Hi friends! ☀️ Happy May!
Once again I’m going to skip this part, for the most part because I just don’t want to talk about the state of the world at all, okay.
Just one tiny exception for my sister: it was Nyx’s birthday on April 16th and if you haven’t please wish her the happiest of birthdays in comments?
I obviously had plans for this birthday before everything, one of the best birthday gifts and obviously it messed up because of everything.
We had chocolate and raspberry cake (homemade, yes) and watched shows and I guess it was okay and hopefully will be better soon, too.
Not much else to say or that I really want to say, here. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones, friends, I’m sending you lots of love.
I’m not going to lie: I feel like I should have read more, given everything.
I’m also not going to lie: I’m still working remotely and I’m still tired of everything and I still managed to read 5 books which is okay, so…. yeah. I’m trying not to beat myself up too much about it, even if I still am.
? Books I read
VERONA COMICS ☂️ This was a really good book, even if it was a little heavier than I expected it to be. I really liked the characters, the realistic mental health representation and ending, too. » read my full review.
MORE THAN MAYBE ☂️ I… kind of am still obsessed with this book, I loved it so much. I loved Erin Hahn’s debut, You’d Be Mine and More than Maybe puts her on my auto-buy authors, seriously. The swoon, the music, the ahh everything.
EVERY OTHER WEEKEND ☂️ This was, wow, such a great read. If I didn’t love one of the MCs as much as I could have, this was still really, really good. The dialogues are perfect, the characters so good and the relationships so strong and realistic and 200% screaming about this always.
THE KISS QUOTIENT ☂️ I finally read this hyped book and… well… I’m feeling a little on the fence about it, actually. If I found it entertaining and endearing, I didn’t fall head over heels for it as other readers might have.
NOW THAT I’VE FOUND YOU ☂️ I love Kristina Forest, I love her stories, this was exactly the kind of book I needed to read. A full cast of POC, amazing characters, a media scandal, a chase around New York, adorable romantic tension. Keep an eye out for this one!
- Goodreads Challenge: 22/60 books ? Still a little ahead of it all, YAY!
- Year of The Asian Reading Challenge: 2/10 books, yaaay!
? Currently reading
Changing things up a little bit with another adult contemporary read!
Well…. something happened on April 9th, 2020.
7 months and 71 726 words later…
I’m done with my WIP’s edits. ? #amwriting #amediting— Marie ☀️ (@dh_books) April 9, 2020
After over 7 months of editing my WIP, I finally finished a round of edits! After working on this story since…. well….. 5 freaking YEARS, this ends my YA contemporary mystery’s 4th draft.
For now. Because obviously, my WIP needs to pass A test, the test that matters the most to me: having my sister read and enjoy it.
I don’t know what’s next. I don’t know if I want to try this out for a Pitch Wars contest, if I ever want to get an agent, if I ever want to try and get this story of my heart published or if it’s not the right one.
For now, I’m taking a break from it, waiting for my sister to read it and I will see.
For now, I’m changing my mind and starting something else, something new, something very different and something I, we’ve been wanting to do for a little while now:
Writing a YA contemporary with my sister.
- Words written (edits) : 9 150
- Words written (new untitled project): 1 342
It has been an okay month on the blog overall, I’d say. There are some blog posts I’ve been proud of, others a little less, there are some stats I’ve been happy to see, others I’ve been a little sad about, but well, that’s life.
There was one bright light in my April blogging month: I received my very first ko-fi!! After years of having a ko-fi account, I received a really really kind message and tip from someone and I have felt so happy and grateful for that show of love.
Every comment, every like, every visit and show of support brings warmth to my heart, so thank you SO MUCH. I appreciate you all SO MUCH.
Also because I’m talking about this, you can support me on ko-fi right here if you wish to. I also happen to have an Amazon wishlist.
Moving on: I am VERY EXCITED FOR MAY TO COME FOR REASONS I CAN’T SHARE and I’ll leave you with that. Aerm.
? Book reviews
Click on the book covers to be redirected to my reviews.
? Book blogging
? Book discussions & tags
Here’s my little selection of blog posts of the month!
? Books & Reading
- Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsical wrote a great blog post about 7 bookish things she hates.
- Malka @ Paper Procrastinators asks us how we discover new books.
- May @ Forever and Everly shares an amazing list of 20 books by authors of color and you should check it out!
- Caro @ Bookcheshire Cat shares the perfect comfort books for that time and I love this list!
- Pam @ Reverie Society writes about her bookstagram and how it has changed over time.
- Cas @ Day Dreaming Ink talks about conquering your to-do-list and I loved this post!
- Belle @ Belle Can Read wrote yet another amazing blog post about the hype train!
- Faith @ The Pages Left Unread wrote about reading the books on your TBR and reading pressure in this awesome blog post.
? Book Blogging
- Alex @ Whimsy Pages shared a a bit about blogging routine: Scheduling and Color Coding
- Nandini @ Novels and Nebulas shared an amazing blog post with 5 tricks to create great blog posts.
- Belle @ Belle Can Read wrote an excellent post about book twitter and asks whether you should join or not.
? Writing, Lifestyle & Other Posts I Loved
- There is an AMAZING list of titles to watch on Netflix right now thanks to Wordy and Whimsical’s bloggers!
- My friend Mathieu wrote about the Story of the Golden Egg and it was so interesting to read!
Is there a blog post you are particularily proud of this month? Feel free to send it along with your comment!
How was your April? I hope you’re all taking care of yourselves, sending you tons of love.
What were your favorite books this month? Do you find yourself reading less, or more? Tell me everything in comments!
Twitter ☂️ Bookstagram ☂️Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin’ ☂️ Support the blog
Belated happy birthday, Nyx! I hope you had a great day despite all the chaos right now. As for the month of April, it was the best month readingwise for me and I hope that May will be just as good.
Thank you so much!! I hope May will be great to you 🙂
Happy Birthday Nyx! I can’t think of a better way to spend your birthday than being with a loved one! And cake! Yum! I hope you both are doing well. Take care!
Thank you so, so much Deborah! <3 I hope you are doing okay, sending you a lot of love <3
You too!
Happy Birthday, Nyx!! I hope it was great. 🙂
Reading five books is still great! I only read four books in April, so better than me. Haha. 😛 It looks like you read some pretty great books. I am really looking forward to Every Other Weekend and Now That I’ve Found You. I really wanted to read The Kiss Quotient when it first came out, but now I’ve been on the fence about reading it. I hope you have an amazing May. <3
Ahh thank you Ashley <3 I can't wait for you to read Every Other Weekend and I think you had an ARC of Now That I've Found You! I'm so excited to hear what you think of both 🙂
I hope May will be kind to you! <3
I loved Every Other Weekend and The Kiss Quotient! You should try reading The Bride Test, I liked that one more the TKQ 🙂
Ahh that’s good to hear, I’ll have to check it out 🙂
I’m going to be reading The KISS Quotient this month and can’t wait. I have More Than Maybe but still haven’t read it. I’m trying to drastically cut down my physical TBR right now and that’s one of my ebooks
Ahh I hope you will enjoy it better than I did 🙂 and I can’t wait for you to read More Than Maybe, it’s such a great read <3
Happy birthday to your sister!
Thank you for her!! 🙂
Amazing Wrap Up, love!! ❤️
Now That I’ve Found You sounds great, I hope your May is wonderful and full of good readings ✨?
Thank you so much, Sofi! I hope May will be kind to you <3
Happy belated Birthday to Nyx!! and i’m so proud of you for finishing your edits on your WIP!! that must be a great feeling. i hope you decide to try and publish it because i would LOVE to read it!!! and omg writing a YA contemporary with your sister sounds awesome – good luck!! and i found myself reading a lot more than usual since i have so much free time which is great! (sorry i haven’t commented much here ! I’ve been so absent blogging-wise but i think i’m back now!! i missed your posts so much)
AH HI HELLO it’s so great to hear from you, I hope you’ve been okay <3 <3
thank you so, so much for your love and support for my writing, it means so, so very much ahh <3 <3
Even if it didn’t turn out as well as you hoped, I’m glad that there were many bright spots in your month. Here’s to May, and may there be sunshine and slices of joy in it as well <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet words! <3 I hope May will be lovely to you too! 🙂
Congrats on finishing that round of edits! That’s such a satisfying feeling and you definitely deserve to celebrate. I’ve always wanted to write a book or something with someone else, but haven’t found the right partner yet. It sounds like a lot of fun. My boyfriend is an artist, so I’d like to try out a graphic novel with him sometime though.
It is quite satisfying, even if I’m never entirely satisfied by it all, it’s a step in the right direction ahah 🙂
OH This is such a GREAT idea ahh, I hope you’ll get to do that sometime! 😀
Happy birthday ?
Now That I’ve found you looks like a really interesting book.
It was SO great, I hope you’ll keep it on your radar! 😀
Happy late birthday, Nyx!!! Those cakes sounded so good!!! You also had a great reading month!!
Ahh thank you Jenna! I hope May will be lovely to you <3
MAJOR congrats on finishing your WIP edits!!!! That’s so incredible and such a huge accomplishment!!!! <3 I am sure it is wonderful!!!
And HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY NYX!!!! <3
Ahhhh thank you Holly you’re so, so sweet, this means so much <3 <3
Okay, but the chocolate and raspberry cake sounds incredible. 😀 I think I wished Nxy a happy birthday on twitter, but either way – happy (belated) birthday, Nyx! ? I feel like anyone who has their birthday right now deserves all the birthday wishes. Oh, I’m sad The Kiss Quotient didn’t fully impress you, I love that book and its sequel so much. But, obviously, your feelings are valid, and I’m glad you did find it endearing. 🙂
Congrats on your WIP! 🙂 I definitely read more than I do normally, just because I have more time. And, thankfully, my mood was restored in April, and I managed to do anything that came up for uni super fast, so I’m proud of that at least. May is going to be bad too, I have to prepare for two exams. 🙁 Also, I don’t know if you listen to podcasts? I don’t really, but I found The Magnus Archives and I’m obsessed. Hope May will be great for you! 🙂
ahh thank you Veronika, you’re so sweet <3 <3
would you recommend other books by the author? I've heard amazing things about the bride test, I'm wondering whether I should read it or not 🙂
Thank you so much, I'm really proud of you and happy to hear that ahh! <3 I hope May will be kind and wonderful to you <3
She only has The Bride Test out so far, but I’d definitely recommend that! It’s such a sweet novel. 😀 And make sure to read the author’s note, it really adds to the story.
Ahh that’s good to know! Thank you 😀
Yay you for finishing the 4th draft!!! Also, love this wrap-up – some of the books you read are on my tbr and this is getting me even more hyped to read them!
ahh thank you so much! I hope you’ll get a chance to read some of these books soon 🙂
Joyeux anniversaire en retard à Nyx!! <3
While I had the best reading month in years, I totally understand feeling reading not enough. But to be honest, with everything happening right now, I'd understand people not reading at all. There is so much happening and at the same time nothing at all and it's just so exhausting.
I hope you'll feel happier with your May reading <3
Yes exactly, it’s really exhausting. I’m trying not to beat myself up too much! <3
Thank you so much for your sweet words and love, Kat, this means so much <3 I hope May will be lovely to you!
Happy (belated) Birthday to Nyx! 🙂 ?
It sounds like you had a good month!
Congratulations on finishing your WIP! That’s super exciting! 😀
I hope you have a wonderful May! ❤️?
Thank you so much!! You too! <3 <3
So glad you loved More Than Maybe! That ones on my tbr 😉 and Now That I’ve Found You looks super cute! I love that cover. Great wrap up Marie (and happy b day Nyx) 🙂
Ahh I hope you’ll love both of these books, they were so, so great 😀
Thank you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NYX!!!! i hope you had a fantastic and lovely one~~~ Ahh you read so many great contemporaries this month! I’m excited especially for Verona Comics ?
YES I’m reading all the contemporaries lately ahah I just can’t stop. <3 I can't wait to hear what you think of Verona Comics, it's such a lovely read! 🙂
ahhhh HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY NYX!!! ?? and definitely don’t feel like you should have read more, Marie – 5 books is perfectly fine and it’s okay to take a break!
congrats on finishing your 4th round of edits!!! that’s amazing and i’m also really excited for the YA contemporary you’re writing with Nyx. and awww it’s so lovely that you got a Ko-Fi! you definitely deserve all the love you get and more <3 <3 <3 hope you have a beautiful May!
Ahh thank you so, so much, you’re so sweet Ash <3 <3 I hope May will be wonderful to you! 🙂
I love your blog…..
Thank you so much!! 🙂
AAHH i meant to reply to your tweet about finishing your edits, but clearly i didn’t get to it so i wanna say here that i am SO proud of and happy for you!!! i’m excited to see whatever you decide to do with it next, and i’m so glad to see you writing something with nyx ?
i’m so glad you ended up loving now that i’ve found you, knowing that you loved kristina forest’s other book! and i’m so very excited to see what kind of surprise you have cooked up for may ?? i hope you have an amazing month, marie!!
Ahhh thank you so much May you’re too sweet, thank you for all of your support <3 <3
I really am falling in love with Kristina Forest's books and can't wait to read more and more from her! 🙂
Thank you! 😀
Again, HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS to Nyx! I know it was like half a month ago, but still. Nyx always deserves even more birthday wishes <3
As far as your story goes! You don't need to figure out what to do with it right away, Marie. Let Nyx read it and then talk about it with her. You two are so in sync, you'll be able to talk about it. And if you want to publish it, you'll figure that out too. And if not, that's perfectly alright as well! Sometiems just writing something is all we need to do.
Thank you so much Kat and agree, she deserves it all <3
Thank you, you're so sweet, I hope so. 🙂
This is such an informative post! My book of the month was A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn, which I’ve been waiting to get my hands on for more than a year since I was after the paperback edition. I also read The Kiss Quotient a couple of days ago and I have to say that I’m still a bit on the fence about it. Can’t decided whether I truly enjoyed it or not, since I couldn’t really connect with the characters and some parts felt a bit too much for me, if that makes any sense. I definitely have to sort through my thoughts on it before writing my review, otherwise I’m going to be all over the place and not make sense at all! Hope you have a wonderful start to the week!
Oh thank you 🙂 I’m glad I wasn’t the only one feeling a little on the fence about The Kiss Quotient!
I hope you’ll have a lovely month! 🙂
My reading has been staggered cos school is death, so I’ve had a few weekends or weekdays where I’ve been able to read for hours, and then the rest of the time consists of school work :/ So, I’m totally with you, and I think I only read around 5 books this month as well. We just need to take it slow and not get down on ourselves for that!! So much is going on, and it’s all about living moment by moment, day by day <3 Congrats on finishing those edits girl!!!! So excited for you. And ahhhh, I love that you & Nyx are writing something together; that is so special. I hope you're doing better, sending you my love xxx
Oh I’m glad I’m not the only one whose reading is suffering a bit lately. I’m trying not to beat myself up too much about it, even if it’s hard sometimes. We’re doing our best <3
Thank you so much, Macey, take care of yourself! <3 <3 <3
Great post! Thank you for all the links to other blog posts – I’ve been away from my blog for a while and can’t wait to dive into posts I’ve missed. Can’t wait for Verona Comics either – it sounds so good! Hope you have a great May! 🙂
Ahh you’re so welcome, happy this could be useful 🙂
Have a lovely month!
Ahhh, super belated happy birthday, Nyx!!! <3 <3 I'm glad that her birthday was overall a good one, despite the state of the world <3 and I can't tell you how happy I am that you finished the edits for your WIP and received your first ko-fi in April! those are such huge accomplishments, and you more than deserve them ?? It's also so sweet that you're working on something with Nyx <3 I wish you all the luck with your writing and a wonderful May!! ???
Thank you so, so much, you’re too sweet <3 <3 <3 I hope that May has been kind to you, sending you all the love <3 <3
Ahh congrats on finishing a round of edits- that is incredible!!! Also, it looks like you had a great reading month 🙂 I definitely need to check out More Than Maybe! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY NYX!!!
Ahhh thank you so much Jessica, you’re so sweet! <3 I hope you'll have a wonderful month!
Having a birthday in quarantine was weird, but I’m happy to hear that Nyx and you could still celebrate a bit! And cake truly makes everything better ? ? Also congrats on finishing your revision!!! That’s amazing and honestly such a big milestone ? I hope everything goes well with your writing in the future and I cannot wait to maybe someday see the book on the shelves ?
Thank you so much for featuring my post! ? And now you’ve made me SO curious about what’s to come on the blog ?
Thank you so, so much, Caro, you’re so sweet! That’s the dream ahah <3 <3
I'm glad I could make you curious, so excited about it all ahah 😛
I loved reading this blogpost! You’ve read quite some amazing books, I really want to read them all. Hope you have a great reading month in May as well <3
Ahh thank you so much! I hope you’ll have a lovely May as well 🙂
Happy belated birthday, Nyx! I hope your day was lovely. <3
More Than Maybe and Every Other Weekend sound so good! *_*
Ahh thank you Kyra! I hope you’ll get a chance to read both, they’re amazing 😀
I feel the same way when it comes to talking about the state of the world right now. I’m trying to focus more on positive things like how I haven’t read any books that I didn’t enjoy lately. And happy birthday to Nyx! 😀
Ah that’s so good and such a great thing to focus on! I’m happy your reading has been going great and hope this continues 🙂 <3
Thank you so much, Louise! 🙂
It seems like April was a very good month for you! 5 books is incredible, and also big congratulations on finishing the edits!!! That’s amazing! <3
Very excited to see what you have coming up this month, and this JLawrence gif is <3 she is such a beautiful human being.
Thank you so much for mentioning my post!!! 🙂
Ahh thank you, you’re so sweet <3 <3
I love Jennifer Lawrence so much, I agree. And hope you will be just as excited as I am about everything this month 😀
thank you for your sweet words and have a beautiful May <3
Happy birthday to Nyx! That cake sounds delicious.
Sorry The Kiss Quotient was overhyped for you.
It was delicious 🙂 Thank you, Amber!! 🙂
Please do wish Nyx a happy belated birthday for me, please! I bet the cake you had was really delicious, and I hope you’ll be able to safely celebrate outside very soon 🙂
I believe you had a good reading/blogging month, despite the situation. Please don’t be too hard on yourself! It’s not because we’re home that we have more time, or patience, to read more. Keep positive! 😀
Wishing you a wonderful May <3
Will do, thank you so much!! <3
That's exactly what I'm trying to remind myself, even if it's hard ahah, my brain always feels like, because I'm home, I should do more, but… I don't have more time ahah.
Thank you! I hope May will be kind to you <3
Thank you so much for linking my post, Marie! And happy birthday to your sister ? Congrats for completing your WIP – if you ever decide to get an agent / have it published I’ll definitely be reading it hahah. Also, I need to read Verona Comics so I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope your May has been going great and you’ve found some good books, and continue to!
Ahh you’re welcome, it was a great post! 🙂
Thank you so much! This means so, so much, it’s a faraway dream ahah but maybe someday, that would be incredible.Thank you! <3 <3
I hope May has been kind to you so far! <3
Okay uh what I swear I read this already but WordPress is telling me I didn’t, but I’m here now; anyway yes happy birthday Nyx and I’m so honoured you featured my post here <3 and ah yay for receiving your first ko-fi :))
Of course, your post was amazing! <3 <3
Thank you so, so much!! <3 <3
I know I’m over a month late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY NYX! I hope this is a wonderful year for you! ?
And I think 5 books in a month is great! April was a really great reading month for me, but May has been a slog. For a number of reasons, at this point in the month with only a week left, I’ve only read 2 books! And one was a reread! At this point just finishing another 2 books before the month ends would be a win for me.
That’s so exciting that you finished editing your book! That’s huge! And I think it’s so cute that you and your sister are writing a book together! Best of luck on that new project!
Thank you so much for mentioning my post! I had a really fun time analyzing how books get on my radar, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it enough to share my post with others! ?
I hope you have a wonderful rest of the month! ❤
Ahhh thank you, you’re so sweet!! ?
I feel like reading has been so strange lately. I know personally it’s because I’m busy with work and everything else, but still… I just want to read ALL the books and can’t manage to do that ahah.
Thank you so, so much, Malka! I hope that May has been good to you and that it will continue to be <3 <3