It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?


It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. I can’t remember the last time I participated in this Monday meme but seeing as I have some reviews planned this week, I thought it best to give a reading update early on in the week ☺️

I also drew a winner this morning for the Love, Hate & Other Filters Giveaway…

Danielle @ Life Of a Literary Nerd!!! Congrats & I hope you LOVE the book as much as I did! Please contact me with your addy 🙂

Last week I finished reading 2 books & no one is more surprised at that than me! Both reads were tough for very different reasons and I’m still working through my thoughts & feelings on one of them…

This was not what I was expecting & I feel terrible about not loving it cause I really had my ♥️ set on this one ever since I first caught wind of it & then saw its beautiful cover 🙈unfortunately I didn’t get reeled in until the 65% mark. By then I had pinpointed exactly what made this one a 2.5 star read, I have a review for The Hazel Wood by Melissa Alberthere.

 

 

I’m currently working on my review for The Dangerous Art Of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis which had to be THE hardest book I’ve ever read. This book was triggering on a personal level but I knew that when I requested the galley. My interest in this book was heightened when I learned that this was Ownvoices not only for LGBTQIA+ but also for child abuse. This was not an easy read & it brought up many bad memories. It also didn’t have the best romance, in fact it borderlines toxic. Ultimately I appreciated the fact that it didn’t paint a rosy colored portrait of what child abuse really looks like. The sad reality is that being silenced is part of the abuse and covering up both physical & emotional abuse becomes second nature to the victim. This book was like a huge stadium light on the hard cold truths behind closed doors. Review to come this week.

I’m currently reading The Belles (The Belles #1) by Dhonielle Clayton & I’m about 50% into this BEAUTIFUL Fantasy!!! 😍 I’m OBSESSED with the detailed world building that transports me each & every time I read a single page. I can easily picture this world brought to the big screen with its bursts of color, newspapers with moving headlines, balloons that carry messages & also eavesdrop gathering up bits of gossip. Last but not the least, The Belles who are diverse & admired for their beauty. There’s so much more to this story beneath all the layers of Tulle & beauty products. I know I’ll be finishing this book by either tomorrow, latest Tuesday & my heart breaks knowing I’ll have to leave this world behind til’ the sequel that I hope is already being written 🤞🏼

Originally, I had hoped to read Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (Red Rising Saga #4) simultaneously with The Belles but that of course didn’t work out. This is typically the case whenever I come across a book like The Belles that simply demands all of my attention. I open The Belles & I get absorbed into the pages…I become one with the words! 😂😂😂 The good news is that once I start Iron Gold, I know I’ll be just as invested cause I’ve only been waiting for this book ALL of 2017 & it’s PIERCE BROWN!!! 🐺I’ve been dodging spoilers on twitter but I have caught bits & pieces of praise which means Pierce has delivertttt again!!! 😆😆😆 Hoping to start Iron Gold by Tuesday night 💜

Happy Monday Bookworms! hope you all had a wonderful weekend 💜 What have you recently finished reading? plan on reading next? Sound off in the comments below 💗 ‘s!

Author: LairOfBooks

"I didn't choose the Book Life, the Book Life chose me"

34 thoughts on “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?”

    1. Thank you Tammy! I’m 55% in & I can easily see the cinematography on the Belles give Hunger Games Capitol vibes when it comes to fashion lol. I am seriously OBSESSED! A+ world building 🙂

      Happy reading! ❤ ❤ ❤

      Like

      Reply

  3. I’m starting The Belles soon and I’m happy to hear so many good things. But I’m sad that I keep seeing meh-to-bad reviews for The Hazel Wood because I was really excited for it. And I’m SO EXCITED for Love, Hate, and Other Filters – thanks for hosting the giveaway, and I messaged you through your contact page with my address.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh goodness! I’m hella curious to hear what you think of The Belles! Oh & about The Hazel Wood, I wholeheartedly encourage those that had their hearts set on reading it to do so anyways. The reviews are really mixed with HW & I wouldn’t want someone to miss out but do tell me about how it fares with you if you decide to read it. I love hearing different perspectives & things I may have missed 😉 & I just e-mailed you in return, I’ll have the book shipped to you by tomorrow 2 day shipping. Congrats on winning Love, Hate & Other Filters!!! Happy reading <3!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thank you Inge! & I couldn’t agree more, this is the first time I saw a big part of my childhood mirrored in the pages but I’m also very aware of how triggering this book will be for other readers. I just went over to your page to see the book lol, It Ends With Us? I actually own a copy of that book & would love to her your thoughts since I myself have yet to read it. I’ll now go back to your page cause I saw Big Little Lies & neeeeeeeeed to read more cause I LOVED the book! haha! happy reading Inge 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Oh you clever girl ;-). Yes I’m reading It Ends With Us and I’m biased because I love everything CoHo writes. There’s probably going to be a raving review on Sunday :-). Oops about Big Little Lies but maybe I went into that book with the expectation to read thrills on every page while it’s something else completely. I do want to read other books now by her though!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Confession: I’ve never read a CoHo book…but I do own the on that you’re reading & I’ve heard it shows a different side of the authors writing growth. I’ll def have to check out your rave review ☺️ I also would like to read more from Moriarty but I’m fearful that I won’t like anything else by her as much Big Little Lies 😂 if you come across one you end up loving, please let me know 💜

        Liked by 1 person

      3. It’s still Colleen’s signature writing but it is a bit different from her usual sweet novels because of the topic. You have to read it soon, she’s so good! I’m not sure I’ll be the best reference but I do have another novel (What Alice Forgot, which I already heard is a good one) that I’ll give a go some time this year :-). I’ll definitely let you know if I end up loving that one!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Ahhhh, I’m so glad I preordered The Belles!!! Cannot wait for that book to arrive! Also, just started Iron Gold last night and even though I’m barely 20 pages into it, I can already tell it’s going to be just as crazy of a ride as the previous books!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. eeeeK! can’t wait to hear your thoughts! I actually won a finished copy & never got sent the book but the arc alone is STUNNING so I can’t even imagine how beautiful the FC will be *heart eyes* haha! & OMYGAHHHHH Iron Gold! I’m torn btwn drawing out Belles cause I don;t want it to end & speeding through it cause I also wanna read Iron Gold lol smh #Bookwormproblems

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. I’m home sick so it is definitely happening! I’ve already started reading & will probably read in sessions throughout the day as long as I can stay awake lol. So far I am LOVING it! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  7. I’m glad that you’re liking The Belles! I’ll be picking that one up pretty soonish! I’m currently reading The Hazel Wood (should be done tonight or tomorrow), An Artificial Darkness by Seanan McGuire, and I started audiobooking the beginning of Love, Hate & Other Filters while doing work for my job 🙂 I will also be starting Everless soon!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. OMG Flavia! The Belles has your name written all over it! lOL! I really do think you’re going to love it, I can’t stop reading except for well you know when Life calls smh. I’m super friggin curious about your reading experience with The Hazel Wood & I’ve heard some things about An Artificial Darkness but def not as much as Every Heart a Doorway lol. I really hope you’re enjoying Love, Hate & Other Filters…how’s the audiobook narrator? 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. YAY! I’m so happy to hear that! And I heard it’s set in New Orleans? I requested that book so long ago that I forget what the synopsis even says hahaha. Also, I got to an interesting portion of The Hazel Wood…. I wanted to read more last night but my eyes would not cooperate 😛

        Also at first I thought that the narrator for Love, Hate & Other Filters spoke kind of slow…but then I got used to it, and she’s actually Indian, and can do the aunties’ accents really well! I’m enjoying it 🙂 (also re-living the awesome time I had at my friend’s Indian wedding last September!)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It’s not new Orleans as we know it but it’s as colorful as we all know New Orleans is especially during Mardi Gras LOL! Gahhh! I really would like to go to The Big Easy some day soon Lol! I won a finished copy & it’s been such a headache to have it delivered (all month long) til today, it finally found it’s way to my UPS access point smh. I’m really curious to see what you think of The Hazel Wood. OMYGOSH! sounds like I’d really enjoy the audiobook to Love, Hate, and Other Filters! & side note: I’d love to go to a Indian Wedding, it’s legit on my bucket list to get invited somehow 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      3. YES! I’m so happy to hear (read haha) that! It’s definitely on my list too and I hope that I can go soon! Also, I’d been meaning to read a book set in New Orleans soon, so this is PERFECT. Meant to be! Hehe. And aaaah I hope that you have the finished copy in your hands now!

        Also I should be reviewing The Hazel Wood this week haha. Still sorting through my feelings about the book lol.

        I hope that you can go to an Indian wedding ASAP! So much fun, and just….the food, and the extravagance…

        Like

    1. I am now 60% in but I’m off now on my lunch hour & getting back to reading it is just about the only thing I find appetizing lOL! I’m actually going to pre-order my copy sometime later today, I hope you enjoy the read as much as I am! Happy reading Marie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Dang it haha.. I got all excited when I saw Danielle 😜 I was considering The Belles. I will wait to see what you think. I recently finished Red Clocks and The Cruel Prince. Debby and I are working on Thunderhead. Hope you have a great week. Text me when you have time. Today was busy 💗

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Lol I can’t smh. I am now at the 70% mark and convinced I don’t want to leave this world so 10% per day is my pace LMAO! def finishing it up tonight though. OHMYGOSH! I’m hella curious on your thoughts on Cruel Prince! If I could just stay awake long enough to text you smh. I’ll try you later today since I work half the day in office & the rest from home.

      Like

      Reply

  10. Hmm…I’m going back and forth on whether or not I want to read Belles.
    Currently, I’m reading the Iliad, The Grey Bastards (a fantasy novel), and am about to start Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward, which I hope I like because I bought the hardcover and I really hate that format.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Its been compared to Scott Westerfield’s Uglies/Pretties books which I’ve never read. I’m LOVING it though. Very curiosu to hear your thoughts on Sing Unburied Sing cause I also have a hardcover copy from BOTM I really should get to 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  11. Pingback: Wonder Woman Book Tag – The Clever Reader

  12. Well it’s Saturday lol I’m reading The Heart’s Invisible Furies and Home (Binti #2). Have you read Binti? I think you’d really like it…

    I am also triggered by books with child abuse. I typically can read it if it is just referred to, but books with graphic descriptions are very hard for me to read. I tend to stay away from them. Ironically enough I also read a book that centered around child abuse last month, however I did not know about it going in. I do not regret reading it, but I doubt I’ll be picking up The Dangerous Art Of Blending In…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. HAHA! I’m a bit jellie, I’ve really neglected Binti on my shelves smh but it is at the very top of my TBR 😉 & I totally understand that, self care above all & we all know our triggers. Sending lots of hugs <3!

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment