March Wrap-Up! ✨

Happy April!

This post was supposed to go up yesterday so here’s a joke for you:

"I was reading a great book about an immortal dog the other day.
It was impossible to put down."

Hope it made you smile. Welcome to my Wrap-Up! I had an okay-ish reading month and I blame my reading slump and my poor choice of books this month but I still enjoyed some of the books I picked up so here we go!

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I only read six books this month and one was particularly awful but I did enjoy a few of them and even found new favourites!

5 stars

You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson ★★★★★. This book is exactly the type of book 16-year old Karla would have LOVED. I loved how it dealt with all types of topics but the most beautiful part was seeing a Black girl getting her fairytale-like happily ever after. The author also wrote a lovely paragraph at the end of the acknowledgements about Black sisterhood and it made me cry. I will have a full review up soon!

Damaged Goods by Talia Hibbert ★★★★★. This book was so good that I got a book hangover after reading it. It was the softest, fluffiest, loveliest romance ever; It actually deals with domestic violence and the way a woman learns to love herself after this hardship. It was so so so beautiful.

4 stars

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller ★★★★. This is how you write a Fantasy standalone. This book was enjoyable, had a nice entertaining plot, cunning characters and a passionate romance. What more could I want? I loved the main character in this a lot because she’s ruthless and unapologetic about it and I love that.

A Touch of Death by Rebecca Crunden ★★★★. The author approached me to review this dystopian novel and I really enjoyed it! I have a fuller review and author interview for this book; so stay tuned!

No rating

I read two taboo books this month and I don’t know what to say. I don’t have a valid answer for why I read this. I don’t know what came over me. I did like reading Forbidden more than Genesis (which I do NOT recommend, even for a taboo novel). Both of these books have so many problematic aspects which I actually don’t condone but it is fiction and I’m slowly making my way into dark and taboo romances so it was an interesting place to start.

Currently reading

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Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore. I have the audiobook but haven’t been able to listen to it so I’m starting a craft project and I can’t wait to listen to the story as I work on my project.

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. I picked up this book in November but never got around to continue this; I am going to hopefully change that it in April!!

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I am buddy reading this with two friends and I AM LOVING IT SO SO SO MUCH.

Favourite posts by Fellow bloggers

• The Definitive Book Blogger List by SOFII @ A BOOK. A THOUGHT. The wonderful Sofii published the amazing project that is the blogger list! I discovered so many new, passionate book bloggers and I cannot thank her enough for putting this list together.
• Review: Born a Crime by Whimsically Meghan. This is one of my favorite books and Meghan wrote a short and sweet review about it!
• ALL TIME FAVORITES #4 – THE POPPY WAR BY R.F. KUANG by Alienor @ a fox’s wanderings. I have yet to read this book but it’s reviews like this one which make me want to read it as soon as I can! I loved this review!
• Book Review: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – The Greatest Sunshine and Grump Romance that Defeats Autistic Stereotypes and Is Hot AF by JOCE (SQUIBBLESREADS). This is one of my favourite romances ever and I loved this review! It conveyed exactly how I felt when I read this!
• 10 ADULT BOOKS ON MY RADAR by NYX @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books; this was a lovely little list of some books I also have my eye on!

Nothing can top my birthday month so I knew it was only downhill from there but March was rough. I had kind of an existential crisis because I just don’t know what I want to do with my life. I am presented with so many options (which I’m grateful for) but the fact that I have to make a choice is terrifying and I’m paralyzed. I also had a reading slump and since I read books for escapism I was a little…lost and sad. Also all the context with the rise of hate crimes against the Asian community was really triggering as it reminded me of what happened this summer and it was also very eye-opening. I feel like minorities are endlessly suffering and that we never win. I’m just tired. I’m kind of back on track but it was very challenging for my mental health. But you know what really helped me? Watching SCANDAL. Shoutout to Shonda Rhimes for writing and producing this show. I owe you one. I really hope April is better!

Goals check-in

• “Work on my WIP everyday. Now this is something I really struggled with this in February and I really hope I make a dent or even finish a first draft this month!” ✅ Result: I did work on it everyday!! I made it halway through my WIP so I’m happy;
• “Not purchasing any book (except Act Your Age, Eve Brown)”❌. Result: I bought one book!! I failed!! But it was a second-hand book and it was only 1€ so did I really fail?
• “Read at least 8 books this month” ❌. Result: I sadly only read 6 books in March but I’m hopeful for April!
• “Finish Empire of Storms which I have been reading since December.” ❌ Result: I didn’t finish EoS but I am once again hopeful for April!

I am completely giving up setting goals for April. I will just try to do my best; day by day.

How was your March? I wish you all a great (reading) month and I hope you’re all well! 🥰