Welcome to September’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight! I was worried that the graphic may not fit once fall arrived and… well, I think I was right. Also, too lazy to change it right now, maybe next month? Super.
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:
Disruption by Jessica Shirvington
Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage
The Book Jumper by Mechthild Glaser
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
HUGE thanks to Harper, Abrams, and Macmillan!!
Purchased:
Pretty books are pretty.
Traded:
Thanks so much for the trades, people I traded with!! ♥♥♥ I also forgot one, but I will add it in next month!
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
I read 14 books, including the hugeness that is Queen of Shadows, so I’d consider it a win! But alas, even the best of the bunch were only about 4-4.5 stars, so it was kind of a “meh” month in general.
Not linking because time. This is why Goodreads and Google are your friends.
Giveaways: Click Here, or on Sidebar
Blogosphere Bulletin
Here are some of the loveliest/most entertaining/super helpful/just plain interesting posts I found this month!
- Lauren @ Bookmark Lit talks about the blogging ebb and flow (which I know I relate to SO much!)
- Terri @ Second Run Reviews tells us how (and why!) she avoids Netgalley
- Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog shares covers she loves of books she’ll never read!
- Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway asks how many chances you give authors’ books before giving up
- Pamela @ A Writer’s Tale shares some steps to getting organized with blogging and school
- Cait @ Paper Fury shares how to successfully take a blogging hiatus if that sort of thing is hard for you (OH how it is!)
- Lisa @ Lost in Literature tells us her favorite types of guys in bookish romances
- Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction discusses the art of the tangent, and wants to know if you go off on them too!
- Jeann @ Happy Indulgence talks about diversity that isn’t actually diverse in this thought provoking post
- Molly @ Molly’s Book Nook shares a few hacks that make blogging easier! (This post is SO helpful!)
- Kaja @ Of Dragons and Hearts talks about friends- and wants to know how we make them!
- Lola @ Lola’s Reviews talks SPAM– and wants to know how you deal with yours!
- Emma @ Miss Print shares her amazing display for Banned Books Week!
- Eva @ All Books Considered asks us if certain authors are sacrosanct
- Cynthia @ Bingeing on Books wants to know at what point you decide to DNF a book.
- Geraldine @ Corralling Books discusses the various blogging platforms and wants to know which you use
- Sue @ Crushing Cinders asks if sometimes, adults are threatened by YA books
- Hannah @ Hannah Plus Books talks spoilers- the good, the bad, and the ugly!
- Puput @ Sparkling Letters wants to know if you binge books, or savor them
- Jess @ Reading is My Neverland has some thoughts on cliffhangers!
- Becky @ A Fool’s Ingenuity has decided to just say no to feeling guilty!
- Liza @ Quite the Novel Idea discusses fandom and social media
- Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books tells us why she is super picky about romances in books.
- Tonyalee @ Lilybloombooks shares her ongoing struggle with consistency
- Liselle @ Lunch Time Librarian tells us all about Litsy (and helps us decide if we need it in our lives!)
- Kristen @ Moonlight & Metaphors talks about why she doesn’t DNF books
- Wendy @ Falconer’s Library discusses #ownvoices and options for authors and readers
- Laura @ Boats Against the Current shares ways to tell you’re a book blogger.
Random Musings:
I don’t like fall, guys. Sorry to all you pumpkin spice, warm sweater, leaves falling fans out there but… it depresses me. Halloween is kind of fun, though I wish it involved me investing in a bookish costume (and liquor, let’s be real).
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!
Thoughts? Freedom Swimmer isn’t really new, but it is new to me, thanks to Jeann’s review! And The Pearl Thief says “not final”, but I really want it to be because it is all the prettiness. The best part is, I also want to read all of these books- some of them a lot!!
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- I turn THREE in a few days! Fine, the blog does. I turn… well, we’ll deal with that next month 😉
- For a minute, I thought October would be slow. But it isn’t! I already have a bunch of stuff lined up, plus blogoversary fun, and who knows what else (because that is how I roll, as you know).
- Have you been watching any new fall shows? Please share, I am desperate.
- NaNo will be starting before the October recap goes live. So I want to share now that if I decide to do it (and I probably will), I will likely be slowing things down around here for the month. Not a hiatus per se, just a “I need to not stress about the blog quite as much” situation.
I’m only semi-enjoying spring because ALLERGIES. gahhhhh. 😭 <– represents my streaming FACE because apparently I am allergic to life. Ahem. 😂 Nahh, it hasn't been that bad! SPRING IS GREAT. 😉
And yay for so many pretty books! OMG CROOKED KINGDOM IS SO TALL!! And beautiful. <3 I love that book so much my entire face is melting off with just how much screeching I've done over it. In fact, once I finish here I'm off to go tidy up my review for posting on Monday BECAUSE IT'S JUST 9000% FLAILING BUT ANYWAY WHATEVER. GOOD BOOK IS GOOD. And I also have Nevernight and I can't wait to read it! Eeeep!
Also I'm proud of you! Taking a bit of a slower time with the blog for NaNo!! 😉 I will be hiatusing again, because I've just come to accept that me + multitasking = a doomed volcano of destruction. I SHALL NOT EVEN BOTHER ATTEMPTING IT. *flips hair* 😂 Do we get to hear about what you're writing?! *puppy dog eyes*
Aww allergies are no fun! I get them too, terribly, especially in the spring and fall but also all the time because I am allergic to life I think. Why does nature hate us? I NEED to read Crooked Kingdom- I did not read your review yet because I want to go in blind, but I want to read it and the book, and then also, I had a nightmare last night that the book was really stupid- which is obviously ridiculous because it is LEIGH for goodness sake! I also must read Nevernight. Too many books, too little time.
I feel like if I had FULL days, I would do what you do- it is probably the smartest, and I work similarly, I like to get things DONE. But, I only have short bursts of time, so it doesn’t make sense for me to do a hiatus. I think maybe next year when the kids are in school more (full time for Lena, yikes!) I WILL do a hiatus and just motor through!
And YES! Okay- fun fact- I have a writing blog! It is called “It Writes at Midnight” and I have posted NOTHING to it. BUt I WILL! I promise! It is a goal of mine. But just because you asked so nicely, I want to try to write the book that I REALLY want to write this year- because I feel like it will be fun, but gosh, I am having SO many plot troubles. It’s like… I guess kind of dystopian, since I hope that it will come back around 😂 But I also don’t want it to be “typical”. This is HARD, Cait!
I’m sorry you don’t like fall, but hey, you got summer and I hate summer so there. (I’m not sure what my argument here is, but it’s something?? ANYWAY.) WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOUR BLOG IS TURNING THREE. I could have sworn it literally just turned two like two weeks ago??? What is happening? Am I stuck in some sort of time vortex? CONGRATS ON YOUR TIME TRAVELLING ABILITIES, I SUPPOSE. Ugh, don’t remind me of NaNo. I really want to participate (not to write a book or go for the actual 50k, but I want to get some writing done because it’s always fun and easier with a strong community around it), but my postgrad course is starting this week and everyone keeps telling me HOW MUCH WORK OMG it will be, and I wanna focus on that so IDK. We’ll see, I guess? There should be some local NaNo events and stuff since I’m in England now too, so that would make it even better. I AM CONFLICTED. I’ll definitely cheer you on though! 😀 Enjoy your books. 🙂
BWHAHAH Vlora, you kill me. I think your point is that you hate weather? Yes, that is it! And I think you have been very busy since last year and had life decisions to make and such. If it helps though, it went by really fast for me too. I am curious about the local NaNo events too- I want to go but then also, I have anxiety so… who knows. I am going to try! And thank you, my dear! ♥
HAH Spring. What a joke. Spring has clearly had a fight with Australia and decided that storms and excessive rain are much more fun. Excuse me whilst I sulk.
I’m hoping to get more reading done in October because I 100% fell into a slump last month which is just awful. So I shall be snuggly up with my Maas books and hoping to read all the books! One day I will read as many books as you – I’d really like to be able to crack over 10 a month, that’d be glorious. I’m really jealous that you have a copy of Iron Cast! I think it sounds amazing and I really want to grab a copy (but I honestly just have too much else to read).
Aww I am sorry! Get it together, Australia! And I am sorry about your slump, too 🙁 I am in a bit of one myself- I am reading still, but I haven’t had anything like, really great in a while, so that is sad. Iron Cast was quite good! It’s out soon, I think? Maybe it is out already by this point… but either way, worth it! I feel you on the “too much to read”, it is a struggle! Hope your slump has reached its end!
Thanks or all the lovely links! Off to check them out now. And ooh – love how many books you got to.
Aw thanks! I am so glad you enjoyed the links, too! 😀
I’m watching The Good Place and Speechless. C
Oooh I haven’t seen either, I will have to check them out, thanks!
Wow, what a month for books! I didn’t realize Crooked Kingdom was out!! I’ll probably have to wait until Christmas. I hope it’s good!
I want a bookish cost too! There should be a thing such as internet trick or treat!
I’ve seen almost all of the new shows. Not very many great ones this year. Bull is about the best, because of a good main character. What about you, what’s your favorite new show?
I hope it is good too- I have heard great things, so fingers crossed! I hope you do get it for Christmas too- it is really pretty with the red pages too! And YES there should be an internet trick or treat! That’d be fun, but only if we got actual chocolate 😉
I have only watched 2 new shows- This is Us and Timeless. This Is Us is AWESOME. Timeless was… well, it was intriguing enough, but also the worldbuilding is kind of sketch. I will check out Bull though, thanks!
There are so many discussion posts that I need to read. Your list reminded me that I slacked a lot on reading blogs last month. I hope you enjoy your new books!
Aw thanks so much! And I hope you enjoy the posts! 😀
Happy blogoversary, Shannon. Thanks for sharing my post.
Have a great week and month!
Aw thanks so much!! ♥♥
I can get what people don’t like fall – but I love it!! 🙂 There are so many pretty covers you are showing off. Googling for DAYS.
Thanks for linking to my post – have a great weekend/week!
I am glad you love it- I love PARTS of it, but the overall doom of impending winter makes me sad 😉 And you’re quite welcome! I hope you’ve had a great week too, thanks!
I do love fall, but I can see why it would be a bit depressing too. I tend to get a bit depressed around Thanksgiving – I don’t like the holiday. I LOVE Halloween though so hopefully October will be a great month.
Yay for your blog turning 3 soon. That’s so awesome!
-Lauren
Aw I am sorry about Thanksgiving 🙁 I have found it to be a more depressing one too- I think it seems like it is always the first holiday after a loss of a family member for us, and that is never great. I hope you have an AMAZING Halloween and October though! And thank you SO much!! ♥
Random shenanigans are always good, so thanks for sharing! Fourteen books read is impressive! I’m on track for my yearly reading goal, but need to catch up with my reviews. Not a big fan of Fall in general, although the leaves are pretty. Fall depresses me because that means Winter is coming and I hate the cold. On the bright side, candy goes on sale November 1st!
Aw thanks! And I feel you, I am always playing catch up with reviews it seems 😉 Good luck on reaching your goal too, I am sure you’ll do it! And I agree, the winter coming thing is the worst part! GAH, I do NOT want to eat candy, but now you have made me want to 😉 Well, okay, I DO want to eat it but shouldn’t, hahhahaha!
Oooh, I love all the links. Sounds like a much more fun way to spend the rest of this afternoon than grading…
Aww thanks! And yes, I agree- give them all a B+ and read some blogs 😉
*drools* gosh your list of books that you have purchased is absolutely GORGEOUS! I absolutely loved Disruption, the futuristic tech in there was amazing and I loved the banter. Great work on knocking over QoS, DID YOU LOVE IT? Thank you for linking to my post lovely! going to check out some of these links <3 Freedom Swimmer!! It's SO good, seriously. I'm excited that it's on your list!
I totally agree about Disruption, the banter was incredible! I loved the tech stuff too, which I usually don’t- but it was so well done! I need to get Freedom Swimmer, it is on my wishlist! And as for QoS… I didn’t. I didn’t hate it, but I felt so apathetic! I am going to do some “books I am never reviewing” soon, and I will share 😀
FREEDOM SWIMMER. I’m planning to get that off The Book Depository now because China. And I think my mom would really like it, she did work in the farms because of said cultural revolution after all (She talks about it ALL THE TIME). Also, Max may or may not be on your shelf after I leave your house. *cough*
TV SHOWS. So I am not the expert at them, but I recently watched Mr. Robot and absolutely loved it. Though I don’t think it is your kind of show. And right now, I am watching a ton of The Office, and I have no regrets haha. I just want Pam and Jim to get together NOW.
Baby in YOUR uterus, don’t be getting any ideas for mine. You can have one baby in each uterus! TWINS- you can probably even have different fathers if you work hard at it. Just saying. Definitely let me know how Freedom Swimmer is! I need it in my life, I just need to decide how urgently 😉 MAX HAD BETTER BE HERE. You can read it though- it’s just that I kind of have to also? I mean, you could borrow it even, I just need it back because again, I haven’t read it bwhahah.
I feel like I probably WOULD like The Office if I gave it a chance. Although, I did watch a few episodes once and felt a little apathetic so… Idk.
I adore the new ‘Lara Jean’ cover. As is the case with the first two, it’s stunning!
Looks like you collected some amazing books. That’s always a plus. I’m curious about “The Crown’s Game,” just ordered Sarah J. Maas’ latest (even though I’ve yet to read her series), and need to finish the “Snow Like Ashes” series too.
Happy reading, Shannon. 🙂
I agree, I love the new cover- and I think it is very indicative of how much she’s grown up. I bet the spine will be purple- at least, I am hoping!
I really liked The Crown’s Game! And I always pre-order the Throne of Glass books even though I don’t even like them that much, which is kind of dumb bwhahah. Ooops?
There are so many things I want to say about this post (all good), but I’m only going to concentrate on the fall shows. I don’t really want to write you a book’s worth of comments right now. 🙂
This weekend I binge watched Blindspot and now I’m ready to catch up on season 2. I’m completely obsessed with Chicago Med (really it’s all of the Chicago shows, but only listing one makes me seem less TV obsessed). So far I’m a fan of Bull, but I adore Michael Weatherly so that might have something to do with it. I guess the question would really be which shows did you end up obsessed with??? That would help narrow it all down.
Aw thanks! Chicago Med sounds kind of good, almost like ER? Which, incidentally was in Chicago too, hmm. I have heard several good things about Bull, I may have to try that one! And my biggest TV obsession is The 100, by far. But I have started watching This Is Us which I love so far, and Timeless which is… okay I guess, but I am not convinced yet. And then I watch New Girl, and Jane the Virgin which might be back now, Idk! I need The 100 to be back basically 😂
I am reading Ignite Me. I’m not liking it so far. Yes, I have been watching alot of fall shows.
Oh no, I am so sorry! It is one of my favorites, so that’s sad. I hope it gets better for you!
Ignite Me did get better. I finished reading it over the weekend. I did enjoy it. I thought they were all dead that’s why I didn’t like it.
YAY October, my favorite month! And thank you for linking to my discussion post! Sounds like another great month for you re: posts and reads! I still can’t believe Jenny Han is writing a third Lara Jean book! I didn’t love book 2 and I’m not sure about book 3 but I love those covers!
My September Recap!
I didn’t love book 2 as much as the first but… if it gives me more Kitty, sign me up 😉 And of course, my dear, you are quite welcome! ♥
I have Flawed but never read it. At this point I’m not sure if I ever will so I’ll have to pass up on Perfect. I’m so excited for Ever the Hunted!! I hope it’s great! I want CK so badly but doubt I’ll be buying it any time soon 🙁 I’m hoping someone lends it to me because I don’t think I can wait until I can purchase it. OMG 3 years! That’s amazing! You started a year before me 🙂 I hope this new year brings you lots of fun stuff for the blog 😀
Flawed… so I almost DNFed it because it started out and was REALLY stupid. Like, I hated it. And then… I ended up liking it! Like, one star for the first 30%, but 4 stars after that hahha. So yeah. I want to read CK soon too, but TIME, ugh. And thank you SO much, that is so sweet of you!! ♥
This look like a great reading month for you! Those books you purchased though… SO GREAT! And I envy you because my copy of Crooked Kingdom hasn’t arrived yet. International shipping always takes too long 🙁 and I’m so excited for Nevernight! <3 anyway, those are some great roundup posts and I'm so happy that you include my post on the list! Thank you so much and have a great October! 😀
Aw thanks! I am sorry that the international shipping takes so long! I know when I ordered Nevernight it took like, a good 3 weeks from The Book Depository, so I can imagine that is how it always is for you 🙁 And I hope you have a great October too!!
The spine of The Iron Cast is pretty creepy. I’ve not seen that one before. Empire of Storms and Crooked Kingdom are both every where I turn. Everywhere. And, woe is me, I’m left out before I’ve read neither series. Well, I read Throne of Glass about 2 years ago but I never continued with the series. Maybe one day. And I’ve yet to read the Grisha trilogy soooo… yeah. Again, one day. So sweet that you traded for The Crown’s Game! Love it! I might have to get me a physical copy, too. I downloaded the audio version from my library’s Overdrive app but I definitely want the book.
Oooh you are right about the spine, I didn’t take a good look at it before! The book was quite good, too! I just finished Queen of Shadows, and tbh, I am not in a huge hurry to read EoS… I was a little bored? I do want to read CK soon, but I probably won’t hahah. I definitely loved the Grisha series, so you should definitely try to read it! And I loved The Crown’s Game too, and really wanted a finished copy, so that made me happy 😀
It looks like you got some great new books in September. I have heard great things about Ignite Me, but haven’t read it yet. The cover looks interesting for Beautiful Broken Girls, but I am not sure about that one can’t wait to see your review. Happy Reading!
Aw thanks! Hopefully I will be reading Beautiful Broken Girls soooon and will be able to let you know! And I did LOVE Ignite Me- my favorite of the series!- so I hope you do too!
Thanks for the mention! I hope you enjoy all your new lovelies and happy upcoming anniversary 🙂
Aw thank you so much!! 😀
I’m not a fan of October and November because of the f’ing heat. The fall months hottest months are nowadays the fall months. An other reason is school season. Okay this reason is a love-hate one. Honestly i’m excited and scared to write my bachelor history thesis. I have major in history and a minor in heritage and tourism. I’m writing on the sephardic and ashkenazic jewish gravestones. EEKs and AAhs.
Happy blog birthday in advance shannon . Those are lovely new covers. Freedom swimmer is my favorite
Aww I am sorry! It is getting pretty cool here now, which is SAD hahah- though I don’t love too much heat, so I feel you! And I think you will do AWESOME with your thesis! I read about it on your blog too, and it sounds AMAZING. So creative, and I think you will do a wonderful job. I understand the nervousness, but you’ll be great!!
Oh you with your lovely comment about my display.
I am watching and liking Bull, Designated Survivor, Secrets & Lies . . . and not much else. It’s slim pickings this season! I hope Scorpion steps it up this season at least.
Happy early blog birthday!
I feel like Bull is getting a lot of love! I will have to check it out! And I really hope that time just moves faster and The 100 comes back, let’s be honest 😉 And thank youuuu!
I literally read this post the other day, but I forgot to cmment because I’ve been so busy with class and college etc. AHH UNFAIR. DONT KEEP ME FROM MY YA, FRENCH.. Anyway…
I can’t arcs of Perfect already exist! Cecelia writes fast lolz. No lie, I’m so excited for your review of that because I DNFed Flawed. Iron Cast is SO good omg. And dare I say? A teeny bit of me is disappointed by the Lara Jean finale & A Million Junes covers. Sorryyy all. *hides*
HAHAHHA I feel you, I will read posts ALL the time, say “oh, I will comment later” and then have my 28773 tabs crash and then forget what I was doing 😂 I ALMOST DNFed Flawed, so I understand. But then I kept reading and ended up really liking it, even though maybe I shouldn’t have haha. I agree with you about Iron Cast, too! And I also agree about A Million Junes- kind of pales when compared to TLTSTW, but I also needed some symmetry so… but I DO love the Lara Jean finale one, so there’s that 😉
I miss summer. Thanks for the “new and fancy”; I hadn’t seen or heard about any of these yet! Cheers, Kara S
You read quite a few new releases! I tried to read The Female of the Species, but I just couldn’t. I’m a wimp.