Another month, another TBR ~
June was a VERY good reading month, and I hope July will be, too! I’d really love to spend some time catching up on my 2023 challenges a bit this month, so fingers crossed I can knock out my TBR and then get to work on those. July is also month 2 of the Books Out of the Blue summer bingo event! If you’d like to join our Discord server and participate, please let me know!
June goal check-in:
- Succeed at all of my buddy/group reads ✅ (technically I didn’t get to The Foxglove King, but that was a really casual group read that I don’t think anyone else got to in June, either, so I’m not counting it as a failure lol)
- Make 4 blog & IG posts per week ❌ (NOPE! I totally bombed this one lol)
- Read all of my library loans ⌛ (this one’s “in progress” as I still have some checked out, but other than 2 that I decided I don’t want to read, so far I’ve been chipping away at the stack really well!)
My goals for July are:
I was so busy in June and am kind of expecting July to be busy too, so I think I’ll put a pin in the whole “increase my content creation frequency” goal until summer ends. 😅 But I do have one goal for July that feels a liiiittle overwhelming…
- Catch up on reviews 😬 (there are SO MANY)
- 3 blog & IG posts per week (this goal was much more doable!)
- Finish all of my “pre-July” current reads
juLY’s picks:
Another month where all of my TBR picks are buddy and group reads! I’ve been enjoying doing so many buddy reads this year. 🥰
🌻 House of Sky and Breath // Sarah J. Maas → Misty and I are continuing our Crescent City buddy read, and Prachi is joining us for this one! I can’t wait, but I’m also really nervous because I think I’ve heard that this one might have a cliffhanger.
🌻 Sex Cult Nun // Faith Jones → This is the July pick for the True Crime Book Club. I used to love watching documentaries and interviews with former cult members, and I’ve been wanting to start reading some of those individuals’ memoirs, so this seems like a good (but heavy) start to that reading journey.
🌻 The Ritual // Adam Nevill → Finally dipping my toes into Adam Nevill’s writing with the TBR & Beyond horror folks this month! I definitely want to watch the film afterward, too.
🌻 Our Wives Under the Sea // Julia Armfield → This is the Horror Spotlight Discord server’s BOTM and I’ve been sitting on an overdue eARC of it for way too long, so it’s a good excuse to finally pick it up.
🌻 King of Scars // Leigh Bardugo → I’m buddy reading this one with Misty, too, and Erin! They’ve been buddy reading the Grisha books, I think, so I’m really happy they don’t mind me tagging along for this duology. It’s been ages since I read any of the Grisha/SOC books and I might need to look up a refresher.
🌻 Witch King // Martha Wells → This one was a super last-minute addition to my TBR, but I got my first Illumicrate box in the mail (May’s box) and couldn’t resist joining the IC Discord server’s readalong!
juLY’s bujo spreads:
I decided to try something new for July and ditched most of my monthly spreads, choosing to go with bigger daily spreads instead. I don’t know yet how I’ll feel about the change, but I LOVE how the aesthetic of this month’s pages turned out!
(Oh look, a bonus shot of Ella yelling at me to stop taking pictures and play with her 😂)
What are you reading this month?
— destiny ♥
Kal @ Reader Voracious
July 3, 2023What a lovely TBR you have, I hope you have nothing but 5-star reads ahead of you this month!
I’m hoping to read Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin and a couple of super overdue earcs: Sin Eater and Last Tango in Cyberspace.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 3, 2023Thank you! Sin Eater is SO good, I hope you love it as much as I did ♥
Books Teacup and Reviews
July 3, 2023I loved King of Scars. Can’t wait to see what you think about it. It’s a bit slow and there is lots of build up but I’m sure you’re in for lots of surprises.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 3, 2023Awesome, I can’t wait!!! I miss Nikolai lol!
bookishinbed
July 3, 2023Oh I can’t wait to see what you think of Our Wives Under the Sea. I just read that in June but wasn’t a fan. I did see a lot of people really liked it so hope you do too! I have a lot of Netgalley arcs to read this month. So I’ll be focusing on that. I just started House of Roots and Ruin. So far enjoying that.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 3, 2023I’m sorry you weren’t a fan!! I’m hoping it works out well for me but not sure what to expect. Good luck with your ARCs and I hope you love the rest of House of Roots and Ruin!
bookishinbed
July 4, 2023I can’t wait to see what you think of it. So far really liking House of Roots and Ruin!
Kristina
July 3, 2023Aww what an adorable picture of Ella!! And I love your bullet pages!!
Good luck reading those, and happy reading
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 24, 2023Thank you!!! 🥰 she is such a little angel hehe
dbsguidetothegalaxy
July 4, 2023I’ve watched The Ritual’s movie – very good! I was reading She is a Haunting but I returned the loan and just marked it as Want to Read again because now isn’t the right time to read it. So many things at the moment.
Awww give Ella a scratch from me 😭
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 24, 2023I ended up putting the book aside a few pages in because I could instantly tell I wasn’t in the mood for it, but I think I’m going to check out the movie instead, and if I like it enough, I’ll give the book another try some other time! I feel you on having so many things at the moment, I just want to read a little bit of everything right now! And I will absolutely give her a scratch from you 🥰
Kayla @ Books and Blends
July 5, 2023I love how you decorated your journal for July!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 24, 2023Aw thank you!!! It’s been so much fun to get into journaling!
mistysbookspace
July 7, 2023I’m looking forward to both of our buddy reads this month!!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 24, 2023I know this is a late reply but I always look forward to our buddy reads, they’re always so much fun! I can’t believe what good luck we have had so far with awesome reads lol
mistysbookspace
July 24, 2023I know we’ve pretty much enjoyed everything we’ve read so far and I can’t wait for all of our future buddy reads. I’ve been enjoying them too especially since you are getting me to read so many books I’ve been putting off reading for so long.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 24, 2023I can’t wait for our future buddy reads too! Same, we’ve been powering through all these books that have been on my shelf forever and I love it 😂
Caro @ bookcheshirecat
July 8, 2023Good luck with your TBR! 🥰 I’m also reading Witch King this month and I’m so excited!! I also really need to read House of Sky and Breath, but it’s such a tome 😂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
July 24, 2023Thank you! 🥰 I’m loving our buddy read of Witch King so far. And I hope you get the chance to pick up HoSaB soon! It is quite a tome 😅 but it’s been flying by, for what it’s worth!