Q1 Recap: January-March 2017

Thursday, May 25, 2017


WOW THIS IS EMBARRASSINGLY LATE. Normally by this time, I would've deleted the post from my drafts folder. But I want to stay committed to tracking my goals, so here we are. Also ... all of this information is still kinda relevant, right? *tries to make us both look at the brighter side of things*

BOOKS I READ

Favorite book of Q1: The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Cress by Marissa Meyer // This is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Each book is about a different fairy tale character (we follow Rapunzel in this one) but it's ultimately intertwined with the big story started in the first book, Cinder. I started this one back in November 2016 and of course it took me forever to finish. It's a hefty book (550 pages!) but really fun to read. I do admit it was a little slow at times (especially when they were walking through the desert) but overall entertaining.

Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu // It's one of those hard-to-read contemporaries because the main character is a bit unlikeable. We follow a girl named Tabitha who is in love with a boy, but he has a girlfriend. She comes across this site called "Life by Committee," a chatroom of people talking about their secrets, and decides to share hers. Things get messy and Tabitha is tough to sympathize for, but it's a story that will challenge your way of thinking if you are interested.

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes // The Fixer is about a girl named Tess who finds out her sister is paid to cover up powerful people's problems. If you like Pretty Little Liars and the words "conspiracy" + "secrets" interest you, read this! (I will say, however, The Fixer is much more fulfilling, haha.) The pacing was perfect, with just enough revealed after each chapter to keep me turning the pages.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena // The Couple Next Door is about a couple who leaves their baby girl at home while they have dinner next door, and of course she gets kidnapped. This is another one that took me a long time to get through, it was a really slow read for me. The story wasn't bad though, I just wish it was more captivating.

GOALS UPDATE
Books read in Q1: 4
Pages read in Q1: 1,568
Comics (volumes) read in Q1: 3

I definitely failed to upkeep my goal of averaging one book a week, but I did a lot of traveling during February and March—more trips than I'm used to taking, so it was hard to make time for reading. I also started freelancing for Epic Reads (!!!) so that takes priority. I honestly don't mind at all, I love designing marketing graphics just as much as I love reading :)

#RockMyTBR challenge (3/61) // Cress, Life by Committee, and The Fixer are all books I own, and all three were purchased/received before 2017! My physical TBR has increased by six since I made the goal of reading 61 owned books, TIME TO GET READING!

POPSUGAR reading challenge (2/52) // I'm focused more on reading the books I own vs. tackling this list, it's just something extra to do. I want to see if I can fit the books I read with their categories! This quarter had two that fit: a book with a title that's a character's name (Cress) and a bestseller from 2016 (The Couple Next Door).

OBSESSIONS
This is my favorite section to write; I love it when you guys read it and we find similarities!!!



  • Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording) // I HAVE NOT FELT THIS MANY FEELS FROM LISTENING TO A CAST RECORDING, EVER. I first heard of DEH in November because one of its producers followed me on Twitter. (He has since unfollowed, followed, and unfollowed me back. LOL. Get it together, my friend.) "Waving Through a Window" was the only song out at that time, and WOW that one speaks to me. Although my social anxiety is on a different level than Evan Hansen's, I know exactly what he feels when he sings the opening lines. I haven't watched the musical yet, but I already know it's an incredibly powerful story just by listening to the recording. "You Will Be Found" gives me the shivers, "Words Fail" breaks me, and "Only Us" makes my heart swell.
  • ÷ (Ed Sheeran) // Another Ed Sheeran album, bless his giving soul. I've been listening to him for a long while now, and the guy doesn't disappoint. Even in concert he is perfection. I can't stop listening to "Galway Girl" and "What Do I Know?"
  • Girl Meets World // I can't believe they cancelled this show ... apparently the ratings were declining so they dropped this one for Raven's Home, a That's So Raven spin-off. HOW DARE YOU, DISNEY CHANNEL. But to be honest, season three wasn't as good as the first two. I wanted more Auggie!!!
Tell me about your favorite reads of this year so far, and your obsessions too!!!

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