Wrap-Up

all of the great contemporary reads, lots of stress but lots of books! // February 2019 Wrap Up

Aline @ Fully Booked23 Comments

GUESS WHO’S BACK AND HAS READ 15 BOOKS* IN THE SHORTEST MONTH OF THE YEAR!!!

This gal!!

I’m actually so happy with this, February was a busy month for me (hence my unexpected two weeks wish hiatus!!) so THIS IS A SUCCESS.

*Fine, two of them I had started at the end of January. BUT IT COUNTS OK.

  • King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: 4(.5?) stars / I have a very gushing review you can check out, but I really enjoyed this!! I adore Nina and Nikolai to no end. ❤️
  • The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan: 4.5 stars / I am very biased because I FELT SO SEEN through the rep of a Bangladeshi-American sapphic teen in this book, and I have no regrets!! I CRIED.
  • Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz: 3.5 stars / I wish I had enjoyed this more, because it was a sweet story, but it was a tad bit too slice-of-life for me? (or maybe I just wanted them to GET TOGETHER SOONER ahaha oops)
  • The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf: 4 stars / ft. a historical setting of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, a Malaysian Muslim teen with OCD, broke my heart!
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: 3 stars / ft. a black teen, unexpected A Christmas Carol vibes, and social awareness 💔 It just felt too quick for me to connect to the character?
  • Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon: 4 stars / ft. a bisexual Jewish boy and his best friend Sophie who’s in love with him; sort of messy, but the greatest character development and I’m soft for the m/m romance !!
  • Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi: 4.5-5 stars / ft. a Thai protagonist with anxiety, and a troubled boy who likes to bake!! The sweetest, slowest-burn romance omg over text. I ADORED THIS SO MUCH
  • Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed: 4 stars / such a heartbreaking, powerful read tackling forced arranged marriages ft. a Pakistani-American protagonist 💔😭
  • Odd One Out by Nic Stone: 2.5 stars / I really do appreciate all the diversity in this book, especially the ownvoices black main characters but I just did not enjoy this book? And I’m so sad cause I loved Dear Martin! I just did not enjoy any of the leads, either through another character’s POV or their own. It made it very frustrating.
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas: 4.5 stars / A book from the QUEEN! I loved Bri’s story, so much love for the family relationships and social awareness omg
  • Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy: 3.5 stars / ft. summer romance, a slice-of-life novel following a queer protagonist and journey of self-discovery 💕
  • Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde: 4.5 stars / ft. the softest romances, all the nerdiness, a biracial and bisexual Asian-American with ADHD? (in a f/f/ romance!) as well as a fat character with anxiety and on the autism spectrum! 😍
  • Always Forever Maybe by Anicca Mrose Ricci: 3.5 stars / deals with an abusive relationship that was so hard to read ahhh
  • Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno: 4 stars / ft. a SOFT AF f/f romance and magical realism!! (also tackles rape 😭💔)
  • Noteworthy by Riley Redgate: 3.5 stars / ft. acapella, soft friendships and an Asian-American protagonist!

I mean, I only have like 4 to choose from, but I loved writing my discussion on the lack of romance tropes for marginalized identities! Diversity in books is something that means a lot to me, and I want so much to see so much more in YA books regarding diverse populations, including tropes. 💕

  • I!! Had!! So!! Much!! Work!! School KILLED ME 😭
  • I got my report card and went down in some subjects, but up in others? I’ve been able to maintain my 90+ average so far, but idk how lmao pray for me
  • Valentine’s Day was a flop but I bought chocolate for myself and it was delicious 💁🏽‍♀️
  • I went to an escape room with my friends to celebrate a friend’s birthday! WE ESCAPED 💪😊
  • Someone stole my money at work last weekend!! I had a good amount of cash (plus two toonies) and an Indigo gift card, and they were all gone 😦 My debit card and Tim’s card was still there, but I’m wondering if I should be worried the person took a picture of my debit or something?? Am I just being paranoid? No purchases have been made but what if they use it to buy something online?? AM I CRAZY?
  • This month was pretty bland otherwise!! Mostly stressful though omg.

I see some people doing this and thought I’d give it a try! I don’t usually set a ton of goals for myself, so we’ll see lmao

  • Read 8-10 books! (March is VERY busy for me, and even though I have spring break I really doubt I’ll get as much reading done!)
  • Follow my blog schedule! I want to be more organized (in one aspect of my life anyway, it’s not happening for school) and I’m hoping to post a bit more often this month!
  • Blog hop more often/more regularly! I don’t know how feasible this is based on my schedule, but I’m going to aim for Friday to be my blog-hop night 💪 I love reading and commenting on other posts, I just have no time!
  • STOP PROCRASTINATING. (Says me as I procrastinate on homework by writing this post, whateverrrr)

What was your favourite book you read in February?! Mine was probably The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali and Emergency Contact! I can’t believe it’s already March oh my gosh. Do you have any goals, or anything special coming up for you?! Let’s talk, I missed you guys!! 💕

23 thoughts on “all of the great contemporary reads, lots of stress but lots of books! // February 2019 Wrap Up”

  1. Wow 15 books is impressive!! *throws confetti to celebrate*
    And so many diverse books as well which I love– I have hardly read any contemporary books because I mostly read fantasy but I have been meaning to read more. Emergency contact is on the top of my list because it sounds up my street and it is one of my favourite covers.
    I’ve read King of Scars and have been waiting for the sequel ever since!! haha but I adore Nikolai (I mean who doesn’t??) so I enjoyed it!!
    I also want to read the weight in out sky because I’ve read a lot of things but I think I will need tissues for it!!
    Ohh.. an escape room sounds fun. I have been meaning to try one but I have never got round to looking into it!!
    omg that’s such a shame that someone stole your money– who would do that?!?
    I hope you have a great March!!

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    • THANK YOU! 😊❤️ I did not expect it at all ahaha.
      I know what you mean! I love fantasy. I often bounce back and forth between contemporary and fantasy depending on my mood hahah. YESSS you should absolutely read Emergency Contact!! It is the sweetest. 💞
      YES AHH I can’t believe we have to wait a whole YEAR for the next book 😭😭 I adore Nikolai so much.
      It BROKE MY HEART 😭😭💔💔
      It is so much fun!! I definitely recommend, especially going with close friends! 😊
      I know, I was so sad. :((
      Thanks, I hope you have a lovely one as well! 💞

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      • You’re welcome 💛
        Yes it is good to have different books to suit different moods!! I need to get to it– and it involves baking so it sounds great!!! 😊
        I know— waiting for book sequels is a painful time 😭😂
        Aww… I kind of love it when a book breaks your heart in a way!! 😂
        Yes it does sound fun– I will need to look into it!! 😊
        Thank you 💕

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  2. Well done on reading 15 books!
    Emergency contact has been on my list for so long and I really want to read it! I feel like it’s been popping up a lot recently and every time I see it it just reminds me of all the books I’ve yet to read… 😰 there are always so many!!
    And I’m getting on the come up for a friend’s birthday (so I’m going to borrow it from her 😂)

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  3. 15 books is a lot!
    I’m so glad you liked Emergency Contact, I’ve been thinking about picking it up for a while. And I know what you mean with Odd One Out. I loved the diversity and what the book was trying to achieve but the characters themselves? Not really, I liked them less and less as the story went on.

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    • I was so surprised!! 🙈😊
      Yes, I absolutely recommend it! It was such a sweet read and so heartfelt. ❤️ Oh, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who felt that way! I’m so disappointed, I really loved the what the book was trying to do as you said but the characters were a huge letdown. 😕 It had so much potential!

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  4. Ahhh you’ve read SO much, this is amazing – and so many good looking books, too, yay! I’m so happy you loved Emergency Contact, it is one of my favorite books of all times ❤ I also loved Queens of Geek and I can't wait to read Summer of Salt, it sounds so good! ❤
    I'm so sorry to hear someone stole your money ughh, that's terrible, I'm sorry! 😦 I hope that March will be a better and less stressful month, sending you all the love ❤ ❤

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  5. Ooh I also read King of Scars and The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali in February and I loved them both so much!! And I read Summer of Salt a few months ago and it was just so soft and beautiful!
    Also agreed. How is it already March???

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  6. I’m so impressed by how much you read in February! 😱 And happy to hear that you enjoyed so many. Plus, it looks like you read a lot of f/f books, which is always a win 😀 I recently got Rukhsana Ali from the library and hope to read it soon! Happy reading in March! ❤

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    • Thank you!! ❤ I had such a good reading month in February (March is nowhere near as close hahaha) 🙂 I love my f/f books so much!! 😍 Oh, that makes me so happy, I really hope you enjoy it! ❤ Thank you, I hope you're having a great March! ❤

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  7. Wowow 15 books is so impressive!! I applaud you 👏 I have a busy month ahead too so I’m probably going to manage about 8-10 books as well, but it’s totally okay. Life happens haha! I’ve been thinking about reading Summer of Salt soon because it DOES seem so soft. And I’ve heard so many great things about Our Year of Maybe! I’ll definitely have to get around to some contemporary reads soon. Great wrap up Aline!! & I hope you have a nice March! 💖

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    • Thank you!! (IT’S NOT HAPPENING AGAIN 😅) For sure! It’s a struggle haha, I wish I could just read ALL the books and not do anything else. 😂 Oh yes I hope you do pick up Summer of Salt sometime! It’s so soft, with such an important narrative ahhh. I hope you get the chance to pick up these contemporary reads ahh they’re so good! ❤ Thank you!! I hope you're having a great March 💞

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  8. I also read Odd One Out this month and it was such a weird read. I did like Cooper’s point of view the most. I listened to it in audiobook and the narrator was phenomenal, so maybe that helped. I also enjoy Nic Stone’s writing style as a whole, and this book made me laugh out loud sometimes. At the same time, I feel like the characters made very bad decisions, messing with the other’s feelings and rarely being honest about their own. In a lot of ways, I think it perpetuates a bad idea that it’s “okay” to act like that if you’re still “confused about your sexuality”. It’s okay to be confused, but I don’t think it’s nice to mess with others while you figure it out. It was just a very… odd read, indeed, hahah.
    Hope you have an amazing March, Aline! 💛

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    • Wasn’t it? I’m so glad I’m not the only one who felt odd about this book?? I’m glad you enjoyed the audiobook, I wish I had gone that route! I do like Nic Stone as an author, but I wasn’t a fan of the characters in this one! 😕 I just didn’t love how while discussing a narrative about discovering your sexuality, the characters were almost manipulative sometimes with other characters’ feelings? Yes, agreed! It just made me uncomfortable, ahh. Thank you, I hope you’re having a lovely March as well! ❤

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  10. LOVE THIS POST!! Omg WHAT you read 15 books in 28 days, HOW??? (Aline you gotta teach me your ways…how do you still read so much while being an IB student 😂😩) you’re a reading queen 👏🏼

    I’m so glad that you read so many great books in February, I see a lot of books I want to read here, like The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali and On the Come Up!! 😍 I’m so happy you enjoyed Our Year of Maybe as well; I absolutely adored that one 💙 (You should read Solomon’s debut, You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone! It’s pretty good (& emotional) as well ☺️)

    YES ALINE STOP PROCRASTINATING SMH (says me as I procrastinate on my psych IA while writing this comment) 😂😭

    LOVE U

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    • THANK U AND I DON’T KNOW DEZZY, IT’S NEVER HAPPENING AGAIN 😩😂 (seriously, this month I’ve read… THREE) you give me too much credit ahh ❤ ❤

      Yes!! YOU MUST READ THEM AHH. It was such a good read!! Ooh, I definitely will have to check it out, I'm glad you enjoyed her debut as well 😍

      SHH DEZZY YOU'RE NOT ONE TO TALK 👀😂😂

      LOVE U TOO ❤

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