January Info 2021
Happy New Year!!! We did it! I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday, even if it was different from past years. As a reader, I see the new year as new opportunities for new reading goals and as a blogger I have many new ideas for this new year. In the first monthly info of the year, I will be sharing some blog posts you can expect this month, highlight a new bookclub, tell you my reading goals for this year and all the other typical monthly content.
Blog posts coming this month
Since 2020 has just ended, all the booktubers, bloggers and bookstagrammers are posting their end of year content. This includes all their favorite, least favorite, stats, etc. of 2020. Since I now have a blog I also would like to do this yearly wrap up. Mainly because I think it would be fun and useful for you because you'll really get to know my reading taste. Also, I think it would be fun to look back on in the future. So, in the next little bit I will be posting three end of year posts. Make sure to look out for these in the coming weeks.
TBR
If you are wondering how I did on my tbr from last month, let's just say I kinda forgot and just read what I wanted. I did finish my Christmas book Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber. I really loved it and ended up giving it 5 stars! This month I am participating in many events in my book club so I do not fully know what I will be reading this month. However, I am participating in some buddy reads with people so I will share some of those. I also have a small list of other books I would like to get to, so I will also share those too.
The books I'm (planning to) buddy reading:
Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
In preparation for the new Netflix show, lots of people are buddy reading this book series. It has been on my shelf for years and I hope to finally pick it up this month. This is a YA fantasy series. That's really all I know but a lot of people really love it.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
This is Rachel Hawkins' first adult novel. It is a southern, gothic thriller with Jane Eyre elements. This book wasn't on my radar until it was a Book of the Month pick and then got a lot of buzz in the book community.
Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams
This is a historical fiction that takes place after World War II. It is about a photographer and war correspondent named Janey Everett who is researching Sam Mallory, a forgotten aviation pioneer, in Kauai. Although this is historical fiction, it does have some mystery and romance elements.
Other reads:
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
This story follows Naya who is very much a Type A personality, doesn't take many risks and is recovering from her relationship with a abusive boyfriend. To step outside her personal bubble she created one big to-do list. In walks Jake who brings joy to Naya's life. However he also brings trouble. Naya will have to choose between staying in her comfort zone or stepping outside it.
The Push by Ashley Audrain
I found out about this one from BOTM since it was a add on for January. I couldn't help myself and I bought myself a copy because it sounds right up my alley. Also I love the cover. This is a psychological thriller about motherhood being not a wonderful happy experience but one filled with fear and secrets.
2021 Reading Goals
Like many readers, I am always trying to stretch my reading outside my typical reader bubble. So, like everyone else, I have some goals for this new year.
First of all, my Goodreads goal is 115 because I read 114 books in 2020 and I wanted to push myself a little bit to read a little more. I hope that pushing myself like this doesn't cause me to rush through books, but instead find more times in my day to read.
Read more historical fiction. In the second half of 2020 I found that I really enjoyed historical fiction and since then I have really wanted to read more. Therefore I want to make a conscious effort to seek out and read more historical fiction.
I want to focus on reading off my bookshelf. I am a huge library user and this isn't bad by any means, but I do want to prioritize reading books that I own. As I am writing this (which is a little more than a week into the new year), I am already failing pretty badly. It's just so easy and fun getting books from the library that I just accumulate so many.
For the blog, I really want to try to post more consistently. I also am already failing at this but I am still trying to find a balance between reading and blogging. Often times I am so caught up reading that blogging always becomes second priority, but this year I would really like to change this habit.
Lastly, I want to focus on posting things I want to and feel proud about publishing. I want to make sure the content I put out I would personally enjoy consuming. This includes both the blog and Instagram.
Book of the Month
Book of the Month is a book subscription where the club picks 5 new release titles and you can pick one to get sent to you. If you aren't into any of the picks, you can skip with no penalty. If you want to try it for yourself you can use my referral code. (This post is not sponsored in any way. The code is just from having a BOTM account.)
This month I just got one book which is The Removed by Brandon Hobson. This is a literary fiction type of story about a Cherokee family. The Echota family has been recovering from grief after the death of their 15 year old son. I am not fully sure how to properly describe this book so I am just going to copy the official blurb. "Steeped in Cherokee myths and history, a novel about a fractured family reckoning with the tragic death of their son long ago—from National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson"
Book Club
The Book Troop
Hosted by Gabbie (from gabbiereads)
Announcement Video
Click here to watch!
What type of books?
This book club is focused on new release thrillers, mysteries and horror. There may be the occasional backlist but most will be new release.
Where is the club?
Youtube (Each month the live show her channel.)
This month's pick
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Future Picks
The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
Instagram Announcement
I just wanted to let you know that the blog's instagram has additional content if you are looking for more bookish content. On there I share more reading updates and you get to know me better. I have started a new series on there where every Friday I post a variety of questions surrounding one particular theme. These are really fun since I get to know you, my readers, better and you can learn more about me! I have saved two of these sets in my Instagram highlights in case you missed them. One of them is all about my candy preferences and the other one is all about music. You can find all of this at riversofbooksblog on Instagram or click here.