What a month! There’s a lot to cover, I think, so I’ll try to keep it brief. I don’t think it’ll work, though, because this also doubles as a Weekly Wrap!
Life Beyond the Blog
This month has been absurd. My brother graduated high school, we had his grad party, my grandmother broke her hip (no worries, she’s healing well right now!), I got started on repainting my room for the first time in years, my little words gremlin in training bunny finally trusts me enough to chill out next to me… What else? It really just feels like A TON has happened. I’ve been really active here on my blog, too, so that might have something to do with it. And prepping for Camp NaNo takes a lot of time. Oh, and my mom broke her ankle (she’s also fine and healing well, we’re just breaking bones a lot in this fam I guess), so that was a lot of busy stuff as well!
Basically, it’s been good with a few exceptions, and also I’d like the universe to hand me a pause button so I have some me time. My introvert soul has withered this month with all the social interaction I’ve had to do, and I’ve barely had time to curl up by myself and recharge. I’m hoping so much that July is a little kinder to me.
Posts This Week
Upcoming Releases – Inkmistress Review – The Lantern’s Ember Review – TBR Tag – Camp NaNo Prep – Which Witch?
The Week Ahead
Camp NaNo. I think that speaks for itself. Wish me luck! It’s going to swallow all of my free time whole, and I don’t regret a thing.
Books Read & Reviewed
So, I’m gonna cheat here and include in the count books that I’ve reviewed but you haven’t seen reviews for yet because they’re hiding in my drafts. Because technically, I’ve reviewed them. It counts.
Anyways, I’ve read 13 books this month (but only reviewed 12 because one was so bad it wasn’t worth it lol)! You can read my reviews for Fire and Heist, Shadow of the Fox, Salt, Beneath the Citadel, and The Lantern’s Ember right now, but the others are secret and on their way over the next couple months, always on Mondays. Keep an eye out!
And even better? This means I’m up to 37/50 books for my Goodreads challenge! At this rate, I’ll be done before the end of summer (which is nice, given that I really should give senior year of college my all). I should also have review content for most of the year lined up, which is a comfort!
Next Month’s Reads
It’s tough to guess exactly what I’m going to read next month, especially with Camp NaNo and my stubborn need to meet absurd goals on the horizon, but I’m hoping to read through Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence, since I have an omnibus of all five books on my Kindle just waiting for me (guys, it was only $10 when I bought it, and I think I heard my wallet weeping tears of joy that we could afford five whole books at once without having to squirrel away slivers of already small paychecks in advance). If I can get through that, I’m also hoping to tackle Air Awakens and/or The Alchemists of Loom, both by Elise Kova and both gifts I’ve had since Christmas (curse you, academics, for getting in the way of those). Fingers crossed!
Then again, maybe I should work on the physical pile of books in my room and not my Kindle… In that case, it’s about time I read A Conjuring of Light.
My Top Three Posts
These were my three favorite posts to write this month!
2. Top 5 Tuesday – Green, Blue, and Purple
3. The Sunshine Blogger Award 2.0
Favorites from the Around the Blogging World
Of course, what’s another month without some really great posts to go with it? These were some of the ones I really enjoyed this month.
Justine @ Milkz’ Bookshelf did a Top 5 Wednesday with her Favorite LGBTQ+ Books That Don’t Feature Cis M/M Relationships! Kerri @ Carolina Book Belle and Savanna @ Booked on a Feeling also tackled the same topic!
Fanna @ Fannatality wrote a great post about how the best friend always seems to get ignored when the main character falls in love (and why it’s really disappointing when that happens AND why paying attention the bestie is a good thing)!
Evelina @ Avalinah’s Books introduced some newbie bloggers (including yours truly) in a fun welcome post!
Kristina @ Books and Dachshunds wrote a great post on why bloggers just keep blogging even though it’s tough to do!
I hope June’s treated you well, and July treats you even better! And welcome to summer!
Great wrap up! You definitely read a lot more books than me. I only managed to read 5 this month since I’ve been in a serious reading slump. And I hope your mom gets better soon!
Hey, five is better than none! I’ll admit I only got through so many because it was my first full month off of school, haha. That’s the trick to a full reading month.
Thanks for the well wishes! She should be all healed midway through July or so, barring any more injury excitement.
Yeah I’ve been out of school since mid May but I’m also taking summer classes and my mom just for surgery and can’t move her arms so I’ve been taking care of her. So I’ve had no time for reading!
And that’s good to hear! Hope she’s resting a lot!
Oh wow, that’ll do it! I hope your mom’s doing well too, then! Best recovery wishes for her. c:
Haha, as much as she can. She’s always been a busybody, though, so she refuses to sit still. Thank goodness she has a walking boot by now.
I feel like June was super busy, so I am glad to see that reflected in your month as well haha happy July and with that Camp NaNo to you!
Oh gosh, it’s not just me. What a relief haha. And thanks!
I can totally understand about Introvert charging back to life time lol. I’m currently in that phase too.
Great post!
It’s sooooooo necessary and my extrovert family just can’t figure it out. I’m so glad you understand, haha.
Thank you!
Nice wrap up 👍 You read A LOT of books
Also thanks for the mention! I appreciate it a lot ✨
I really did! Not sure how I managed that, haha.
You’re very welcome! c:
woohoo !! going good on your goodread challenge !!
Goodluck for camp nano xx
Thank you so much to have featured that post of mine, too !
Thanks so much! So far so good!
You’re so welcome! It’s a very good post, I just had to share it some more. c:
Woah 13 books read in a month is amazing! Even at my best I can only squeeze 11 books in at maximum. I hope you find some you-time in July 🙂 I know the feeling of being surrounded by people all the time as an introvert, exhausting!
I honestly still can’t believe I did it, haha. It’s not going to happen again for a while, too, so I’ll be proud of it as long as I can.
It’s sooooooo much! I just need a room all to myself with nothing but an internet connection, snacks, and some blankets for a while.
It’s about time I read anything by VE Schwab XD Happy for your brother and hope your grandma gets well soon. Seems like you had a great month in terms of reading, I mean 13 is amazing!
Thanks for adding my post 😀
I totally recommend it! She’s got an amazing way with words. Super worth it.
Thankfully my grandma is getting better! And I’m not sure I can do 13 books again any time soon, but I’m so pleased I did it.
You’re welcome! It was an excellent post. c:
Looks like you had a pretty amazing month! I hope Camp NaNo went well and thank you for the shout out! ^^
No lie, I really did! It’s been nice. As for Camp NaNo, it’s only just started, so it’s getting exciting!
You’re welcome!
Wow, it does sound like a BIG month. It wasn’t an easy one for me, all ups and downs! I hope things go slower from now on. It’s really too bad nearly everyone in your family broke something o.o what are the odds, right? I can totally relate to that pause button thing 😀
13 books sound awesome though 🙂 I hope July is going well for you so far 🙂
It sounds like we both might need a break from the life rollercoaster. Everything is just TOO MUCH. And yeah, what are the odds? Apparently my family’s just a bit of a mess right now, oops.
13 books was amazing! It also makes July look so bad right now lol. I think I’ve had time for one book? Maybe? I can’t even remember, it’s been so busy.