#SIGNEDBOOKSUNDAYS: JULY MONTHLY WRAP UP, SIGNED BOOKS, & PERSONAL REFLECTION

Crushed on by kelly, on August 1, 2021, in Blogging, It's Personal, New Releases / 0 Comments

#SBS July 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!

In Case You Missed It


What We Read

Kelly: Well I read amazing books in July! WOW, seriously some of the top books of the year so far! I also participated in the System Divine read-a-long. I reread Sky Without Stars and just reading for the first time Between Burning Worlds both part of the epic sci-fi retelling of Les Misérables by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell and the big question is will I tackle Suns Will Rise right away?

  • In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner – beautiful book about family, grief, and taking where you came from and owning it – definitely topping my favorite reads of the year – releases August 10th
  • Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – I love these Brown sisters so much! *Adult rom-com
  • The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimmons – Gosh I loved this book. Finished in one day and I haven’t done that in a long time. So important especially with all the anti-trans bills in schools and sports. Just let people play sports!!
  • Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson – A story about coming of age, healing, and self-discovery, all set amidst a music festival, which I just completely vibed with the whole time.
  • Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales – I’ve read some of the most amazing bisexual rep this summer!

Christy: Do textbooks count? Geez, the last 2 weeks I had over 800 pages of reading, which was basically murder. Other than that, I reread Sky Without Stars and Between Burning Worlds to get ready for Suns Will Rise! I also read:

  • Die, Vol 3 by Kieron Gillen, with art by Stephanie Hans: I thought this series ended with Vol 2 and was thrilled to see it continue. It reminds me of Chosen Ones, which was my fav book last year!
  • Star Wars High Republic: The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott: The latest High Republic book was NONSTOP action and thrills and the wait for the next one is awful. Good thing I need to get caught up on the comics.


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

ARCs:

  • If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich – Are you ready? Boy band secret lovers! This is one of my most anticipated releases this winter – December 7th (courtesy of Wednesday Books)
  • We Light Up the Sky by Lilliam Rivera – “Should you save the world that doesn’t want to save you?” October 5th (courtesy of Bloomsbury YA)
  • The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith – historical NYC, dark academia school for witches releasing August 31st (courtesy of Simon Teen)
  • Dragonblood Ring (Blazewrath Games #2) by Amparo Ortiz – highly anticipated sequel releasing October 12th (courtesy of Page Street YA)
  • Tonight We Rule the World by Zach Smedley – Identity, relationships, and coming of age novel releasing October 5th (courtesy of Page Street YA)

Finished Copies:

  • If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy – Adult/YA crossover appeal, contemporary Cinderella retelling with a fat MC – yes & thank you! Releases August 3rd (Gifted by Disney Books)
  • What We Devour by Linsey Miller – acquired a signed copy from Book People!
  • Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim – acquired a signed copy from Books of Wonder!
  • Wings of Shadow by Nicki Pau Preto – acquired a signed exclusive edition from Owlcrate!

Christy’s Highlights

Somehow even though I think I am buying less books I have more and more books each month? It’s a miracle LOL.

  • Survive the Night by Riley Sager: I am listening to this one and O M G. I am soooooo anxious listening to it.
  • Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly DeVos: Zombies wrapped in a pretty pink package? YES PLEASE.
  • Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond: Look, any day a new Gwenda book arrives is a gift. Her adult debut out next month.
  • Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil: How am I going to wait for spooky season to dive in? (Spoiler alert: I won’t)
  • Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams: Put this on your TBR and preorder it NOW.


On the Top of Our Minds

Kelly: I am having a hard time with how fast time is moving when it comes to bigger milestones, like months being over, but sometimes daily work days drag forever…what is this life? I am full of anxiety over the delta variant, especially since I have an autoimmune disease, and the CDC warns that the vaccine isn’t as successful for people like me, so I am back to wearing a mask indoors, and of course getting weird looks from other patrons. So weird how people are just rude. The good thing is my work from home is back to full time to keep everyone safe, and I am thankful for this opportunity.

We are about to embark on some serious home renovations and repairs and I have to finish my unhauling of books because wow, I have way too many. How do y’all prioritize what goes and what stays?


Christy: It is the last day of July and I have officially finished my summer courses!!!!!! I don’t even know what to do with my newfound freedom. What does it mean to have 3 weeks without any responsibilities?! I’m not even 24 hours in and I don’t know what to do with myself.

My library has been neglected for months, since I told myself I couldn’t do any work in there so long as there was homework to be done. I finally got to work on it this week and that felt great. There are still books EVERYWHERE.



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