As I'm sure you know, I'm a big fan of my local public library, and can't keep myself away for long! Although I've been hesitant to borrow books in the wake of the pandemic, I trust their procedures and am comfortable requesting books again. This month I've put a plethora of books on hold and they're slowly trickling in, so I want to share what I'm borrowing! I've literally already run out of space in my Owlcrate reading journal's TBR page, so I'll have to stick to Goodreads to track my reading for the rest of the month. Follow my reviews if you'd like to see my snarky updates and progress trackers!
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There's been some debate recently on the ethics of "Worst" lists, and I'm going to make my stand as a reviewer by sharing my Worst of 2020 list. My voice is subjective--something that wasn't for me might be for you, and typically folks don't take these judgments to be end-all be-all decisions on what books to read. This blog is a space primarily for readers, and I'll not be cowed into sharing only positive opinions. I have the privilege of an audience, and it's my responsibility to speak honestly. If you're intimidated by that, I bet you'll find some measure of comfort in the fact that I rarely dislike books, and these are pretty much a collection of 3-star reads. Just me saying "It's not you, it's me" to a book. Not an indictment of quality, either, necessarily, since I rate on an emotional basis. These reads just didn't tug at my heartstrings--and that's not to say they won't for you.
I don't think I've ever done this before, but in such a horrible year I want to create a moment of joy. Today I'm bringing you my best books of 2020--books I read, instantly loved, and recommend to all of you. This is a pared-down selection of my 5-star rated books on Goodreads, and it excludes rereads. I've included links on some of the titles, either to a review or spotlight I've written for the book. Comment below if you've read any of these titles, or if they're on your TBR!
So far, I’ve only ever reviewed books on this blog. That changes today! During the pandemic, I wanted to support small businesses and the USPS, as well as indulge myself in some retail therapy. The joy of opening a long-awaited package is, in my opinion, unparalleled by any other earthly feeling. As you may recall, I wrote a post (linked) recommending ten bookish candle companies for you to support. As of now, I have candles from four of those shops, and two outside the list. I have nineteen (19?!?!) candles. Without further ado, my reviews! Shops are in order of my purchase timing, so the newest purchase will be last. I will not be judging based on shipping times or order processing, because COVID-19 has shifted timelines and I don’t want to be unfair to the shops. Rose & AdderTo be upfront, I’ve owned this candle since before my obsession. It came as part of my OwlCrate Call Down the Hawk box, and I’ve been obsessed with it since. It’s my only woodwick candle, and I just love the sound the wick makes while I’m burning it. The scent is earthy and sweet, and I admit to just opening the lid and sniffing the candle even when I don’t want to burn it. Gorgeous labels, and a wide variety of themed collections also appeal to me. My Rose & Adder candle was a one-off, but I’d love to grab something from their Zodiac or Literary collections. That being said, Rose & Adder’s prices are quite prohibitive for me: their 9oz glass jar candles run for $21! Their 5oz metal tins are $12.50. I generally prefer to buy more candles at a time, so I’d have to be seriously treating myself in order to grab anything from this shop. They had a fantastic Black Friday sale with reduced prices, so I definitely took advantage of that and splurged a bit! I want more wood wick candles in my life, so I can’t wait for them to get here. Also, there’s some discoloration that happens with the colored soy wax in my candle—once melted, it cools a more frosted color than the solid candle. Just a small nitpick that it happens with this candle and rarely with my others. Otherwise, it’s a very even burn, though perhaps I would wish the wax be slower to evaporate so I could have a longer burn time. Flick the WickI *love* Flick the Wick. They are my most-owned candle brand—I think I have 6 now, and I ordered a bunch more for Black Friday. The gorgeous labels, reasonable pricing ($8.50 for a 4oz, but they have rep codes!), and perfect scents make them my go-to candle for studying, writing blog posts, or reading. You’ll note in my latest Read With Me video, I lit up a FTW Queen of Terrasen candle. I don’t think I have any issues with these candles. They’ve stayed in perfect condition, generally don’t frost, and have super long burn times proportionate to the size of the jars! We love a long lasting candle. I’d highly recommend adding a couple of these to your collection. A Court of CandlesThe Witcher collection from A Court of Candles isn’t something I regret buying, however… there are some moments where I wish I’d waited longer before hitting that one-click purchase button. They’re the only thing I’ve bought from A Court of Candles, so don’t take this as a stinging indictment of the company, but I’m not enjoying them as much as I’d like. Let’s start with the positives. Really vivid wax colors, pretty labels, and reasonable prices! I can’t get onto their website (it’s closed for restocks), but I don’t recall breaking the bank over these. Now for the grievances. My main objection is the scents—yes, it’s on me for purchasing them, however I do feel like at times, they can be a bit overpowering and I get a small headache whenever I inhale too much of the fumes. They’re also earthier than my traditional floral scents (Geralt’s is straight-up bathwater and Drakkar Noir), which might contribute to my dislike. Heady fragrances are maybe best for larger, more well-ventilated spaces as opposed to my room and office area. Secondly, the wax doesn’t hold up that well at room temperature, even when the candle isn't lit. I’ve noticed a lot of sweating (condensation on the surface) which would be okay if I had left them outside from the mail, or if I lived in a warmer climate, but… it’s December. And I live in Boston. My space is kept at 70*, so I’m not sure what’s up with this. Fire Nation CreationsI bought two Fire Nation Creations candles from their Bookish Ships collection because I was in love with the artwork, and they did not disappoint! Loureid from Serpent & Dove, and Starlington from Ninth House. I actually haven’t burned them yet, so this can’t be a true review. I’ve been putting it off because of how pretty they are! There’s a layer of colorful glitter coating the wax surface, and it’s the most glitter I’ve ever seen included in a candle, so I’m not sure how that’s going to go if I burn them. The scents are so saccharine, definitely more food-related and less floral than most of my others, which is a nice contrast. Updates to come if I ever get the courage to light one. IceyDesignsBack in August, I caved and ordered IceyDesigns’ Star Daughter candle. It’s one of my favorite books of 2020 and seeing merch for it just made my month. This candle is so high quality, y’all, I can’t even begin to tell you. The jar is gorgeous, with a matte paper label and an airtight seal to keep the candle fresh for as long as possible. This is a 9oz candle, one of the biggest ones I own as of writing this review, and I’m very satisfied with its consistency. The melt pool forms easily—I’m pretty sure it’s soy wax like my others, and yet for some reason this candle’s wax evaporates faster than theirs, so I burn it sparingly. If you didn’t know, I’m more interested in preservation and collection than just straight up burning and tossing my candles. My only quibble is price—$18 is a lot for me to spend on one candle, so I’d probably only get Icey candles for books that I really care about. Novelly YoursAhh, Novelly Yours, AKA the first bookish candle company I’d ever heard of and somehow the last one I ever tried! I love the scents and prices—wish there had been some more color/design that went into the labels, but they’re cute regardless. My favorites are from their Shadowhunters candle box, from which I bought overstock. Those have quotes on the back and a bit more design element type things that went into them. Here’s my grievance: burn quality. It takes such a long time to get an even wax pool, and then unless the candle is left to burn for hours on end, the wax still clings to the side of the jar. I don’t like to just burn candles and leave them, because it’s not a recommended practice, so there’s really no way to avoid this. Again, I’m really not sure why this is happening! If any other candle fans out there would like to share tips or stories, I’m always happy to listen. I love these—they’re great for meditation and quiet working—and I want to treat them right! And that’s a wrap! I hope you found this helpful, whether you’re new to the bookish candle scene or a veteran looking to try some new brands. I kind of like this lifestyle blogging thing, maybe I’ll keep at it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these candles, and how you liked them! I’m always fascinated by the bookish things that people like to collect. Perhaps there’s an enamel pin review post in the blog’s future...
December is here! And with it, a whole month of dreary New England misery... briefly interrupted by all the Black Friday shopping I did! Yes, I am still trying to support the USPS by online shopping. I'm also grateful to still have a job, food, and roof over my head during the pandemic, so I like to express that gratitude by shopping at small businesses during the holiday season. If you can, I hope you'll join me! Black Friday sales are unfortunately over, but I've linked all the wonderful shops below. Here's a quick rundown of my weekend shopping:
Wait. What? Yep, you heard right! I'm leaving these packages, my Illumicrate Daughter of Smoke and Bone box, and this month's OwlCrate box as gifts for myself under our (secular) Christmas tree! I'm getting some important news mid-December, so if any arrive before then I'll be using them as retail comfort or celebration depending on the outcome, but otherwise I'm wrapping them up and resisting the temptation! I think this is just a fun way to show appreciation for myself and make the holiday more special. My family doesn't celebrate Christmas, being that we're kind of agnostic Hindus, but we do put up decorations. I think it's a leftover practice from when I was younger--my parents didn't want me to feel left out, so we adopted a solely cultural version of Christmas. Did you do any Black Friday shopping? I'd love to hear about it, especially any small businesses that should be on my radar! After months, I’m finally getting to the Stuck at Home Book Tag!
Thank you to Sienna @ Daydreaming Book Lover for the tag! The Tag Rules
This is a shame post. Specifically, I'm calling myself out for inactivity here! Between school, work, and a million other things, I let blogging fall by the wayside. Yikes! My TBR pile is screaming at me (the section of unread/unreviewed ARCs is loudest) and I dearly miss sharing my reviews and recommendation collections with you all. I also noticed that I simply forgot to do a November Cover Love! That mistake will be rectified tomorrow--I'll post as soon as I'm able. For accountability, I also should say that I have upcoming reviews for Admission by Julie Buxbaum (read) and Hush by Dylan Farrow (as soon as I finish reading) amongst others.
Truly an egregious oversight on my part, however... it's kind of inevitable when entire weeks go by in the blink of an eye and I can barely get out of bed some days. There's a tough bit of honesty. The "Quarantine" part of #QuarantineReads is starting to get me down again now that it's a true New England winter, terrible weather and all. Even bookstagramming every day becomes difficult when the nights creep in earlier and blur my days together. Readers, I'm just here to tell you that it's okay if tasks are hard right now. It's okay to rest for a while. I wouldn't have agreed with that a few years ago, but I'm wiser (or possibly just jaded) now, and I think it's better to excel and be late than push myself too far and be on time. I haven't been reading as much this fall as I did during the summer, either. I finish more books than many people do (and any amount of reading is amazing--don't let anyone make you feel inferior for how much you read), but it's still fewer than my usual, and that saddens me. There are so many amazing stories out there, and I hear about so many of them by being connected to the publishing world! I just want to read everything and never leave my library! Alas, when real life calls me I must answer. Until next time, lovelies. Thank you for your patience with me. If you want to chat, I'm always available by email! I’m back with a new #QuarantineReads post! I laid off on these for a couple months, but I’ve read over 50 books this summer so I thought I’d share some new patterns.
Somehow my quarantine reading has come full circle. If you’ll recall, back in April I had sworn off ebooks, and I was reading only fantasy books. Now it’s August, I’m still locked in my house (occasional outings to the Barnes & Noble not withstanding, as my state has gotten better), and I’m reading all sorts of contemporaries and a whole bunch of eARCs. My last favorite read was The Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow—I was so lucky to receive an ARC and I can’t wait for you all to pick up this book in October. I honestly can’t remember the last time I declared that a romance was my favorite book—usually that list is topped by fantasy books, especially this summer. I’m currently reading Not the Girls You’re Looking For, by Amina Mae Safi, and I’m not loving it so far. I think Lulu and her friends have an unrealistic group dynamic and it’s a little awkward all of the time. Whether or not I like it, though, I still am reading more contemporary novels than I was even a month ago. Part of this is that I have a new job and I’m reintegrating into my life, so it feels a bit easier to read a contemporary book and not fall into a mess over how life could have been. I don’t need as much escapism as I did in the spring. One thing I am nervous about, though, will be books published in the future that include pandemic references. I’m not sure I’d like to keep reading books where characters have to wear masks, distance themselves, and take classes online. Part of this is that it eliminates many plot possibilities, but honestly? I just don’t want to be reminded of this when it’s over. I don’t want to think about it anymore. Speaking of things I’d rather not confront… A massive pile of eARCs from Netgalley has also challenged my goal to remain e-reader free this summer. I’m so excited to share love for these upcoming books that I just gave in. My eyes kind of hate me right now, but I’m taking breaks to listen to podcasts and read physical books, so hopefully I won’t get too much strain. I’m currently working through Where Dreams Descend (another fantasy! Yay!). That’s it for my #QuarantineReads post this time! Let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading! **I use an affiliate link in this post. Any purchase you make will send me a percentage as commission, which helps support this blog**
You know how it goes. You see a shiny new release on Bookstagram, or you’re browsing your local indie and find a book you just HAVE to have. And then you buy it. Because you wouldn’t just *leave it there,* right?? That’d be so sad! It might get lonely! Even though you already have… how many books at home? Reader, I understand. I’ve been there. Impulse purchasing on bookshop.org/shop/bookbaroness is my new best friend. I have 140 unread books on my shelf. However, amidst all my irresponsible spending and the excitement of new books, I’m gaining a little “shelf awareness,” let's say. Pardon the pun. What I mean is that I’m starting to read the things that I already own! Wow, what a concept! It goes like this: I use a random number generator to pick one of my six shelves, and then another to pick an unread book from that shelf. If I feel like reading it, it goes on the pile. If not, rinse and repeat. I like this method because it draws my attention to books I might otherwise overlook on my shelves, and also allows me some wiggle room to accommodate my mood-reading. Some of my recent reads from using this method include: King of Scars, Skyward, Wicked Fox, The Rattled Bones, and Dance of Thieves. Hopefully I can get from 140 down to 0 within a year or two! How do you choose which books you read?
Okay, okay, okay! It's the middle of the year (give or take a few weeks), so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and do the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag. I haven't been tagged to do this, per se, but I figure it's all in good fun and I'd like to join. Ok, so! Onto the questions (which I've modified slightly to include some extras I thought were fun).
A thing to know: This year, I've read 83 books. 1. Best book you've read so far in 2020
This... is a loaded question. I'm just going to limit myself and pick four. Burn Our Bodies Down, Just Breathe, Serpent & Dove, and The Shadow Glass.
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020
I'm sorry, there's no other correct answer to this other than Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan. I was lucky enough to read an ARC, and I maintain it's one of the only second books in a trilogy that didn't make me want to completely rip the book to shreds. It was exciting and dangerous and dark and a perfect sequel!
3. New release you haven't read yet
Legitimately think it's a crime that I haven't been able to find A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in stock yet!! I want a hard copy, which is why I haven't requested it from Libby yet. It's a gorgeous fantasy, complete with an enemies to lovers romance, which I LOVE, so obviously this book will be much loved when I can finally get my hands on it.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I need Star Daughter to be out. Right now. I need everyone else to read it and marvel at this beautiful story. I also can't wait to read Blood & Honey, since I loved Serpent & Dove back in March. Other excitements: The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, Horrid, and The White Coat Diaries.
5. Biggest disappointment
I finally picked up Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson, and I was really sad because I couldn't help but make constant comparisons to Strange the Dreamer. I wanted it to be fresh and different, but I just couldn't see it. I can't decide whether or not to pick up the sequel and see if the story gets better from here.
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
Gabby Noone's Layoverland is like a YA form of The Good Place, and she perfectly captured the surrealism and humor of a corporate and strangely human afterlife. For this reason, I'm definitely picking up whatever she writes next. If she can write that mood, she can do anything.
8. Newest favorite character
Everyone in King of Scars! In the main trilogy I was never particularly attached to Nikolai or Zoya, but I enjoyed reading their new dynamic and I can't help but feel protective over them since they're main characters now. (I also think they should kiss. But that's separate. Leigh, if you're reading this, ð¥ºð¥ºð¥º, please can we have it??)
9. Best reread
I reread the first half of the Throne of Glass series in a group read with several friends, which brought me back to some early YA feels. I can't stand reading past Queen of Shadows, so I kind of... stopped there, but I'm glad I could chat with my friends about my endless adoration for Aelin and Rowan while it lasted. Yes, I'm a VERY hardcore Rowaelin shipper and this will stay with me forever. (Yes, I've written fanfic. No, you can't see it).
10. Book that made you cry
Surprisingly, I'm going to go with Save the Date on this one! The last chapter or so was surprisingly emotional, and I found myself crying a little. I had thought it was a rom com, but it's more family-focused contemporary and less romance. OF COURSE a Morgan Matson book would make me cry, but it's been a few years since I've read one, so I guess I forgot.
11. Book that made you happy
Let's mix it up! I really loved Toil & Trouble, an anthology on YA witches, and I was really invested in some of the stories in there--more than I thought I would be. It's lighthearted but emotional, magical but grounded, and everything I needed to be reading.
12. âMost beautiful book youâve bought so far this year (or received)
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
My goal is to make my way through my 140 unread books that are taking up shelf space, so I don't necessarily think there are any specific books I have in mind. I'd like to finally do a shelf-clean up, so when I finish this in the next year or so, all the ones with low ratings will go. Otherwise, here's my current Netgalley situation, and I talk about the books I plan to review there.
14. Reading goals for the rest of the year
I'm not a reading-goal oriented person, as we saw during the Reading Challenge Fail of 2018, so I only have two:
1. Read alllll the fantasy books. 2. For the nostalgia, reread Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I plan to order the new Illumicrate box, because I love the series so much, so when that comes in November I'll do a reread. |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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