
Hey, friends, how’re you all doing? I hope you are well, safe, happy, and healthy and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon!
I cannot believe we made it through the last month of the eternity that was 2020 and into 2021. I, for one, am really hoping this year will be better, but I’m being cautious with my optimism.
Anyhoo, when it comes to my media consumption in December 2020, it was pretty sparse. Between my college finals and the holiday season, I didn’t have much time to read or watch movies or shows. But, what I did manage to get to was pretty enjoyable, so, let’s take a look…
BLOG UPDATES

I decided to get my blog a “Christmas Present” of sorts in the form of a re-brand using a design I’ve wanted for ages that was finally on sale! I really love my new blog design, it feels so special and uniquely “me,” so I don’t foresee it changing anymore for a good long while!
WHAT I POSTED
- Lately With Lila | November 2020
- Five Graphic Novels/Comics To Pick Up During A Readathon
- Five Books I’ve Picked Up And Re-Shelved
- Thinking Out Loud | Hi, I Have No Internal Monologue And This Is How I Think
- The Stuck At Home Book Tag
- “Written in the Margins” Traveling Book Club Announcement
- BONUS! I contributed to Kate at Reading Through Infinity‘s post about books that helped us get through 2020!
WHAT I READ

- Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco β β β .5 While I enjoyed this book, I actually ended up eventually lowering its rating after some thought. Kingdom of the Wicked was absolutely a wildly fun guilty pleasure kind of read, but it also wasn’t the best written. This was largely due to the fact that characters read a bit like stock characters and the main character in particular came off as slightly airheaded. The romance also seemed a little typical of YA romances nowadays. And, finally, I guessed literally every twist the book tried to pull off. That all being said, I did find this book to be enjoyable and fun, so in the end I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
WHAT I PURCHASED
WHAT I ACQUIRED FROM PUBLISHERS





Thank you to the lovely publishers who allowed me access to these ARCs!
WHAT I PLAN ON READING




- Lightbringer by Claire Legrand I’m already a quarter of the way through this one and *aaaaaah the stress is already hitting me*!! Legrand is a master of that kind of slow motion type of tension that just makes my stomach tie itself in knots. It’s both bittersweet and anxiety-producing knowing this is the end of one of my favorite series, but I have faith in Legrand to end it well.
- A Sky Beyond The Storm by Sabaa Tahir And here’s yet another bittersweet ending that I’ve been trying to delay!
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow Have I talked enough about how I want to read this book without actually reading it enough? Yes? Okay…
- The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab I started this one back when it released but set it down because I had finals. I loved what I read of it and am hoping to finish it up soon!
WHAT I WATCHED
Sadly, I didn’t really watch much in December π¦
WHAT I LISTENED TO
HIGH NOTES
- “Fade Away” by Logic Logic is just one of those music artists whose work I always end up loving, so it’s no surprise that I’ve been groovin’ to “Fade Away” all month long.
- “Dynamite” by BTS I don’t really feel any kinda way about BTS in general, but every once in a while they release a straight up bop and this is one of those times!
- “Juice” by Lizzo Another fun, groovy, feel-good song that I love from Lizzo? *Miranda Priestly voice* Groundbreaking.
WHAT I BOOKMARKED
FOR READERS
- Ely took the opportunity to gush about books she didn’t talk enough about in 2020 and to discuss what she wants to read more of in 2021
- Cat compared book covers to world famous paintings
- Prutha got ahead of the curve and shared her most anticipated 2021 releases
- Jawahir made a playlist based on Henry Strauss from The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and also paired books and teas
- Stephanie showed off her favorite audiobooks of 2020 and shared her journey reading more POC authors and what she learned on the way
- Laura recommended graphic novels to help you catch up on you Goodreads goal
- Sofia talked about upcoming book-to-screen adaptations she’s looking forward to and about re-reading books
- Shealea shared a database of 2021 Asian-authored books
- 24hryabookblog tipped us off to YA books of 2021 that are by POC authors that we should add to our TBR
- Rosina gave us a newbie’s guide to Romance novels
- Maria started a booktube channel
- Sabrina celebrated her birthday (happy belated birthday!!!) by sharing 25 sequels she wants to read before she turns 25
- Lydia spilled the beans about great bookish gifts
- The Orangutan Librarian reflected on books they found relatable
- Clo recommended bookish businesses she’s made purchases from
- Jess showed us some bookish Christmas gift ideas
- The ladies of The Quiet Pond recommended diverse modern retellings of classics
- Amy told us why we should watch Netflix’s adaptation of Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
- Cosette discussed trigger warnings in books
- Sage expressed their frustration over books constantly being compared to Six of Crows
- Hollie reasoned out why you should stop buying books from Amazon (if you can)
- Aentee made phone wallpapers based on R.F. Kuang’s The Burning God
- Veronika recommended books based on her favorite albums
FOR BLOGGERS
- Enjoy tracking your reading? Plenty of bloggers have shared their reading spreadsheets! Check them out!
- Kal at Reader Voracious shared their ultimate blogger reading spreadsheet for 2021
- Shealea of Shut Up, Shealea shared her reading spreadsheet as well
- Marie gave tips for time management as a blogger
- Sofii is creating a definitive book blogger list
- CW shared resources they used to revamp their blog
- Krysta talked over being okay with not being paid as a blogger
FOR FUN
- The gals at Northern Plunder talked about tarot spreads for the new year
- Ely shared what she learned from 2020’s NaNoWriMo
WHAT HAPPENNED IN DECEMBER 2020
To be honest, my mental health took a massive plummet in December. It just kinda feels like the whole year finally kind of crashed into me, ya know? I felt lonely and isolated and sad and, if I’m being honest, those feelings haven’t really resolved themselves. What can I say, life’s not always rainbows and sunshine and while it’s totally okay to go through emotional rough patches, that doesn’t stop it from feeling really sucky when you’re in the thick of it.
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR JANUARY 2021
Well, school starts again, which is something I guess? I’m enrolled in Principles of Anthropology II, Anatomy and Physiology I, and History of the American Indian—all classes which I’m really excited for! As someone who’s part Cherokee, I’m particularly excited for that history course, which focuses on the history and culture of Indigenous Americans from a non-Western perspective. Other than school, though, there’s not much on the docket. Guess I’ll have to wait and see what the first month of 2021 has in store. After all, what could possibly go wrong after the hellscape that was 2020?
SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!
How was your December? Did you read anything good in the past month? Are you looking forward to anything in this coming January? What books on your TBR are you excited about?
I’m kind of putting off reading A Sky Beyond the Storm too! I know it’ll be great but I’m not prepared for the possible pain.
And thank you for mentioning one of my posts!
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Great post! Thanks for featuring my posts – I’m so glad you enjoyed them. I’ll have to check out all the other links you shared π
Also, good luck with school! That sounds like an amazing history course! Makes me wish I was back in college.
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Thanks so much for mentioning my post!
I’m sorry to hear that December was a tough mental health month for you. I hope you’ve been able to take some time to recharge over Christmas. January is always a weird month – be kind to yourself.
I am desperate to read Addie LaRue! Every time I see it I get so much book FOMO, haha.
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oh thank you so much for linking our tarot post. here’s to January being a better mental health month, I know I’m yoyoing back and forth between feeling ok and terrible. cant catch a break can we
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Great wrap up, Lila! I love the new look, it’s so pretty! β€
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Thank you so much for mentioning my post! β€οΈ
Iβm also behind on Ember in the Ashes and The Once and Future Witches, Iβm hoping this is the year I finally read them lol. Hopefully youβll like youβre new classes, Iβm a sucker for history and itβs great you get a chance to know more about your culture.
Have an amazing and healthy 2021 β¨
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Thank you so much for including my post! Iβll be sure to check out all the other posts you shared! Also I LOVE the re-brand, itβs gorgeous! Happy Reading! π₯°
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thank you so much for including my post! i also want to read the invisible life of addie larue; i’ve heard such great things and the plot sounds so interesting. i hope you had a happy new year! β¨
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That’s great that you were able to buy your design, happy new year!
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Thanks for mentioning my project, Lila! π₯Ίβ¨ You’re SO sweet, I really appreciate your support β€οΈ & Same here, trying to delay my reading of A Sky Beyond The Storm!! I fear for my babies, but I’m sure it will be AMAZING, I hope you enjoy it! π
Happy New Year, I hope your 2021 is full of blessings ππ
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Looks like you had a great reading month! Hope 2021 is kind to you!! π
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i really like your new layout!!! the header is so adorable!
i am currently reading a reaper at the gates, and i hope you do enjoy the conclusion! so far, iβve only seen people saying it broke their hearts, so i donβt know exactly how iβm supposed to feel.
i hope january treats you better than december did, lila! wishing you an amazing month & a great 2021!
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omg girl your blog is sooo gorgeous!!
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Thanks for sharing my posts! It means a lot.
I have read so many mixed reviews of Kingdom of the Wicked that I’m not sure I want to read it anymore. I was mostly thinking about reading it because I liked Stalking Jack the Ripper, but I think I’ll pass on this new book.
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