Happy August, friends ☀️ Where is this year going, like, wow. I’m not mad it’s August now! Definitely one of my favorite months of the year, because I’m a summer plant okay.
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Not going to lie: July has been a little bit complicated. I’ve been struggling a lot and overall not been in the best place, mentally, for like, most of the month, so I’m not going to dwell on this too much.
I’m happy August is here now and excited for my plans for this month, so, yay!
Monthly Reading Wrap-Up
I’m kind of pleasantly surprised at how my reading month turned out. I managed to read 6 books again, despite NOT being on holidays this time, so…. it’s a pretty nice feat to me. Moreover, most of these books were great reads, so YAY!
BAD AT LOVE ☂️ This was such a fun YA contemporary romance. While I still prefered the author’s debut, Like A Love Song, I enjoyed the characters, the chemistry and all the Hollywood setting, as well. Recommending this!
GREEN RISING ☂️ I am always amazed by Lauren James’ ability to create incredible worlds. She has such a great imagination! This book didn’t disappoint, I really liked the world-building, the characters and the message it sends, too. I hope you’ll all read this.
IF YOU STILL RECOGNISE ME ☂️ What a lovely surprise. I got this book on a whim and do not regret it one bit. It’s one of these quiet contemporary reads filled with love, queer characters you’ll adore, friendships and childhood best friends and fandom and it’s so wonderful.
DARK AND DEEPEST RED ☂️ Okay, I’m sad. I’m really, really sad. I was so pumped about this book, I’ve been wanting to read from this author for SO long, now. Also this is set, like, in a almost hometown to me. Yet…I was disappointed. Had a hard time getting into it as a whole.
KISS & TELL ☂️ While this wasn’t as good as Darius The Great, which I ADORED, Kiss & Tell was still a good contemporary read. I love stories about celebrities/bands and the pressure that goes along with it and this was a lot of fun to read. Maybe I just wanted a bit more depth?
I KISSED SHARA WHEELER ☂️ I really like Casey McQuiston’s books and this one is no exception. Definitely gives off a bit of Paper Towns (John Green) vibes, but queer as fuck and I loved it!
Book Discoveries of The Month
SOMETHING CERTAIN, MAYBE ☂️ I love Sara Barnard’s work and only recently found out about this new book. It’s about Rosie, going off to university and expecting everything to finally be alright and… it’s not. I can’t wait to read it.
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
EVERYONE HATES KELSIE MILLER ☂️ This sounds like a really fun book about two long time rivals going on a road trip to win back a best friend and a girlfriend. I’m HERE for this!
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
I AM NOT JESSICA CHEN ☂️ Okay so this releases in 2024 but HEAR ME OUT. It’s about a teenage art student getting rejected to every Ivy League, and therefore wishing to become her perfect cousin… only to wake up in her body. This sounds TOO GOOD.
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
Goodreads challenge: 32/50 books
I’m really ahead, now, kind of really happy about it!
I actually started writing my 3rd draft a little bit this past month, if you can believe it.
As always, I’m really really slow with my progress, but I’m trying my best and sometimes, I feel like I’m making this story better, so I guess it’s good? I hope it is.
I have big thoughts for this story, I really do, so big they’re a bit terrifying, but I really like this book. Let’s hope I can keep on slowly, but surely, edit this beast and maybe someday, it will be someone’s favorite book? I can dream!
It turns out I did NOT take things slow in July, on the contrary. Apparently, I published a lot of book reviews and worked a little too much on blog posts, too.
Oops.
Still, I’m not too mad because I had a lot of fun creating that content! Even if I’m a bit sad that some of it didn’t work as well as I expected it to.
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This August, I am definitely skipping some posting times and taking it easier. I still have some fun post ideas in the works, though, aerm.
I also want to re-start my newsletter (link below to join), but I’m a bit lost as to where to go with it. AND I also added some books to my favorites books‘ page, yay!
On the blog this month: book reviews
On the blog this month: blogging, books & more
We started out the month by sharing our favorite reads of 2022 so far. If I’m being transparent here, I expected this post to do a bit better than it did, but well. That’s life!
This list of recommendations was in my drafts for a little while now and I finally published it! It’s all about YA set in boarding school and I’m always here for this kind of setting.
Nyx shared really good recommendations as well, with forbidden romances in YA books. Not going to lie, it is one of my favorite tropes!
Another random idea of a post I had this past month: I shared how I find good book recommendations. It’s been a lot of fun chatting with you all and knowing where you find your book recs, too!
Last, but not least: I decided a bit on a whim to write a blog post about YA books based on your favorite romance trope. it’s been a lot of fun to put together, even if if took me way too many hours, as well.
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On instagram
I randomly decided to try travel reels on my account. I don’t know if that’ll be a regular thing, but I had fun sharing the ones I did!
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I didn’t take much time to blog-hop this past month, with my traveling and everything else, but I tried early in the month, so here are some blog posts I enjoyed reading!
- Sophie @ Me and Ink wrote a very interesting blog post: would you still create content if no one was reading?
- Malka @ Paper Procrastinators is reflecting on 4 years of blogging.
- Gauri @ A Book and a Chai shared a great list of books by Asian authors releasing this second half of the year.
- If you’re looking for some indie books to add to your TBR, I found this list by Ely @ Earl Grey Books incredible.
- Maddie @ Inking & Thinking shared an excellent list of books with disability representation.
- I loved reading Mint @ Mint Loves Books’ post : why I don’ t accept review requests as a book blogger.
How was your month? What book did you love reading this July? Any writing, reading, traveling, special plans for the upcoming month?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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Sorry to hear you’re going through a tough time at the moment, hope it gets better soon.
A friend recommended If You Still Recognise Me, but now you have too, I really must read it!! I haven’t read any Lauren James yet, and I feel like I should! Any ideas for where to start??
I Kissed Shara Wheeler is definitely on my list too, and I want to read Red, White and Royal Blue as well.
Hope you have a more restful month in August. Happy Reading!
Zoë x
zbestbooks.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, Zoë! I hope you’ll LOVE If You Still Recognize Me, it’s such a lovely read.
I adore Lauren James! Her books are so underrated. My favorite one is The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, it’s unexpected and absolutely brillant. I hope you’ll try it out!
I hope August will be lovely to you! too! x
I’m sorry to hear your July wasn’t great… mine wasn’t either. I thought June was bad, hahahaha July was worse for BUT I hope that we both have a great August! 😊💞
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope that August will be way better for you, sending you all the love! <3 <3
Aw thank you, Marie! 💞 I think I need to stop saying I’m hoping for a better month because it’s just been jinxing me. This month has not started off any better so I’m just going to hope for a good day/week from now on. I hope you’re month has been off to a good start! 😊
Oh no,I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m always just a message away if you need to chat! <3 and hoping that this day has been good to you x
Thank you so much, Marie! ❤️ Today has not been a good day, but I’m getting by.
Here for you always if you need it <3 <3
❤️❤️
July wasn’t best for me either. Looks like you’re going to finish that Goodreads challenge soon. Wish you amazing August.
Thank you so much!! I hope that August will be better for you, sending you all the good vibes! <3
I’m glad you enjoyed creating the content that you did, despite initially wanting to take it slow in July! I hope you’ll be able to continue to work on your latest draft and don’t worry about how much time you spend on it. These things can’t be rushed! <3
Thank you so, so much Kat, that’s what I’m trying to remember. Taking things at my own pace!
I hope August will be good to you <3
This year really did fly by! I’m not mad that it’s August either. While it’s like the hottest month of the year….it just makes me happy that I know it’ll be cooling down soon lol. Plus it’s one month closer to spooky season. As soon as I see the word “August”, I am already thinking about Fall and Halloween LOL! 😛 I am really looking forward to reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler. I bought a copy when it was first released, so hopefully I pick it up soon. 🙂 I hope you have a great August, Marie! <3
Ahah I get that! I’m not a fall person, but I get the excitement when something you love is coming soon! October will be here before you know it 🙂
I can’t wait for you to read Shara Wheeler, I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Thank you so much, Ashley! <3
I’m sorry July has been a tough month for you, I hope August is better and you enjoy the weather ☀️ I recently finished I Kissed Shara Wheeler and I agree with your thoughts– it was a really fun read and had many of the aspects I love in YA contemporaries! I love your book discoveries of the month section– I think Everyone Hates Keslie Miller sounds great too!
Best of luck on writing your third draft, I’m sure it is wonderful and slow progress still counts!
Thank you soo much for sharing my post, I’m so glad you liked it! ❣️
Thank you so, so much, Sophie, so happy you could add a new book to your TBR <3
I hope August has been kind to you so far! <3
so sorry to hear that dark and deepest red was a disappointment for you! i’ve been holding off on reading it, since it seems like it hasn’t been popular with people who usually love anna-marie’s stuff 😭 i hope you have a better august & happy travels!! <3
Oh no 😭 well, this gives me hope that I might love Anna-Marie’s other work anyway? I’ll have to try it out!
Thank you so much! <3
July wasn’t the best for me either, sorry it was bad for you too! The year has definitely flown by so fast but in a way I’m glad it’s August, bring on Winter I say !! I Kissed Shara Wheeler sounds so good, I’m hoping to buy a copy soon because the cover is just beautiful! <3
I’m so sorry to hear that, I hope that August has been kinder to you so far <3
YES! Shara Wheeler looks beautiful and it's such a good book, too. I hope you will enjoy it.
Thank you so, so much for stopping by! <3
I’m sorry that you have been struggling in July, I hope August is a better month for you! ❤️ Green Rising sounds so good, I have really been enjoying Lauren James’ books so much! Something, Certain, Maybe also sounds great, I need to read more Sara Barnard books 😊
Thank you so, so much, Caro, I hope August has been good to you so far!
YAY another Lauren James fan! I really enjoy her work and rarely hear about her books, which makes me a bit sad. Sara Barnard’s excellent as well! <3
Oh no, I am so sorry you didn’t enjoy Dark and Deepest Red! I don’t remember much about it other than it being lyrical??? and made me cry. Talk about a lasting impact lmao
I hope that August has been kinder to you than July was, Marie!
Thank you so, so much, Kal <3 I hope you're having a lovely month!! <3
I can’t believe I’m first catching up to what you did in July in November! I just wanted to belatedly thank you for mentioning my post! I really appreciate it!
Now it’s time for me to go catch up on some more of your posts that I missed while I was gone!
Of course, your posts are always great, happy to share them!! <3