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MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK RELEASES OF 2020 // hello new decade ft. pretty covers & queer books
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! This post could’ve gone up earlier if I had planned it properly. But I’ve been busy so only managed to get it up in 2020. Oh well. Next year is such a weird year for book releases oh my. There are only really a ton of debuts, which is cool. But I also don’t know what to expect of them. So this could either be the best or worst year for new books? And I can’t find ANY December releases to put on here. Welp. Go publishing?? Enough rambling though, let us just get on with it. JANUARY Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen (7 January 2020): this cover is just WOW. And I honestly can’t gather much from the synopsis apart from travelling and underground clubs?? Either way, it is very intriguing. And definitely one I’d like to read asap. One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus (7 January 2020): tbh I don’t have high hopes for this one. But I have at least fairly enjoyed this author’s previous books so I hope this one is good. But we’re always nervous when sequels come out to what is supposedly standalone?? We’ll see how this…
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MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2019 // top 10 reads ft. some honourable mentions
Hi hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE. Yes, I do leave this to the final day of the year because you never know. I’ve seen one too many read a favourite of the year after they do this post and I don’t plan on making that mistake. I sound way too stern than I should be considering the post whoops. Anyways, I only say that since I did, in fact, read a favourite in the final week of the year. See, good planning. Anyways, I know we all say this but literally where did the year go?? Honestly, I had it in my hands and it just slipped through my fingers. It’s 2020 tomorrow?? Like what??* I’m going to uni next year like WHAT. It’s all a lot. Trying to keep myself together as we enter a new decade. *If you’re wondering where my anticipated release list is, well it’s coming, I just like to live on the edge okay. That meaning I’m terribly late and didn’t do much planning. It’ll be posted in a few days Anyways, without further ado let us just commence with the list. Let’s please pretend that I don’t talk about most of these all…
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THE TRIALS OF MORRIGAN CROW BY JESSICA TOWNSEND // spoiler-free book review: a whimsical story and lovely characters
I FINALLY READ THIS BOOK!! This book has been sitting on my shelf for ages and I just never read it? As goes for most of my books but let’s not talk about that. Anyways, here I am, ready to talk about this delight. let’s just get into it. Title: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Series: Nevermoor book #1 Author: Jessica Townsend Page count: 374 Date published: 31 October 2017 Genre: Middle-grade urban fantasy ✬ Synopsis: Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor. It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of…
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FIND ME BY ANDRÉ ACIMAN // spoiler-free book review: was a sequel necessary? ft. fave ships
And welcome to another episode of Ruby trying to keep up to date with book reviews and post them on time. Tis a fun time. Go me? Anywayssss… I FINALLY read Call Me By Your Name is this year, after ADORING the film and watching and crying over it 508287422 times. We already know I make bad choices. It’s fine. I’m fine. Moving on, let’s just get into this review!! Title: Find Me Series: Call Me By Your Name book #2 Author: André Aciman Page count: 260 Date published: 29 October 2019 Genre: Adult fiction ❀ Synopsis: In Find Me, Aciman shows us Elio’s father, Samuel, on a trip from Florence to Rome to visit Elio, who has become a gifted classical pianist. A chance encounter on the train with a beautiful young woman upends Sami’s plans and changes his life forever. Elio soon moves to Paris, where he, too, has a consequential affair, while Oliver, now a New England college professor with a family, suddenly finds himself contemplating a return trip across the Atlantic. ❀ STAR RATING (3.5 out of 5 stars): ❀ Huge thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending an early finished copy of this book my way!…
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TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BOOK TAG // yet another tag but there’s books ft. pretty fanart & recent reads
Here is my formal apology for doing like 5000 book tags recently. I’m just uncreative atm. But also MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE (to those who celebrate). Jk. ACTUALLY, I wanted to do at least ONE Christmas-y post because it’s my favourite season/holiday and since I don’t have like ANY book recs, I was just FORCED to do this one #sorrynotsorry I’m a boring, repetitive potato. This is not new information okay. Also, I first saw Cait do this tag so she’s the one to thank over here for always being the best!! It was originally created by Ashley though. Aka, yes I was not tagged, as per usual. Anyways, enough blabbering Ruby, let us just proceed with the questions. [Peep some festive trees, we only do this once a year HA] ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE The partridge stood alone in the pear tree. What is your favourite stand-alone? Eliza & Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia I do try not to be basic and repetitive but I CAN’T HELP IT. I couldn’t choose any other book. I apologise because I know I literally just talked about it in…
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A LONG OVERDUE BOOK HAUL // part 2 (march to october): ft. books i’ve bought, gifts & bargain books warehouse sale
Yeah so I decided this split this ridiculously long book haul into two parts because it was turning out to be a total disaster. If you missed part one you can click RIGHT HERE to read that first. That one was all about the books I received from publishers. In previous hauls, the books were just all over the place but this time I’ve divided this into sections to make it a bit easier a) for me to put together and b) so it’s not a hot mess ha. I’m trying people. Anyways, without further ado, let us just get into the books! If you have never heard of this and are new to my blog, then let me explain. I live in South Africa and Bargain Books (a local book store) hosts this massive sale in Cape Town and it’s like the best. I get invited to the early access sale every once and a while to take a peek at what’s available. And since February there have been three that I’ve been to. Head over to my Instagram for all the photos because there are a lot! ♥ March Movie Geek: A Geek’s Guide to the Movieverse by…
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A LONG OVERDUE BOOK HAUL // part 1 (march to october) ft. book mail from publishers
I have had this post sitting in drafts for aeons at this point. I think my last book haul was back in like February?? It is now December so you get my situation. Welp, I guess better late than never. Anyways, I think I’m going to start incorporating hauls into my recaps, it all depends. This may be my last haul but eh I change my mind all the time. It got a bit late and I didn’t manage to post this on time so I actually mentioned all the books I got in November in the recap already hehe. Also, I’m super lazy BUT I will sprinkle in some photos of these books that I posted on Instagram, which if you don’t follow me there, you should. I also do haul ALL books over on my stories so feel free to stalk me. In totally un-creepy way obviously *wink wink* Without further ado, let us just get into this. Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII by Sally Deng: This is actually a sort of children’s book that they gifted me when I was inquiring about the book below this one, and I was just like, you know, …
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THE DARKEST LEGACY BY ALEXANDRA BRACKEN // book talk: superpowers and even more screaming!!
And look at how finally read this book after A WHOLE YEAR… Huh. Why did it take me so long to read one of my most anticipated releases, you ask? Don’t ask me. Anyways, onto the review. Let’s not call me out anymore. Title: The Darkest Legacy Series: The Darkest Minds book #4 Author: Alexandra Bracken Page count: 582 Date published: 31 July 2018 Genre: Young Adult urban fantasy / dystopian ⟡ Synopsis: Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume “Zu” Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive. Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she…
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DAISY JONES & THE SIX BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID // spoiler-free book review: why is this band not real?
You won’t be surprised that I, in fact, did not read this book recently. But back in July. Welp. I’ve become a broken record: better late than never? But I NEEDED to talk about how SPECTACULAR this book was!! I mean HOW COULD WE NOT? *fumbles on words* Title: Daisy Jones & The Six Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid Page count: 351 Date published: 5 March 2019 Genre: Adult historical fiction ♫ Synopsis: For a while, Daisy Jones & The Six were everywhere. Their albums were on every turntable, they sold out arenas from coast to coast, their sound defined an era. And then, on 12 July 1979, they split. Nobody ever knew why. Until now. They were lovers and friends and brothers and rivals. They couldn’t believe their luck until it ran out. This is their story of the early days and the wild nights, but everyone remembers the truth differently. The only thing they all know for sure is that from the moment Daisy Jones walked barefoot onstage at the Whisky, their lives were irrevocably changed. Making music is never just about the music. And sometimes it can be hard to tell where the sound stops and the feelings…
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NOVEMBER RECAP // i turned 18, new anticipated releases, audiobooks, blog redesign & finishing high school
For a change, this post is actually going up on time? I don’t know how am I either tbh. I didn’t read many books in November, which I’ll get into later. But I did get some awesome books. I mentioned that I’m going to start incorporating book mail into my recaps. I, unfortunately, haven’t managed to get my “last” book haul up yet. It’s taking a lot of work. So it’ll be coming soon after this post. But it is coming (ICYMI it’s just a very late haul of books from March to end of October) But um yeah there isn’t much else to say in this into so let us just chat about what happened in November. Geekerella by Ashley Poston {★★★½☆}: this was a reread for me because I thought I might like it even more (ignore my 2017-self’s 4-star review who couldn’t rate back then). I landed up flying through this one on a free dat and I had such a fun time. The only word I can use to describe this book is cute and that I liked it. It wasn’t perfect, I didn’t buy the actual story a lot of the time. I loved the…
