Half way through 2017 and I’ve hit a blogging slump.
So, May wasn’t as successful in terms of blogging as I had hoped it would be. Things were going great and then two weeks before the end of the month I hit a terrible blogging slump that took every ounce of motivation I had to do anything except read. This was great news for my reading (and Goodreads goal) as I read thirteen books but it was bad news for my poor blog. I’ve been very absent on the blogosphere so May leaves me way behind on reviews and scrambling to catch up on everyone’s posts. All of that aside, I’m still calling the month of May a success overall because I read some fantastic books. Somehow I went from my slow reader self to reading faster than I could write reviews. Also, can you believe we’re officially half way through 2017!? I know everyone is saying it but I swear just yesterday it was New Years. Time is flying this year!
-Read + Reviewed-
A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J Maas [REVIEW]
(5/5)
180 Seconds by Jessica Park [REVIEW]
(5/5)
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli [MINI REVIEW]
(4/5)
Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett [MINI REVIEW TO COME…]
(4/5)
This book was beyond cute, the perfect summer read, and had one of my favorite romance tropes (hate to love). The only downsides were that I wasn’t completely satisfied with the ending (that’s probably just me because I’m beyond picky with endings) and the blurb gives away a bit too much. So, yeah, avoid the blurb if you want to read this one because you’ll enjoy it way more if you do.
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard [MINI REVIEW TO COME…]
(4/5)
This book was one that I’ve been beyond excited to read since it was released. It lived up to almost all of my expectations. Cute, important, and some of the best anxiety rep I’ve ever read. Plus, it was incredibly positive on both therapy and medication. I loved it! The only reason it wasn’t a 5 star read was because the ending felt a little abrupt. Again, this is probably a me problem as I’m rarely completely satisfied with contemporary endings.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli [MINI REVIEW TO COME…]
(4/5)
Of course I had to read this one after having loved Simon vs. Let me tell you, I need more books by Becky Albertalli in my life now! Once again the diversity and family dynamics were incredible. I adored the characters and loved seeing the cameos from some of the characters from Simon vs. Although, I will say that I didn’t love it as much as her first book. I thought the friendships weren’t as strong which was a little disappointing. But the romances were just as cute and I expected nothing less.
Bellamy and The Brute by Alicia Michaels [MINI REVIEW TO COME…]
(4/5)
Guys, if you love Beauty and the Beast retellings you need to read this one now! This book was a complete surprise. I went in expecting just a retelling and what I got was a retelling mixed with a murder mystery and ghosts. Not to mention it’s the most diverse Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve ever read. From POC characters to characters with disabilities to characters living with illnesses. I’ve literally not stopped thinking about this book since I read it. Only downside was the ending wasn’t as strong as it could have been.
-Read But Didn’t Review/Reread-
Left Drowning by Jessica Park – Reread
(4/5)
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – Reread
(4/5)
Lady Midnight (TDA #1) by Cassandra Clare – Reread
(5/5)
Lord of Shadows (TDA #2) by Cassandra Clare [INITAL THOUGHTS]
(4.5/5)
So, I most likely won’t be reviewing this one for a long time. I devoured this book in three days! 700 pages… In three days… It’s safe to say I loved it and that it completely lived up to my expectations. It also may have completely smashed my heart and, well, I’m still recovering. I have so many feelings that it would be impossible for me to write a coherent review. All I know is that the wait for the last book is going to be torture!
No Holding Back by Kate Evangelista
(4/5)
This one was an extremely cute read and probably another that is perfect if you’re looking for a summery contemporary read – it has the best friends to lovers trope and traveling. But it was missing a little something that I can’t put my finger on. It didn’t wow me and while I enjoyed it I wasn’t left with enough thoughts to write a review.
Kane by L.A. Casey
(4/5)
I feel like I have an obligatory NA read every month now and for May it was Kane. I’ve actually reread this book twice since I first read it so, yeah, I enjoyed it. Although, it’s definitely not the book for those that aren’t into NA and is possibly full of a lot of cliches. Either way, it was a cute read and had the hate to love romance trope that I adore.
-Other Posts On The Blog-
- The Five Stages of Anticipating a Books Release
- Standalone Sunday | Ugly Love
- Waiting on Wednesday #19 | Tarnished City
- Standalone Sunday | Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
-Favorite Read-
I’m stuck between A Court of Wings and Ruin and Lord of Shadows. I can’t choose! I loved both of them so much for very different reasons but they both also had me drowning in feels. I’m honestly surprised neither of them sent me into a reading slump.
-Haul-
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas
- Lord of Shadows (TDA #2) by Cassandra Clare
- A Court of Thorns and Roses Coloring Book
- 180 Seconds by Jessica Park
- The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
In April’s wrap-up whenever I said that I had finally gotten back into posting on my blog regularly I may have jinxed myself because last month was a very slumpy month blogging wise. But it’s time to move past that because I’m back. I have a lot of catching up to do blog hopping wise so I might be inconsistent with posting for a bit. However, I have a discussion planned for this month that I’m really excited for and several mini-reviews that may or may not end up being my Standalone Sunday posts for a while. Beyond that, I’m being spontaneous because I honestly have no plan beyond getting out of this funk.
I also don’t have a TBR. I’m just running with my mood reading at the moment and reading whatever. I actually started Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas a few days ago and am just over half way through it so I might end up binging the whole series. Who knows?
I hope everyone had an incredible May full of great reads and that you all have an even better June! 😁💕
What books did you read in May? What was your favorite? Did you have a good blogging month or just a good month in general? What do you plan on reading in June? 
It sounds like you’ve had a great month and read some great books! 🙂 Becky Albertalli’s books are so cute and amazing. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous recap! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely a fantastic reading month!! 😁 And I completely agree about Becky Albertalli’s books. I so can’t wait for her next one. Thanks so much, Zoe!! ♥️
LikeLike
I’m glad you had a great reading month, Melissa! I’m sorry it wasn’t as good blogging-wise but I hope you’ll get out of this little funk soon ❤ I added Bellamy and the Brute on my TBR a little while ago, knowing that you loveed it, I'm even more impatient to read it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was definitely a great reading month but yeah blogging was a complete bust. I’m slowly getting out of my funk though. I’m thinking June will be a great month for blogging! 😁 And I really hope you enjoy Bellamy and the Brute. It’s such a unique B&TB retelling. Funny enough I found out today that there’s a second book so now I just want to drop everything and read it. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha really? Well…I’m warned now if I pick it up soon that I have to wait for a second book 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually think the second book’s already released. Or at least GR says it is. Which I so wish I knew whenever I read the first one so I could have read them both back to back. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like you’re on your way to become a SJMaas fan! We need to finish ACOWAR -but we’re already caught up with her Throne of Glass series (which gets better and better 😉)!! We also need to read Lord of Shadows!! So many books and sooo little time!!😭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely, she’s become one of my all-time favorites from the ACOTAR series alone and ToG is proving even more that she could write anything and I’ll love it. I hope you enjoy the rest of ACOWAR and then LoS once you get to it! Both are incredible. But yeah there needs to be more time to read lol. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you continue to enjoy her works – ‘cuz they’re ace 👌🏻👌🏻 And hopefully if we can’t read it now, we’ll have the summer (but preferably would want to read it now😉🤓)!
Infinite time = 📚📚📚Books read
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW, you had a great reading month! I also read 180 Seconds and A Court of Mist and Fury last month and they were both 5 star reads for me. I want to read Alex Approximately, A Quite Kind of Thunder, The Upside of Unrequited, the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and Throne of Glass. I hope June is a great reading month for you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
May was definitely one of the best reading months I’ve had in a long time. Glad to hear you enjoyed both 180 Seconds and A Court of Mist and Fury! Both of them are such incredible books. And I hope you enjoy all of the others whenever you get around to them and that June is a great reading month for you too!! 😊💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like it was sucessful enough to me! May was very slow on my end. I struggled a lot with various factors. I am looking forward to June though. And that Castiel gif haha ❤ I am curious, do you plan to write up reviews for the ones you did not or no?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely! Any month where I can get through that many books is a success for me. 😁 Sorry May was a tough month for you. I hope June is a million times better! 💕 Lol when I found that Cass gif on Google I had to use it. For the ones in the didn’t review section, nope. But for the ones in the review section that I haven’t yet I do. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ❤
LikeLike
I had a similar problem in April! Read too many books and barely posted on my blog. I can never seem to hit both my reading and writing goals at the same time 😂 I also read Lady midnight in May and I’ve started Lord of shadows but I’m too scared to finish it! I’m not ready…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same! I either read all the books or keep up with blogging. I’ve never managed to find a balance between the two. One day, hopefully! 😂 Lord of Shadows is so good! It broke my heart for sure but it was fantastic. I hope you end up enjoying it. 😊
LikeLike
It’s amazing that you read that many books! 😀 Too bad for the blogging slump though, hopefully it will pass soon. I really need to read the books by Becky Albertalli, as I have heard nothing but amazing things about them! I hope that I will be in the mood to read a contemporary soon and that I will get to at least one of those books! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m actually in shock that I read so much. I don’t think I’ve ever read so many books in one month. 😂 I’m slowly getting out of the blogging slump so yay!! 😁 And you should so read Becky Albertalli’s books whenever you’re in the mood for contemporaries again. Simon vs was actually the book that got me out of my contemporary slump. It was such a cute book! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad that Simon vs was a cute book, I already own it sooo it will be the first book that I pick up by this author! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to read The Upside of Unrequited like now, and I agree about Becky Albertalli she’s defo an author I’m watching. @_@
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should so read it! It’s a fantastic book and incredibly cute. I hope you enjoy it whenever you get the chance to! 😁
LikeLike
Wow you had a good reading month! 13 books, wow! It sucks about the slump, but it’s good to hear you’re back! 🙂 I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Lord of Shadows! I just got my copy in the mail and I can’t wait to read it! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was definitely the best reading month I’ve ever had. I couldn’t believe it whenever I realized how many books I read. 😂 And I’m slowly getting out of the slump. I hope you end up enjoying Lord of Shadows as much as I did!! 😊💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally feel you on the blogging slump. You had an AMAZING reading month though 😍😍 I’m so happy that you loved Simon, Upside and AQKOT!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blogging slumps are the worst aren’t they? Or really slumps in general. I’m slowly crawling my way out of it now though. But yes! It was an incredible reading month. 😁
LikeLike
It sounds like you had a great month overall. I don’t know why but May always seems to be that time of year where everyone falls into some sort of slump.
Alex, Approximately is one of my most anticipated books of the year and it sounds like the perfect summer contemporary romance. I just need to find time to actually read the book haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, it was a pretty good month minus blogging. I’ve noticed a lot of us had slumpy blogging months so it could just be May. June is definitely looking up that’s for sure!! 😊 And I know that feeling, too many books and just not enough time to read lol. I hope you enjoy Alex, Approximately whenever you get the chance to get around to it. 😁
LikeLike
Great recap Melissa, and I’d definitely say this was a successful month for you, certainly in terms of the books you read. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been in a bit of a blogging slump but do you think that’s over now? I really hope so because I know slumping, whether it be on blogging or reading, is terrible.
I’m so glad to see you enjoyed all of the amazing books you read this month. I will be avoiding your initial thoughts and you eventual review for Lord of Shadows, simply because I want to avoid all mention of that book so when I read it for myself (once the third is finally released) I can experience it all afresh. But again so glad you loved ACOWAR, and I hope to get around to 180 Seconds, Alex, Approximately and The Upside of Unrequited soon myself! 🙂
Again great recap, and I hope June is a better month for you blogging wise, and reading wise if that’s even possible! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Beth!! 😁♥ Yeah, it was a very successful month for reading. It was like all of my blogging motivation went into reading all of the books I could get my hands on instead of blogging. But yeah I think it’s over now. I’ve been blogging more than I did during those two weeks anyways. And finally wrote a review for the first time in a while. 😊 Which I’m really glad it is because you’re right slumps of any kind are terrible. The only good thing is that I have a lot of books to write mini-reviews for now so I’ll have plenty of reviews for this month lol.
My initial thoughts for it are pretty vague, mainly me minorly freaking out over having to wait so long for the next book after that ending. 😂 But I get avoiding any other mentions of the book until you read it. Which I so can’t wait for you to read it! I know you’re waiting until closer to the last book’s release but the second you do read it we’re going to have to talk about it for sure. But yes besides LoS, ACOWAR was the best book I read this month. That one lived up to all of my expectations. And I hope you enjoy 180 Seconds, Alex, Approximately, and Upside! You’ll have to let me know what you think whenever you get to reading them.
I hope so too about June! And I hope it’s a fantastic month for you too. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s all right. I guess it almost feels like there has to be some give and take. Either your reading is going great or your blogging is, it’s never both at the same time. At least that’s how it seems to me, and at least it seems to be over for you now as well and you’re back to blogging again.
Ha, in that case I can’t wait to see all your reviews Melissa.
That is much appreciated, I’ve managed to avoid all spoilers for all of Clare’s books, not sure how, so I want to keep that streak going until I am up to date with her releases! ACOWAR was one of my best books of the month as well! 🙂
Thanks, I really hope so too but either way I’ll be sure to let you know what I do think once I start them! 🙂
Thanks Melissa! 😀 ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely. I’m either reading a lot of books or on top of my blogging these days. Never both at the same time. This past week was more of a work took over and blogging took the backseat. 🙈
That’s good! Especially because I know a lot of people ran into a ton of spoilers before LoS release. I managed to avoid them too and the same for ACOWAR but for some reason with ToG I can never avoid spoilers. 😂
You’re welcome!! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
At the moment I’m on top of both but who knows how long that will actually last. I’m super organizes now but I know I won’t stay that way for too long. Oh that’s a shame, is work slowing down a bit for you now?
I’m not sure where people see these spoilers but I never really come across any? Is it something on Twitter because that could explain why? 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Ooh such a great reading month!! It’s too bad about your slump though, I was kind of in the same situation except mine was more in the middle of may haha. But now it’s time to move forward! I’m so jealous you read both ACOWAR and Lord of Shadows already haha I really need to read them??? And oh yes I imagine the wait for the next book after LoS will be so painful!! A whole two years aghhhh. I can’t wait to see what you think of the rest of the Throne of Glass series! Happy June! 😊
LikeLike