Buzzfeed Books Summer 2022 Reading Challenge

Happy Wednesday! Today is the last day of Summer, and I thought it'd be fun to close out the season with a list of books I read during Summer. I've participated in a couple of reading challenges during the summer, but my favorite one is the Buzzfeed Books reading challenge. Buzzfeed Books usually has a reading challenge every season. The challenge usually consists of six prompts.

Fair warning, I didn't complete the entire challenge, but I did complete most of the prompts. Ready to check out which prompts I completed? Ok, let's go.

A Book With A Yellow Cover

I read The Summer of Sunflowers by Lila Grey. This was the first book that I've read by Lila Grey. This novella was a quick and light read. The Summer of Sunflowers was such a cute story about a single mom named Juniper and her grumpy neighbor, Cody. Initially, Cody finds things to complain about and acts annoyed, but he is intrigued by Juniper and bonds with Juniper's son, Tobias. Tobias was adorable, and I loved how Cody, Tobias, and Cody's dog, Dagda were close. Eventually, Cody and Juniper begin to have feelings for each other, and Cody decides to make his move after seeing Juniper on a date.

A Second Chance Romance

I read a few second chance romance novels and novellas; however, one of my favorite ones is Order Up Love by Kali Hart. This is the fourth book in the Mountain Men of Caribou Creek series. The story follows Willow and Mason. Willow returns home after her grandmother requests that Willow and her sisters come to see her. She hopes to avoid the love of her life, Mason, while she's in town, but you know that's not going to happen. Mason is still in love with Willow and wants to find out what she is hiding. 

A Book Set During A Vacation

I read It Must Have Been the Mistletoe by M.L. Broome. Yes, this story is set during Christmas, don't judge me. I will always read a holiday romance or two during summer. The story is about Penny and Jackson. Penny and Jackson were supposed to get married. While planning their wedding, Jackson is approached by a famous musician and is asked to join their tour as they need a drummer. Jackson and Penny talked about it, and Penny told Jackson he should go for it. However, things take a turn for the worse when the lead singer of the band kisses Jackson and sends a photo of the kiss to Penny. Penny and Jackson break up. Fast forward, Penny decides to go on a vacation to their lakehouse before selling it. While there, Jackson arrives and attempts to patch things up with Penny. 

The story was pretty decent, but I wish Jackson did some more groveling. I think he had several childish moments, especially when they broke up. 

A Book With Dual Timelines

I read Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. I don't usually read books with dual timelines because I never really read any books that were formatted in a way for the story to make sense. However, the time jumps in this book made sense and didn't feel all over the place.

Love and Other Words is the story of Macy and Elliot, who met when they were kids, and the story continues as they become teenagers and once they meet again as adults. I really loved that Macy and Elliot bonded over books and their special closet/library. I liked most of the characters and was very sympathetic towards Macy. She went through so much. I also felt awful for Elliot. 

*SPOILERS BELOW*

Macy and Elliot were separated for a decade because Macy thought Elliot cheated on her. Elliot got drunk at a party and a girl named Emma, who had a crush and a prior fling with Elliot, snuck into his bed. Macy caught them and ran off. She never spoke to him again until they met again ten years later. There was no discussion on what happened to Elliot. What happened to Elliot was terrible, and the author just sort of overlooked the situation. Elliot was date raped and how the situation was handled was awful and problematic. 

Overall, I thought Love and Other Words was worth reading, and it was a well-written book. I would have given it five stars, but what happened to Elliot made me drop my rating. I personally don't have any triggers, but I think it would have been beneficial for other readers who would like them.

A New (To You) Format

I started reading The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. I haven't finished it yet (so close), but I thought it was worth mentioning because I'm really enjoying this book. I don't think I've ever read a book like this one before. I love that the book is made up of vignettes. I've read short story collections, but I don't think I've read a book made up of vignettes. Also, Sandra Cisneros is a new-to-me author. I have heard of the House of Mango Street and a few other of Cisneros' work but never read any. I don't know how I've gone this long without reading her work. However, I'm glad I decided to try this book. 

The House on Mango Street is about Esperanza Cordero, a Chicana girl living in a Chicago neighborhood with her family. The story follows a year in her life and begins with Esperanza talking about how her family first arrived at their home. The story progresses as Esperanza matures and notices the world around her. Esperanza goes through puberty and some life-changing and traumatic experiences that make her want to leave Mango Street. 

A Book By An Indigenous Author

I didn't read a book by an indigenous author, but I plan to read The Things She's Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina. If you have any recommendations on books by indigenous authors, please send them my way. I'd love to read some more work by indigenous authors. 

Did you participate in Buzzfeed Books' 2022 Summer Reading Challenge? What other book challenges have you signed up for? What are you currently reading?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

July 2022 Reads

Happy Monday! One of my goals this year was to share the books that I've read. Well...I haven't really done that on the blog, but I have been somewhat more consistent on Instagram. I usually share my favorite books in my Stories, but I haven't made a monthly series. Maybe I should?

Anyways, July was a perfect month for reading. I read 32 books in July and enjoyed reading most of them. I also read a lot of books that I received from Netgalley. I read a mix of genres, and I absolutely loved it. Since my last favorite reads post was in February 2022, I thought sharing another would be fun.

How We Heal by Alexandra Elle

This was one of my favorite reads for the month. I first heard of Alex Elle on Instagram and have been a fan ever since, so I was excited to find that she had a new book coming out. This is the first book that I've read by Alex Elle.

How We Heal was a much-needed book that came at the perfect time for me. I enjoyed reading the mini-essays and interviews of other writers, artists, and activists. It was interesting to read stories about healing and the ways that Alex, as well as the other individuals mentioned in the book, practice healing. The journaling prompts and meditation techniques were so good. I found myself highlighting so many pages.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

1-2-3 Scream! by R.U. Ginns

This was such a fun read. This collection of spooky short stories reminded me of the Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. Some of the stories were silly, but there were a few that some kids might find scary so beware of that. One of the scarier stories was Instagrave. This story is about an app that predicts deaths. The ending of the story, Mean Machine, was also a story that might scare younger kids.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInery

I was first drawn to this book by its title and cover. It was interesting to read stories about Nora's life, which spans from childhood until now. I loved reading her perspective on various topics such as grief, religion, and motherhood. I loved that she didn't simply focus on "good vibes" like many self-help and memoirs tend to do. It made it seem more real. Some of the essays were funny, a few were sad, and a few that I could relate to.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Everything is Ok by Debbie Tung

I was so excited when I learned that Debbie Tung had another graphic novel coming out. I previously read her book, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, and loved it.

Everything is Ok is a collection of comics about anxiety and depression. Debbie shares her experiences and her road to recovery from anxiety and depression. The illustrations were excellent, and there were a few things that I could relate to. I think the book covered anxiety and depression well.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Opening My Eyes Underwater: Essays on Hope, Humanity, and Our Hero Michelle Obama by Ashley Woodfolk

Ashley Woodfolk is a new-to-me author, but the cover and title of her book got my attention. I loved that Ashley used quotes by Michelle Obama as starting points for her essays. Using quotes as a starting point/inspiration for her pieces was a good idea. I enjoyed reading her opinions, reflections, and stories on various topics such as bullying, education, career, love, and racism. Some of the essays were difficult to read and broke my heart, but I think they were all essential to read.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

And Yet: Poems by Kate Baer

I absolutely loved this collection of poetry. It was a fast read, but I loved that the poems were straight to the point. The poems focused on motherhood, friendship, loss, and love. There was even mention of the pandemic. There were so many relatable poems. The only downside to the book was that it was a short and quick read, leaving me wanting more. I devoured this book in about 30 minutes.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of the Travel Journal by Abbey Sy

I love all forms of journaling, including art journaling, so I was excited to read this book. I'm a fan of Abbey Sy's art and was interested in reading about travel journals. I was already aware of a lot of the information in this book, but I learned a few things. I think some tips included in the book would be helpful for anyone interested in journaling. I loved that Abbey included an artist gallery so that you could see other artists and journalers' who keep travel journals.

I think this book is perfect for beginner artists and journalers, but it can still be beneficial for those who have experience keeping journals, especially travel journals.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

Wow! Wow! Wow! I loved this book! I love how Amber McBride used fairytales, stories, and folklore to tell this story about trauma, mental illness, and depression. Everything tied together perfectly. This book kind of felt like reading a modern fairytale. I loved Amber included a glossary of the fairytales, stories, and folklore at the end of the book. I will definitely check out some of the fairytales that were referenced or inspired Amber to write this book because there were a few that I've heard about but haven't read yet. I also love that she included a playlist as well.

*Thank you, Netgalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Knot Over You by M.J. Marstens, Jarica James, Grace McGinty, Sabrina Day, Calliope Stewart, Sarah Blue, Merri Bright, Flora Quincy, Juniper Kerry, Aisling Counsins, Maya Nicole, and Hannah Haze

Knot Over You is an omegaverse anthology with stories by various authors. The stories range from RH to MF. The stories are spicy, and I love that every short story was complete and not a sneak peek at future books/releases. There is something for everyone. 

The only issue was that there were some formatting issues. Some stories had repeating chapters; however, I believe those issues will be fixed soon.

*Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

Shadow of St. Nick: A Krampus Fairy Tale Romance by J. Dylan

Shadow of St. Nick is the first book I have read by J. Dylan. I loved this novella. This was a perfect Christmas in July story, and it also had a bit of Beauty and the Beast vibes/feel to the story, which I loved. I haven't found many books or retellings about Krampus, so I'm always excited when I find a new one.

In this novella, Emmeline drinks and celebrates the winter solstice with her friends. She's told the story of Krampus. Emmeline doesn't believe in the story. Once her friends leave, Emmeline finds out that Krampus does indeed exist when he arrives and takes her. I won't give much else away, but I liked the plot twist.

Thank you, Nisha's Books and Coffee PR, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

What did you read in July? What are you currently reading?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Favorite Books Read in January 2022

Happy Tuesday! It's been a while since I've shared some of my favorite reads, so I thought it'd be fun to share my favorite books from January 2022. I read 32 books in January! It was an excellent month to read.

There were several books that I was really excited to read. Some of the books I read were anthologies, a few were novellas and/or short stories, and others were novels.

Not only did I think it'd be fun to share my favorite reads in January, but I thought it would be fun to link up with Steph and Jana for their "Show Us Your Books" series.

Lies by A.L. Woods

Oh my goodness! This is not a book that I would typically read, but I'm happy that I did. Lies is a second-chance married couple romance. The story falls into several other tropes like workplace romance, opposites attract, and accidental pregnancy. I've read second-chance romance books before but have never read one that involves a married couple, infidelity, or the loss of a child. However, this book really got my attention, so I decided to give it a shot. I devoured this book in a day...it was so good.

Lies is a standalone novel set in A.L. Woods' Reflections universe. The story is about Dougie and Penelope, a newlywed couple whose marriage is falling apart. I don't want to give too much away, but Dougie and Penelope were keeping secrets from each other. However, I think Dougie's secret was far worse. Penelope's "lies" seemed more understandable because she was grieving. It was evident that communication was not one of these characters' strongest suits. Their lack of communication and secrets literally almost destroyed their marriage. Dougie and Penelope kept so much stuff buried inside that it almost consumed them as well. Once everything was out in the open, Dougie really tried to work things out while Penelope was going through a range of emotions and was contemplating divorcing Dougie. Eventually, they both decide to try to work things out.

For more information on the book, click here.

I received an ARC from Grey's Promo in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Snowed Inn for Christmas: A Christmas Anthology

Yes, I am still working my way through some Christmas books. It took me a while to finish this anthology, but only because I had many holiday-themed books to read in November and December. I also had many other books that I had started or needed to finish. 

This anthology was really great. The collection featured nine novellas about couples being together during Christmas. These short stories could be classified as "insta-romance." I love that each couple and story was different. I also loved that there was a story that featured a married couple. 

Pack Darling Part 2 by Lola Rock

I was so excited to read this book. This is the second and final part of the Pack Darling series. The story follows Lilah and the Wyvern pack (Atlas, Jett, Orion, Finn, and Hunter). The Wyvern pack are supposed to be Lilah's mates, but they mess up big time at the end of the first book. Pack Darling Part 2 picks up immediately following the first book's events.

I absolutely loved the groveling that the guys did, and I loved how each one of the guys changed. The character growth was incredible, especially for Jett and Atlas. I also loved how confident Lilah was and how she made sure to stand up for herself and put herself first. I wish there was more of a storyline with the Sorenson pack. I also think that Orion should have done some groveling as well. Lilah definitely forgave him almost immediately. However, I love that he and Lilah got to spend time together. I love that the guys' dads stepped up a little and made sure to make changes to the staff at the school that Lilah lived at; however, I think there should have been more groveling on their part. Of all the characters, it seems that Hunter was the most respectful of Lilah's wishes. We find out what happened to Jett, which was terrible. 

Overall, everything tied up together at the end, but I love that there was an opening for a possible new spinoff series. Fingers crossed that it actually happens.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I've always loved reading mythology, folktales, fairytales, etc., and am always interested in reading anything by Neil Gaiman. He is one of my favorite writers and storytellers. Norse Mythology had been on my TBR list for a while, and I finally decided to go ahead and read it. And I am so glad that I did. 

Norse Mythology is Gaiman's retelling of myths. The stories are primarily about Odin, Thor, and Loki, with a few other characters thrown in the mix. All of the stories lead up to the final story, which is Ragnarok. 

You can tell that Gaiman researched Norse mythology, and I loved that he included a notes section and a glossary at the end of the book. I ended up looking up several of the different people mentioned in the glossary, and I also learned more about the Poetic Edda. 

I'm More Dateable than a Plate of Refried Beans by Ginny Hogan

I'm More Dateable than a Plate of Refried Beans is a book about dating. I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was funny. I loved that this book included lists, short stories, observations, fake text conversations, etc. It definitely made the book even more interesting and unique. I loved the graphics as well. Reading this book almost felt like reading a magazine which I absolutely loved.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What did you read in January? What are you currently reading?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Buzzfeed Books 2021 Spring Reading Challenge

I love book challenges. I've been participating in the Goodreads Reading Challenge for the past few years. It's a simple reading challenge. You select a number of books that you would like to read for the year. This year, my goal was to read 100 books. I have surpassed this goal, and as of today, I have read 212 books. Some of these books are novellas, but I still count those. 

Another challenge that I decided to participate in is Buzzfeed Books' 2021 Spring Reading Challenge. I love the idea of having a seasonal reading challenge. I'm also a Buzzfeed and Buzzfeed Books fan, so I definitely needed to try this challenge. And I'm so glad that I did. 

A book set in a place on your bucket list

I read Merciless Hunter by Faith Summers. This is the fourth book in the Dark Syndicate series and is an enemies-to-lovers romance. The story takes place in California (specifically in San Francisco and L.A.) and Brazil.

The book is about a man named Aiden whose wife and son were killed. However, he finds out that his son was not actually killed, and his only goal in life now is to find his son and get revenge for the death of his wife. 

Olivia is a woman who is being held captive along with her mother by an evil man named Jude. Olivia is desperate to find out who she thought was dead for the last few years. Instead, she finds out that Jude is responsible for her brother's disappearance. Jude is holding her captive so that he can marry and get control of her father's company. Olivia decides to come up with a plan to get help from Aiden.

There were so many twists and turns in this book. I really enjoyed the story, and at times my heart broke for both of the main characters and some of the secondary characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

*If you decide to read this book and/or the entire series, please beware of some triggers.*

A genre you don't normally read

This was a tough prompt. I wasn't sure whether this book would count for this category since it falls under several genres. However, I'm going to count it towards this prompt.

I read Horizontal Parenting: How to Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down by Michelle Woo. Horizontal Parenting obviously falls under the genre of parenting and families, but it could also fall under comics/graphic novels as well as humor. I haven't read any parenting books in a long time, and I can't remember the last time I read a parenting book that falls under those three genres.

Horizontal Parenting was a cute book with some great ideas on games to play with your kids while lying down. The illustrations were great. Some of the games are silly, and there were a few that I actually may have to try. This book is perfect for all parents and would make a great gift for first-time parents.

*I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

A book published this year

I read Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. I was so excited to read this book because it was compared to Elizabeth Acevedo's books. Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. It was fantastic. It was so good.

Home Is Not a Country is a verse novel and a quick read. I could relate to a few things in this novel. The themes and details were interesting. 

The book is broken down into three parts. The first part is about Nima's life in the United States. She deals with hardships like bullying and trying to fit in. In the second part of the book, Nima enters a dream-like state or world. She deals with Yasmeen, the person she imagines she would be if her mother had given her that name and if her father hadn't died. There were times that my heart broke for Nima. In the third and final part of the book, Nima is back in her world. 

*I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

A book with a plant on the cover

I read Goldenrod by Maggie Smith. Goldenrod is a poetry collection about life. There were poems about divorce, parenting, love, and being alone. The poems were amazing and so powerful. I loved the metaphors and details.

*I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

A book that gives off "cottagecore" vibes

I felt so old when I read this prompt. I had no idea what in the world "cottagecore" even meant. But that's another story for another day.

I read Theron by Kali Hart. It's a very short "insta-love" romance. The story is about a woman named Isla who dreams of visiting Alaska in honor of her mother. They both wanted to visit Alaska, but unfortunately, Isla's mother passed away before they could go on the trip. Isla decides to sell almost all of her possessions and buys an SUV to make the trip. While she is just outside of town, her car breaks down, and she calls an old friend, Theron, for help. When they finally meet up, they are both immediately attracted to one another. As I said before, it's a short story, so I don't want to give too much away. 

A collection of poetry or short stories

I read Eating Salad Drunk by Gabe Henry. Eating Salad Drunk is a collection of haikus by various contributors. I loved that the haikus were supposed to be funny. There were a few that made me laugh out loud. The haikus focus on different topics like friends and family, food, modern romance, and entertainment. This was a quick read and took me about an hour to read. It's a great pick-me-up, and it's perfect for reading on a rainy day.

*I received an arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Did you participate in Buzzfeed Books' 2021 Spring Reading Challenge? What other book challenges have you signed up for? What are you currently reading?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read In November

It has been an incredibly long time since I wrote a book review for the blog. I've been accomplishing my monthly reading goals. I have also surpassed my reading goal for the year. Last month, I read a few books, but my favorite read for the month was False Perceptions by Michelle Heard. I loved this book so much that I decided to share a review. 

False Perceptions by Michelle Heard 

This was one of my favorite books that I've read this year. The characters were amazing, and the storylines were fantastic. It's not often that a book has me in tears, and my goodness, I cried a couple of times. 

False Perceptions is a military romance about Emilie Swanson, the daughter of a senator, and Hayden Cole, a Navy SEAL, tasked with protecting Emilie from threats after she was kidnapped and tortured. Emilie and her father do not get along, and she's been let down by several men, including her ex-husband. Ultimately, she decides to escape her life, move to a small town, and take care of herself. Hayden just returned back after a failed mission that left some of his brothers dead. He decides to protect Emilie and considers this his last mission before he retires. Hayden has some suspicions and concerns that Emilie is still in danger. Now he has to figure out who is after her and keep her safe while investigating the threats.

Both of the main characters went through so much. They were so strong and resilient. They were perfect for each other. There were a few surprises throughout the story, which was awesome. I felt a few parts should have had more details, but overall, it was a great read. 

Do yourself a favor and read this book as well as Michelle Heard's "An Enemies To Lovers" series. 

What did you read in November?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in January

I don't normally participate in reading challenges except for the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I love that it's really simple. All you have to do is set a goal of how many books you want to read for the year. My goal is to read 15 books this year. My 2019 reading goal was to read 12 books and I ended up reading 20 books. I'm excited to see how many books I read this year.

Last month, I accomplished my reading goal. I read not one but two amazing books. Both of the books that I read were on my TBR list and literally on my bookshelf. I'm hoping that I can read all of the books that I've purchased but haven't read yet. I guess you can say that's another reading goal.

Before I start to ramble, let's check out the books that I've read. Also, I read a lot of great blog posts and articles in January. I've included some links so please feel free to check them out. I hope you enjoy them.

Must Read

Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World by Cleo Wade

I read Cleo Wade's first book, Heart Talk,  last year and really loved it. So I was really excited to read her latest book. This book did not disappoint. The first 91 pages is a long poem that she presented at a TED Talk a few years ago. The second part of the book contained poems and prose.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

I actually bought this book a while back and finally got the courage to read it. This is a YA book. However, the topics that are mentioned in this book are real and so important. I noticed that many people enjoyed the book, but did not like the format. The format didn't bother me.

Dear Martin is about a high school student named Jus who attends a prep school in Atlanta. Throughout the story, he writes letters to Martin Luther King Jr. as an experiment. He also deals with issues regarding law enforcement. His first encounter was due to helping his ex-girlfriend. His second encounter was even more infuriating and heartbreaking. Jus has to deal with the loss of his best friend at the hands of a police officer. Some of the character developments in the story were great, as well. It's been a very long time since I almost cried reading a book.

Blog Posts I Loved in January

Steph's Winter Creature Comfort Requirements

Lecy's Favorite Books of 2019 (I added so many books to my TBR list)

Self-Care is not enough to fix how much moms are burnt out

20 Things To Focus On In 2020 by Taylor

Lecy's One Little Word for 2020

Time To Take Better Care Of Yourself by Steph

Thunderstruck (a poem) by Mia Sutton

2020 Might Be A Mess, But My House Isn't by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

The Hawk (a comics diary) by Austin Kleon

The 10 Most Checked-Out Books in N.Y. Public Library History

A Cozy Getaway by Alisa Burke

What did you read in January?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in December

Last month, I almost didn't accomplish my reading goal. Despite getting all of the shopping done early, we still had a lot of events and last-minute things to get done before the holidays. However, I was able to read an excellent book.

This month, I won't be sharing my favorite blog posts because I didn't read a lot of blogs. I'm hoping to catch up on that soon. Well, let's get to my book review.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

This was such a quick read, but it was such a powerful book. The message was amazing, and the images were beautiful. The book was about friendship and kindness. There is a boy who meets a mole, and then they meet a fox. Finally, they meet a horse. One of my favorite parts of the book was when the mole freed the fox from the snare. Despite knowing that the fox could kill him, the mole decided to be kind and trust that the fox wouldn't harm him. The story reminded me of Winnie the Pooh and The Little Prince.  The story is perfect for children and adults. In today's world, this story is so needed.


What did you read in December?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in November

Last month, I read three books! I accomplished my reading goal for the month! Honestly, I'm a bit surprised, especially since I was sick for most of the month, the boys were also not feeling well, and I still had so much stuff to do.

Anyways, let's check out what I read in November.

Must Read

I read In A Dark, Dark Room and Other Stories a few days after Halloween. I wasn't ready to let go of Halloween just yet. This was such a quick read. I read it in under an hour. The stories are fantastic, and I love the illustrations. I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. I loved reading this book when I was a kid. Alvin Schwartz was amazing. Just like he did with the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, he did his research on these stories.

Reasons to Stay Alive was absolutely amazing! I think everyone should read this book. I really took my time reading this book because I didn't want it to end. Some of the stories made me happy, some made me sad, and some were actually funny. This book really made me emotional.

It was so interesting reading about Matt's experience with depression. He did not sugar coat anything, which I really liked. He was honest. I love that he makes it clear that depression is different for everyone. He also doesn't push treatments; instead, he simply states what works for him. Again depression is different for everyone, which means that treatment is also different.

This was a dark but beautifully written book. I can't wait to read Matt's next book.

I saw this book at Target and was immediately drawn by the cover. When I bought the book, I had no idea what the book was even about. I only knew that it had stories and poems. Well, let me just say that I am so glad that I read this book. This is another book that I think everyone should read.

The poems and stories primarily focus on being mixed race and identity. The book also focuses on religion, gender, and family with a hint of politics. I love that Avan included stories and poems by other people who are of mixed race. The book also includes pieces by Avan as well as photographs. The artwork is terrific.

As a Dominican, I found myself nodding at some of the stories. Some of the stories were just incredibly relatable. It made me think about my identity and my family. I found myself thinking about religion as well.

This was such an inspiring read. I really hope I can find another book that is similar to this one.


What did you read in November?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in October

Last month, I accomplished my reading goal. I read two amazing books. And I just realized that both of the books that I read are graphic novels.

Once again, I was so behind on reading blogs and articles, so I'm going to have to skip my list of blog posts recommendations this time.

Let's check out what I read in October.

Must Read

I read this on Halloween. It was a quick read, but the stories were incredible! There are five short horror stories. Some of the stories were so spooky and creepy. I do wish that some of the stories were a bit longer because they were just too good. The illustrations were fantastic. I plan on purchasing a copy for myself.

Pumpkinheads was a quick read. I read it in one day. The story was so cute, and the illustrations were perfect. The story is about two friends, Deja and Josiah, who only see each other during the Fall at their local pumpkin patch. This will be their last time working together at the pumpkin patch because they are seniors. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the story. Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's perfect for Fall.

This was the first book by Rainbow Rowell that I read, and I can't wait to read the next one. I would love for Rainbow to make this a series.

What did you read in October?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in September

Happy Monday! Last month, I accomplished my reading goal. I was on a short horror story kick. I really wanted to read some books that I loved when I was a kid, but I also wanted to read scary stories. I ended up selecting Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz.

I didn't read a lot of blog posts or articles in September, but there were a few great ones. It was definitely a great month for reading. I can't wait to see if I accomplish my reading goal for October.

Let's check out the books along with some of my favorite blog posts and articles from September.


Must Read

Last month, I read the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. There are three books in the series, and they are all awesome! The books are a quick read. I read each book in one day.

I remember devouring these books when I was a kid. Some of the stories are scary, and some are funny. There are notes and sources at the end of the book. I loved that Alvin Schwartz researched folklore and urban legends. I really loved learning about the origins and variations of some of the stories. Stephen Gammell's illustrations are amazing! Every single illustration is so creepy and perfect for each story. One of my favorite stories is The Bride. I also really loved The Wolf Girl and The Wreck.

Blog Posts I Loved in September

The Things We Choose by Erica

A Radical Guide to Spending Less Time on Your Phone by Ryan Holiday

Finding Your Identity Outside of Motherhood by Jaelan

Madelyn Miles' Crying for My Baby Who Didn't

What did you read in September?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in August

Happy Wednesday. Last month was so busy since the boys started school. I almost didn't accomplish my reading goal. Luckily, I was able to start and finish a book on the last day of August. It almost felt like "cheating" because it was such a quick read.

I also read a couple of blog posts and articles. Honestly, there weren't that many pieces that I read that really interested me. It was a slow reading month for sure. Hopefully, this month will be better.

Well, let's check out the book that I read along with some of my favorite blog posts and articles from August.

Must Read

I saw this book at Barnes and Noble during their Mother's Day sales event, but I ended up purchasing it during the Barnes and Noble Book Haul event. The title of the book drew me in immediately and made me laugh, so I knew that it was going to be a good one.

This was such a quick read. As I said before, I read it on the last day of August...in less than an hour. I loved the illustrations. Some of the advice was hilarious. I felt that the book was a bit too short, and it left me wanting more. Most of the advice was just one or two sentences long. I think this was a great collaboration between Marx and Chast. I hope they work together soon.

Blog Posts I Loved in August

Summer's Wild Abandon by Anne Butera

3 Family Friendly Breakfasts on the Go by Erin (Loved the breakfast sandwich recipe!)

Christine's Year of 100/Month "Fun Things" Budget

People are Committed to Being Miserable AF by Steph

Jil Larson's For the Love of Grids, Washi, and Books

Maya Singleton's A Letter on Therapy

What did you read in August?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in July

Happy Monday. Last month, I read accomplished my reading goal. I was on a poetry kick. I read three poetry books, and they were all fantastic. Each book was different, but my favorite book that I read was Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson.

I also read a lot of great blog posts and articles in July. I guess it's true when they say that summer is a good season for reading.

Here's to hoping that I am able to accomplish my reading goal for August. Below are the books that I read in July as well as a list of the blog posts and articles that I loved.

Must Read

Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson

I absolutely loved Andrea Gibson's Take Me With You. Andrea is an LGBTQ poet whose poetry is passionate, honest, and just pure magic. I took my time reading this book because I absolutely loved it. This is a quick read, but I'm sure that most people will take their time reading it because they won't want it to end.

The book is divided into three parts, which are On Love, On the World, and On Becoming. I think my favorite section of the book was On the World. This section touched on things that are currently happening.

Overall, I give this book five stars, and I highly recommend that you check out Andrea's work.

Nocturnal by Wilder

I read this book of poetry in one day. I actually purchased the book because I loved the cover. There were some pretty good poems, and the illustrations are gorgeous. The book was divided into four parts.  The four sections parts are Dusk, Northern Lights, Howl, and Lucid Dreams. I noticed that the central theme in the book was related to nature, which I really enjoyed.

I would rate this book four stars.

Blue Horses by Mary Oliver

I have heard such great things about Mary Oliver's poems and essays, so I decided to read one of her books. I really enjoyed reading Blue Horses. Mary Oliver was inspired by nature, and it definitely shows in her work. This was a quick read, and I actually finished it in three days. The poem, First Yoga Lesson, made me laugh, and I really loved Good Morning. 

I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

Blog Posts and Articles I Loved in July

Signatures in Danny Zuko's Yearbook by Johnny DiNapoli

Bekah Martinez's Serene and Empowered Waterbirth story on Motherly

A Perfect, Preëmptive Obituary for My Ex-Boyfriend by Danielle Kraese

Colin Stokes' Reasons I Was Crying on the Subway

How to Cope: Being a Mom Without the Village

Live Your Life Now by Colleen

Mia Sutton's I Miss You (a poem)

This really cute Beach Theme Scrapbook Idea

Summer Anxiety by Mia Sutton

Words. by Stephanie Howell

Everything Changes by Lecy

What did you read in July?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in June

Happy Wednesday! Last month, I didn't accomplish my reading goal. I wanted to read two books, but I was only able to read one book. I almost read two books, but I really took my time with the second book. Honestly, last month was just a slow month. I read a lot of blog posts and articles, but there were not a lot of pieces that really caught my attention.

Hopefully, I can accomplish my goal for July. Below is the book that I read as well as the list of blog posts that I loved in June.

Must Read

Heart Talk by Cleo Wade

I loved this book! I bought this book a couple of months ago, but finally found the time to sit down and read it. Honestly, I read this book at the perfect time, so it meant so much more to me. I loved that Cleo included some poems and notes in the margins of the book. I loved the little pep talks and motivational notes. There's also relatable advice that is perfect for everyone and for everyday life.

As you can see in the photo above, I even put some post-its in the book. This is a book that I plan to read over and over again.

Blog Posts I Loved in June

Sarah on being a creative

Pride Month: Free Mom Hugs by Mary

Vanessa's take on May's theme for The Painted Diaries

Vanessa's Summer Travel Supplies

Janelle's Basic Guide to Caring for Your Natural Coily-Haired Cutie

Light Reading

Cosmopolitan - July 2019 issue

It's been a while since I read a magazine. I read the entire magazine in one day. I loved reading the piece on Aubrey Plaza. I also enjoyed reading about Mercury Retrograde and the section on horoscopes.

What did you read in June?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read In May

Last month, I accomplished my goal to read two books. I know that I definitely could have read three books, but I'm glad that I read two books. I'm hoping that this month, I can accomplish my reading goal. I really enjoy reading, but sometimes, I can't find the time to sit down and read.

I'm really excited to share what I read last month. Both of the books that I read were amazing, which made it easy to take the time to read.

Must Read

Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon

I love reading Austin Kleon's books. They always help keep me motivated and is the perfect pick-me-up. This is an excellent book for every person who wants to live a creative life or wants a little bit of inspiration. In this book, Kleon offers ten ways/rules to stay creative. I loved the quotes and illustrations that were included in the book.

This is a quick read, and you can quickly devour it in one day. However, I took my time reading this book, and I'm so glad that I did. Keep Going is part of a trilogy and I highly recommend his previous books, Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work. You can learn more about Austin Kleon here.

Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life by María Hesse

I am a huge fan of Frida Kahlo. I first learned about María Hesse's book on Instagram, and the cover had me hooked. I had to read it, and I'm so glad that I did. I learned a few new things about Frida and really enjoyed the artwork. This was more of a graphic novel with illustrations by María Hesse. One of the things that I loved about the illustrations is that they were a reimagination of Kahlo's paintings. The book is in first person narrative, which made it very interesting.

I read this book in one day, and I'm sure that I will read it again and again. If you are a fan of Frida Kahlo, I highly recommend this book. You can check out María Hesse's work here.

Blog Posts I Loved in May

3 Essentials of a Killer Social Media Bio by Megan Dowd

This layout by Theresa

Vanessa's take on Get Messy's Season of Creativity

This canvas background art journal page by Anna-Karin

All Birth Stories are Beautiful by Alise

Lecy's post on collecting notebooks

A REAL Breastfeeding Experience - One Year In by Alexis from The Chemistry Cachet

Anne Butera on Slowing Down

What did you read in May?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in April

Last month, I didn't accomplish my goal to read two books, but I am happy to say that I read one book. I am slowly getting back to reading at least one book a month. I'm still finding bits of time to read which has helped me get closer to accomplishing my reading goals.

Before I start to ramble, let's check out the book I read as well as the blog posts that I loved.

Must Read

I Really Didn't Think This Through: Tales from My So-Called Adult Life by Beth Evans

I enjoyed reading this book. Beth has dealt with OCD, depression, anxiety, and self-harm. This book is not a self-help book, but she did offer some ways that helped her personally cope with some of the issues that she deals with in her life. The only problem that I had was the layout of the text and the illustrations. A lot of the illustrations was mixed in with the words. Some of the pictures were on the next page with the text being on the other side. I had to either flip back to the pages to see the illustrations or read the story first.

Blog Posts I Loved in April

Sara's piece on Toddler Induced Anxiety

Vanessa's 30 Days of Lists mini album

Taylor's piece on faith, religion, and a few other things

Embracing the Hot Mess by Jen

Sunny Days Travelers Notebook Ideas


What did you read in April?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in March

Happy Monday! This post is going to be a bit different because I didn't finish reading my book in March. However, I did read a lot of blogs and articles. Since I did read a lot of amazing articles and posts, I thought I would still share them.

Blog Posts and Articles I Loved in March

How to deal with Postpartum Baby Bangs

Anne Butera's ideas on battling the winter blahs

This DIY Inspiration Notebook by Maggie Massey

Motherhood Around the World

This article about SAHMs sharing what their days look like

This simple coffee recipe

Austin Kleon's advice on how to read more

Lecy's piece on fear

Emma Chapman's Mango & Orange Quick Bread recipe

Every Hairdresser I've Ever Had: A Comprehensive Review by Julia Edelman

My Daily Routine: Jasper Newman, 8 Months Old by Teddy Wayne and Greg Wayne

Jennifer Craven's The '4th Trimester' Is A Real Thing (And It Can Be Rough)

What did you read in March?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


Photo by Claudia on Unsplash

What I Read in February

Happy Wednesday! Last month, I accomplished my reading goal that I set for February. I read not one, but two books! I have been finding bits of time to read almost everyday. I'll read while Raphael is taking a nap or when I'm able to have some "me time". I was able to read two books because I took them with me during my chiropractor appointments and to the hair salon. Instead of just scrolling through my phone while I wait at appointments, I've been reading.

I'm really excited that I've been reading a lot more and it made me realize how much I really did miss reading a good book.

Below are the books and blog posts that I read.

Must Read

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

This book was so good! This is Adjei-Brenyah's debut short story collection. The stories were a bit dark and many of them left me speechless. I don't even really know how to describe how some of the stories left me feeling. The stories were unique and dealt with racism, hate, violence, egos, capitalism, etc. I honestly believe that everyone should read this book. I would say that it's a necessary read.

Elevation by Stephen King

Oh my goodness! This is was such a great read! King described Elevation as a novella despite the cover stating that it was a novel. The story takes place in Castle Rock, Maine. The main character, Scott Carey, is dealing with an illness that is causing him to rapidly lose weight, without getting thinner. When he weighs himself, the scale registers the same number even if he has clothes on. While dealing with his illness, he is also having to figure out how to end his feud with his two new neighbors, Deidre and her wife Missy. The majority of the community disapproves of the couple, but the feud between the couple and Scott is over the couple's dogs dropping their business on his lawn.

I loved all of the characters and quickly became attached to them. The ending was absolutely amazing and sad. I was a little disappointed that the book wasn't longer, but the story was still wonderful.

Blog Posts I Loved in February

Emelia's thoughts on the current blogging scene

This post on Motherhood and Time

Being (and Loving) Yourself by Anne Butera

What did you read in February?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

What I Read in January

Happy Wednesday! One of my goals this year is to read at least 1 book per month. I think this monthly book series and book review posts will help me keep track of the challenge as well as motivate me to keep reading. Last month, I accomplished my reading goal. I also read quite a few blog posts as well. You may notice that I included some blog posts from December. I decided to include blog posts that I read in that month as well since I never made a post about what I read in December.

Below is the book that I read as well as the blog posts that I loved.

Must Read

Art Matters by Neil Gaiman (illustrated by Chris Riddell)

This book was absolutely amazing! I absolutely love Gaiman and his work so I was not surprised that I loved this book. It's a quick read and I read it in one day while I was at the hair salon. This may sound weird, but after reading this book, I actually hugged it. It was just that good.

Art Matters is a collection of four essays that addresses the importance of reading and writing. I loved every single essay. I especially loved Credo and Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading, and Daydreaming. These essays were previously published, but I had never read them so I was very happy to read these. Even if you have read these essays before, I think they are worth reading again.

In Credo, Gaiman talks about freedom of speech and ideas. I loved learning about how Gaiman started writing in Make Good Art. Making a Chair is more of a poem than an essay, but it was also really great.

The illustrations by Chris Riddell were perfect! Gaiman's words and Riddells' illustrations mixed well and I hope they work together soon.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. Buy it from a bookstore or borrow it from your local library. It. Is. Worth. It.

Blog Posts I Loved in December

I loved this post by Neely. It's good to see that I am not the only one who doesn't adjust our schedule for others.

This post on patience and raising kind children.

A Woman's Place is in the House article in Elle Magazine.

Part 1 and Part 2 of Taylor's (from The Daily Tay) Christmas story.

Blog Posts I Loved In January

I loved these photos that Kat took on her trip to the catacombs of Paris. Visiting the catacombs of Paris is on my bucket list!

I loved reading Ali Edwards' post on documenting an evening during this time of year. The last two sentences on her post are so true.

What do stay-at-home moms do all day?

If you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader first by Austin Kleon

What did you read in January?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...