Welcome to April’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:
Hugest of thanks to Fierce Reads and Page Street Kids!
eARCs:
Huge thanks to the publishers, so many most-anticipated books here!
Purchased:
Just a few Kindle deals (and fine one book I ordered last minute that showed up just in time!) for me this month!
Won/Gifted/Traded:
Huge thanks to author Rachel Lynn Solomon for the giveaway of Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, and Flatiron for the Migrations eARC giveaway!!
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
I read 11 books this month. Which sounds kinda low considering quarantine, but alas.
Okay but these were high quality books, guys. Like wow nearly ALL are 4 or 5 stars. Except one which I sort of hated but honestly that’s fun too.
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!
- Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books shares how her quarantine is going (and if this isn’t a MOOD, guys!)
- Lindsi @ Do You Dog Ear? wants to know what you do with the books you DNF
- Sabrina @ Wordy and Whimsical discusses why some books stay unrated
- Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den confesses the ways in which she’s a bad reader
- Greg @ Book Haven discusses why we love fantasy worlds
- Wendy @ Falconer’s Library shares what it’s like being an educator during this upheaval
- Cait @ Paper Fury answers your author questions and celebrates The Boy Who Steals Houses’ first birthday!!
- Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books explains how she plans her blog’s content
- Malka & Chana @ Paper Procrastinators have some great
expertpandemic recommendations! - Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction is very happy that her teenagers are reading again
- Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books wants to know if books have to be so heavy
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!
Quality of quantity, but I’ll take it!
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- The 100. Season 7. May 20th. No trailer. Seriously guys you gotta give us something, the people are thirsty! I’m probably going to get a recap of Season 6 together soon, so stay tuned if you haven’t rewatched a million times like some people and need a refresher! Also I have a bunch of pals joining the band, so it won’t just be me rambling, wooo!
- Scythe Bookish Games has ended… and Town won!! I am very happy, of course, and also, MVP which made me as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning! A new edition is starting on May 6, so make sure you sign up for emails or follow them on Twitter so you can play (or just watch if that’s your jam!)
- Does anyone do video edits and have tips? I am really wanting to do some, and I have ideas and I am scared. Advice and/or guidance would be quite appreciated!
- How are we holding up, loves? I am mostly okay. Stir crazy, moments of panic, but otherwise okay. My aunt is quite sick and I am worried of course, so keep her in your thoughts if you have any good juju to spare!
- Any Mother’s Day gift ideas? My mom is either really easy to buy for, or really hard to buy for. And this year it happens to be the latter.
I don’t know – 11 is pretty good!
I see some new me titles I have to check out. I’m so out of the loop when it comes to what’s releasing lately. Lol also, seeing this post reminds me I need to do my wrap up.
No ideas here for Mother’s Day. I wish I had something in mind too!
Tonyalee @ http://Vivaciousbibliophile.com
Aw that is nice of yoU! And I am probably TOO in the loop because I then think I need to read ALL the things even though I do not. 😂
Mother’s Day is so hard especially when you can’t even like, go anywhere!
I have no idea what to get my mother. She always buys herself whatever she wants, so I will take her out to eat or something, but that’s off the table this year. Definitely stressing me out. I read three of your April books, and they were all amazing. May releases were killing it, because I had so many high rated books. I so totally jealous you have the new Sonia Hartl book. I need to get my hands on that. Her debut was phenomenal.
That is exactly it! My mom has like, a billion times more money than me, so she’d just buy it! And every time I ask her she says “I want for the gym to be open” well thanks that’s helpful 😂
I think I saw that Sonia’s is on Netgalley, so my fingers are crossed for you! I agree, her debut was great! I loved like, ALL of the books I read in April. Well I hated one but that is okay but this was a great bunch!
I guess I am persona non grata for Pagestreet too. I was rejected yesterday for both Hartl’s and Wallace’s books within 10 mins. As if I wasn’t sad enough yesterday with my trip to see the kid not happening, I was rejected for two of my most anticipated books. And the world turns.
NOOOO are you serious!?!? I am so sorry! I was actually just rejected for a bunch of books too, I really don’t understand. We’re both people who always review our stuff, and have decent followings, Idk what more they want from us! I am SO sorry, especially since you’re bummed about your visit not happening. I am sending ALL the good vibes your way in the hopes that some good news befalls you VERY soon. You deserve all the good things ♥♥
I always love when you include the Bookish Games in your recaps. 🖤
Also, 11 books read is a low number?! My reading has been practically non-existent since my furlough began. I usually do most of my reading on public transpo so now that I’m home all the time it just… doesn’t happen? 🙈 Though tbf, if it weren’t for Animal Crossing and the Bookish Games I do think I’d be a little bit better. I just have too many other distractions I enjoy right now!
I hope your aunt feels better soon. 🖤
AW of course! I want all the people to be as obsessed as we are 😂
And well. It’s low-ISh, considering I should (in theory) have more time. But I think you’re right, I used to have time during work to read too (don’t tell them, it’d be very frowned upon) but now I can stay up later to read, so I guess it’s a wash. And that makes sense with Animal Crossing and BG- I always read less when a Game is happening, for the obvious reasons, and when The 100 starts I KNOW my reading will take a huge nosedive!
And thank you so much ♥♥
I’m so sorry your aunt’s not doing well. 🙁 Afraid I’m not much help on the Mother’s Day gifts, but I did do some video editing *cough*way back in the day*cough*. It’s been a little while, but the basics are usually the same, so feel free to hit me up with questions if you need a sounding board.
Thank you so much ♥♥ Oh my goodness really!?!? I am going to DM you RIGHT NOW!! Thank youUu!
I don’t know what Ever Cursed is, but I love that cover! AND I just added The Yearbook Committee to my list bc that sounds SO me and I don’t know how I’ve not known about it for so many years.
I hope your aunt gets better 🙁 and I wish I knew what the heck to do for Mother’s Day this year. What do you buy when you can’t go to any good stores?? There’s only so much Amazon I can stomach.
Tbh I don’t even know what it is either but same 😂 YES I think Yearbook Committee is a VERY “you” book. I saw some great reviews from Aussie bloggers years ago, and it’s finally available on US Kindle!
And thank you so much ♥♥ Seriously, that’s the thing. I can’t go anywhere, SHE can’t go anywhere, what’s the point? Maybe she needs a good collection of face masks 😂
So many good reads for you this month! 🙂
I’m really sorry about your aunt! I hate all the sickness (of all kinds) going around right now.
As for Mother’s Day; I can honestly say it doesn’t feel like May to me. I have no idea what’s been happening the last couple of months.
Thank you so much ♥♥ You’re right, it is such a messy time!
I agree completely! HOW is it May?! No idea! It’s like, summer will be over before we know it at this rate!
Look at all the pretty books! I don’t think I’ve heard of any of them. I think I’m mostly doing okay with the pandemic. Staying inside isn’t hard, but I’m not sure what’s going on with my job situation, and that’s super stressful. I hope your aunt gets better and you have a good May!
Aw I am so sorry about the stressful job situation. Hopefully it will get worked out soon ♥♥ And I hope you have a good May too!
I love the 100! I should really catch up with it. And congrats on all your reading – looks like you read a lot to me!
Aw thank you! And yessss you definitely should! How far have you made it??
Hoping your aunt is okay soon 💛💛 and these covers are SO PRETTY!? how dare they. I hope you like The Dark Tide! I read that one this month (I shocked myself by reading something early 😂) And hoping May treats you well!!!
Thank you so much ♥♥ I know right? I almost requested Blazewrath even though I don’t think it’d be my thing just because of the cover! I did stop myself in time, thank goodness 😂 Ohhh very impressive! Hopefully I will like The Dark Tide too. I think I have to read it in like, the next few books. I am on my last May book, finally! Hope May treats you well too!
So let me tell you that I am also at a loss at what to get my mom for Mother’s Day! Plus she just had a birthday in April and I had no idea what to get her because she really was just said to not be taking her trip to Vegas for her 65th birthday, and not to get to hold my niece and nephew right now. Those covers at the end are beautiful! I have a copy of The Dark Tide to read this month. Hope May is better for us all!
Lisa Loves Literature’s April Wrap-Up
My mom is getting THE most random crap. I bought her a FACE MASK, I shit you not. And then a book I liked (hah!) and a crossword puzzle book (the only thing she said she wanted) and then a shirt that was on sale at NY&Co online 😂 Hitting it out of the park, I am. I am so sorry about your mom’s birthday though, that sucks! And not being able to see her grandkids, ugh I can imagine that is all so rough. Hopefully you will be able to come up with something! And YES I hope May treats us all much, MUCH better ♥♥
I so can’t wait for Clap When You Land! I love Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing! Sending up prayers for your aunt!
Thank you so much! And Clap was SOOOO good, I think you’ll love it, and I hope you do!
Saw one title in your purchase list that I was familiar with – I read Fawkes a couple years ago and really enjoyed it!
Hope your aunt is better soon!
Oh yay! That is good to hear! I LOVED Romanov by the author, so I am hoping to enjoy Fawkes too. And thank you so much ♥♥
The cover for The Republic of Birds and Glass Town Wars are gorgeous!!!
I think so too! Hopefully they’re good on the inside too hahah
I LOVE the cover for The Republic of Birds – SO PRETTY.
I hope you’re doing okay and I’ll pray that your aunt will get better. <3
I concur! And thank you so much! My aunt has finally turned a corner and is feeling a bit better- she was even able to call my mom (she legit was too sick to even make a phone call, so it was REALLY scary) so we all appreciate your prayers!!
I love that you still watch the 100! It’s like the defining characteristic I remember you by :’)
11 books is still a pretty big dent!
Also, the eARCS you have are so so pretty – I love the covers of all of them!
Oh yes, I am so obsessed! It’s the last season so I will be even more obsessed than usual, I suspect 😂 Seriously, there are too many pretty covers to tempt us, right!?
Mother’s Day ideas are hard to come by right now. I’m also having the same problem with my daughter, who turns 16 on the 14th. I want to get her something special, but I haven’t come up with anything good!!!
Awww yeah 16 is certainly a big one! And it stinks because sometimes it is better to do experiences than stuff, but you can’t exactly do any of that, can you? I hope you come up with something!!
We’ve had so much going on here and at the same time, missing out on so many milestones. We finally had a funeral service yesterday for my FIL. Now my parents are terrified (just got off the phone with them) because my dad needs many surgery for blocked arteries. I’m reading more than ever and finally read The Poet X and now I want to read everything this author writes. My current read is My Lady Jane (but you already know that 😉 and I also started All Thirteen which Candlewick sent me as an ARC.
I feel strange that I first have a chance to comment on your April wrap up halfway through May, but school has been keeping me so ridiculously busy!
It looks like you had an awesome haul this month which is fantastic, because I keep getting scared that I’ll run out of books to read during quarantine! (This has led to me purchasing so many more books than usual.) I’m obviously very our of the loop with upcoming releases because I don’t recognize most of the ones you hauled! I guess I’ll just have to read about them when you review them!
I think 11 books is awesome! I read 6 books in April and so far in May I have read ONE book. And said book was a reread! The combination of quarantine and finals is not a good combo for me. I guess I don’t have to worry about running out of books after all!
Thanks so much for mentioning our post! I laughed when I saw that you crossed out expert! I thought that was a nice touch!
And all the pretty books you showcased were so beautiful I had a hard time picking a favorite! But I think Republic of Birds is the one I’d buy purely for the cover alone! I love how colorful and intricate it is! There are so many details to look at! But I’m surprised to see it mentioned since it sounds like a bird book!
Even though the month is half over, I hope you have a lovely May!
Little Creeping Things is on my TBR as well and I can’t wait to read it next month! 11 books is really awesome! What kind of videos are you planning on doing? Are you starting a booktube?
You have some good-looking books to read! April was a rough month for me because of the transition to online classes, but I got through the spring semester all right. Things are getting better now that I don’t have so many virtual conferences and now that I’m exercising more. It helps to have a puppy to get me out of the house!
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain is also on my radar!