Monthly Recap: April 2016

Happy May, lovelies! Can you believe we're 1/3 of the way through 2016 already?

Here's what my April looked like:

~Books I Read~

 Hot Dudes Reading

The One That Got Away by AJ Pine

Without Borders by Amanda Heger

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Fly With Me by Chanel Cleeton

Wanderlost by Jen Malone

Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann

~On the Blog~

• I reviewed 5 books this month: South of Sunshine by Dana Elmendorf (2 stars), Right of First Refusal by Dahlia Adler (4 stars), The One That Got Away by AJ Pine (4 stars), Without Borders by Amanda Heger (5 stars), Hot Dudes Reading (5 stars)

• I did a Top Ten Tuesday where I shared some of my favourite bookish people on Instagram

• I participated in the Bookish Bingo Read-a-thon and made pretty good progress!

• I did the monthly topic for the Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge: Top Ten Contemporary Romances

• I helped reveal the cover for the Lurking in the Shadows paranormal/horror anthology

• I participated in ARC April and did a wrap-up showcasing the nine books I read

 

~Real Life~

My mum's birthday was on the 21st. I had a little party for her with my niece and youngest nephew. We played games and had dinner and cake - it was a lot of fun!

My bff came for a visit for the first time this year. We talked for hours, watched Sherlock, and coloured.

One of my best childhood friends (who I hadn't seen in over a year) had a baby at the end of March, and we spent a couple days together after he was born. Baby K is so freaking cute! We spent a day at my place hanging out, and then the other day we ran some errands, then went for a walk by the water. The weather has been bizarre - in the high teens Celsius one week, then barely above zero the next...we even had snow this past week. Hopefully the weather will get more consistent in May and we can start going for regular walks.

 2016 Recaps So Far:

January
February
March

How was your April? Any highlights? What was the best book you read? Do you have a favourite blog post? Feel free to link me to it in the comments so I can check it out!

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Monthly Recap: March 2016

Happy last day of March! Can you guys believe we're already 1/4 of the way through the year? How is that possible? The first three months of the year feel like a blur to me. I'm not going to lie: this year is kicking my ass so far. I've got a lot of really heavy stuff going on in real life, and I'm feeling weighed down and burned out. I'm trying not to let it get the best of me, but there are times when I feel really hopeless and frustrated, and have trouble being positive or finding a silver lining. There's a tiny glimmer of hope on the horizon in the form of some upcoming plans for this year and next year with my bestie (who gets a lot of credit for keeping me sane lately), so I'm trying to focus on those two things and work toward them. Hopefully next month I'll have better, more positive things to report!

~Books I Read~

• Every Move by Ellie Marney

• There You'll Find Me by Jenny B Jones

• Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna

• South of Sunshine by Dana Elmendorf

• Right of First Refusal by Dahlia Adler

~On the Blog~

• Jessica and I did our monthly Thoughts & Daydreams post. This month our topic was changing reading tastes. Have you weighed in yet?

• I did another Monday Musts. This one was an Irish Edition for the week of St. Patrick's Day.

• I did a Top Ten Tuesday, where I shared my most recent 5-star reviews.

• I reviewed 8 books this month: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (5 stars), Pearl by Deirdre Riordan Hall (4.5 stars), Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor (5 stars), Out of Frame by Megan Erickson (5 stars), There You'll Find Me by Jenny B Jones (4 stars), Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna (4 stars), The Trouble With Werewolves by MB Mulhall (4 stars), and The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith (4 stars)

~Real Life~

Most of my month has been devoted to two little people - my niece and my youngest nephew. They've been hugely affected by the RL crap I mentioned at the beginning of this post, so I've been trying to make sure they have lots of fun stuff to do, plus lots of snuggles and love and reassurance. They're exhausting, but they're also hilarious and loving and unbelievably intelligent, and this bonding time with them has been so precious.

Tea time

We had a special day with just The Boy on St. Paddy's - took him on the city bus, took him out for lunch, and went shopping.

Easter Sunday. We didn't know they'd be coming, so I didn't have any chocolate eggs or anything to do an egg hunt for them, so I got creative and hid fruit gummies, bear paw cookies, and a mini Kit Kat each. They loved it.

2016 Recaps So Far:

January
February

How was your March? Any highlights? What was the best book you read this month? Do you have a favourite blog post from this month? Feel free to link me to it in the comments so I can check it out!

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Monthly Recap: February 2016

Happy March, friends! Can you believe we're already two whole months into 2016?? February is kind of a blur for me. The weather was so blah - a lot of snow, freezing rain, and dreary days - and I lost my motivation to do just about everything. I did manage to get quite a bit read, and I blogged regularly except for last week when I kind of dropped the ball, but I have most of March already planned out, so yay! A few highlights from Febraury: days spent with my nephews and niece, discovering Happy Hello Co magnetic bookmark buddies, continuing to expand my creativity with book photography for Instagram., and discovering David's Tea!

~ On the Blog ~

• Jessica and I did our second Thoughts and Daydreams post. This month's topic was Reading and Blogging Slumps, and I talked about reasons they happen and what you can do to pull yourself out of slumps.
• I did a couple more Monday Musts posts (#2 here, #3 here), hosted by Lovin' Los Libros. These are a lot of fun, and I plan to continue doing them through March when I can.
• The monthly topic for the 2016 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge was romance for newbies, so I shared 14 contemporary romance books I'd recommend to newbies of the genre.
• I helped my friend Lilly Avalon celebrate the release of her latest contemporary New Adult book Can't Stay Away with a spotlight, interview, and giveaway.

~ Reviews ~

• The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie - 5 stars

• The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin - 4 stars

• Chasing Spring by RS Grey - 3 stars

• Jewel of the Thames by Angela Misri - 4 stars

• Midnighter by Steve Orlando (my first ever comic book review!) - 4 stars

~ Books Read in February ~

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

In Real Life by Jessica Love

Midnighter by Steve Orlando

The Trouble With Werewolves by MB Mulhall

Into the Dim by Janet B Taylor

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith

Pearl by Deirdre Riordan Hall

Out of Frame by Megan Erickson

~ Favourites: A Study in Charlotte, Into the Dim, and Out of Frame ~

~ Winter Bookish Bingo wrap-up ~

I had so much fun doing Pretty Deadly Review's holiday season of Bookish Bingo, and I managed to get 3 Bingos! I'm participating again in the spring season, and you can too.

 

How was your February? Any highlights? What was the best book you read? Do you have a favourite blog post (feel free to link me to it in the comments so I can check it out)?

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Thoughts and Daydreams #2: Blogging & Reading Slumps

Thoughts and Daydreams is a monthly feature hosted by yours truly and Jessica from Thoughts at One in the Morning. Every month, we'll discuss a reading- or writing-related topic. 

~Check out January's post about getting back to reading and blogging basics.~

Welcome to the second Thoughts and Daydreams discussion post! This month, Jess and I are talking about blogging and reading slumps. I think we've probably all experienced one or both at some point, and let's face it: they suck.  There are several reasons they happen, but there are also ways to beat them.

Why do slumps happen?

• Being busy or stressed in real life. Sometimes you're just so busy you don't have time to read or blog and it slides down your list of priorities.

• Similarly, other interests might take over. You might get invested (read: obsessed) in a new TV show, or interested in a new hobby, or the weather might be so nice you'd rather be outside enjoying it. 

• Reading hangover. Sometimes you read a book that's so amazing, everything else seems like crap in comparison and it's hard to get interested in other books.

• On the flip side of that, sometimes reading a crappy book can cause a slump. If I've read a particularly meh book or a few meh books in a row, I find my reading slowing down and maybe even going into a full-blown slump.

• Feeling overwhelmed. A lot of us take on way too much - too many review books, too many blitzes and blog tours and events and challenges. It can get to a point where it feels daunting and affects your blogging or reading.

How can you beat a slump?

• Do something else you enjoy. If you don't feel like reading, try rewatching a few favourite movies or TV shows. Colour. Grab your camera and take some pictures. Write something non-blog-related. Talk to other members of the community and rekindle your love of reading or blogging, or talk about your other interests, fandoms, etc.

• Read a book simply for pleasure. If you're overwhelmed with review books, pick a book off your shelf that you've been wanting to read for ages. And if you really want to take the stress off, maybe you decide not to review that particular book. It can be just for you.

• Get organized. If part of the reason for a blogging slump is because you're stressed, find ways to de-stress. Make a monthly blogging calendar. Schedule posts ahead. Cut back on memes or blitzes. Don't request or accept as many ARCs. Basically, cut yourself some slack. You don't need to blog seven days a week or even every weekday. Find a schedule that works for you.

• Take a hiatus. If you're in a blogging or reading slump and nothing is working, take a hiatus. You can simply disappear for awhile, but I'd suggest writing a post for your blog saying you need a break and will  back in a week, two weeks, a month, or however long it takes. I've seen a lot of bloggers take blog breaks, but mention that they'll still be around on Twitter, Instagram, etc., so if you don't want to lose touch with people, be sure to share your links so people can find you elsewhere. Most of all: don't feel guilty. Everyone needs a break from time to time.

 

What usually causes a reading or blogging slump for you? How long was your longest slump? What are your best suggestions for breaking out of slumps?

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Review: The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
Series: The Abyss Surrounds Us #1
Published: February 8th, 2016
Publisher: Flux
288 pages (eARC)
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Acquired this book: Via NetGalley in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
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For Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She’s been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the genetically-engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas’s first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas’s dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water.

There’s no time to mourn. Waiting for her on the pirate ship is an unhatched Reckoner pup. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup, make sure he imprints on her ship, and, when the time comes, teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.

But Cas has fought pirates her entire life. And she's not about to stop.

Pirates and sea monsters and kickass girls OH MY! The Abyss Surrounds Us was my first read of 2016; it’s rare to start the year with a book that’s so amazing and sets such a high standard you’re afraid all other books will pale in comparison, but that’s what this book has done. It’s been a long time since I read something that captured my complete attention the way The Abyss Surrounds Us did. The story played out like a movie in my mind with every detail sharp and real and larger than life.

This book is full of great characters. I was surprised how quickly and easily I was sucked into the story and then I realized it was Cas’s voice. There’s just something about her, and I spent the entire book feeling like I was hanging on her every word and action. She’s strong, smart, passionate, and funny, and she felt so real. She started out seeming like a regular girl - mind you, a regular girl who risks her life every day dealing with sea monsters - and then morphs into this badass girl living among ruthless pirates and doing whatever it takes to survive, even when it means crossing into a grey moral area. The other characters in the book were equally real; I was immediately intrigued by Swift and terrified by Santa Elena. Every character served a purpose.

The romance wasn’t as much a part of the story as I’d expected/hoped, but it was done so perfectly I didn’t mind. Cas’s sexuality was another part of this story that made it unique: she was gay, but there was no coming out, it wasn’t an issue or an obstacle, it was just part of who she was, and I loved that so, so much. Don’t get me wrong, I will always support coming out stories, but I’ve been desperate for books where a character is gay and out and their orientation isn’t part of the story’s conflict. Cas and Swift’s relationship was complicated for so many reasons, but they had sizzling chemistry, and there were moments that were sweet and funny and achingly beautiful. I loved the push and push, the will-they-won’t-they, the tentative alliance, then friendship, then budding feelings.

The Abyss Surrounds Us is a pretty damn near perfect debut from Emily Skrutskie. It’s original, compelling, and had me gripping my ereader in a white-knuckled grasp through at least half the book. I can’t wait to see what happens in the second book!

Have you read The Abyss Surrounds Us? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Do you read science fiction? Have a favourite book about pirates or sea monsters?

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Monthly Recap: January 2016

Happy February, my lovelies! January alternately flew and dragged for me. Here's a recap of the month:

~ In Real Life ~

I kicked off 2016 with my mum and youngest nephew. We had a little party at home with lots of snacks and movies, and we watched the ball drop in Time's Square at midnight. Right after midnight, someone set off fireworks nearby, so we watched those from the window, which was fun. It was a great night - one I'll definitely remember for a long time.

As for the rest of the month...not so great. It's been a rollercoaster for a lot of reasons, none of which I'll go into, but let's just say I wished multiple times for a reset button on the year. Hopefully February will be better!

~ On the blog ~

• I started the year by taking a look back on 2015, in which I shared three big things I learned last year, plus shared my hopes for 2016.

• I started a new monthly feature with my friend Jessica from  Thoughts at One in the Morning called Thoughts and Daydreams. Our first topic was Getting Back to Basics, and we talked about simplifying things in regards to reading and blogging. Be sure to watch for our second post on February 5th!

• I participated in the Clean Slate Read-a-thon hosted by Novel Ink, Lost in Lit and Latte Nights Reviews, and I managed to read three books, plus participate in all three mini challenges.

• I reviewed With Every Breath by Lia Riley (4 stars), The Turning Point by Marie Meyer (4 stars), The Distance From A to Z by Natalie Blitt (4 stars), The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall (4 stars), Royal Marriage Market by Heather Lyons (4 stars), From Bad to Wurst by Maddy Hunter (4 stars), and Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway (5 stars). 

• On the last Monday of the month, I started participating in Lovin' Los Libros's weekly meme, The Monday Musts. The idea is to share a must-read book, a must-listen song/artist/album, and something that's a must see - TV show, movie, picture, blog, etc.

• I'm participating in the 2016 Contemporary Romance Challenge, and I did the monthly topic, which was Top Ten Most Anticipated Romances for the First Half of 2016.

~ Books Read in January ~

• The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

• Summerfall by Claire Legrand

• The Turning Point by Marie Meyer

• The Distance From A to Z by Natalie Blitt

• Jewel of the Thames by Angela Misri

• Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

• From Bad to Wurst by Maddy Hunter

• Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul

• Complementary and Acute by Ella Lyons

• The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

• Chasing Spring by RS Grey

~ Favourite Books of January ~

January was a fantastic reading month for me - I enjoyed everything I read, which is incredibly rare, especially considering the number of books I read. Out of all of them, The Abyss Surrounds Us and Emmy & Oliver were my top favourites.

How was your January? Any highlights? What was the best book you read? Do you have a favourite blog post (feel free to link me to it in the comments so I can check it out)?

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Review: The Distance From A to Z by Natalie Blitt

The Distance From A to Z by Natalie Blitt
Series: Standalone
Published: January 12th, 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins
352 pages (eARC)
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Acquired this book: Via Edelweiss in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
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Seventeen-year old Abby has only one goal for her summer: to make sure she is fluent in French—well, that, and to get as far away from baseball and her Cubs-obsessed family as possible. A summer of culture and language, with no sports in sight.

That turns out to be impossible, though, because her French partner is the exact kind of boy she was hoping to avoid. Eight weeks. 120 hours of class. 80 hours of conversation practice with someone who seems to exclusively wear baseball caps and jerseys.

But Zeke in French is a different person than Zeke in English. And Abby can’t help but fall for him, hard. As Abby begins to suspect that Zeke is hiding something, she has to decide if bridging the gap between the distance between who she is and who he is, is worth the risk.
 

The Distance From A to Z is a fun, adorable, romantic debut from Natalie Blitt. It encompasses everything I love about contemporary YA - realistic characters, great banter, strong friendships, and a slow burn romance.

This story was really different for a lot of reasons. I’m a sucker for boarding school/dorm-type stories, and I liked that Abby was a high school student who was admitted to an eight-week summer program to become fluent in French so she could potentially go to school in France, a place she’d always been fascinated with. I also liked the baseball element - the fact Abby hated it, and the reasons behind it (her family’s all-consuming obsession led her to not even want to hear about baseball, let alone watch it, discuss it, etc).

I loved the contrast between Abby and Zeke being complete opposites, but Abby and her roommate Alice being so similar they joked about being the same person. In some ways I connected more to Alice than to Abby - her anxiety (holy wow were some of the situations familiar) and her passion for writing. Their connection was one of my favourite parts of the book, and I appreciated that they taught each other some important lessons.

Another thing I loved: the French lessons. Being Canadian and half-French, I should be more fluent than I am, but I’ve always loved the language and I loved Abby’s passion for it. I was also quite impressed with myself that I understood most of what she and Zeke were saying (but I loved that the translation was always included, and in a fun, natural way - extra points for that). I liked how things were different for French Abby and French Zeke compared to their regular, English-speaking selves. They were like different people, their best selves, and they could forget about their differences and the outside world in general.

The Distance From A to Z was such a fun, light book. There were serious, real-life issues, but mostly it was a book that made me grin and giggle. And I won’t lie - I cried at the end. It was just so sweet! I can’t wait for more from Natalie Blitt.

 

Have you read The Distance From A to Z? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Are you fluent in a language other than English? If you could learn any language, what would it be?

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