Quarterly update… because I can’t keep up with monthly updates. It’s kind of sad how I went from weekly recaps to monthly and now quarterly. I guess that’s just how life goes.
January
My January started out how January always starts – with me very eager and motivated to work towards all my New Year’s resolutions. I might have been overly ambitious this time because that did not last that long. Normally I can keep up the “it’s a new year” mentally until at least early February, but I didn’t even make it until the end of January this year. In my defense, part of it was because I had some fun near the end of the month, and that just totally derailed the whole goal-getter train I was on.
My brother visited at the end of the month and we ended up going to New York to catch our first Broadway show, Wicked, thanks to his visit coinciding with Broadway week (aka buy one ticket, get one free promotion). It’s kind of crazy that it took me this long to see a Broadway show in person, especially since I’ve always enjoyed musical theatre and have lived only a few hours outside NYC my whole life.
Wicked was incredible and we managed to snag great seats. But it also marks the beginning of my slump. 😅
Reading
I had a pretty good reading month in January.
Total number of books read: 5
Number of books read from my own shelves: ZERO
Number of books hauled: None
Books Read
- Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling #6) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
- Wild Invitation (Psy-Changeling novella collection) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Play of Passion (Psy-Changeling #9) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐✨
- Archangel’s Blade (Guild Hunter #4) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐✨
My favorite of the month (and actually the quarter) is Branded by Fire. It’s sort of become a comfort reread. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a slow burn enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance.
February
I spent most of February in a bit of a slump. Life and productivity-wise, at least. I just felt like I was flailing about, the entire month.
But I did manage to have some fun scoping out a new sushi place with friends. The experience was definitely more fun than the sushi itself, though.
Reading
While I may have been in a slump in my everyday life, I somehow managed to avoid being in a reading slump.
Total number of books read: 4
Number of books read from my own shelves: ZERO
Number of books hauled: None
Books Read
- Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling #2) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐
- Caressed by Ice (Psy-Changeling #3) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐
- Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling #4) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐✨
- Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐✨
Plus a mini reread of Branded by Fire even though it’s only been a month since I read it… it just made sense chronologically since it’s book #6, okay? Looking back, I’m not sure why I went from reading book #1 in 2022 and then thinking, “I’ll just pick up the series at book #6” in January.
March
March was a mess. A complete mess.
I had family over so that’s always an interesting (and tiring) time. I (thankfully) managed to pull myself together and get out of the slump I was in afterward though. Just in time too, since that’s also when work started to get CRAZY. Our fiscal year ends in March so I had SO MANY year-end tasks to complete.
It was a stressful time and I’m so glad it’s over. In hindsight, knowing that a hectic time was coming, is what probably finally motivated me to complete a full reset and get my life together.
Reading
I guess my reading wasn’t that impacted by all the craziness that happened in March. I do need to start reading books off my physical tbr, though. I can’t have it at zero for every month.
Total number of books read: 4
Number of books read from my own shelves: ZERO
Number of books hauled: 1 ARC that was gifted by the publisher
Books Read
- Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling #7) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐
- Whisper of Sin (Psy-Changeling #0.75 novella) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Bonds of Justice (Psy-Changeling #8) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐✨
- Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling #10) by Nalini Singh ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I did also skim through Play of Passion between reading Bonds of Justice and Kiss of Snow just to refresh myself on what happened in that book. I’m not sure why I thought it’d be a good idea to read it out of order because it definitely made more sense after reading #8.
Looking Forward to Q2
I honestly, don’t have that many set plans for Q2. I’m just looking forward to spending more time out with friends now that it’s warmer out. I also need to start taking more time off work since I have a lot of time that will expire in the fall.
Goals
- Read at least 15 minutes daily
- Read at least 13 books
- Read at least 3 books from my own shelves
- Limit book buying
- Finish at least one series
These are pretty much just my 2023 reading goals broken down by what I should accomplish in quarters. Except for the one that involves tackling my physical tbr. One of my 2023 goals is to read at least six books off my own shelves, so theoretically around 1.5 books every quarter. But because I failed to make any progress towards that in Q1, I want to make up for it in Q2.
Also, I have a feeling it’ll be harder to limit my book buying this quarter. Especially, if Barnes & Noble runs their 50% off hardcover sale in June. I love a good deal.
To Be Read
I don’t really have a set tbr but I’m definitely looking forward to reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. It’s the ARC that I was lucky enough to be gifted in March. It sounds right up my alley and honestly, I need a break from all the Psy-Changeling books.
How was your first quarter of the year? What are you looking forward to these next 3 months?
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