April Wrap Up

It’s time for my April Wrap Up!

I think this is the first month this year that feels like it’s absolutely flown by. Though that’s probably because I’ve been so busy this month, as you’ll see in the “Life In General” section of this post.

So instead of rambling on, let’s get to it!

This will be a pretty long post, so get comfy and enjoy!

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Books I read this month

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This month was probably my worst reading month so far this year. It’s been a really busy month for me, so quite frankly, I didn’t have as much time as usual. Also, I seem to be in a weird sort of reading slump – where I’ll read, but I have to encourage myself to do so rather than just want to do it. Also I’ve not felt like reading anything in particular. So there’s that too.

But along with not reading as many as usual, most of the books I read got lower ratings than what I’d usually give. So hopefully next month will be better. Here’s the books I DID manage to read this month:

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Unravel Me

by Tahereh Mafi

Rated 3.5/5 stars – [Click here to see review]

So I continued the Shatter Me series this month. I was looking forward to revisiting Tahereh Mafi’s writing, since I loved it so much in the first book.

While I did enjoy the book, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book. A love triangle began to happen, and I wasn’t impressed with it. So unfortunately I had to give it a lower rating 😦

Amazon

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

by Michelle Hodkin

Rated 4/5 stars – [Click here to see review]

This book I really enjoyed. I didn’t know anything about this one going into it, so everything was unexpected to me.

I couldn’t believe how much this book hooked me. And how much I came to love one of the characters (Noah). I’d heard everyone talk about this book but always glazed over it myself, and now I regret that! I really need to continue this series soon!

Amazon

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (reread)

by JK Rowling

Rated 5/5 stars – [Click here to see review]

So I’ve started rereading the Harry Potter series, one book each month.

And of course I was going to give this the highest rating. I love this series so much. It was so nice to revisit a series I’ve adored for so long now!

Amazon

Cruel Beauty

by Rosamund Hodge

Rated 3/5 stars – [Click here to see review]

This one sounded so intriguing when I picked it up. A fairytale retelling of Beauty and the Beast, as well as a mix of Greek Mythology? It sounds great. And the story idea was interesting.

I just couldn’t keep up with the writing. The amount of info dumping in this book was a bit excessive, so I just couldn’t keep up with why each event was happening.

Amazon

The Paper Magician

by Charlie N. Holmberg

Rated 2.5/5 stars – [Click here to see review]

Again, another book with a really interesting idea behind it.

I loved the way magic worked in this book, and the events that happened were quite action-filled. But the book just seemed way too short for the amount of world building and character building it needed.

Way too short.

Amazon

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I Am Currently Reading…

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At the moment I’m currently reading Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater!

Since I bought The Raven King the other day, it’s about time I read the next book in the Raven Cycle and catch up. Plus all the hype for Raven King just brought me back into the mood for it. I need to revisit these beloved characters – I just adore them all so much ❤

Though I’ve technically started this book, I’m only about one chapter into it, and since I’ll be busy all day today, I’ll be starting it properly on Monday! Luckily, it’s a bank holiday, so I’m hoping to read quite a big chunk of the book then!

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April Blog Posts

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Discussion Posts

Do you feel a pressure to read quickly?

Rereading – yay or nae?

Writing in books

Reading Different Genres

Random

March Book Haul (the haul that shouldn’t exist)

March Wrap Up

Q&A – answering all your lovely questions!

How I review books

Top 10 ways to reduce the pressure to read quickly

How to read more

April Book Haul – so much for that book buying ban!

Bookish Reveals

A Darker Shade of Magic Book 3 title reveal!

Book Tags

Harry Potter Book Tag

Reviews for March Books

We could all have been a …Prisoner of Night and Fog

Fangirling about On The Merits Of Unnaturalness by Samantha Shannon

Finding who I want to be in How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne

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Life In General

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So right from the start, April was an exciting month for me. 

I decided to create some fan art for the Throne of Glass series. I drew this sketch of Aelin heading into town to indulge in some chocolate and pastries, shopping around and enjoying herself in general. I tweeted the photo…and Sarah J Maas actually saw it!!! 😀

I woke up to SO many notifications (so many people liked my drawing!) and I was literally fangirling at seven in the morning 😀 Which, by the way, is very difficult when you’ve just woken up.

Thinking about it, I’ve been doing a lot of art this month.

My biggest art related project was for my friend Abbie’s birthday present. I knew that she’s planning on having a wall full of quotes and photos, so I decided to make her a few canvases to join the wall. The main one was a canvas painted with the spines of her favourite books. And the smaller two are silhouette style paintings of her two favourite Disney Princesses, Belle and Rapunzel 😀

I bought her a couple of books and a few random things too, and she says she really loved her present (so that’s lucky!).

Other than those, a few other drawings were made…

I felt like drawing the quote “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home”, and surprisingly this one didn’t take too long. As for the peacock, there was no reason behind drawing her. I just wanted to. I named her Henrietta because for some reason, all the feathers remind me of The Raven Boys 😀

And for the main reason why I’ve been so busy this month….

I’ve been redecorating my bedroom! The whole lot is in the process of being changed. I spent the entirety of last weekend emptying everything I own from my room (including 280 books, ugh) and repainted all the walls, as well as glossed my desk and already built shelves.

Today, the carpet is going down…AND I FINALLY HAVE BOOKSHELVES!!!

Full, wall length bookcases. Later on today two bookcases will be built in my room, and my books will have a proper home. I can’t wait! 😀

Even though later today I’ll have to put everything I own BACK into my room, which I’m sort of dreading!

What else did I do…

Oh! I went to Matlock with Abbie and some of her family! Very lovely place. Would love to go again someday 🙂

AND FINALLY…

Yesterday Abbie and I had to do a full day photoshoot as part of my final major project at college.

I had to take photos for two different ideas – “The boho trend” and “Book Inspired Outfits”. While our feet were aching by the end of the day from walking all over the place, we had fun, and the results were worth it 😀

I’m SO THRILLED with how most of my photos turned out! I honestly didn’t think it’d work as well as it did. You’ll be seeing some of the photos on this blog soon (probably next weekend), because I plan on sharing the book inspired outfits I created!

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So here we have the end of one very long wrap up!

I hope this didn’t bore you guys too much from the sheer length of the post. I can’t quite believe how much I had to write about for “life in general”!

How many books did you read this month? Which was your favourite of the month?

Did you buy any new books? How many and which ones? (feel free to link your haul!)

Did any interesting events happen this month for you?

Visit anywhere nice? 

What are you currently reading, going into the month of May?

Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time…

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