DECEMBER RECAP // lots of reading and vacation for days aka living my best life
Indeed I do find the background of my featured image very funny. I have a weird sense of humour.
You know, I honestly need to stop trying to get these out on time and lying to you all. It’s deceitful and I don’t want to be that person.
I just,,, oof I need to maybe start working on them earlier in the month BUT I NEVER DO. But at the same time, I’m incredibly shocked that I’m posting two days in a row. I thought that the recap aspect was fitting haha.
Anyways, before it becomes February and I combine them. If I get around to it quickly then idk maybe you’ll see my January one quite soon. Who knows? Not even me.
An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir {★★★★★}: my friends over on Instagram are applauding me right now because THIS BOOK TOOK ME 3 MONTHS TO REREAD!!! I just,,, Sabaa causes me a lot of pain and I honestly don’t need to be going to the hospital right now so I… avoid at all costs. Anyways, this one was just as fantastic. I loved finding all of these hints (I have read like 3/4 of. book 2). And now you all need to hold me accountable and yell at me to pick up Torch asap. Pray for me. I guess click here for my aeons old review from like 2018. It’s probably bad though *hides in corner*
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The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout {★★½☆☆}: To whoever read my most recent post, I mentioned that I was a bit of an impulse reader in 2020. This book was one of those impulses and is also one that I regret reading. I didn’t need to read this book and as you can see, I didn’t like it either. It’s been a hot second since I read it but I also think it’s telling that I don’t really remember anything about it. According to my GR review, I disliked the writing. Like a lot. From what I remember, I wanted to re-edit it because THIS BOOK WAS SO REPETITIVE. Yikes. Also didn’t really form connections with any of the characters, and especially none of the side characters. So that was that. Moving on.
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Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata {★★★☆☆}: As you’ll see by the next couple of books, I’ve basically been making my way through all of Zapata’s works. And this was the first instalment. And ah I had such a nice time with it. First of all, the main character’s name is also Ruby, which is always fun. And secondly, even though it may seem that the rating is low, I did quite enjoy it. It’s not my new favourite book of all time but it’s still fun. I liked that it involved the military and it was told in a very unique format. So I recommend if you’re looking for a slow-burn adult romance. GR review here <3
From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata {★★★★☆}: AHHH I don’t know how to explain to you how obsessed I am with this book, it’s MADNESS. It managed to sneak it’s way onto my favourite books of 2020 list, though only an honourable mention. But STILL, I LOVE IT. I cannot stop going back to reread all of my favourite scenes, it was just so good. It’s kind of a sequel to Dear Aaron as it follows the MC’s sister. And I’m seriously thinking I should bump it up to a 4.5 because I loved it so much. It’s not only a sports romance (which I’m also SO into at the moment) but also enemies to lovers/sister’s best friend and it’s so iconic™. Their dynamic is just everything. The pacing was perfection. I loved the figure skating element, and kinda lowkey went down a figure skating rabbit hole also. THE ROMANCE THE ROMANCE THE ROMANCE *screams forever*. I think Mariana is such an excellent writer, she’s great at banter and character interactions. Highly highly highly recommend. Click here for my GR review!!
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RomaJuliette Christmas Special by Chloe Gong {★★★★★}: Indeed, if you were unaware, twas me who went and added this book to Goodreads because I needed to scream about it. I have little to say so let me just quote my review:
juliette: *speaks*
roma: *blushses*ruby: *furiously blushes* I DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN
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The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata {★★★☆☆}: see, the journey continues. I think, of all Mariana’s books I’ve read so far (there is one more), this is my least favourite. I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong. But this was more a lower 3-stars, in comparison to Dear Aaron. There just weren’t all that many elements that I was into. I really enjoyed the parenthood aspect of the story and I was rooting for the romance. There was also some sweet moments but I don’t have all that much to say. It was good, just not my favourite. Also THE EPILOGUE!! I shan’t spoil you but I DID NOT EXPECT IT. GR review here.
- You Have a Match by Emma Lord
- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Eeeep I have lots of books to talk about today!
Big thanks to Pan Macmillan SA for sending me Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power, Boy Queen by George Lester, Writers & Lovers by Lily King, When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins and Summerwater by Sarah Moss. All of which I can’t wait to read <3
My parents gifted me The Feverake duology (The Fever King & Electric Heir) by Victoria Lee, as well as Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen, as a birthday present (took forever to arrive) and I’M SO SO SO EXCITED TO READ!!
I also got a Bargain Books gift card so I bought myself The Falling In Love Montage by Ciara Smyth, Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon and a cute edition The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
The bestest at Jonathan Ball Publishers so kindly not only gifted me The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutowski, the paperback edition Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid, but also with a finished copy of my favourite read of 2020: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.
I was also sent this stunning book, Renegade Women in Film and TV by Elizbeth Weitzman & illustrated by Austen Claire Clements when the author reached out to me and it’s THE COOLEST.
Click to go to the post
- Marie and Nyx posted a joint post chatting about all of their 2020 faves and I’ve added so many books to my tbr
- Erin loved These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong just as much as I did and I ADORED her review
- Rhi created her own original EVERMORE book tag, tagged me and I can’t wait to do it!!
- Among many other “best of 2020” posts from Stephen, my favourite was definitely his top 5 most dramatic twists post and you definitely need to go and give it a read.
- Cielo posted her list of 5-star 2021 release predictions and I’m crossing fingers hehe
- Anika shared a list of tips on staying organised and productive as a freelancer and it’s so helpful
- One of my favourite people, Olivia, redesigned her blog (which is so gorgeous) & did the evermore book tag
- Lily also came back to blogging and did a wonderful post showcasing a few 2020 debut authors, which was so lovely to read
- May posted a super cool TBR post with friend’s book recommendations and it’s super awesome
- Lais so creatively posted her disappointing reads of 2020 ft. rom-com recommendations and I ASPIRE TO BE THIS BRILLIANT
- Caro posted about her 2020 end of year survey and omg THE WORK AND EFFORT!!
- Fadwa went self-hosted and redesigned their blog and it is BEAUTIFUL
- Rose posted her 20 favourite quotes of 2020 and it’s such a wonderful post
- Tiffany did a 2020 recap post and ah so many great books on there as well as ones on my tbr
- Jessica posted about authors she discovered in 2020 and my tbr just keeps getting longer whoops
- Fanna, a queen, shared five 2021 sequels by South-Asian authors and though I haven’t read the first books yet, I CAN’T WAIT
- Sofii shared her favourite new authors of 2020 and it’s such a lovely list!!
Before I get into what I watched, I just need to go ahead and say that I am ashamed that I haven’t listened to Evermore yet. I know, I know. I did listen to the first few songs and I’ve watched the willow MV. I just need to give it my full attention and take everything in, so I’ve been putting it off. You’ll know when I listen to it because I’m definitely going to be doing the book tag <3
I didn’t watch all that many movies, but the ones I did, I kinda ADORED. Two of them I’ve mentioned more recently and highly recommend: Anastasia and The Cutting Edge (1992). I did also watch the second Cutting Edge which was in no way as good but still okay.
I finally got around to rewatching The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, for the first time in years and I ADORED IT. Like OMG. And it’s just my luck that Netflix HAS TAKEN THE SEQUELS OFF. And I am MAD. Anyways, I’ll have to find them somewhere, because I can’t stop now, it was just such a great time. I haven’t actually read the books yet, which is something I should change at some point haha. My favourite character, a very basic choice #sorrynotsorry, is Frodo. Idk man, there’s just something about that Hobbit.
The others that I got around to watching were Dear John (average), Instant Family (which was incredibly heartwarming) and The Holiday (finally, which was good but I think far too hyped).
And finally, to nobody’s surprise, I’ve been rewatching Shameless (the US version). Feel free to shake your head at me because I deserve it lmao. I just have a very specific weakness and Gallavich is one of them. We’re waiting forever on Season 11 content so I decided to slowly rewatch it in the meantime. It be a fun time and if you haven’t seen that show yet WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?!?
I don’t have all that much to update you here, I’ve already told you I’m on summer vacation. And I’ve been doing nothing apart from swimming because IT IS BOILING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. We had a super chilled, lowkey and socially-distanced Christmas, which was nice.
And… that’s about it.
HOW WAS YOUR DECEMBER? DID YOU CELEBRATE OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON? WHAT DID YOU READ? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE READ OF LAST MONTH? DID YOU WATCH ANYTHING? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!
Happy reading
xo
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Ruby Rae Reads
Hi, I'm Ruby: chaotic mood reader, aspiring writer and lover of movies. If you want to know more, feel free to peruse xx
25 Comments
Sara * Lyrical Reads
I can’t believe the holidays were almost a month ago?? Where did the time even go??😭I remember reading a bunch of graphic novels because my brain did not want to handle lots of words on a page; one that stood out was Persepolis! I don’t watch a ton of stuff (movies least of all), but I started watching the K-drama Lovestruck in the City with a friend, and I think December was when I started watching another Chinese reality/survival show called We Are Young!
Ruby Rae Reads
OMG SARA RIGHT?!?!? It’s lowkey unfathomable that Christmas was just under a week ago. Time is a mystery yo
But hehe love that for you. I,,, read like 2 graphic novels last year, which is shameful and I need to read more in 2021. Persepolis sounds amazing, that one’s definitely on my tbr.
Ahhh I also NEED to get into K-dramas, something to try this year. Lovestruck sounds adorable, added to the watchlist already *wink wink*. We Are Young also sounds great, did you enjoy it?
Lots of love friend <3<3<3
Sophie @ Me & Ink
I’m glad you had a good Christmas and December, even if it boiling hot. Swimming sounds good though. Ahh… ember, I would love to reread the whole series at some point but could my emotions honestly handle it, I’m not sure but one day. It would be weird to read ember again though, its been so long and seeing the characters at the beginning can always feel strange, like I know what is going to happen !!
I do love a sports romance too, which is weird because I don’t really like sports haha !!
So many amazing books you got in December, I am really hoping to read The Fever King this year !! I’ve heard such good things !!
The lord of the rings movies are really long but so good. I rewatched them last year and REALLY enjoyed it !! Sam’s my favourite though ahha!!
I hope you have a good rest of January 💕
Ruby Rae Reads
AH, you know you’re the best!!
Yo December (and January tbh) has been ROUGH. Been swimming practically every evening. And also YES. Even Ember was WOW. I’ve been putting off continuing with the series because I know I’ll be in pain lmao. Though I will say it was def weird going back, I forgot so much about it.
And I’m EXACTLY the same omgggg. I’m in no way a sport-y person but sports romance is just DOING IT for me. 1000% reading TFK asap, we could buddy read if you’d like?? So excited to continue LOTR, I just so thoroughly enjoyed my time with that first one.
Hope you’ve been having a lovely January Sophie <3<3<3
Sophie @ Me & Ink
haha thank you !! ahh.. that sounds a lot, I have been more cold here in the uk haha!!
haha that is certainly relatable !!
YESSS sport romances definitely hit that mark !!
ooohh… I’d love to do a buddy read for TFK (so sorry I am late replying, if you’ve already started its fine) but a buddy read would be sooo fun, did you have any plans when to start reading???
YAY !!
Thank you so much 🥰💕
Ruby Rae Reads
I seriously miss UK summers here tbh. ITS JUST TOO HOT *dies*
SPORTS ROMANCES ARE AMAZING OMGGGGGG
Also Sophie, you have way too much faith in me if you think I’ve started it already lmao. No definitely not so YES PLEASE. I’m a super chill buddy reader so I don’t mind at all. If my mood reading had its own way, I’d wait years to read it oops
Sophie @ Me & Ink
ahh.. sending you cooling thoughts, if that’s a thing !!!
haha well just in case 😂😂 Yay, well I was hoping to read it next week or the week after, depending when I finish my current read. Is that too soon?? I am pretty flexible so say if you wanted to wait a while, I’m happy to as well honestly 💕💕
Ruby Rae Reads
ahaha, tis greatly appreictaed Sophie *wink wink*
I think I can manage next week?? I don’t have set TBRS anyways, lmao my reading is so sporaddic. LETS DO IT!
Sophie @ Me & Ink
Yayyy!! I’ll send you at DM on Instagram next week then and if you are good to go we can do it!! (if Instagram is good for you, you can tell me if it isn’t. I have discord and other apps too so I’m easy) 🥰🥰
Ruby Rae Reads
Instagram is awesome!! ❤️
erin @ Reading On A Star
ahh welcome back ruby!! i’ve missed seeing you in my reader.
Ruby Rae Reads
Hopefully here to be more consistent haha. Thank you Erin <3
Caro @ bookcheshirecat
Looks like you had a good month! Very excited to see that you got the Feverwake Duology and Of Curses and Kisses, I love these books ❤ Also thank you so much for featuring my post!! 🥰
Ruby Rae Reads
Of course Caro <3 eep yes I CAN'T WAIT. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Sofii @ A Book. A Thought.
Such an incredible book haul!!! 😍 I hope you enjoy all those wonderful books, I’m dying to know what you think about These Violent Delights!!! I’ve heard the most incredible things about that book ❤️ & Thank you SO much for mentioning my post, you know that I love you and your blog so it’s a great honor. 🥺🥺🥺✨
Have the most beautiful weekend ☀️
Ruby Rae Reads
Omg Sofii, thank you so much for stopping by!! I’m so excited to read them. But um Sofii, I ADORE THESE VIOLENTS DELIGHTS! Literally my favourite book of 2020, it is MARVELLOUS <3<3
And of course, always adore all of your content and you always put a smile on my face. And thank you for your kind words, means the world to me xoxoxo
Dezzy @ The Thoughtful Voice
ahh i loved reading this post Ruby!! your posts are always so much fun to read and i enjoy your blogging voice a lot :)) haha the intro to this post is SO relatable, i am extremely inconsistent with blogging,, the struggle is real lmaooo :’) seeing how much you loved From Lukov With Love convinced me to add it to my TBR!! and yeessss the RomaJuliette Christmas special made me so 😭💓
Ruby Rae Reads
Dezzy eeeeppp THANK YOU!! You are too kind and I’m smiling so much right now *sends virtual hug*
Oof, keeping up with blogging is so hard and I hope we can both become better at being consistent.
Also yes READ FROM LUKOV SO WE CAN SCREAM TOGETHERRRRR. It’s literally insane because I’m still obsessed but not quite sure if it’s a 5 star. Don’t know how to describe that feeling ahahah.
STILL crying over that Christmas special tbh. It was A TIME AND I LOVE THEMMMM *insert heart eyes*
Lais @ The Bookish Skies
*crosses fingers that you re-read torch against the night soon* i finished a reaper at the gates a couple weeks ago, and i definitely have a lot of thoughts on this series. i hope the 4th book comes out soon in brazil so i can finish it already!
also dear martin and you deserve each other are amazing reads and i hope you love them just as much as i do!
evermore is a really great album (my favorite songs are gold rush and evermore) so i hope you listen to it soon! it’s definitely overwhelming because it’s a long album, and i really want to pay attention to the lyrics and all, so i understand putting it off. i hope you do enjoy it when you listen to it though!
(since we’re talking about shameless can i just say how continuously mad that so many gallavich scenes show up in the teaser for the episode but then are cut off of the episode at the end????? showtime istg i’m about to fight them)
hope you’re enjoy your summer vacation, ruby! ❤️
Ruby Rae Reads
Lais ahhh I NEED TO READ IT ALREADY. Oof the story is complicated. But basically I read Ember in like 2018, LOVED IT. Tried reading Torch but it made me anxious so I stopped halfway. I tried reading it again like a year later but same thing happened. So then I decided I’d start from the beginning so I reread book one and now I’m at Torch hahahaha. Sabaa is dangerous AND I AM SCARED.
Ah I haven’t managed to get to Dear Martin or You Deserve Each Other yet but I can’t wait to! And also ah evermore soon!! Probs going to be on the scheduled posts for Feb hehe
(also canI just definitely agree with you and it is a serious crime that they keep removing the scenes from the episode. And false advertising as they literally brought back Noel for a reason. Hoping that one scene from the trailer we’ll see in ep5 this weekend *grinds teeth*)
Lots of love Lais. Hope you enjoy your vacation to xoxoxo
Lais @ The Bookish Skies
Ahhh, I hope it hasn’t triggered your anxiety this time around then! Those books are definitely stressful, but it if it makes you feel better, book 3 isn’t as bad!
(the latest gallavich scenes were really good, it made me laugh out loud and they’re always cute even when they’re making out next to dead bodies🤩)
Marta @ of waves and pages
The Roma&Juliette special, yeeees 🥰🥰 My December (and well, January) weren’t that much of a big deal, I spent most of the time working on projects for classes and studying for exams, which sucked, and I’m so glad I just have to submit one more paper (and hope I pass this class) 😅 Hopefully February will be way better!
Ruby Rae Reads
THE SPECIAL KILLED ME AND I HAVE STILL NOT RECOVERED,,,, send prayers lmao
Ah, I hope you can take some time off now though Marta. Uni starts up again for me next month and oof I’m not ready. Best of luck with that final paper! (unless you’ve already submitted then YAY)
Lots of love to you and I hope you have an amazing February <3<3<3
Ash @ Starlight Strands
lmaooo i love the background of your featured image 😭😭 and AHH i’m so glad u finished your reread of an ember in the ashes!! i really need to read it because i’ve heard the best things about it. AND YES jsfdiidffi the romajuliette christmas special was so cute and i just need our violent ends NOW. 🥺
i hope you’re able to listen to evermore fully soon, it won’t disappoint!! and i’m so excited for your evermore book tag <33 sending love!! 💕
Ruby Rae Reads
Ash, I’m glad you also found it funny becasue upon reflection, I didn’t know if anyone else would get it ahaha
And yes ma’am YOU DO need to read Ember because it’s amazing and I have no doubt that you’ll adore it also!!!!
I WOULD KILL FOR THESE VIOLENT ENDS AND IM NOT EXAGGERATING,,,,
and ahh I’m hopefully going to listen soon and I can’t wait to be destroyed by Evermore uWu