Reading Writing and Me

I am so stressed I can’t think straight about my final science exam (I am not gifted or even competent in that subject), so I wanted some escapism in my reading for this time. I figured it was the perfect moment to pick up Built to Last and indulge in the sweetness and wit of @erinhahn_author. If you don’t know, I love love love Erin’s YA books, and I can see those fingerprints here as even her fully formed adult characters still have growing up journeys of their own. This really warmed my heart and was the perfect bit of falling in love and hope I needed. (Also, if you need a playlist, every chapter starts with a song rec) Full review linked in bio and stories also http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/12/romance-review-built-to-last-by-erin.html #erinhahn #builttolast #romance #bookworm #paperback #bookblogger #bookreview #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CmAQm8Ev9Cx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It’s finals season until next Tuesday afternoon, so I was a bit slow to finally edit and post my November wrap up, but it’s here. Click the link in bio to hear about the 4 books I read, which was my favorite (I read it on kindle so it’s not pictured), how I’m feeling about blogging again, and some hints about future posts. http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/12/month-in-review-november-2022-reading.html #bookstagram #bookstack #bookworm #bookblogger #bookreview #paperback #hardcover #sallyrooney #bookstagrammer https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1uUOvPgTR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I’ve been reevaluating my feelings on Sally Rooney after a paper I wrote for uni (which I think I’ll share on the blog soon) where I had to reread Normal People. After actually enjoying normal people to my great shock, I decided to reread the rest of her novels, including BWWAY which I originally DNF’d. So I did a re-review for the book since I just finished it for a second time. It only moved up .5 of a point technically but with much love and a newer appreciation. It’s fascinating how these older characters contrast with the university aged ones from her prior books. Though, having revisited my old review, my feelings are relatively similar the second time through. Link in bio http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/12/rereview-beautiful-world-where-are-you.html #sallyrooney #beautifulworldwhereareyou #bookstagram #plantsandbooks #bookworm #bookblogger #bookreview https://www.instagram.com/p/Clodg8dJYrX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

the other day I realized I’ve been getting a lot of my reading inspo from accounts that aren’t from #bookstagram including a lot of music artists and lifestyle creators. so I made a little list to give you some ideas of unconventional follows for bookish content that might help you find your next great read. all of these people are so so so talented in what they do and also happen to offer fantastic book recommendations on the side. the full listicle is on the blog with a bit about why I love their recs! ✨let me know in the comments where you love to hear about new books #bookworm #bookclub #bookblogger #booksbooksbooks #shelfie https://www.instagram.com/p/ClT2daxpQkg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

if you’ve spoken to me in the 2 weeks since I started reading No One Asked For This by @cazziedavid, I’m sorry. I’ve probably mentioned it way too many times. alas, I just love this collection of essays, and Cazzie’s flavor of anxiety is the same as mine which inevitably leads to a love the book for me. These essays were a true darkly hilarious, cathartic joy to read and felt like a dispatch from a big sister figure in a way that was comforting. Your 20s are so weird and confusing, and this book was a total comfort. full review is live on the blog now!! link in bio: http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/11/no-one-asked-for-this-by-cazzie-david.html #cazziedavid #nooneaskedforthis #bookstagram #bookworm #ebook #librarybook #bookblogger #bookreview #essaycollection https://www.instagram.com/p/ClJop4ZJAqF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

this past weekend, I took a trip to @storiesbooksandcafe in Echo Park on my way home from the flea market which is always a treat. I wound up picking up two books. The first is a paperback of The Idiot by Elif Batum. I tried reading this book from the library when I was back home over the summer, and I had to leave before I could finish it. I was so so on it then, but given my change of heart on Normal People, I decided that I wanted to give this one another go (I also really want to read the sequel for some reason). The second book, also millennial pink (do we see a trend?), I grabbed Someone Who Will Love You In All Your Damaged Glory in the second slide. Of course the title grabbed my attention immediately. When I found out it was short stories, I was even more intrigued cause I’ve never read a short story collection that wasn’t an anthology. I just finished it so review soon!! 💕Have you been to an indie bookstore lately? Let me know in the comments!! #bookstore #indiebookstore #shelfie #paperback #newbooks #bookhaul #bookblogger #bookstagram (at Stories BooksandCafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClEhC5gvcMz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

so my friend sent me a tweet about the Chris Evans interview that inspired a new romance book, and I was immediately hooked on the idea. Getting to read about an entertainment writer? Absolutely. Exactly what I wanted to read. And while I have mixed feelings about the book, I did enjoy it overall. It was fun. It took my mind off my own life, and I cared enough about finishing it that I made time to read it (which hasn’t happened much lately). Full review on the blog! Link in bio. ✨What did you think of the book? Let me know I the comments! #romance #librarybook #kindle #bookstagram #bookblogger #bookreview #bookworm #ebook https://www.instagram.com/p/CjYqwE5vVud/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow owns my heart. I finished it in 2 days and could not stop reading. this book covers a friendship’s end and flows from being 11 year olds to 35 year olds capturing remarkable successes, intense failure, loss, and joy that comes with a full life. also, as it follows video game designers, there’s a narrative about living a creative life that will be particularly resonate to anyone readers who are also writers. my full review is on the blog now but all I have to say is go read this book. http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/08/tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-by.html #bookstagram #bookworm #johngreen #tomorrowandtomorrowandtomorrow #bestseller #literaryfiction #bookreview #bookblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/ChXf5e3pim_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

when you’re only back home 5 days but you run to the library to check out 4 books… 🌤have you read any of these books? what did you think?? just picked up my holds today and dove into Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow determined to break my reading slump. all of these books got great reviews so I’m hoping to get into at least a little of them all. #librarybooks #bookhaul #librarybookhaul #bookstagram #hardcover #bookworm #bookblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/ChS-3x3vZ-T/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

as a kid, I grew up loving Sam on iCarly, then over the pandemic I discovered @jennettemccurdy’s podcast Empty Inside, which I loved even more. So I’ve been anticipating her memoir for a while now, and it’s truly an amazing read. I downloaded the audiobook yesterday and couldn’t hit pause. This book has major TWs for discussion of abuse and eating disorder but it is a truly moving and beautiful read told in an innovative format for memoir. Fully broke me out of a months long reading slump, but if you have favorite recent reads please let me know in the comments! I’m trying to get into reading more. #reading #books #memoir #jennettemccurdy #nonfiction #audiobook #bookreview #bookstagram #bookworm https://www.instagram.com/p/ChGHyFGPmjS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Very excited to FINALLY start reading @casey.mcquiston’s first YA. Isn’t it gorgeous??? I’m back home to my pile of books from The Ripped Bodice to start tearing through. Can I finish this one by the end of June to meet my goal? I’m going to try! #bookstagram #yabookstagram #books #bookworm #bookblogger #ireadya #wednesdaybooks #yalovin https://www.instagram.com/p/CfKQQBQPniT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Nina LaCour was one of the first YA authors I ever read when I was 14, and I’m so excited that now at 18 I get to read her first novel for adults. It was so beautiful and one of the first books for adults that I’ve felt entirely at home with. Go grab a copy of Yerba Buena at your favorite indie or library like I did! My full review where I really talk about the book is on the blog, but I figured for the Insta post I’d just be sentimental. http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/06/yerba-buena-by-nina-lacour-fiction-book.html #yerbabuena #ninalacour #fiction #shelfie #bookshelf #bookworm #bookblog #bookblogger #librarybook #librarylove https://www.instagram.com/p/CewN0s8px6w/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

made a quick trip back to the library so my mom could find her next read, and of course, I couldn’t resist picking up a few more books of my own from the stacks. I always relish getting to spend time at the library at home. I’ve been on a huge YA kick lately, but I’d seen so much buzz for these titles I had to grab them while I was over at the main library. ✨What are you reading right now? #bookstack #bookhaul #libraryhaul #librarylove #ninalacour #bookworm #newbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CerFGyUJ-dq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

And They Lived finally got me reading again!!! It only took me a couple days to finish reading this one, and I absolutely flew through the ending. I couldn’t put it down. Even though I’m going to be a junior in college next semester, I still feel like I just finished my freshman year since it was my first on campus. This is one of the most real feeling novels about college aged characters I’ve ever read. I was immediately hooked by the first chapter cause I felt exactly the way chase did when my mom finally left me behind in LA. I get into all my thoughts in much more detail in my review on the blog, but I just wanted to use this caption to gush a bit more about how real, honest, and raw this book is. A perfect contemporary YA and also a perfect read for pride month. A link to read the blog will be in stories and in bio! Also here: http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/06/and-they-lived-by-steven-salvatore-ya.html Also, just wanted to say I’ve been out of town since I got my giant book stack, so I haven’t gotten to them for the most part. That’s why there hasn’t been a follow up post! #bookstagram #yabook #collegeYA #lgbtq #lgbtqreads #librarybook #bookblogger #bookworm #yabookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CeohnLspmci/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

back home and of course right back to my all time favorite library for a new YA haul + some old favorite comfort books cause my copies are back at home. some are for pure summer reading fun and others are for writing research on a project I’m hoping to query. I’m hoping to really melt into some reading this week. #bookstagram #bookworm #yabookstagram #bookstack #librarybooks #librarybookstagram #yacontemporary #yabooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CeULgwkvq-O/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It feels like the old days! It’s been years since I’ve come home from a bookstore with a stack this big, but when my grandma came to town, I took her to @therippedbodice and one thing lead to another and here we are. Definitely got to indulge my teen book blogger heart while supporting my new favorite indie bookstore and some of my favorite authors. It made me realize how out of the loop I’d fallen when I found out how many authors I loved already had new books out i wasnt aware of. This stack is definitely going to last me all summer, and I’m so excited for each and every one of these romances and YAs. If you want all the details about these books and why I chose them, I made a full blog post about my trip to The Ripped Bodice and my #bookhaul. Link in bio or stories! 🌟What was the last book you bought from an indie bookstore? http://www.readingwritingandme.com/2022/05/my-biggest-book-haul-in-while-my-trip.html #bookstack #bookworm #bookhauls #indiebookstore #therippedbodice #hardcovers #yabookstagram #bookstagram #romancebooks #contemporaryromance #yacontemporary #bookblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/CdlhOJBp2OF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

stopped into the @therippedbodice today after hearing about it for years and years on book twitter. had an amazing time and bought a massive stack of books which I haven’t done in years. this store is such a gem and specializes in romance - adult and YA. I got a mix of both. the booksellers are truly the nicest and most helpful as well. definitely a new favorite place in LA. #bookstore #indiebookstore #romance #amreadingromance #therippedbodice #yabookstagram #shelfie (at The Ripped Bodice Bookstore) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdeaZSPPdmz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=