Monthly Rewind: September 2018

B O O K S 

I am so impressed with the fact that I managed to read 14 books this month. It was most likely spurred by the fact that I start my second year of university in October so I really wanted to read as much as I could before it’s limited by deadlines and essays.  Also, I’ve been cheeky and just stolen snippets from my own reviews for this post.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon | (3/5) | TSIAAS is one of those books where I’m genuinely in the middle. Like I didn’t enjoy it, but I didn’t absolutely love it. I feel like there’s a bit of switch here for me. But it’s ending was really good and the way Nicola Yoon jumps into different bystander’s voices without affecting the main plot brilliantly done. I like how it showed we are all connected in some way or another

Circe by Madeline Miller |(4/5)| Miller’s ability to re-present the classics never fails to amaze me. Seven years since TSOA was first published, four years since I had read it, and I can definitely say that Circe was definitely worth the wait.

How She Likes It by Carla de Guzman |(5/5)| Isabel Alfonso is next in line to be CEO of her family-owned company. But she’s also risking her own business to take it. Single dad Adam Sevilla is just going by, raising his daughter while also allowing her to reconnect with her distant mother. Isabel and Adam are two very different people, but they work well together. And so does this story. Its pacing was well, and it was a relatively fun and enjoyable read.

Lions Can Always Learn to Roar (Until Lambs Become Lions, #2) by Charlotte Anne Hamilton |(5/5)| After nearly dying at the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin Hood and her merry gang are on a deadline after the Queen Mother appears to have sent her people to Nottingham. Robin has no idea what’s ahead of her but she’ll do anything to keep her family safe. 

Margot & Me by Juno Dawson |(3/5)| Fliss and her mother move in with her cold grandmother. Fliss discovers the diary she kept during the war and learns all new secrets about her seemingly distant grandmother. I don’t know what, but this book just didn’t work for me.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken |(3/5)| There is a lot of good to this book, it wasn’t exactly terrible, I think the pacing just dragged this book to hell for me. I don’t understand how a book with a lot of plot aspects that I usually enjoy disappoint me like this.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth |(3/5)| This was a very detailed and passionate read. The story shifts with its array of characters, each vibrant and different from one another. The story starts off with a summer fling, a more happier vibe, where everything seems to be going well. Until it takes a dark turn and punches you straight in the stomach. While I didn’t find it emotional, but nonetheless, it was difficult. Cameron Post was an intriguing read, while I didn’t love it, the story is important.

13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough |(2/5)| Natasha died for 13 minutes and now she wants to know why. But closest friends are closing her off, so she turns to Becca, the friend she dumped years ago. Becca wants nothing to do with her but she’s drawn into Natasha’s orbit as she begins to put the piece back together and discover why truly happened that night.

Soft on Soft by Em Ali |(4/5)| A soft sweet tale of two women learning each other and falling in love. A rapid contemporary read with little to none conflict. This title is very fitting. Soft on Soft is precisely what you get.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan |(3/5)| Crazy Rich Asian was weirdly entertaining and strangely absurd. And I think that is the best I could say about this book. I wouldn’t call this the best book ever but it was fairly entertaining. The way these characters behave are so over the top. Reading this was like looking into a whole new and different world. It was fascinating to read.

Vicious (Villians #1) by V.E. Schwab |(5/5)| Vicious was a delightful surprise. I have never read a V.E (or Victoria) Schwab before, and Vicious sounded like the safest options out of all her books to try. And, is this what all her books are like? Because you can now count me in the Schwab hype train

Women of Resistance: Poem for a New Feminism by Multiple Authors |(3/5)|This collection of works from such inspiring people was indeed a hidden gem.

I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman |rating witheld| I’m still working on a review for this but I really enjoyed IWBFT. A superfan meets the idol of her dreams, but everything isn’t as bright as they appear on the big screen.

Sadie by Courtney Summers |(5/5)| A review soon because I have A LOT to say. This book was so gripping and thrilling to read. Read it, is all I’ll say now.

M U S I C 

Siren – Sunmi | Save me, Save You -WJSN | Seesaw x I NEED U (Remix) – BTS’s SUGA| All For You – Years & Years | Drippin’ – NCT DREAM | Sweet Dreams – Herz Analog & Elly (of WEKI MEKI) |  Naughty Boy – Pentagon

P O S T S

I feel like I haven’t done this in a while but I’ve meaning bring back this section where I feature posts I’ve read in the month that I’ve really enjoyed!

1. Bodyguard shows drama cannot be truly subversive unless those creating it are

I actually hadn’t heard about this series, Bodyguard, until it was halfway into its run. Everyone seemed to have spoken very highly of it so I decided to jump in and watch. It’s a fairly quick and easy show to watch but it’s ending was extremely disappointing. This article from Media Diversified is one of many articles that eloquently describe how I felt.

2. AUTHOR/REVIEWER INTERACTION ETIQUETTE PART II

Fadwa returns with a post on Reviewer Interaction with a basic do’s and don’ts for reviewers to keep in mind when they’re blogging and interacting with Authors. A first part, aimed at Authors, was posted back in March. A great post for bloggers in general about behaving online.

3.  Let’s Talk About … Blog Designs And The Influence They Can Have

An interesting post about the impact of Blog Designs and offers ways bloggers can edit and make their own graphics for their blog. All options are free! If you’re looking for free programs to create designs for your blog but can’t afford programs like Photoshop, the list included is pretty good and I would highly recommend the same.

That’s it for this month! Tell me what went on in YOUR life this month! What sort of things was important for you this month? New obsessions? New TV shows? Or book? Any new song recs (I’m always open to new music!)? Best books you read this month?