celebrated my sister’s birthday, got to travel a little bit here and there for day trips and it was exactly the kind of break I needed.
Excited for May to be here and for the sunnier, summer-y like months to come around now!
Monthly Reading Wrap-Up
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Without too much surprise, I read less this month than in March. With my time off work and my little getaways, I didn’t take as much time to read, but I’m hoping to catch up next month!
THE DONUT TRAP ☂️ This was a really fun adult contemporary romance! I liked the main character, the family ties, the soft romance and, obviously, it made me a bit hungry with the donuts. Recommending if you’re looking for a light, heartwarming read!
💧 Buy on Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
SOME MISTAKES WERE MADE ☂️ This was one of my most anticipated reads of the YEAR, friends. While it didn’t end up being a 5-star read (and I’m sad about it), it was still a great YA contemporary filled with angst and a family I loved.
💧 Read my review – Buy on Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
THE AGATHAS ☂️ A fun YA mystery! I was entertained from page one and there were some surprises I didn’t see coming.
💧 Buy on Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Book Discoveries of The Month
PORTRAIT OF A THIEF ☂️ Everyone has been talking about this book on my social media and I’ll admit it: I hadn’t paid too much attention to it before. I deeply regret it, because this sounds like an INCREDIBLE heist novel that’s based on a true story of looted Chinese art vanishing from Western museums. I’m excited to read this!!
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
TWICE SHY ☂️ I haven’t read anything by Sarah Hogle just yet, but this book landed on my TBR this month because it just sounds SO lovely. It’s about Maybell, inheriting her great aunt’s house and finding out she has to share it with her aunt’s gardener, Wesley. It sounds like the kind of adult romance I’ve been really enjoying, lately!
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
Goodreads challenge: 17/50 books
I’m still one book ahead of my reading challenge, so that’s good. Still, trying not to put too much pressure on myself with this!
If you read my march wrap-up, you’ll remember that I finished a second draft this past month and was overall sweating about what would happen next.
This manuscript is currently in the hands of a couple trusted beta readers and I’m still sweating, hoping they will enjoy it.
Since my brain apparently doesn’t know how to rest, I’ve been fidgeting with a brand new idea for the past month. For now, it’s just a big mess of paragraphs with a premise idea and notes all around about characters, music and overall vibes. Oh, and it already has Pinterest board, because, obviously.
Not sharing too much about this now, but… I feel very excited about this story. I don’t know if I’ll try and tackle a first draft this month, or if I’ll get back to editing!
April hasn’t been the most productive month, when it comes to blogging. I skipped a week of blog posts because… well, I just didn’t take time to schedule blog posts and enjoyed my couple days off instead, so. I’m okay with that, I guess!
On the blog this month: book reviews
On the blog this month: blogging, books & more
My sister shared a fantastic blog post with the best dystopian YA novels, according to her. I loved her recommendations here!
I had a lot of fun compiling this list of YA books about royalty, one of my favorite trope ever!
Last, but not least, I wrote about some YA books with plot twists and… well, I did NOT see it coming in those books. I’m looking for your recommendations here, so if you have any great book with plot twists in mind, pretty please?
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On instagram
I tried a little something new on my instagram account this month with a reel about my day as a book blogger. People seemed to enjoy it and this made me so happy! Maybe I’ll try and share more of these kind of things, sometime, who knows..
You can follow my instagram account here!
Since I haven’t been writing a lot this past month, I took a bit more time to check out some of your lovely blogs, so yay! Here are some blog posts I enjoyed reading this past month:
- Amber @ Du livre shared a great post with audiobook narrators for newbies!
- I loved Malka @ Paper Procrastinators’ post about what it takes to write a blog post.
- Sabrina & Vera @ Wordy and Whimsical shared a great post in appreciation of their favorite book bloggers. Such a great selection and so honored to be featured!
- May @ Forever and Everly talked about book buying habits and experiences.
- Nicole @ Thoughts Stained with Ink wrote a GREAT post about the importance of commenting on book blogs.
How was your April? Did you find a new favorite read this month? How are you all doing lately?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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I’m glad you enjoyed The Donut Trap! I have the audio for awhile. Need to get to it!
Ah I hope you’ll get a chance to read it soon and will enjoy it! 🙂
OOH I have Twice Shy on reservation from the library!
Oooh yay, I hope you will enjoy it!
loved the agathas this month as well!! hope you have a wonderful may💜
Ah I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you, Kaya! 🙂
I’m really excited for The Agathas! I’m happy to hear you liked it 🙂 I hope May is a good month for you!
Ahh I hope you will enjoy it! Thank you so much, Mel, I hope you’ll have a lovely month as well!
Ahhh, I’m so glad to hear that your work is in the hand with betas! That’s so exciting! And I know how that feels, to have a new shiny idea come right back, even after you just finished something. I’ll be rooting for you in all ways! I hope May continues to be kind and the best of the year is yet to come.
(Also, thank you for sharing my post! 🖤)
Thank you so, so much, Nicole, your support always means so much <3 I hope that you've been doing alright and that May will be really kind to you! <3
I am still so confused about how we are already in May. Feels like I blinked and Feb-April merged themselves together for me 😂 My reading has been really slow, which seems to be the new normal for me and whilst I wish I could say I was upset about it. I also have been enjoying taking my time to savour the books I read when I get round to picking them up. I did read What’s Not To Love though in April, which I devoured in one sitting.
So proud of you for all your writing as for whether to start a new draft or resume editing, I guess go where your attention/mind is pulling you? If you feel like you need to take a step back from the editing and that story, you could work on something new. Sometimes taking a step back and letting it stew, helps you come back with fresh eyes and new ideas. Either way, in case no ones said this to you recently, you’re doing amazing!
My April was chill in the first half as I had two weeks off work but the last week I was hit with the energy to work so I somehow managed to finish my last assignment for the course I’m doing and submitted it. I have no idea where that energy came from but I’m grateful I got it because it’s nice being able to relax for a bit. I’ve been doing some cross stitching and refocusing myself back on language learning since submitting it hehe. Hope you have a lovely May with lots of sunshine my love 💜
I’m so happy you’re enjoying yourself with the books you’re reading, that’s all that really matters! <3
Thank you so, so much for your kind words 🥺 I've been taking a bit of a break from it all, since I don't know where my mind's pulling me just yet ahah, but thank you so much. <3
I hope that May has been treating you kindly! <3
I’m glad that the spring weather can bring you some joy! 💕 I’m very excited to read The Agathas as I love Kathleen Glasgow! I haven’t read anything by Liz Lawson, but I’m curious about them co-writing 😊 I hope you have a great May! 🌷
Oh what books by Kathleen Glasgow did you read? I’m curious to read more from both authors now!
Thank you, Caro, I hope you are having a lovely May! <3
I loved How to Make Friends with the Dark, it was one of my favorite books of the year! 🥰 I also liked Girl in Pieces and I hope to read You’d be Home Now soon 😊 Thank you!
Oooh that’s so good to know, I’ll have to check it out! 🙂
Glad you were able to have some family time in April. I added Twice Shy to my TBR not too long ago because of a blogger recommendation. It sounds delightful. I hope we both enjoy. Happy May!
Ahh yay, I hope we will both love it. Thank you so much, Alicia, hope May is being kind to you so far! <3
oh, a possible new book idea sounds so exciting! i hope you have fun developing it <3 and i'm glad that the warmer & sunnier weather has been helping your mental health! i'm already dying from the heat here, but the sun has definitely made me feel better too :] hope you have a great may!!
I’m excited about the idea… but haven’t done anything just yet, paralyzed by it ahah 😂 thank you so much, May! I hope you’ll have a lovely month and that everything is okay on your side of the world! <3 <3
Love your detailed wrap-up! I hope May will be a better month for you and congratulations that you’ve started sharing your work with beta readers! I’m no where near brave enough yet for that 🙃
I’ve been branching out with my reading but having no luck with romance stories so I’ll try out Twice Shy and The Donut Trap. Hopefully one of them will be it for me :-).
Oh thank you so much, you’re so kind🥺 It took me so many years to get to that stage and… to be honest, I still feel very anxious about my work being with beta readers. I guess this never really goes away 🙈 but I’m telling myself that it will make my story better and that’s what matters! I know someday you’ll be able to send your story to beta readers as well, rooting for you! <3
I hope you'll love these romances, fingers crossed! <3
i am happy to hear the weather is better and you’re feeling more energized as well, marie! in this side of the hemisphere (or at least where i live hahah), we’ve finally been getting more autumn-like weather and it makes me want to curl up and watch twilight non stop hahah. but it is my favorite mood!
i am glad to hear you enjoyed some mistakes were made so much. i do think it has a fantastic premise and i loved the cover. i have yet to read more summer romances, and i’m looking forward to this one.
as someone who’s currently reading portrait of a thief, i can attest to its quality. it is a really great story and it is incredibly well-written. i am shocked this is grace d. li’s debut!
hope you’re having a great may!!
Ahh I’m so glad you’re enjoying this time of the year on your side of the world, Lais! It’s always nice to curl up with a fluffy blanket and a movie! <3
This is so, so good to know, I hope I can read Portrait of a Thief soon, it sounds truly excellent!
Thank you so much, I hope you're having a wonderful month as well <3
Happy May…well almost June when I’m reading this! I’m so behind on my good reads goal. I think I’ve read about 18 books, and am 11 behind, which…yikes. But I’m glad you’ve been busy and traveling. Sounds like so much fun! Hope June is even better for you xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Thank you so, so much Melina! Oh you’ve read so much already, though, that’s fantastic! Sometimes, life gets busy and we can’t read as much, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for that too much <3
I hope June will be amazing for you, love! xx
I’m glad April has been treating you well! It’s always fun to spend time with family and travel. Happy belated birthday to Nyx!
The Donut Trap is also on my TBR, it just sounds like a very fun read. Gonna bump it up after reading your thoughts on it 🙂 Hope May has been an even better month!
Thank you, Charvi! The Donut Trap was such a fun read, I hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂