Welcome to August’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.  Also, covers all link to Goodreads, because I am awesome. 

The Books

For Review/From Publishers:

Huge thanks to Penguin and Page Street! 

eARCs:

Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster, Inkyard Press, MIRA, Del Ray, Ace, Harper Teen, and Disney!! 

Purchased:

I had to buy it because sale, okay? 🤷‍♀️

Won/Gifted/Traded:

Huge thanks to Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra & Lauren @ ShootingStarsMag for Beauty Sleep, Penguin for The Future of Another Timeline, and Macmillan for The Kingdom! And thanks to the lovely person who traded me Neverworld Wake– the fault of the condition of this book rests with USPS, not the trader! 

Shenanigans Since Last Time:

I read 16 books this month. That’s a pretty impressive number, especially for me!

This was a really good reading month, which is tough considering the sheer volume! I mean a few were a little meh, but for the most part, this was an outstanding group! A few new faves in here, even! 😀 

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!

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!

This is very colorful (and in some cases, trippy) and I am not sorry.

Things we need to talk about at this juncture:

  • The 100 will end after Season 7 and of course I am not okay. Honestly I think a part of me will die when this show ends and I know that seems dramatic but come on, are you guys new here?  I am contemplating going to Unity Days (fine, I may already have booked a hotel, but shh) but Idk. Is it worth spending the money? Will I feel weird alone? Who knows.
  • And while we’re on the subject, it’s hiatus time and I am not okay. The season finale was good, left a ton of questions for Season 7, but like, I don’t want it to go by fast this time because genuinely what will become of me?
  • My grandmother passed away and I am not handling it well. I was very close to both of my grandmothers (and one of my grandfathers!) forever. Like- not just as a kid, always. And I just can’t wrap my head around them being gone. This particular grandma (her name is Janet) was kind of that vision of a family matriarch that we see/read about. She held her family together through so many ups and downs. But honestly, more than that? She was my best friend. When she was healthier, we used to take road trips all over the place, get into all kinds of shenanigans. Even as she got older, we went to dinner all the time, and chatted for hours about anything and everything. And I just can’t cope with her loss. It’s like- my grandparents were always the people who loved me both fiercely and unconditionally and now they’re not here. I just miss her. I miss them all.

    Me, my grandma, Lena when she was brand new, and my mom. 8 years ago ♥♥
  • I have a lot of stuff coming up that I could use some good vibes for. It’s going to be an interesting month basically. When I was younger, I thought it’d be cool to testify in a court of law. Turns out it’s not fun, it’s scary as fuck, and 0/10 do not recommend. Especially when you’re just trying to do right by your kids. 
  • Speaking of, Shattering Stigmas 5.0 is happening! And I am back! And looking for YOUR help!! (Please please I will beg if I must! 😀 ) 
  • The wee children started school, Sammy started kindergarten, and seriously no one asked for that I am not prepared isn’t he still like, a newborn? 😭

Have a great September, loves!

Posted August 31, 2019 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in Blog Recaps / 45 Comments

45 responses to “Monthly Minutes at Midnight: August 2019”

  1. Amber

    I’m so sorry to hear about your grandma <3 Best wishes.

    I got All Your Twisted Secrets as well and I'm really looking forward to reading it. And I'm still a few episodes behind on The 100 because I don't want to sit through this hiatus!!

    Reply
  3. Greg

    To Be Taught if Fortunate has such a beautiful cover. Wow. I have to get it! And ooh you read Light at the Bottom of the World (or have it anyway)? You’ll have to let me know what you think- I’ve been eyeing that one too. You know, all these books that I was awaiting are coming out NOW because it’s, like, fall now and I’m not ready. I’m going to spend so much $ on books lol.

    I’m sorry about your grandmother, that is just so hard especially when you’re that close.

    I’m still trying to wrap my head around the 100 being gone after next season.

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Right? This is the UK version, of course. As usual, Becky Chambers has angered the US cover gods. I still haven’t finished the other series though, so that’s a fail. I do have Light at the Bottom of the World. I am starting it tonight so I will keep you posted! Seriously fall is the WORST time for a bookish person’s bank account. No question.

      Thanks so much ♥♥ And I can’t wrap my head around it tbh. Like. What am I going to do!?! What are we going to look forward to!? I just need to go crawl off into denial or something.

      Reply
  4. Kathryn

    Ah your relationship with your grandmother sounds really a deep and special one. What a gift you gave each other. 16 books read is pretty amazing. I only recognise Recursion – not that I have read it but I could yet. Hehe kids grow up, its so sad!

    Reply
  6. Sam@wlabb

    Your children are precious, and ((HUGS)) to you. Your grandmother sounds like she was an incredible woman. Why do you tease about your books. You know I always want to know which ones were really good. I am, in fact, reading Suggested Reading this week, so I hope that one was decent for you.

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Awww thank you SO much, I really appreciate it ♥♥ And I tease books to lure people back! 😂 (Plus, you know I will always spill the tea if you ask!) But I liked Suggested Reading. It wasn’t like, my all-time favorite or anything, but it was definitely decent enough. What did you think??

      Reply
      • Sam@wlabb

        I loved it! It was such a love letter to books, and I liked the discussion about how a book can impact people in different ways. It also went into the human nature of pre-defining people based on their socioeconomic status. I was a fan.

        Reply
  7. Brooke Lorren

    I’m so sorry about your grandma. I miss mine. I plan on dedicating my first book to her.

    You had a great reading month. I’m so jealous that you got to read The End and Other Beginnings already. I suppose I’ll be reading that one on October 1st (after I wake up from staying up all night to read Rebel and then crashing for several hours).

    Reply
  9. Molly Mortensen

    I’m so sorry to hear about your grandma. I was really close to mine too so I know how hard it is.

    Good luck with your court thing. Sounds terrifying!

    Congrats on the kids starting school!

    If I wasn’t scared of people I’d love to go with you to Unity Days. 😂

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Thank you so much ♥♥ I am sorry you have lost yours, as well. It’s terribly hard.

      And thank you again- I had one of them already, it was rough but okay I guess. The next one is in like, less than 2 weeks so. UGH hah.

      AW I know, I feel you- I am kind of scared of people too! I mean, not in the same way, but in the “whoa what if all these strangers hate me?” way 😂

      Reply
  10. Beth W

    Congrats on the blazing through the reading!
    I’m so envious you got To Be Taught If Fortunate! Have you cracked it open yet?

    I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s OK to miss your grandmother- you’ll get through the pain because clearly you have Janet’s fine example of that (being now the matriarch of your family). Not that knowing you’re stronger than grief makes it any easier. *hugs*

    I’m still contemplating attending Unity Days for a day trip, myself. I really just want to hang out with other The 100 fans and discuss plot points and all those amazing details I KNOW I missed, and maybe get to stand in admiration (in person) of their music coordinator and fight coordinator and costumer and writers. Hrmmm…..

    Would it make court any easier if you documented the non-private bits for a blog post? Like, you could disconnect a bit and think of it objectively, as a writer or reporter?

    I don’t have much to contribute, aside from being someone with an invisible chronic illness, but I’d be happy to help with Shattering Stigmas (however you can use my help). I’ll sign up to help and you can just tell me where you need assistance, yes? 😀

    Also, I’m definitely going to watch the final season of The 100 as it airs, so we can all cry into our beers together. So please don’t die, because that’s Josephine-level drama, and we all know you’re more Raven-meets-Murphy. 😛
    (Oh! There’s a thought…which The 100 characters are each of us? Hrmm…need to go hunt down a personality test, or make one)

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Aw thanks so much! And NO I haven’t started it yet! I have, as usual, over-requested review books so now I am drowning in those and can’t read any of the stuff I bought 😂

      Thanks so much ♥♥ It does suck a lot. I worry so much that now that my extended family doesn’t have her connecting them, we’ll all drift apart, so hopefully that isn”t the case.

      I am SO torn about Unity Days! I want to go for all those reasons too! But I am also really worried, and worried about whether it’s worth the financial strain. I mean- I know it’s The 100 and a literal last chance, but then… am I going to feel weird being alone? And I am not really the type to like, squeal over “stars” so… that might be weird? DECISIONS, Beth. I hate them!

      I probably will document some of it on the blog, actually! When you mentioned it, I realized that yeah, I actually likely will, for Shattering Stigmas at least! That’s when I feel comfortable airing ALL the dirty laundry hah 😂

      I am SO EXCITED that you are going to help out- and I LOVE your post idea soooo much! And I have a VERY good feeling that your post will be very relatable to a LOT of people!

      GAH YESSSS it will be REALLY fun, we’ll have to get a group DM going to watch it! Me dying because of The 100 WOULD be Josephine drama, I’m cackling 😂😂 I have always wondered which one I’d be too! I joke and say Jasper, but I don’t think that’s true. A personality test would be so fun!

      Reply
  11. Wendy @ Falconer's Library

    Oh, I’m so sorry about your grandma! What a gift to have close relationships with that generation though. I had a great aunt I was fond of, but that’s about it, and they had all died by the time I was 18. As my mom said when my great aunt (her aunt) died, it’s never really okay, no matter how much time you had with someone you love. I’m sorry for your heartache.

    There are some fascinating looking books up there.

    I think you should go to Unity Days. You’ve been though a lot and need something to look forward to.

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Aw thank you SO much! I am sorry that you lost your great aunt, too. It’s awful that they were all gone so soon. I was incredibly lucky to have had all of my grandparents until I was in my 20s, which is so rare, and I was so very grateful. Still, your mom is definitely right, it doesn’t lessen the pain for sure ♥♥

      And thank you, again! I really do need something to look forward to! I think I need to figure out if Unity Days will be that thing, or if it will be too stressful, you know? But you are SO right, I need a positive in my life for sure!

      Reply
  12. Amber Elise @ Du Livre

    I love the back to school photos and Im so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I swear, the relationship between granddaughter and grandmother is so important.

    Also congrats on reading 16 books, that’s amazing!

    Reply
  13. Kel

    I’m so sorry for your loss, Shannon. It sounds like your grandmother lived an amazing life, and I’m glad you have so many good memories of her to treasure, but that doesn’t make it any easier or less painful. All the hugs to you.

    I’m glad you’ve had some good reading though, and your The 100 recap tweets are making me itch to get back to it (if I ever get through all this moving/new job/insurance paperwork ^^). Your kids are adorable, and wow kindergarten already! Praying for you as you face all these changes and court. Yeah, court is not fun, but I know you’ll do your best and you’ll be great. Hang in there!

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Thank you, love! She did- a tough one at times, but a good one. She always was incredibly happy with what she had, which is something important that I need to try to remember.

      YESS get back to it!!! Because your reactions to the rest of it are going to give me LIFE during this hiatus! And thank you, I appreciate it. One down for the month, one to go.

      Reply
  14. ShootingStarsMag

    I’m so excited you won the giveaway from Suzanne’s blog! 🙂 Aw, your kids are getting so big – I’m not going to be prepared for my youngest niece to start school in the future. Like, what? No, you’re a baby!

    I’m so sorry about your grandma! And for having to testify in court. I hope that it all goes well!

    -Lauren

    Reply
    • Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

      Aw thank you so much! You know, I think it just plain sucks at any time, you know? You lost yours young, but you probably are sad about the time you didn’t have, you know? It’s just crap no matter what, I suppose. I am sorry you have lost yours, as well ♥♥

      Reply
  17. Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books

    I’m so sorry to hear about your grandma, Shannon, I am sending you all of the love <3 <3 <3 <3
    It seems like you got some great books in this past month, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the light at the bottom of the world, it's one of my most anticipated reads!
    I hope you will have a lovely September, I'm sending you all the love <3 <3

    Reply
  18. Annemieke

    Hugs. Sorry to hear you lost your grandmother.
    Testifying in court does sound really scary but if you are doing the right thing, you can do it. You got this!

    Reply
  19. Danielle Hammelef

    So sorry about your beloved grandmother. Hugs! You did have an excellent reading month and I see many books that are still on my TBR, but that’s just got to be accepted that I can never read them all LOL. Best of luck to you in September.

    Reply

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