Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I last posted 🙂 Lots of things have changed, and we’re definitely living in weird times, but that won’t stop us from becoming as productive as we possibly can be!
Since a majority of us are currently working from home, I’ve had a few people reaching out to me for some tips on staying focused and productive whilst being cooped up at home all day, and because I am used to working from home, I thought I’d share with you guys some tips and tricks and sort of navigate through how I manage between staying indoors for so long and still getting my work done!
Plan first thing in the morning
I cannot stress how important planning is! You have all these deadlines and to-do’s piling up in your head, but leaving them in your thoughts won’t do you any good because you have so many other things to think about. Make sure to always set things out first thing in the morning before you start working. Make realistic goals and write them out somewhere so you can physically see it! This way you’ll be constantly reminded of what you need to get done. If you’re always making a mental note of your tasks, it’s hard to manage and plan your day as it goes by. You will feel so much lighter after you write out your goals and plans for the day. Feeling organised is so important to me. Without physical lists, I can go mad with all the deadlines piling up in my head!
The importance of a decluttered mind
This may not apply to everyone, but if you categorise between your personal work (studying, watching lectures, admin work, etc), creative work (content creation, photoshoots, writing), or even work such as cleaning and laundry, you may ask yourself: which one to do first? Maybe you need more brain power to listen to a lecture and write down your notes for it, or you need the time to focus and complete a draft for a creative work? Perhaps the laundry bin has been full for the past few days and you can’t get it out of your head and you’re just simply itching to wash your clothes.
Well, everything comes down to your focus! What makes you feel the most productive? An empty laundry bin? A clean table? A finished draft or lecture? Think about it; you may have deadlines and priorities, but you won’t be completely focused on your work if you have a dirty sink or a measly 150 words left to finish your essay. Get rid of those small, pesky tasks BEFORE anything else. For example, I love having a clean workspace, so I like to take the time to make sure my desk is clean before I start working! This makes me feel more focused, and it lets me power through an important assignment rather than being distracted organising my table in between my study sessions. I also like to make sure I fill in the remaining gaps for all my unfinished work from the day before. This could be a writing assignment that I’m just so close to finishing, but didn’t have the time to complete yet. Everything comes down to focus, and having a decluttered mind (with NO pesky distractions to gnaw at you) will maximise it!
A productive workspace
A productive workspace is one that keeps you focused and motivated. You do not want any distractions lying around you. Keep your phones and games out of sight! Get some water to stay hydrated and ONLY surround yourself with the things you need to get your work done (i.e. laptop, pen, notebook, Ipad, etc). Try to keep your workspace as minimal as possible, because you do not want to be fiddling around with anything within arm’s reach (i know we all do this..)! I suggest only having your phone with you if you need it for work purposes. However, having a phone with you may also be good if (and only if) you are using a productivity app! I’ve been using the Forest app lately and it’s been soooo fun. I love the incentive of this app. Basically you plant a tree and it grows as long as you do not leave the app. If you do, your beautiful plant will wither! It may sound ineffective, but trust me when I say how painful it is to see them die! >< Anywho, Forest is a paid app, but I think it’s an investment that goes a loooong way.
Change (up) your environment!
Since most of us are at home a lot more now, it’s easy to lose focus because we’re just sitting down in front of our desks for hours. If it’s possible, change up your working area! Sit on the couch, write at your porch, pull out a picnic mat and lay it out at your yard for you to work on. Even something as little as re-organising your desk space (moving your items around, changing the positions of your desk and chair) can do wonders to you! Joining your family/roommates while you work will can also be beneficial for you!
Take breaks!!
You’ll definitely start to lose focus and get distracted after a few hours. Take this opportunity to take a break! Don’t push yourself! Take your mind off your work and have a lunch break (as you would at work or in school) or even bake. Make yourself a cup of coffee, journal, stretch, read for a bit! Ease your mind a little. You do not want to overwork your brain. At times like these, it is so easy to get lost in your work. But being at home also gives you the perfect chance to relax a little more and look after yourself. Setting up breaks in your planner is also a good way to remind yourself that you need to take your days slow. Just cause you have more time in your hands doesn’t mean you need to cramp all your assignments in one day! Staying productive means taking breaks too 🙂
Know when to STOP
Working at home gives you the perfect chance to find out how long exactly you can keep working until your mind starts to wander/you start to lose focus. I find out that I get tired when I’ve been up for approximately twelve hours. For example, if I get up at 8:00am in the morning, by 8:00pm I would have to STOP any heavy work I’m doing and give myself time to relax and unwind. I do this because I know how hard it is to focus by the time the 12th hour rolls around, so to prevent from wasting any more time, I make sure I drop everything that i’m doing by then. This also somehow gives me the motivation to wake up earlier, because it gives me more time to work on things I’d rather be doing during the day like journaling, reading, and writing!
Of course, this does not apply to everyone! Some of you might be able to work for more than 12 hours a day, or even less. It doesn’t matter! What’s important is you establish a pause button on yourself. As I’ve said earlier, please take care of yourself. I know this post is all about being productive, but whether you feel motivated to do work or not, what’s most important is that you’re looking out after your own health (i.e eating and sleeping enough).
Alrighty friends, that is all I have for today’s post. I hope you all found it somewhat helpful! Feel free to follow my home routine via my Instagram stories (and my ‘lifestyle’ story highlight) if you think that will help motivate you! ❤ As always, I am open to chat if you ever have any questions (or just want to talk to me in general!!). Stay healthy and hopeful! This too shall past 🙂 Take care!
Hi friends! I’m back with another very requested blog post, and that’s all about journaling! I’ve put up two journal related posts in the past (#1), (#2), but I just wanted to touch up on some new points (and even some old ones that I get asked about a lot) since getting a new journal this year!
Feel free to also scroll through the journaling category of my blog to see my journaling history 🙂
Now let’s just jump straight into the post!
What journal do you use?
My journal is from Papermark.id! I found this company at an art event late 2019, and when I picked up their journals I knew immediately that I had to have it! Plus, they had the option of embossing your name on the journal, which makes it so much more special!
This one’s the A5 Beige Lined Notebook with glossy gold foil initials! I love it SO much. I’m not actually too particular with notebooks, so as long as they’re A5, ruled, and is in great quality, I’m sold!
Papermark.id is a Jakarta based stationery store, but I believe they ship their products worldwide! 🙂
What do you write about?
I get this question almost daily, and the answer to that is personal entries! What I mean by entries is an update/reflection about anything personal. For example, I like to write a reflection whenever I have overwhelming days (i.e. feelings of frustration, love, sadness, happiness) to assess my thoughts. Being a blogger, I also write lots of ideas and blog post drafts in my journal 🙂
How many journals do you own?
I’m interpreting this question in two different ways 🙂
1. I own lots of different journals and notebooks, but I only actively use two, one of which is a planner. The one journal I use is my main personal one, and I make content + write personal entries in there. I don’t really find the need to have separate journals for different things since it’s actually easier for me to access everything in one place. The planner I use is actually a Moleskine pocket notebook! It’s small and handy, which makes it great for me to slip into my school bag!
2. I own 4 journals altogether (include my current one)! I’ve been journaling ever since 2016 and have kept all three of them with me. I did decide in 2019 to leave one of my journals to a special someone, but I will probably have it back one day 🙂 I cannot imagine throwing out any of my journals, even if they hold some of the most haunting memories. Journals are special that way. It’s tangible growth, which is personally something that’s really special and significant to me.
Do you journal everyday? If so, how do you find the time?
I do not journal everyday 🙂 It’s a misconception that people often get because my feed is just filled with journal pages! I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but lots of those pages you see on my Instagram posts are actually recycled. It’s one thing to LOVE how written pages look, but another to completely fill up two pages every day for the sake of a pretty picture. I do create lots of content through my journals, which subconsciously makes me journal more often than not (though not everyday).
Bottomline, I only journal when I feel like it. There is just no point in journaling when you’re literally forcing yourself to do it. It’s a choice of habit, not a forced one. It’ll only benefit you if you let yourself willingly pick up the lifestyle.
When it comes to making time for journaling, prioritise!!!! Something people are unaware of is that journaling does NOT have to take a huge chunk of your time. It takes me about 15 minutes on average to complete a personal entry. The only struggle with journaling is the stronger need to do something else instead of it (i.e. watching netflix, youtube, etc). If it’s really hard for you to schedule some time for journaling, I suggest doing it first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed (depending on your schedule) 🙂 I personally like to journal in the morning because I find that I’m more reflective the moment I wake up and have my coffee/tea.
If you’re finding it difficult to write in general, try to stir up a prompt that revolves around your live. Think about your goals. What do you wish to achieve? What are you most looking forward to in the future? Do you have any plans moving forward? Maybe even write down some of the things that inspire you. Anything that comes to mind, just write it! It feels amazing to be able to pour out your thoughts. Writing in a diary just hits differently!
What are on those post-it notes in your journal?
I use post-it notes whenever I’m drafting out a new blog post! This could be a book review, a how-to/guide, or some other book-related/lifestyle themed post. When it comes to book reviews, I usually have post-it notes ready from the books that I’ve annotated, so I just take them out of the book and stick them into my journal. They are the perfect references to writing a book review because whatever I wrote on those post-it notes are honest thoughts that are as fresh as they can be, which act as amazing guides when I’m writing my book reviews.
When i’m drafting out a blog post that is NOT a book review though, I like to write out the important points (basically the main ideas that I CANNOT forget to include) on those post-it notes 🙂
What pens do you use?
I use ballpoint pens! The funny thing about my pens is that most of them were found/given for free from events and huge corporations like hotels. Any pen I can get, wherever they come from, I keep them! I don’t use a specific brand, but I can tell you that I only use ballpoint pens when I write in my journal and planner. I’m not sure why I prefer it over gel pens. Perhaps it’s because they don’t smear? Nonetheless, I suggest keeping an eye out for free pens and keeping them if you can! Most people just toss them away, but some of them have the thickest most darkest black ink that looks so GOOD on journal pages! xD
Do you write your blog posts by hand before publishing them online?
Indeed I do 🙂 I know it may seem like a huge pain in the neck (and not to mention a waste of time), but I just love to write out my fresh ideas on paper prior to typing them out. Not only does it distract me less from the internet and keeps me way more focused when planning for a blog post, I love the way my pages look when they’re filled with words and scribbles. There’s just something so prominent about written pages. I hope I’m not the only one? xD
When and why did you start journaling?
I started back in 2016, which was around the time that I moved to study in Australia! 🙂 I remember how chaotic my thoughts were then, and journaling became an outlet for me to remove myself from reality. Reading actually enhanced my love for journaling, because I feel so much more inspired and light whenever I read, which allowed me to pour out positive thoughts into my journal, and not just negative ones 🙂 Ever since then, journaling has become a huge part of my life.
How do you feel about putting your entries out to the public?
I’m quite alright with it! Whatever I share online, I’m open to people reading them. I have much more personal entries that I do not share online, so there’s that! 🙂 Besides, I think it’s good to show just the tiniest bit of my more vulnerable side online, because people can relate to my struggles and flaws and realise that they’re not alone 🙂
General advice on starting the habit of journaling
As mentioned earlier, make time for it and prioritise! I cannot stress this enough. If you can spare 20 minutes for an episode on Netflix or a vlog, you can use that time to journal instead. Journaling keeps your thoughts in check, so it’s important to set some time for it if you would like to see some results 🙂
DO NOT force yourself to sit down and journal. Making time for it is one thing, but dragging yourself to complete an entry is not going to do any good for you. Keep an open mind when you first start journaling. You may not get to it the first time, and that’s okay! Let your mind reach out for it!
Try to start with a notebook that you already have on hand. Once you feel comfortable with the rhythm of journaling, go and get yourself a journal/diary that you can get attached to! Make sure it’s not too chunky and big. You’d want to get one that’s convenient, so you can bring it with you everywhere you go!
If you’re finding it really hard to start, try to immerse yourself in an environment that makes you feel reflective (i.e. where you’re most in your element). This can be at a library, a cafe, your bed, the park, anywhere really!
Remember to take your time and experiment with the habit of journaling. The practice comes differently for everyone, so be patient. The habit will come to you naturally!
That should conclude this post. I hope you all found it somewhat helpful! I’m not sure if I’ll be making another journal related post in the future as I do not want to sound repetitive, but if you have any questions, please let me know and I will try to answer them as best as I can!
It all begins with a fugitive billionaire and the promise of a cash reward. Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
In his long-awaited return, John Green shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity.
Review:
I have to admit, I had semi-low expectations going into this book, mainly because I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Fault In Our Stars. But the fact that I actually went out to buy this book says quite a lot about the hype that centres around it. Plus, lots of people on Bookstagram have been personally telling me that it’s amazing. Well ladies and gents, I’m happy to report that the book did live up to its hype, and that it was, in short, one of the best books I’ve read this year.
You don’t get much of a plot in this book, really. The actual plot is quite ridiculous, but it really fleshes out our main character and shows the audience what it is exactly that she’s struggling with and how she deals with it. This aspect of the novel was done extremely well. It was so good that it carried the whole story all the way through despite the weird plot.
The representation was so raw and painful, it made me ache for our main character. Apart from that, I was also a major fan of the romance. Unlike TFIOS, It does not feel staged or pretentious in any way. It’s cute how the characters are both a little awkward, but their relationship is so honest and innocent that you can’t help but root for them!! I especially love the texts they exchange between one another. It’s so natural and sweet. Nothing is sexualised nor glorified. They both sound and act like two amateur teenagers tiptoeing around the concept of being in a relationship. There is also no pretense nor angst to how philosophical the characters are. I love every question exchanged, and there are so many meaningful quotes to take away from this book.
Overall, this book has struck closest to home for me not only because of the author’s ability to put into words the emotion and feeling of being in a never-ending thought spiral, but also because Green so powerfully stripped down the ugly and inevitable reality of living with anxiety and OCD. Initially I docked down a star because I wasn’t too happy with the ending, but once I picked up after my scrambled thoughts, I decided that the story couldn’t have ended better in any other way.
If you’re looking for a book with great representation, a refreshing contemporary story, and beautiful quotes that will keep you up thinking all night long, then Turtles All The Way Down is it!
If you’re interested in buying Turtles All The Way Down, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository. I receive a small commission if you use the link! 🙂
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (book #1)Goodreads Synopsis:
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Review:
I actually have a review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, so if you want to read more about my thoughts on the first book in this series instead of the trilogy as a whole, click here!
This series is perfection, you guys. The complete set of character arc, intricate yet well established world-building, a fantasy-driven plot with so much human elements in it. The connection that the author creates between chimaera, seraphim, and humans is so tangible, and the story in general is just pure ingenuity.
The first book is enigmatic and rich, with lots of new fantasy elements that you don’t see very often in any other books in the genre. The second book delves deeper into all the politics and backstory of the Chimaera and Seraphim race, and then the third book.. the third book has this beautiful finality in its writing – so profound and powerful, yet gentle and poetic. Whether the book talks about politics, love, beliefs, Laini Taylor hits the mark every. single. time.
I have to say that I did have a few issues with the pacing and structure of the final book, but I just had to give it a five star rating. There were some pages in there that I’ve dog-eared because I often find myself just questioning how someone has the brains to weave together such intricate worlds and complex concepts. Everything about this series is fierce, poetic, and just.. magical. The written prose, the character development.. the gentleness and fierceness of the characters’ motives melding together with the love they all have for each other despite their own struggles and demons.. I’m telling you guys, the friendship and family dynamic here hits differently, which makes the series so much more special. Everything about the articulation of a war, its soldiers, lovers in between, the importance of communication, humanly bonds, and even science. Everything came down to how perfectly each concept ties into one another.
I won’t drag this review any longer with my repetitive points, but I just want to say that this trilogy has something in store for everyone. I think it deserves all the love and praise it gets, and that everyone should at least try picking up the first book! Laini Taylor is a goddess at storytelling, and I can guarantee that she will leave you wanting more!
If you’re interested in buying any of the books in this series, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository. I receive a small commission if you use the link! 🙂
Happy Valentine’s day everyone! I hope you’re all having the best time, how ever you’re spending it! In spirit of Valentine’s day, I thought I’d share with you today twelve books that you are bound to fall for, one way or another!
I have four different categories that groups these books, and each of them represent four different narrative conventions. They are characters, writing, romance tropes, and angst (I don’t think this is an official convention, but we’re going with it because I have some really good ones!!), and three books will be grouped based on the convention that stands out most from each respective story! I hope that made sense :’) There is a mix of Fantasy, Contemporary, and Adult books here (also one Sci-Fi!!), so hopefully you find something that suits your craving this Valentine’s day (or any other day in general!). Without further ado, let’s start with:
Characters
1) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads synopsis:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes
Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
Thoughts:
Undoubtedly, the characters are what leaves you wanting more when you finish this book. They are all the most precious snowflakes you’ll ever read about. The story is dark and broody, but the character dynamic and friendship are ultimately what draws you in. You will fall head over heels for the characters’ arc, and I have the softest spot for Kaz Brekker in particular so if you would please pick up this book and love this scoundrel along with me, that would be great. ❤
2) Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff
Goodreads synopsis:
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder An alien warrior with anger management issues A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
They’re not the heroes we deserve. They’re just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
Thoughts:
If that synopsis does not hook you already, here is what the dedication page says: “If your squad was hard to find, or you’re still looking, then this one is for you.”. There is all the sassy banter you need, and we’re following a group of “rejects” banding together to save their planet. Honestly, it does not get any better than that. Even though I enjoyed reading about the characters, they still have lot of room to grow, which is why I am so excited for the sequel! You’ll grow to crave for more spaceship fun and action with these guys, I promise!
If you want to read more of my thoughts, check out my review here!
3) Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
Goodreads synopsis:
Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn’t she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
If you want to know more about my thoughts, check out my review here!
Thoughts:
A girl with schizophrenia befriends a group of quirky, young individuals in her school and they help make each other’s life brighter and better. It’s SO wholesome, and on top of having a mental illness representation in the novel, the friendship and romance in this book is just.. *chef’s kiss*. I ache for and love Alex and Miles. They’re so precious. There’s also quite a strong family dynamic in the story which you’ll definitely fall for as well!
Writing
1) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Goodreads synopsis:
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Thoughts:
As you’ve probably heard a million times from me, Laini Taylor is queen. Her writing just sucks you in, and when it comes to romance.. gosh, it feels like she’s serenading you through the book. You feel like you’re in this dream-like state when she talks about the love between two people, be it romantic or platonic. The series so far is also PERFECTION. Her characters and world-building are also absolutely incredible.
If you want to know more about my thoughts, check out my review here!
2) The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Goodreads synopsis:
One Life to One Dawn.
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.
Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
Thoughts:
Renee Ahdieh + romance = unbeatable. Her words are dripping honey. SO smooth, thick, and sweet. The forbidden and hate-to-love romance just makes her writing and story SO much more addictive and passionate (and if you guys don’t already know, I am a complete sucker for both the forbidden and hate-to-love tropes!). I also ache for all her characters and their broken pasts ❤ I just love this book so so much :’)
3) Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Goodreads synopsis:
Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.
Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
Thoughts:
Oh Gods, you forbidden romance fans are in for a treat. This is a unique story of how the Queen of Hearts came to be, and if you are new to Marissa Meyer’s books, she is absolutely amazing when it comes to writing retellings! Marissa’s writing is gripping, enigmatic, and so beautiful! You can literally visualise all the delicious desserts that are mentioned in the book. There is also the inclusion of a very, very charming joker. It’s all so amazing! Everything about this book is amazing! ❤
If you want to read more about my thoughts, check out my review here!
Romance
1) The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Goodreads synopsis:
She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…
Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice… even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.
…and it’s going to be oh so good.
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.
Thoughts:
TRIGGER WARNING: rape and domestic violence
Just a heads up you guys – the books in this category all have the hate-to-love trope in them because ya girl is OBSESSED. The Deal is a sport romance between two college students whose chemistry will literally burn through the roof. There isn’t too much angst and the story is just so much fun to read about! It has the perfect amount of steam and wit, and the romance is absolutely swoon-worthy!
If you want to read more about my thoughts, check out my review here!
2) Royally Screwed by Emma Chase
Goodreads synopsis:
Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka His Royal Hotness, is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant; hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you.
Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn’t bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face.
Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her pie, and this heir apparent is used to getting what he wants.
Dating a prince isn’t what waitress Olivia Hammond ever imagined it would be.
There’s a disapproving queen, a wildly inappropriate spare heir, relentless paparazzi, and brutal public scrutiny. While they’ve traded in horse drawn carriages for Rolls Royces, and haven’t chopped anyone’s head off lately, the royals are far from accepting of this commoner.
But to Olivia, Nicholas is worth it.
Nicholas grew up with the whole world watching, and now Marriage Watch is in full force. In the end, Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King… or the man who gets to love Olivia forever.
Thoughts:
I remember first listening to this book as an audiobook and LOVING the narrators of both characters. Regardless of whether you read or listen to this book, the story is one heck of a ride. It’s a little more dramatic than what I would have preferred, but the romance between both characters is what I always crave for!
3) Idol by Kristen Callihan
Goodreads synopsis:
Libby
I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.
He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?
Killian
As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.
Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.
The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.
Thoughts:
The relationship between both characters started out with a minor hate-to-love and gradually blossomed into something so much deeper. I don’t tend to reach out for the ‘famous celebrity’ meets the ‘ordinary’ type of story, but I was rooting so hard for the bond that Killian and Libby had. I love how both of them acted like the mature adults they are. Not only is this book charming and steamy, it’s also meaningful and relatable. ❤
Angst
1) Swear on This Life by Renée Carlino
Goodreads synopsis:
When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.
Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.
That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.
The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?
Thoughts:
Okay but how amazing does that synopsis sound?? This story is an EMOTIONAL rollercoaster ride, you guys. It deals with so much more than the loving bond between two people. The author depicts the relationship of both her characters through the story that Emiline reads in her best friend’s book that ties in both their present and past. It’s a refreshing take on the genre, and man does it pack a punch.
2) A Love Letter to Whisky by Kandi Steiner
Goodreads synopsis:
It’s crazy how fast the buzz comes back after you’ve been sober for so long.
Whiskey stood there, on my doorstep, just like he had one year before. Except this time, there was no rain, no anger, no wedding invitation — it was just us.
It was just him — the old friend, the easy smile, the twisted solace wrapped in a glittering bottle.
It was just me — the alcoholic, pretending like I didn’t want to taste him, realizing too quickly that months of being clean didn’t make me crave him any less.
But we can’t start here.
No, to tell this story right, we need to go back.
Back to the beginning.
Back to the very first drop.
This is my love letter to Whiskey. I only hope he reads it.
Thoughts:
This books has one of the best romantic build-ups I’ve ever come across in my whole life. The push and pull of both characters makes you ache and root for them at the same time. The written prose of the romance is also BEAUTIFUL, and the ending will make you want to hug the book and never let it go. In short, it’s an incredible romance story. No one really talks about this book, but they ought to because it’s an absolute gem.
3) Come Closer by Brenda Rothert
Goodreads synopsis:
Sometimes appearances deceive. Take me, for instance. I look like a respectable doctor with his shit together, but the rural Montana mental hospital I work at is actually a sanctuary from my demons. At just thirty-five years old, I’ve already failed on an epic scale. Treating patients at Hawthorne Hill is part of my atonement.
I’ve found peace when a new patient turns me inside out. Allison Cole is a beautiful, haunted survivor who fell into silence after witnessing a murder. But even without words, I’m drawn to her. The closer we get, the more I’m tempted to cross my professional boundaries and give in to my desire. Soon I find myself in a desperate race to put the pieces of Allison’s silence together. Her life becomes inextricably entwined with mine as I fight to save the second chance I never thought I’d have. I’ll break whatever rules I have to in order to protect this woman who’s been to hell and back. For her, I’ll do harm.
Thoughts:
This books has so much angst and drama, it’s so delicious in every single way. The relationship between a doctor and his patient was also very interesting to read about! If you decide to pick up this book, you are in for a bunch of twists, suspense, and an I feel emotionally attacked romance. The characters are flawed in so many ways, yet they come together to mend each other’s wounds through their love and compassion. This is also another highly underrated book and I don’t understand why (but at least I get to keep this story all for myself haha 😉 )
Alrighty you guys! That was quite a list. I hope you found something to add to your TBR 🙂 I genuinely hope you enjoyed reading this post! Please let me know if you have read any of these books – I’d love to know your thoughts!
Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.
Review:
I went into this book with such high expectations. I mean, it’s Leigh Bardugo, author of my babies Six of Crow and Crooked Kingdom. I know it’s horrible to compare both series but I can’t help it. I was so looking forward to meeting and getting attached to the characters of Ninth house, just like with Six of Crows. But after reading 100+ pages, I accepted that I was not going to get anything remotely close to Six of Crows. After reading 50 more pages, I decided that I needed to re-read the book with a fresh perspective. It was only fair that way. So I gave Ninth House another shot and read it again from the beginning.
Here are are my completely unbiased thoughts;
Upon reading the first chapter, this book pretty much thrusts you into an unconventional world with unconventional people doing unconventional things. It was all very disorienting, and I often found myself losing track of the plot’s direction. One thing I have to point out is that the pacing of the book does not quite ‘pick up’ as you read. Some chapters are exciting, some aren’t. You fly through 50 pages and then slow down for the next 20. It’s not bad, but like I said, it all felt very disorienting (and frankly, a little anticlimactic). However, it was still interesting to read about the unique magic system and explore the supernatural elements in the book. And of course the, writing was gripping in true Bardugo style. The author’s wit and broodiness in writing goes so well with the occult, gory themes in the book. But I do want to stress, again, that the story is a lot to digest, and definitely isn’t one that everyone will love.
The characters, on the other hand, were fun to read about. Though I didn’t have any emotional attachment to any of them (as I would if I found them relatable in any sense), it was interesting to explore the many layers of the main character. You also learn to understand the motives of each character and slowly untangle the spiderweb of mysteries and secrets.
Overall, it was definitely an interesting read. I’ve never read anything like it, and it was a very refreshing and unique take on the genre. I’m not completely hooked, but I have a feeling that the next few books will really get to me that ending was a tad bit brutal, Leigh! I just need a little more convincing, that’s all.
If you’re planning to read this book and you’ve read her Six of Crows duology, please keep an open mind when picking up Ninth House, because they are nothing alike. Generally though, I’d still recommend the book to everyone because.. well, it’s different, and different can be really good to lots of you 🙂 Also, it’s Queen Leigh Bardugo, and everyone needs to read something by her.
If you’ve read this book, please let me know your thoughts! Otherwise, thank you so much for reading my review. I also wanted to thank Hachette Australia for sending me a free copy of Ninth House in exchange for an honest review! ❤
If you’re interested in buying Ninth House, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository. I receive a small commission if you use the link! 🙂
Hi guys! Today I wanted to discuss about all the book series I plan on starting/finishing once and for all this year! I have ten books in this list, five of which I want to start and five that I plan on finishing. I’ve been recommended the five to-start series for the longest time, and so I thought I’d be a bit more ambitious with my reading game this year by finally picking up/finishing these series!
So without further ado, let’s just dive right into the list!
Series I Plan On Finishing
1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor
Book #1 Synopsis:
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Thoughts:
I re-read Days of Blood and Starlight this year in preparation for the final book in the series and I’ve forgotten how much I loved this world and the characters! There’s so much political intrigue involved, and the writing is just amazing! Laini Taylor is such a queen, and the first two books are absolutely incredible. I also heard that the final book is the best out of the three, so I’m VERY excited!
2. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Book #1 Synopsis:
Barcelona, 1945. Just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother’s face.
To console his only child, Daniel’s widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona’s guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again. Daniel’s father coaxes him to choose a volume from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the novel he selects, ‘The Shadow of the Wind’, by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax’s work.
To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last one in existence. Before Daniel knows it his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love. And before long he realizes that if he doesn’t find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.
Thoughts:
The Shadow of The Wind was one of my favorite books of 2019. I also read The Angel’s Game last year and really liked it, though not as much as The Shadow of The Wind. I know the first book is seemingly more popular than the other books in the series, but people were telling me that the whole series is amazing in general! Honestly, all I ever want is to read Zafón’s atmospheric writing forever, so this series is definitely a priority for me!
3. VIP series by Kristen Callihan
Book #1 Synopsis:
Libby
I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.
He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?
Killian
As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.
Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.
The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.
Thoughts:
I read Idol last year and absolutely LOVED it! You walk away with so many quotes and unforgettable phrases. I love new adult books that leave a major impact on their readers ❤ On top of that, Idol is super funny and steamy! It’s the full package, you guys. I cannot wait to read the other books in the series! I also read a bit of the second book (Managed) and it seems that both books have a little bit of an enemies-to-lovers element at the beginning, which in my book is ALWAYS an added bonus!
4. The Wrath and The Dawn duology by Renée Ahdieh
Book #1 Synopsis:
One Life to One Dawn.
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.
Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
Thoughts:
I adore The Wrath and The Dawn the first time I read it and LOVED it even more the second time round! It’s a wonder how I have not gotten around to reading the sequel yet :’) But that will change this year! I’ve also heard nothing but great things about The Rose and The Dagger! The romance in the first book kills me every time! I need MOREEEE!
5. Sinners of Saints series by L. J. Shen
Book #1 Synopsis:
Emilia
They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares. He is a brilliant lawyer. A skilled criminal. A beautiful liar. A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover.
Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.
Vicious
She is a starving artist. Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom. Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down. She paid the price.
Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate. That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t. So she hates me. Big fucking deal. She better get used to me.
Thoughts:
I love my enemies-to-lovers books okay?! xD The first book was really good! A little cheesy, but SO addicting! We get to learn a lot about each character, and knowing that the series follows a similar formula makes me excited to pick up the rest of the books! This is also another new adult series that deals with characters fighting their own demons, dealing with tragedy, and most importantly, growing as human beings!
Series I Plan On Starting
1. Winternight Trilogyby Katherine Arden
Book #1 Synopsis:
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.
Thoughts:
I love my atmospheric books, combine that with Russian folklore and it sounds like the most epic tale! I have been seeing this series everywhere and am finally making myself pick it up because everyone just simply RAVES about it! I also have no excuses to keep delaying this series since it’s now complete. I cannot wait to make all the annotations when I get my hands on these books! ❤
2. The Folk of Air series by Holly Black
Book #1 Synopsis:
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
Thoughts:
You can tell a series is great when you save a fan art based on the series on Instagram despite knowing anything about it. I have TONS of Jude fan arts saved even though I have not read the first book in the series. It’s just madness! xD I hear the series is angsty and dark, which is THE recipe made for me. A publisher also sent me Queen of Nothing, and if these aren’t enough reasons for me to pick up The Cruel Prince ASAP, I don’t know what are.
3. Strange The Dreamer duology by Laini Taylor
Book #1 Synopsis:
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
Welcome to Weep
Thoughts:
One does not just simply read one series by Laini Taylor and not read her other one. Apparently this series is magical, lyrical, and pretty darn beautiful. I’ve seen plenty of quotes online, and that alone has me hooked on this series. Honestly, I don’t really need much more encouragement to go pick up this series. Laini is queen, and that is all the reasoning I need. I just NEED to find the time to pick it up at a bookstore ASAP!
4. Arc of A Scythe trilogy by Neil Shusterman
Book #1 Synopsis:
Thou shalt kill.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Thoughts:
I don’t tend to pick up Sci-fi/Dystopian novels, but this series has been getting nothing but high praises all throughout last year! Some of my favorite booktubers/bloggers absolute adore this series. The synopsis also has me sold, and I’m super interested to see how the system works in the novel! The final book is also out, so I plan on binge-reading this series STAT!
5. Stalking Jack The Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco
Book #1 Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.
Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.
The story’s shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.
Thoughts:
One of my close friends have been raving about this series non-stop. The synopsis sounds so cool too! I hear that this book is the kind that makes you grow attached to the characters. Although I’ve heard mixed reviews for the first book, I hear the series gets so much better! Those titles also sound very intriguing :’) I’m excited to pick them up!
What did you guys think of the list? Are there any books that you’ve been meaning to read/finish as well? Let me know! 🙂
Until next time,
xx Cath
If you’re interested in buying any of the books mentioned, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository. I receive a small commission if you use the link! 🙂
Hello everyone! A while back, I asked on Instagram if you guys wanted to see a what’s on my desk/desk essentials type of blog post and the responses were all so positive! So today, I’m here to go through everything that’s on my desk! 🙂
My desk is where I do most of my thinking and creating. It’s a representation of the writer, blogger, and reader in me, and just like the constant changes made in my inspiration and creativity process, my desk is a space that also needs to be changed and altered constantly. The things that are on my desk each have their own personal meaning and reason as to why they are put on my desk in the first place. Each item also inspire me in different ways 🙂
Anywho, whether you’re here to look for some desk inspiration or find out more about what’s on my desk, thank you for joining me today! Let’s jump right into the post!
Here is an overview of what my desk looks like! Some pretty generic things atop my desk include a laptop (this one’s the MacBook Pro Retina 13-inch), a mug from Legami Milano, a stationery jar filled with pens and pencils that I brought home from all the different hotels and restaurants I visited, a couple of books, and a table lamp that was gifted to me! My table is from Ikea, and it’s called TÄRENDÖ. I got the table for only $39 AUD, and it’s great! Super sturdy and easy to assemble. You get a lot out of it for its price 🙂
Next up on my table is my typewriter! Her name is Venus (named after @lauramaria8386’s suggestion on Instagram), and she’s my baby ❤ My mom and sister surprised me with her on my 19th birthday, and I can never get over how thoughtful this gift was :’) I take my time to type something up, which is why I don’t use it as often as I’d like to. However, looking at it makes me feel so happy, nostalgic, and inspired. That’s why it’s such a staple on my desk ❤ I believe my family got this typewriter at a local Indonesian online store, but I’m sure you can find the exact same one on Amazon or Ebay 🙂 This typewriter is the Olympia Traveller C if any of you were interested!
Next up is my gorgeous little dried flower dome that was also a birthday gift from my mom!! ❤ This one’s from Magnolia Bouquet, an Indonesian dried flower specialist on Instagram! My mom got this for my 20th birthday, and I loved that she told me she wanted to get me something “everlasting” and alive! My mom is the cutest I swear ❤ The colors of the flowers are absolutely gorgeous, and everything about it looks so magical and ethereal! I will think of my mom every time I look at this little glass dome :’)
This is my very first self-purchased plant baby! The one on the left is Erik, and Mia is on the right! I put them on my desk because because I wanted something that could grow along with me 🙂 A little cheesy, but it motivates me to work and strive for the best! I’m also sentimental over the fact that I found them by accident, got them at a really good price, and decided to name them :’) Now I’m just way too attached!
Now we have the prints! These prints (and the poster frames) were generously gifted to me by Desenio, and each print has a personal meaning to me. Each of them inspire, motivate, and tell a story. The Spanish Alley poster reminds me of one of my favorite books (The Shadow of The Wind), The Letter poster resonates a lot with me and my life, The Old Train poster is very calming and pretty to look at, and the Night Fox poster staring longingly at the moon reminds me of a very special someone ❤ I can just stare at all of them all day!
I also have these headphones that were given to me by Sudio! I tend to switch around between these headphones and my regular wired Apple earphones, but these headphones are a huge plus because they are noise-cancelling and, of course, wireless 🙂 I need them almost everytime I blog or study!
Next I have these cute thrifted ceramic knick-knacks that actually opens at the top! I store all my favorite rings and earrings in here just so they’re easy to pop on when I’m on the go. I love the designs! They look so English and cute! :’) These mainly serve as memorabilias from when I visited 3 in 1 Market, a huge Antique market that happens in Perth twice a year!
I also have my trusty journal with me on my desk! This one’s from Papermark.id, and it’s my new 2020 blogging/daily journal! I use my journal almost daily for both blogging and personal reasons 🙂 I’ve been journaling for about four years now, and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon! I love anything to do with journaling, so having a journal near me is very important! If you’re interested to read more about my journal, check out this blog post here!
Lastly I have my must-have journaling essentials! Aside from post-it notes, I like to use these little notepads to jot down all my important pointers for when I journal or study. I also love my Page Anchor! It prevents my books and journals from closing AND it’s beautiful! I’m obsessed. I bring it around with me all the time!
That’s all I have for today! Thank you so much for sticking through till the end :’) I hope this post inspired and/or helped you in some way!! x
Hello everyone! This is a pretty overdue blog post as cupsandthoughts actually surpassed 100K+ followers on Instagram more than two week ago!! 😮 😮 What a milestone! I’m still over the moon about it ❤ I really wanted to make a post building up to this incredible milestone because.. well, it’s HUGE!! :’)
This blog post will mostly be a reflection on my Instagram journey, such as how I started, why I started, the changes my Instagram account went through, my thoughts on the community and my plans for the future 🙂 I will also leave all relevant links in this blog post so you can read my full thoughts on some of the topics that I will be discussing today! So without further ado, let’s begin!
How/Why I Started
It all began when I picked up Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins because of a very pretty bookish photo that I saw on Instagram. I remember buying this book with my own money and being super giddy about it because I have NEVER spent my money on books before! It was about 150.000 IDR (~ $10.96 USD/$15.90 AUD), which was a lot of money for 15 year old me. I immediately started reading the book as soon as I got home, and by the time I was finished, I just HAD to fangirl about it to someone.
I did not have any friends who enjoyed reading, so I went through the interwebs to see if I could perhaps search for someone to talk to about the book! I might have sounded super desperate, but finishing and enjoying a book that I bought with my own pocket money felt like some sort of achievement that I just had to share with someone. I came across the same photo that made me purchase the book and saw that the comments were full of people – just like me – raving about how good the book was.
So I started taking pictures of my book using my Samsung Galaxy S3, took WAY too long editing the picture on VSCO, and posted it on my newly made Instagram account called bookishsmaug! I don’t have the picture on my feed anymore (which makes me want to kick myself every single time), but it looked a little something like this:
And that was pretty much what started my account! I posted a ton of photos after, even though I had very little books and only posted photos of the same books over and over again :’) Lots of changes happened! My Instagram account turned 5, my content has changed quite tremendously, the look of my feed went through multiple themes, and most of you may also know that I changed my account name to cupsandthoughts sometime last year (you can read all about why I changed my name here)!
How My Feed Has Changed
My account went through so many theme changes and it’s so interesting to see the fluctuation in colors and consistency!
Here’s how my photos looked like when I first started my account:
Sooo much color! If you guys were wondering, I did not use any filter for the picture in the first column! I started really using VSCO filters when I found out how about Instagram themes! Back then I would always use the HB2 filter on VSCO.
I still love how my photos turned out back then. I worked super hard on each one and tried my very best to keep every photo consistent with my theme! You won’t be able to find any of these pictures on my page anymore sadly. These are just screenshots of some of my old photos! 🙂
Feed change #2:
I then tried to tone down the colors and aimed for a more neutral look! I love how soft it looks! I also started experimenting on flat-lays a lot 🙂
Feed change #3:
This was during my first year in Australia! I decided to change up my filters and make my photos look more ‘clean’ because my backdrops were mainly white. I also had a bed and a small table here, so all my photos either had a table/bed setting.
Feed change #4
I travelled back home twice when I had this feed, so I was trying to match how my photos looked each time I shot them in different settings. It was SO hard and frustrating for me. You can see how inconsistent I am with the editing 🙂 Regardless, I tried incorporating more brown, yellow and red in my pictures because I wanted to create a cozy brown look. This was also when I started using the VSCO filter A6!
Feed change #5
More flat-lays! Not gonna lie, I totally miss this look! I love how warm and autumnal it is. It’s similar to my last feed change, but I feel like this one’s much more consistent!
Feed change #6
Here’s when I first moved into an apartment with my sister! There was potential for a whole lot of new bookish photo set-up, so I definitely went for a broody, dark academia sort of vibe because of all the dark brown furniture that was in the apartment :’) At this point I did not have a bed to take my photos on, so I opt for the tables lying around in the apartment for all my pictures!
Feed change #7
I felt less creative and inspired due to anxiety from my first year of university, so I lost a lot of engagement and posted less. However, things started picking up after my mom came to visit us. I also got a new roommate, which really helped me and my sister financially. I felt this creative slump slowly disappearing and I decided to do yet another feed change! I incorporated more orange here as you can see 🙂 I also got a spanking new marble desk that I used for all my productive-esque pictures!
Feed change #8
Moved into another apartment the next year and found myself liking the orange tones more and more! I also feel like the color orange has a huge association with my Instagram account now because of how often I use orange post-it notes!
Feed change #9 (final)
And here’s how my feed currently looks like! So much light brown and orange tones. I also shoot my photos outdoors more often (i.e cafes, new places) and I love how it looks. I’m not ashamed to admit that I am proud of all my efforts in shooting and editing each photo! Now I mainly use Lightroom to edit my photos, which has been amazing! If you’re interested in my editing-process, you can read more about it here!
How My Content Has Changed
If you went through my feed change carefully, you would see that I was posting less and less book covers/spins and more opened pages and journals.
Then
Now
I’m not too sure what it was that made me go through this change. Perhaps as I grow as a reader, I learn to cherish reading more. I used to read a TON of ebooks back when the prices of books were beyond my savings. I love to highlight certain phrases and write comments on the characters’ dialogues. I guess I wanted to do the same with physical books! But the thought of staining my uber expensive books was just unacceptable. I wanted my books to remain pristine, as if they have never been read before. And even if I no longer have that kind of mindset, I can definitely see why people still do (I just wish people didn’t attack those who write on their books tho )!
I did get into journaling before my annotations became more prominent in my feed. This was the first ever ‘journal’ post in my account:
I haven’t touched that journal ever since! xD And it’s funny because I picked up that ‘Scribd’ journal and starting writing my daily entries in it instead. I had a lot going on when I first moved to Australia in 2016, so I guess writing – in addition to reading – was a means of escape for me.
When I first started journaling, I liked to doodle and and make my pages look very pretty.
But I quickly grew tired of drawing and wrote lots instead!
Writing daily entries always made my day. I would get super excited to go home and write a full two-page entry on my day, regardless of how boring it was. Writing felt like such a relief, and I was always grateful for the fact that I now have a platform to share my stories on. Nowadays I don’t share my entries often on my Instagram anymore, but I still write a ton – mostly for content creating – and it seems that it’s motivating lots of people to either study, journal, and/or write!
I still post all sorts of journaling content on my Instagram and finished three journals ever since my first journal post! I’m finishing my fourth one at the moment and will be well onto my fifth in less than a week. 🙂
Apart from journaling, I annotate almost all my books now! I would like to say that they’re for book reviewing purposes, but annotating a book can also be fun even when I do not intend to review them! Some of the best books I’ve read don’t even get proper reviews from me, but they’re brimming with annotations! I remember I first annotated the book Made You Up by Francesca Zappia and had THE BEST time reading and writing in it. It was so much fun to include commentaries on the cutest little dialogue, or even write out some nasty things on some of the most frustrating scenes. I think annotating made me love the book a whole lot more than I would have if I did not make myself write in the book. Ever since then, annotating has just stuck with me.
So I guess that’s how my content is what it is today; filled with written notes and ink stained pages. I love it so much! It represents the kind of reader and writer I am – and I’m proud 🙂 If you’re interested to read more about annotating books and/or journaling, visit these blogposts:
I’ve already talked about this one in my Year In Reading blog post , but long story short I now read less than 20 books a year (as compared to 2-3 years ago, where I could read about 50+ books a year). I have too much to do for uni and I’m usually too tired to read a book by the time I reach my bed (where I do most of my reading after finishing my work). However, I’m putting less pressure on myself, which has given me lots of freedom in the types of books I read, when I read them, and how long it takes me to finish them. As a result, I enjoy most of the books I pick up AND I don’t fall into a reading slump!
What I Anticipate In The Future
I actually have lots of plans for cups and thoughts this year! I want to make something out of my account, something that you guys can benefit from too! I appreciate all the support that you’ve all been giving me ❤ and I wish to continue growing amongst some of the most amazingly creative people I know. I love this community so much – it’s the purest most wholesome place to be in, and I want nothing more than to learn and create 🙂
Thank you all for being here today! And thank you again for 100K+ followers on Instagram! ❤
What an amazing year of books it’s been! I read a total of 18 books, 7 of which I rated 5/5 stars – that’s almost 50% the amount of books I read. I’d say that’s pretty incredible 🙂 I think the biggest factor that contributed to this huge success was the fact that I put zero pressure on myself this year. 18 is not the biggest number, but I enjoyed every single book i read this year, which is a huge win for me already. you can read all about my year in reading over on this blogpost here. for now, let’s take a look at my favorite books of 2019!
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Synopsis:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Thoughts:
The Night Circus is the kind of book that will swoop you away to a night of magic and mysteries. You can almost taste the flavors of the circus’ delicious cinnamon rolls and feel the crackling magic that fills each tent. It’s an atmospheric book that will keep you company during those long, chilly nights. Make sure you savor each page and take your time with this one! You can also read my review here if you’re interested!
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Synopsis:
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues — a bee, a key, and a sword — that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.
What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians — it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction.
Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose–in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
Thoughts:
Oh man, another Morgenstern novel? If you guys don’t already know, she’s the QUEEN of storytelling! The Starless Sea is different, yet similar to The Night Circus in so many ways. The author has this way of making her novel read and feel like a dream. It’s disorienting, whimsical, beautiful, sad, tragic, magical. This book is a story within a story, about a boy who loves books and becomes so enchanted by one, he becomes a part of it. So I’m calling out all you booklovers to pick this one up right away if you haven’t already!! You can also read my review here if you’re interested!
TheFountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Synopsis:
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother’s birth through the lens of his camera. Photography–and fate–introduce him to Ana, whose family’s interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War–as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel’s photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
Includes vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, and more.
Thoughts:
My first Sepetys novel and definitely not my last. Her writing is SO addicting. The story reads so much like a memory that is tinged with sadness and tragedy. I love that the author writes books about less known historical events. They’re so interesting, and definitely just as important as other prominent historical events such as those that took place in WWI and WWII. I cannot wait to read more of her books. You can also read my review here if you’re interested!
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Synopsis:
A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over — and see everything anew.
Thoughts:
Gripping, real, funny, and raw. We follow a bookseller and his life journey, filled with his love for books. It’s a story about real life and its ups and downs. It’s a story about people, the unexpected events that can occur at any point in your life. It’s a story about books! The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is so charming. You’ll be so attached to the characters by the end of the book, I can promise you that! You can also read my review here if you’re interested!
Falling Away (Fall Away series, #3) by Penelope Douglas
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS IN SYNOPSIS*
Jaxon is the guy she’s supposed to avoid.
K.C. is the girl he won’t let get away….
K.C. Carter has always followed the rules—until this year, when a mistake leaves her the talk of her college campus and her carefully arranged life comes crashing to a halt. Now she’s stuck in her small hometown for the summer to complete her court-ordered community service, and to make matters worse, trouble is living right next door.
Jaxon Trent is the worst kind of temptation and exactly what K.C. was supposed to stay away from in high school. But he never forgot her. She was the one girl who wouldn’t give him the time of day and the only one to ever say no. Fate has brought K.C. back into his life—except what he thought was a great twist of luck turns out to be too close for comfort. As the bond between them grows, he discovers that convincing K.C. to get out from her mother’s shadow is hard, but revealing the darkest parts of his soul is nearly impossible.…
Thoughts:
Ahh a new adult book! It’s been a while since I feature an NA novel here on my blog. This year I’ve been purely OBSESSED with the ?Bully? series by Penelope Douglas. I have a BUNCH of highlights and comments on my ebook because of how much I love the story in this series. I love that the characters in this series have their own demons to fight, alone AND together. LOVE the family dynamic in this too. Everyone in this novel is amazing, and they’re prepared to help each other out no matter how ugly the situation!
Aflame (Fall Away series, #4) by Penelope Douglas
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS IN SYNOPSIS*
Everyone wants to be me.
Maybe it’s the sway of my skirt or the way I flip my hair, but I don’t care. Even though their attention is the last thing I crave, I just can’t stop. I dominate the track, the speed rattles my bones, and the wind and the crowd screams my name.
I’m her. The girl driver. The queen of the race. And I’m surviving—something he thought I’d never do.
They all talk about him. Did you see Jared Trent on T.V? What did you think of his last race, Tate? When is he coming back to town, Tate?
But I refuse to care too much. Because when Jared does come home, I won’t be here.
Tatum Brandt is gone. I’m someone new.
Thoughts:
Okay so the forth instalment in this series is pretty freaking amazing as well?? It’s just so well written. You see SO much growth in these characters. I love that the main focus in this novel is how each character learn to love themselves before loving others. I can’t stress how much I FANGIRLED over every little thing. It’s sexy and funny, but amongst that it is also an important read for anyone who often feel like they have to face the world alone. ❤ Plus, you grow so attached to everyone :’) This series is an absolute gem.
The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Synopsis:
Barcelona, 1945. Just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother’s face. To console his only child, Daniel’s widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona’s guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again. Daniel’s father coaxes him to choose a volume from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the novel he selects, ‘The Shadow of the Wind’, by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax’s work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last one in existence. Before Daniel knows it his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love. And before long he realizes that if he doesn’t find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.
Thoughts:
Here’s another fantastic read that will hook you from the beginning till the end. It’s atmospheric and beautiful in every single way. The writing, setting, the story.. be prepared to feel all sorts of emotions, because this book is an absolute roller coaster ride. This book is also one of the main reasons why I want to visit Barcelona so badly! It’s breathtaking, enigmatic and seductive. Be sure to savor every page! You can also read my review here if you’re interested!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? And if you haven’t, would you consider picking up any of the books mentioned after reading this post? :’) Let me know in the comments below! I hope you all had an amazing year. Here’s to a new decade filled with amazing books!
xx Cath
If you’re interested in buying any of these books mentioned, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository. I receive a small commission if you use the link! 🙂
There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.
Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.
To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur’s knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.
Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?
Review:
I was super keen to follow Guinevere’s story in this retelling. Guinevere was never really given much of a story in BBC’s Merlin series, so knowing that we were getting a main character who is both a changeling with magic AND a protector/knight, I was excited! Guinevere is young and confused about her life, but she has a goal in mind that she is absolutely determined to achieve, even though she knows little about Arthur (her stranger-of-a-husband-and-king), his kingdom, and even herself. It is a story filled with magic and politics. There is also a tiny spark of romance that (thankfully) does not overshadow the main points of the plot. This made the objective of the plot stand out so much more on its own, which on one hand is great, but on the other it made any character development in the story suffer quite a bit.
While the side characters were great and had depth, I found Guinevere a little boring. I was also not too convinced about her relationship with the people around her. Maybe it’s because we focus so little on her back story and the root of her upbringing that it makes the reader a little hard to relate to her in the first place. Then again, there was a lot that had to be unpacked. The lack of connection between the reader and Guinevere can be a little off-putting at the beginning, which was also why the story is a little slow paced to start with. But it was an enjoyable book nonetheless. I did not expect to like it this much! I’m glad I took my time and savored the story. The first half of the book was pretty slow (which is understandable because lost of world building elements were being established then), but after that the story really picked up and so much starts to happen. I loved the political intrigue and the structure of the whole novel. Being a Merlin fan makes the story personally easy to read too, and I thought the author’s take on the Arthurian legend was very interesting! It wasn’t anything too ‘epic’, but it’s still a page-turner!
I’m so excited for the sequel. That ending left me wanting MORE! If epic fantasy isn’t really your thing (but you like a fantasy story with a good amount of romance and political intrigue), The Guinevere Deception is a great ‘light’ Fantasy read!
Thank you so much Penguin Books Australia for sending a copy over in exchange for an honest review!
Hi Everyone! I thought I’d squeeze in a book tag before the year ends, and what better tag to do than The End of The Year Book Tag? This tag was created by the wonderful Ariel Bisset (you can watch her original video here and her latest one here), so do check her videos out!
I remember being tag-crazed a few years back, and it’s nice to be reminded of what my blog was mostly built out of back in the days :’) Anyways, let’s just jump straight into the questions!
Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
Honestly, SO many! I’m a mood reader, so I can pick up a book one day and then start a different one the next day. I’ve started so many books in the past that I still have to finish! Some of these books include Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor, Turtles All The Way Down by John Green, The Martian by Andy Weir, and so much more!
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
I did not have an intended autumnal transition since the end of the year means summer for me (both in Australia, where I live, and in Indonesia, where I am during the end of the year), but all the books that I brought back with me to read happen to be pretty autumnal books! I have two fantasies and a thriller to finish before the end of this year, and they are The Alienist by Caleb Carr, The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White, and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.
Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?
Y E S !!!!!! Six of Crows #3!!!! I NEED A DATE LEIGH PLEASEEEE
What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
Quite conveniently, I brought back three books I intend on finishing before the year ends, and I’ve already mentioned them, but here they are again (with synopses this time)
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
The year is 1896. The city is New York. Newspaper reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned by his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizler—a psychologist, or “alienist”—to view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy abandoned on the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge. From there the two embark on a revolutionary effort in criminology: creating a psychological profile of the perpetrator based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who will kill again before their hunt is over.
Fast-paced and riveting, infused with historical detail, The Alienist conjures up Gilded Age New York, with its tenements and mansions, corrupt cops and flamboyant gangsters, shining opera houses and seamy gin mills. It is an age in which questioning society’s belief that all killers are born, not made, could have unexpected and fatal consequences.
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.
Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.
To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur’s knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.
Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.
Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?
Ninth House, hopefully! I’m not a fan of it so far, and though I’m only 70+ pages into it, I’ve already put it down several times, so I’m hoping something grabs my attention quick. I love Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, but so far I’m just not feeling Ninth House. Hopefully I end up loving it though, because Bardugo’s books always take me by surprise.
Have you already started making reading plans for 2020?
Yes! I want to be able to read more books in the new year, but also take my time savoring them 🙂 I mentioned in my Year in Reading blog post that taking time to read is so much better than making the time for it, so I definitely want to slowly go through my TBR pile and discover new favorites along the way!
Thank you for getting to the end of this blog post! Sorry if it’s a little shorter than my usual posts, but I hope it was enjoyable nonetheless! I tag everyone who wants to do this tag 🙂 Be sure to credit Ariel if you decide to do it!
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