Welcome to July’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. As always, I link up with the Wrap Up Round Up, too!
The Books
For Review/From Publishers:
Hugest of thanks to the publishers!!
eARCs:
Huge thanks to the publishers for these lovelies! I am so excited for all of them!
Purchased:
Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury ♦ Twice a Quinceañera by Yamile Saied Méndez ♦ A Mirror Mended by Alex E. Harrow ♦ Aurora by David Koepp ♦ Thrust by Lidia Yuknavitch
Not *too* bad this month!
Won/Gifted/Traded:
Thanks to the publishers for Our Crooked Hearts and The Light Pirate!
Shenanigans Since Last Time:
I read 11 books again this month. This is getting bad, especially since I have like 14 review books for September, send help!
This was a good bunch! I did not dislike a single one of these, actually! And I looooved a few!
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!
- Mint @ Mint Loves Books shares why she doesn’t accept review books
- Davida @ The Chocolate Lady Reviews discusses handling unsolicited review books
- Dedra @ A Book Wanderer asks if Romance books require an HEA
- Malka @ Paper Procrastinators talks about how her reading has changed over the years
- Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books wants to know how you organize your Goodreads shelves
- Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books talks about how she finds book recommendations
- Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den shares fun stuff she’s learned in her library Master’s program
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!
Pretty covers are pretty. (Thanks to Tammy for putting Weyward on my radar!)
Things we need to talk about at this juncture:
- Gah I feel like so much happened in July? First, it was Lena’s birthday. Then Sammy and I went to see the Aces play! It was so much fun, I absolutely need to get him to Vegas to see them at home. I think Santa may be delivering that for Christmas. Then, we went to the beach with my aunt. She had scheduled a trip to an animal sanctuary, which was really nice! And, Sam got his purple belt in karate! It was a three hour test, bananas! Basically, the month was just nonstop, but at least with good stuff, yeah? Anyway, have some pictures of our shenanigans!
- It’s almost time for Conageddon! After like, three years of postponement, it may finally be happening! (I mean- I am not trying to jinx it hah.) I am so, so excited to see The 100 cast again, and of course hang with fellow fans, too! I also have to go back to work in August, but I am trying to pretend that isn’t real 😂
Have a great August, loves! Let me know how your month was! Looking forward to anything coming up?
Discover more from It Starts at Midnight
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
First off, your Four for the Road aestetic is lovely! The Cherished is on my radar – same for Our Crooked Hearts (I’m not even envious now LOL). I got an eARC of Full Immersion, and I mostly liked it!
Happy belated birthday to Lena! and congrats to Sam – wow, a three hour test?!? It sounds exhausting! Keep the busy, happy times going 😀.
Aw thank you!! And I am so glad you mostly enjoyed Full Immersion! I am a little nervous about The Cherished now- I see the early reviews on Goodreads are BAD bad. Fingers crossed we won’t hate it!
And thanks so much, I will pass on the well-wishes! Hope you are doing well, too! ♥♥
Ugh – I went to look, saw those reviews and bailed. Thank goodness EW rejected my request LOL. I hope it’s not that terrible for you…
Bwhahah yeah I am SCARED- you probably dodged a bullet there! This is why I usually read a few reviews first but it seemed interesting, so I went for it. I now have regrets 😂
Well, you know what I think about 14 September review book? That it’s slow going in Nov and Dec, os you’ll get to them at some point, right? A trip to Vegas – an amazing gift. Happy Birthday to Lena and congratulations to Sam.
Bwhahha I like that theory! Interestingly, my November and December are already busier than usual? Idk if publishers have had to push books back, or what the deal is, but I have more NOvember books than Octobers so far! But alas, I am sure I’ll get to them all- I always do 😂
And thank you, I will pass along the well wishes! And right? I think he will have such an amazing time, I think they do a lot of fan meet and greets and such too. I will have to find something Lena will enjoy to take her to!
I’m happy your July was filled with good memories (whew, a three hour test???)!
Aw thank yoou! (And RIGHT? Isn’t that nuts! He’s 8!)
Ooh a purple belt sounds impressive! Glad you had such a fun, busy month. And thank YOU for putting The Tangled Stars on my radar, how did I miss it??
Aw thanks! And I have no idea- I found it on the Penguin site when I was looking for sci-fi books to buy with my points hah. Honestly they should be marketing this MUCH better!
I am always in awe of how many books you read in a month! This month I read one.
Aww well- if it helps, I straight up force myself, which isn’t always the best plan either!
Wait, July’s over?? This month FLEW. Seems like just the other day I was planning that grad party and now… wow. Anyway- Eversion of course looks fabulous, and love the look of Wildwood.
Conageddon sounds fabulous! And great pics! 🙂
Seriously, I do NOT understand why time is going so fast! I do not approve, frankly. And thanks!
July really did fly by! Glad you had a good one and read some good books.
Thanks! Hope August is treating you well so far!
That sounds like an amazingly wonderful July! Been another up and down crazy one for me, but I played mini golf for the first in a decade(?) and scored a hole in one! (After hitting two balls off the course, cough cough.) I promise, one of these days I WILL get up your way and we’ll finally get coffee, lol. Definitely enjoy what’s left of summer before work hits again. 🙂
Aw I am glad that you at least had some fun! I also played mini golf, funny enough! I was also off the course more than once 😂 And yesss we MUST get together at some point- but I also know how hard it is, and how much life gets in the way, so no worries ♥♥
Hey, I only read 2 books, so you’re doing great! 😀 We can also absolutely have some reading sprints in the hotel room, if you want (complete with room service reward or whatever). Because….same, I have 7 books to read in August now. Postpone thinking about work as long as you can! Vacation first! <3
Aww thanks! I mean- if it helps at all, I literally force myself, for I feel obligated to read books I requested (and in fairness, I don’t trust myself to actually read if left to my own devices 😂) We absolutely can read though- and I am obviously here for room service 😂 Damn, you have to read 7!? Then yeah we definitely need to! Can you read on planes? I used to be a champ at it, but now I keep falling asleep bwhaha- though with 2 one-hour flights, I can’t imagine I will get much of anything done regardless! Which books do you have to read? Maybe we have a couple in common!
Well, hopefully I’ll have read 2-3 before the flight, but my TBR pile (it’s for a readathon) is:
Hearts and Bones by Margaret Lawrence
The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (reading now)
Dead of Night by MR Forbes
The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood (short story, so will probably read on flight)
Merry Christmas, Kitten by Karen Drew (short story, so will probably read on flight)
Oh gosh, I can’t fall asleep on a plane even when it’s a 12-hour flight! I’m hoping I can knock out some reading then, for sure, though I don’t read quickly so…it won’t be great progress on the plane. 😀
I just realized that’s EIGHT books, not 7. Wow, cannot even math this month.
Definitely a busy July, but yes, lots of fun things! that’s awesome. July seemed to go by really quick for me. I’m going on vacation next week and I am absolutely stoked. I could really use time away and just to relax. It’s been an insane year for me already in various ways so yeah, I need a tiny break. LOL
-Lauren
Oh YAY where are you headed? Seriously, I feel you SO much, I need a break too (though Conageddon won’t be relaxing, hopefully it’ll be fun!) and i hope you have a wonderful time!
Glad you had a good month, fingers crossed that Conageddon will happen (I do not know what that is, so I’ll have to check out your link). Jinxes begone!
Looks like a nice month for sure! Birthdays always make for fun times. I read a few of the same books as you. I’ve got to read the first on the Tricia Levenseller series for a library committee I’m on as well. Hope August is going well for you and sorry it took me so long to stop by and comment on this!
My July post: https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2022/08/01/the-looooong-and-the-short-of-it-with-a-giveaway-july-2022-wrap-up-post-and-what-to-expect-in-august/
Yes, I’m about 3 or 4 months late to this post, but hey, I got here!
I always love seeing all the books you acquire because there’s usually such a fun mix! I hope you end up loving them all!
You mentioned so many great sounding posts in this wrap up! Since I missed most of them, I’ll have to check them out now! Also, thank you for including min in the lineup!
And I think you were quite harsh on yourself! 11 books read when you had so much going on is amazing!