February 2019 Recap || Didn’t Post As Much But You Know What? It’s Chill?

My goal for posting was eight times this month. I posted six times.

I mean, I guess it’s fine but I also feel bad because two of them were review/blog tours?? And I didn’t even follow my principle of doing two non-review posts in between, but oh well.

This month was an okay reading month! I wanted to read nine books, but I ended up only reading five. Honestly, what did I expect. I ALSO went to the library and borrowed three books, but didn’t end up reading any of them!! Niceeeeeee.

(The books I borrowed were Black Leopard, Red Wolf, The Weight of Our Sky, and How Long ‘Til Black Future Month?) I’m really sad because those are really well-received books, but I just couldn’t get ~into~ it??? I don’t even know.

{all covers are linked to their goodreads}

books i read

   

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria ★★★☆☆

• I was kind of disappointed by this, and it probably shouldn’t be compared to Six of Crows tbh, but I actually did enjoy it! The three-star rating is not a bad rating, at all. [blog review]

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan ★★★☆☆

• I was also disappointed by this lol. I did enjoy this, but I feel like there was so much more potential if only the writing was improved? I’m so excited for Sabina’s next book, though! [gr review]

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng ★★★★★

• Wow. A masterpiece. The characters were all grey and important and amazing and it all clicked together at the end and wow, is Celeste a genius or what? This was a buddy read with Malanie! [gr review]

 

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte ★★★★☆

• I didn’t really enjoy the beginning, but when the murder mystery aspect really started kicking in, it was wild and just really, really good. However, there were two kind of iffy things that I mentioned in my review? Other than that, though, this was a solid read. [gr review]

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs ★★★★☆ (reread)

• Ahhh this was a really engaging read, although I did have some qualms the second time around. For example, this does not pass the Bechdel test, like at all, but I was still invested in the storyline overall. [blog review] [blog tour]

I also tried reading Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune with Shealea but we both ended up not being able to continue past the first chapter. I plan to try and finish it again in maybe a month, but not right now. It seems heavy and the prose is kind of thick, which is definitely not what I expected, so that’s kind of… awkward.

overall reading analysis

• favorite book: Everything You Never Told Me. It just gave me So Many Emotions. A contender for this would probably also be Four Dead Queens, but also it had some slightly troubling aspects soooo.
• least favorite book: I didn’t *hate* any of the books I read, but if I had to choose one of these, I guess I would have to say Beneath the Citadel?? My review for that book was a lot of complaining tbh even though I enjoyed it.
• Average rating: 3.8
• My tbr for this month was to read at least two more books, but you know what? It’s okay. I’ll just probably fail my 2019 challenge. #EverythingIsFine

me right now

• Also, I finally got the Libby app and now I can read ebooks or listen to audiobooks using my library, sooooo I’m kind of excited! I really want to listen to some audiobooks soon, even though we don’t have a huge selection or anything. But it’s chill.

books i read for #yarc2019

my sign-up/tbr post

• The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali ★★★☆☆ // I really, really loved the ownvoices Bengali representation here. I thought it was done really well in a good, casual way while also tackling feeling of being an outsider as a second-generation immigrant.
• Everything I Never Told You ★★★★★ // This is also ownvoices for the Chinese representation (the wife is white, the husband is Chinese) and I thought that it was so emotional and impactful in its depiction of James, specifically. James is also a second-generation immigrant who lets go of his culture in an effort to assimilate completely into “American culture” and it was so painful to read. I have so many thoughts on how lucky I am as someone who has so much more access to representation and the culture of my family compared to past second-generation immigrants. I might write a post about it later??? Maybe??? Who knows.

march tbr

I’ve decided that I’m going to do a tbr because I already created one for this month on my phone, so why not?

I’m listing the book I need to focus on reading for arc/blog tour purposes, and then I’ll list the ones I plan on reading for fun!

 

   

Besides these, I also have to beta read a book. The other books I plan on reading ~for fun~ are:

the foxhole court (trilogy) / the bride test* / king of fools / to best the boys / the antidote

*This is a buddy read with Melanie!!

physical book haul

{I was going to take a bookstagram picture of these but I haven’t had the time recently so just read the list of books below and manifest the spines in your head. Feel free to pretend I have artistic bookstagram talent or something.}

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

• This is actually SO pretty and I’ve wanted the movie tie-in edition ever since it came out!!! I’m so happy I got this even though… I probably should have waited for some coupon or something but you know what,, I’m ok with this being my first for-self book purchase since 2018.

The Project Nemesis Trilogy by Brendan Reichs

• These novels look so nice together and Chrysalis specifically is just. Really pretty. Thank you so much to Penguin for sending me this trilogy for the blog tour!!

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

• Omg so I expected this to be matte, because… for some reason, I saw other arcs and thought that they were matte? But, they are not. Also, I requested this and honestly didn’t think Albert Whitman was going to send this but apparently they DID and granted my wish. Thank you so much to Albert Whitman for sending me this!!

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

• Eeeee this is f/f with a forbidden romance and there’s a reflection of privilege and trying to climb the social ladder and it’s Latinx-inspired!! I love all this. Thank you to Lyla for giving me this for the giveaway!

Far From Agrabah by Aisha Saeed

• Aah I love Aladdin so, so damn much. So I’m really excited to read about Aladdin and Jasmine in a kind-of-official novel! Also, this cover is gorgeous and I’m really happy that I own a finished copy because it’s just so nice. Thank you so much to Disney Press for sending this! (Also, the cover wasn’t revealed when I received this, but it was revealed by the author on the last day of February and I’m SO HAPPY THAT PEOPLE GET TO SEE THE BEAUTY)

Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

• THIS IS SO THICK which you all already know, but I’m still kind of shocked. It’s also taller than all of my other books on my bookshelf, soo?? Thank you to Imi for hosting this giveaway!!

digital arcs

   

The Tiger at Midnight looks so pretty and good and the synopsis is just. absolutely STUNNING. To Best the Boys really interests me because I heard it’s really feminist and that there’s good disabled rep! But I also heard there was some stereotypical dyslexia rep. Romanov has such an intriguing pitch and also, I think there’s enemies-to-lovers romance sooooo. Automatic Yes.

   

I absolutely LOVED Amanda Foody’s Ace of Shades and I’m so excited for King of Fools and just AHHHH LEVI AND ENNE. LEVI AND ENNE. Also, Red, White, & Royal Blue looks so adorable and I know it’s a queer romcom and the author is also queer so that’s already amazing. So many people have raved about this book! For We Hunt the Flame, I’m lucky to be on Hafsah’s street team so I won the weekly raffle for an e-arc! I’m so damn excited.

anticipated books in march

   

   

   

favorite post

I was really excited to do this tag and I’m so glad that people actually liked it?

Also, the formatting for this post was so hard and I spent a lot of time trying to decide, but I’m really happy with how it ultimately turned out!! I usually don’t change up my formatting. Also, I posted this on the last day of Chinese New Year sooo clearly I’m a whiz at timing.

most popular post

This was really late (by two months) but whateverrrr. Also, this features (almost) all diverse books because like, of course.

I originally put The Cerulean on this list but y’all, apparently the main character isn’t even SAPPHIC and the sapphic utopia is set up as “bad” so like… that’s seriously not a good look and I’m highkey upset. The cover is so pretty tho.

posts i loved

Melanie posted her favorite bookish couples and wow, the art is so beautiful. Also, literally no one was surprised by her choice of Kaz/Inej and Jude/Cardan.

Again, May posted her favorite diverse bookish couples, and seriously, we were NOT surprised by their choices.

The other May announced that she was joining YARC2019 and I’m so happy!!! I’m so glad there are so many participants of this challenge < 3

Emma wrapped up her January and seriously can we all go scream at her to start posting more frequently please. In a loving way tho because we love her. (And she totally shouldn’t feel obligated to blog!)

Tassie posted a very thoughtful discussion about arc hoarding and privilege in the book community and I think that it’s an important read.

Ilsa discussed jealousy in the book blogging community involving stats and the lack of privilege for international countries.

Shealea posted about her adventure to her first book sales and I really enjoyed reading this post!!! She’s so organized, what the heck.

Marie discussed on staying positive while book blogging, and honestly yes. Tbh, I got kind of dejected while writing this post soooo cLEARLY I need to follow her advice.

Fadwa hit 1000 followers on her instagram (I’M SO PROUD) and she shared some of her tips on bookstagramming!!!

Tiffany posted her wrap-up for January and seriously tho how on earth are her pictures so pretty? Clearly she has harnessed some supernatural power.

Chaima listed some books she wants to read, but doesn’t want to read and if this isn’t the single most relatable thing I’ve ever read.

Malanie recommends some Ravenclaw books. She also did the other Hogwarts Houses but I’m Ravenclaw so I like Ravenclaw things.

bookish news

Kiersten White is writing a fantasy retelling of the Arthurian legend and it’s apparently launching in fall 2019!!

Ashley Herring Blake is writing another middle grade novel about two sisters and they have two mothers!! I am damn excited for the cover.

The cover of Nocturna was revealed and damn it’s so gorgeous!! I’m really loving the mosaic there! It’s honestly very different from what I expected.

Joan He’s writing a book scheduled for 2020 which is a thriller and about two sisters and tbh I probably wouldn’t be that interested but it’s Joan He!!

Okay, Sandhya Menon is writing a contemporary Beauty and the Beast retelling where an Indian princess is supposed to trick a British aristocrat into falling in love with her and I very much think that there is enemies-to-lovers in this and I NEED IT NOW.

Sandhya Menon also has a short story sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi called As Kismet Would Have It and it’s going to be available for free on Riveted Lit in April!!!

Cynthia Chen wrote a graphic novel that’s going to be published by First Second Books and it’s about a teenage girl who joins the football team!!!

S.A. Chakraborty, the author of City of Brass, is writing a pirate book and I have no idea what it’s about but I’m hyped!

Gloria Chao is writing about a Taiwanese lead and love interest in an all-white school and it’s interspersed with the tale of the Butterfly Lovers soooooo I am so! excited!

Rin Chupeco is writing another series called A Hundred Names For Magic and it’s a fantasy trilogy with a Filipina protagonist!!!

An anthology called A Phoenix Must Burn is releasing spring 2020 and it’s going to have all black voices and some of the protagonists will be genderqueer!

Akemi Dawn Bowman is publishing a YA sci-fi!! (the rest of these announcements are going to be short because I have like eight more and it’s kind of late and I’m tired)

The title of Renegades #3 was announced as Supernova!

Elizabeth Acevedo is publishing two more novels!

Alyssa Polombo is writing a Downtown Abbey-inspired novel!!

Akemi Dawn Bowman’s middle-grade debut was announced!

Helen Hoang is writing about the sisters of Michael Phan!!

Chloe Gong is writing a Chinese Romeo & Juliet retelling!!!

Adrienne Young is writing a thriller novel!

media consumed

I listened to The Strange Case of Starship Iris and a) I’m really LOVING this f/f slow-burn and b) the characters are so well-developed but also, I thought there were only four characters when there were five, and c) THIS IS SO AMAZING AND IT’S GETTING ME BACK INTO AUDIO DRAMAS/PODCASTS.

I watched some of Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 6 and let me tell you, I feel like it’s not as funny as it used to be? Like, they’re all cursing and yes cursing is all okay in my book but seriously… the cursing isn’t making it funny. Hitchcock or Scully cursing isn’t funny??? I’m really sad!!!

I’m re-watching the K-Drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo for my third time and it’s so damn adorable and cute and I love it so much!! It really, genuinely cheers me up!!

I went to see my school musical of Footloose and it was actually good and I’m kind of shocked because at first I was salty that I had to buy tickets and go and stuff but now!!! I don’t regret it!! Apparently, like everyone ad-libbed and messed up but NONE OF US NOTICED so that’s kind of wild.

I saw Happy Death Day 2U (I didn’t see the first movie but I understood the gist & watched the CinemaSins video) and it was really good. Also, I didn’t realize it wasn’t a horror but a slasher/thriller until after the movie. I’M OFFICIALLY OBSESSED WITH THE SONG “HARD TIMES” BY PARAMORE. IT’S A BOP.

I rewatched Totoro and Ponyo and they were both so good but I totally forgot everything that happened in Ponyo. I love the art so much!!!

I started watching Booktube more and I’m still looking for more good and funny booktubers, please. Current faves include meltotheany (of course), readwithcindy, ashleyoutpaged, littlewolfreads, Bowties & Books, and Insane Reader. PLEASE RECOMMEND.

the strand bookstore

I went to the Strand twice!! My first time, I kind of just walked around the YA sections and marveled at all of the books that were available!! It was very, very cool and fun and nice and my first visit, I purchased the movie tie-in paperback of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before!

The second time, I brought seven hardcovers to sell, and it turned out that The Strand is kind of cheap about buying books so!!! Idk, they offered 9 books for seven hardcovers which is like a dollar per book? But I expected like, $3-5 because the hardcovers were in perfect condition and were actually well-known releases, and one of them was also signed. So. I mean. Idk maybe I’m just misguided about the value of books, but I did Not sell to them and I’m just going to sell everything on Depop!

my sister’s dog

My older sister’s dog came over to our house! However, she was shedding a lot at the time and was also teething sooooooo she smelled kind of terribly and also got fur on our clothes. SHE WAS ADORABLE THOUGH and I really loved her but also she was kind of a larger dog so she was HYPER and also BIG.

I’ve decided that if I ever get a dog, I’m probably going to get an adult dog! One that’s lazy and docile.

other things

This isn’t even all that important but you guys… my Burger King installed this machine for ordering so you don’t even need to talk to the cashier. And you can use coupons on there (I always use coupons) and when you use coupons, you can customize your order!!! So I found out that you can replace your fries with onion rings and also that our Burger King has Coke slushees?? So I’m officially going to get slushees every single time.

I made potato pancakes (latkes) and they were totally a success! Am I Gordon Ramsey or whaaat. But then I tried to make hash browns with one of the older pans that I have and then oil literally started splashing everywhere and it was legitimately so scary. I was trapped by the radius of the oil, so I had to stay near the sink and it was just… not fun. Even with the cover on, the oil still managed to find a way out?? How the heck. Anyways, that was the most terrifying experience of my life!! And the hash browns were very burnt. HOW DO YOU COOK HASH BROWNS and how do you bind them?? I tried making hash browns again with the normal, good pan and the oil did NOT splash everywhere but the hash browns still burnt a ton. So??? I’m genuinely confused.

I had a Pink Drink for the first time and guys, they are genuinely so good?? I really liked it and it wasn’t bitter or bad at all!! I’m usually very disappointed by non-frappe Starbucks drinks. Violet drinks are disgusting, fyi. Do y’all have any recommendations for Starbucks Tea because I want to get free refills but so many of the teas are too bitter and bad.

I celebrated Lunar New Year and it was really fun and we made dumplings which was AMAZING and I learned like two different dumpling folds!! I feel so talented and special.

I got a haircut from my sister, and I expected maybe one or two inches cut off but she decided to cut off FIVE INCHES so the haircut took so much longer than expected!!! I didn’t prepare properly because I thought it was going to be a minor haircut, so hair got everywhere and it was truly a terrible experience. Now my hair length is like three inches below the bottom of the shoulder.

*NOTE: I’m not doing goals for the time being because my recap posts are long enough, and I only originally started doing them because my post was too short and I wanted to lengthen it. Also, I always forget about them.

What did you read this March? Did you meet your goals of posting or of reading? Do you like Burger King? Have you made potato pancakes (latkes) before? Are you Gordon Ramsey (if you are, I CHALLENGE YOU)