My April O.W.L’s Wrap Up, May TBR and May YA Releases – 2020
(Sometimes I post my wrap ups before the last day of the month, so I may watch / drink / do / read more before the 1st of the next month š )
Hiya bookish people!
- I basically removed my eyebrow. Not intentionally! I have a really bad habit of playing with my hair when I am working or stressed, and recently that extended to my eyebrows for some weird reason, so my right eyebrow kinda only half exists. And my eyebrow pencil broke, and of course stores are closed at the moment so I canāt go get a new one. Luckily I have a dark brown eyeliner pencil which does a good enough jobs for my Google Meet classes!
- Lockdown stuff – Holy moly! My coffee intake has been through the roof! I have had so much coffee recently, I am sure it isnāt good for me. I made more body scrub out of said coffee because we ordered a new type of Nespresso pod ( Cocoa Truffle, and Caramel Creme Brulee ) and they are so good! I havenāt really been talking to anyone, so thatās fun.
- Remember last month when I said I was struggling with my friend? I think I bombed that, and a few others. I kinda went through and swept a bunch of people off my Instagram and left my major group chat. I wasnāt trying to be dramatic or fish for an āEmma! Why did you leave?ā. In fact, I left over two weeks ago and no one has noticed – or at least mentioned it to me. I just felt that when I did contribute to the chat it was answering a question and my own were ignored. So I left. I also unfollowed a few people I considered friends. We donāt talk that much unless it is for homework, and we can still message without following, so thatās what I am doing. Said friend also has a habit of āchecking in on youā to tell someone else if you are ignoring everyone or just them. Yeah, my social life is falling around me and I did orchestrate it. School is gonna be fun. Maybe I can just pick up more shifts at the cafeteria . . .
- I fell in love with House of Salt and Sorrows! It is amazing! Alexandra recommended it to me, and I love it so much now!
GOAL : goal
ACHIEVED : A Heart so Fierce and Broken, After You, Sorcery of Thorns, Serpent and Dove, House of Salt and Sorrows, A Pack of Blood and Tears, The Lost Sisters, Six of Crows
IN PROGRESS: American Royals ( 50% ), and Red Rising ( 7% )
TOTAL : 8.12 books this month
Since I have no wya of knowing how life is going to treat me in the coming month, I have chosen to just continue reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown, which I started last month, continue with American Royals by Katharine McGee. Other than that, I randomly picked four books off my Goodreads TBR using a random number generator.
š What I added to my Goodreads TBR this month š
Finished series: Z-Nation, Tidelands
š§ Endtapes – Soundtrack Version by The Joy Formidables
š§ 18 by Anarbor
š§ Almost ( Sweet Music ) by Hozier
š§ Joy by Bastille
š§ Where I Come From by Passion Pit
š§ From Now On by The Features
š§ I Found You by Andy Grammer
š§ Young and Alive by Bazzi
š§ IDK You Yet by Alexander 23
š§ Two of Us by Birds of Tokyo
COFFEE STATS : ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ( 38 )
I have gotten this list of releases via Goodreads, if you know of anymore please tell me in the comments.
š YA Releases Next Month š
Additions to a Series
New Series
Contemporary
Fantasy
Other
šØ Webtoons & Comics šØ
Click the icon to go to the webcomic (all are highly rec’d!)
4 x Lore Olympus || 4 x The Croaking || 4 x The Wrath & The Dawn
2 x Punderworld || 9 x Problem Child
š» Posts from other Bloggers š»
š» Sophie @ Me and Ink wrote about Morally Grey Characters
š» Margaret @ Weird Zeal wrote about How You Can Support Independent Book Stores During COVID-19
š» Lauren @ Lala’s Book Reviews wrote a list of Books You Can Read For Free on Amazon
š» Maire @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books wrote about How She Plans her Book Blog’s Content
š» and She Paired Ten Books with Ten Songs She Loves
š» Maire @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books wrote about How She Plans her Book Blog’s Content
š» Sophie @ Me and Ink gave us some Simple Writing Advice
š» Kaya @ A Fictional Bookworm wrote about Her (awesome) Attempt at Dalgona Coffee
š» Belle @ Belle Can Read wrote about Her Favourite Blogs That You Should Follow ( and I am so honored to be featured on this post! )
WHAT DID YOU READ DURING APRIL?
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO READ IN MAY?
WHAT MAY RELEASES ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
WHAT DID YOU WATCH / LISTEN TO THIS MONTH?
A Few Chapters 'til Love 
Emma… I’m so sorry to hear about your eyebrow! It will grow back soon – hopefully before you go back to school! I hope I don’t sound insensitive but I totally pictured Georgia shaving hers off in Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging when I was reading this. I’m also equally sorry to hear about your friends. People suck. But you know what, while it might be hard, in the long run you’ll feel so much better! ā¤
Also I LOVE that you were watching the OG Barbie movies! I ended up bingeing Dreamhouse Adventures on Netflix because Barbie is an icon and I have no shame.
And AHHHHH the Twilight soundtracks!!! From Now On, The Antidote, White Demon Love Song and Spotlight are some of my favorite songs off those albums. I've been listening to them on repeat whole I re-read the books. [I just finished the whole wedding/honeymoon segment].
I hope this month goes a little more smoother! Much love! ā¤
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It’s not insensitive at all! It kinda looks strange but I have some makeup ( somewhere, ahhhhh ) that helps a little.
People do suck, but I hope you are right!
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The latest Barbie movies are just so . . . trendy? I guess that’s not the right word but I feel like they don’t have the same childhood naivety appeal Did you see they have done some redesigns of the OG barbie movie covers? It’s so bad! https://www.amazon.ca/Barbie-Fairytopia-Mermaidia-Import/dp/B018E2LV1M Like??? It’s wrong! Also haha shame is for cowards, I binged it too!
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They are all so good! I guess I have just been getting back into my Twilight love a little more recently š
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ā¤ ā¤ Thank you!
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OHMYFREAKINGGOSH – WHAT IS THAT TRAVESTY??? WHAT DID MATTEL DO??? ššš They RUINED it!!! Like – MY EYES!!!
[Sorry for the dramatics but it’s 100% warranted. My childhood was just crushed into a million tiny shards.]
But jokes aside, you are SO right. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve pretty much seen all the movies and I feel they kinda lost there substance after A Fashion fairy tale [which I didn’t hate btw]. I love the classical fairy tale vibe of the originals. Kids these days have been robbed! š I did LIVE for the family, wholesome vibe of Dreamhouse Adventures. Hopefully they stop with the superficial movies now. [Urgh – A fairy Secret and The Secret Door were the WORST].
ā¤ ā¤ ā¤
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I know! What the hell!
I didn’t hate it either . . . I just feel like that was the last ‘OG’ one? And then it kinda changed, which I understand but it still sucks.
I know!?!?! It was just so confusing!!! There was no solid plot, it was like they tried to mash the Nutcracker, Fairy Tale and Mariposa together?
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Yes – and what a fail it was! Apparently they should just appoint us as head CEO of Mattel and then they’ll be set! š
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“Good Barbie films and merchandise that actually look decent and like the OG films, presented by The Eczema Sisters”
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I LOVE IT! š š š
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Omg Emma, when I was reading about your eyebrow I literally gasped. My coffee consumption has also increased a lot as in Iām now drinking about four cups a day š .
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Hahaha, yeah I don’t think it was my brightest moment! At least school photos have already been taken š
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Coffee intake definitely increased in quarantine! This week I’ve been trying to avoid drinking it, and make tea whenever I feel like coffee. Good thing I love tea š
I’m sorry to hear about your friends! Good friends will always stick around no matter what, and the others are not important. Besides, you have all of us! *wink*
I also read House of Salt and Sorrow last month, really loved how atmospheric it was!
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I am feeling a little gross now so I have laid off the coffee ( insert sobbing here ) but as you said, tea was next in line!
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Thank you. I guess I am a little lucky they don’t read this blog, cause I’d probably get a bunch of messages from them around now demanding why I feel like this. I do have you guys, and you guys are the best!
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I’m glad you loved it, too!
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I once had a dream I shaved off my eyebrows š but I hope your half eyebrow grows back quickly !! š
I’m sorry about all your friends at the moment. I hope you are ok and I’m here if you ever need to chat š
You read so many books and I’m glad you were able to find a new favourite this month !!
Yay I enjoyed watching Suits !!! š
38 coffees is impressive š
I’m so excited for The Henna Wars !! š
Thank you so much for sharing my post Emma !!!
I hope you have a great May !! š
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That sounds fun ahaha, yes me too! It’s so strange walking past a mirror and just not having it there ??
Thank you ā¤
Yes, I did! I was amazed when I got to the end of the month, but I still haven't picked up a book yet so far…
Suits is amazing!!
Impressive or scary? I'll let you know when I can next talk to electricity again with all that caffeine in my system š
And thank you for writing the post š
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Yes like when you’ve cut your hair but to a different extreme !!
You did so well !! š
Haha it can be both ššš
ššš
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i’m so sorry to hear about your eyebrow as well as what happened with your friends! hoping both get better ā¤
i accidentally read 8.12 as 812 books and i was shocked hahahaha šš but i'm so glad you enjoyed House Of Salt And Sorrows, i have to read it soon! and i'll definitely have to check out all your music recs. š i hope you have a beautiful May, Emma! šš
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ā¤ ā¤
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OML I would love to read 812 books in a month, but alas ( me channeling my innder Albus Dumbledoor ) I arrived at 8.12.
Please do, and I hope you enjoy them!
You too, Ash! ā¤
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How the hell did you manage to take your eyebrow off š Emma, I am genuinely worried about you & think you need oven mitts taped to your hands smh
Hope everything gets better for you šš
I am really sorry about your friends though – it sucks to have friends that only exist on a one way basis
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And I honestly think that’s a brilliant idea at this point! I really don’t know, it just… died?
ā¤ ā¤
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I had no idea that the eyebrow thing was an extensive of playing with your hair when stressed. I end up knotting and twisting mine which is going to ruin it if Iām not careful!! Iām determined to try and stop doing it.
I donāt really drink much coffee (although the iced ones that we have are delicious) but I might actually like Cocoa Truffle as I imagine itās more like a mocha? Creme Brulee Iāve only tried as a white hot chocolate.
OMG I know you briefly mentioned the friends thing the other day but Iām so, so sorry!! I completely know the feeling of going ignored in group chats; I left one for the same reason and itās probably for the best as everytime that youāre ignored it hurts so bad. Just make sure that you do keep socializing with some people though because when youāve cut yourself off from everyone itās incredibly hard to find new people from scratch.
I think all of your recent reads are on my TBR (and most of them pretty high priority too). Besides the novella which Iāve already read. Ooh so is your TBR for the month (I added one of them when you mentioned it and was intrigued by another that wasnāt when it appeared in a Goodreads email).
What were The Circle & Mollyās Game like? Iāve considered watching both but never gotten around to it. Ooh and how are you finding Killing Eve? And Legacies (which they donāt seem to show here ļ)
I think Lobizona sounds fantastic!! And The Gilded Ones but thatās been pushed to next year ļ
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Yes, unfortunately it is, and as much as it is growing back I still find myself plucking the stray hairs (not the ones I need) and still playing with them a lot. I’m using a serum, which helps, and I find that putting makeup on even when I won’t see anyone helps because I have the mentality of I can’t touch them. My dad pointed out to me I’m also biting the sides of my fingernails to shreds, and picking at small bumps on my arms so I think I am going to go see someone as it’s starting to become a bit of a problem – maybe a result of some of my built up stress and anxieties about school and social life.
It is, kind of! I sometimes use a caramel syrup in my coffee and that with the Truffle is so nice!
Thank you, I have made up with some of my closer friends but there are still people who I think I should remain away from.
I loved them both! I prefered the book of The Circle since Maye’s character was developed way more, but it was still really good.
Killing Eve is amazing and Legacies . . . well, I don’t think it’s a show I would’ve missed out on if I had chosen not to watch it.
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Aww I’m so, so sorry to hear that. I hope that it gets sorted out soon. I’d definitely recommend seeing someone as it does all sound like it could be stress related and habits like that can become really compulsive and hard to break off. So hopefully someone can give you advice on what can help and also come up with ways to reduce your stress levels. I’m here if you ever need to talk. Oh and with the nail biting thing I think there’s something that you can put on your nails to make them taste bad to put you off?
Ooh that sounds delicious (:
Aww just do whatever you think’s best for you. Fall outs in friendship groups are so hard to deal with.
That’s good to know. I’ll have to try and watch them sometime then. And read the book (:
Yeah I love Killing Eve, especially the first two seasons. I still kind of want to watch Legacies as I’ve seen everything else related to TVD :L
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Good for you leaving the group chat!!!! It’s important to remove negative people from our lives because there are so many other people in the world. I have experienced something very similar back in my early years of high school. All my “friends” would ask me for homework and always gush about how smart I was so that I could help in subjects. they needed help with. Me being me, I said yes for almost two years until, I realized that we never talked about anything else but homework.
I love webtoons (Lore Olympus is amazing) and I’m currently watching Legacies now š Lovely post as always and here’s to a great June!
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Thank you. I have made peace with losing some friends, but am glad that some of my friends noticed and then did approach me about it. I’m hoping to make some new friends, too!
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šNice!
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