So I learned something about myself in June--or rather, confirmed something I wondered about--and that is that my "comfort books" are, undoubtedly, historical fiction books. My anxiety was on high alert pretty much through all of June because of this huge move that I'm in the middle of (as I'm writing this, I'm almost done packing and my husband and I will be driving back down to Southern CA for good-yay!) and we're moving into a new apartment on Sunday (which is the day I'm posting this now!). Also, I'm sure most of you already know this, but moving is exhausting. I thought I had it under control, but yeah... no, this has been not fun--but since it's my first 'big' move, I now know a lot more that will make it easier in the future.
So all in all, there are a lot of reasons for my anxiety around this move (one of them being that I'll be about an hour from my mom, which isn't that long, but considering how close I am to her and the dog, it's hard!), but I won't go into them all and will leave it at saying that this month I leaned heavily on books that kept my anxiety at bay and allowed me to just relax and feel warm and comforted reading them--which happened to be historical fiction this month!
In reading news, this month was really pretty uneventful. I know ten books is a lot, but I'm still pretty disappointed because I planned to read quite a few more, but unfortunately stress and anxiety kept me from being able to focus on things. Still, I managed a re-reading of The Secret History, one of my favorite books, and I had so much fun with Beatriz William's and Melanie Benjamin's books--they always seem to deliver great historical fiction. I'm hoping to pick back up with my reading next month, but... we'll see. I really want to push myself, but I also know that I shouldn't push myself.
On another note, besides just missing libraries in general, has anyone started missing library sales yet?? The library near us usually had a 'Second Saturday' sale every second Saturday of the month with twenty-five cent books and I'm really missing the opportunity to buy some cheap books! Anyway, all my woes aside, haha, I hope you're all doing well, staying safe, and having a great summer so far!
How was your reading month? Did you read any great books? Have you read any of the books I read? Let me know, I'd love to chat about any and all the books!
# books read: 10
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
The Lost Queen by Signe Pike ★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni ★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
The Library of Legends by Janie Chang ★★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams ★★★★
Source: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin ★★★★
Source: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin ★★★★
Source: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust ★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARCSource: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin ★★★★
Source: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust ★★★
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin ★★
Source: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
Source: Owned (Library Sale) | Format: Paperback
The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso ★★★★★
Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson ★★★
Wonderland by Zoje Stage ★★★★
Rule (The Unraveled Kingdom #3) by Rowenna Miller ★★★★★
The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni ★★★
The Library of Legends by Janie Chang ★★★
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia ★★★★★
Night by Alexandria Warwick ★★★★
(other than reviews)
Top Five/Ten Tuesday:
Books that Give Off Summer Vibes
Books I Forgot I Once Added to My TBR
Summer TBR
TBR Update--Have I Been Reading the Books I've Said I Will?
Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2020
Can't-Wait Wednesday:
6/3: Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings, The Book of Dragons edited by Jonathan Strahan, & The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria McCombs
6/10: Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim, The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman, & Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
6/17: Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler, The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams, & Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy
6/24: Crossings by Alex Landragin & The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase
Books that Give Off Summer Vibes
Books I Forgot I Once Added to My TBR
Summer TBR
TBR Update--Have I Been Reading the Books I've Said I Will?
Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2020
Can't-Wait Wednesday:
6/3: Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings, The Book of Dragons edited by Jonathan Strahan, & The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria McCombs
6/10: Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim, The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman, & Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
6/17: Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler, The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams, & Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy
6/24: Crossings by Alex Landragin & The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase
Hopefully you're getting settled by now. Welcome to SoCal! Moving is exhausting, although my memories about it are vague since we've been living in the same place for almost 20 years, lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks! We are slowly getting there... haha. I love being back in SoCal, it is definitely where I consider home and will probably stay from here on out (assuming I can continue to afford it in the future, haha). I hope your memories stay vague, it is not fun. :P
DeleteI hope your move goes smoothly today! We moved into our house almost 3 years ago and I'm like, never again. Historical fiction is definitely one of my comfort genres, too, and Beatriz Williams always delivers! I miss library sales because I have so many books to donate right now!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! A few hiccups, but we all made it. Yeah, this isn't permanent and I'm already dreading the next time we'll have to move, haha!
DeleteI've definitely been perusing your posts for historical fiction recs, you always share great ones! And omg same about book donations, we so badly want to take them but no one is accepting them right now (understandably, of course).