Happy February, friends 💛 January’s finally over, yay. Let’s move on with this year, shall we… but not without a little recap, first!
This blog post contains affiliate links. If you buy something on my recommendation, I will receive a small commission. Purchasing via these links will not cost you any extra and will help me cover the costs of book blogging. You will find more info on my privacy policy and disclaimer pages. Thank you!
January has been… endless. Anyone feels like that, as well?
It’s been an okay month overall, though, I’d say. Still going through some ups and downs and still hoping for the best with a difficult working situation.
On the bright side, though, I was in Paris for a weekend! I met my sister there and we ate delicious food, went to see the sets of my favorite TV show ever (you should recognize it?) and overall has a lovely time.
I’m always looking forward to February to come, and with it the slowly longer days and spring. Also made some plans for the upcoming months, so I’m excited 🥰
Monthly Reading Wrap-Up
My 2023 started a bit different, when it comes to my reading.
I’ve been reading YA books for a long, long time now, even though I branch out every now and then with a little adult romance.
This January, I read more adult than YA books, which is surprising, but also great, because I’ve been having fun!
THE GIRLS ARE ALL SO NICE HERE ☂️ Started the month with this adult thriller, focusing on toxic friendships. Highly entertaining and addictive, but definitely struggled with some parts. Check the trigger warnings! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
THIS IS HOW YOU FALL IN LOVE ☂️ A really fun, quick to read YA contemporary romance. I really liked the characters, the friendships and loved that I was surprised by some things here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GIRL FRIENDS ☂️ Holly Bourne never disappoints… yet, this is not my favorite work by hers. I still adored how it focused on friendships, what you think you know about people vs. who they really are. Definitely recommending it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE FRAUD SQUAD ☂️ I had such a great time reading this one! I really enjoyed the characters, the world and just really rooted for the MC overall. I just… expected this to be a 5-star read, and it was missing that little something, for me. I’m sad. Still highly recommending this!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Discoveries of The Month
YOU CAN TRUST ME ☂️ I’ve been into thrillers lately, so this one immediately made it on my radar. It’s about two best friends, one of them a con artist pursuing a billionaire… until she disappears. This sounds AWESOME and I am so here for this.
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
THE SEVEN YEAR SLIP ☂️ My friend Kat put this book on my radar and it sounds SO good. It’s about an overworked publicist… falling in love with a man living seven years in the past. I am intrigued!
💧 Find the book on Goodreads
Goodreads challenge: 4/50 books
Going great so far!
I’m pretty happy about how the year started, writing-wise.
You’ll recall that I finished writing 3 complete drafts of my contemporary story about sisters. For now, I hit pause on this story for some ✨reasons ✨.
Aaaand I started writing my Revenge WIP! (This is not the title of the WIP, by the way, just the way I’m calling it, for now. Mostly, due to its inspirations. If you know the show, please shout in comments with me?!)
I’m pretty proud of the progress I’ve made so far with this story and, most of it all: I am having TONS OF FUN writing this. I love the characters and I’m so excited to see where this goes.
It’s funny: my blogging has been a bit strange so far, this year.
I wrote one review, while I usually put out more than that in a month. I wrote a discussion post like in the good old days, not expecting too much and… I loved and was so, so grateful for all of your feedback on it. THANK YOU!
If you want to support our work, you can tip us on ko-fi or check out our wishlist. It means everything to us. ❤️
I haven’t published as much as usual and… for once, I wasn’t mad at myself for it. I think, after so many years of blogging, my rhythm has changed and wants to change. I just don’t want to force myself to write whenever I’m not feeling it, or if it makes me feel too overwhelmed. So… let’s see where the next months take us with this new philosophy, shall we?
Subscribe to my newsletter here below:
On the blog this month: book reviews
I only reviewed this lovely YA contemporary romance this month, This is How You Fall in Love!
If you want to keep up with my reading, you can follow me on Goodreads.
On the blog this month: blogging, books & more
In January, we make resolutions we try to follow (or not!) sooo… I obviously did, as well. This is sort of a tradition on the blog. If you’re curious about my reading, writing and blogging resolutions for 2023, you can check it out now!
After sharing some of my most anticipated books, I wanted to focus on some 2023 YA debuts I can’t wait to read.
My discussion post of the month! I talked about why rereading terrifies me a little bit, and shared some books I’d love to revisit someday.
I also shared some books I hope will end up on my favorites’ list this year!
☂️ Your support means SO much to me. If you enjoy my work, here’s a little extra something you can do to help me out:
- 💫 Support me by tipping me on ko-fi,
- 💫 Get something from my Amazon wishlist,
- 💫 Visit my blog’s shop and get yourself one of my favorite books or blogging essentials.
- 💫 Use my affiliate links to get yourself something (no extra for you, a small tip for me!) at the bottom of my blog’s page.
- Thank you so much for reading my posts always! All of your comments, likes, shares means everything! 🥺
On instagram
I shared a mix of travel and books this past month on my instagram. I’m still not always active, but I’m still trying and sometimes, I’m having fun with it, so…. yay! Still doing this without pressure or schedule, for now.
You can follow my instagram account here!
Another month, the same here again. I tried blog hopping a little bit lately, but haven’t been attentive enough to save the blog posts I liked, aerm. So…. if you wrote a post you’re proud of this past month, feel free to share it below!💛
How was your January? Any exciting things happened for this new year? Found any new favorite reads already?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Twitter ☂️ Bookstagram ☂️Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin’ ☂️ Support the blog
Subscribe to the newsletter for more book recommendations, exclusive intl giveaways, behind the scenes and more:
So proud of you on not being hard on yourself for posting less! 💜 It sounds like you had a good month! I’m sorry it felt long for you; it flew by for me… I honestly couldn’t tell you where the month went! I’ve been busy thinking and starting to plan for a move so maybe that’s where it all went? I hope you have a wonderful February! 😊
Thank you so much! I’m glad that you’ve been busy (hopefully good-busy!) and I hope that the move-planning has been going well! <3 <3 Sending you all the love for this February <3
Thank you! It’s been going haha one step at a time, but I know I’ll get to where I need to be in time. Aw thank you, sending you love for February! 💜
One step at a time is alright! Sending you lots of love!! <3 <3
Thank you so much, Marie! 💜
It’s great you’re enjoying adult romance, I read them more than YA romance and contemporary as I can connect with characters of my age more. I hope February turns out even better in reading and life.
Yay! I definitely feel like I’ll turn to these kind of books more, lately. Thank you so much, I hope February has been kind to you so far! <3
Sorry to hear that there is some difficulties at work, Marie (though I absolutely feel you there). I hope it gets better for you ASAP!
Nicole, thank you so much, I hope so <3 <3
yay for paris and visiting the friends set! and a bigger yay for all your writing! if your blogging has slowed down a bit so you could get more writing done or get to other things, there’s nothing writing with that! the best blogging schedule is one that’s flexible tbh. hope you have a great february!
You’re right! I just have a bit of a hard time with my priorities switch lately, but well. If it ends up making me happy, that’s what matters I guess! Thank you so much, I hope February will be fantastic to you! <3 <3
AHHH I’m so sorry the fraud squad didn’t live up to your expectations though 😭😭 that ALWAYS sucks. But yay on all the other great reads AND A FUN READING MONTH!!!!!
Omg yay on starting your revenge wip IT SOUNDS SO INTRIGUING!!!!! good luck with it THE AESTHETICS ARE STUNNING
Your Paris trip sounds amazing AND I HOPE YOU HAD THE BEST TIME. It was so much fun reading this post AND I HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST FEBRUARY!!!!!
Thank you SO much, you’re too kind as always! I hope that february has been WONDERFUL to you so far, sending you all the love!! <3 <3
Glad to hear that you had fun with your sister in Paris! Ohh, The Seven Year Slip sounds intriguing, I love books with different timelines 👀 I really need to read The Dead Romantics this month as well 🥰
Thank you, Caro! I’m also a huge fan of stories with different timelines. Let’s hope this one delivers! 😀
Marie I am so proud of you for taking it easy on yourself for not posting as often. The revenge WIP looks amazing! The aesthetics are so pretty and I’m sure it’ll be amazing, if you’re enjoying the writing process then it’s bound to be an enjoyable read hehe. Glad you were able to spend some time with your sister in Paris! I must confess, seeing you read a Holly Bourne book reminds me that I should probably pick up another one of her books at some point. I stopped reading them having fallen into an urban fantasy hole or something and then when I was craving contemporary I was after fluffiness. (Holly Bourne’s books may have some fluff but they’re usually pretty heavy which I love but I’ve just not been in the mood for heavy :/)
Quite honestly I don’t know how I read 5 books in January but it happened and I’m still trying to process where the reading bug came from xD The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco and Daughter of the Moon Goddess were two of my fav reads from last month though. In fact I think the entire trilogy of The Bone Witch is just sitting with the favs list now.
I’ve been trying to be more proactive in my social life offline…which is funny actually because I feel like it’s helped me balance myself a bit more? Normally I try and cram social things all into a week and end up absolutely drained and knackered. Whereas now I’ve been spreading things out over a month and trying to do at least one social thing a month, so far I’ve managed to do more than one thing. So yeah, I’m grateful for that. Sending you all my love 💜 I also can’t wait for Spring, I miss the flowers (do not miss my hayfever tho xD)
Oh thank you so, so much 🥺🥺 I love love love Holly Bourne’s work, but you’re right that they always have some heavy parts. You really have to be in the mood for this kind of read, to really enjoy it!
i’m so happy you’ve been more proactive and having fun, yay! I hope that the month has been good to you so far and will continue being good! <3 <3