Happy August, friends ☀️ Time to sum up the past month, so if you’re any curious… Let’s go!
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July has gone by in the blink of an eye, really.
It’s been a month filled with work (with its eternal ups and downs), but also with a couple highlights, like spending a bit of time with my family and getting tickets to see Taylor Swift after fighting for days with stupid Ticketmaster. If you’re not aware of that drama happening, well… I won’t fill you in, because I might break my computer, but it was a mess and I’m grateful I’m going to see one of my favorite artists ever, live for the first time in my home country next year (!!!!! brb crying).
Looking forward to August and hopefully, a bit more summer weather on my side of the world ☀️
Monthly Reading Wrap-Up
Well, July was surprising, since I apparently managed to read 5 books! One more book than usual might not seem like much, in the grand scheme of things, but I was personally happy about this, so yay! Plus, it’s been a pretty amazing reading month overall with some fantastic discoveries so… double yay!
THEIR VICIOUS GAMES ☂️ A bit of a mash up between The Bachelor & The Hunger Games, that blurb was kind of right. It was addictive, entertaining, slightly terrifying, at times. Really enjoyed this one! You can read my full review here, if you want to. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR ☂️ Kristina Forest writes THE BEST adult com-rom. YES, I said it. I fell in love with this one, the bookish characters, the romance, the New York vibes. I adored it all and 200% recommend this forever. A new favorite. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
EVERY SUMMER AFTER ☂️ This book’s fairly hyped around the book community and I’m glad I finally read it. Childhood friends is my thing, so I couldn’t miss out on that one! It just gave me A LOT of emotions okay. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WHEN THE VIBE IS RIGHT ☂️ Another rom-com, this time a YA one and what a lovely discovery! I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers banter, the character growth and the Trinidadian culture. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE LIBRARY OF SHADOWS ☂️ This book reminded me of the way I fell in love with books, ten years ago. It has an impossible romance, a whole lot of books, a fantasy part with ghosts and secrets lying in the past. It was such a fun read and I can’t wait to see what the author will do, next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Discoveries of The Month
My TBR hasn’t grown that much in the past month, I think, but here are two highlights I wanted to show off today! You can always follow me on Goodreads to see my TBR 🙂
A STUDY IN DROWNING ☂️ I am very intrigued by this book okay. It’s about Effy, a fairy-tale believer and architecture student, entering a contest to redesign her late, favorite author’s house and finding out secrets about it all. It sounds a bit creepy, a little bit magical and I don’t know, I am inspired by this book’s vibes okay. Add to Goodreads
THE SOMEDAY DAUGHTER ☂️ I absolutely adored Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover and am SO looking forward to reading more from her. I was part of the cover reveal for that one on Instagram and it’s beautiful, and the book sounds lovely. It’s about Audrey, living in the shadow of her mother, a best-selling author of a book she wrote before she was born, about her someday-daughter. Sounds fun! Add to Goodreads.
Goodreads challenge: 29/50 books
I’m actually AHEAD of my reading challenge. What is happening and YAY!
I FINISHED MY BOOK’S FIRST DRAFT!
I’ve been working on what I’m calling the Revenge WIP since Jaunary 1st and one of my goals was to try and finish it this July. I’m thrilled to say that I DID IT!
It’s really messy and I will most likely have a breakdown while trying to edit it – especially because, well… I might need more to tell this story. More words, you know what I’m saying?
BUT I DID IT. I basked into the feeling for like 2 days before telling myself I had to get back to something else.
Overachiever, maybe. I just don’t feel like stopping, which is an exhilarating feeling, okay.
The Revenge WIP is DONE -for now and I’ll let it rest, coming back to it with fresh eyes in… well. Most likely, in six months, if I’m being honest.
It’s been a long time coming, but I’m going back to the WIP of my heart, now, a.k.a the Travel Sisters WIP. If you’ve been here for a little while, you’ll probably recognize this story.
I’m in the re-planning stages, tearing the whole book apart and putting it together again for a 4TH DRAFT. (Yes, 4, aerm). I know these edits will make it the strongest it’s ever been and I’m excited.
It’s also a daunting, terrifying process, but well. I love this book with my whole heart and I hope you can read it, someday, so. Let’s get to work.
Hoping to finish this 4th draft by the end of the year. Fingers crossed.
Another month and I’m still here and still blogging, so yay! I enjoyed myself with the couple posts I wrote this past month and, even if I skipped an usual posting day, well. I didn’t even care.
What would 2015 Marie say to that, I wonder. She’d probably freak, but I am here, chill as a cucumber. Who am I.
ANYWAY! I don’t know what the upcoming month will bring on here, but I’m taking it day by day. I know I’ll put out a couple reviews, but I’ll see if inspiration takes me to write some other posts, as well. We’ll see how that goes!
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On the blog this month: book reviews
On the blog this month: blogging, books & more
We recapped some of the best books we read so far in 2023 on the blog, in case you missed it. We have some fun recommendations there!
I did an author interview! It had been a while, but I was thrilled to welcome Jensen Parker, debut romance author, on the blog this past month. We chatted about her romance book, Until Now, self-publishing and more. Check it out!
Finally, I wanted to make a quick book recommendations’ list with YA Beach Reads! It’s the season here in the northern hemisphere, sooooo. I wanted to show off some great, addictive, fun reads to take with you on vacation.
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On instagram
I had fun on instagram lately! I’m not growing too much on there – I don’t know how, to be honest, but I had fun putting out a couple posts in the past month. Let’s hope this continues!
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How was July for you? What were the highlights of the month, for you? What were your favorite reads?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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It’s great you enjoyed Every Summer After. It was okay read for mem, too slow with lots of angst and I don’t like it much these days. Share pics of Taylor Swift show. I hope you have amazing time. Wish you amazing August!
Oh I completely understand that, you have to be in the mood for that kind of read! Thank you so much! I hope August has been kind to you so far <3
Yes, and now I hope I’m in right mood when I start Meet Me at the Lake.
I hope so, too! <3
It sounds like you had a fabulous July, Marie! 💞
Congrats on finishing your first draft of your WIP! That’s SO exciting! Proud of you! 😊
Also, congrats on getting Taylor Swift tickets. I heard that it was such a mission to get those, so that’s amazing! When is the concert?
I completely agree with you that July went by in the blink of an eye (I actually wrote that in a work email today! 😂) my month was crazy busy, but I loved it. August is looking more calm, but I’m also ready to fill my calendar! I hope you have a wonderful August! 💜
Thank you so, so much for all of your support, it means SO much! <3
It's in May 2024, it's very far away for now ahah but something to look forward to!😂
I hope you'll have some fantastic plans to fill your calendar this August!! <3
You’re so welcome! 💜
Ahhh that is something to look forward to! She just released 6 dates for Toronto for next November (right after my birthday!) and my friend convinced me get on the pre-sale waitlist, so I’ll get an email next Tuesday about next steps, so we’ll see if I get tickets!! 🤞🏻😊
Thank you, Marie! 💞
THIS IS so exciting! I can’t wait wait wait for you – for us! I adore Taylor Swift SO much <3
It IS SO exciting! I’m excited for both of us!!! I still can’t believe it, you know?!
I’ll believe it once I am there ahah but I CAN’T WAIT!! 😀
I know the feeling! ME TOO! 😄
Congrats on all your writing progress, especially that first draft! I’ve been meaning to read Kristina Forest’s books for so long. Hopefully will rectify that someday soon.
Oh thank you so much! I hope you’ll give her books a try, they’re all SO GREAT <3
I am so happy you were able to get Taylor Swift tickets Marie! I would still very much like to break ticketmaster into pieces because I wasn’t able to. By the time they let me in only the most expensive tickets were left *sobs* I’ll live vicariously through you when you go though 💜 Yayyy for finishing that first draft of the revenge WIP and for getting ahead of your GR goal. OMG the travel sisters WIP *squeals* I’ve been meaning to ask you about that one actually, should probably wander into your instagram DMs or something hehe. But I am happy to see you’re going back to that one too. Gah I am so happy you had a lovely July and I have been loving your instagram posts too!
July felt like it lasted forever and like it blinked by so fast. It was probably the worst month in the year though for me since we had to put down our dog. Adjusting to not having him around has been so…hard in so many ways. I’m hoping August will be kinder to me and my family though, I have some travel plans for August which have been getting me through the past month or so.
I hope you have a wonderful August Marie and get all the sunshine 💜
Oh no 😭😭😭 I’m so sorry to hear that! Ticketmaster really sucked on that one and some tickets were insanely expensive, I’m just shocked! 😭 I hope you’ll get to see her someday!! <3
Thank you so much!! And please, feel free to wander in my insta DMs anytime ahah, I'm just completely lost for now and... well, hoping for the best. Thank you for all of your support always! <3
Oh no 😭 I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I hope that August has been kinder to you, to your family and that traveling has been good to you <3 Sending you SO much love always <3 <3 <3
Ahh yes I saw that you posted a review of Their Vicious Games! It’s in my NetGalley app urgently waiting for me to read it so I will check out your review as soon as I have done so, haha 🙂 Marie, I’m SO proud of all your writing progress, and congrats again on finishing that first draft!! I’m always here for your updates! I didn’t end up finishing any books in July sadly but I have so many that I want to finish before school starts again so here’s hoping for August?
Thank you so much 😭😭 I’m forever grateful for all of your support <3 I hope that August has been kind to you so far!! <3
ahh congrats on finishing that first draft!! and i can’t believe you’re doing a fourth draft for your travel sisters wip… that’s amazing, especially since i’ve seen you talk about it since its early stages 🥲 very best of luck with writing this month! and so many congrats that you’re going to see taylor, that’s so exciting 💕
Thank you so much, you’re too kind 😭 I can’t believe I am so slow ahah it’s been so many years, but hey it’s still happening, eventually, when I manage to get to it ahah. Thank you SO much for all of your support, it means a lot! 😭
I hope August has been kind to you so far! <3 <3
Congrats on getting tickets for TS! I heard Ticketmaster was such a pain in the arse! I hope you’ll have an amazing time! Will you go alone or with someone?
I also managed to buy a ticket, though a bit further than I wanted to… I was aiming for Vienna but I only managed to buy tickets to Munich. So I guess I’m going to Germany for Taylor Swift. 😄
Have a lovely August!
Oh, and I have to ask, what is your favourite song from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)??
THANK You so much! And sorry for replying so late! 😭😭 I’m going with my sister!
AH YAY! So excited you got tickets, as well, and well… you have a perfect excuse to travel a bit and explore Germany, I guess? 🥰🥰
OHhh this is such a tough choice! I’m obsessed with I Can See You Now, but Long Live’s my forever favorite! What about you? 🙂
Ah, that’s so sweet! It must be great to have a Swiftie in your life!
Definitely, I’m so looking forward to discovering the surrounding area as well as Munich!
Long Live is such a fun song, I hope she’ll play it in the concert. 😍 Hmm, my favourite has to be Dear John and Better Than Revenge. I love rock, so I was surprised to hear it on a Taylor album!
OOH great choices! I love Dear John more and more 😍 and better than revenge is a favorite, as well, even if I still need to get used to the lyric change ahah!