#SBS January Monthly Wrap-Up
Welcome to our monthly feature where we talk about what we read, adopted into our libraries, and what’s on our minds. After hosting #SignedBookSundays on instagram for 4+ years, we are transitioning to this format as a way to share signed books and talk about bookish (and personal) highlights. Join us the last Sunday or last day of every month (or whatever day today is…we are busy!)!
In Case You Missed It
- We did a really fun group review with another blogger for In Every Generation by Kendare Blake!
- The where to buy signed books page has been updated to 2022, and I have found as many February YA releases I could find – of course I keep adding more and more when I find them…check it out!
- We helped reveal the cover for Cherish, the sixth book in the Crave series by Tracy Wolff!
- We reviewed a new release fantasy retelling The Bone Spindle.
- We curate a Bookshop page with most of the YA New Releases – please consider supporting us by buying books through our links or shop, or we have a Ko-Fi!
What We Read
Kelly: I read 8 books in January. Not a bad reading month, it felt great to feel like I am reading more again. Now I just need to branch out from lighthearted books. The standouts were:
- The One True Me and You by Remi K. England – Releasing March 1st! This book is a love letter to fandoms, and finding your community online, and figuring yourself out. A MUST READ for any queer YA fan! – thanks to Wednesday Books for the advance copy!
- The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder – it is not often that I read a book before release date, but two books?!! It’s a miracle, and a testament to how page turning these stories are! Enjoyed this so much I made a reel! Read my full review here! – thanks to Penguin Teen for the advance & finished copy!
Christy: I thought January was going to be more chill but IT WAS NOT. I did get through a few amazing reads, though!
- Light Years from Home by Mike Chen – Feels feels FEELS. Mike Chen and all the feels. Gosh, I hope we get to start every year with a Mike Chen book. Sets my whole year on the right track.
- The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray – This big finale of the first phase of The High Republic! The galaxy is no longer at rest and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
- Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood – The first of Ali’s series of novellas is almost here. A lot of story happens in less than 4 hours. Girl meets guy, guy meets girl….No, actually. Girl moves in with guy and The Bachelor rewatch happens. Check this one out February 8th! TY to Penguin Random House Audio for the early listen!
What We Hauled
You too can be obsessed with signed books, look here for where to buy a copy from your favorite author’s local indie or preorder incentives that include bookplates.
Kelly’s Highlights
- Always Jane by Jenn Bennett – Jenn writes such fun YA romances and I am so excited to check out this one too – March 29th (courtesy of Simon Teen)
- The Legacy (Off-Campus #5) by Elle Kennedy – the fun New Adult college romance series is back with a 5th book and a new publisher! Thank you Bloom Books for sending me a finished copy!
- Golden Boys by Phil Stamper – see more here – February 8th – thank you Bloomsbury YA for the finished copy!
Christy’s Highlights
- Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso – Sooooo excited for Chelsea’s third book. That title, RIGHT?!
- The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta – Kelly and I are working on some fun Valentine’s stuff for this lovely book. Stay tuned! Thank you to Candlewick Press for sending this beauty!
- Nightrender by Jodi Meadows – We’ve waited so long for this book to be here and it’s FINALLY HERE.
What We Hope to Read
Kelly’s TBR
Well I am ready to read some romantic and sapphic (and both) books for February! Here’s hoping I get through a few of these!
- The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
- Crier’s War by Nina Varela
- The Kindred by Alechia Dow
- Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
Christy’s TBR
Well I read one book on my December list! February is all about sapphic reads so I am hoping to get a few in!
- The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar
On the Top of Our Minds
Kelly: I am excited that I reviewed some books this month and I have a few more tucked up my sleeve! Feels so foreign…but it has always been my least favorite part of being a blogger/book influencer. So when I write a couple reviews and they make me proud I want to shout ’em out! Mainly, I prefer the whole “wow I just finished this book and it took me!!” type of book shouting.
I know I don’t talk about my chronic illness a lot, but the exhaustion I battle on a daily basis is really ramping up in the cold weather, I feel completely useless after work, dog walks, and dinner. I literally turn into a loaf on the couch and usually can’t even focus on a book…so I have been watching more TV lately, and right now that obsession is Yellow Jackets. I have watched season1 in total, and almost done watching it again! This show has every single conceivable content warning needed, so definitely be prepared.
Christy: If you saw my recent story update, I’ve been SO busy. I went to CA to care for a friend who had surgery and then headed to Arizona for a 5k/half marathon and a festival! In the middle of all of that, I started school and am working on a huge work project – and I became a dog sitter/walker! 🙃 I am still working out my goals of the year – and one of them was to take things slower and give myself grace. A month into the year and that’s not going too great lol.
Jeeves, my kitty, has an ongoing infection so we’ve been working to get him healed. Poor guy had surgery and then developed an abscess and now has pneumonia? He’s still such a sweet cat and we hate to see him so sad.
I’m getting ready for my first runDisney event! I have both a 10k and half over a weekend – and costumes to get ready! I started planning my costumes LAST JUNE and yet they aren’t ready haha.
