I decided to change things up and try out monthly recaps instead of weekly ones, which I’m now calling ‘State of the Blog’. I’m linking this one up to two memes: Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and The Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 🙂
Looking Back on July
July flew by so fast. I can’t believe I only have a few more weeks of freedom before I have to go back to school. It’s kind of sad – I had all these big plans for the summer and now I realize they are so far out of reach. Mainly because I’m lazy and unmotivated and just dragged my feel all day all month. The end result: nothing got done. How are people so productive all the time?
Posts
- [1 Jul] State of the Blog – June 2017
- [3 Jul] Do you bring books with you on vacation?
- [25 Jul] The End and New Beginning of My Love Affair With Reading
- [26 Jul] 5 Dorm Essentials You Didn’t Know You Needed
- [27 Jul] What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy ★★★★★
- [29 Jul] How Is It August Already????
Books Hauled
I broke my book buying ban yet again thanks to Prime Day. Amazon had a great promotion on books that I couldn’t pass up so I snagged a copy of Want by Cindy Pon (it takes place in Taipei, my parents’ place of birth!) and What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy (my favorite read of the year so far!). I also won an ARC of Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert from NOVL’s newsletter. Stayed tuned for my review this Thursday.
Books Read
- Wnat by Cindy Pon
- To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han
- P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
- Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
Looking Forward to August
What’s Happening
One of my uncles is getting married in August so my mom’s hosting a mini family reunion at my house. Which means I’ll totally be out of it for at least a week. And then after that it’s packing and prep time to move back into my dorm. Oh geez, this month is going to be crazy. I have so much stuff to do and so little time to do it all. Let the panicking begin.
Goals
My goal for the summer was simple: start scheduling posts ahead of time so I’ll be able to handle the madness of move-in day and have time to catch up with friends during the syllbus week. Yeah… about that. It seemed simple at first – all I had to do was write two posts a day. That didn’t happen so I’m kind of scrambling right now. At least I managed to read and review all my ARCs in time?
Posts to Look Out For
- Review – Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
- Review – The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones
- Things to do Before You Move In?
- Everything I’m Bringing to College + Ultimate Dorm Checklist?
- … and hopefully many others! 🙂
How was your July?
What are you looking forwards to in August?

It’s a big accomplishment to finish reading a bunch of ARCs! I am constantly scrambling to read them before the release dates. My solution: don’t request so many ARCs! It seems obvious, but it’s hard not to request books that look like fun to read. I need more self-control, but I’m not too hard on myself. I’m excited for you to continue with college. It is hard for many people to keep going, so yay you!
Haha I had around two ARCs to read so it’s not as big of an accomplishment as it seems. Baby steps though. I definitely stopped requesting as many ARCs as I used to. I found that they were a big culprit of my reading slumps. It’s hard to feel forced to read a book when you want to read another that’s not on your ARC list. It’s like assigned reading just more pleasurable.
That was me last summer and again this summer. Like, seriously, how hard is it to go through all my shit and throw things away or give things away? That was my big goal last summer and this summer. Didn’t happen. I am regretting that I have squandered all this time and I have nothing to show for it. No cool trips. No fun pictures with friends. *sigh* I have also finished a handful of books and for the most part written the reviews, so I have a cushion. I will be working on getting the rest of my August and September posts done up because I probably will take another haitus when school starts. Enjoy the rest of what’s left of summer!
At least doing nothing means relaxing which translates to lower stress levels which is good for you… right? Here’s to a productive August! Hopefully, we’ll both get a lot of posts scheduled before school starts!
Like you, I do not understand how people have so much motivation to do stuff. If you figure out the secret, be sure to let us know 🙂 Looks like a great haul of books for you. Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.
Here’s my STS –> http://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.de/2017/07/stacking-shelves-29-july-2017.html
Motivation is only one part of the problem. I always wonder how people find the time too. It feels like I can never have both of them at once. ?
Oooh, looks great! 🙂
– El @ El’s Book Reviews
Well hey – you reviewed your ARCs in time! That never happens to me 🙂 maybe you just need to consider posting less this month, so you’d have to schedule less? I was also wondering how the month ended so quickly, especially as it’s already too thirds of the summer gone, and we JUST STARTED having summer weather last week!! Grahhh.
I hope your August goes well and you can schedule and read loads 🙂 also congrats on winning that book! I wanted the ARC but wasn’t approved. Bah! 🙂
Reviewing ARCs on time only happens when I only have a few to read. ? Posting less would be smart. I’m just used to posting every day of the work week because that’s what I did when I was at my peak. You should definitely read LITTLE AND LION when it comes out! There’s so much diversity! 🙂
Hey now, it’s not August yet! I can’t believe how summer is already over o.O Two posts a day? That was a really ambitious goal haha, I barely can manage 1 post a week…I like this state of the blog thing. It sounds like meme of its own.
Writing two posts a day really is an ambitious goal but I can’t figure out another way to schedule enough posts before I have to go back to school. It’s honestly probably not going to happen though. ? I’m glad you like State of Blog! I just mushed two memes together and needed a title, which is inspired by the state of the union addresses the president has to give. 🙂
I really need to read the last Lara Jean book. I have been seeing enough reviews, which make me believe Han did not sink my ship, so, I think I am ready for the last book. Have fun at your uncle’s wedding.
Who are you shipping? Because if you’re shipping Peter with John, I’m very sorry to say that ship sinks. ? I liked the third book but I don’t think it was as good as the first one.
LOL! I am team LJ and Peter. I sort of loved him once I got to know him.
My cousin and I are both teachers and we were just talking about how we always have such grand plans for our summers. Yesterday we realized that we only have 3 weeks left and have done NOTHING. Sigh. Hope you are able to get a few things done before you have to head back to school!
Well, there’s still three more weeks left to do something! I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! 🙂
We had all kinds of things we wanted to do over the summer and did pretty much none on them. We’ve been so lazy at our house. Been kinda nice though. 🙂 My Kids go back to school in 2 weeks, hard to believe the summer is over. Have a great week.
Jenea’s Book Obsession’s Sunday Post
I can’t believe summer is almost over either! Lazy days are always nice. As long as there aren’t too many of them. ? I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! 🙂
Yeah! I can’t believe that August is already here! July went by so fast! I hope you have fun at your Uncle’s wedding!
It’s August 3rd right now but I keep thinking it’s still July. I don’t want summer to be over!
I know, time sure is flying. Sounds like you are enjoying your summer so far though and at least you got some awesome books to read!
That’s true! Reading is always an accomplishment. 🙂
July definitely went by way too fast. I can’t believe I’m back to setting alarms so that I can get my kid to school on time. I’m totally with you about having not been motivated to accomplish much last month. However, I’m determined to be productive this month and going forward.
Congrats to our uncle on his upcoming nuptials and I hope the mini family reunion goes well.
Thank you! Here’s to a productive August for the both of us! 🙂