Monthly Wrap || April 2019

And somehow, that’s a wrap on April! Anyone else surprised the end of the month is already here?

Life Beyond the Blog

School. My life is basically nothing but school, and it’s almost done with. I’m actually writing this at the start of my final week of classes ever (yes, it’s scary, forget I said that), and I have two presentations, two papers, and only a single test standing in the way of my freedom. I turned in my thesis about a week and a half ago, I narrowed down my research for the other two papers in the time since then, and I’m just trying to hang on through finals. And I’m hoping for a decision from the program that waitlisted me, AND I need to dig deeper into job searching, but hey. One thing at a time, I guess?

I also rediscovered the joys of painted nails, and even though it eats up time I really don’t have at the moment, there’s something very satisfying about having painted nails and having them all shiny and smooth and colorful. Especially when they match what I’m wearing for my presentations. Because I’m pretending I’m classy like that and MAN, what a confidence boost.

Ooh, and I took a zoo trip a couple weeks ago (it was a much needed brain break, and there were SHARKS!), AND I got back into Pokémon Mystery Dungeon which is honestly the worst time suck right now but I love the PMD games with my whole heart. Worth it.

(We’ll see in a couple weeks if my grades agree, lol.)

 

Books Read and Reviewed

I managed to read eight books this month, though it’ll be a while before you see reviews for some of them. This months books were The Hummingbird Dagger, King of Fools, Four Dead Queens, Keep This to Yourself, Blood Heir, Coraline, Every Heart a Doorway, and The Spirit Thief.

Of these eight, I’ve already got reviews up on the blog for the first four, will not be formally reviewing Blood Heir since I read the old ARC and it’s been given a new pub date (probably with major revisions) in November, won’t be reviewing Coraline since I read it for school, will review Every Heart a Doorway once I get my hands on the rest of the series, and will review The Spirit Thief in one big blast next week (oh no, that’s soon; suppose I should read the four sequels and the novella, shouldn’t I?)!

 

Next Month’s Reads

Obviously I’ll be tackling the rest of the Eli Monpress series so that The Spirit Thief doesn’t have to sit out all lonely next week! I’m also feeling ambitious, what with my college career coming to an end, so I have The Lost Coast, Priory of the Orange Tree, Alex Bracken’s Prince Alastor series, and The Near Witch on the table. That’s…oh, 10 books? No big deal. I hope. I think.

Honestly, if it gets overwhelming, I’ll just reschedule the order of a couple reviews, and everything will be okay again. No sweat!

 

My Top Three Posts

As always, I’ve got to share my three favorites with you guys!

Our Dark Duet Review

The Luminous Dead Tour Recap

Friday for Funsies || Bookish Royals

 

Favorites From Around the Blogging World

And now for the spotlight! The good stuff! The real reason we’re all here! These were the posts I really liked this month, ones that deserve more love even as we head into May.

CW and friends @ The Quiet Pond looked a little…different on April 1st…

Jess @ Crowing About Books shares some #ActuallyAutistic books for Autism Pride!

Jenn @ Jenniely shares some tips and tricks for requesting ARCs!

Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads shares the witchcraft behind turning book covers into horizontal graphics!

Roxanne @ An Average Life talks about how the order we read books in can affect the ratings we give!

Kaleena @ Reader Voracious shares why she’s done away with star ratings altogether!

 

There you have it! April all wrapped up, and the slate wiped nice and clean for May! I hope your month has been less…time-sensitive than mine, and that the month ahead has all kinds of wonderful surprises in store! See you around!