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MARCH, APRIL & MAY RECAP // i’m a corporate girlie who hasn’t figured out a routine yet but hey let’s talk books!
Need to get my shiz together fr but first, we should catch up. Because a girlie has been slammed crazy busy,,, Let’s just right in *wink wink* — Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon {★★★★☆}: maybe I didn’t read this at the right time or something? Because I love these characters and Rachel’s writing, but I remember next to nothing about this book? It’s also been a hot second since I read it but still? I had a great time with it, and I think it’s a really sweet sequel to a story that I love a lot but not as memorable as book one for me. Tysm to Simon & Schuster for the eARC via Netgalley, more thoughts in my GR review here xoxox The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce {★★★★★}: she’ll be getting her own review at some point but this book broke my heart and put me back together again and I’m still in recovery a little bit. Jessica Joyce is a star and I adore her and her writing and go read it RIGHT THIS SECOND AND WEEP WITH ME,,,,, Yelling thoughts here! Big thank you to Berkley for the eARC via Netgalley ilysm *sobs*…
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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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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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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…
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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! — 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…
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SEPTEMBER RECAP // a month of adult romance, book mail, tv shows, essays & finally listening to evermore!!
Uni kicked me in the butt yet again but hey, at least I read 4 books! Living my bestest life… not. But actually yes. Let’s get into it! — It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover {★★★★☆}: It’s been a hot second since I read this book because I think I finished it the very first day of September. I also didn’t plan on ever reading it, as I was under the impression that this author was problematic, not sure where it came from. Anyways, as you can tell by the rating, I enjoyed this book HOWEVER I want to place a heavy emphasis on how incorrectly marketed it is. The BookTok girlies are shouting about this being a fun NA romance when IT IS NOT!!!! Trigger warnings are not a spoiler and this book is about being in an abusive relationship, so please be aware of this before you go into it. Idk maybe I’ll do a full review for this book because there’s a lot to say and talk about. More thoughts in my GR review here. – Marriage For One by Ella Maise {★★★★☆}: Wowee colour me suprised because I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH WTH?!?!?! If…
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AUGUST RECAP // I read my most anticipated release of the year and sobbed ft. more books, new Lorde album & mental health update
Oops hello long time no talk… So hey, how are we doing? Life has been crazy crazy crazy and I’ve been struggling a lot lately, which I’ll get into later. Anyways, let’s get on with the books! – – Seven Days In June by Tia Williams {★★★★☆}: this book… wow honestly such a wild ride and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE! I’m not quite sure how else to describe this but if you’re going to take any of my recommendations, it’s this one. This book just does SO much and is such a brilliant new romance I could cry. If you’re a fan Beach Read and Get A Life Chloe, Brown then you’ll LOVE this book. I’ve already done a whole blog post review because I’m just that person now (nope really not but stroke my ego a lil bit, won’t you) but please go read this and then come scream at me *wink wink* Big thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending my way! – Kill Joy by Holly Jackson {★★★★★}: yelp don’t even comment on that 5 star, I don’t know who I am either. I honestly have no explanation apart from the fact that this novella was highly…
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JULY RECAP // oops vacation made me a reading machine ft. book mail & a readathon tbr
Hey hey friends and how are you all doing? Unfortuneatly streaks never last when it comes to recaps, as you’ve all probably noticed I’m a tad late to this one. Not as late as quite a few other times though. I can only do so much folks. Anyways, apparently I read A TON last month and I’m also now a superhero. Let’s get into it! – Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey {★★★☆☆}: not going to linger on this one too long because I honestly don’t have all that many thoughts anymore. According to my GR review, I finished this on the very first day of July, so that explains a lot. I had high hopes for this one but it unfortunetaly was just rather average. I didn’t hate it, but expected more. It was also weirdly sexual for a book about only just over 18-year olds. Idk that didn’t sit with me very well. Teens have sex, yes, but I don’t need to read about them sexually thirsting over each other. Read for a fun NA contemporary, I guess. – Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid {★★★★★}: TJR HAS DONE IT AGAIN AND I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Listened to…
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APRIL & MAY RECAP // book mail, reading and essays oh my!
Welp has it been a while, my friends. But hi hello I’m currently using this blog as a form of escape so excuse any unusual activity from me. So as you can see by the title, this is 2 months in 1 as I didn’t get around to a recap last month. Will I do this once a year? Methinks yes. Anyways, let’s dive right into what I’ve been up to these past two months! Kulti by Mariana Zapata {★★★★☆}: it’s the way I went into this thinking I didn’t like age-gap romance for me. But omg it was so great. I think I’ve narrowed down that I love romances between two athletes. I think I’ve said it all in my GR review (also it’s been a while and my memory doesn’t function anymore) so head on over there. But the banter was A+++ and I loved the friendship development. Sal and Rey are literally everything and deserve the world. Need to get my hands on MZ physical copies so I can admire them at random intervals of the day. – Kate In Waiting by Becky Albertalli {★★★★½}: oh gosh did I love this one so much. I participated in…
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FEBRUARY RECAP // the month of tv & movie love aka welcome to my reading slump chaos
Now I could be wrong but I heard, you know through the grapevine, that February sucked universally. This statement may be bold and I’m glad if it didn’t suck for you. But it certainly did for me. You wanna know why? Because I didn’t read a thing. I tried to. I did read things. I just didn’t finish anything… Love that for me. So I have no wrap-up to share with you today. I can share my current read and the books I’d like to read in March. Because I definitely do need to read something this month aghhhh. I was going to say that February was cursed or something else that is as vaguely exciting. But I did read books in February of last year for class. So oh well, it is just me and not the month. Anyways, here’s what I have been reading for basically the entirety of February: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas: I was (and am) so so honoured to have been approved an eARC of this one by the stunning author @thebibliotheque and I have been slowly making progress with it. I’ll tell why it’s been slow in a second. I have…