February Wrap Up: The Month I Didn’t Move From My Couch

And so another month is over and I’m back here again to recall just what exactly I did all Feb. So much occurred this month, despite the fact that I became a couch potato. This month, I had a three week break from work before I started school again, in which I read a lot of books and reviewed a few. This has definitely been my best month, book-wise!

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Books Read: 

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Best Book of the Month:

This book was incredible. I can’t deal with the perfection. I did not at all expect to like this book, particularly because it is not what you think it is about. Please, please, please read it. The review will be up soon!

Monthly Disappointment:

There was none! Every book I read this month was fantastic!!

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Books Reviewed: 

Hunt for the Horseman is a sweet, funny and adventurous middle-grade novel that teaches us about the importance of family, as well as a valuable lesson about Indian land rights.
Full review.

Fan Art is an amazing and touching coming-of-age story that tugs on the reader’s heart strings. It was comical, entertaining and loving. I also give a list of m/m recommedations at the end of this review, for those interested.

Full review.

High School Hit List is an entertaining and tension-filled online original story. While I had a few issues with the book, the writing was phenomenal and I could not put my iPad down until I had finished reading it.
Full review.

Almost every YA fan has read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Saenz’s newest novel is just as amazing and heartbreaking as its predecessor. Get ready to cry and fall in love if you read this book.
Full review.

A fun, historical, and comical take on special powers and badass women. These Vicious Masks is everything I want in a novel and more.
 Full review.

The sequel to These Vicious Masks ups the drama, the tension and the romance perfectly. I was perched on the very edge of my seat.

Full review.

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Books Purchased: 

This year, I have made a resolution to not buy as many books. The only books I will allow myself to purchase are ones that are in an ongoing series, as opposed to purchasing a book in a store that I saw on Goodreads the night before. I did break that rule a little this month (I’m ashamed) by purchasing Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. To be fair, I’ve wanted to read this book for years and I found it on sale. It was the only book I have purchased this entire year so far! Leave me alone!!

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Blog Awards:

This month, I was awarded three – yes, three! – blog awards and I am so thankful to the people who nominated me. It means the world to me that my blog has touched people in some way, because I put my heart and soul into thebookcorps.

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(Click on each button to see the award, my answers, and the bloggers I nominated in turn).

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Tags and Memes:

I’ve been a bit slack with the memes I subscribe to. I tend to forget that they occur each week (sorry) and by the time I remember, the day has already passed. Here are the two I did manage to complete:

Top 5 Wednesday – Current Faves
Goodreads Monday – Proxy by Alex London

I was also tagged in an original tag, which was so entertaining and fun to complete:

Horror Movie Book Tag

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Achievement: 

I was excited to discover that the famous recap blog Recaptains accepted a submission of mine this month (actually they accepted it in Jan, but I only saw it in Feb).

It’s surreal seeing something of mine on another website!

Check out my recap for And I Darken on the Recaptains blog.

 

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Netgalley ARCs:

February is also the month I rediscovered Netgalley after a four month break! I was lucky enough to have been approved for seven – yes, seven! – ARCs this month, including The Inexplicable Logic of My Life and These Ruthless Deeds which I have already read and reviewed. The remaining five ARCs (which I hope to read and review in March) are:

1. Peter Darling by Austin Chant
2. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
3. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
4. Duels and Deceptions by Cindy Anstey
5. Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

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Non-book Related Stuff:

I discovered an amazing original Netflix series called Trollhunters and binge-watched the show in a few days, with my siblings. The show is beyond incredible. At only 20 mins an episode, it quickly draws you into an amazing world. You won’t be able to stop yourself from watching episode after episode.

Trollhunters is an animated series created by famous film director Guillermo del Toro, which follows Jim Lake Jr., a fifteen year old boy, who comes across a magical amulet and is introduced to a mystical underworld of good and evil trolls. What’s even crazier is that they inform him that the amulet has chosen him to be the Trollhunter, the powerful protector of the good Trolls, the guardian of good and defender of evil. Along with his best friend, Toby, and crush, Claire, Jim has to train as the first ever human Trollhunter and prevent Gunmar, an evil troll who seeks to free his father from his prison, from wreaking havoc on earth.

I was lucky enough to see The Book Of Mormon musical this month, which is quickly becoming one of my favourite musicals of all time. The show was astounding and hilarious. I had tears streaming down my eyes due to a few of the jokes, and unfortunately I was wearing eyeliner and mascara. My sister and I were in the second row and so close to the performers we could see the sweat on their faces. If you get a chance to see this incredible musical, please take it! You won’t be disappointed (unless you’re religious, then don’t see it).

 

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February was a great month, even though I scarcely left the house (I was actually recovering from surgery and had nothing to do but watch TV and read). Bring on March!

What was your favourite book in Feb? How many books did you read/review? Have you also watched Trollhunters or The Book of Mormon? Let me know!!

-Laura ❤