Tag: wrap-up

Lately With Lila January & February 2021 | Drowning In Schoolwork…

*peaks shyly around corner*

Hellooooooo there, friends. It is I, your friendly neighborhood Lila, returning from my impromptu hiatus! I know I was gone for two whole months and I’m so sorry there was no notice. Basically school and life got crazy and adjusting to the uptick meant I had to take an unscheduled break from everything that wasn’t a major life priority. But I’m back, baby!!

Sadly, because school and life were so hectic, I only managed to read two books, but I did manage to also consume some other great media as well. What can I say? Sometimes it really do just be like that, friends. Let’s take a look at what went down…

BLOG UPDATES

N/A

WHAT I POSTED

WHAT I READ

  • The Lives of Saints by Leigh Bardugo (★★★) Honestly, this book had its hits and misses, but in my opinion it was mostly unnecessary and unmemorable. If you’re a big fan of the Grishaverse books who’s SUPER obsessed with them, then you might enjoy this, but if you’re wondering whether or not you have to read this collection to continue on with the books…Well, the answer is “no.”
  • Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (★★★) I actually read this book for a project for my Native American History course, which was an awesome opportunity. I LOVED the Navajo mythology aspect and world building of this book so much, but at the same time, the plot felt loosely constructed and convenient and the characters left me wanting more in terms of their histories and motivations. I’m on the fence as to if I want to continue with the series, so we’ll just have to wait and see if I’m ultimately drawn back to the world of Trail of Lightning.

WHAT I PURCHASED

WHAT I ACQUIRED FROM PUBLISHERS

WHAT I PLAN ON READING

Honestly, given how slump-y I’ve been lately and the overwhelming amount of schoolwork I typically am assigned weekly thiss semester, I’m gonna kind of play it by ear in the upcoming month. I’m planning on participating in the Taylor Swift themed Tis The Damn Readathon (info here), so I have a small TBR for that, but I’m not making any real promises.

TIS THE DAMN READATHON TBR

REPUTATION

  • Reputation // Read a book that is romance within a separate genre
    • House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas ↝ I made it halfway through this book before getting distracted and setting it aside for later. I really enjoyed what I read, though, so I’m hoping I can finally finish it.
  • “Look What You Made Me Do” // Read a book that’s recommended to you
    • The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna ↝ I’m currently reading and absolutely loving this book! I’m excited to see how it wraps up!

FOLKLORE

  • Folklore // Read a book based on mythology, folk tales, or a retelling
    • Lore by Alexandra Bracken ↝ I started reading this YA fantasy that’s based on Greek mythology back in January when it released and was enjoyinig it so much, but put it down so I could read my schoolbooks. I can’t wait to get back into it at last!
  • “Exile” //Read a book written by two authors
    • Master of One by Jaida Jones and Dani Bennett ↝ Apparently this is a queer fae fantasy? Which, like, yes! I want to read it so badly!

WHAT I WATCHED

FATE: THE WINX SAGA

Winx Club was one of my favorite shows as a kid, so I was cautiously hopeful about this live action reboot, while also expecting it to be very different after watching the trailer. When I finally watched the show, I was pleasantly surprised, though! Does it differ drastically from the original cartoon? Yes. Does it fall prey to the typical clichés and tropes of a standard teen fantasy show? Absolutely. But if you’re willing to look beyond that, it’s a nice bit of fun fluff. The one qualm I do have with the show is the whitewashing, which is obviously never okay. But other than that, it’s a decent teen show.

BRIDGERTON

Lissen, reading the reviews for this show before I watched it was a real rollercoaster, y’all, cause to be honest, no one seems to be able to agree as to whether Bridgerton is good or god awful. The reviews seemed to be split between people who loved the show and people who find literally every aspect of the show to be problematic. Now, I know about the [TRIGGER WARNING] rape scene and while watching I definitely noticed the colorism issue, but I was able to acknowledge how deeply problematic those two things are, while also genuinely enjoying Bridgerton as a nice, escapist historical romance show.

TO ALL THE BOYS 2: P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU

For Valentine’s Day I (finally!) watched To All The Boys 2: P.S. I Still Love You and, I’m not gonna lie, I loved it so much! Netflix really does a great job of adapting Jenny Han’s feel-good romcom series and managing to just completely capture ~the vibe~ of the books! I was surprised because when I read P.S. I Still Love You, I was totally Team Peter K., but in watching the movie, I definitely found myself warming up to John Ambrose McClaren. Anyhoo, this film was a sweet way to celebrate the holiday and I’m excited to read Always and Forever, Lara Jean and watch the movie!

WHAT I LISTENED TO

THE CIPHER

The Cipher is a YA sci fi audio drama podcast starring The Witcher‘s Anya Chalotra and y’all!!! If you enjoy sci fi audio dramas, then you have to listen to this one! It’s about this teen girl who solves a complex puzzle and finds herself working with a secret organization to hunt down an interdimensional serial killer.

POD SAVE AMERICA

Having grown up in the Washington, D.C. area, I’m (naturally) pretty obsessed with politics…Yet somehow I never listened to Pod Save America until recently? Basically, Pod Save America is a political news and punditry podcast hosted by former Obama staffers and, for a politics junkie like myself, it is just *chef’s kiss*!

WHAT I BOOKMARKED

for readers

for bloggers

for fun

WHAT HAPPENED IN JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2021

Honestly, most of my time was taken up by adjusting to a new semester online and getting set up and solid with my courses (hence why I took my impromptu hiatus). My courses this semester are pretty difficult, but I’m managing to hang in there. But other than that, life hasn’t really been full of much else.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR MARCH 2021

Mid to late March is the beginning of spring weather in the D.C. area, so I’m really excited and relieved to be able to spend more time outside after what feels like the longest winter ever! I’m hoping to get together with a friend or two and socialize a bit more than I’ve been recently. The pandemic still means playing it by ear, but I’m hopeful that what’s to come will at least be slightly better than what’s behind me.

SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • How have the past two months been for you, dear friends?
  • Has 2021 been off to a good start for you?
  • What have y’all been reading?
  • Anything coming up that you’re excited for?

Wrapping Up The Year | 2020 Favorites

Well, friends, we made it! It is finally 2021 and I don’t know about you but I am beyond thrilled to bid 2020 adieu! And good riddance, amiright? Lol!

2020 honestly seemed like The Year The Universe Threw All The Things At Us and it feels like an absolute miracle that any of us made it through. Then again, humans are total masters of adaptation, so maybe it’s not all that surprising, at least scientifically speaking? And I know a large part of what helped me adapt to all the changes was definitely all the media I consumed! I’m pretty sure I consumed more total media than I have in a good while! And, naturally, some pieces of media rose to the forefront as standing above the rest. So, let’s take a look at my favorite media and memories of 2020…

When it comes to books, in all honesty, I had an amazing year! I focused on quality over quantity and only had one book which I rated lower than four stars! That’s why it was so freaking difficult to pick favorites. In the end, three books really stood out above the others I’ve read this year: The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty, Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, and Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. Let’s take a look at why…

  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Aaah! My newest addition to my all-time favorites—where do I even begin?! I have yet to meet anyone who has disliked this book and I feel like, as a Black girl, my pride and love for this book is, like, tenfold! I think part of the thing is, I (like Bree, the main character of Legendborn) was a young, “academically gifted,” Black girl who got sent to programs for “gifted students” and desperately wanted the world to be magical, even though I never got to see myself in YA fantasies about magical worlds and I feel like Legendborn really tapped into that part of me and gave my inner child a precious ember of joy. But beyond that, this book is pure EXCELLENCE and I have nothing other to say than begging–imploring—you to read it.
  • The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty This book was bittersweet because it was the perfect ending to one of my all-time favorite series, but it was, sadly, the end and I’m not so certain I was ready to say goodbye for good. Chakraborty is definitely a master of intrigue and of character development and she just knows how to crush your heart and bring you hope all at once. I’ve heard whispers that she might be writing more in the Daevabad universe, but I worry that might just be rumors. Even if this really is all we get of the world of The Daevabad Trilogy, I think I can rest with what we’ve been given.
  • Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse This is an Adult high fantasy that is the first high fantasy book that I’ve ever seen my own Indigenous American heritage represented in and that alone would make me love it but the fact that it’s also just an outstanding book and an amazing start to a new series? Call me speechless. This book had ALL the political intrigue and the twists and turns and everything that I need to fall in love with a book. And the characters! The characters had so much depth and dimension!! I cannot recommend this book enough, tbh.

As for shows, there were two standouts, both from Netflix: The Witcher and Never Have I Ever. Both were excellent in completely different ways!

I loved The Witcher as a wonderful fantasy escape—I’d imagine similar to Game of Thrones (which I never watched), but with a lot more humor (read: I would die for you, Jaskier!). Being a big fan of fantasy in all media formats, it’s probably not a surprise that The Witcher became an instant new all-time favorite!

My adoration for Never Have I Ever is a little more unusual considering I’m not usually into comedies/dramedies. Nevertheless, the show totally managed to completely capture my heart! Part humor, part heartbreak, and 100% heartfelt, Never Have I Ever was a pleasant surprise of a new addition to my “favorites” list. I found myself relating in surprising ways to the show and found the story and the characters all to be very genuine. Aah, I could gush for hours, but I’ll cut it short here, considering I’ve already raved about the show!

Admittedly, the only film I watched in entirety this year was Netflix’s Enola Holmes, BUT! That being said, don’t let that fact make you think that I don’t actually love this film as much as I do! Enola Holmes was so very charming and just all-around fun for all ages and asdfhjklkjhgjhgfdsdasdfg I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! I’m desperately hoping that Netflix makes more films about Enola because I’m so on board for watching her have more crazy adventures!

Lissen, 2020 may have sucked in every other way but I think most of us can admit that music artists killed it this past year with their releases. I mean, from Beyonce to Ariana Grande and even Taylor Swift, it seems like all of our faves were releasing outstanding albums! Personally, my favorites were Jessie Reyez’s debut album, BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US, Chloe x Halle’s newest album, Ungodly Hour, and Taylor Swift’s two (!!!) new albums, Folklore and Evermore.

Another thing I loved listening to in 2020 was the sci fi/fantasy audio-drama podcast, The Bridge! Y’all, this podcast is so much fun! If you’re looking for a fun, light yet semi eerie fiction podcast to listen to, then definitely add The Bridge to your list of podcasts to listen to!

In the past year I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Eve Cornwell‘s and cari cakes‘ content! I’ve definitely talked about my love for these ladies before, but it’s worth saying again just how much I adore these gals’ content!

In terms of what they post, Eve and Cari are pretty different, but equally as good. Eve is a former law student and now a trainee lawyer who makes fun, funky, energetic videos about law and lifestyle. Meanwhile, Cari is an YouTuber who lives in Korea and who makes very calming videos about lifestyle and exploring Korea (oh, and she also has a relatively new booktube channel, which is also fantastic!). When I need to feel energized and motivated, I watch Eve’s videos and when I’m feeling anxious or kinda down and need a calming video, I turn to Cari’s content. Through 2020, lemme tell ya: these ladies kept me sane! Definitely add them to your watchlist!

My favorite post that I wrote in 2020 is definitely my post about folklore of the African Diaspora that I want to see written about in fiction! I put so much of my heart into this post and I’m so proud of the outcome! This post was really about celebrating and sharing the magical culture of my people and it was such a beautiful thing to feel such pride in us, especially during such a dark time.

I’ve known about Notion for a year or so now, but I really figured out how to use it and became obsessed with it in 2020! I find it really difficult to organize my quarantine-required remote learning (hello, ADHD!), but Notion has made it just that much easier for me. I’m not saying my system is perfect (I doubt it’ll ever be), it’s more of an ever-evolving process since I wasn’t born with those peak executive function skills (again, hello, ADHD!), but that being said, it’s getting easier with each day. I especially love the templates I found from Alexandra from Twirling Pages, May at Forever and Everly, and the Tumblr blog noodledesk!

My absolute FAVORITE memory of 2020 has got to be adopting my cats, Snoopy and Clementine! Both of them were strays in my neighborhood who we took in (really, it was more that they took us in, lol) and had vet checked and checked for microchips and, when we found none, we decided to fully adopt them. I’m so, so, sooo beyond happy to have these snuggly buddies in my life, ready and willing to give plenty of cuddles!

So that’s all for today, dear friends! I hope you enjoyed and maybe found something you might enjoy too! I know 2020 was a crazy difficult year for everyone and I hope that we all have better luck this year. I wish you all love, laughter, light, and happiness and, with that, I think it’s time for me to grab a cup of tea and get lost in a book again. Until next time, friends…

STAY INFORMED & MAKE A CHANGE

What were your favorites of 2020, friends? Tell me all about the things that kept you sane and gave you a bit of peace in the comments! And what are you looking forward to in 2021? Do you have any goals or resolutions? Spill the beans!

Lately With Lila December 2020 | Goodbye 2020 & Good Riddance!

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

WHAT I READ

  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco ★★★.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 😦

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

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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?

Lately With Lila November 2020 | A Farewell To Autumn

Hey, friends! How’s everyone hangin’ in there? Hopefully good and if not, hopefully brighter days are on the way soon enough. We’ve finally reached the end of this god awful year, it seems., and thank god for that! I’m still kind of shocked that we’ve made it through December without the entire world literally imploding, lol! But never mind that doom and gloom; we’ve made it here and that’s a blessing. And now that we can check surviving November off the list, you know what that means: it’s time to wrap the month up! Without any further ado…let’s dive in!

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WHAT I POSTED

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WHAT I READ

  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (★★★★★) Aaaaaaaaaah my newest favorite book/series!! I loved everything about this book so much! From the story to the characters to the Black American representation—I loved all of it!

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WHAT I BOUGHT

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WHAT I ACQUIRED FROM PUBLISHERS

Thank you to the publishers who kindly allowed me access to these ARCs.

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WHAT I PLAN ON READING

  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco I read 75% of this book in November and I was loving it, so I can’t wait to see how it ends!
  • Lightbringer by Claire Legrand This is one of my all-time favorite series and I’m both excited and sad to finally be getting to the finale.
  • A Sky beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir Another ending to another all time favorite series and, what can I say other than “parting is such sweet sorrow”?

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WHAT I WATCHED

LEGACIES

I watched the first few episodes of Season 1 of Legacies and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it! I was afan of the early seasons of The Vampire Diaries but never watched the final seasons, nor have I seen the other spin-off of the show, The Originals. I do know the gist of the final seasons of The Vampire Diaries, as well as of how The Originals goes, though, and that definitely came in handy. Anyhoo, so far I’ve really enjoyed Legacies. I

DASH & LILY

I also watched the first few episodes of Netflix’s adaptation of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares and I’m happy to say that I found it super cute and plan on finishing the mini series in December! I went in pretty skeptical as I read Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares a few years ago and found it pretty bland and forgettable, but, luckily, by the end of the second episode I was pretty into the show. I can’t wait to finish it up and get all the holiday feels from it!

BLOOD OF ZEUS

And, lastly, I watched the first episode of Blood of Zeus and was…mildly intrigued? Tbh the story is intriguing but the animation style gives me flashbacks to the biblical cartoons I had to watch in elementary and middle school when I attended a Catholic school 😂😂😂 But other than that it was fun and I’m thinking I’ll slowly continue watching!

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WHAT I LISTENED TO

HIGH NOTES

  • “prom dress” by mxmtoon What a mood. What a bop.
  • “Therefore I Am” by Billie Eilish I don’t know a woman who doesn’t feel this exact way, tbh.
  • “F2020 (Remix)” by Avenue Beat and Jessie Reyez Is there anyone who doesn’t relate to this song at this point?
  • “Pray For Me” by ABIR ABIR is a Moroccan American singer whose work I’ve always loved and this song definitely isn’t the exception to the rule!

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WHAT I BOOKMARKED

FOR READERS

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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WHAT I DID IN NOVEMBER 2020

November was a weirdly hectic month for what feels like the first time in forever! All of my classes ramped up the number of intense assignments as we geared up for finals season, plus my mom and I got a bunch of new shelves for multiple rooms in my house (including new bookshelves for my bedroom) and we spent a good week and a half moving those in and setting them up, and—on top of that—it was my birthday on the 28th! Add in a bumpy election week, and November was sheer madness! All in all, I can say I’m thoroughly exhausted and I still have my finals coming up soon! Nevertheless, though tiring, it was mostly a good month so I can’t complain too much.

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WHAT I’VE GOT PLANNED FOR DECEMBER 2020

December brings both finals season and the holiday season, so I feel like it’s kind of a mixed bag? This year’s holiday season is gonna be so different for obvious reasons and I don’t really know what to expect anymore. After such a rough year, I’m cautious about looking forward to 2021 too much. But I wouldn’t be a true Sagittarius if I wasn’t an eternal optimist and so I do have some hope that next year will be better than this year was. Let’s keep our fingers crossed just in case, though.

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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • How was your November?
  • Anything special/interesting/fun coming up in December for you?
  • What books are you excited to read this December?

Lately With Lila October 2020 Wrap Up | An AMAZING Book, Catching Up On Shows, And Preparing To Clear My Shit!

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links for Libro.fm, which if used to purchase a subscription will give you one month free and will provide me with a free audiobook.

Hello, dear friends, and happy belated Halloween! How are y’all hangin’ in there? I hope you’re doing well and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon. We have finally reached November of this seemingly unending year of horror! I think that calls for us to all give a giant “HAMDULILLAH!!” (translation: “THANK GOD!!”) lol! We’re nearly there, friends! But before heading on, it’s time for me to reflect on the past month of October. So, without any further ado, let’s dive right in*…

*Side Note: Am I the only one who can’t not hear the voice of commentary YouTuber Luke Alexander when I say any variation of the phrase “dive in”?

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BLOG UPDATES

This is it, friends! Hardcover Haven has reached its final form!!…Well, kind of. I’ve been eyeing this current blog theme for literal years, so I finally decided to splurge on it. While the theme is not likely to change from here on out, the header could still change. But, with that said, I do like how Hardcover Haven currently looks, so it’s unlikely to change headers for a good while.

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WHAT I POSTED

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WHAT I READ

While I actually read a good deal of several books in October, I only managed to actually finish one (in all honesty this is probably because I’m reading multiple books, which slows down my reading of each individual book). That being said, I really enjoyed the book I finished, so, ya know, quality over quantity…

  • Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (★★★★☆) Y’all. How do I express just how good this book is?! I really have no words. Black Sun is a politically-driven, own voices Indigenous inspired high fantasy and it was an instant new favorite of mine! Not only was it the first time I’ve ever seen my Indigenous American identity reflected in fantasy, but Black Sun is also deliciously dark and full of intrigue. Y’all really gotta hop on the train for this one, lemme just tell ya!

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WHAT I BOUGHT

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WHAT I ACQUIRED FROM PUBLISHERS

Thank you to all the publishers for allowing access to these ALCs and to Libro.fm for distributing them

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WHAT I PLAN ON READING

CLEAR YOUR SHIT READATHON

Find all the info about this readathon here!

VITALS

NAME: Lila

FATAL FLAW: Buys books instead of going to therapy (*weeps*)

TOP STRENGTH: Audiobook hero, master of headphones (I do lurve me a good ol’ audiobook!)

WEAPON OF CHOICE: A book, which may be magical. Or just glittery (What can I say, I’m predictable.)

READATHON TBR

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WHAT I WATCHED

I’ve been s l o w l y making my way through season one of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and savoring every moment and I figured there was no better time to continue the series than October. So, that begs the question…did I complete season one???? Of course not! That would make logical sense and being logic and making sense are two things ya girl just doesn’t do! That being said, I enjoyed what I managed to make it through and I’m looking forward to the rest!

I also started on watching The CW’s Nancy Drew adaptation and made in through the first few episodes. Tbh, I feel kinda mixed about this iteration of the classic detective. I love that The CW updated the cast to be way more diverse, but at the same time, some of the scenes felt rather…i don’t know…hollow? I have only made it two or three episodes in, though, so there’s still time for the actors to get comfortable with their roles.

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WHAT I LISTENED TO

Content Warning: Explicit lyrics

HIGH NOTES

  • “Californian Soil” by London Grammar Aaaah this song is so beautiful in every way!! And the vocals…*chef’s kiss*
  • “Nena” by YENDRY The lead vocalist in this song also has an amazingly gorgeous voice, like, I just…*implodes from the beauty*
  • “Think I’m Crazy” by Two Feet I love any and everything Two Feet makes, so this one was a no brainer!
  • “HIGHER” by Bishop Brigggs Briggs is another all-time favorite artist of mine, so this song is another no brainer.
  • “la luz(Fin)” by Kali Uchis ft. Jhay Cortez Fun fact: Kali Uchis is from my hometown. But aside from a hometown bias, this is just a fun song.

Aaaaah my new obsession! Faerie is a newer podcast from the producers of TANIS (which I’ll talk about in a minute) and Rabbits and it is so good! It’s premise is, “What if faeries were real and evil and there was a secret government agency dedicated to protecting us from them and them from us?” It’s creepy and magical and gripping and you’ve got to check it out, y’all!

I wanted to get a bit spooky with my media for October but not, like, too spooky, so I decided to return to listening to TANIS and was instantly gratified. I’ve explained the premise of the podcast and gushed about how great it is before, but for those of y’all who need a brush up, TANIS is a mystery/thriller/horror/fantasy/sci fi mash up that follows fictional podcaster Nic Silver as her searches for Tanis, a strange entity surrounded by mysterious and horrific occurrences. TANIS is weird and creepy and atmospheric and utterly addicting. I highly recommend it for year-round listening, but it is particularly eerie at Halloween-time!

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WHAT I BOOKMARKED

FOR READERS

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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OCTOBER REFLECTIONS

October was actually a strangely quiet and uneventful month? It just seemed to fade into the mush of quarantine, I guess. I went to class, did homework, ate, went to sleep, repeat. But I guess sometimes life is just kinda “meh” like that. *deep sigh* Oh well, what can ya do…

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FORWARD THINKING

After that bland October, November is actually looking up a bit. It’s my birthday month, so that’s a plus and I’ve got some plans to get out and go to the city waterfront, as well as to some art galleries, which should be fun. There’s also Thanksgiving, which holds the promise of some delicious food! So, all in all, it’s looking like November’s shaping up to be a good month!

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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • How was your October, friends?
  • Is there anything you’re looking forward to in November?
  • Read anything good lately?

Lately With Lila September 2020 | Bookopolathon, Meddling Teen Detectives, The Start of Spooky Season, & Sbooktober TBR!

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links for Libro.fm, for which I receive a free audiobook if you use to purchase a subscription.

Hello, dear friends, I hope you are all safe, happy, and healthy (and if you are not, I am wishing good vibes your way)! Well, it seems we can cross yet another month off the seemingly unending list that is 2020—can you believe it? It feels like March was just yesterday but also an eternity ago? And also it feels like next year is just around the corner yet also eons away?? What a strange year we’ve had…

Anyhoo, strange years aside, I’m happy to say that September was a relatively prosperous reading month for me. After months on end of only managing to finish at most two books, I actually managed to finish…wait for it, y’all…three books! I know in the bookish community that’s not a lot, but when you consider that I’ve only finished one or two books per month for the past year and a half? Um? I’ll take it! So let’s take a look at those books, as well as my other September 2020 favorites!

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BLOG UPDATES

N/A

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BLOG POSTS

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BOOKISH STUFF

READ

  • Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vol. 1: High School Is Hell by Dan Mora and Jordie Bellaire (★★★★☆) Coming from a total Buffy newb—this graphic novel was awesome! It’s a modern “retelling” of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and it’s a very easy place to pick up and start with no real background knowledge. The endearing characters and fun plot made this one a great read!
  • Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles (★★★★☆) Aaaah, I loved this book so much! Full of compelling characters and an intriguing plot, Where Dreams Descend was such a dazzling read! My only gripe is that now I have to wait at least a year for the sequel 😉
  • The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty (★★★★★) Y’all know I’m a super-fan of The Daevabad Trilogy, so seeing it come to an end is bittersweet. That being said, I couldn’t have asked for a better finale! The Empire of Gold was the perfect conclusion and it left me very satisfied.

TBR

  • The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab (Audio/ARC) By some miraculous mistake, I received the audiobook of Addie Larue as part of my Libro.fm October audioARC package—a snafu which left me screaming in joy! I still can’t believe my luck and I intend to devour this one immediately.
  • Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Audio/ARC) Black Sun is a Native American fantasy that I’m SO excited to have in my hands! Plus, I’m reviewing this book for a book tour, so it’s one I’ll definitely be reading this month!
  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Audio/ARC) I technically began Legendborn months ago, but I’m still finishing it up. I’m beyond so in love with this book and I can’t wait to see how it wraps up!
  • This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi (Audio/ARC) This is another book I’m super hyped for and that I’m also part of a book tour for. This is a super cute looking contemporary involving a bookstore and a group of girl who work there. It looks like so much fun and I can’t wait to dive in!
  • The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi (Audio/Library) My library loan for the audiobook of The Silvered Serpents just came in and, y’all, I am do freaking excited! I adored The Gilded Wolves and I’ve heard great things about this sequel, so hopefully I’ll be able to dig into this book soon!
  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (Audio/Purchase) Last on my list is A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, which I purchased in September. This book looks delightfully dark! It’s about a girl attending a school where the only options are to graduate or die trying. I honestly don’t know much about the story beyond that, but the basic premise has me intrigued.

SBOOKTOBER TBR

I’m taking part in Sbooktober this year and luckily my regular October TBR jives with this year’s set of prompts! To find out more information about Sbooktober, check out the readathon’s Twitter.

“Room”PromptSelected Book
Costume PartyFantasy Costume ↝ Read A FantasyLegendborn by Tracy Deonn
RefreshmentsDevil’s Food Cake ↝ A Black CoverThe Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
Dance Floor PlaylistI Put A Spell On You ↝ A Book With MagicBlack Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
FestivitiesCarve Jsck O’Lanterns ↝ A Face On The CoverThis Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi

BOUGHT

ARCS ACQUIRED

Thank you to the kind publishers who approved me for these ARCs and ALCs, as well as to Libro.fm for distributing the ALCs

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AUGUST 2020 FAVORITES

NOTION

I actually discovered Notion about a year ago, but I only started using recently, just before the Notion craze hit the bookish community haha! I’ve been using it to organize my life, my classes, this blog, my creative endeavors, and just my thoughts in general and, I gotta say, so far it’s been working (which is like a miracle for someone like me with severe ADHD). I’ve been having so much fun making and customizing my own templates and I’m glad to have found an organization tool/system that seems to work—now let’s just hope I stick with it!

ENOLA HOLMES

Okay technically I finished the last 15ish minutes of this film on October 1st, but I watched the vast majority of it in September, so I’m saying it counts! Anyhoo! I absolutely ADORED Enola Holmes! It reminded me so much of myself when I was younger and of my own relationship with my mom. Everything about the film was so adorable and I can’t help but hope we get several sequels! I definitely recommend Enola Holmes if you haven’t already seen it!

MUSIC

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THE WORD AROUND THE WEB

FOR READERS

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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SEPTEMBER 2020 MEMORIES

It’s been said before, but needs saying again…How the f*ck are we only in October in this never-ending hell dimension that is 2020???! God, is it not over already??! Have we not stared into the void and seen our souls enough—just let it end already!!!

Okay, but in all seriousness, I feel like nothing has proved the weirdness of that wacky little thing we call time more than 2020. But we can breath a little easier, friends, because we’re just two months away from the end of 2020 and then we can move on and never look back!

Anyhoo! Rants about 2020 aside, September was pretty bland for me. I soldiered through my classes, tripped over my first test (but made it through!), and even managed to turn in a few assignments late. What can I say? I’m a champion at online school (*weary sigh*). But! Nevertheless, I have persisted and I’m hoping that’s what matters!

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FORWARD THINKING

It’s Spooky Season, friends! Time to break out the bats and spiderwebs and fake blood and celebrate 🎵the most wonderful time of the year🎵! I actually don’t yet have any real plans for this Halloween (I mean, other than chowing down on some candy haha) but I’m hoping my friends and I can coordinate some kind of virtual event, whether it’s watching a spooky movie together or getting all dolled up with nowhere to go and breaking out the alcohol (don’t worry, we’re all of age). Other than that, though, October is basically a wasteland of unending schoolwork! Although, I did see several vloggers cooking what looks like delicious meals, so I’m definitely planning on attempting to replicate some of those. Besides this, though, it’s really all possibility from here on out. Regardless, whatever may come, I’m ready for adventure!

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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • How was your September?
  • Is there anything you’re looking forward to coming up in October?
  • How are you celebrating Spooky Season?

Lately With Lila | August 2020 Wrap Up + 1000 Follower Q&A Announcement!

Boy oh boy, is it September of 2020 already?! For real???! Honestly, with the current global pandemic forging on, it seems like March never ended so I, for one, am in complete and total shock that we only have three more month of this hellish year left! Like, how is that possible?!

Regardless of my surprise, though, it seems the universe doesn’t stop for anyone and thus time moves on as usual. So! With that being said, that means we’ve reached the point where I wrap up the previous month’s favorites. Let’s not waste any more words, though, friends, let’s dive right into the wrap up!

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BLOG UPDATES

Um? There Are 1000 Of You Now?? How???

Um, y’all?? Wow. How did this even happen??? I honestly don’t know what to say because I am still so in shock that there are 1000+ of you friends who decided to join me on my literary journey! Like…what?!

I seriously cannot believe that I’ve reached six years of blogging and 1000 WordPress followers! More than surprise, though, I’m just feeling so incredibly grateful to and for you all, my dear friends.

I remember when I first began book blogging back in 2014 and I don’t think I could’ve even imagined reaching this point. The idea that I would ever stick to blogging for six whole years or that I’d have 1000+ lovely friends who genuinely enjoy hearing my thoughts and opinions on books and bookish topics or that I’d have gotten so many book-related opportunities? I don’t even think that was even a whisper in 19 year old Lila’s mind. And the best thing of all, of course, is all of you: the friends I’ve made along the way on this wonderful adventure.

Dear friends, I cannot thank you enough for your support, for your friendship. I truly am speechless. It means…more than I could ever quantify or put into words. You’ll have to believe me when I say I’m more than a little teary-eyed thinking about it.

So, I’d like to do a 1000 follower Q&A in celebration. You can ask me about anything—life, books, blogging, anything really! I’d love it if you’d leave your questions in the comments section of this post or, alternately, you can respond to this announcement tweet of mine and ask a question there. I’ll have my Q&A post on Monday, September 14.

Again, thank you all so much for sticking with me and here’s to many more years of fun (and, of course, of books 😉)!

I Was Feeling Fidgety So I Redesigned!

I know I just redesigned a little while ago, but I was feeling artsy (read: I was having an ADHD driven bout of artistry) and I decided to redesign…again. All that being said, I’m adding a few finishing touches but I really love the new design and I’m thinking it’ll be sticking around for a long while unless I magically gain the money to buy a premium theme.

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BLOG POSTS

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BOOKISH STUFF

READ

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (★★★★☆) I received an and advance listener audiobook copy of Raybearer for a Hear Our Voices book tour that I was part of and I am so glad I did because I absolutely LOVED this book! The characters were so endearing and the plot was really fun and there were so many moments in Raybearer that I related to as a Black girl, which was so special for me. Definitely check out my review for a more in depth look at my feelings and head out to pick up Raybearer ASAP!

TBR

  • The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty Look, even I don’t completely know how the heck I’m still reading this book, okay? All I can say is I just don’t want to let the characters and the world of Daevabad go.
  • Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles I started reading this at the tail end of August and am still surprised to find myself enjoying it, as I typically don’t automatically reach for magical circus/carnival books. I’m hoping that enjoyment stays steady and that I can finish Where Dreams Descend this month.
  • Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin I wasn’t a big fan of Serpent & Dove, but I did see a glimmer of possible hope for the sequel, so I figured I’d nab it on Scribd. That being said, I’m not getting my hopes up for Blood & Honey.
  • Fable by Adrienne Young I loved Adrienne Young’s debut novel, Sky in the Deep, and this latest release from her looks super intriguing and fairy tale-esque. Here’s hoping I love it!
  • Also check out my Bookopolathon TBR for more on what I plan to read this month!

BOUGHT

ARCS ACQUIRED

Thank you to all the publishers who I received these ARCs from!

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AUGUST 2020 FAVORITES

cari cakes

I actually discovered Cari through her recently created booktube channel, but when I heard about her original channel I figured I’d have a look and boy am I glad I did! Cari’s content is mostly vlogging about her life in Korea and it is so incredibly aesthetic and calming! It’s perfect to kick back and relax to on a peaceful day.

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard

I also recently discovered Jessica’s channel and I am so happy that I did! Jessica makes positive content about her experience living with a disability and it is so encouraging to watch as someone who is also disabled! Regardless of whether or not you live with a disability, I highly recommend Jessica’s channel, as it is really insightful!

A MUSIC MINUTE

HIGH NOTES

  • “Red Wine” by MO ft. Empress Of This is just a fun, summery song that makes me feel like I’m on a road trip with the wind in my hair and the sunlight on my skin.
  • “BIGGER” by Beyonce Of course, we gotta have the Queen herself on the list! I love the sound and feel of “BIGGER” plus the lyrics to and theme of the song are A+! It’s absolutely *chef’s kiss* perfection!
  • “Hide Out” by Mahalia Honestly I love the entirety of Mahalia’s LOVE AND COMPROMISE album, but “Hide Out” just might be my favorite song off of it. Idk, I’ve really just been vibin’ with the overall feel of the sound in it lately.

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THE WORD AROUND THE INTERNET

FOR READERS

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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AUGUST 2020 MEMORIES

Nothing too much happened in August, save for that my college’s Fall 2020 Semester began on the 24th. I had a great first week and both of my classes were really enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed my Principles of Anthropology I course, as my professor is really amazing and my classmates and I decided to work together and pool our resources so we didn’t have to buy class supples and texts or write notes on our own. We created a Google Doc to write notes at the same time and help answer each other’s questions and we also created a Google Folder that has all of our required texts in PDF and audiobook format, as well as a copy of a documentary we’re required to watch. I feel so lucky to attend a college where every class I had, people have been more than willing and happy to collaborate and help each other out, especially as I used to attend a highly competitive university where that wasn’t the case. Anyhoo, my Intro to Poetry course is also really fun and I’m enjoying learning about the history and technicalities of the form. I guess I can say that all in all, my month had a few bumps, but on the whole it wasn’t too bad.

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FORWARD THINKING

So, what’s ahead? My answer is, in short: I don’t know please stop asking me this question in interviews or I swear to god I WILL cry!!!

…Wait…Was that looking a bit too deep into The Void? Yes? Okay, fine, I get it, too much darkness, understood.

Okay, but for real, aside from trying to stay on pace with school and blogging all I can see for now is ~quarantine for days~…*shudders.* As someone who is in the “high risk” category when it comes to the current pandemic, I can’t really leave my house until we get a vaccine. That being said, as autumn dawns quickly upon us here in the Washington, D.C. area, I’m hoping to get outside a bit more and maybe go to a park or two! Nothing’s for sure, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • How was your August, friends?
  • Have you read any interesting books lately?
  • Is there anything your looking forward to coming up in September?

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SUPPORT BLACK LIVES & HUMAN RIGHTS

https://jakegyllenhaals.tumblr.com/post/620820853862662145/carrd-masterlist

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Lately With Lila | July 2020

Well, friends, it’s been…a month. And, yet again, the number of books I’ve read has been…uh…what’s that saying?…less??…”less than stellar”—that’s it! Yes, my reading sure has been less than stellar. But, hey, we’re in it for the long haul, the bigger victories, not the quick and easy wins, right?

So what media did I manage to devour (…er…maybe more like…nibble on?) this past July? Let’s take a look…

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BLOG POSTS

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BOOKISH STUFF

READ

  • The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill (★★★★☆) So…ahem…erm…Yes, friends, the lone book I completed in July and the sole book I finished during The Reading Rush was a 72 page, younger Middle Grade graphic novel but, hey, at least I finished something!…Right? Regardless, I completed The Tea Dragon Society and it was so incredibly cute! It was the softest kind of lovely and I adored the incredibly subtle themes it had about how being independent doesn’t necessarily mean being all alone! All in all, I think this one is a great options for kids (and anyone, really!) looking for a sweet and gentle “adventure”!

TBR

  • The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty I know, I know—how on Earth did I manage to not instantly devour the finale to my all-time favorite series?! I honestly can’t tell you why except that I really just don’t want it to end yet or to have to say goodbye to these characters. I’ve made it to the middle of The Empire of Gold already, though, so, slowly but surely, the end is coming…
  • Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko I’m also partially through this one, which I received an audiobook ALC of for a book tour! And I’ve gotta say I’m really enjoying it, so I can’t wait to see where the rest of the story goes!
  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn I’m also participating in a book tour for Legendborn, so it’s another book that I’ll be getting to this coming month. I’m so excited to read this one, especially as it’s one of my most anticipated debuts of this year!
  • Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse And what do ya know?! This one is ALSO an ARC I’m receiving for an upcoming book tour that I’m participating in! What a coinkydink! That being said, I’m very grateful to have received it (as well as Raybearer and Legendborn) and I am BEYOND EXCITED to read this one. It’s an Indigenous American inspired fantasy and I cannot tell you how fantastic it looks to me!
  • Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar I’ve already pre-ordered my audiobook copy of Star Daughter because it honestly looks so. freaking. AMAZING! I’ve always been a big fan of celestial fantasy and seeing that this one also has an Indian twist? I cannot express to you how hyped I am!!!
  • Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vol. 1: High School Is Hell by Jordie Bellaire and Dan Mora Confession: I’ve never watched Buffy The Vampire Slayer. My family’s never had cable plus the show was a bit before my time, as I’m a November ’94 baby, so I never got into it when it was actually airing. But I know the gist of the story and it’s always sounded cool to me, especially as I grew up loving shows like Sabrina The Teenage Witch and the original Charmed. So when I heard about this new run of Buffy comics, which is a retelling set in the modern world and which has an art style that I really like, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’ve currently read about 25% of the first volume and I’m loving it so far, so I figure I’ll probably finish it within the next month!

BOUGHT

ARCS ACQUIRED

Thank you to the publishers and to Hear Our Voices Tours for providing these ARC copies!

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JUNE 2020 FAVORITES

T-Swizzle Took Us Back To Basics With Folklore

Swift wowed everyone by managing to release her new album, folklore, amidst a global pandemic which left us all confined to our homes! It would be understandable—natural, even—if folklore wasn’t her best work yet, but NOPE! Ms. Swift dazzled again with a beautifully honest and raw album that perfectly blends the OG Taylor Swift sound of her debut and sophomore albums with the more pop-y, synth-y sounds of her 1989 to Lover eras—and it sounds amazing, as per usual!

Mindful Minutes

I’m not usually massively into mindfulness, as I find that, as someone who grew up with a mom who practiced Buddhism for a large portion of her own life and who also happens to be a psychologist, it tends to be a lot of stuff that I already know and have already integrated into my life. That being said, I’ve been experiencing a massive relapse in my depression and anxiety in the past year and when I found this simple and short meditation, I ended up really liking it and feeling that it may end up being really useful, especially with how “on-the-go” I tend to be.

Miss Independent (Study)

We all know it: I’m a chaotic mess! Beyond the fact that I have ADHD, I think I also happen to have a personality that doesn’t lend itself towards making self-discipline, focus, and organization easy and natural habits for me. So, unfortunately, I have to turn to tips from outside sources on how to actually, ya know, get organized, focused, and self-disciplined. Luckily for me, the internet is full of such tips! With quarantine still pretty much in full effect in my area, at least in regards to schools, I’ve been especially needing help with independent studying/learning/schooling—and I found the above video especially helpful! I really like that this video manages to give you the kick in the ass you may need to get started, without talking down to you or making it seem like “everyone else gets this so you’re just the odd one out.” It definitely gave useful tips and it’s a video I’ve absolutely bookmarked to come back to time and time again!

A Musical Moment

High Notes

  • “Be Kind” by Halsey and Marshmello I’ve been a big fan of Halsey since her EP, Room 93, dropped, so I was bound to love her new work too. I’m really glad to hear her say that she’s in a much happier “era” of music making and to see that her songs reflect that. “Be Kind” is one of those songs that does just that, reminding us that, first and foremost, love should be kind. It’s a different topic than “typical Halsey music,” but it has enough of the overarching themes of her actual sound that I can’t help but enjoy it too, for both its happy message and for sounding authentic to the artists.
  • “Forgive Me” by Chloe x Halle I’ve also loved Chloe x Halle’s work for a good few years now, so I was ecstatic to see they’d released a new album! Ungodly Hour sounds just as otherworldly as their previous works, but with a bit more of a R&B/pop “oomph” behind it. “Forgive Me” reflects that, with ethereal, sighing vocals laid over a thumping background. It’s an interesting and intoxicating juxtaposition and one you can’t help but sing or hum along to.
  • “Hate The Club” by Kehlani ft. Masego Masego is a favorite music artist of mine and I love Kehlani’s work as well, so hearing them collab is like a dream come true! “Hate The Club” is a slower, deeper sound with a moody, soulful bump to it and the smooth notes of Masego’s saxophone floating throughout. It’s definitely everything I could want from a Masego/Kehlani crossover!
  • “This Is Me Trying” by Taylor Swift I admit, my favorite song off folklore is a bit of an “unpopular opinion” (if there even is one when it comes to Swift’s music), seeing as my favorite song is “This Is Me Trying,” which seems to be lower on most people’s lists. Nevertheless, sometimes a song’s lyrics, sound, and theme just hit you at the right time in your life, just when you need it, and for me that song was “This Is Me Trying.”

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THE WORD AROUND THE INTERNET

FOR READERS

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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JULY 2020 MEMORIES

July was honestly a weird blur of nothingness in terms of my personal life? Like, I don’t remember if nothing actually happened or if I just don’t remember what happened?? It’s strange. Regardless, it was yet another month in quarantine and, friends, I’m beginning to go a little crazy!

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FORWARD THINKING

My college’s fall semester actually begins in late August, so I’ll be headed back to school this month. I’m fortunate enough to attend a college which is taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously and continuing remote learning until at least the Spring 2021 semester, at which point they plan on consulting updated CDC guidelines and reevaluating. I’ll be honest: as someone who’s an extrovert and a “social learner” type of student who works best in person with teachers and study groups, and also as someone with severe ADHD, remote has been incredibly difficult for me to adjust to and work within the boundaries of. That being said, I’ve opted to enroll only in non-STEM courses, so I’m hoping this time around won’t be as difficult. I’ve already enrolled in Principles of Anthropology I (which is basically intro level anthropology) and Intro to Poetry (which is another hybrid creative writing/literary analysis course), both of which I’m really excited for. I may add another course, but it honestly depends at this point. Regardless, I’m sure I’ll find a way to make it through the madness this semester.

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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • Do you remember your July? Tell all about it!
  • Are you looking forward to anything coming up in August?
  • What books have you read lately? Anything you really loved?

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SUPPORT BLACK LIVES & HUMAN RIGHTS

https://jakegyllenhaals.tumblr.com/post/620820853862662145/carrd-masterlist

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June Wrap Up

Wow. What. A. Month! Lemme tell y’all: it has been ridiculous! So much has happened and there were some pretty big events and some pretty major changes, both in the world and in my personal life. The Black Lives Matter movement really shook the world and large scale protests are still happening on the daily—which I personally think is an amazing and beautiful thing because, while it shows that not mucch has changed (yet), it aalso shows that we’re all not willing to just give up, go home, and call it a day, which means there is hope. And in a year that just seems to be a stream of unending bad news, the fact that there is even the most miniscule amount of hope is a precious thing.

Real world aside, let’s talk books. Um. Yeah. I still haven’t read much…But, hey, I did read something (two things, actually!) and that’s better than nothing! And I consumed some other pretty neat non-bookish media too! But the saying does go “show, don’t tell,” not the other way around, so I suppose I should just get to the wrap up already. With that being said, let’s take a look at my past month!

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BLOG NEWS/UPDATES

  • Hellooooo there, friends! *looks at you conspiratorially* Do you notice anything…oh, I don’t know…different? *explodes with excitement* Okay, I’ll say it: I redesigned! I just felt like the blog’s look and layout was feeling a little stale and needed a bit of a perk up, so I went for it. I really like the new look and I hope you do too!

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BLOG POSTS

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BOOKISH STUFF

READ

  • Heartstopper by Alice Oseman I’ve been itching to read this series for what seems like forever and I know it’s available completely online a a free webcomic, but I wanted to be able to add it to Goodreads without guesstimating what volume I was on. Anyway, I managed to secure a digital copy of the first volume from my library’s e-book/audiobook app and aaaaaaaaaaaaaah! It was so freaking cute!!! The main reason I knocked a star off was just because I honestly just wanted a bit more, but I think that, for me, that’s fairly typical when it comes to webcomicsand their related graphic novel bind-ups. But other than that? chef’s kiss perfection! (★★★★☆)
  • Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova Y’all. I’m 100% positive I’ve found a new series to obsess over and y’all are SLEEPING ON IT!!! I don’t know what I need to do to get y’all to read Incendiary, but y’all better get on it because I need someone to gush about this book with! I cannot describe how good this book was…I’m completely lost for words! All I can say is that two of my all-time favorite series are coming to a close this year and the universe did not disappoint when it comes to giving me a replacement obsession because Incendiary did not come to play, y’all! breathes in deeply and proceeds to scream READ IT!!! (★★★★★)

TBR

  • Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty Aaaaaaaaah!!! The finale of The Daevabad Trilogy is finally here!!!! *hyperventilates* I’m so freaking excited to see how my all-time favorite series is gonna wrap up! At the same time, it’s bittersweet because I just don’t want to say goodbye to the world and the characters. Basically I’m a jittery bag of anticipation and trepidation and mixed emotions. One thing’s sure, though: this is sure to be a wild ride that ends with a bang and I am so here for it!
  • Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Now, I’m not a fan of horror, but I do love a good ol’ gothic thriller/mystery and Mexican Gothic seems to be a perfect fit in that regard! I’ve heard great things about this book, although somehow I’ve managed to not really get a concrete grasp on exactly what it’s really about, other than that it’s a gothic thriller/horror set in Mexico in the 1950s. Regardless, that alone was enough to sell me on Mexican Gothic and I’m really looking forward to diving into it!
  • Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross I enjoyed Rebecca Ross’s The Queen’s Rising duology, which is a quiet, feminist, Irish inspired fantasy, so I’m pretty interested by her newest novel. Apparently Ross is once again taking inspiration from our own world’s history, but this time she’s used ancient Greece as a template for her new fantasy world. And, of course, in typical Rebecca Ross style, Sisters of Song and Sword has a big theme of sisterhood. So, basically, this all sounds like a recipe for success in my book and I can’t wait to get to it!

BOUGHT

ARCS ACQUIRED

Many thanks to the Publishing Gods who have granted this mere mortal’s wishes and showered blessings upon her!

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JUNE 2020 FAVORITES

IT’S HERE & IT’S QUEER

I started watching Hulu’s Love, Simon spin-off show, Love, Victor and I instantly fell in love with it! I’ve read (and loved!) Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda but I never got a chance to see the big screen adaptation of the novel, Love, Simon. Nevertheless, I was so excited to hear about the movie spin-off, Love, Victor! The show is about Victor, a teenage Latinx-American boy who’s just moved and is starting school at Creekwood High, where the famous Simon Spier just graduated from. Unfortunately, Victor’s discovery of his own sexuality, as well as his resultant love life isn’t quite going as smoothly as he imagines Simon’s did. So he decides to write Simon, of course! Adorably heartfelt and vulnerable, Love, Victor gets off to a wonderful start and I can’t wait to see where the season goes!

MUSIC TO MY EARS

HIGH NOTES

  • “BLACK PARADE” by Beyoncé Yaaaassss!! Queen Bey is right on time and back with another amazing song celebrating Black American heritage!!! I found myself constantly grooving to “BLACK PARADE” and feeling so confident about my beautiful Black self the whole damn time!
  • “Savage Remix” by Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé “Savage” was already a certified bop and athen you add Beyoncé to the mix? Mhmm, you doin’ it right! It was also great to see two beautiful, powerful, confident Black women come together to make a confidence anthem!
  • “Heatwave – Acoustic” by Mereba ft. 6LACK I absolutely ADORE Mereba and 6LACK and I already loved the original version of “Heatwave,” but this acoustic version is just breathtaking!
  • “Song33” by Noname Ah, the song that was one half of the discourse that nearly broke Black Twitter. All I’ma say on that is APPRECIATE 👏🏽 BLACK 👏🏽 WOMEN 👏🏽

(WEB)COMIC CRAZE

Les Normaux

I’ve gotten quite into webcomics recently and one of my favorites that I’ve discovered is Les Normaux! It’s kind of a “slice of life” comic about a bunch of (mostly queer) supernatural beings living in an alternate universe Paris. And it’s sooooo good! There’s just something so sweet about seeing these paranormal beings be as adorkably human as we are!

Wind Rose

Another webcomic I’ve quickly come to love is Wind Rose! Wind Rose is a romantic fantasy about North (the son of the North Pole and the South Pole) and South (the daughter of the equator). Try and guess what happens in this here “tale as old as time!” wiggles eyebrows No, seriously, though, I’ve just begun to get into this one and it’s ADORABLY SWEET!!!

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THE WORD AROUND THE INTERNET

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JUNE 2020 MEMORIES

June was a month that felt like an eternity and, sadly, it was also a pretty difficult eternity for me. My family rents our home using Section 8 and, almost 12 years at our current residence, our landlord informed us that, unfortunately, he will be selling the house in six months. There are no hard feelings between us and our landlord, he’s been very good to us and we are aware that selling the house was his last option. He is going to try to sell to someone who wants to rent out the house and is willing to accept our Section 8 voucher and keep us as tenants, but we do need to prepare for that not to be the case. I really appreciate this, as well as that he has asked his real estate agent to search for a few houses being rented out by landlords who are willing to accept Section 8—this is so very kind of him and his real estate agent!

Still, I will admit, it was a bit of a blow. Having been homeless twice, my mom and I both have a lot of trauma and resultant anxiety surrounding moving. Many people in the US are very anti-Section 8 because they have a very stereotypical and bigoted idea of low income individuals and families. I remember when I was 14 and we were homeless, my mom called a landlord and told him she had a Section 8 voucher and he told her he didn’t accept vouchers because people using Section 8 “are all lazy alcoholics and addicts who don’t work and just want to live off the government!” before hanging up on her. And instances of coming into contact with landlords who had the same attitude was very common (never mind the fact that in order to receive Section 8 in the first place and then continue to be approved for it, you absolutely have to be working—even if you’re in school!—and cannot be an alcoholic or addict or have any kind of criminal record). I’m very scared that we won’t be able to find a home with a yard in a decent area that’s close to my college and the city, like our current home is. But we have six months and hopefully within that time we’ll be able to find somewhere that’s a good fit for us…

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FORWARD THINKING

So, friends, as you might imagine, things are a little uncertain. Luckily we have about six months to figure it out. And there are plenty of distractions I can dig into at the moment to preoccupy my mind so as not to get too anxious. One of those things being schoolwork and school forms that, admittedly, I still need to fill out (yes, I am that absent minded accidental procrastinator).

There are also plenty of books to read, so that’s a good thing to throw my energy towards as well. Fortunately, I’ve been acquiring audiobooks like the greedy little book gremlin that I truly am, but have I been reading them? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! No. So, I think now’s the time to get around to them (maybe). After all, between COVID-19 still keeping my area pretty shuttered and needing a break from my anxiety, I figure there’s no time like now, right? *gulp*

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SUPPORT BLACK LIVES

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SPILL THE BEANS, FRIENDS!

  • How are you doing, friends, and what’s up in your lives?
  • What are some of you June favorites?
  • Anything coming up that you’re looking forward to?

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Lately With Lila | Spring 2020 (March, April, & May 2020)

Hello, dear friends! It’s been a pretty odd three months for everyone I’m sure. If anything, spring 2020 has proven just how quickly life can change! It’s also weird to be alive during such a strange and historic time. I can only imagine the stories we’ll tell future generations about this truly bizarre time! I think the most thing that seems most mind-boggling is that we’re so technologically and scientifically advanced…and yet, the entire world has had to shut down because of something so basic and natural as a virus…It really shows how far science still has to go!

Anyhoo don’t mind my tangential ramblings. We’re not here to talk about that godforsaken virus—we’re here to wrap up my bookish life and my favorites from March, April, and May 2020!

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BLOG NEWS/UPDATES

  • I made a few very slight changes in the design of the site. See if you can spot them!

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BLOG POSTS

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BOOKISH STUFF

READ

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This was a massively fun, wild ride and definitely a satisfying ending. If you’re looking for a fun, minorly spooky series, check this one out!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this book took me literally three years to finish but I’ve finally made it through and now I’m hooked!

Rating: 3 out of 5.

This was cute and fun and I really appreciated all the diverse representation, but I wish there had been more depth to the characters and more complexity to the plot.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

What a fun ride this was! The story wraps up pretty well at the end, but I can’t help we get to see more of these gals and their adventures!

TBR

Since I’m just getting out of a reading slump, I decided not to set out even the loosest of TBRs for right now. TBRs tend to make me feel stressed and rebellious, which in turn tends to lead me right back into a slump. So for now, I’m just hoping I’ll read and finish something 🤷🏽‍♀️

BOUGHT

ARCS ACQUIRED

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MARCH & APRIL 2020 FAVORITES

Definitely check out my good things post for other recent faves!

MOVIES/TV

Never Have I Ever

The show I’ve definitely been most obsessed with is Netflix’s new teen dramedy, Never Have I Ever. Produced by Mindy Kaling, the show follows an Indian American teen girl named Devi (along with her family and friend) as she navigates her way through high school. The show is surprisingly touching, especially in its portrayal of grief, and will left me alternately cheering, sobbing, and sighing “Awww!” I binged half the season in two days and I’m excited to continue!

Outer Banks

I also checked out Netflix’s other new teen show, the action/adventure/drama show, Outer Banks. The show stars a ragtag gang of mostly lower class misfits (the “pogues”) in the Outer Banks who stumble upon a boat wreck which places them in the smack dab in the center of a dangerous mystery. It’s a tad slow going at first, but I’m pretty intrigued to see where it goes, especially given that I particularly love treasure hunt stories!

MUSIC

Eve Cornwell’s Playlists

Listen

Hailee’s Playlists

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My Own Spring Playlist

Listen

Lifestyle

Learning Hand Embroidery

I’ve been using time in quarantine to learn hand embroidery and it is such a relaxing creative outlet for me! Basically, I started following this science communicator, Lauren, on Instagram (fyi her handle is @stitching_hew, for those interested) and she uses hand embroidery to teach about neuroscience. I saw all of her neat designs and that she was offering a couple of patterns for free on her blog and decided I wanted to teach myself the art! I looked up some tutorials on YouTube and it’s been great going so far!

OTHER

Eve Cornwell

one of my biggest recent faves is Eve Cornwell’s YouTube channel! Eve is a recent law school graduate who makes content that’s, like, 50% fun videos about law, law school, and the realities of being a lawyer and 50% lifestyle videos. I love her sarcastic yet peppy personality and her down-to-earth, casual discussion style. I always leave her videos having fun and having learned something. Seriously, check out her amazing channel!

The Bridge

I recently got into the sci fi audio drama podcast, The Bridge and, whoo chile, has it been a ride! I pretty much was instantly drawn in and fell in love with the story and the mysterious and quirky characters. The Bridge follows a radio show made for those crossing the Transcontinental Bridge, a futuristic bridge spanning the ocean and connecting the continents. As we listen along, we get to know the loveable crew of Watchtower 10 and start to real9ize that they’re more than they initially seem and that something strange and possibly sinister may be afoot! Definitely give this fun and gripping podcast a listen!

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AROUND THE BLOGISHPERE

FOR READERS

FOR BLOGGERS

FOR FUN

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MARCH, APRIL, & MAY 2020 MEMORIES

March, April, and May were…well, they were a trip, if I’m being real with y’all. It feels like these past three months were really hectic and yet…I was pretty much confined to the house the entire time? I think it’s just that it was just a big adjustment period. I mean, my family and I had to adjust to quarantine, my school moved to remote learning, and, on top of that all, my mom contracted COVID-19. Thankfully, my mom has made a full recovery after two weeks of being very sick! Unfortunately, though, I ended up getting two weeks behind in my schoolwork as a result and I haven’t managed to catch up, meaning I had to take incompletes in both of my courses. Luckily, I have very understanding and flexible professors, who are willing to do all they can to help me out, so I’m thanking god for that!

But, believe it or not, there were a few bright spots in these past two months! My friends stuck by me and we spent time together everyday, whether it was by text, by phone, or by video. We also adopted a stray cat! We’ve named him Snoopy and he’s the best boy ever!

I also redecorated my room a bit (which I somehow managed to do despite the fact that it’s still an absolute mess) and I’m really pleased with the results!

I went for a colorful bohemian look, with a floral duvet from Urban Outfitters as my bed cover and a tapestry portraying a color image of the tarot card “The Sun” hanging behind the head of my daybed. I also covered the other wall next to my bed with art, posters, and an old map and looped fairy lights around my bed frame. Ultimately I’m in love with the result and I’m happy to have personalized my space a bit more!

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FORWARD THINKING

It’s really hard to say what’s gonna happen in the near future. May 28, 2020 marks the start of Phase 1 of reopening for my hometown area, but the Washington, D.C. area (including my hometown area) is still one of the largest Covid-19 hotspots in the US and, being the seat of government, the county/state/national officials are being very cautious about reopening. With that said and given we still don’t have a vaccine, I’m skeptical about non-essential institutions and shops staying open for longer than a month or two.

Anyhoo, all of this to say that everything is just so uncertain. The only thing I am certain of is that due to receiving an “Incomplete/Covid” grade in both my Spring 2020 semester courses, I now have to complete my coursework and finals over this summer. But other than that, it’s all up in the air…

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SPILL THE BEANS!

  • How has your spring been?
  • What books have you been reading?
  • What are some of your recent favorites?
  • Is there anything you’re looking forward to coming up soon?

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