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APRIL RECAP // i am in my british comedy era, finally read a jane austen & sinking down the academic research rabbit hole aka life is great
Currently, my brain capacity is at 0.1 but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It just means I have a lot to say and no way to articulate it so this recap should be fun. If there’s one thing Ruby Rae Reads will always deliver, it is chaos and you can at least count on that. Let’s try and remember what happened this month before May is over *insert happy dance* Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane {★★★★½}: Don’t remember what finally gave me the push to read this author, maybe fate because I just KNEW I would love her and Ms McFarlane and I are now best friends. She doesn’t know that yet but it’s the truth. Maybe you’ll get a full review soon because I have a lot to say, but this was like watching a British comedy in book form and no-one does comedy like the British. The writing was whip-smart, the characters loveable and it’s just everything I want in an adult contemporary technically women’s fiction, but agh that term sucks. It was absolutely brilliant READ IT RIGHT NOW!!!!!! GR review here Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane {★★★★★}: I couldn’t tell you…
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MARCH RECAP // graduation, moving, some reading & other chaos
Quite chuffed with my incredibly inventive title if I do say so myself *wink wink* We all know that I am a comedian by nature. God I need to shut up now. Anyways, back to your irregularly scheduled belated recap, as per usual, due to very obvious reasons in the title. I honestly don’t remember what happened last month, it was all very blurry but I shall try my best to recount it to you. Into the chaos we go! Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong {★★★★★}: I was never prepared for this book and I have read it and am still not prepared. Chloe never misses and this book was perfection, as is everything she writes. My heart stopped beating for approximately 200 pages and I need to tattoo this book onto my forehead. It was stunning and I will have a full review up hopefully soon, GR review here in the meantime *screams for eternity* The First Move by Jenny Ireland {★★★☆☆}: The lovely people at Penguin SA had an eARC available and I needed a smol pick me up so I read this on a whim. Devoured this in like a day and agh what a cute…
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JANUARY & FEBRUARY RECAP // somehow i read 15 books ft. graphic novel mania, readalongs, lots of new books & back to uni
It’s the way I forgot to post my January until halfway through February and decided another two weeks was worth waiting. I mean what else is new here? Ruby Rae Reads: perpetually late to everything Lmao love that for me Anyway, I have lots to talk about, so let’s jump right in! Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’Clover {★★★★★}: started off the year strong with this absolutely stunning YA debut contemporary romance ugh it was SO SO SO GOOD!!!! Absolutely everything I ever wanted from this book about creating an app, familial tension, angsty emotions and childhood friends to enemies to lovers. It was *chef’s kiss* and you all need to read it RIGHT THIS SECOND!!!! Big thanks to the author for sending me an eARC via Netgalley, click here for my GR review <3<3<3 Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman {★★★★½}: decided to get off my butt and finally read these and ugh I had the bestest day literally just reading all of these comics. A stunning first instalment and I do love how accurate the show is. It’s kind of scary. Big thanks to Pan MacMillan SA for the review copy xoxoxo Heartstopper Volume 2 by…
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DECEMBER RECAP // great reads, avatar, christmas movies, beach vacation and stunning special edition books!!!
Didn’t expect to see me back so soon? I mean same. But I didn’t want to combine December and January which I have ~definitely~ not done before…. Haha nervous laughter. Anyways, we have stuff to catch up on so let’s get into it! Two Wrongs Make A Right by Chloe Liese {★★★★★}: ugh shame on me for taking so long to start this because it was so good I could cry. I knew she would hit and ugh she so did. Chloe Liese has magic beneath her fingertips and you all need to read this book RIGHT NOW!!! I said it all in my blog tour review so I’m sending you over there but I HIGHLY recommend. Big thanks to Berkley for having me on board and for the eARC via Netgalley <3<3<3 Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan & Robert Venditti {★★★☆☆}: all I can say is that I’m on a graphic novel kick, my Library had this available and I read it. Stupid me should not have expected an illustrated edition when that exists separately but because of that stupidity I went in expecting PJO in pictures. Which this is sorta but it lacked the…
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NOVEMBER RECAP // i turned 21 ft new fave series, graphic novel mania, new books and life is good again!!!
It’s me hi I’m actually not the problem today. BECAUSE I AM SO EARLY WOWZA!!!! Like my Taylor Swift reference? I’m just talking nonsense so let’s get into it!!!! — Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston {★★★★½}: Me? Actually reading a book that’s been on my tbr longer than I’ve had a TikTok account? A Christmas miracle. I’ve talked to death about how much fun I had with this series and I’m a pro blogger so I’m just sending you right over to the series review on the blog here <3<3<3 Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston {★★★★½}: My marketing skills are on fire if you ask me. Fab fab fab Anastasia in space duology to binge with just my typa romance, fast plot and glorious writing READ THEM NOWWW!!!! Series review here in case you didn’t click *wink wink* The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill {★★★★☆}: I have a free trial on Kindle Unlimited alright. I was in Poston withdrawals and decided to read these on my iPad. And UGH how cute, just as expected. This first instalment is probably my least favourite of the three, in terms of enjoyment. But the art is amazing and such a…
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AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER RECAP // uni had me by the neck but i finished ft. not a lot of reading, some movies, midnights & student exhaustion
If you honestly thought I could be prompt with these, then I thank you for your faith. You’re the best, you’re a real one and I love you to the moon and back. To everyone who had realistic expectations… yeah same. Let’s catch up! — Hothouse Flower by Krista & Becca Ritchie {★★★½☆}: looking back, my rating seems too generous because I don’t remember what happened in this book ahah. Still apprehensive about Daisy and Ryke, and literally what was stopping these authors from ageing Daisy up like two years? It’s weird. Their actual connection is quite sweet personality-wise, but eh I don’t care all that much. Tried continuing with the rest of this series but I’m a LiLo supporter through and through *hides* GR review here! Addicted After All by Krista & Becca Ritchie {★★★★☆}: This series slowly but surely came for my heart and I am so glad that the Internet wasn’t lying to me about this couple. It’s dang good and Lily and Lo are everything to me. Ugh adore and will protect them with my entire soul. Sad their series is over but also oof I tried continuing with the rest and it’s lowkey too much…
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JULY RECAP // tons of reading, vacation bliss, st4 broke me & back to uni ft. some new fave books
I read a lot of books. Like a lot. And it feels so good. Are you proud of me? I’m also fairly on time with this. Double proud. God, I’m conceited and I’m talking too much about myself. This is my blog, but not the Ruby show. I need to get it together. Anyways, let’s just get into this recap!!! — — See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon {★★★★★}: I was actually really nervous going into this as I’d seen some average reviews, but I’m absolutely here for college contemporaries and time-loop tales. It’s a great time. This book was just pure escapism and I loved every second. I loved the writing, the setting, the discussions on mental health, and the relationship between Miles and Barrow. It was all squeal-worthy and wonderful and I loved it to shreds. If you can’t already tell, you definitely need to hop on this stellar new adult time loop contemporary romance that will make you feel all the feels over and over and over and over again. This one shines with witty dialogue, swoon-worthy romance and tender-hearted characters. I HIGHLY recommend!!!! All the thoughts here *insert heart eyes* – Addicted To You by…
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JUNE RECAP // some stunning reads and that’s about it because i’m on vacation
Making baby steps and improving by a couple months with this recap. Let’s not talk about the last time, it’s too sad. In reality not much happened last month, though in my head it feels like a lot, which is a werid conundrum and I’m talking rubbish, so let’s just jump right in xoxo — — Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee {★★★★★}: Thank the high heavens that I FINALLY READ THIS DANG BOOK!!!! Took me about a bajillion years. I have been excited about this book for the longest time and eeeep am I glad it lived up to my high expectations. I’m in my YA era and I LOVE IT. You also just need this book about internet culture and fame and film production and discussions on asexuality. Plus stunning friend groups and funny dialogue IT HAS EVERYTHING. I was just so touched by this book and agh you all need to bump up the tbr if you haven’t read yet. GR review here – Book Lovers by Emily Henry {★★★★★}: Took me far too long to pluck up the courage to read this but in my defence, I was avoiding pain. And for good reason. But don’t…
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FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL & MAY RECAP // i’m back! ft. uni was a lot, many essays, new fave books, mental health updates & ST4
God, I’m awful, but we’re used to this by now, right? Uni kept me busy hence this recap with far too many months in the title but better late than never. Semester literally started in February so you’ve missed it all, and there’s much to catch up on. I’m excited to be back, and you know the drill, let’s stop rambling and get into it! — Required Reading for The Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee {★★★½☆}: I read this for a blog tour and have already posted a whole review, so I won’t talk too much about it. This is a NA contemporary that deals with racism and microaggressions on modern college campuses, which I’ve never seen talked about in fiction, so I loved that. Overall, I loved the message and thought this was a solid debut, though it wasn’t as hard-hitting for me as I anticipated it. Big thanks to Crown Readers at Random House for the eARC and Turn The Pages Tours for having me on the tour. Complete review here! – It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey {★★★★☆}: Who else would have thought I’d be here telling you about how much I enjoyed this book?…
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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! — 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…
