OCTOBER RECAP // essay mania but at least I discovered some new all time fave books and movies

I AM FREE FROM THE SHACKLES OF ESSAYS AND IT FEELS SO GOOOODDDDD

Ugh anyways I did disappear again, so this post is late (as usual) but hey least all of my reads last month were 5 stars *wink wink*

Let us just get into it!

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The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry {★★★★★}: I declared October Emily Henry month and I’m not mad about it. I finally recovered from my adult romance bender and fell into the beautiful and graceful arms of Emily Henry, who I *was* so behind on but as you can tell, I’ve caught up. Anyways, I did start this at a time where I was focused on essays so I read it over quite some time but nonetheless it was brilliant and seriously EH’s debut? Shooketh. I’ve said this approx 123456789 times but she could write a shopping list and I’d still be mesmerised. This book broke my brain but I absolutely adored it. I read it at just the right time and wow I so connected to Natalie on a level I didn’t think I ever would. It’s been a second since I read a book where I saw myself in a character so much. The writing, the world-building, EVERYTHING was fantastic. I wish I had tabbed it because there was one line that I was obsessed with but I don’t remember where I was welp. Anyways, lowkey should do a full review, what do you think? Brain dump review over on GR <3<3<3

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A Million Junes by Emily Henry {★★★★★}: I wasn’t planning on doing a reread of this one but when I’d finished TLTSTW, I was so curious to see if I would change my opinion on this one. I read it in 2019 and I remember giving it a 5, then I knocked off half a star because I was confused. Now I understand that was the point and I have a different outlook on this genre. This was absolutely excellent and I loved every  second. The messages in this book are just G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. I related to the characters in TLTSTW but I do think I love this one more? I don’t even know how I feel honestly. It has all the qualities I mentioned above but it deserves extra praise for BANTER. Because!!!! And I like that because she does this very well in her adult romances. I think I want to do a review for this one also so do let me know if you think I should. Ignore my first read review but gushing GR review here *insert heart eyes*

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Beach Read by Emily Henry {★★★★★}: I was going to go through all of her books one after the other in publication order but idk I couldn’t resist this one. I do swear I’m going to get to When The Sky Fell On Splendor, it’s sitting on my bedside table. Very interested to see what I think of it. Anyways, I’ve screamed my throat raw about this book but if you haven’t picked it up yet, then you’re missing out. It’s my all time favourite adult romance (!!) but please know it isn’t your typical fluffy one. Which is why I loved it. It’s also about dealing with death of a parent, so trigger warnings for that. The banter is off the charts, this isn’t magical realism but the writing is just as magical. It’s a stunner, read my blog tour review here xoxo

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After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid {★★★★★}: Ugh and then I took a bit of a break from reading and boy oh boy, saw somebody talk about this on TIKTOK OF ALL PLACES. In the back of my mind, I’m ashamed that this was my push to read TJR’s backlist but I’m suppressing that fear. Honestly somebody whack me over the head with a bat because I too have no idea why I never prioritised them more. It was one of the books (as were all of these other books) that as soon as I started, I knew I would be in love. Only the real five stars reads give you that feeling. This book was an absolutely exceptional and blew me away. I never thought that I’d enjoy a marriage in crisis but here I am wanting to read all of them. What I adore about this book, and I think what I’m looking for in adult romance, is that romance isn’t the entire plot of the book. It’s got this unique blend of… something else which I don’t know how to describe. Booksellers would call this “women’s fiction”, which is a terrible name but that is technically what this is. So yeah, the writing was superb, the plot progression was *CHEFS KISS* and I was rooting for the characters the whole time. Who would’ve thought that Ruby, a hopeless romantic, would ever be in a place where she actually thought they didn’t need to get back together? Never in my lifetime. Full review for this one also? Gushing review over on GR!!!

You know it’s bad when you think you didn’t buy anything all month and then realise they were adult romances,,,

Okay except one. Looking at you CoHo…

• The Wall of Winniepeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
• Kulti by Mariana Zapata
• From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
• It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
• The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
• The Switch by Beth O’Leary
• Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane

October was just extremely busy for me, so I’m not remembering a whole ton as I write this. My brain is Tired with a capital T, it’s not anything to do with the media, it’s all me. Plus, this post is late. Anyways, okay I rewatched Anastasia (a fave movie of all time) and also Pitch Perfect (which I’ve seen a few times now and I will say I felt the love again which I did not the last time). Not a rewatch but a movie I thoroughly enjoyed was Miss Congeniality!! I adore Sandra Bullock and didn’t expect much from this one but it was a fab time <3<3

I can also update you on my Sex and The City journey, which I mentioned in my last recap. I only finished in October but talked about it there. However, I did watch the film, which wasn’t terrible. Tried the second movie and it was good for 10 minutes, then just became extremely offensive so I stopped. Very coincidental that I’ve been watching this show now just as they announce the new show, which got a trailer or something last month.

Finally I watched Emma. (the 2020) version on a total whim omg AND I AM 1000% OBSESSED IT WAS SO GOOD WHAT THE HECK?!?!? I have no explanation why I originally gave it 4 stars when I knew at the time that it was a 5 star film (have since increased the rating ofc). I just,,, why don’t all period pieces have sets so colourful? It’s blasphemy in my opinion. Absolutely adored this movie, I felt like I just got Emma as a character and honestly don’t know why people find her so insufferable? Or is that just the book? I need to read it asap. I adored the romance also wow. In my experiences with period pieces, I find it difficult to ship the romances but I loved Emma and Mr Knightley, definitely more than Lizzie and Darcy IM SORRY

I didn’t listen to a whole lot of music last month (more this month) but I finally explored Frank Ocean a bit more. I’d only really listened to Pink + White, but I now LOVE Ivy and also the introduction of Nights specifically. That is all.

What… even happened in October? I don’t remember. I think I posted like two reels on Instagram and maybe a feed post. Only one blog post which was a monthly recap. So basically just essays is what happened. As of right now, I just handed in everything for uni so I’m on VACATION!!!! Still hasn’t settled in to be honest. But it feels great.

So yeah, I did a lot of essay writing. I submitted them all this month, so technically it doesn’t belong here oops. I wrote a short story for my English class, which was cool. I’ve already gotten my grades and I’m super happy, definitely a favourite assignment.. So if you want to yell at me to get back into my own writing, feel free to do so *wink wink*

Overall, I was very very busy but October was good. I read books I loved, I managed all of my assignments and my mental health was fairly steady. Hope you’ve all been okay xxxxx

WHAT DID YOU GET UP TO IN OCTOBER? WHAT BOOKS DID YOU READ? HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THE ONES I DID? HOW HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? LET ME KNOW!