January Wrap Up: The Month of Pure Laziness

The first month of 2018 is already over, which is kind of ridiculous to me. It went so fast. I worked heaps, but also took two weeks off to visit Hobart for four days and then lounge around at home for the rest of the time. I managed to read so many books this month, mainly ARCs, which I’m proud of!

Books Read

24 books = 15 books, 4 short stories, 1 comic, 1 webtoon, 3 poetry collections

 

Books Reviewed 

The final short story in the Captive Prince series almost divided the fandom: there were a lot of people who were wary about returning to the posionous world of the first novel, while just as many who trusted C.S. Pacat. I was kind of in the middle.  There was a scene that upset me a little, but for the most part I fell in love with the main character and his love interest.

Read my review

I really enjoyed reading Jessica Watson’s first YA novel. This book seems like a typical contemporary YA, but it is so much more. It was ridiculously cute and made me smile in many places. A really sweet #LoveOzYA novel.

Read my review

This adorable f/f novel put me in the absolute best mood. I loved all of the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the writing … just everything was wonderful. But Sawyer Bell was the cutest thing in the world, a cinnamon roll who is too pure for this world. Read it!

Read my review

 

Sweethearts is an intriguing YA novel about very important issues, and it was both fun to read and hard to read. It covers topics from discovering one’s sexuality, bullying, teen pregnancy, and life after high school. I enjoyed this book for the most part, although it took a while for me to empathise with the protagonist, and a lot of the plot was repetitive.  

Read my review

Curved Horizon was the sequel to Fortitude Smashed and I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. Although to be fair, I was really enjoying Fortitude up to until the end of the novel where a scene occurred and it upset me. Curved Horizon followed the friends of the love interests from the first book as the women became soulmates. It was really beautiful and talked about important topics, too.

Read my review

Book of the Month

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read. I laughed, I cried, I bonded with these characters, primarily Evelyn. I don’t think any words can do this book justice, but I’m going to try. The story revolves around an old Hollywood actress from the 50s who, after years of showbuisness and living through the deaths of everyone close to her, is finally reading to tell the story of her life – including the seven husbands she has along the way. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say this book is hella gay and you should definitely reading. Nothing is what it seems. It’s amazing and so worth it.

 

Monthly Disappointment

I felt that the romance aspect of the novel was lost due to the over-the-top plot line. We have hacking, rich helicopter parents, doping, the drama on the team … add to that second chance romance with no chemistry, and I just didn’t feel it.

I really didn’t care that much for the love interests. Dane was an overgrown child who really needed to grow a backbone. Alex was childish and not cut out for captain of an Olympic team. I also didn’t believe their romance – I mean, they fell in love at 16 for one summer, and when they broke up, sure, that’s hurtful, but to hold such a grudge for TEN years.? To still be that in love after TEN YEARS? And Dane SPOILER: hadn’t slept with anyone else in TEN YEARS!!!!???? END SPOILER The main characters even admit they don’t know much about each other, and are constantly surprised by one another, and I’m like, yeah, it’s cuz you haven’t seen each other in TEN YEARS!!!! Obviously people at age 16 are are very different people at age 26. I’m just saying.

Also not a fan of the storyline at all. It didn’t make sense? Dane is randomly a hacker, like where did that come from? SPOILER: And they have to sneak into the swim headquarters (is that a thing???) and hack into the system to save Alex from his false doping charges. END SPOILER Like what?? This is a sports romance not a spy novel/thriller. It was just so messy.

Also, I thought this was a sports book. Where was the sports? They’re at the olympics – wait, did they even get to the Olympics or are they still training in America? See, I don’t even know. Anyway, plot was just too much . Way too much happens and I was left feeling confused.

tl;dr: confusing, messy, unbelievable, didn’t like the love interests. Bored.

Tags

Click on the image above to see my answers to the tag and who I nominated in turn!

Extra Content

This month, I participated in a two blog tours, one instagram tour, and I even set myself a reading challenge for this year.

Abroad: Book Two instagram tour 
Gemini Rules Capricorn blog tour
Down by Contact blog tour

I have joined THREE reading challenges this year, and I’m a little intimidated, but I’m pretty sure I can do it.

Challenges:

1. 2018 Badass Books Reading Challenge
2. 2018 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
3. 2018 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

I also have my Goodreads challenge of reading 100 books, as well as my Classics Book Club challenge of reading at least 10 classics books this year.

Click on the image above to see my chosen books for each reading challenge.

ARCs

List of ARCs I received this month:

I was also lucky enough to have been sent a physical review copy of Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce, from Hachette Australia. Thanks Hachette!!

Purchased Books

Non-Bookish Stuff

In January, I went away with my siblings to Hobart in Tasmania for four days. We went away to relax, but ended up doing quite a lot. We went to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Female Factory, and the MONA (Museum of New and Old Art – very famous), and we also visited Port Arthur, Richmond, and the Tasman’s Arch.

Here are a few photos:

I watched Jumanji and The Greatest Showman at the cinemas. I highly highly highly recommend Jumanji – it was hilarious, I honestly haven’t laughed that much because of a movie in such a long time. The Greatest Showman was just beautiful, and the music gorgeous. I ended up buying the soundtrack.

I also binge-watched season 4 of Grace and Frankie and season 2 of One Day at a Time. If you haven’t watched either of these shows, get on it. Grace and Frankie discusses topics that a lot of people don’t consider when it comes to older women, and One Day at a Time focuses on the life of a Cuban-American family as they tackle racism, sexism, mental illness, discovering sexuality, dealing with homophobia, and so many other important issues. But what’s great is that the show is a comedy, so it’s very light even though your heart is being torn out.

ALSO the young boy from the show – Alex – looks EXACTLY like my little brother, it scares me.

 

Looking Forward: February

At the very end of February, I’ll be starting my final year of Masters at university, so I’ll be hopefully putting out a lot of content on my blog. What you can expect from me is:

Reviews:

1. Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil
2. Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
3. White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig (ARC)
4. Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce
5. The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

Blog Tours:

1. Retro Review Tour: Contour by Meg Harding
2. Release Blitz: Just Here for the Pain by K.A. Merikan

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Tentative TBR:

How was your January? Was it as productive as mine? How many books did you read, and which was your book of the month? Did you join any reading challenges for this year? Let me know!