Reading, TV, & More Reading: March 2021 Wrap Up

March was jam-packed with school, personal things, & reading. While I’m not someone who wants to rush time and there were quite a few good moments this month, March dragged on for me and was stressful between school & my personal life. I will say that the warmer weather over the past two weeks has seriously brightened my mood and is getting me even more excited for my favorite stretch of the year, May through September aka beach season! I’m also feeling a tiny bit more hopeful this week because I received my covid vaccine yesterday!! I know there’s still a long way to go, but getting the vaccine makes me feel so excited about being out in the world & doing things this summer. I’ve been on spring break this week, so I’m looking forward to continuing to take some time to myself and READ as much as possible, of course.

I’m so happy with the fact that I read 11 books in March – maybe we’ll get to 12 by tonight with my current read, Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst. This was the most amount of books I’ve read in 1 month so far in 2021, and it’s making me crave summer even more, since I average anywhere from 11-16 books a month during beach reading season. I managed to read 11 books because I feel like I didn’t watch as much TV this month (ignore the two full seasons I binged and other shows below) and I dedicated hours to reading Friday-Sunday and would read anywhere from 1-2 books each weekend. This month was super stressful in almost every aspect of life, so I really looked forward to diving into a book whenever possible. 

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez | 3.5/5 Stars

I enjoyed the sarcasm and heart behind the romance in The Friend Zone and liked the unique premise, but I wasn’t in loveeee as much as other readers. 

You Have a Match by Emma Lord | 4.5/5 

You Have a Match was one of the books that I binge-read from Friday to Saturday. I could not let go of this YA contemporary about two sisters at summer camp. It SO solidified Emma Lord as one of my favorite authors!

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand | 4.5/5

Wow, 28 Summers was SO worth the hype! I loved the storytelling, and it made me want to book a trip to Nantucket ASAP. Definitely throw in your beach bag this summer if you’re like me and slept on picking this one up (also let me know of what other Elin Hilderbrand books to read this summer!).  

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A FAVORITE BOOK & TV MONTH: March 2019 Wrap Up

I’ve read many good books so far this year, but I think March has been my favorite reading month in 2019. I was on spring break for the first week of the month, in which I devoured 5 books while crying over school assignments and binge-watching two seasons of a Netflix show. While I have been reading for fun during the semester, I just felt so much like my reading self during the break, devouring books left and right! I read a total of 10 books in March and did get to some “meaning to watch” TV and movies this month.

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Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill (ARC) | 4/5

I’m always ready for a World War II historical fiction read, including Stephanie Morrill’s Within These Lines. This book is really unique in the genre, as one of the main protagonist is sent away to a Japanese internment camp in the 1940s US.

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The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne (ARC) | 5/5

The Wrong Side of Right was a recent TBR addition that I’m so glad is now part of my recently read shelf. I consider myself a connoisseur of my local library’s YA section, so I don’t know how I haven’t read this 2015 release before!

Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (ARC) | 5/5

Small Town Hearts is 100% the summer contemporary everyone needs in their bookish lives. This book still has me craving beach days with an iced coffee in tow.

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Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett (ARC) | 5/5

My most anticipated book of 2019, Serious Moonlight completely delivered in all the right feels. Jenn Bennett is seriously the queen of contemporary romance. I still find myself thinking about Birdie and Daniel’s story.

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Give Me More Spring Breaks: March 2018 Wrap Up

March is a lovely time for most college students here in the US because we get to embark on this lovely concept that is spring break. While some of my friends traveled to warmer climates, I had the best time staying home reading, eating food that didn’t come from my school’s dining hall, and catching up on some TV and movies. Yes, I did read 5 books over my spring break and yes I did quite a lot of reading for classes this month, but I still can’t wrap my head around how I read 14 books this month!?!

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I have reviews already posted or coming to the blog (RTC) for many of the books below.

Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel | 3.5/5 Stars

All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor (ARC) |4.5/5 Stars | RTC

the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace | 4/5 Stars

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline | 4.5/5 Stars

American Panda by Gloria Chao | 4/5 Stars

I Hate Everyone But You by Allison Raskin & Gaby Dunn| 3.5/5 Stars

A Pslam for Lost Girls by Katie Bateryl | 3/5 Stars

Irmina by Barbara Yelin | 4/5 Stars

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang | 5/5 Stars | RTC

We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun & Susan Mullen | 5/5 Stars | RTC

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #4) | 5/5 Stars | RTC

The Silence of Our Friends by Mark Long and Jim Demonakos | 4/5 Stars

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout | 4.5/5 Stars

The Little French Bistro by Nina George | 2.5/5 Stars | RTC

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Book Reviews

COLLEGE YA ALL DAY, EVERYDAY: I Hate Everyone But You

Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

I LOVE COLLEGE YA & HERE’S WHY: American Panda by Gloria Chao

The Librarian of Auschwitz Review & Recommendations

Amanda Lovelace & Cyrus Parker Event + the princess saves herself in this one

I’m Ready to Play More than the Wii: Ready Player One Review

The Fae Have Landed: Heir of Fire Reread Discussion

TV & Movies

Love, Fangirl Fury: Love, Simon Review

I Sense a New Favorite TV Show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 Discussion

I Like Words on Screen: What I Watched Winter 2018

Misc.

A POST ABOUT MY FAVORITE PLACE: Library Lovers Book Tag

Mystery Blogger Award Round 3

Monthly Recommendations: LET’S DISCUSS *EVERY* DUOLOGY I’VE READ

Top Five Wednesday: Most Anticipated 2018 Movies

Top Five Wednesday: Favorite Mentors

IT’S TIME TO BUY ANOTHER BOOK SHELF: Most Anticipated Spring 2018 Releases

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Mona Lisa Smile and Mystic Pizza– Post spring break, I took advantage of the fact that it was not yet April (aka I wasn’t drowning in papers just yet) and found myself watching a few movies during the week. I’ve been in the mood to watch “older”/more classic films lately, so I watched Mona Lisa Smile and Mystic Pizza, both featuring Julia Roberts & both included on Amazon Prime. I adored Mystic Pizza for its relationships and humor (I may or many not be trying to plan a summer trip to Mystic, Connecticut), and I loved basically everything about Mona Lisa Smile, especially its message. I’ll definitely be revisiting both films in the future.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Seasons 1 & 2)– My Parks & Recreation heart had me craving a similar style of show, so I decided to start the much loved Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I have a discussion about the first season, linked above in the previous section, but just know that I am in love with this show and Jake Peralta, and I cant wait to continue on this summer.

Love, SimonLove, Simon met my expectations and more! The film based on Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is one of the best YA book-to-film adaptations out there, and I’m even more excited for Becky Albertalli’s latest book, Leaf on the Offbeat, to come out in April. I have a Love, Simon review post also linked above if you want more of my non-spoilery thoughts, including my fascination over Simon’s bedroom! MINI PSA TO ALSO CHECK OUT THE LOVE, SIMON SOUNDTRACK, YOUR EARS WILL THANK YOU!

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Amanda Lovelace & Cyrus Parker Event- During my spring break, my best friends and I attend a launch event for Amanda Lovelace’s the witch doesn’t burn in this one and Cyrus Parker’s DROPKICKromance. The event included Amanda and Cyrus reading from their latest collections, a Q& A where the married couple talked about their love for Leigh Bardugo, and a signing. I also have a post about this event and my princess saves herself in this one review in that lovely What I Wrote section above.

Working on my bookstagram game- One of my blogging goals for 2018 is to create better quality photos and an overall aesthetic for my blog’s Instagram. My mom and I went to our local craft stores, where I picked up some props, like flowers and chalkboards. Taking bookstagram photo definitely isn’t easy as it seems and setting up photos does take some time, but I’m really enjoying it so far. I’ve been fortunate enough to be using a Canon from my school’s art department lately and I will soon be transitioning back to my iPhone for photos.  Follow me on Instagram here!

Since I didn’t attend too many bookish events this month, I figured that I’d list some amazing bookish news that came out in March:

  • Grab your favorite pajamas and a plate of chocolate chip cookies! The film adaptation of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is coming to Netflix this summer!
  • The sequel to Marie Lu’s Warcross has a title and release date! Wildcard will be the second book in the Warcross duology, coming out on September 18th.
  • Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses is making its way to the big screen.
  • Little, Brown for Young Readers is publishing a YA novel based on Dear Evan Hansen, coming out on October 9.

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What did you read or watch in March? Did you do anything bookish?? Share in the comments!