HAPPY NEW YEAR AKA MY DECEMBER 2021 & JANUARY 2022 RECAP // a slightly late recap but I watched a ton of movies and read only a bit oops
Um yeah so big oops.
In my head, it’s definitely not nearly the end of February when I finally post this. You can pretend with me. Combining into two months because I’m terrible and I also only read one book in January welp. You came for chaos right? I have warned you in the past,,,
Let’s not waste time and just get into it!
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Wait For It by Mariana Zapata {★★★★☆}: Extremely chuffed at the progress I’m making in my quest to read all of Mariana Zapata’s work. Apparently this one was my longest read of last year, which I did not notice so props to MZ for making me think her romances are short. HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LOVE HER??? The way MZ writes romance is unlike any other and I’m constantly comparing other romances to her’s. I just,,, I’m forever sad about it. Though nothing has been able to top Lukov for me, this story was so endearing and heartwarming and I loved every page. Trigger warnings for loss of a parent/sibling. I absolutely loved how this book focused on parenting and raising kids, not in the traditional way. I loved Diana when we met her in Winniepeg and I loved her here. Dallas was an absolute sweetheart and they had such a wonderful dynamic. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and more thoughts in my GR review here xoxo
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You’ll Be The Death of Me by Karen M. McManus {★★★★☆}: Ugh I devoured this book and had an absolute blast of a time. I got to participate in the blog tour and some local publishing promo, which was so much fun. Apparently I have a thing for McManus’s movie retellings and I did not know I needed a Ferris Bueller mystery in my life until now. As I mentioned, I flew through this and the suspense was fairly well done, however my favourite part was the characters and writing. Though they’re not my new favourites in the world, I have a new appreciation for how McManus writes her characters. Plus, there was a great side romance, as usual. I’ve talked about it all in my blog tour review, so click here for more thoughts!!!
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Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter {★★★★☆}: It’s the way I’ve been quietly obsessed with this book and made it my new personality trait, yet I told none of you oops. I was highly excited about this one, but I put it off for ages. Whilst I do think that this cover tricked me by adding movie references it definitely didn’t have, I loved everything else about this adorable YA contemporary. I just could not stop going back to it and it warmed my heart in the best ways. I loved how it discussed dealing with grief, so trigger warnings for loss of a parent. I flew through this one, and Wes and Liz were too cute for words. THE ENDING WAS ALSO EVERYTHING!!!!! GR review here <3<3<3
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Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle {★★★★★}: Anyways, so here’s the only book I read in January. I started a few others but haven’t finished them yet. Anyways, struggled to stick with something until this one and as you can tell by the rating I LOVED IT. It’s actually funny because I think I like YDEO more BUT Sarah Hogle is a writer genius and I couldn’t give this book less than 5 stars. I think I’ll do a full review on this one so I’ll be quick, but I was absolutely transported into this glorious world. Maybell and Wesley (hello coincidental 2nd Wes hehe) were far too adorable for their own good and this book just gave all the warm, fuzzy feelings. READ IT NOW PLEASE AND THANKS!!!!!!! GR review here *insert heart eyes*
Okay yes this is a HUGE list. But I’ve combined two months worth of books I’ve received as gifts for both my birthday AND Christmas (as they’re fairly close together), as well as books I’ve bought myself for belated presents. I don’t know what else to tell you,,,,
- Always Only You by Chloe Liese
- Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (Alma classics edition)
- Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi
- Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
- If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka
- My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- Fable by Adrienne Young
- Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson
- The Beautiful AND The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
- Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
- Call Down The Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater (signed edition)
- Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
- The Risk by Elle Kennedy
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (exclusive Waterstones edition)
- These Violent Delights AND Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong (exclusive Waterstones edition)
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias In A World Designed by Men by Caroline Criado Perez
Big thanks to Harper Collins and the author for sending this hardcover my way for our paid collabotation on Instagram ~ click here to see post!
- Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi
Another thanks to Penguin Random House SA for sending this review copy my way ~ link to blog tour book review below!
- You’ll Be The Death of Me by Karen M. McManus
And finally, huge thanks to Pan Macmillan SA for sending me these for review:
- A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
- How To Save A Life by Eva Carter
- The House in The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Click to go to post
Apparently, all I’ve been doing these past 2 months is watching movies and Gilmore Girls. It’s a great time.
I’ve seen SO many good rom-coms omg. I was going to do a lil post for Valentine’s Day, but I,,, didn’t get around to it. Would you still like to see a list from me? Idk I feel like I shouldn’t give them all away just yet. Let me know! I’ll send you over to my Letterboxd if you were curious. Go follow me on there btw *wink wink*
Lmao I did watch The Hating Game adaptation, which I would consider better than the book purely because there was no cleft-lip joke. Though it was still pretty… meh. I’d also considered doing a bad Christmas movies post but never got around to it. Maybe this year? Also let me know.
Apart from those, I started off the year watching New Year’s Eve, which coincidentally came out exactly 10 years ago so love that for a timeline hehe.
I watched this 90s movie I hadn’t heard of called Picture Perfect, but apparently I love Jennifer Aniston rom-coms, though there aren’t all that many unfortunately. I would’ve been obsessed with this movie if not for the Kevin Bacon storyline,,,
Finally, and saving the best for last, are Don’t Look Up and Spider-Man: No Way Home which both get 5 stars. Can’t believe I’m living in a world where Jennifer Lawrence has returned to us and highlight to see spoiler all 3 spideys appeared on a screen together *cries in happiness*
Before I love and leave you, I’ll keep it short but quite a tad has been happening for me lately. Mostly mental health related, which has not been amazing but I’m making changes. I’m telling you this because it is mostly the reason I haven’t been making content lately. Getting there slowly but surely and I miss you <3<3<3
I’ve also started a new semester, as I’m typing this, which I have conflicting feelings about. So we won’t get to it right now.
On a brighter note, my new book club HERE WITH THE QUEERS launched in January and we did a liveshow and it was great and I’m very excited about it. More info coming soon as we’re just slowing starting it up!!!
Anyways, thanks for reading and lots of love to you all.
4 Comments
Lais @ The Bookish Skies
i got a copy of you’ll be the death of me during a trip and it makes me excited to read it since you enjoyed this one so much. i recently read one of us is next by karen m. McManus and i wasn’t totally impressed by it. but since this one is a ferris bueller retelling, i might enjoy it more!
i also recently finished our violent ends and YOU WERE CORRECT, RUBY!!!! that book made me gasp out loud so many times. i loved the twists to the original romeo and juliette story and the ending……….. yeah. YOU WERE RIGHT that’s all i’ll say.
also: absolutely would love to see you talking about rom-coms! i am probably not going to watch the hating game adaptation, not only because i disliked the book very much but also i watched the trailer and it was giving low budget. plus, i don’t like lucy hale’s acting that much. HOWEVER, i do hope we see more adult romances being adapted! i think the rom com genre could desperately use some new titles that aren’t netflix christmas movies.
hope you have an amazing march!!
Ruby Rae Reads
Ugh love you Lais. I just found actually both of them really fun and did exactly what they needed to do for me, so I hope you also like <3<3<3
OUR VIOLENT ENDS OMG MY HEART IS STILL IN PIECES ON THE FLOOR BUT IM GLAD I DIDN’T LET YOU DOWN!!!! *cries for eternity* BUT I STILL HAVE HOPE. Feel free to cry in the dms with me *wink wink*
Yeah The Hating Game movie was maybe just slightly better than that god awful book so I think you’re good to skip out oops
Hope you’re doing well and you have a wonderful March xoxoxo
Caro @ bookcheshirecat
Ohh you got so many great books!! The House in The Cerulean Sea was one of my favorites last year! 🥰 Wishing you all the best with your studies and mental health, I hope you’re doing okay! ❤️
Ruby Rae Reads
Eeeep I’m so excited to read it! Thank you for stopping by and lots of love friend xoxox hope you’re okay also!!!