Sorry, Mrs. Weasley. Short answer: here. Long answer: here, but just reading a lot and taking a break and re-energizing myself. Watching Outlander over and over again. Becoming obsessed with makeup tutorials on YouTube and spending too much money as a result. Letting my reviews pile up. Feeling a little disconnected. It’s been pretty freeing, honestly. I have NOT been getting into trouble with your sons and Harry Potter (GOD, I WISH) (WAHHHH, FRED!! *SOBS FOREVER*).
Anywho, you know how sometimes things are incredibly stressful and you feel like you’re dealing with everything pretty well until you look backwards and are like, “Oh, no, honey. No.”? That’s been me lately. Well, kind of since the beginning of this year. Work has been stressful–like, giving me hives stressful–and home has been a little less so, but still not the calmest. I come home from work and I’m burned out, and all I feel like doing is reading or watching the aforementioned YouTube videos and not having to do anything even mildly obligatory. I’d say that I barely have the motivation to do laundry, but that’s not really the result of anything new. I’m just, like, mentally exhausted. My chill is evaporating.
I know that I’ve mentioned before somewhere that when I’m feeling the press of time or like a stress ball, I’ll chose reading over anything else. Including blogging. To me, reading is entertainment, and when I need to turn off my brain for whatever reason, I’ll grab a book. Reading at my own unhurried pace is really the only thing that relaxes me lately, and blogging has felt like more work.
Since I haven’t posted anything in a while (almost a whole month OMG), I figured I’d just give a brief rundown of what I have been reading recently so that we can still have no chill over books together. I’ve mostly been reading lots of adult contemporary or historical romance (I’m caught up on Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series and just finished some Tessa Dare books–all wonderful), because those books in particular are like crack and are perfect for my mood, but I’ve gotten a few YA books under my belt, waiting patiently for me to get a burst of motivation to write a review. I loved THE RAVEN KING and A COURT OF MIST AND FURY. Loved a lot. Katie McGarry’s WALK THE EDGE was really good; I’m loving this biker series in general so far. I also cannot wait for the third book in The Fixer series because THE LONG GAME was fun and intriguing and had SOME TWIST (I kind of figured it out, but still). I’m also completely invested in my Outlander reread. Like, ALL IN. I’m rereading the series via audio before I read IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD, and it’s seriously the best kind of meditative device. Davina Porter is magic. I’m on THE FIERY CROSS right now, and everytime I start a new book, my excitement for the whole series is renewed. Plus, this is the first time I’ve reread the books after DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, and it’s basically a book-lover’s dream to be reminded of things and characters in a favorite series long forgotten. JAMMF always.
I’m 23 books behind on my Goodreads challenge, and I’m not really sweating it.
As always, though, I’ve got a BUNCH of books I want to read, but I’m really looking forward to THE WINNER’S KISS, THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER, THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING, and, like, so many more. Have you guys read any of these? Which one should I jump into first? TELL ME!
Basically this whole post is just because I missed blogging for the first time in awhile today, and I wanted to talk about what I’ve been reading in a really (really) low-key way. What have you guys been up to? How’s life? Whatcha readin these days?
Let’s catch up!
I just finished ACOMAF and LORDY I’m so here for that. I do know how the stress feels though. That was me all through last semester up until now where I am currently in Taiwan. Take time for yourself and if blogging is feeling like work, then take a step away from it. There’s nothing making you stay here. It should be fun!
I totally know what you mean, I was barely blogging for a few months recently, because I just needed some time off and life was busy (still is), but I always get into it again eventually. I haven’t read any of these books, but I’m glad you read some good ones! I hope life gets a bit less stressful for you soon, and until then enjoy your books. 🙂
Welcome back (?)
I totally know the feelings, sadly this year hasn’t been any kind to me so I shut myself up into books and tvshows.
Go fiction worlds! <3
I completely understand. I have been mainly posting only reviews because I am just mentally too exhausted for much else. It has been a few days since I’ve even picked up a book!
I recommend The Rose and the Dagger next. That and The Winner’s Kiss are both great reads even if they are series-enders. *tears* I hate it when a favorite series has to end.
I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!
Good for you for taking a well deserved break! I hope things get better. I have to read all these books still. I’m generally a slow reader and I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately. But on to happy news, I’m loving Stalking Jack the Ripper (which I’m currently reading) and I loved A Study in Charlotte! Have you read either?
Hello darling! So glad to see a post from you back in my feed <3 I've been doing okay! Trying to enjoy my free time in the summer, in spite of being stuck in the office most days. And I'm currently rereading Goblet of Fire, though I'm nearly done with that, and will probably be moving on to something else soon!
I totally understand about being too exhausted to do anything blogging-wise. You do what's right for you, and that's all that really matters in the end <3
When summer rolls around & I suddenly have all this free time again, I think – LET’S READ ALL THE BOOKS! But then, I find myself being chill & just taking it easy. And that might mean reading a book from my shelf, or revisiting a past love. I think it’s okay, as a blogger, to step back sometimes & just allow ourselves the pleasure of reading. No stress attached. I hope this “break” has been good for your soul. I’ve totally been there & understand.
I feel that way sometimes and I totally get where you’re coming from, I also don’t post a lot of reviews, well not as much as I used to because sometimes I just want to be a REBEL AND JUST READ ALL DAY!
Hope work and home calms down and you’ll be back in the grind!
I completely understand this feeling! My reading has been hot and cold all year because of this. See, when I want to relax I want to want to read all the time, but that’s not how my brain works. I get tired or overwhelmed picking a new book so I just scroll twitter or watch tv. But then I’ll get a burst of reading energy and read a ton in a row! And girl I feel you on the laundry. I never have the energy to deal with that. I’m always ready to do chores on the weekend until the weekend gets here hah. My job isn’t stressful right now but it’s not particularly busy which is its own sort of trap. Loved TRK and ACOMAF!! And ohhhhh my gosh I don’t know if you saw my tweets but my MOM started reading the Outlander series! She wanted to read Dragonfly while she waited for season two and started it halfway through the season I think? But she LOVED it and bought Voyager right away! Then she went back and read book one and now she’s about to start on Dragonfly. You don’t understand: my mom has always encouraged my bookish habits but she doesn’t sit down and read books. Hardly ever. Like, maybe 2 that I can think of? And she’s read 3 long Outlander books in the space of a month!!!!! She texts me about it and drinks tea and eats shortbread while she reads and it is so damn adorable. Really makes me happy 🙂 I applaud your reread, I don’t know if I have the emotional stamina for that haha! But I do want to finish Book 8. Happy reading and I know it’s been a month since this post so I hope you’re in a better space too <3