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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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REQUIRED READING FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED FRESHMAN BY KRISTEN R. LEE // blog tour book review: a stellar debut tackling racism on elite college campuses ft. a giveaway
Hi hello friends! And welcome to the last stop on the Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman blog tour. Very honoured to end off this tour! I’m also particularly excited about this one as I’m a college student, so this appealed by just the title. Anyways, I’ll stop blabbering and let’s get into the review <3<3 Big thanks to Turn The Pages Tours for having me, I’m so happy to be here! Title: Required Reading for the Disenfranchised FreshmanAuthor: Kristen R. LeePage count: 336Publisher: Crown Books for Young ReadersDate published: 1 February 2022Genre: New adult contemporary fiction ✎ Synopsis: A striking debut novel about racism on elite college campuses. Fans of Dear White People will embrace this activist-centered contemporary novel about a college freshman grappling with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist history–that may not be as distant as it seems. Savannah Howard sacrificed her high school social life to make sure she got into a top college. Her sites were set on an HBCU, but when she is accepted to the ivy-covered walls of Wooddale University on a full ride, how can she say no? Wooddale is far from the perfectly manicured community it…
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2021 READING AND BLOGGING RECAP // last year in review ft. 2022 tbr, reading challenges, pie charts & new years goals
Hi hello to my first post of the year! I didn’t realise it was the first until now and in general, it’s very late. I tried to get this recap post up a lot earlier, but I’m going to cut myself some slack because last year I highlighted how I once posted this in April so… I think I deserve a pat on the back, eh? Anyways, I’m here semi on time and perhaps less enthusiastic than usual. But I’m a stats freak now and at least I’m getting out some content, right? I hope you’re okay with Ruby being slightly off-beat today. 2021 absolutely sucked and I hated it and am glad its over, but hey, the reading was good! Mostly keeping this post the same as last time, though adding a couple of sections to it. I didn’t do a mid-year check-in because,,, life. Since I didn’t get the chance to build any anticipation, here’s your chance to take your guesses on whether or not there will be a high amount of ebooks and romance in this post *hides* But anyways, let’s dive right in! READING STATS AND OVERVIEW You know, I’m actually really chuffed with reading overall…
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MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2021 // a whopping bizarre top 8 ft. some honourable mentions
Life is currently a mess and I really wanted to get a lot more end of year posts out this month, but alas, 2021 will just have to close on the messy path it was already on. I have no idea what I’m writing but we’re rolling with it *nervous laughter* Apologies as I did have a fun idea for a Christmas recommendations list, but I just had no motivation to get it done. You’ll have to wait until next year folks. As usual, lowkey doing this post is stressful because I leave it till the very last day of the year JUST IN CASE a new favourite needs to squeeze on here. There hasn’t been one but it’s okay, at least I’m wrapping up all the books. Related posts: Top Books of 2020 2021 Mid Year Freak Out Tag Today I have 15 books in total to talk about, 7 are honourable mentions and 8 are the top favourites. I’m chuffed with this selection, though I’ll try and keep this post short and sweet so we can zoom through them. Very excited to talk about them, so let’s get into it! HONOURABLE MENTIONS: in no particular order (maybe least…
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MOST ANTICIPATED 2022 BOOK RELEASES // willing to sell my soul for at least 10 of these, not exaggerating aka elevating your tbr by approx 40 more books
In the innocent words of 2020 Ruby aka “manifesting that 2021 will be a better year”, I shall not be making the same mistake,,, Okay that was a tad dramatic and I’m sorry I had to take you down that dark, forsaken path, but let’s be honest: 2021 has S-U-C-K-E-D. But at least there are some good books coming out? Not as many as I thought but definitely some I’d be willing to give my future firstborn to. Let’s get into it! Also I say this every year but a sneaky few always manage to get on the list. Anyways, I have tried to keep this list fairly short and only add books I’m genuinely interested in. I’ve also cut down on the amount of sequels and books by debut authors that have a sophomore book coming out purely because I have far too many other books to get to. I’ve found there’s absolutely no fun in adding books to your anticipated releases list only to find a year later you still haven’t read them and I hate it so shall be attempting to stop that habit. Enough with the rambling, let’s jump into ’em <3<3<3 JANUARY — When You…
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YOU’LL BE THE DEATH OF ME BY KAREN M. MCMANUS // blog tour book review: I devoured this YA mystery ft. fun premise and loveable characters
Hi hello lovely friends! And welcome to my (one day late IM SO SORRY) You’ll Be The Death of Me tour stop which I’m just so so so excited to be part of. This year has been crazy lately but this book was exactly what I needed and I devoured it. Big thanks to The Write Reads for having me on this tour, I’m so happy to be here! Title: You’ll Be The Death of MeAuthor: Karen M. McManusPage count: 326Date published: 2 December 2021Genre: Young Adult mystery thriller ♢ Synopsis: From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand new addictive thriller. Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be close – best friends back in middle school. Now all they have in common is a bad day. So for old time’s sake they skip school together – one last time. But when the trio spot Brian ‘Boney’ Mahoney ditching class too, they follow him – right into a murder scene. They all have a connection to the victim. And they’re ALL hiding something. When their day of freedom turns deadly, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out . . . It’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with…
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NOVEMBER RECAP // I turned 20, listened to red tv, watched 2 new fave movies & read 4 books
Manifesting that Ruby makes time for posts other than recaps and miscellaneous reviews. Honestly slapping myself across the face for it. It’s terrible. I have time but I don’t have it in me to do any of the 100 end of year posts I am usually doing this time of the year,,, Praying that a productivity wave hits me at some point in the near future. Big yikes. I’ll stop talking now though so we can get on with what happened in November. — Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz {★★★★☆}: Welp it’s been a second since I read this one as I finished it on the very first day of last month. But it’d been on my tbr for a while and I’m so glad I finally got around to it. As expected, this book was an absolute delight and brilliant YA contemporary romance. I AM OVERWHELMED WITH CUTENESS THIS BOOK IS ADORABLE *INSERT KEYBOARD SMASH* Can you tell I thought this was cute? Because I really did. This book deals heavily with chronic illness and teens dealing with chronic illness. Our main character has rheumatoid arthritis and love interest has Gaucher disease. And they meet and fall…
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OUR VIOLENT ENDS BY CHLOE GONG // book talk: this book broke me a thousand times over and slowly put me back together rip me
The day is here and you are not ready. Go grab your tissues BECAUSE I SOBBED MY EYES OUT SO HARD ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY. Will I be sharing those pictures? Keep reading and we’ll see. If you are new to this blog, then you wouldn’t know that *clears throat* I cannot stop raving about my favourite book of 2020 aka These Violent Delights by my idol Chloe Gong. Who is a literary genius and I want to be her. Nobody is doing it like her honestly!!! In case you missed them, I’ve interviewed her and I have a review of book one up <3<3<3 Click the images Title: Our Violent EndsSeries: These Violent Delights book #2Author: Chloe GongPage count: 400Date published: 16 November 2021Genre: Young Adult historical urban fantasy 🥀🔪 Synopsis: The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution. After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to…
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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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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…
