Welcome to May’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. I link up with the Wrap-Up-Round-Up, because of course I do.
The Books
For Review/From Publishers:
Hugest of thanks to St. Martin’s Press!!
eARCs:
Huge thanks to the publishers, so many most-anticipated books here!
Purchased:
A couple of pre-orders (A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Network Effect), and a few Kindle Deals! And of course, Dr. Gabriel Santiago!!
Won/Gifted/Traded:
Huge thanks to Wednesday books for A Golden Fury; my mom and kids for Among the Fallen; and the FFBC and Little, Brown for They Went Left
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
I read 17 books this month. I have never read 17 books in one month before. It’s a proud moment indeed.
Okay but there were a lot of winners in here! I didn’t hate any of them either, which is saying a lot!
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!
- Jeann, Jenna, and Bec @ Happy Indulgence share their book reviewing process
- Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books talks about types of endings
- Tasya @ The Literary Huntress shares how she rates and reviews
- Geraldine @ Corralling Books offers low cost book buying options
- Chana @ Paper Procrastinators tells you why you should read book blogs
- Veronika @ Wordy & Whimsical shares some great audiobook tips
- Louise @ Monstrumology wants to know your thoughts on same story, different POV books
- Sabrina @ Wordy and Whimsical discusses plot twists that she does not like
- Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den shares some fantasy for beginners
- Amber @ Du Livre discusses the pros and cons of illustrated covers
- Cait @ Paper Fury shares things she wants to see more of in Mental Health YA
- Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books talks about how book blogging has changed in the past 5 years
- Malka @ Paper Procrastinators discusses non-traditional family representation in books
- Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction has become a junk artist (my mind went to 5 Minute Crafts tbh!)
- Jess @ Jessticulates wants to know if historical retellings are ethical
- Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books chats about cover drama
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 over quantity clearly, but I’ll take it!
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- The 100. Season 7. Game on. We’re two episodes into the final season, and I am just. Trying to look ahead to the 14 episodes we have to go and not just cry. I should have my recap/thoughts on 7×02 “The Garden” up tomorrow!!
- BYOC Bookish Games are under way! I can’t say much about it other than… it’s a trip so far!
- **Edited to Add More Resources** There isn’t much happening on a personal level (though I did realize I graduated from high school 20 years ago today yikes), but the world is aflame, so. I genuinely don’t know how to put all my feelings into words eloquently here, and I wish I could figure it out. It’s important to stand up and say something. Here is a Tweet thread for donating for protester bail funds. Minnesota Freedom Fund has directed donors to other organizations since they’ve had an influx. And here is an article on ways to help. Just… we all need to do something here. Adding HERE and HERE for huge lists of ways to help, petitions, donations, etc. It isn’t okay to sit by and watch this happen. The victims are people’s children, friends, parents, loved ones. They matter, they will always matter, and they deserved so, so much better. Black lives matter. We cannot keep failing them.
Thank you for sharing my post! XOXO And, you did a lot of reading. I hope it was good. I am eager to see your reviews for Again Again (which I loved), You Say It First (which I liked a LOT), and The Assignment (which I have not read, but I love Wiemer)
I actually really liked Again Again! This was the first E Lockhart that I actually liked! I will be posting my review this week. I also LOVED You Say It First, but it wrecked me quite a bit too!
Wow, congrats on reading 17 books! My TBR shelf would be a lot smaller if I could do that. I hope you have a good June!
Aw thanks! Hope you do too!
17 books in a month! Holy cats! And none of them were DNFs….you’re amazing! Even with all the free time in the world, I don’t think I have the focus to read that much.
Thanks for the links to the protestor bail funds, too! I’ve been struggling with how to help (money I have- the ability to safely leave my house, not so much). Much appreciated!
Aw no, no, just stubborn! ?? I have a somewhat regimented schedule for reading because I cannot leave myself to my own devices! It also helps that I do not rewatch The 100 during the current season hahah
And aw you are SO welcome, I am glad it was helpfuL! I also found one, let me find it, that splits your donation among a BUNCH of bail funds, so I liked that one and did it! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd
I got approved for The Echo Wife and it sounds so good. Happy reading!
Oh yay, hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for sharing my post! What do you think of Blue Ticket? I think the concept is interesting but I haven’t give it a try yet and so I’m curious of what do you think!
I have… mixed feelings on it. I like the concept, and I even kind of liked the execution, but I felt a bit distant from the MC. But it’s a pretty quick read too, so I felt it was worth it
I’ve seen Hush around a lot lately! I definitely want to pick that one up. And I’m so jealous you got to read A Song of Wraiths and Ruin! I’m super excited for that one! The new Marie Lu book sounds interesting too. Have a great June!
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin was GOOD! Fantasy is SO hit or miss for me, but this one was a hit for sure! I will be posting my review one day this week. Hope you love it too!
Wow, you read a lot of books in May! It’s great that you read a lot of winners too! 🙂
I love many of the covers that you’ve added to your shelf. I’ll have to check them out to see what they’re about!
Thanks! And yes, hopefully some of the pretty covers have pretty insides too haha
ahhh congrats on all that reading!!! that is a LOT and wonderful ?(Also will you be reviewing Ballad of Songbirds? I’m so curious what you’ll think. I only just started.)
And the world is devastating right now for sure, but also because this isn’t new and it isn’t isolated, that’s the harshest part, right? like all the Black people who’ve been murdered without it even making the news… I’m pretty detached from this, well, because of like country wise, but there’s still so much we can all do everyday to dismantle racism ?
I hope June is amazing for you ???
Aw thanks! And of COURSE I will review it! One of the few non-review books I will be sure to review! I will look forward to your thoughts, too! I am only about halfway at this point!
And YEP that is exactly the harshest part. I just want to do whatever I can to help, because it’s just so AWFUL and it always HAS been so awful.
And thank you so much, I hope have a great June too ♥♥
Ooh you got the new E. Lockhart. And 17 books- wow. Impressive! My reading has been sooo bad…
I see Network Effect there. Ooh I need to get that- thanks for the reminder. 🙂 I can’t believe there’s a new Murderbot and I haven’t read it yet. Call me slacker…
I am loving some of those covers. There are so many kickass covers out there right now, I’m loving it.
Well said about everything going on. It can feel overwhelming but thank goodness we’re all connected now so we can see what’s happening and help out.
I did! And I (gasp) actually LIKED IT! I still haven’t read Murderbot 4, so you’re doing better than me! I pre-ordered this one to get the exclusive short story haha. I’ll be lucky if I get to it by 2022 at this rate. I agree too about being connected! I mean, before the internet days, there was NO info, and now we’re able to do SO MUCH more. There’s really no excuse for people to be absent from this fight, other than they’re clearly part of the problem.
Axiom’s End sounds soooo good. A friend pointed it out to me a few weeks ago and now I’m dying to read it!
I hope June is a great month for you too, Shannon <3
I hadn’t heard of it until this book popped into my mailbox so hopefully it’s good! Hope you have a great June too!
The world really does feel like it’s falling apart, right? Part of my brain just wants to shut it all off—turn off the news and pretend it’s not all happening, but I KNOW that’s not an answer. Thanks for sharing ways we all can help!
Yep, yep, you’re so right! It isn’t an answer, and I am glad to see people speaking out! ♥♥
I’m so glad you had such a wonderful reading month both in terms of quality and quantity! For me the quantity was a bit lacking in May, but at least everything I read was either a 4 or 5 star read!
I looked up The Assignment because that cover drew me in, and my does it sound intense! I really hope it’s well done because that premise has the potential to go very wrong!
And I think I love the cover of Written in Starlight even better than Woven in Moonlight! its just so beautiful and I adore how all the colors work with one another!
Thank you so much for mentioning both my post and Chana’s! It’s always such a cool feeling to see my name and post listed with so many names and posts that I loved myself! It helps chip away at the impostor syndrome!
Aw thanks! And wow either 4 or 5 stars IS quality, that is great! I agree that the premise has the potential to be iffy, but I know the author has been known for sensitivity and such so I am hoping it;ll be okay! Early readers have loved it, so fingers crossed!
And YES I agree completely, because the COLORS are just gorgeous! AW you guys are DEFINITELY not impostors, I promise! I usually struggle narrowing down which of your posts to choose because there are so many great ones!
Its great that you managed to read so many books. It is always a great feeling.
I’ve been retweeting a bunch of things and signed quite a few petitions since Saturday. We really do need to be allies right now.
Wow wow 17 books, what a reading month, Shannon, you’re doing amazing! SO curious to hear your thoughts on You Say It First, it’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year! <3
I hope you'll have a lovely June, take care <3 <3
Seventeen books is ah-mazing! I’d be proud, too. 🙂 The cover of Written in Starlight is gorgeous. And the title is pretty awesome, too.
Yay, I’m so glad that you didn’t hate any of your May reads. And nicely done on reading 17 books!! I feel like I had a good reading month – not sure how many books, though it’s not nearly as high as yours. LOL Thanks for sharing the links for Black Lives Matter, etc. It’s just so heartbreaking and it’s hard to know what to do and say. I’ve donated to a couple places, and I’m going to keep sharing and supporting however I can. I hope you have a great June!!!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
That blog was amazing,
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I’m so excited for Marie Lu’s new book and Woven In Starlight & the sequel! I hope you enjoy Ballad when you get a chance to read it!
Ooh, you got some great reads for next month, or coming up anyway. I had to add The Assignment by Liza Wiemer on my Goodreads TBR. Great job on 17 books this past month! Hopefully June is a good month for reading too. With the heat, I know I want to stay inside and read.
Lisa Loves Literature’s May Wrap-Up
You did an amazing job reading this past month–I can’t wait for Written in Starlight! Because I loved My Lady Jane, I just bought My Plain Jane. I read Echoes immediately after it was published and it was weird enough for me to want to read Fractures too. I hope your June is going well. The world seems to be spiraling downward and I’m hoping the news can show some of the good people are doing out there.