Bookish Breakdown No 28: April 2021

Hello, lovelies! Welcome to another Bookish Breakdown post, my monthly wrap-up where I talk about last month’s reading, as well as life updates, blog hopping links and intention updates!

Well, April sure was…something. I can’t speak about it too much due to not being sure who reads this blog from outside the blogging community, but let’s just say that my job situation has been in limbo for over a month and I’m not only drained from just being so filled with anxiety and stress, but also coming off one of our busiest main enrollment seasons yet (as you can see from some stats below). I can only hope May is kinder and clearer.

What I did:

• Had over 100+ 30-minute Zoom meetings for work in less than three weeks 🙄
• Got my second doze of the Moderna vaccine!
• Received to a diagnosis from therapy that has been really helpful
• Came out as bisexual to my parents and siblings
• Had high spikes in my anxiety and depression as my job situation is in limbo
• Became really stoked with Apex Season 9 reveals
• Had phone chats with some besties this month that has just been really lovely

Let’s check in and see how I did creatively this month.

What I Read

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Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad (completed)
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
The Women’s War by Jenna Glass
Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Also, for class:

Upend by Claire Meuschke
Witch by Philip Matthews

What I Hauled

ARCS

Thank you to Orbit Books!!

The Broken Gods by Gareth Hanrahan

Purchased:

Don’t judge me, I did some book retail therapy, okay?

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Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston
The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden
Waiting for a Scot Like You by Eva Leigh
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst
The Sisters Mederos by Patrice Sarath
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish
Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby

What I Posted

In this section, I like to share posts that I personally wrote this past month that I either really enjoyed writing, am really proud of or wish might have gotten a little more attention.

🏹 Impossible to Box: Being a Book Blogger Who Blogs About Everything
🏹 Finding A Routine: Take Nth
🏹 The Unbroken

Reading Challenges Update

2021 Discussion Challenge: 8/24

StoryGraph: 20/50

ARCs: 4/12

Backlist Books: 4/12

Monthly Diverse Reads: 3 versus 4 (Goal: Every month, read equal to or more diverse reads than those written by authors who (or feature characters that) match my identity, listing diverse books first.)

I read a surprising amount this month, despite the entire month feeling like an uncertain dumpster fire. Hoping to keep up the reading momentum!

Intentions Update

Sharing where I’m at on my yearly intentions, all of which I detailed in this post.

Writing ✖️

I didn’t write at all this month, as you saw in my latest Novels and Narrations update. Hoping for a much more positive May.

Reading ✔️

Though I’m still not quite where I want to be, reading habit wise, I read some good books this month (mostly) and I’m cool with that.

Freelance Editing ✔️

Finish another client’s work a few days early! Might not promote as much since summer months are super busy, but I hope to find some new clients for the later half of the year!

Blogging ✔️

The one thing I’m able to stay consistent on!!

Self-Love ✖️

I really, really struggled with this this month.

Allyship and Activism ✔️

Finished Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. A very powerful, very eye opening read that I highly doubt I’ll only read once!

Other ✖️

For April, I really wanted to write letters and get some projects done around the house, and did neither. For May, I hope to take care of my mental health and start building my routine back up to help prep for returning to in-person work in June.

Posts I Enjoyed

Curious what blog posts I really enjoyed around the blogsophere this month? Check them out here:

⚔️ Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books, as always, shares some of my favorite posts. This month, she talks about five things you need to know as a book blogger and how to write a blog post that people will read, both I wish I had for years, but don’t think I’m not going to utilize the hell out of these tips now!

⚔️ Kal @ Reader Voracious shares a fantastic list of books by Asian authors you should read (as well as great steps to take to help combat Asian hate). Also, her post on book review SEO tips and tricks I bookmarked SO FAST.

⚔️ Fadwa @ Word Wonders shares a really amazing interview with The Unbroken’s author C.L. Clark that I really enjoyed, as part of their Color the Shelves series!

⚔️ Kate @ Your Tita Kate shares a wonderful post about work-life balance (in particular with blogging) that I just want to invest into my veins so that the message sticks. Also, GREAT tips on how to write book reviews!

⚔️ Y’all, if you haven’t subscired to Kacen Callender’s blog yet, you *need to*. Their recent post on social media and mental health for authors just resonated so much (and that’s from someone who is unpublished).

⚔️ May @ Forever and Everly shares a wonderful rec post of books by Asian authors, broken down into categories and themes so you KNOW you’ll find books to destroy your TBR with!

⚔️ Angele @ Angele Reads Books shares 20 SFF books written by female authors to add to your TBR!

⚔️ Charvi @ Not Just Fiction shares what book blurbs should be telling us and all I can do is clap.

⚔️ Veronika @ Wordy and Whimsical shares tips for dealing with blogging burnout.

⚔️ Rukky @ Eternity Books shares her opinions on problematic Muslim rep and then shares books that got it right.

⚔️ Brenna @ Paws and Paperbacks shares the good and bad of NetGalley, and, as someone who doesn’t use this platform, it was a really interesting read!

For May, I want to really take care of my mental health. I want to remember to breathe, trying to focus only on what I can control and make the most out of any situation that is presented to me.

I hope you all have a wonderful month! 🖤