(very very late) MAY, JUNE AND JULY RECAP // exam craziness, holidays ft. the usual anxiety

As you can tell by the title of this post, it is way overdue. And I sound like a broken record but ahh I’ve been so busy lately. School has been taking up a lot of my time. I’ve felt super demotivated over here and not as creative as usual. But I’m trying to come back, I swear. I have a few posts that I’m working on.

Just a warning though, I have had time these past few months available, but my end of year exam season is coming up so I might disappear again? I’m going to try not to but I can’t make any promises.

Besides that, hi, how have you been doing? I hope you’ve been doing well. I have missed this. I’ve mentioned this a lot but I am SUPER active over on Instagram, if you’d like to keep up to date with what I’m up to, you can follow me 🙂

But without further ado, let’s get into the books I’ve been reading and other shenanigans!

Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi {★★★★☆}: I read this in like two sittings which is rare for me. But it’s a good thing because it means I was having a good time. This series is super fun but I’m not in love with these new books. I rated Restore Me five-stars but I truly do not know why I feel like it’s a four-star for me but oh well. I had a fun time reading this book but the plot was a tad messy and it just didn’t feel like any of the other books. I am excited about the final book and to see how this series ends. A huge thanks to Penguin Random House SA for sending me a copy of this book.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid {★★★★★}: Yes I finally read this damn book and I’m a terrible reader, we knew this already. And it was as spectacular as everyone said it would be. First off, the writing and plot construction was genius. I have no idea how Taylor did it. The world is, of course, fascinating, the characters especially. I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters, which is usually something that puts me off, but everything else just blew my mind that I couldn’t rate it less. I’m just,,, WOW. I truly thought Evelyn could’ve been a real person. My favourite character was Harry, he was great. And Evelyn and Celia are so flawed and make the stupidest mistakes which had me biting my fingernails in frustration, but they’re just so well written. Same goes for Monique. Just AHH what an amazing story. A giant round of applause to Taylor Jenkins Reid everybody!

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus {★★★★☆}: I’m not a huge murder mystery thriller fan. Idk why, I just never am obsessed with them, even though I was a huge PLL fan back in the day?! But I love like small-town stories which is one of the reasons I had such a fun time with this book. Although I was sort of in a reading slump when I was reading this… But it was super fun and addicting towards the end. My one issue is, which is why I didn’t absolutely love it, that I hardly really liked any of the characters. I gave her debut the same rating, and I’ve enjoyed both of them obviously, but they just never blow my mind. I didn’t see the ending coming but I didn’t gasp or anything. This book is in no way bad at all, I had fun, and I’ll keep reading her books. I’m just not a huge thriller fan which is why I can never fully be obsessed with these books.

Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince Volume 1 {★★★★☆}: Wow I had such a fun time with this book. I’ve been reading quite a few graphic novels and they’re so fun and a breath of fresh air. The first little bit of this book was a bit confusing but I loved the fantasy aspect of this novel. And learning about Rhy’s father so I’m very excited about the second volume. A huge thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending me a copy!

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid {★★★★★}: OH MY HEAVENS THIS BOOK. As you read earlier, I read Evelyn which was brilliant. But then this book! From the very beginning, it SLAPPED. Halfway through my reading slump hit a bit, but I came back, and boy oh boy was it worth it. I LOVE old music specifically 80s, and this is set in the 70s AND IT WAS BRILLIANT. I felt like this band actually existed and I’m so excited about the TV show and for it to come to life. But AHHH this book. The characters, again so flawed but so amazing. My favourite was definitely Daisy. The whole era is so fascinating and I’m now currently obsessed with Fleetwood Mac haha. The love story was so beautiful and that ending left me gobsmacked. I did not expect any of it at all and BLEW MY MIND. Just read it okay. DO IT. Again, a big thanks to Penguin Random House SA for sending this book my way.

Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII by Sally Deng {★★★★☆}: This is a children’s picture book but it seemed so lovely, so when Jonathan Ball Publishers offered a copy to me, I was like why not. And it was such an awesome book. I love history, it’s one of my best subjects at school. This book was great and so informative. I loved the art style and I just a had grand time.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie {★★★★☆}: I totally saw this book at the warehouse sale and thought “wow beautiful cover” I’m buying it. So I did. I knew I loved the story from seeing the movies. And then on a whim, I decided to actually read it. Fun fact: I actually had a lot of surgery done at the Hospital this book is sort of ‘dedicated’ to so I feel connected in some ways haha. But I had a lovely time. I love the whimsical-ness of the story. The characters are a bit silly and have odd ways of making decisions, I was rolling my eyes a lot, but I love the time it was set in. I’m a sucker for Victorian London. And I LOVED the ending, so I’m very glad that I read this.

As I mentioned earlier, I have my first round of final exams starting in August BUT I still think I can manage some reading. As I’m writing this, I’ve already read two. I’m lowkey participating in NEWTs but I’m not putting any pressure on myself at all. I’m going to be a Journalist/Writer and here are the books I’m using for those challenges:

• Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
• Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
• A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir

Since this post is terribly late, I’ve forgotten quite a bit. But whose fault is that haha.

Hmm, I went to another Warehouse Sale back in May, I think it was. Got some books. It was a great time.

I stayed with some of my favourite online bookish friends for like a week which I NEVER do and I loved it. When I was with these friends we kind of unexpectedly started working on this Hunger Games skit video that isn’t ready yet but is in the working.

A while back, I did a fun Stranger Things cosplay of sorts, just because I’m obsessed and not thinking anything of it, I tagged Netflix SA because well Netflix distributes ST? And then like 2 weeks later I get this DM from them asking if they can send me something and I was like HECK YES. So I got sent a Dustin Funko pop from Netflix (!!!!) and I’m living my best life okay haha.

On the subject of Stranger Things, yes I watched, yes I loved it. I have a lot of stuff to say and I want to do a whole post so I’m not going to talk much about it now. I’ve seen the new season like two and a half times. I say half because I didn’t want to cry again so skipped and skimmed it. I can with confidence say that it is my favourite show of all time. I convinced some of my closest friends to watch it and they loved it. Stranger Things is a masterpiece and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

I recently watched Some Kind of Wonderful which um why didn’t I sooner. I didn’t know it was or realise it was a John Hughes film, who is now officially the superior 80s teen film director. And even though I don’t think it’s like an award-winning film, I still loved it. I thought the plot was great, and the characters were so flawed and interesting and just realistic. It was a great time. We loved it.

I also saw Avengers: Endgame and Spider-man: Far From Home. I’m not a huge Avengers fan but that battle scene at the end, you know which one, was beautiful. And Peter Parker made me cry, he’s my favourite if you didn’t know. I love him with my whole soul.

Another movie I watched was The Blind Side which was phenomenal. I had watched it years ago but I watched it again and I was blown away. If you haven’t seen it, what are you doing… WATCH IT. Sandra Bullock is in it whom I love.

I also binged the Before Sunrise movie trilogy which I loved. My favourite was the first one but the messages are just so important. Also a great time.

I’ve mentioned my exams a million times already. I have test week this next coming week and the week after my preliminary exams. So um fun.

I’ve also mentioned anxiety. It’s on and off. I’m that kind of person who only gets ‘anxiety attacks’ when my emotions and hormones overwhelm me which is why it’s so sporadic. Therefore somedays I’m fine and one day every few weeks it becomes uncontrollable and I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ve just been coming to terms with methods to help me.

Another thing that happened was that I got into two universities. I know which one I’m going to, the second was my backup. They’re of course conditional because I have to pass this year but still. I’m relieved, I was worried that, you know, maybe I couldn’t get in. But I did and it’s scary and exciting at the same time.

I think that’s it. That’s all I want to mention. As I said, I want to get back onto also regularly posting on here. I have a whole bunch of reviews I want to do because those need to make a come back. I have some tags and just a whole lot of stuff. I might need to disappear again but hopefully not. I’m going to try my best to stay haha.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO WHILST I’VE BEEN AWAY? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE BOOKS YOU’VE READ RECENTLY? ANY GREAT MOVIE OR TV RECS? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!

All the love
xo