January Wrap Up // 2021
Let’s pat ourselves on the back, my friends, because we did it! We made it through the first month of 2021.
I, personally, have had a wild month. I haven’t been super (okay, at all) active on the blog, but I also started a new full-time job so I’m trying to cut myself a little slack. More on this later.
Anyways, I feel like we’re really into the swing of the new year now, which is super exciting! This January has definitely not been chill, and we have a long way to go to get to any sense of normalcy again. There have been some good things, though: I’ve been able to see some of my family members and close friends get vaccinated, and that, along with knowing that the utter disaster that was the Trump presidency is behind us, has given me a lot of comfort this month.
That said, I haven’t had too too much time to read this month, but hey, that’s okay too. I’m excited to share with you guys what I’ve been up to, and hopefully carve out some time in February to get back into blogging and interacting with all you wonderful reader friends!
Concrete Rose: SUCH an amazing book. I didn’t realize that this was a prequel to THUG, but it all came together at the end and I screamed. I really loved this – it just further cemented Angie Thomas as an auto-buy author for me!
Mistborn: I have a full review posted of the first book in the Mistborn trilogy, which you can check out here. I’m so so proud of myself for starting and finishing this this month – it very easily could’ve become one of those books that just sits on my shelf indefinitely, but I picked it up and I read that sh**!!! Such an accomplishment.
Today Tonight Tomorrow: I also have a review of this one, but long story short I adored it. The romance was so so cute, the plot was a ton of fun, and the writing style was so easy to fly through. I have RLS’s newest book, The Ex Talk, on my shelf to start today, and if I like it (which I have a good feeling will happen) then she’ll probably become a new autobuy!! Exciting stuff.
Happily Ever Afters: Oh, how much I wanted to like this, and how disappointed I was. I have a review going up later this week, but oh my goodness was this a let down. The main character was so unlikable and the choices she made had me screaming in frustration. I think this cover is absolutely gorgeous though, so I’m happy to have it on my shelves at least!
The Expanse: They’re dropping episodes every Wednesday, and at first I was like “meh whatever” and was putting off watching each one, but now I count down the days until Wednesday. There’s only 10 eps this season, so the story is flying. The season finale is this Wednesday and I absolutely cannot wait. If you’re into intense and complex space odyssey stories (or just love the books) you definitely need to watch the show!
The Resident: This season is. frustrating me a bit, but I love Nic and Conrad and will go to my grave shipping them, so therefore I love this show! I think it’s so much better than Gray’s because there’s not so much ~drama~.
Schitt’s Creek: HAHA yes I have finally started watching Schitts Creek! I needed something quick and light for evenings after work, and this is perfect. I’m only on season 2, but I’m really enjoying it!
I’m probably going to be following the Olivia-Josh-Sabrina drama for the rest of time, which is fine because I adore Olivia Rodrigo and am so happy that her first single became such a hit! Driver’s License is iconic and I listen to it at least once a day, as I should.
Jess from Jessica C Writes has a podcast!! I’m actually obsessed. It’s called Booked In (see the adorable graphic to the right) and is already a new favorite of mine. Each week she touches on bookish topics like her current reads, her writing routine, and other fun topics related to reading! I love how Jess keeps the episodes relatively short – a problem w/ podcasts for me is that they’re just too long (there’s so many I want to listen to but I don’t have that much time!) but Jess’s are under 30 mins and I can easily binge them all in one sitting, which I’ve been doing. We have to stan a fellow PR gal, so go check it out!!
As I mentioned earlier, I did start my new job! I’m working full-time for a media agency as a PR coordinator, which is pretty much exactly what my degree prepared me for! I’m already learning so so much, and I have a great feeling about where this opportunity will take me! The only thing is that my body isn’t used to the 9-5 yet, so I tend to hit a slump around 1 PM and get extremely tired. I’m hoping this will go away as I get into a better routine, but definitely an adjustment!
It’s winter! Like, winter winter haha. I live in Illinois, and so far this month we’ve had two big snows. I love it – it feels so hygge and I don’t feel guilty about sitting inside at a desk all day when it’s snowing! (Though I will say that shoveling the snow off your car in the mornings is the worst!) The picture there is the view from my desk, where I’m typing this now! Not too bad! (:
My dogs also love the snow and will spend the entire day in the backyard playing, which is cute to watch! Today, they dug up a watering can under all the snow and were carrying it around the backyard. It’s the little things, right?
Liv wrote about her experience growing up in the YA book community!
Belle wrote a really interesting reflection on blogging for the sake of content!
Chana discussed misogyny in fiction and how that impacts our young reading experience!
Katie reflected on if literacy and reading are inherently valuable!
In all honesty I haven’t blog hopped in over two weeks, so I’m more than positive that there’s a ton of wonderful content from this month that I’m missing, but above are some that I really enjoyed reading!
I’m going to be starting The Ex Talk right after I finish this post, actually! A Pho Love Story looks absolutely adorable, and I’m excited to give As Far As You’ll Take Me a try!
That’s it for my January wrap up, my dears! I’ve noticed that my reading tends to slow down in the winter months, which is obviously not ideal but a sad fact of my life. So, while I try to ramp back up in the midst of a new job and routine, I hope to see you all around the blog community!
How was your January? What's your must-read book of February?
12 Comments
Katie
Thanks for the shout-out! As Far As You’ll Take Me is on my tbr, but I didn’t realize it was coming out so soon. Yay!
erin
of course, i loved reading your post! ♥♥
ahaana @ Windows to Worlds
concrete rose, and today tonight tomorrow are both high on my tbr for 2021, and i’m so glad you liked them!! i’m also sorry that you didn’t like happily ever afters because though i haven’t read it, i’ve heard great things about it!! i don’t think i’ll be picking it up anytime soon though, i hate annoying mc’s!! also HAHAHA i’m over the moon that you love schitt’s creek because it is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS PERIODT. i hope you enjoy the ex talk, a pho love story, and as far as you’ll take me!! i’m interested in reading all of them!! i loved this post so much, erin!! 💖💖
erin
schitts creek is truly the only thing getting me through the winter, i can’t help but stan 😂 im interested to hear what you think of hapily ever afters, maybe it just wasn’t for me!! thanks so much love, have a wonderful start to february!! ♥♥
Morgan
I’m really happy you enjoy your job! Adjusting to a new routine must be hard.
I love the view from your desk, it’s beautiful. 😍
And I definitely relate to reading the least during winter… Which is quite annyoing because winter would be the perfect time for binging books.
erin
Thank you!! It hurts my eyes sometimes to look out the window, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 😂 RIGHT it’s so odd! Hopefully you can enjoy some great cozy reads this season! ♥
Olivia
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for featuring my post in your wrap-up! I’m glad you had a great reading month, and I’m also hoping to read A PHO LOVE STORY in February!
erin
Of course, I loved reading your post! Have a lovely month as well! ♥♥
Haley @ Fangirl Fury
Yay to TODAY TONIGHT TOMORROW! Hope you keep loving Schitt’s Creek, and excited to see your thoughts on THE EX TALK! I’m hoping to pick it up later this month!
Bernadette
Oh I just checked out the Booked In podcast and loved it!! I’ve been looking for some new bookish podcast. (also, shoveling snow of your car IS the worst, escpecially when you find ice underneath)
Ali
Congrats on the new job!! I had a hard time getting into the schedule of a regularly adult job, too but eventually got used to it 😅
Ahh I wish I could experience snow more often! I went to Chicago two years ago and it was the first and last time I experienced falling snow. It’s so magical! I’m reading Concrete Rose right now so I hope I end up liking it as much as you did. Hope you have a wonderful February Erin! Good luck on your new job!
Sarah @ suitsofstories
Congratulations on your new job! That’s exciting news. I’m watching Schitt’s Creek right now too and really enjoying it.