Welcome to November’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight!
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:
Thanks to Swoon Reads!! This is so cute!
eARCs:
Via Edelweiss, thanks to HarperCollins; via Netgalley, thanks to DelRay & St. Martin’s!
Purchased:
Traded/Won/Gifted:
SO many people to thank! I won The Girl of Fire and Thorns from Tanya @ Girl Plus Books, Dead Girls Society from Adventures in YA Publishing, and A Crown of Wishes from St. Martin’s on Goodreads. So thanks to all those people!
Now, the rest were gifts from some of my lovely favorite people! Erica @ Novel Ink sent me Nemesis just because she is nice like that! My parents bought The Midnight Star and Fifth Season, and my lovely, lovely friends Rashika, Holly, and Val bought me the Chinese Hunger Games series for and Jeann @ Happy Indulgences sent me Summer Skin, all for my birthday and they all make my heart happy. THANK YOU, loves! ♥♥
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
I only read eight books. What is this sorcery? I do not approve. Probably the reasons are the same reasons I neglected my blog. Oops? I linked this month cause I felt like being nice.
Yeah. I guess I give the win to Crooked Kingdom. And I suppose I will be re-reading The Continent, because I read it before (and finished it during) the problematic representation discussion. I do see why people would be upset with certain things no question. I also feel like it is very fixable, so I am willing to give it another chance. Also, kudos to Harlequin for taking people’s feelings into consideration and pushing back publication to fix it. I think that remedying mistakes is a good thing, so… I’ll leave it at that. Also, Gemina was good, as you’d expect. Also, pleasantly surprised by Frost Like Night– easily the best book in the series.
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!
- Val @ The Innocent Smiley steals my post idea and shares her self-care tips
- Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway celebrated her fourth blogoversary!!
- Rashika @ Xpresso Reads shares ways readers can help post-election
- Cait @ Paper Fury tells us why reading will most definitely improve your life
- Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser created an awesome Christmas tag!
- Kristen @ Moonlight and Metaphors asks why we are so in love with covers.
- Inge & Aly @ Of Wonderland are hosting a very fun book club starting in January!
- Cynthia @ Bingeing on Books shares how she organizes her Goodreads shelves
- Greg @ Book Haven wants to know if you are a seasonal reader
- AJ @ Read all the Things! talks about missed bookish opportunities
- Puput @ Sparkling Letters wants to know if you have a rating double standard like she does.
- Amanda @ Nellie & Co. discusses the absence of fat girls in YA
- Madlyn @ Novel Ink shares her thoughts of the fun of rereading
- Jeann @ Happy Indulgences discusses why culturally diverse books are so important.
- Laura @ Boats Against the Current asks if you are a serial hobbyist
Random Musings:
GAH this MONTH FROM HELL. I mean, I had hoped that we would have had so many different conversations this month. But alas. So here we are, not even able to be excited about 2016 finally being over. 🙁 Anyway, I am trying to… well, not normalize, obviously, but move forward. So, it is almost time for Christmas, and the children saw Santa. The small male human was not impressed. 
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!
There really wasn’t much to choose from (because again, this damn month) but these are just… eye-catching I suppose.
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- Less than two months until The 100 Season 4!! It is low key the only 2017 thing I am even looking forward to at the moment. And my trip with Val in January!
- Pretty thrilled about this.
YAY I won. It was actually more fun for me than last year, so YAY. And I finished early, despite taking several days off post-election. - I have been spending my time re-watching and re-reading. I’ve been bingeing The 100, and re-reading The Hunger Games. I want to rewatch the movies too. It’s a sad November with no new THG franchise releases.
Shelfies over selfies- no doubt! Love that quote. 🙂 Okay so the new arrivals- they look good, particularly Hunted. Well Alone and Wintersong have pretty nice covers too. So much cover love lately. I’ve been wanting to read Dead Girls Society but I pushed it back cause some other stuff came along- mood reading ya know. 🙂 And Chinese editions of Hunger games? How sweet is that??
Iceling caught my eye too after seeing a review. Claudia Gray’s stuff- wasn’t familiar w/ her until I read the Star Wars book she wrote- now I’m a fan! Love that cover for Defy the Stars.
I’ve been kinda looking forward to 2016 being over but now post election- I’m not so sure since that just brings us closer to when the mutant takes over. But I won’t go there la la lala la…etc. On to good things- yes The 100 is getting closer. I’m starting to get anxious. And so cool about your NaNo win- that must be an awesome feeling.
Thanks for the link!!
Congrats on NaNo! I’ve heard amazing things about Summer Skin so I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about it! November means the end of term rush, so I’ve been busy the past month with quizzes and assignments. I can’t wait for Christmas break! 😀
Sounds like you’ve had a great month! And what a book haul! I’ve been debating whether to add 100 Hours to my TBR so I’ll definitely look out for your review. I’m also planning to read The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett in the next couple of weeks so I hope you enjoyed it.
OMG! All those eARCS are awesome! That is a classic Christmas picture. One to pull out and giggle about when the kid is older.
So many good books!! I am excited for The Upside and Fireworks! We are going next week to see Santa and my small male human will cry I am sure. YAY on NaNo win!! That is so awesome – congrats! Hope December is a great one!
That is so sweet that they sent you presents! Eight books is great! Beats my 0 books… Congrats again on Nano! Cute kiddie photo!
Hahah I can’t get over how gold that Santa photo is XD XD Congrats on winning NaNo! ALSO OMG VICTORIA SCOTT’S BOOK COVER OMG I CAN’T EVEN. I need to look this up, I wasn’t aware of this book’s existence *runs in circles*. Looks like you read some pretty awesome books this month, too! I’m hoping to get to Crooked Kingdom in Dec but we’ll see how things go. Fingers crossed we both munch through many many books in Dec! (I only read 6 in Nov, *gasp*).
Nemesis was a five star for me. It was a unique story and kept me reading from start to finish.
Aww, your son looks miserable in that photo. I didn’t like Santa when I was a kid, either, so I can relate. I only read 8 books in November, too. I have Gemina sitting on my shelf. I really need to get to it.
Awesome collection of books! I’m so excited to check out Hunted and I love the cover of Spindle Fire.
I loved Crooked Kingdom! Easily one of my favourite reads of the year.
Congrats on winning NaNoWriMo! And happy reading (:
Congrats on winning NaNo!!! Crooked Kingdom was incredible. You got so many great e-ARCs! Super interested to hear your thoughts on Upside and Hunted. Hahaha, your child’s reaction to Santa was literally me as a kid… NOPE!
Love the Shelfies Over Selfies tote. Too cute. I need to start The Upside of Unrequited soon. Release day is going to sneak up on me before I know it. As much as I adored Simon I have high hopes for Upside. The Chinese Hunger Games versions! OMG, I bet you were dying. So awesome!! (And you’re so welcome for The Girl of Fire and Thorns.) Your little guy looks like he so did not want to be there. LOL Poor guy. Big congrats on NaNo! Go you!
Yay it looks like you got so many new books to read. 8 books is a great number! I love the Santa picture! It will be a great memory for you to show again later in life! Have a great December!
I really want that to be your Christmas card Shannon! Here’s hoping that December won’t be a dumpster fire of a month.
OMG, your kid in that picture, thats hilarious! My kids have never taken a picture with Santa. They’ve always known that mom and dad (and family) buys their Christmas presents (just like my sister and I always knew our parents bought our gifts) so although they like the idea of Santa, they don’t care enough for him.
I see Summer Skin, hope you love it Shannon and have a great December!
Nereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
Oh gosh, I’m so happy that November is over too. Aw, your poor son! I’m sorry he didn’t like Santa. I was afraid of people dressed up when I was younger…like the mouse from Chuck E Cheese! haha
-Lauren
This month has been…. I can’t even describe it. However it sounds like you had a super productive month! Congrats on winning NaNo AND finishing that many books. I’m currently in love with the cover of “Everything You Want Me to Be”
Congrats on winning NaNo! 2016 has sucked so far… but I am excited since my birthday is coming SOON. Seriously, the Claudia Gray cover though <3
YAYYYY I’M SO HAPPY YOU WON NANO!! CONGRATS CONGRATS!! *flings confetti in the air* And also I’m trying not to laugh at your son’s pain because that was pretty much the face my sister and I used to pull in every Santa photo. But yet.?? I CAN’T HELP IT. omg.
And those new books are SO PRETTY.
That’s really interesting about The Continent date being pushed back. I saw the author put up a letter of apology too but all the people on twitter said there was no forgiveness ever for her. Which I think is sad. If she and the publishers are making an effort to fix this, then that’s really good.
Anyway, I hope December treats you kindly. *sends Christmas cake*
Congrats again on winning Nano! And also happy belated birthday again, those THG editions look like the perfect present for you! I hope you son’s in a happier mood now hahaha AND THE 100 YAY I recently wanted to rewatch it and couldn’t find it on Netflix even though I’m sure I watched it there the first time, so I guess it’s not on Netflix UK. I need to have a serious word with this country about how many of my favorite shows I can’t watch here.
Congratulations on NaNo! That’s awesome! 🙂
And thanks so much for mentioning my post!
(I can totally relate to your son’s facial expression in that photo too – I always cried at Santa as a kid!)
I can’t wait for The 100 to return for the simple fact that your recaps will return as well! haha I can’t wait!
Congrats on winning Nano! I hope next year I will be ready to participate. My reading has been on the back burner lately. The Santa photo is gold!
Oh my goodness your sons face with Santa was CLASSIC. And I love how happy his sister looks as well at the same time 😀 Oh, and congrats on winning Nanowrimo!
Congratulations on winning NaNo! I’m really glad you liked Crooked Kingdom – I loved Six of Crows and need to read CK stat.
And we have our first encounter with Santa planned for this Saturday – I hope it goes well and that Kiddo won’t be too freaked out! To be honest, I never really liked Santas when I was a kid, so I won’t blame Kiddo if he won’t want to sit on Santa’s lap.
Your kids are so crazy adorable! I am still waiting on my ARC request for Alone to be approved. I was approved for the first two so fingers crossed I get this one too. I am totally jealous that you got The upside of unrequited. I loved her first book and I am so sure I will love this one too!