I am 6 followers away from 1.4k!!! I really love how nice and inviting the bookstagram community has been, and I am so happy with my schedule of having no posting schedule – doing what I want, when I want to is so freeing. For some reason, WordPress is not allowing me to insert images, so here are links to a few of my September posts I love.
I also turned 18!! It was a great day and I got to go to a bookstore and have a slice of 17 layer chocolate cake. Chocolate cake is my favorite. Furthermore, I spent the day with both sides of my family (had to wear a mask because 1. COVID, and 2. personal health reasons).
School is honestly taking up a lot of my energy, but I’ve read nearly 120 books this year!! I’m really excited for these October-December releases: When Night Breaks, Jade Fire Gold, Our Violent Ends, Girls of Fate and Fury, and The Holiday Switch.
What books are you hoping to read before the end of 2021?
Hey everyone!! This month, I read 24 new books. 6 less than last month and the same amount I read in May, which is a pretty good accomplishment because I had my academic summer program for four weeks in July. (I hope I did well because it was my last summer.) So far, I’ve read 107 books.Here’s what I read in July and my goals for August, as well as some of my favorite IG posts.
A black and white plaid blazer and skirt set along with a red shirt and an ARC of How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao (only 17 days away!!) and a sword necklace.
Favorite Quote
CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR: We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
“Beneath the beat of the sun, all he saw was the starkness of her skin and the sharp cut of her lips. But last night, beneath the glow of the moon, that skin had coaxed and those lips had beckoned. They still do.” – Nasir’s thoughts, pgs 294 to 295
Books I Read (bold = author is new to me, italisized = re-read)
Everthing that Burns by Gita Trelease – started in June
Blackout by Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon, Nic Stone, and Tiffany D. Jackson – FAVORITE
Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield – FAVORITE
Witchshadow by Susan Dennard – Least favorite
The Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala – FAVORITE
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal – FAVORITE
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan – FAVORITE
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao – FAVORITE
Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto – FAVORITE
A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow – FAVORITE
Every Body Shines edited by Cassandra Newbould
What’s Not to Love by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka – Least favorite
The Chariot at Dusk by Swati Teerdhala – FAVORITE
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury – FAVORITE
The Marvelous by Claire Kann
A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton
Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson – Least favorite
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney – FAVORITE
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta – an almost 100% new FAVORITE but some things could be improved
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson – FAVORITE
Darling by K. Ancrum
Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June
Radha and Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma – FAVORITE
XOXO by Axie Oh – FAVORITE
Off the Record by Camryn Garrett – FAVORITE
The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison
Overall, 14/24 books I read were new favorites!! That’s about 60%. I didn’t like Witchshadow because the plot was all over the place and some parts seemed unecessary/there were a lot of POVs. I know this series is very popular, but it just didn’t land for me. And What’s Not to Love seemed so interesting, but I really feel like I want to read more rom-coms with people of color. Xoxo and Radha and Jai’s Recipe for Romance made up for What’s Not to Love.
I also did a buddy read with @sagarific and @yourlocalbookreader!! It was super fun and you all should definitely follow both of them. We read Iron Widow and it was super engaging and the ending. Oh my gosh.
Finally, if you read five books from this list (cries in I can’t choose but I will for now), read Blood Like Magic, Dial A For Aunties, and The Tiger at Midnight trilogy, and Off the Record, and Rise to the Sun.
August Goals
I hope to read seven books and have my TBR! I also am hoping to finish my e-ARCs of Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong and When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles!! I also got an e-ARC of The Red Palace by June Hur. Furthermore, I hope to post more reels this month.
As for non bookish/slightly bookish goals. . .
I want to finish my commonapp essay. I have a second draft. If anyone else is applying, please message me and I’d love to talk about college. Also, narrow my college list/do more research.
Rewatch some shows.
Relax!!! My academic program was super fun but I also like having unstructured time.
Hangout with friends. Hanging out in person is different than seeing someone through a screen.
Start planning for Model United Nations. It’s my last year and I really hope in person conferences will happen.
Get 10 people to read How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao – it’s one of my favorites of this year!!
Solace in Reading 