Unreleased books I’m excited to read in 2023

With almost half the year — yes, almost half of 2023 is over _{what have I done with my life?!} What better thing to do than to ignore the rental crisis, rising gas prices, responsibilities, and impending doom and instead look at something positive like future releases!

Obviously, this list isn’t a comprehensive list of books I’m anticipating for 2023 (that list is long) but a few releases in the next few months.

So, without further ado, here are some books I’m highly anticipating in 2023 (or, what’s left of 2023).

onward, friends!

Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Sale date: 23 May 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Set in historical India-inspired world
• Enemies to lovers with a rakish prince
• YA Fantasy stand-alone!

---

Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Sale date: 13 June 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Fan of the author
• Cozy fantasy? Yes, we need more!
• Tender characters

---

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Genre: Fantasy
Sale date: 18 July 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Inspired by both Egyptian folklore and political upheaval
• Hidden heir to the throne
• Enemies to allies to friends to enemies…

---

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
Genre: Young adult, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy
Sale date: 25 July 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Fan of the author
• Enemies forging alliances
• Disgraced ghost-fighting warrior

---

The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Sale date: 1 August 2023

Why I’m excited: UPDATE: currently reading an ARC woo!
• Fan of the author
• Exploration of heritage, tradition, and duty
• Not quite fake dating-more like fake male heir

---

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Sale date: 1 August 2023

Why I’m excited:
• “Sailor Moon meets—” I’m sorry, did they just mention Sailor Moon? Yeah, sold. I’m going to read anything related to Sailor Moon. That alone gets me.

---

House of Marionne by J. Elle
Genre: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy
Sale date: 29 August 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Secret magic debutante society
• Dark academia vibes
• Morally gray characters

---

The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma
Genre: Fantasy
Sale date: 29 August 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Slow burn enemies to lovers
• Inspired by myths and legends of India
• Morally gray princess

---

Everyone’s Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni
Genre: Young Adult
Sale date: 5 September 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Elite UK boarding school
• A loose reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Exploration of colourism and beauty standards

---

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical
Sale date: 19 September 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Fan of the author
• Dark academic fantasy stand-alone
• Academic rivals to lovers

---

This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson
Genre: Fantasy
Sale date: 26 September 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Fan of the author
• Jewish folklore
• Friends to enemies to lovers

---

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Sale date: 26 September 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Enemies to lovers
• Vampires in 2023? I’m intrigued
• Pretty cover (call me superficial lol idc)

---

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Sale date: 3 October 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Call me biased, but I’ll read anything with ‘alchemist’ or with alchemy courtesy of FMA
• Historical Asian Fantasy
• Ugh, just look at that cover. I need that on my shelves

---

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Sale date: 3 October 2023

Why I’m excited:
• South East Asian inspired fantasy
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity

---

Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy
Genre: Young Adult fiction, Comics
Sale date: 10 October 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Fan of the author
• Fun and humorous storytelling
• Exploration of what it’s like growing up Muslim in America

---

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
Genre: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy
Sale date: 17 October 2023

Why I’m excited:
• Fan of the author
• Complex magic system and interesting lore
• I read the prequel and I NEED this

Honorary 2024 mentions:

A Tempest of Tea by Harsh Faizal For some reason I thought this was going to be released in 2023 (perhaps I just wished and dreamt it…)

me and my two braincells excited. Honestly, I’m so hyped for these books!!

Are any of these books on your radar? What’s a book you’re excited to read?

Being Discouraged and Finding Inspiration Again | How to get out of a Reading Slump

TW: twilight reference (I’m sorry)

*slowly emerges from the pitiful hole*

Hi everyone!

Long time, no post… So where have I been?

I know I endeavour to keep this space mainly for my love of books and concepts pertaining to books but in reality this space intersects with many facets of life. It’s so important to highlight, uplift, and challenge ideas, values, and practices today and fight complicity and ignorances. However, with everything going on in life it can get overwhelming at times. I’m sure I’m not the only person when I say the past few years was challenging. I’ll be honest, dealing with trauma and death both on a personal and professional level was a struggle for me over the years. I haven’t been active on this blog as much as I liked but I needed to take some time off to reorganise myself, work schedule, and priorities. I love reading however, it was hard when dealing with discouragement and burn out. I found myself in a reading slump (hence my disappearance here). 

But wait! What is a reading slump?

According to Urban dictionary, a reading slump is:

Reading slump: a readers worst nightmare.

not being able to pick up a book and read because you just can’t, you just can’t read.

A reader in a reader slump? 

How to get out of a Reading Slump

I know there are many sources that address reading slumps, I mainly write this for myself as I constantly find myself in a reading slump.

Take a break and ride the wave out

For me, reading is a hobby. And I don’t know about you, but hobbies are supposed to be fun. Sometimes it is best to not force yourself to do something you don’t feel like doing–there’s no fun in it, no love, no passion. Pressuring yourself to achieve something may result in the worsening the reading slump. Sometimes, you may need a break from reading altogether and that’s okay (I say this to myself as I avoid eye contact with my ARC pile).

Revisit a favourite

Sometimes reading a known favourite book helps you get back into the groove of things. Reading an old favourite may remind you “ah, this is why I love reading! I need more!” 

Try a different genre

Listen, before joining social media would you believe I used to exclusively read non-fiction books? Only when I tried a different genre (YA fantasy for example), I got sucked into this rabbit hole. I hadn’t realised there’s such a thing with genre burn out. Hey, if you’re looking for a quick read to reintroduce you to reading, graphic novels (including manga, comics, etc.) are a highly recommended source! 

Switch reading formats

I used to limit myself to reading print books only. Yeah, the smell of books is nice, but sometimes when the night is late and the eyelids are heavy the current book you’re holding feels like the perfect lullaby. The next thing you know, it’s suddenly the morning after! Learn from my mistake and don’t limit yourself to one reading format. Mix it up and try an audiobook if you usually read print books. Audiobooks are perfect when you’re on a walk, doing chores, driving, or even if you have the book in front of you, follow word for word. If you’re on the go, digital books are perfect! You can sneak a chapter here and there in small pockets of time. Sometimes the change of atmosphere drastically helps.

Join a book club

Look, I know most readers are introverts but sometimes forcing family members to listen to your latest rant about a book or character isn’t  enough. Especially when you know they’re not really listening but pretending to just to appease you. Imagine having a full blown rant session with someone who understands your frustration or your excitement? Or better yet, challenges your thoughts? Sharing experiences can be extremely satisfying and reading with others can help encourage you to push on whether you like or dislike your current read. Because oooh we all have some thoughts we want to share!

One strike, you’re out!

I used to force read myself to finish every book I’ve started. Looking back, that was a terrible habit. With the constant bombardment in life I’m finding I don’t have the luxury (or let’s face it, masochist will power in me) to finish books I don’t enjoy. Life is too short to waste it on a book that brings you no joy! I’ve heard of people reading only a certain amount of the book (for example, reading 10% or reading x chapters) before DNF’ing it and I think that’s an excellent approach. Or, if you’re anything like me, too afraid to commit to DNF’ing, I like to put books in the “perhaps one day I’ll read this later pile”. 

Set up reading goals that are attainable

Looking back at my reading goals I have to laugh at my own audacity. I once had a reading goal that included having a daily reading schedule. To think I would set up  a reading schedule? In this economy? Peh! Instead, I place my metaphorical reading bars low that even the underworld would shake their head at my pitiful goals. But hey! No one will get hurt with disappointment because, the bar is on the floor. How can I NOT meet my reading goal? Setting up realistic goals means there’s a chance of actually meeting such goals. And who doesn’t like crossing things off your ‘to do list’? We need that dopamine hit once we scratch that off our list! M favourite line is this: almost anything can be accomplished if broken down into small attainable steps. And that includes my reading goals. 

Anyway, here are some of my steps I take when facing a reading slump. Hope this helps!

How do you get out of a reading slump?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

How to Track Your Reading: a guide to start

How to Track Your Reading:

There are various methods on tracking you reading. There is no one correct method. In fact, try different approaches and discover what works best for you. You may enjoy doing a mixed way of doing things. However, why should you track your reading?

Benefits of tracking your reading:

• beneficial for improving your reading habits
• encourages you to read more
• observe the statistics; what you read, what you like
• helps organise your thoughts (handy for reviews)
• provides insight on your reading habits
• helps with recommending books
• find hidden biases

Yes, so it’s established that there are numerous benefits to tracking your reading, but how do you track your reading?

Before running off and grabbing the nearest book and/or pen, first consider your preferred format. Do you love writing and underlining whilst reading? Do you love writing your ideas in a book or do you prefer to type your ideas? Below is a general list of pros and cons of physical format vs digital format.

Tracking your reading in different formats:

1. Physical Format
   • DIY book (e.g. bullet journal, book journal): can be any notebook/bullet journal.
   • Printed (printed journal, pre-printed journal): a specific book made for tracking your ideas (e.g. reading journal on Etsy)
     
2. Digital Format
   • Apps (Goodreads, Instagram, YouTube, Blog, Twitter, etc.)
   • Software (Spreadsheet, Word, Scrivener, Notion, etc.)
     

Physical Format

• Bullet Journal
  • Pros
    • Fully customisable for your specific needs
    • Portable
    • Easily accessible
    • Doesn’t have to be “artistic”
  • Cons
    • Can be time-consuming if you don’t have a consistent system
    • If you’re a perfectionist, can be discouraging
    • Limited pages and space

• Reading Journal (printed or pre-printed journal)
  • Pros
    • Easy to use
    • Portable
    • Can purchase a reading journal
    • You don’t have to design it, designs and template is already there
    • Pre-made templates make it handy although can be limiting
  • Cons
    • Can be pricey depending on the brand you buy (or access)
    • There can be limitations with the pre-made templates as it may not be suitable for you
    • Limited pages and space

Digital Format

• Goodreads (Available as an App and Website)
  • Pros
    • Great resource for books
    • Accessible and straight-forward to use
    • Community is already established
  • Cons
    • There are some limitations with Goodreads (e.g. interface)
    • Need internet connection

• Bookstagram: (Instagram dedicated for books) (Available as an App and Website)
  • Pros
    • Easily accessible via App
    • Easy to use
    • Great community
    • Great for those who love taking pictures
    • Can be aesthetic but doesn’t have to be
  • Cons
    • Can be daunting to start
    • Can be discouraging if you’re not “good at taking pictures”
    • Algorithm can be disheartening
    • Need internet connection

• BookTok (Tik Tok dedicated for books) (Available as an App and Website)
  • Pros
    • Easily accessible via App
    • Easy to use
    • Great for those who love making videos
    • Easy to make content
    • Established community
  • Cons
    • if you’re not into visual media may be difficult or daunting
    • Algorithm can be disheartening
    • Need internet connection

• Book Twitter (Twitter dedicated for books) (Available as an App and Website)
  • Pros
    • Easily accessible via App
    • Perfect for those who don’t want to make too much content (visual or video) and want to share thoughts
  • Cons
    • can be chaotic as it’s not as organised
    • can be messy/hard to organise thoughts
    • Need internet connection

• Notion (Available as an App and Website)
  • Pros
    • Fully customisable to your needs
    • Pre-designed templates to help you
  • Cons
    • No community
    • Can be time-consuming making your templates
    • Need internet connection

• StoryGraph (Available as an App* and Website)
  • Pros
    • Great recommendation tool
    • Unique search function
    • Creates handy graphs to indicate your reading stats
  • Cons
    • Not a lot of users yet
    • If a book is not on the system you may beed to add it to the database
    • Need internet connection

• Bookly (Available as an App)
  • Pros
    • Can create a reading plan and goals
    • Creates handy graphs to indicate your reading stats
  • Cons
    • Free access may be limited as a payment is needed for full access
    • Need internet connection

• Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, etc.)
  • Pros:
    • Perfect for those who appreciate stats and graphs
    • Spreadsheets are customisable
    • Great for people who are good with numbers and are visual
    • Can be easily shared and accessible to many people (digital)
    • May not need the internet for use (depending on program/version)
  • Cons:
    • May be difficult to get into if you don’t know how to use the program (e.g. Excel)
    • May need internet connection

• Scrivener
  • Pros
    • Can store plenty of information, good database
    • Great writing and organisation tool
    • Easy to use
    • Don’t need the internet to use
  • Cons
    • Need to pay for the program (one time pay)

Ideas on What to Track for Reading:

Title

Author

Year Published

Publisher

Rating

Genre

Format read

Dates read

Quotes

Cost

Owned/burrowed

Background of book (e.g. author identity, translated book, etc.)

Content warnings

Misc notes (e.g. representation?)

Review

What works for me:

Whilst I love physical copies I need to be realistic with my lifestyle and schedule. I’m very on the go. My schedule is haphazard and I don’t always have access to a pen and paper. Therefore, digital media works best for me.

Digital:

• Bookstagram: For general summaries, and reviews. I find this app to be fun, and quick. I love creating photos and I love the community there.
• Blog (more in-depth): I love to ramble on and share links.
• BookTok: I enjoy making video content, it’s easy to create
• Google notes: I use this to start writing ideas and reviews

Do you track your reading? What works for you?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

Why is it so hard to declutter books?

If you’ve read my previous post, I’ve explored how to declutter your books, however, in that post I never fully explored why is it so darn hard to declutter books.

In this post, I wanted to explore why we (or myself in particular) struggle to declutter books and perhaps with identifying the “why’s” I could be better at executing the decluttering bit in future times. Hopefully.

Why is it so hard to declutter books?

And what to say to the excuses.

Sentimental value:

It’s normal to have books that hold sentimental value. Perhaps there’s an emotional attachment to the book due to someone gifting you that copy, reading it at a critical time in life, the content of the book… There are many reasons as to why a possession holds sentimental value. When faced with holding a book that possesses sentimental value, identify your “why” first. Why does this book hold sentimental value? Why do you want to own it? Once identifying that, ask yourself: does owning this book make me happy? Has this book serve its purpose (whether that purpose is, up to you)?

Decluttering possessions that hold sentimental value is the hardest as we most often have an emotional connection to it (either memories, evoking feelings, etc.). In saying that, it is okay to hold on or to pass on something that has sentimental value to you. Only you can make that choice.

The “but what if?” scenario:

But what if I need to refer to this book later? But what if I’ll read this and love it and want to keep it?

First, take a step back and be realistic with yourself, your goals, and your time. In this golden digital time of the internet, we have endless access to information and resources. Most often, we are able to access books more than once. Furthermore, our time is limited. Remember, plenty books are easily replaceable either via buying another copy (digital, hardcopy) or through a library (if you have access). And most often than not, you can replace the book if you ever do need to refer to it later. Your time and your space is limited.

Books are part of my identity!:

As a book lover, I know I love books and being surrounded by books. It’s so comforting to be surrounded by your favourite things. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. However, when it becomes overwhelming to the point it feels like clutter the feelings of warmth and happiness can start to blur. As a book lover, I want to be surrounded by books. However, it is important to remember this:

You are not defined by material items.

Whilst loving books is perfectly fine, owning many possessions doesn’t necessarily reflect the value or love you hold for something. If it is weighing you down, perhaps curate the space for your absolute favourites and thereby creating the extra specialness of the collection.

Exclusive editions:

I currently subscribe to a few book boxes where limited special exclusive editions are released. These editions are gorgeous and special (signed, author letter, exclusive art, etc.) and for me, it adds to the experience of the book. Over time, it’s easy to continuously hold on to these editions as they are exclusive and special, however, over time it can get overwhelming. Despite me not reading the book or even loving it, it’s harder for me to let go of these books as they are exclusive editions. What then? In this stance it’s important to know your priorities and your ‘whys’:

• Why do you want to own exclusive editions?
• Why do you want to own exclusive editions despite not loving the book itself?
• Does owning this particular (although special/exclusive) edition bring you joy?
• Can you use this space for something else you would love more?

I admit I really struggle with decluttering. I’m from the background where things were limited so that’s where my mindset on saving and holding on to things stem from. Consequently, it’s difficult for me to let go of things. Here, identifying and exploring the why’s may will help with navigating reasons as to when to hold on to something or when to let go of it. For me, this post is quite helpful as it reminds me that I want to curate my collection, space and time with my absolute favourite books.

Do you find it hard to declutter your books?

How do you declutter your books?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

Five Bookish Things I Learnt in 2021 | Book Rambles

After contemplating my reading habits and goals for 2020, I’ve discovered five bookish things I’ve learned in 2021 (when I write “you” I really mean “me”). And rather than make a long list of reading goals, I want to reapproach my current habits and develop sustainable reading habits both financially, mentally, and emotionally. So, without further ado, here are five bookish things I’ve learned in 2021.

1. Read what you want when you want

As a mood reader, I don’t necessarily have a problem with this. However, back in 2020, I followed the new releases and Bookstagram/Booktube trends and that exhausted me. As a result, in 2021 I decided to focus on books that interest me despite the trends and new releases. I picked up what I wanted and surprisingly (or unsurprisingly) I found that I enjoyed many of my reads.

2. You don’t NEED to be subscribed to all the book boxes

REALLY.

Your wallet will thank you. Trust me.

In 2020 I followed so many book trends and at one point was subscribed to 4 book boxes a month. Four. I was subscribed to Fairyloot, Illumicrate, Owlcrate, and Goldsboro and at times, I would buy Fox and Wit. That doesn’t sound bad, but remember, I’m mainly based in Australia and was paying approximately equal amounts of the box on shipping. I found that whilst I kept up with everything, I didn’t necessarily enjoy the monthly book picks. On top of that, I was gaining so much stuff. Now, I’m much more intentional with what I want to buy and own.

3. Don’t force yourself to read if you’re not enjoying it

Instead, temporarily DNF books.

DNF = did not finish

Sometimes the book isn’t for me at the time. And that’s okay. Usually, what works for me is to put the book down and read what I want instead. I’ll come back to the book when I feel like it and when I do, I usually find that I enjoy the book much more. However, if you truly don’t enjoy the book, don’t feel obligated to finish it. Our time is limited. Why waste it on a book that doesn’t serve any purpose for us?

4. It’s okay to let go of books that no longer serve you purpose

And that includes special editions.

If you read any of my previous posts, I’m attempting to declutter my books. Here’s a method that helped me declutter. I had such a gorgeous shelf of special edition books, however, my shelves were packed full of books I did not love nor read. What was the point? Everyone has their own rhyme and reason for their possessions and whilst some like to own books for the sake of owning (and that’s perfectly fine), I much prefer to own books I love and/or would reread. Right now I have limited space for books so I need to be more intentional with what I own. One big thing I had to really practice was letting go of special editions.

5. Go back to the library!!

You don’t need to own every book you read.

Before joining Bookstagram, Booktok, and the online bookish community I used to (religiously) use the library. However, over time I started to buy more books as I wanted to own more. However, after more thought (and full bookcases), I wanted to be more intentional with what I own and what I spend more money on. I can still support authors through the library.

These five bookish things are what I want to be more conscientious of and I hope it would guide me to be more sustainable and intentional with my reading.

What was a bookish thing you learnt in 2021?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

Pardon my absence, I’ve been struggling + books to warm your (*my) cold soulless body (that aren’t YA)

Hi, friends! How are you? Hope this blog post finds you well!

How this blog post finds me

Sorry for being away. I swear I’m alive. Being a frontliner* sucks. Lol. ANYWAY!

With everything going on, I’ve been looking for some heart-warming reads that are easy to consume.

P.s who is giving me access to NetGalley?? WHO?? Because my requests keep getting accepted. And whilst I’m happy with every acceptance (YAY, validation!), that means I must WORK. Nevertheless, I keep getting surprised my requests get accepted despite knowing it was me who’s been logging on and begging for ARCs. Why am I like this lol.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Tea Dragon Tapestry
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: K. O’Neill
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: K. O’Neill
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Comics & Graphic Novels
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Oni Press

Behold! The Tea Dragon Tapestry is a magical heartwarming story. This book is the equivalent of the perfect marshmallow in the form of a book! However, said marshmallow isn’t edible, but it is sure is light, fluffy, and just melts your heart. Plus, it leaves you a slight concern of developing early-onset diabetes from all the sweetness it exudes. Let me just get this out of the way first: I am in love with the art style. The illustrations are gorgeous, soft, and beautifully detailed. The panels are engaging and the art captures and evokes emotions well. This graphic novel is not only heart-warming in the sense of characters and story-telling, but it also explores other avenues such as disabilities, grief, loss, and acceptance. Overall, this was an amazing book and I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: grief, loss, disabilities, acceptance, purpose
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: fans of graphic novels, people looking for a wholesome, heart-warming read, basically recommend this to everyone
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Oni Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

---

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: That Can Be Arranged
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Huda Fahmy
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Huda Fahmy
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Comics & Graphic Novels, Humour
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Andrews McMeel Publishing

I’ve been following Fahmy’s Instagram for quite some time and always thought her comics and content were truly funny and great. And this book definitely delivered. ‘That Can Be Arranged’ is an endearing read where we follow Fahmy’s journey to finding a husband. I liked the insights Fahmy shared upon her journey (self-worth, self-love, taking initiative, staying true to your belief, etc.) and how she kept a light-hearted tone despite covering some serious topics. I truly enjoyed this read. There were plenty of moments that made me smile and chuckle.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: love, self-love, self-worth, taking initiative, staying true to your beliefs
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: I’d definitely recommend this to any hopeless romantics, fans of Jane Austen, and anyone curious about this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

---

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Bear
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Ben Queen
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Joe Todd-Stanton
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Comics & Graphic Novels
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: BOOM! Studios

In Bear, we follow the paw steps of a guide dog named Bear. As a guide dog, Bear’s job is to assist his owner Patrick, who is blind. Patrick and Bear happily live their lives in-sync until the unthinkable happens—Bear loses his sight. Scared he’ll no longer be useful to Patrick and lose his job, Bear then follows the racoons to find a mysterious bear to teach Bear magic for his sight. Despite making friends in unlikely places, Bear finds trouble and then gets lost. Bear’s search is rewarded and reunites with Patrick. After their reunion, Bear undergoes surgery for his eyes. Whilst Bear states he wasn’t “one hundred per cent” after the surgery, he notes that he gained something far greater than what he thought he ever wanted—he becomes Patrick’s friend.

Bear is such an endearing character and I found it easy to emotionally invest in him and his endeavours. I enjoyed the themes explored in this book and liked the unique premise of the story and how it highlights the importance of guide dogs. The book also educates the readers regarding how blindness impacts people.

This is a heart-warming read with themes of identity, friendship, and perseverance woven into Bear’s journey. Through his blindness and his tireless search, Bear discovers true friendship and acceptance. His emotional journey for purpose showcases resilience in the face of adversity. Also, I LOVE the illustration! The artwork is adorable and colourful. The art panels are engaging, successfully evoking intended emotions upon reading the book.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: friendship, acceptance, resilience
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: This is a book I’d highly recommend and I’d definitely buy a copy. I can’t wait to read this to the kids.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

---

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: All The Colors of Life
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Lisa Aisato
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Lisa Aisato
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Arts & Photography
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Arctis Books

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐇:
• Gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful illustrations depicting different phases of life accompanied by short poems.
• The illustrations are vivid, whimsical, and engaging. I can’t get over how stunning, atmospheric, and expressive each picture is and how well fitted it was to the prose.
• I feel like this book would be a perfect coffee table book. Great to peruse and keep around.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: the exploration of human experiences and life
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: fans of art, everyone
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Artics Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

---

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Beneath the Trees
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Dav
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Dav
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Children’s Fiction
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Diamond Book Distributors

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐇:
• A charming read about a character (Mister Grumpf) who is a grumpy badger trying to rake leaves in front of his house however, gets continually distracted by his neighbours
• Simple and fun read with a great message (helping those in need)
• Gorgeous art style with vibrant and a beautiful colour scheme befitting for Autumn/Fall
• The ending made me chuckle
• Perfect Autumnal read

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
✔ grumpy characters with a heart of gold
✔ seasonal mood reader looking for a cozy read
✔ fan of Disney-like art style/storytelling

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: community, never judge a person by their appearance, kindness
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: everyone, fans of Disney, those looking for a charming and cozy read
Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

---

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: My Pet Cloud
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Amanda Rawson Hill
𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Laia Arriols
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Children’s Fiction
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Capstone

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐇:
• A sweet and charming story about a boy and a pet cloud
• Not only is this a cute read that explores the importance and responsibilities of owning a pet but there is also an educational factor regarding weather and science
• Beautiful illustrations with a gentle colour palette, befitting of the narrative and themes
• Perfect read before bedtime

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: responsibilities of having a pet, friendship, educational (weather and science)
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: young children, curious children, children wanting pets (great conversation starter when discussing responsibilities and compassion)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Capstone for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

---

How are you?
What are some of your favourite heart-warming reads?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

My Book Decluttering Journey (so far)

Back in February I counted all the hardback books I owned and discovered it was a total of 130-ish books. It may not look like a large sum of books for many, but before I started book blogging, I hardly owned any books (at most, like, 3 books) as I grew up being a library user and could never justify owning books as I moved a lot when I lived alone. However, everything changed upon joining Bookstagram. I fell down the rabbit hole of thinking I needed to own hardcover books of everything. Because, how else could I post books on Bookstagram, a visual platform of social media? (This is another topic for later…) So to me, owning 3 books to 130-ish books is a lot. Not only am I running out of shelf-space, I’m also drowning in my TBR. _{Please help}

After a year, I’ve accumulated over 100 books. Whilst I love owning books, I feel like it weighs me down in terms of space and clutter. I want to curate my space with books I love and would enjoy re-reading and sharing. If you haven’t already seen it, I’ve written a post on How to Declutter Books (it’s mainly a post calling out myself lol). Anyway, this post is to see my progress on how I am with decluttering my books. This post is to keep myself accountable and also, I love making figures and tables.

Now, without further ado… let’s see how much damage I’ve done!

Number of Hardback Books I own in 2021

Month	Books owned start of month	Books I bought	Books I decluttered	Total books at end of month
January	136	+ 2	– 5	133
February	133	+ 5	– 4	134
March	134	+ 5	– 4	135
April	135	+ 6	– 2	143
May	143	+ 4	0	147
June	147	+ 3	0	150
July	150	+ 9	– 5	154
August	154	+ 5* (pending)	pending lol	159*

Table 1. The total number of books I owned, bought, and decluttered each month of 2021.

Books owned at start of the year, January: 136.

Books owned at time of post (August): 159.

In January I did so well, decluttering 5 books and only purchasing 2! And then you see my rapid decline in decluttering books from May onwards. Obviously, I’m not doing that well because in the span of 8 months I have gained +23 books.

23 books!

But hey! I’m supporting authors, so yay! At least, that’s what I’m telling myself right now…

Although, in my defence, a major excuse factor that stops me from decluttering is the fact that I haven’t had time due to my city in lockdown for the past 2 months (woohoo, Sydney) and me being a HCW trying to confine my movement . And for August I’ve put aside a bunch of books I plan to declutter, which is about 8-9 books.

I don’t have a specific number of books I want to own, but I do want to be picky with what I own. Anyway, I’m glad to see my progress on this constant journey. Progress, not perfection!

PS. I didn’t count my books at the start of the year and had to do some MaTheMatiCS to figure this all out. So I’m very happy I managed to figure out the exact numbers! Hahaha… help. You wouldn’t believe that I was that kid who used to do advanced mathematics (secondary level) in primary school lmaooooo _{where are my braincells now???}

Do you declutter your books?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

Anticipated ARCs Everyone Should Check Out | Book Rambles

The ARC Gods have been quite generous and I feel that I must share some ARCS I’m so excited to read. Some of these have been on my highly anticipated reads list and some I’ve discovered via NetGalley.

Six Crimson Cranes • by Elizabeth Lim
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publish Date: 8 July 2021

Why I’m excited to read it:
– fan of Elizabeth’s writing (written Spin the Dawn)
– intriguing premise
– arranged marriage trope

•

•

dc•

dc•

These Hollow Vows • Lexi Ryan
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publish Date: 20 Jult 2021

Why I’m excited to read it:
– promising premise! desperate to read it
– love stories to do with Fae
– love triangle (lol we know I love the drama)

•

•

•dc•dc•

dc•

She Who Became the Sun • Shelley Parker-Chan
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Pan Macmillan, Mantle
Publish Date: 22 July 2021

Why I’m excited to read it:
– historical fantasy re-imagining of Zhu Yuanzhang!!
– intriguing premise
– tragedy, yearning, ambition, and magic

•

•

dc•
•dc•dc•

Not Here to be Liked • Michelle Quach
Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Usborne Publishing
Publish Date: 16 September

Why I’m excited to read it:
– rivals to lovers!!
– features an unlikeable female character & intersectional feminism
– coming of age

•

•

dc•
dc•dc•

Little Thieves • Margaret Owen
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publish Date: 5 October 2021

Why I’m excited to read it:
– huge fan of Margaret Owen (author of The Merciful Crow)
– LOVE the premise!
– unlikeable MC, yes please!

•

•

dc•
•

Iron Widow • Ziran Jay Zhao
Genre: Science Fiction, retelling
Publisher: Oneworld Publications, Rock the Boat
Publish Date: 7 October 2021

Why I’m excited to read it:
– retelling of Wu Zetian!!!
– FINALLY! A Polyam instead of a love triangle!
– I’m in love with the premise, the cover, everything

•

•

dc•
•

Within These Wicked Walls • Lauren Blackwood
Genre: Young Adult, Retelling, Fantasy
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date: 9 November 2021

Why I’m excited to read it:
– Ethiopian inspired retelling of Jane Eyre
– Okay, I’ve never finished reading the original Jane Eyre but I’m excited
– Intriguing premise, gothic atmosphere

•

•

•

Have you read any of these books? Or are any of these books are on your radar?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

Tips For A Reading Slump? | Book Confessions

Book confession time: I bought these books (The Daevebad Trilogy) in hopes to finally read and complete this series after constant recommendations and empty promises to myself. And guess what? I end up marvelling at these books and picking up a different book. 

I’m discovering that perhaps I love purchasing books more than reading them right now and I need an intervention! Why am I like this? 

So, I took my plights to Bookstagram and some booksta friends recommended me their tips:

 

Reading Slump Tips:

• Reading is for pleasure. Read what you want when you want. Don’t force yourself
• Try varying different lengths of books (graphic novels, light novels, novella, etc.)
• Find a book that holds your interest, even if you flip through 10 books to find 1
• Carry an e-book reader or Kindle app to read anywhere
• Try an audiobook
• Re-read favourites
• Keep a page tracker

What are reading slump tips that work for you?

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter

How to Declutter Books

Books often hold sentimental value to a person. Whilst everyone is different and holds different priorities and motivations, there is often an emotional connection between reader and book. Sometimes people feel anxious at the thought of decluttering their book collection and that is totally understandable and valid. Purging books is a personal choice and journey. Before purging it is important to identify your intentions.

Why am I decluttering my books?

Why do I need to keep my books?

If you are a book collector and possessing multiple copies and/or special editions brings you joy—then that is important aspect to acknowledge. For example, “I keep books because I read and collect them. I love reading and owning books give me joy I love seeing my shelves full.”

If you are not too concerned with owning special editions and drowning in the number of books perhaps consider why you need to keep all the books. 

Before you begin the process, consider yourself and your collection.

Decluttering books: The Process

Step 1: Give yourself a time frame

Remember, be realistic with yourself. Give yourself a reasonable time frame to do this process. Some people need to do declutter in one go, some need to achieve this over increments of time.

As much as I’d like to think I can achieve this in one hit, I know I won’t. 

Step 2: Look at your book collection and categorise your books to

Keep
Donate 
Sell

That’s it! These are the steps! Haha. But if you struggle with decluttering (like me) or unsure how to categorise your books, ask yourself the following questions:

Questions for categorising books

Is this a duplicate?

• • Unless you’re an avid book collector, most often you don’t need multiple copies of a book. Check for duplicates and decide which copy you want. For optimal results be ruthless with yourself.

Is this book still relevant to me?

• • How do you determine what’s relevant for you? You get to decide the parameters. However, an example of books that have lost relevance for me include magazines, textbooks, and travel materials that have lost its relevance due to being outdated, unneeded, or unnecessary. If the book does not serve a purpose, if it holds no value to you, perhaps you no longer need it.

Have I read this and/or will I read this again?

• • Books you haven’t read:

    • Set realistic expectations on yourself: will I truly read this?
      • If the answer is no, consider why you won’t read the book and decide whether there is a need or reason to keep the book. 

•  

• Books you have read—will you re-read it?

  • First and foremost: books are meant to be read. Consider why you want to keep the book. A book’s initial purpose is to be consumed. If you have read the book then the book has served its primary purpose. If you want to re-read/share/happily gaze at the book then perhaps you can and should keep the book.

• The “Just in case” books:

  • Consider if you were to lose this book—would this bother you? If not, then perhaps the book no longer serves a purpose for you.
  • Am I able to replace this book should I need it again? (For example, library copy, digital format, is this an out of print book?)

What do to with the books:

Donate or sell

• Donate to:
  • The public library
  • Schools
  • Thrift stores
  • People you know who would appreciate the book

If it is difficult to let go of books remember this:

• Do I have access to a library and if so, am I able to borrow this book?
• Can I consume this book via digital format? Audiobooks and/or e-readers?
• Why do I own this particular book?

If you do declutter books that gives potential shelf space for more books!

Additional tips:

define a specific a home to keep the books

get rid of books you don’t usually re-read

keep books you would want to re-buy again 

be deliberate and intentional with books you want to own

I write this blog mainly to myself as I don’t want to hold onto books that I don’t love nor hold any value to me. If you have any tips or pointers on decluttering I’d love it if you’d share them!

Instagram | GoodReads | Twitter