The End of the Year Book Tag – 2022 Edition

Aloha friends! We have reached that time of the year, oh yes, the END of the year – and I still can’t believe it. I was tagged by the wonderful Dini @ DiniPandaReads and if you haven’t yet, please check out her awesome blog. Thanks for the tag, Dini – let’s get to it!

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

I started Forestborn in the summer but wasn’t in the mood to finish and then didn’t have time to pick it up this fall. The Vanishing Deep was something I started before I went on vacation and hoping I can finish this month!

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I was going to say no, I don’t have a transition book but I just finished this book recently called Ledge and it definitely has all the winter vibes and not in a cozy way. More like cold, icy, winter, violent vibes lol…

Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?

A Fire Endless is the only December release I’m looking forward to and it releases early in December.

What are three books you want to read before the year ends?

Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?

I’ve heard so many good things about this book! I’m excited to finish it and see what the hype is all about.

Have you already started to make reading plans for 2023?

I’m tagging:

Ali @ Ali’s Books

Chonky Books

Jordyn @ Birdie’s Book Nook

and YOU!

**no pressure in doing the book tag!**

Advertisement

MidnighTS Book Tag Pt. 2 (3am Edition)

Here is part 2 of the MidnighTS Book Tag and it’s the 3am edition – the extra songs that came out at 3am! I found it on Star is All Booked Up! Please check out the link to her blog to see the original book tag and prompts, there is a part 1 and part 2 if you want to try it out. Here is the 3am edition:

The Great War – Love that rises even above the hardest times

Kazi and Jase forever!

“I vowed I will always be yours” – Taylor Swift, The Great War


Bigger Than the Whole Sky – a book that deals with grief

This book made me cry!

“Did some force take you because I didn’t pray?” – Taylor Swift, Bigger Than the Whole Sky

**my other favorite song**


Paris – favorite escape

Paris is nice, but I’d love to be in Positano eating all the pasta and cheese and enjoying the sun and sea!

“I’m so in love that I might stop breathing” Taylor Swift, Paris


High Infidelity – love triangle

Such a love triangle between Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah!

“I didn’t know you were keeping count” – Taylor Swift, High Infidelity


Glitch – friends to lovers

A fun friends to lovers story!

” You don’t live in my part of town but maybe I’ll see you out some weekend” – Taylor Swift, Glitch


Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve – a book you wish had a different ending/DNFed

I enjoyed this book but damn…why the ending had to be so sad?! πŸ˜’

“I could’ve gone on as I was” – Taylor Swift, Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve


Dear Reader – a book that taught you something important

I love learning about mythologies from different cultures and this one tells us about the Mami Wata (mermaids) and West African mythology.

Bend when you can” – Taylor Swift, Dear Reader

My favorites from the 3am edition are:

  • Bigger Than the Whole Sky
  • Glitch
  • Dear Reader

So what did you think of the whole album? And feel free to do this tag and link back to the creator of the book tag!

MidnighTS Book Tag (pt.1)

Are you listening to the new Taylor Swift album that just came out? I was curious to see if a blogger out there was fast enough to create a book tag related to the Midnights album and sure enough I found it on Star is All Booked Up! Please check out the link to her blog to see the original book tag and prompts, there is a part 1 and part 2 if you want to try it out. For now this is part 1 because I really gotta think about this lol….let’s start:

Lavender Haze- a book you will always love and defend

I will always love and defend this book!

“I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say” – Taylor Swift, Lavender Haze


Maroon- a spicy book

Spicy and sweet, just how I like it!

“I feel you, no matter what” – Taylor Swift, Maroon


Anti-Hero-unreliable narrator

I think Anti-Hero and think of Violet.

“It’s me, hi

I’m the problem, it’s me” – Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero

**this is one of my favorite songs on the album**


Snow on the Beach- an unexpected surprise

This book was such an unexpected surprise and kinda strange and sweet like snow on the beach.

“You wanting me tonight, feels impossible” – Taylor Swift, Snow on the Beach

**my other favorite song**


You’re on Your Own Kid- a character that really needs a hug

Lila seriously needed a hug after everything she was going through.

” ‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned” – Taylor Swift, You’re On Your Own, Kid

**another favorite song**


Midnight Rain- star-crossed lovers

I was thinking star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet and thought about These Violent Delights but then thought about Only a Monster because of how Nick was human and Joan learns she’s a monster, which makes them very star-crossed.

“He stayed the same

All of me changed

Like Midnight” – Taylor Swift, Midnight Rain

**love this one too!*


Question…?- grumpy x sunshine (or neurodivergent rep)

Knox is such a grump! And Naomi rolls with the punches.

“I just may like some explanations” – Taylor Swift, Question…?


Vigilante shit- favorite character out for revenge

All Zetian wants is REVENGE.

“Don’t get sad, get even” – Taylor Swift, Vigilante Shit


Bejeweled- strong character development

Freya really rises above after she is jilted before her wedding! But she goes to everyone else’s wedding and keeps on having fun with her friends as best as she can – she really grows from her experience.

“I polish up nice” – Taylor Swift, Bejeweled


Labyrinth- second chance romance

The title says it all! Clementine loses her memory and her ex comes back into her life, and she asks him what happened between them so she can’t remember. Talk about second chances!

“Lost in the labyrinth of my mind” – Taylor Swift, Labyrinth


Karma- favorite full circle moments or parallels

After everything they go through…it’s a sweet, full circle ending!

“Ask me what I learned from all those tears” – Taylor Swift, Karma


Sweet Nothing- favorite fluffy/cozy read

It’s a Christmas story that includes a cat cafe and so many different cats. It’s very cozy!

“I find myself running home to your sweet nothings” – Taylor Swift, Sweet Nothings


Mastermind- perfect world building and storytelling

I love this story so much, it’s perfectly told and I love the world building.

“Checkmate, I couldn’t lose” – Taylor Swift, Mastermind

And that’s the Midnights album before she release the extra songs hours later lol…so I will be doing part 2 in another post because it took me some time to do this one!

What are your favorite songs from this album? So far my top ones are:

  • Maroon
  • Anti-Hero
  • Snow on the Beach
  • You’re on Your Own Kid
  • Midnight Rain

I actually love a lot of the extra songs too…but I’ll rank let you know which ones in part 2!

Trick or Treatin’ Book Tag | Book Tag

Hi friends! I saw this book tag on Wildwood Reads and thought it would be a fun one to do for October. Not sure who the original creator is.

I’m lucky I have young kids who still go trick or treating lol…it’s still so much fun but Hawaii is so hot and humid still that after going around the block just once we are sweating and our feet hurt. But it’s fun to see all the decorations!

Creepy House on the Corner of the Street: A book with a creepy cover

There is something about black and white photos with the person looking straight at me that I find very creepy. It could be the most simple cover but it’s the eyes.

Light’s Out (Party Poopers): A book you want to read when you want to escape

Any SJM book is escapism for me!

The House That Gives Out the Cheap Candy: Guilty pleasure book

It’s one of those series I wish I could go back and read for the first time all over again. I haven’t read it in ages, but I still remember it so clearly. And yes I still want to watch the new series (gonna binge it once it’s all out).

The House with the Best Decorations on the Block: Best haunting/Halloween themed cover

The House that Gives Out the Best Candy: #1 Halloween recommendation

I think The Hacienda was pretty creepy, especially the night scenes!


Speed Round
Corn Maze or Haunted House?

I don’t think I’ve ever done a corn maze πŸ€” so Haunted House

Classic or Unique Costume?

Both!

Sexy or Scary Costume?

Scary

Comedy or Horror Halloween Film?

I was much braver when I was younger lol…so comedy!

Chocolate or Sour Candy?

Chocolate!


And that’s the tag! Feel free to try this book tag out and thanks for reading!

The Book Addiction Tag | Book Tag

Hi friends! I saw this book tag on Riddhi’s blog Whispering Stories and thought it was a fun one to do. Fun and easy, I should say, because I like easy book tags lol. So let’s try it out!

What is the longest amount of time you can comfortably go without picking up a book?

I would say I can go a week without picking up a book especially if I’m exhausted and life is just BUSY. Sometimes a break from reading is a good thing.

How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time?

I don’t carry any unless I’m going to an appointment where I know I’ll be waiting for awhile, like my kids dental appointments. Then I just carry one book. I just took my son to the dentist and this is the book I brought:

I’m not feelin’ it – I think this is going to be a DNF.πŸ˜•

Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more?

I used to but now I’m not so attached to my books as I used to be when I was younger. So I will donate them just so I know someone else can enjoy the books instead of them sitting on my shelf collecting dust. I will keep my favorite books though.

How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit?

When I was younger? For hours. But now? I’m in and out – because usually my kids want to get whatever book they want and then go home lol.

How much time per day do you actually spend reading?

About 1-2 hours, but if it’s good and I can’t put it down then 4-5 hours.

Where does the task β€˜picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list?

It appears LAST. Because I like to read in before bed.

Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation?

Not a lot because I actually don’t know many readers. If I do bring it up it’s only to the one or two people that I know who love to read like I do. Does telling my son about it count? Sometimes I tell him what I’m ready if it’s a fantasy young adult that I think he would be interested in.

What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading?

I thought it would be Priory of the Orange by Samantha Shannon but nope I’m wrong, of course it’s a Sarah J. Maas book to take the crown.

Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)?

I haven’t – most things I can just find right away online.

A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF?

I might have to chalk this up to being not in the mood. I wonder if I read it around December if I’d have liked it more? But I read it as an arc and wanted to finish in time. So I wasn’t in the Christmas mood at all.

What are 3 of your main book goals for 2022?

I’m pretty sure I stated my goals at the beginning of the year so reflecting back, here were the 3 I had:

  • cut down on NetGalley requests – I think I did really good on this!
  • book buying ban – I didn’t totally ban book buying but I barely bought any new releases. Anything I did buy was heavily discounted!
  • be brave enough to DNF books – I’m WAY better at it, but I could still find the nerve to do it more often lol

Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)?

I like to think I made my best friend into a reader lol! And I do know I kind of influenced my older sister to start reading again.

Describe what books mean to you in five words.

Sanity. Escapism. Self-Care. Quiet. Adventure.


And that’s the tag! Feel free to try this book tag out and thanks for reading!

Fall Bucket List Book Tag | October 2022

I did this tag last year so since it’s that time again, here’s my 2022 version!

The original tag was made by Tiffany @ Read by Tiffany.


The Rules

  • Link back to the original creator in your post.
  • Feel free to use any of my graphics in your post, or create your own!
  • Tag 7 other people at the end of your post, and let them know you’ve tagged them.

A laugh-out-loud, opposites attract romance about three of the world’s most beloved C’s: Christmas, Coffee, and Cats.

Veterinarian and animal lover Kara Ingalls needs a Christmas miracle. Opening the Meow and Furrever Cat CafΓ© to find loving homes for adorable, adoptable cats was a dream come trueβ€”but with more cats than customers, it’s quickly turning into a nightmare. If Kara can’t figure out some way to get the cafΓ© out of the red, it won’t last past the holidays.

Marketing guru Ben Reese may be annoyingly smart and frustratingly bossy, but when he hatches a plan to put the cafΓ© in the β€œgreen” by Christmas, Kara realizes that she’d be a fool to turn down his help. And so what if he turns out to be an excellent problem solver and nerdy-hotβ€”he can’t even handle fostering one little kitten. She needs to keep their relationship professional and focus on saving the cafe.

But if Ben and Kara can set aside their differencesβ€”and find homes for all the cats by Christmasβ€”they might discover that, by risking their hearts, they’ll have their own purr-fect holiday . . . together.

Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her helpβ€”and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stakeβ€”and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.

Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organized, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember.

But when Matthew calls things off hours before they walk down the aisle, Freya’s entire life plan goes up in smoke. Humiliated and heartbroken, the last thing she wants is to attend a summer of other peoples’ nuptials on her own.

Fortunately, her friends have an idea: together they devise a series of outrageous challenges for Freya to complete at each event, designed to distract her from Matthew and what might have been. From getting stuck in an old church bathroom and needing to be rescued by the vicar to making out with a barman at a French chateau, Freya realizes that despite herself, she might just be having fun.

By the time the final wedding arrives, she will discover that the road to a happy ending sometimes has unexpected detours, that β€œI do” is only the beginning––and that perhaps her own love story isn’t over just yet.

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between themβ€”and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursedβ€”can they manage to hold onto each other?

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panaderΓ­a, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everythingβ€”including Lila herselfβ€”fell apart.

Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell.

A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mindβ€”one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the β€œtrue bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the villageβ€”and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joonβ€”may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shinβ€”as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spiritsβ€”Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…


I tag all of you to do this tag – no pressure!

The Animal Crossing Book Tag

I saw this tag on the blog Hundreds & Thousands of Books so check out her blog for more amazing book content! I wanted to do this tag since my daughter has been playing Animal Crossing New Horizons all week, so I thought this would be fun. πŸ₯° All credit goes toΒ Bookish Things and Tea for the super cute graphics!

The Rules:

  • Please link back to the original creator of the tag,Β Bookish Things and Tea.
  • Answer the followingΒ Animal CrossingΒ themed book questions.
  • Feel free to use graphics, but be sure to credit Bookish Things and Tea.
  • Tag some friends to spread the love!

So this was on my Kindle Unlimited for the past month and I still haven’t read it. I will eventually read it lol…sometime this year?

The first book was such a struggle to push through but I did and had no regrets because the rest of the series is amazing. So The Heart Forger had only room to go up after the slow first book, Bone Witch.

I’d say Crescent City is a pretty large fantastical city that SJM has built in her series. I kinda wish it was a real place I could visit! But nope, only in my mind will it exist lol.

I feel like I don’t read a lot of new releases, I guess I can count arcs that become new releases but as far as books I didn’t read arcs for and was released in 2022 – this book would be it.

I’m gonna go old school with this one and my first copy of this book was so tattered by the time I became an adult lol – I read this in 1991! I was barely a teenager and this book/series had me in a chokehold through all my teen years. I even read it in my 20’s, but yeah…it’s what made me love all things vampires, supernatural, paranormal – whatever that was different. I’ll always have a space in my heart for it, even with the new copies that I just don’t touch lol.

Patrick in The Guncle is a Character with emphasis on that capital C! lol He is the moment – he is the book – he is a mess sometimes, but he is really something. Add in his niece and nephew and this book is filled with so much character.

This is a book that I read last year and thought it was a unique account of the Jews that fled into the forest to evade capture from the Nazis. It’s a harrowing tale, but interwoven with mystical elements but an inspiring tale about survival.

I mean…just because it was a total miss for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be for you, but this was such a struggle for me to get through. I DNF’ed at 20% in but read the ending lol…


This was such a cute tag to do and I won’t tag anyone but feel free to do it if you want!

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag – 2022

I was supposed to do this in June but I was recovering from covid and then things got crazy busy! SO let’s do it now since we are now in July.

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2022

I don’t have many 5 star reads this year. Guncle made me laugh and hurt my heart at the same time and it was my most recent 5 star read, so it’s my favorite so far!

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2022

I know this one was published at the tail end of 2021 but it is still the best sequel I’ve read in 2022!

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

I just read my first book by Tessa Bailey and loved it. I so want to read this one, hopefully I can borrow it sometime this year.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

I’m a broken record at this point! I think you’ve seen this book on so many of my TTT TBR lists. πŸ˜… SOON!! I can hardly wait!

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

I was bummed I didn’t like this one especially because I thought the first was so wacky, wild and funny! For this one the humor wore out for me – maybe I wasn’t in the mood for it? Not sure.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

This one surprised me with how much I ended up liking it! The dog was just a fun, sassy character that made the whole book wholesome and funny.

FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR (debut or new to you)

I enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to reading the next book and other books that author writes! And come on – look at that cover!!

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

How could I not crush on Brendan? I like a guy who can fix things, build things, not afraid of working hard and a generous lover! πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ

NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER

I love an antiheroine – especially one as snarky as Violet.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

Anything with grief, dealing with abuse, broken families…UGH…these books made my heart hurt so much.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

Romance makes me happy and I had to throw in Guncle again because the kids made me happy.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR (or received)

I wish I had a copy of A Magic Steeped in Poison – I borrowed it from the library. But I did just get a copy of Ramon and Julieta. I love the colors!

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

FAVORITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION YOU’VE SEEN THIS YEAR

Heartstopper is so heart-felt and sweet! You can’t just help but melt as the characters fall in love.

Meet the Book Blogger Tag!

Hello Friends!

Here we have the Meet the Book Blogger Tag and I was tagged by Dini @ dinipandareads. Check out her beautiful blog for more bookish content! Thanks for tagging me Dini!


The Rules

  • Thank the blogger who tagged you ☝🏽
  • Mention the creator: Lauren @Lala’s Book Reviews
  • Tag as many (or as few) people as you’d like
  • Have fun and get to know one another!

Introduction

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Hi everyone, my name is Yolanda. Of course I love to read since this blog is about books. I’m a mom of 2 wonderful kids, ages 9 and 5. I was born and raised in Hawaii but went to college in California and even lived there for a tiny bit. I love to travel but haven’t left this island for the past 10 years while I was raising my kids, but that’s changing in a few weeks – so excited to travel! I’m a stay at home mom but used to (or still) work from home running my own Etsy shop. I ran it pretty much part-time when my son was younger and business was booming. I cut back tremendously when my baby girl was born and was gonna jump back into it as she got older, then the pandemic happened. I do it on a very small scale now, barely part-time haha, but I’m fine with it for now. I do metal-stamping and resin (sometimes).

SOMETHING MOST EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW…DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

My daughter has a betta fish named True. And we have our 1.5 years old scruffy boy named Atlas. ❀️

This toothy boy is named Atlas
He loves soft fuzzy socks…to carry around and destroy lol

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DRINK?

Mostly ice-cold water for everyday. On days I need caffeine (which is every day), I do decaf iced-tea or for a treat a decaf mocha cookie crumble frappuccino from Starbucks or a decaf cookies and creme ice blended from Coffee Bean.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON?

We don’t have much of a Fall or Winter in Hawaii. Fall feels like summer weather these days so I’ll say winter just because we get more rain and somewhat cooler weather.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL TALENTS?

I can play piano but I’m rusty. I sometimes play when my kids are tinkering around, on the piano (electric) my hands are just not fast as before!


BLOGGING

WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START YOUR BLOG?

I started my blog when I heard about NetGalley! I wanted a chance to read arcs and I’m so glad I did it. The first year I started the blog I read so much I had a sore neck and headaches πŸ˜…. I told myself I could cut back the next year and I went easier on myself. I’m happy with the pace I’m going now, it’s much more doable.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT BLOGGING WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED?

That I should pace myself on requesting books on NetGalley and not try to do so much the first year! I almost burned myself out on reading.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BLOGGING?

Having posts ready to go but I’ve gotten better at doing them ahead of time. Also trying to engage and read everyone’s blog. I try my best to do it though!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF BLOGGING?

Being a part of a community with people who have similar interests in reading is so wonderful! I’m not surrounded by many friends that read or have time to read and yet reading is a big part of my life so I love that about blogging and meeting fellow book lovers. πŸ₯°

DO YOU WRITE YOUR POSTS AHEAD OF TIME OR WRITE THEM THE DAY OF POSTING?

Yes…and yes! LOL. I try to get most of them written a week before. Weekly wrap-ups get written a day before hence why sometimes I’m not on time with finishing or posting them. There are some days I will forget to get some things written up but for the most part, they are written ahead of time.


READING

WHO ARE YOUR TOP 5 FAVOURITE AUTHORS?

Not in any order because that’s too much pressure lol…

  • Holly Black
  • Kristin Hannah
  • Angie Thomas
  • Sarah J. Maas
  • Danielle L. Jensen

WHAT GENRE DO YOU READ THE MOST?

It has to have romance but I think I read more fantasy or romantasy lol…but yeah I think definitely more fantasy.

WHAT GENRE SURPRISED YOU BY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE IT?

I like the whole gothic romance or gothic thriller genre. Sometimes when I need a break from everything else, I look for something in that genre.

WHICH POPULAR BOOK DIDN’T LIVE UP TO THE HYPE FOR YOU?

This one was just okay for me but I still have to try her other books!

WHO ARE SOME POPULAR AUTHORS YOU HAVEN’T READ?

Oh so many! T.J Klune is one that is so popular right now that I want to read.

WHAT UPCOMING RELEASE ARE YOU EXCITED TO READ?

Here’s just a few! And why are the covers so dark? lol I need to add some light-hearted contemporary romance in this list for sure.

DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE READING?

No, I usually read at night when the house is nice and quiet – but when I’m blogging, for sure I need music!

WHERE ELSE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
  • Twitter: @ylmpastmidnight (I’m hardly on though)
  • Instagram: @ylmpastmidnight (I’ll post sporadically) or @fancifulwishcraft (crafting acct)

TAGGING

No pressure at all! I’m tagging:

Thanks for reading! 😘 ~ Yolanda

The Sunshine Blogger Award #4

Thank you to the love Dini at dinipandareads for tagging me for this award. Please check out her blog for so much amazing bookish content. I love her blog!

What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community.

How does it work?

  • Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
  • Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Dini’s Questions:

Describe your current read in five words:

chemistry – food – southern belle – italian hottie – competition

What is your go-to comfort genre?

I’m go to comfort genre will always be romance! Whenever I need a break from fantasy, I head on over to contemporary romance and it’s a much needed vacation for my brain.

What’s your favourite song at the moment?

The whole Encanto soundtrack lol

What’s been your favourite read of 2022 so far?

It’s a backlist title but I haven’t read a 2022 published book yet that has been a 5 star read….mostly because I haven’t bought any, but there are a few I’m eyeing out so hopefully I can get a hold of them soon.

Is there one book that you would do anything to get a special signed edition of?

A Jane Austen book lol which is impossible so maybe a Sarah J Maas one or Holly Black since I have their books on my shelf.

What’s a disappointing book that you’ve recently read?

I am struggling through this arc! It’s taking me forever and I thought her first book was good, but the last arc I read from this author and then this one I’m trying to finish has made me struggling to connect to any of the characters. I don’t know what it is. 😞

How long have you been blogging?

It will be 4 years of blogging this year – wow!! I feel like I just started 2 years ago. How time flies!

What are some of your favourite tropes?

Enemies to lovers is my absolutely favorite. I also love friends to lovers. Bad boy/good girl is always fun, I mean…it’s so hard to resist the bad boys!

Is there a (sub)genre that is an absolute no-no for you?

Reverse harem because I don’t like sharing LOL. Also bully romances – I used to read a few because it was very enemies to lovers…and then some. But now the “and then some” edge just makes me want to punch the guys’ face if he is too much of a bully, it makes me want to get violent in behalf of the girl even if she loves him that way. 🀣 I can’t stand it.

If you could visit one fictional world, where would you go?

Probably to Velaris (A Court of Wings and Ruin) because it’s hidden and protected. But yes definitely into a fae world just because I love stories about the fae…even though they can be quite scary.

Name five characters you would love to spend a day at a theme park with!

I think it would be so much fun to spend the day with Savvy and her two besties, Maggie and Kotter. The three of them had so much fun together in Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell – I can only imagine how much fun they would be at a theme park.

Also, I’d have fun with the guys from XOXO, especially Nathaniel and the younger guy who’s name I can’t remember!


I Tag…

And please NO PRESSURE to do this…

Nikkie @ Stars Books & Tea

Marta @ Monogamist Reader

Trisy @ Bobo’s Book Bank

Felicia @ Stuck in Fiction

A Garden of Books

Etta @ Chonky Books

Ali @ Ali’s Books

Starlight Reading

Life with No Plot


My Questions:

  1. What is your most anticipated book for 2022?
  2. What is the most recent book you bought?
  3. What is the first book you ever wrote a review for either on your blog or Goodreads or wherever you write reviews?
  4. What is the last movie you watched?
  5. Do you review books you DNF?
  6. Do you keep a reading journal?
  7. If you could go to a concert right now, which concert would you go to?
  8. Do you have multiple copies of a book? Which book is it?
  9. How many books do you have on your Goodreads TBR list?
  10. Audiobooks, yes or no?
  11. What is your top 3 favorite books of all time?

😘 ~ Yolanda