Welcome to July’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight! I changed the graphic again because I am inordinately indecisive, as you well know.
Here’s the deal: I’ll share the books I’ve obtained, posts of interest from others, giveaways I have happening, and just general random shenanigans. You know I love a shenanigan.
The Books
For Review:
Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson
Scavenger of Souls by Joshua David Bellin
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
Beneath Wandering Stars by Ashlee Cowles
The Smaller Evil by Stephanie Kuehn
Thanks to Harper, Simon & Schuster, Merit Press, and Penguin
e-ARCs (Pictures link to Goodreads)
Via Netgalley. Thanks to St. Martin’s & Random House.
Purchased:
Under Rose Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
Corruption by Jessica Shirvington
The Gathering Dark (Shadow & Bone) by Leigh Bardugo
Bought all three of the books from overseas so… yeah. Also, kind of bummed about the condition of my The Gathering Dark, which means I have to complain, which I loathe.
Via Kindle:
Most of these were on sale/free, except for Fury Rising, which I need to read so, so badly. I legit don’t remember the last time I paid full price for an ebook, but this is the one!
Traded:
Thanks so much!! ♥♥♥
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
Another month of 13, but it’s whatever. I am okay with it. Some of them were quite long (looking at you, The Book Thief) and some just took me a long time to slog through (looking at you, Red Rising).
Also not linking, because time. Google and Goodreads, Google and Goodreads.
The Book Thief & All We Have Left are probably both 5 star reads… but my favorite is Fear the Drowning Deep probably.
Giveaways: Click Here, or on Sidebar
Blogosphere Bulletin
- Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway shares her experience living as an introvert.
- Greg @ Book Haven talks about the strangeness of book titles
- AJ @ Read All the Things! shares why diverse books matter to her in a super honest and thought provoking post!
- Verushka @ Pop.Edit.Lit talks about book blurbs that say absolutely nothing
- Lauren @ Bookmark Lit explains why she is a half-assed book series binger (I feel you, sister)
- Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction dreams in YA and wants to know if you do too!
- Jeann @ Happy Indulgence is co-hosting the Aussie YA Blog Hop, be sure to check it out! I LOVE Aussie YA!
- Nereyda & Nick @ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist share their favorite friends-to-lovers books!
- Jillian @ Jillian’s Books talks Booklr!
- Molly @ Molly’s Book Nook wants to know what success means to you
- Karen @ Kissin’ Blue Karen talks about her relationship with social media in a hilarious post!
- Lola @ Lola’s Reviews wants to know what your thoughts on trigger warnings are
- Tika @ Fangirl Confessions posted the actual best review of 2016 so far (of Zenith, if you care) so go read it!
- Erin @ The Hardcover Lover talks about her thoughts on some of the darker things in the blogosphere
- Lexie & Natalie @ The Honest Bookclub share their favorite underrated books!
- Cynthia @ Bingeing on Books is done apologizing (and you should be too!)
- Aentee @ Read at Midnight created the Pokémon GO Book Tag and Readathon
- Kaitlin @
Reading is My Treasureis now… Kaitlin @ A Mismatched Reader!! - Stephanie @ Chasm of Books shares 7 things she wishes she knew sooner as a blogger
- Cait @ Paper Fury shares 10 things bloggers should not be worrying about
- Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway talks about how book reviews are only one of the many ways to promote books
- Julia @ A Perfection Called Books wants to know when and why you DNF
- Kaja @ Of Dragons and Hearts discusses the pros and cons of super long books
- Becky @ A Fool’s Ingenuity explains what makes her follow certain blogs
- Liza @ Quite the Novel Idea discusses some of the problems with being connected all the time.
- Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books wants to talk about the dreaded sequel that never comes to fruition
- Cait @ Paper Fury tells you how to get started on Bookstagram
- Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books discusses the struggles of talking to a non-reader about books.
- Tonyalee @ Lilybloombooks talks about common misconceptions about book bloggers.
- Liselle @ Lunch Time Librarian discusses the pros and cons of backlist reviews
- Kristen @ Moonlight & Metaphors wants to know if a 5 star rating must equal flawlessness
- Amber @ YA Indulgences turns TWO! (Or maybe her blog does, who can tell? 😉 )
- Jess @ Princessica of Books wants to know which is most important- quality, quantity, or page count
- Cynthia @ Bingeing on Books asks what the term “diverse books” means to you
- Dana @ The Unprinted Protagonist confesses that lack of comments makes her doubt her blogging
- Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway sorts The 100 cast into Hogwarts Houses for #PotterheadJuly and you NEED this in your life!!
- Aly @ Of Wonderland wants to know which Throne of Glass character YOU are with a fun quiz!
- Laura @ Boats Against the Current talks about what makes a good book cover
- Becca & Lisa @ Lost in Literature discuss finding the balance between blogging and other social media platforms
- Bee, Liza, and Rachel @ Quite the Novel Idea have a new feature, all about book quotes!
Random Musings:
Guys, I am not okay that summer is close to being over already. I am just not.
Lena turned 5 in July, I don’t even understand how that is possible. Here, have some pictures of kids!
ARC August Goals!
The lovely Octavia & Shelley @ Read Sleep Repeat are once again hosting ARC August! I was going to try to do one more than last year (which would be 16) but that seemed silly, especially since I don’t need to read 16 ARCs this month (that’s right guys, this over-ARCer is caught up!)- plus, The Beauty of Darkness will be on my porch in 2 days and you best believe I’ll be diving in! So, my goal is…
12 Lovely ARCs!!
I am excited! Let’s do this!
Fancy & New Since Last I Saw You!
I love looking at pretty covers! So here are some new ones that I have fallen in love with since our last update!
Is it weird that I love the rusty old bathtub one? Of course it is, but I do. I also have no idea where I saw that purple one, or what it even is, but whatever. And I know that people have been on the fence about Given to the Sea, but I really like the swooshy “S”, and the water, so it stays. I also didn’t love The Valiant‘s cover until I noticed the spectators in the background, and for some reason, that equated love for me.
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- I’m still unhealthily obsessed with The 100 rewatches, so there’s that. I also have plans that have to do with my special new Tumblr for The 100 (shh it isn’t done yet but if you care… here it is!), and the GIFs and videos and designs that I want to do. Someday, I suppose!
Holly and I finally read the book- and reviewed it, too! - Shattering Stigmas Part TWO starts in TWO. WEEKS. I am so excited, and nervous, and all those good things. Obviously, since half of next month is dedicated to it, I won’t go on about it too much here, but STAY TUNED! I have so many great guest posters, some crap of my own, plus my co-hosts have all kinds of amazing stuff for you- and chances to win junk!
Awesome book haul! Glad to hear you enjoyed Fear The Drowning Deep! 😀 And thanks for sharing our post!
Thank you for including me up there! And for such a lovely list of posts to catch up with!! And, no it’s not weird at all that you like the weird bathtub one — I am dying to know how the title works with the cover and in turn works with the book as a whole. And the Valiant, I feel like she’s a gladiator? With the spectators? The last magician and the cover — definitely one of my favourites!
Ohhh I can’t wait for the Shattering Stigmas event!! SQUEEEE. And also those newly released covers are gorgeous.? I think I have them all added? but I’ll check because I HAVE SUCH COVER LOVE RIGHT NOW.
Also I totally admire you with the ARC challenging!! I read 17 ARCs in July.? So I’m actually kind of doing opposite and hoooopefully going to read some ME books in August. I REALLY REALLY NEED SOME GOOD READS OMG.? I had a horrible reading month in July basically, bleh, but anyway. I won’t complain. I have tons of good books coming soon. 😉
YOUR LITTLE HUMANS ARE SUPER CUTE.
Like a River Glorious is so gorgeous there omg, I hope it’s as good as the first book!! This is making me want to re-read. I HAVE NO TIME FOR THESE THOUGHTS OMG. *flails about trying to devour all the books ever*
Oh all the pretty books!! All We Have Left is one I really need to get and The Book Theif has been on my TBR FOREVER. I think after ARC August I should really get to it. Yay for being pretty caught up on ARCs!! I have been trying so hard to really limit what I request and I should be all caught up after August. Your kids are adorable!! i have a feeling our kids are very close in age. Enjoy your new books and have a great week!
Thanks for giving my blog a shout-out. Your kids are cute, and I hope you enjoy all of your new books. I’m glad you liked The Book Thief. It’s crazy how many times I’ve reread that book. 🙂
OMG that photo of your kids is ADORABLE!!! <3 Also looks like you had a pretty amazing month!! I've joined ARC August again this year as well, and I'm also hoping for 12 books. Since I only read 9 in July, I'm not sure that I'll hit that number… but I'll definitely try my best! Also I'm totally loving on a few of those new covers you shared, so thanks for that… I'll go check them out now for sure! 🙂
Thanks for the mention! 🙂
I’m glad you liked The Book Thief – I read it ages ago (before I started blogging) but it’s an amazing story.
I’m really excited about The Beauty of Darkness, too! So many good books coming out soon.
AH SO MANY GOOD BOOKS!!! *_* I really want to read Under Rose-Tainted Skies and We Are Still Tornadoes – they sound incredible!
I’m also going to be participating in ARC August! Super excited! I have quite a few review copies sitting on my shelf and I’m hoping that this will motivate me to get them all read in time! 😀
And AWW your children are so cute! 🙂
I love the photo! They both look so happy! I am not excited about school being around the literal corner either. I’m not ready at all. And now I am teaching this crazy thing called yearbook and I have *no idea* how to start it. Let’s delay sending all the kids for at least a week. Think that will work? 🙂
We Are still Tornadoes and The Gathering Dark both have nice covers- not familiar with them but they look good. And The 100 on DVD- can you believe I don’t have any of the seasons on DVD? I bought the episodes on Amazon and have them there, but I really need to get em on disc… and Bird Box, I don’t know whenever I see that one I think that looks twisted, I need to read that!
New 100 Tumblr? Off to check that out! And love the link roundup- it’s been an awesome month for discussions. I know what you mean about July- man this month smoked by. Kinda crazy…
So many good looking new books too, I need to take a closer look at some of these. Given to the sea look kickass! And thanks for the mention. 🙂
Ooh you bought Bird Box! I hope you love it. I thought it was so fascinating. I’ll be really curious to see what the author does next. 🙂
I can’t believe it’s August already. Where is the time going?! I do love the fall though.
-Lauren
Oh dear, now I have hours of reading to do based on your links alone. You curate such a great list!
Good luck with tackling down your ARCs! So many gorgeous books. Haha. I hope I could read more in August too <3
Really looking forward to Yesternight and Given To The Sea, plus love the covers. The Book Jumper story sounds fantastic and I am hoping it is a great read. I have the Nil series on my TBR but haven’t read them yet.
I’ve been looking forward to All the Missing Girls! How was Girl in Pieces? I’m going to read it now in August and I can’t wait to start it! I’ll also be reading All We Have Left in a few days and I’m glad to know you loved it. I keep wanting and not wanting Fear the Drowning Deep. I want to be able to sleep at night!
Happy birthday to your little girl!
Thanks so much for sharing my post! 🙂
I can’t quite believe summer is almost over myself. I still keep thinking it’s May or something, not August!
I have Glitter, too!!! I’ve been trying to get my hands on GIP forever, but to no avail. Sigh sigh. Whaaaaa, your trade haul. You totally have to lmk how This Is Our Story (I’ve heard varying things!) & Amy Chelsea are!! Also looking forward to your thoughts on Museum of Heartbreak!!
Awe, your babies are so so adorbs. Happy birthday to your little girl. She looks like you!! <3
Your new graphic reminds me of Hawaii, but in the best way. Literally. It's so pretty, I love it. hahah.
Yessss @ covers! I'm crazy about the Inconconcievable Life of Quinn & The Heartbeats of Wing Jones (I haven't added the latter to my TBR yet because it reminds me too much of Saint Anything, but I'm thinking about it!)
The summer ending is all around terrible 🙁 But there’s still a month left! It’s too bad that Red Rising was tough for you to get through. I’ve yet to read it myself, it keeps getting pushed on the backburning. Good luck with your reading list and I’m anticipating part 2 of Shattering Stigmas. Also, thank you for sharing one of my posts!
Oh that cover for Glitter is gorgeous! I need to request that one. I do have Girl in Pieces and We Are Still Tornadoes too. We’ll see how good those are. I am so glad you bought Bird Box. I loved it! And I am guessing that you weren’t enamored with Red Rising. I kind of had to slog through that one myself and I don’t plan on reading the rest of the series.
YAY I’m so glad to see that Corruption has arrived! That book was sooooo epic and intense and the Maggie x Quentin feels that I still have are off the charts. Definitely one of my favourite Aussie YA series.
I HAVE to get my hands on a physical ARC of Scythe. I have the eARC, but it’s just not the same!!
It’s (not) funny that Fury Rising was the book that most caught my eye in the group and then I read that it’s the one that wasn’t free. I looked it up and it isn’t the first book, so I will have to check out the first one first anyway.
Sunday Summary #13
OMG KIDS. LENA <3 SAMMY <3 I want to squish them both.
Yay books.
BUT KIDS! That photo is so cute. <3 <3 Tell Lena I said hi.
So many books and links! I LOVED All the Missing Girls. For ARCs, can’t wait to read The Graces and Phantom Limbs!
My July Recap!
You sound like you’ve had a crazy busy July! I hope August goes just as well :). Thanks for linking to so many interesting blog posts! It’s a great way to connect with other bloggers 🙂
You did awesome for books! A couple of those I’d like to read. Happy August!