Search Results for: kevin kwan

• Book Review: “China Rich Girlfriend” by Kevin Kwan

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on September 10, 2018

  China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

  Publisher: Anchor
  Published: May 2016
  Genre: contemporary
  ISBN: 9780804172066
  Rating: ★★★★

  It’s the eve of Rachel Chu’s wedding, and she should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond, a wedding dress she loves, and a fiancé willing to thwart his meddling relatives and give up one of the biggest fortunes in Asia in order to marry her. Still, Rachel mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won’t be there to walk her down the aisle.

  Then a chance accident reveals his identity. Suddenly, Rachel is drawn into a dizzying world of Shanghai splendor, a world where people attend church in a penthouse, where exotic cars race down the boulevard, and where people aren’t just crazy rich … they’re China rich.

  If you haven’t read Crazy Rich Asians, there might be spoilers of that book in this review!

  With Nick on the rocks with his family and Rachel planning their intimate wedding, Rachel can’t help but feel the relationships with their parents need some mending. She wants to find her birth father and invite him to the wedding, and Nick’s mother wants to be involved (though, understandingly, not as crazy-involved as he’s worried she’ll be). When Eleanor’s digging unearths Rachel’s true father — and he’s filthy, mind-blowingly, extraordinarily rich — Rachel and Nick are swept up on a trip to Shanghai. But their appearance shakes things up for friends and family in China, and Rachel must decide what’s really important: a life of extravagance in her father’s world, or a life she’s built with Nick knowing that she may never see her father again.

  This was just as fun, if not more over-the-top than the last novel! China Rich Girlfriend explores Chinese bajillionaires and “new money,” family secrets, living up to society’s expectations, and so much more. Rachel, Nick, Charlie, and Astrid continue to ground the narrative in reality while the rest of their crazy world spins out of control.

  Some of our favorite characters from the first book appear again here, and others who were more secondary (such as Kitty Pong!) take center stage. New characters are introduced, and their wild lifestyles and interesting backstories shed light on the constraints of society that still exist today. For example, Kitty Pong wants to do good in society, but instead of throwing money everywhere like she wishes to, she “needs” to learn how to be restrained, quiet, demur, and behind-the-scenes. New characters, such as Carlton and his instagram-famous “girlfriend but not my girlfriend” have interesting dynamics, in that both are pressured to marry and they likely will, but they want to find themselves as individuals first (both, essentially, wanting to pursue their careers).

  In many ways this made Rachel, Nick, and their relationship more two-dimensional. They sit and watch the drama unfold, like the reader. But Astrid and Charlie — and likewise Astrid and Michael — really propel the novel interspersed through all the drama. They try so hard to maintain a good and safe friendship, but Michael (understandably) is swept up in his sudden self-made fortune and is obsessed with appearances in a way Astrid’s family never was. The tension was palpable and the dynamics were great with this! Astrid is the shining star of this installment.

  I’m curious what Rich People Problems will bring!

  This qualifies as book 9 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “Crazy Rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan

  Posted at 6:10 am by Laura, on February 19, 2018

  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

  Publisher: Anchor Books
  Published: May 2014
  Genre: contemporary, women’s fiction
  ISBN: 9780345803788
  Rating: ★★★★

  When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees on a summer in Singapore to visit her boyfriend’s “traditional” Chinese family, she expects the trip to be relaxing, if a little dull. She has no idea…

  Nick’s childhood home is a palace. He grew up riding in more private planes than cars. He and Rachel will be attending the wedding of the year. Oh, and Nick just happens to be one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors — and his formidable mother isn’t so sure Rachel is the right one for him.

  Rachel is under the impression she’s jetting off to Singapore with her boyfriend for the summer — something fun between semesters of professor life. Little does she know, his family is wildly, outrageously, crazy rich, and they have their own set of standards for this mystery girl he’s bringing home.

  I loved this. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s satirical novels, imagine her sassy, snarky, sarcastic commentary in a modern setting and you have Kevin Kwan. The extreme detail put into the characters’ seemingly superficial lives was hilarious. Everyone played a role in this novel, from Nick’s mother, to his cousins, to Rachel’s BFF from college, to passersby in Singapore. Toss in the [admittedly very little] research I did on Singapore lifestyle and culture, and holy crap this book [seems to] nails it.

  I mean, come on. Look at this quote. (From the mind of a guy I think is Nick’s cousin by marriage.)

  “But then his parents were always so selfish. Sure, they raised him and paid for his education and bought him his first apartment, but they failed him when it came to what was truly important — they didn’t know how to flaunt their wealth properly.”

  These people. My goodness. It was brilliant.

  Among all of this extravagance are three down-to-earth characters: Astrid, Nick, and Rachel. Astrid is Nick’s cousin, and she lives the high life as well — but she knows enough about heartache, budget cuts, and experience-over-materials that you can’t help but like her frank and honest character. Nick is one of those “I’m wealthy but I don’t flaunt it” types, living in a small apartment in NYC and living paycheck to paycheck rather than dipping into an account overflowing with decades of family coin. You’d think he’d be the spoiled type, but he wants nothing to do with the family money despite wanting to please his mother and father. And finally, Rachel. Our normal, totally average, super funny, head-on-her-shoulders Rachel, who is just trying to wrap her brain around all the crazy superficial things going on around her and Nick on this trip. You can’t not love her. She’s such a refreshing voice.

  In the end, though, even the most surface-level characters had depth to their motivations and desires. For example, Nick’s mother claims she’s not happy her son never told her about his dirt poor, possibly-a-gold-digger girlfriend and that’s the only reason. But as the story progresses, it digs deeper: she’s concerned the girlfriend’s background, her family ties, honor, values, tradition. She mentions money as an excuse to not like Rachel, but so much of this novel has threads of Asian family expectations and values. It’s an excellent cultural read.

  I should’ve read this book sooner — like, the day it published. I can’t wait for the film!

  This qualifies as book 1 of 16 in my TBR challenge. 

   

  Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review, rock my TBR

• End of Year Book Survey V

  Posted at 7:10 am by Laura, on December 29, 2018

  

  This is the fifth year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. In 2015 I shared my bookish life in Hermione gifs, 2016 in Pevensie gifs, 2017 in Gilmore Girls gifs, and this year I’ll share it in Nadiya from Great British Bake Off gifs! I’m looking forward to reading your 2018 book survey too.

  Note: This includes all books read in 2018 – they do not have to be published in 2018.

  

  

  Number of Books You Read: 47
  Number of Re-reads: 0
  Genre You Read the Most From: historical & fantasy

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2018

  I actually answer this question last after filling out the survey, and I think based on what has stuck with me all these months and what has filled up the most categories, I have to say City of Brass (with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine a very close second)!

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  From Twinkle With Love, which admittedly was mostly disappointing because I may have expected something else from it. I set the bar super high, and I really was most excited for this book last year. Ah well. I’m still looking forward to There’s Something About Sweetie!

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2018?

  Spinning Silver — again, I was expecting something more along the lines of Uprooted. I’m quite glad it wasn’t, though! The book went a totally different direction than I expected, with narrators I wasn’t prepared for, and this surprise was definitely a good one!

  

  

  

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2018?

  Uh, well, I push my clients’ work more than anything, so Empire of Sand takes the ticket! I pushed this book hardcore on Twitter and Facebook, to my friends on coffee dates and catching up sessions — everywhere. Seriously, get this book. It’s a gorgeous Mughal-Indian fantasy and it has received four starred reviews (out of four trade reviews!! Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal all love it!).

  5. Best Series You Started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?

  Series: Kings of the Wyld — Can’t wait to start Bloody Rose!
  Sequel: China Rich Girlfriend — Looking forward to reading the final book!
  Ender: none! Lots of first and seconds of series read this year.

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2018?

  I’ve read two Kevin Kwan novels this year, and definitely plan on picking up the third book early in 2019 to round out the trilogy. His writing is fun, witty, and over-the-top, and I devoured every word!

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?

  I really don’t enjoy reading nonfiction, but I was fascinated with A Long Way Home. Memory is both a strength and a weakness — how much of this journey does Saroo actually remember versus what he was told or imagined as a child? — but whatever the circumstances, I still found it incredibly moving he survived Calcutta and managed to find his little village via Google Earth.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  The City of Brass was definitely the most thrilling and action-packed novel I read this year, hands down! When I had to set the book aside (for work, errands, adulthood responsibilities) it was all I could think about. I finished it in January and I’m still thinking about it. It was one of the most complex novels I’ve read in a long time, and I’m very much looking forward to Kingdom of Copper.

  9. Book You Read in 2018 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Honestly, re-reads don’t happen for me much anymore. But if I could re-read a book in 2019 that I read in 2018, it would be The Clockmaker’s Daughter or Once Upon a River. They’re my favorite authors, and there was so much packed in the narrative — interweaving story lines, little details that appear later. Exquisite.

  

  

  

  

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2018?

  The Girl in the Tower is so pretty and wintry. It utilizes the reds and purples in a cool way, rather than a warm one. I could burrow in those colors. The covers for all three of the books in the Winternight Trilogy are great — they look like a sunrise!

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2018?

  A tie between Nahri and Dara, both in City of Brass. Oh, my heart.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2018?

  The Bird and the Blade is just…wow. WOW. It was such an affecting read, even more so that I know the music score to the opera it was inspired by. Like the music, it swelled and soared and ugh what a beautiful ride.

  

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2018?

  Since this book made me go down a research rabbit hole, The Romanov Empress takes the cake for most thought-provoking! I was fascinated with the family, the web across Europe, and overall history of Russia as it unfolded, year by year, through Maria’s eyes. There are dozens of parallels from the Romanov dynasty and the country it is today; it’s unsettling as well as heartbreaking.

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2018 to Finally Read?

  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Massive thank you to Hannah for saying just the right words to capture my attention and make me read this book. It was nothing like I expected and yet everything I could ever want it to be, and I just want to hug Eleanor and set her next to all of my Jane Eyre copies. Jane, Eleanor, and I are besties now.

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2018?

  This is what I have always done, how I have always found myself when I’ve been lost. When I first went to music college, eighteen years old and paralyzingly shy, when ringing my parents from the pay phone in the corridor just made me miss them even more, I would feel the strength in the neck of my cello, flatten the prints of my fingers into the strings, and forget.

  […]

  I play and play; through thirst, past hunger, making tiredness just a dent in my soul. […] I play on until the world is flat again and the spaces between my heartbeats are as even as the rhythm on the stave in front of me.

  — Goodbye, Paris

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2018?

  According to Goodreads, the shortest book I read this year was Jan Brett’s newest picture book, The Snowy Nap, and the longest was The Queens of Innis Lear (not surprised!!).

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  The Glass Castle. I just can’t. Those parents. Jeannette herself. I just can’t.

  

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  Royals is probably the only one I can place in this category, as most of the romance story-lines I read this year were tragic or hanging *side-eyes Chakraborty*. So. GO DAISY AND MILES!

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Clay and Gabe in Kings of the Wyld. I mean, come on. Only a bromance would survive all the crap they went through in the Wyld! Their deep friendship and understanding — with each other and with the rest of their band — was awesome to read and experience.

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Clockmaker’s Daughter is now my favorite Kate Morton novel. Kate Morton is on my auto-buy list, and she just keeps getting better and better with her already great books.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  Goodbye, Paris for sure. I had never heard of this book, and I didn’t see any of my friends reading it either, but a librarian recommended it to me “because [you] loved Eleanor Oliphant” and she nailed it.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2018?

  Dara in City of Brass, goddammit Chakraborty. *sobs*

  

  

  

  23. Best 2018 Debut You Read?

  Dear Mrs. Bird to add some variety here — I read a lot of great 2018 debuts! Dear Mrs. Bird fits right into my wheelhouse, with its historical WWII fiction, slice-of-life story line, empathetic-to-the-point-of-destruction protagonist. I was so engrossed in the audiobook (seriously, listen to the audio if you can!!) that I missed streets and exits when driving because it was so well-read and well-written!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  City of Brass takes the prize again! Cairo and Daevabad were both brilliantly described. I felt I was actually there among Nahri and the people and djinn, could see and smell and taste and touch everything. And not once did it feel like I was being bogged down with descriptions too much

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  It’s a tie! Kings of the Wyld and Royals both put ridiculously huge smiles on my face while I read, and I enjoyed every second of them!!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2018?

  Dear Mrs. Bird — the scenes with London bombings, the fights with best friends, all of it was so gut-wrenching and drawn out and agonizing.

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Goodbye, Paris was unexpectedly wonderful and perfect. I wish more people knew about it. It’s basically Eleanor Oliphant but with music, which speaks to me on such a deep level.

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  Sweetbitter, and not in a good way. I wish I could scrub that book from my memory.

  

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2018?

  Saga, mostly because I don’t read graphic novels. The librarians have their own internal book club (Genre Study, to help with readers’ advisory-related questions and suggestions from/for patrons) and one particular month’s book was to read Saga plus another graphic novel. I can definitely see the appeal of graphic novels, and they’re good for visual readers, reluctant readers, and readers who want vivid storytelling in a new form. Not for me, but it was definitely a unique experience!

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  Small Great Things, but I wasn’t mad at the book. I was mad at myself. I berated myself for the whole review, really.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2018?

  I stumbled across more IG bookstagrams than I did blogs. Lately I’ve loved bookcooklook, somekindofalibrary, and idlewildreads. All three of them have, in my eyes, aesthetically pleasing accounts. No extra fuss for props and flashy objects — just books and tea and bakes! (I’m a huge fan of that sort of simplicity, and genuinely don’t understand the appeal of crowded shelves full of POPs, candles, and clingy bookmarks.) Plus they have great snippet reviews on their posts mixed with a bit of behind-the-reader glimpses and discussions, which I enjoy.

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2018?

  The Bird and the Blade is probably my favorite, if anything because I enjoyed the book so much.

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  I didn’t write on the blog as often as I used to outside of book reviews and seasonal wrap ups, but I did post about my reading list prior to leaving for Greece! Sometimes it’s difficult to pick out your vacation reading…

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  I was lame (but mostly poor) this year and didn’t participate or attend any bookish events. I was, however, FaceTimed into Tasha Suri’s book launch in London for a few minutes! Does that count?

  

  

  

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2018?

  *incoherent screaming about a client’s book and exciting news that isn’t public yet*

  That.

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  MSWL 2018, no surprise there. I’m glad it’s proven helpful to writers, and it has certainly made my inbox full of great stuff, so I’ve made an update post for 2019 already!

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  Weirdly, selfishly, my seasonal rewind post that included my engagement *ducks and hides*

  

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  Once more, I was over my head in work-related industry stuff and didn’t get to discover a whole lot. However, I’ve really enjoyed browsing IG bookish posts that don’t require a whole lot of props or coffee––simple slice of life posts that happen to have books are totally my aesthetic!

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year? 

  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  Oh, I’m sorry — right, okay, the question…

  Well, I read more library books for fun than intended, but not enough off my own TBR shelves in my home library. I had to lower my goal of 50 books to 45 in order to be anywhere near finishing the challenge. And I read more historical and fantasy this year, but none for my Gabaldon / Marillier self-appointed challenge.

  You know what, though? I won’t feel guilty about that. I surpassed my agent goals in 2018, and that’s what really counted for me personally in the end. This career is about all those baby steps and I walked so many of them.

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

  OH GOD SO MANY. The one that’s probably staring at me the most is The Poppy War, but I’m also terrified. The rest of the Queens of Renthia series. Basically all my WWII historical fiction books. Yeah…Poppy War may be one of the first…

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2019 (non-debut)?

  The Downstairs Girl, Her Royal Highness, The Huntress, The Witch’s Kind, I Owe You One, the list goes on and on… They’re all by authors I adore, all covering topics and themes I’m super excited to dive into. What’s not to love?

  

  

  

  

  3. 2019 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  The Ruin of Kings sounds amazing, Spin the Dawn because duh, and this interesting novel I read about ages ago, The Western Wind, in an interview on Publishers Weekly simply because of the strange historical details the author had to twist in order to incorporate into the plot of the novel. So…why not?

  4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2019?

  Kingdom of Copper, it’s a given. I have the galley sitting right next to me!

  

  

  

  

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2019?

  ONE thing?! Oh jeez. Attend Book Expo, writers conferences, online contests…I’m also already scheduled for three writers conferences, Pitch Wars, and WisRWA’s Fab Five contest. But that’s work-related. Bookworm self, I would like to really and truly read the rest of my Marillier and Gabaldon collections, and not feel burdened by blogging a review for them (or any book, really). Blogging shouldn’t feel like a chore!

  I have all these high expectations, plus a wedding to plan and experience, for 2019 sooooooo cross fingers and wish me luck!

  6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone

  Bear No Malice by Clarissa Harwood and Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *pushes*

  

  ~

  What’s on your year-end review? Do we have any similar titles? Which books are you going to read, too? Good luck and have a great 2019 reading year!

  Posted in books, Update Post | 8 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• Flipping Through the Pages: Winter Rewind 2018

  Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on April 5, 2018

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  As you may have noticed, I did not update and post about October through December. I was barely on the blog then, which in turn meant I barely looked at other blogs, or commented, or any of that. With the start of the new year, I wanted to begin with a blank page! It’s still a bit quiet here and my participation throughout the community, but life happens and I don’t ever want this blog to feel like a chore.

  So in images, here were my top six favorite books of 2017, and celebrating the release of Chainbreaker and Impossible Saints, both on January 2!

  Life Highlights

  So many great things happened between October to now. Nina’s deal announcement! Tasha’s deal announcement! My birthday (here and here)! My friend’s second baby was born! Another friend announced her first pregnancy! The holidays were fun too, with Bach’s Magnificat at Christmas and Beethoven’s Mass in C in March. And finally, my best friend’s wedding just a few days ago, in which I was her maid of honor. Needless to say, life’s been busy.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  Ah yes, this is going to look very sad, okay? Please, no judgement!

  1. A New Year of New Books: My 2018 TBR @ GReadsBooks — Ginger has some excellent contemporary YA and adult recommendations here. She doesn’t go for the overly fluffy or the overly dark. There’s a sweet spot right in the middle of the spectrum, and her recommendations tend to be pretty spot on to my taste, too.
  2. Slacking Off on Your Favs @ Bring My Books — Lindsey talks about how life can really get in the way of doing your favorite things, and when you finally have those free days to do all the things you love, you find yourself…not doing them. Being a couch potato. And that’s okay.
  3. 10 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2018 @ Pretty Books — Stacey shares some of her most anticipated reads in 2018 and I, too, am looking forward to many of these! Plus, she managed to share some UK recs I have on my TBR now from Book Depository *wink*

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. MSWL for 2018 — Not surprised one bit. I’m glad it’s getting traction. Hopefully writers find it helpful!
  2. Book Cake Tag — This was a lot of fun to put together. Gosh, I love GBBO!
  3. Book Review: The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty — What a beautiful and wonderful fantasy. If you haven’t had the chance yet, read this book immediately. A gem.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan ★★★★

  The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty ★★★★★

  Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins ★★★.75 (review to come!)

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 4 / 17

  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1

  Fun Library Books: 2 / 5

  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me

  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8

  Fantasy:

  The City of Brass

  Historical Fiction:

  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa

  Rock My TBR: 5 / 16

  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It

  Overall Challenge: 10 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV/Netflix: I’m including everything I’ve watched since October, so this list feels quite long. I’m all caught up on Outlander and I loved how they tackled all the topics in Voyager. On New Year’s Eve, friends came over to watch The Crown and eat baked Brie with me and the Beau. I’m also caught up on The Great British Bake Off on Netflix, and finished the first season of Big Family Cooking Show (cute and fun, not as perfect as GBBO). Lately I’ve been rewatching New Girl on repeat, waiting for season 6 to arrive (!!!). Otherwise, the TV is on to sportsball for the Beau, so I sit on the couch with him and read instead.

  On Film: Saw and loved The Darkest Hour and OF COURSE  Black Panther (I can’t wait to see how they do Infinity War now!). I also saw Dunkirk and I’m glad I saw it at home and not in theaters. The music put me on edge and I was near sobbing and tense the entire time. If I saw it on the big screen I wouldn’t have been able to finish it!

  In the Shopping Bag: All the new clothes. Seriously. I gained weight in the last year (hurrah! I know that sounds weird but I’ve always been too small for my height and age, and this year I finally reached the goal weight), which means all of my bottoms and some of my tops no longer fit properly or comfortably. So now I’m in the middle of a wardrobe change. Ack!

  Miscellaneous: I kinda splurged on a lot of books when my birthday rolled around… Oh, and raving over my new watch!

  Looking Toward the Future

  I’m looking forward to the most relaxed April through June I’ve had in years. There is literally nothing planned on my calendar, mostly because I needed to afford my trip to Greece in July. So! This means adding cooking classes, getting planters, celebrating the royal baby and royal wedding, shopping for clothes that fit me properly, and lots of spring cleaning. When I moved into this apartment it was very much unpack-and-deal-with-junk-later, but now our closets are overflowing with random boxes and miscellaneous stuff. Time to weed through things!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

   

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind | 2 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Autumn Rewind 2018

  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on January 3, 2019

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  October through December was a busy whirlwind. In October we had our engagement shots taken, in November Tasha’s debut Empire of Sand released, and in December I made a roundup of my favorite books of 2018––all seven of which were five-star reads!

  Life Highlights

  Part of the whirlwind of the fall months was all the wedding planning we accomplished. I found my dress and veil, we found the photographer and immediately took engagement photos about two weeks after, and we picked our DJ (three of the four things I needed last season!). November brought on Thanksgiving in town, and we had relatives from Ohio and Arizona come in to celebrate in a relaxed and fulfilling way. December was chaotic with all the music commitments, but by the time Christmas Eve rolled around I felt the joy, peace, and wonder of the season. My family also flew out to Nebraska to visit my future in-laws, and we came back in time to ring in the new year with friends. In agent life news, I’m super thrilled to share (again) the sale of KayLynn’s YA fantasy––we worked so hard to make the magic happen, and I can’t wait to share her world with…well, the rest of the world!

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. “November 2018 Recap: On My Shelves” @ So Obsessed With — I admire Hannah’s ability to be a mother and still find the time to enjoy her personal hobbies. In this month in particular, she didn’t blog much but she read 30 books (*gasp!*)! It took me half a year to get to 30 books!
  2. “On Playing Catch-Up” @ BookmarkLit — On the flip side is Lauren, who talked about all the reasons she’s fallen behind on her usual reading, and the ways in which she’ll try to catch up or improve her reading. Plus, I admire a good spreadsheet and goals list!
  3. “My 2018 Retrospective” @ Alexa Loves Books — Alexa compiled a heartfelt post looking back on 2018 and all the ways in which she grew, discovered, and improved. It’s so wonderful especially when you have fantastic people surrounding you and supporting you in your hopes and endeavors.
  4. “Most Anticipated Books of 2019” @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie compiles lists of anticipated adult books (this one highlighting the first half of the year) and I love scrolling through them! There are plenty on this list I’m looking forward to myself, including Priory of the Orange Tree (even though I haven’t read any of her other books) and The Au Pair (even though suspense/thriller is not at all something I like to read––this one looks really good nonetheless).

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  Ignoring my MSWL post, which gets hundreds of hits a month…(yay!)

  1. Book Review: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield — Setterfield is one of my favorite authors, purely for The Thirteenth Tale, and it was so great to see that storytelling style happen again in her third novel.
  2. End of Year Book Survey V — I love doing this round up! It really helps you look back on your reading year and realizing which books stand out most to you. Apparently a year goes by and I’m still in awe and anguish over The City of Brass, haha!
  3. 2019 Bookish Resolutions and Reading Challenges — All in all, 2018 was a difficult reading year for me, so I made my resolutions as a way of reminding me what reading is all about: enjoyment. Read what you enjoy. Life is short. No one needs to spend time doing something they don’t like, so I’ve given myself permission to set books aside even if they’re just meh.

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  The Romanov Empress by CW Gortner ★★★★.5

  Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce ★★★★★

  Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris ★★★★★

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 15 / 17

  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1 || The Night Bookmobile || Sweetbitter
  The Psychopath Test || Planetfall || A Long Way Home
  Ocean at the End of the Lane || Small Great Things || The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill
  The Glass Castle || The Circle || Goodbye, Paris

  Fun Library Books: 16 / 5

  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me || Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
  My Oxford Year || Malice at the Palace || The Bird and the Blade
  Save the Date || Radio Girls || Kings of the Wyld
  The Lost Queen || The Romanov Empress || Dear Mrs. Bird 
  The Glass Ocean || Meet Me at the Museum || Empress of All Seasons
  In Your Dreams

  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8

  Fantasy:

  The City of Brass || Spinning Silver || The Queens of Innis Lear
  A Secret History of Witches || The Bird and the Blade
  Kings of the Wyld || The Girl in the Tower || Empress of All Seasons

  Historical Fiction:

  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa
  Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie || The Clockmaker’s Daughter
  Radio Girls || The Lost Queen || The Romanov Empress
  Dear Mrs. Bird || Once Upon a River

  Rock My TBR: 11 / 16

  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It || Slightly South of Simple
  The Queens of Innis Lear || Royals || China Rich Girlfriend
  A Secret History of Witches || The Girl in the Tower 

  Overall Challenge: 47 / 45*

  *It was clear I wouldn’t be able to reach 50 books, and I was bummed about that. So I adjusted it to 45 and felt much better about my accomplishment. (Yes, that’s how this year has been.)

  Random Obsessions

  On TV/Netflix: New GBBO episodes––for New Beginnings, the two new seasons with Pru, Sandy, and Noel, as well as the holiday episodes––kept me busy during the holiday season. I was also vegging out in front of The Office. It all began with wanting to watch Christmas episodes, and turned into a full-blown multi-season rewatch…

  On Film: Finally saw The Family Stone and Die Hard on New Year’s Eve. One because it’s totally my kind of movie and I hadn’t seen it before; another because everyone’s trying to convince me it’s a Christmas movie (it’s not; it’s set at Christmas with Christmas music but it is not a Christmas movie).

  In the Shopping Bag: Old Navy’s 50% sale in November burned a hole in my wallet, but other than that I’ve kept things on the down low. Girl’s gotta pay for 2019 health insurance.

  Miscellaneous: I swear, I swear, this is the last time I will binge chips and queso. I SWEAR.

  Looking Toward the Future

  Clarissa’s Bear No Malice came out January 1, the Beau’s birthday is coming up, followed by my birthday, and lots of further wedding planning (hotel blocks, transportation, rehearsal dinner, save the dates, cake, and attendants’ outfits). Wish me luck!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in This Season's Rewind | 6 Comments | Tagged rewind, this season's rewind

• Flipping Through the Pages: Summer Rewind 2018

  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on October 1, 2018

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

   

  

  

  

  The biggest and most exciting event in my life this season was that the Beau proposed in Syros, Greece! Our choir (which my parents sing in as well) went to Syros for an annual music festival and we had an unexpected evening free. We decided to make a date night of it, and he made reservations in a tavern made of glass that sat at the top of the island and overlooked Ermopouli, the capital of Syros and where we were staying. As the sun set, we watched the pier come alive and the lights all across the city turn on. We got some great pictures after dinner, and while we were waiting for the taxi we walked further up the hill, where he proposed. We got in the taxi to head back to our hotel, and just as I was saying I wanted to share the news with my parents, we saw them crossing the street! Got out, screamed, took pictures, went to the hotel where other choir members shouted with joy. Lots of champagne popped, lots of stories swapped, lots of toasts exchanged, and you can bet those choir ladies are already planning all sorts of parties for us, haha!

  Life Highlights

  Yes, other big things happened outside of the engagement and traveling to Greece — my childhood friend and college roommate gave birth to a baby girl, and she is a miracle child. My friend and her husband have been trying to have children (and adopt as well!) for quite a while now, so this baby is such a gift for them! Tasha Suri also received THREE starred reviews for Empire of Sand (we’re three for three so far in trade reviews — Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly), so you better get your pre-orders in for this amazing debut fantasy. Finally, I’ll be able to share a deal announcement in the coming weeks, as I’ve sold another client’s work!

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. “All Apologies…No More” @ Bookishly Boisterous — Stop feeling bad about spending money on books! Stop apologizing for going to the bookstore again and getting more books, even though you have plenty at home to read. Stop apologizing for going to the library and borrowing stacks of books you may not finish by the end of the checkout period. It’s okay.
  2. “Why I Re-Read” @ Bookshelf Fantasies — I don’t have much time to re-read, but when I do, I feel and have the same reasons as Lisa does in this post to re-read a favorite novel. Why do you re-read? And if you don’t…same question, why? Reading patterns are interesting!
  3. “Travel By Page: Behind Enemy Lines” @ Belle of the Literati — A twist on Kelly’s usual Adventures in the Great Wide Somewhere series, and perfect for WWII hist fic lovers, especially espionage. Check out these recommendations!
  4. “Living in a Small One-Bedroom Apartment with a Baby” @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Um, wow, Jamie and her husband were super creative and thoughtful when it came to making the most of their small home and baby daughter! I’m impressed…and saving this for possible future (like years in the future, please) reference.
  5. “Reaching a Blogging Milestone” @ So Obsessed With — First, congratulations to Hannah on 1K posts! Second, definitely take a look at this, because she makes some great points about blogging, adapting, and finding ways to keep the blog fresh, very her, and flexible without comparing to others’. I greatly admire her!
  6. “If We Were Having Mexican Margaritas” @ Bring My Books — Lindsey and I text nearly daily, so I’m aware how busy her life is (like seriously, holy crap, she deserves a margarita). On one hand, we have Hannah (above) who has managed to keep going with her blog; on the other, we have Lindsey who is struggling to maintain hers even though she wants to, because life happens and ya know, at the end of the day, you just want your favorite food/drink and your bed. Catch up with Lindsey and answer, what’s a hobby you wish you kept up with but are struggling to find the time to do? (Mine: scrapbooking. Not like stickers and cut-outs, but just plain putting photos in nice albums. I’m two years behind XD.)

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  Ignoring my MSWL post, which gets hundreds of hits a month…(yay!)

  1. Just a Bit of Light Reading — The agony that is a bookworm packing for a long trip! And guess what? I only read and finished one book while away. Haha!!
  2. Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine — GOOD because I love love love love love love love love love this book and it’s sitting on the shelves with Jane Eyre, where it belongs.
  3. Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before — Not surprised at all, because of its debut on Netflix! I hope more readers become invested in this trilogy. I adore Lara Jean.
  4. Book Review: Crazy Rich Asians — Again, not surprised because of the movie! We need more books and movies and TV shows with representation of minority groups.

  Cherished Reads

   

  

  

  

  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman ★★★★★

  The Bird and the Blade by Megan Turner ★★★★★

  Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames ★★★★.5

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 10 / 17

  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1 || The Night Bookmobile || Sweetbitter
  The Psychopath Test || Planetfall || A Long Way Home
  Ocean at the End of the Lane

  Fun Library Books: 10 / 5

  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me || Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
  My Oxford Year || Malice at the Palace || The Bird and the Blade
  Save the Date || Radio Girls || Kings of the Wyld
  The Lost Queen

  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8

  Fantasy:

  The City of Brass || Spinning Silver || The Queens of Innis Lear
  A Secret History of Witches || The Bird and the Blade
  Kings of the Wyld

  Historical Fiction:

  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa
  Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie || The Clockmaker’s Daughter
  Radio Girls || The Lost Queen

  Rock My TBR: 10 / 16

  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It || Slightly South of Simple
  The Queens of Innis Lear || Royals || China Rich Girlfriend
  A Secret History of Witches

  Overall Challenge: 34 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV/Netflix: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is obviously going on my top favorite teen/romcom go-to movies, right up there with 10 Things I Hate About You. Guernsey was gorgeous and made me want to re-read the book again — I love Lily James. And of course, because fall is around the corner, I’m back on my Gilmore Girls marathon. The Beau and I need to catch up on GBBO’s newest season on Netflix, and the final season of Big Bang is starting, but it’s also football season so our TV is going to be working double-time now.

  On Film: I saw Ocean’s 8 and loved it. Crazy Rich Asians was fan-freaking-tastic and I enjoyed every second of it. I hope book 2’s movie is in the works because I need more Astrid in my life!!! And one Sunday afternoon recently I binged the rest of Outlander season 3 on DVD in preparation for season 4 airing in November. Now to get started reading book 5…

  In the Shopping Bag: I think I mentioned in previous rewinds that I don’t fit in over half my wardrobe and I’m slowly updating it to my new size. And if I haven’t, well, I am, which means the last few weeks required some fall shopping. Deals on ModCloth, LOFT, and Old Navy were in order, and now I can’t wait to wear my new tops, pants, and dresses! (Even though my wallet hates me.)

  Miscellaneous: Planning the wedding! I thought my friends were kidding when they said the venue + catering takes up about half your budget. Nope. They weren’t.

  Looking Toward the Future

  Flowers, photographer, DJ, cake, and dress. Cross fingers I’ve accomplished at least two of those things by the next rewind! The Beau and I have made some headway on flowers, photographer, and DJ so far, which is great. Also, Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up (!!!) and The Beau and I will be doing lots of traveling to Ohio, Nebraska, and Iowa. Oh, and of course, TASHA’S BOOK RELEASE IN NOVEMBER!!!!!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in This Season's Rewind | 4 Comments | Tagged rewind, this season's rewind

• Just a Bit of Light Reading

  Posted at 6:55 am by Laura, on July 5, 2018

  My choir was given the wonderful opportunity to be a featured choir at an international choral festival in Greece, with top direction by one of the biggest of the big wigs in the conducting world. So of course I threw my money toward it and said I’d go!

  But my usual form of planning (researching everything about the area, coming up with a list of places to visit, costs, hours, travel, etc) rerouted to just planning over reading material––we’re spending most of our time on one island, with morning rehearsals, evening concerts, and free afternoons. I expect to get a lot of reading done!

  

   

  So here I am, sharing with you the books that I’m hoping to start, read, and finish while abroad in the sunshine! (Yes, yes, I know this is not realistic, but I don’t care.)

  FANTASY

  Royal Airs || Book Two in the Elemental Blessings series. I read Troubled Waters last year and enjoyed it enough to want to continue on. I’m curious to see where Shinn takes us with Josetta’s narrative.

  Child of the Prophecy || Book Three in the Sevenwaters series and the original ending of the originally-intended Sevenwaters trilogy. I adored Daughter of the Forest and enjoyed Son of the Shadows, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the child!

  Dreamer’s Pool || I don’t have much of a reason other than I really want to begin Marillier’s latest completed trilogy!

  FANTASY/HISTORICAL BLEND*

  *also known as, Where Laura Starts to Flail

  A Secret History of Witches || I was chatting with an editor about what we love most in historical fantasy blends, and she mentioned this book. When I told her I hadn’t heard of it (assuming it hadn’t published yet, silly me), she completely gushed over it, convincing me to buy it and hopefully read on this trip!

  The Little Shop of Found Things || I really enjoy Paula Brackston’s novels (here & here), and this new series will be available in the fall. The thing is, I can’t take it on the trip if the Goodreads giveaway doesn’t send it…*stares at the Thomas Dunne marketing department*

  

  Sweet Black Waves || Ohhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyy goddddddd, a Tristan and Isolde epic retelling/expansion/adaptation/inspiration for YA?! YES PLEASE YES PLEASE. *jumps*

  Once Upon a River || WHY WOULD I NOT BRING THIS BOOK DIANESETTERFIELD IS QUEEN I CANNOT WAIT TO GET STARTED ON THIS I AM SO EXCITED I JUST MIGHT DIE IN THE AEGEAN SEA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

  (which would be quite fitting, upon reflection, considering a girl is pulled from the water dead in this novel…hmmmm)

  (LOLZ omg no worries I WILL NOT DIE IN THE AEGEAN SEA.)

  (I will die in the English Channel because it meant I made my way to England in my final days and I’ve found my resting place.)

  (Let’s move on to some realism…)

  CONTEMPORARY

  China Rich Girlfriend || I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to start Crazy Rich Asians, so I’m hoping to catch up on the trilogy (or at least get through 2/3) before the movie comes out in August. I love how truly crazy it is––the lifestyle is obnoxiously rich, the people seem so very shallow, and here comes Rachel, totally average, bopping around and trying to make sense of it all. Kinda makes me wonder if Meghan Markle (or at least her mother) felt anything like this around the royals initially…

  Riverbend Road || I’m branching out into the contemporary romance sector in my everyday reading, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked Kristan Higgins (based on Lauren and Hannah’s recommendations) that now I’m trying out another: RaeAnne Thayne (based on Lauren and Kelly’s recommendations). I know I chose a book in the middle of the series, but it was very much a cover-love situation!

  

  I know, I know. It’s a lot. And I don’t care. I’ll probably throw all of these into the suitcase and stare at them till 5 minutes before we have to load the car and head to the airport, and toss out a few impulse choices in the end. We’ll see! Keep an eye on my travels by following my Instagram. I’ll have some quick snippet reviews up––and you can see which books made the last-minute cut. *wink*

  Have you read any of these books? What are your trip planning and packing habits? 

  Posted in books, Update Post | 4 Comments | Tagged books, personal

• Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2018

  Posted at 6:10 am by Laura, on July 1, 2018

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

   

  

  

  

  Tasha received galleys of her gorgeous fantasy this season, and I was so excited to see and hold this as an almost-book! (Pre-order here.) My brother also graduated college in May, moved to a new state, and is now working for a big aviation company. I’m so proud of his hard work and dedication! And finally, I managed to get a copy of my All-Time Favorite Hands Down No Question Auto-Buy Author Kate Morton’s next novel, and I was blown away.

  Life Highlights

  Clarissa has another book deal, and I gained another client! But apart from work highlights, life has been blessedly quiet in terms of activities, and bizarrely stressful in getting everything crossed off the to-do list. Just keeping ahead of work, preparing for this choral festival in Greece in a week, and finding the little things in life that make me happy.

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. “How I’m Writing My Story of Motherhood” @ So Obsessed With — Hannah’s journey as a mother, and how it has impacted her identity, her daily life, and her hobbies, was so encouraging and refreshing to read. She reminds the reader that not everything about motherhood is sunshine and rainbows, but to take each moment with joy as really put her mind at ease. I hope to be the same one day!
  2. “Itinerary Update” @ Belle of the Literati — Hello, Kelly, Hannah wasn’t the only one who noticed your absence! So glad to see you back and motivated on the blogging front. Kelly updates her readers on life and reads and travel, and I enjoy her very matter-of-fact update through and through.
  3. “Hi, It’s Me” @ GReadsBooks — Ginger has been going through a grieving process lately since her dear Daisy’s passing (and my heart still breaks for her), but she gives her readers and update on life and how she’s doing. I think what she has to say can really apply to any of us going through tough times. Self care is very important.
  4. “10 Nonfiction Books About Mental Health” @ The Pretty Books — Speaking of self care, Stacey has a great list of accessible, readable nonfiction books about mental health. Some of them you may know through online comics, some through pop culture media, but whatever it is, you ought to try these! As someone whose first degree is in psychology, I can’t tell you enough just how important it is to know yourself and your breaking points, and to take care of your mental health just as well as you care for your physical health.

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  Ignoring my MSWL post, which gets hundreds of hits a month…(yay!)

  1. Book Review: Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
  2. Book Review: From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon
  3. Deal Announcement: Clarissa Harwood, Historical Fiction (see her recent blog post here!)
  4. Book Review: The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

  Cherished Reads

   

  

  

  

  Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik ★★★★

  The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton ★★★★★ (review to come closer to pub date!)

  Royals by Rachel Hawkins ★★★★★

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 8 / 17

  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1 || The Night Bookmobile || Sweetbitter
  The Psychopath Test || Planetfall

  Fun Library Books: 5 / 5

  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me || Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
  My Oxford Year || Malice at the Palace

  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8

  Fantasy:

  The City of Brass || Spinning Silver || The Queens of Innis Lear

  Historical Fiction:

  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa
  Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie || The Clockmaker’s Daughter

  Rock My TBR: 8 / 16

  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It || Slightly South of Simple
  The Queens of Innis Lear || Royals

  Overall Challenge: 22 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV/Netflix: I watched an embarrassing amount of Netflix, partly new and partly rewatches. New to me was “One Day at a Time,” which my client Nina kept telling me to watch for ages and I’m so glad I eventually did. What I’ve been rewatching lately are the GBBO shows, because it brings so much joy after a stressful day. And a mix of the two, I’m finally all caught up on Call the Midwife! Also, there was no way I was going to miss out on the Royal Wedding on TV. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS

  On Film: Beau and I finished Downton Abbey (first time watching the show for him, probably the third or fourth time rewatching the show for me), and finally saw The Greatest Showman through Redbox. My brain and heart and soul was destroyed by Infinity War, so please let’s not talk about it…

  In the Shopping Bag: I’ve had some…issues and anger and frustration regarding my wardrobe, so I purged over half of it and purchased half to replace. I’m excited to play around with the new pieces, and I’m glad they fit and feel good. I’ve also been doing a lot of preparation for this Greece trip, which has included better shoes, a floppy hat (I don’t wear hats!), and general travel stuff (snacks, medication, Euros, etc). Nothing exciting, just practical!

  Miscellaneous: Still going strong with WordBrain and Forge of Empires on my phone (LOLOLOLOL omg), and I’ve recently stumbled across Chip & Jo’s house renovation app, Flip House. I’m spending ridiculous amounts of time on that before heading to bed!

  Looking Toward the Future

  July through September will be packed with activities. July is pretty much entirely my choir’s trip to Greece for the Festival of the Aegean, followed by lots of Emily Bronte celebrations at my library (girl is turning 200 on July 30th, so we better celebrate). One mama-to-be is having a baby shower too, with a baby closely following the next month! And, hmm…I feel like more is happening in these months, but it’s probably all dominated by this trip. I’ll share some pictures with you next Rewind!

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

  Posted in This Season's Rewind | 2 Comments | Tagged rewind, this season's rewind

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent and librarian, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I have a passion for Victorian culture, Gothic lit, and music. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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