Indulgence Insider brings you up to date with all the happenings of Happy Indulgence, this week’s haul and bookish news from around the blogosphere!
The last time I did one of these wrap up posts was actually my pregnancy announcement, so it’s only appropriate to update you on how things have been going since then!
Meet Baby Jeann
It’s been a while since my last Indulgence Insider for a very good reason – the arrival of Baby Jeann! There’s something so precious about motherhood and being able to spend this time with her while she’s still little – everything is new, you experience life through every little milestone and it’s so magical.
So how is motherhood going? There’s a certain anxiety that comes with being a new mother – you never know if you’re doing anything right and you tend to focus on every little thing that might be ‘going wrong’ with your baby. But the smiles they offer you, the cuddly hugs, and knowing you’re the most important person in their life is so precious and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Amelia is now 10 weeks old, and she’s the cuddliest, cutest, calmest baby ever! It’s been amazing following along with her development, the latest thing is that she can now bring her hands together because she’s aware that they’re her own – she’s even started grabbing onto my hair (ouchies)! We’ve been so lucky with her and love her so, so much. Here’s my latest weekly reading vlog for an update!
Want to follow along with my adventures? Because of limited time, I’ve been focusing my efforts on Instagram and Youtube, so make sure you follow along there. If you watch my weekly vlogs or my Instagram stories, you might even get a peek at little Amelia along with Toby! All with my latest thoughts on books, bookish unboxings and my reactions to books of course.
I’m interviewing V.E. Schwab!
I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be interviewing V.E. Schwab (Victoria Schwab) when she’s visiting for Supanova in a few weeks time! Obviously being one of the best fantasy authors of all time, I’m still processing this information and I cannot believe that I’ll be seeing and meeting her in person! Please let me know if anyone has met her before or if you have any questions for her. I’ll be sharing my interview on my Youtube channel so make sure you subscribe!
I have followed and loved her books for a long time (especially Vicious and Vengeful) and can’t believe I’ll be meeting one of my favourite authors in person! Let’s hope I don’t say anything embarrassing this time.
Now for my March Wrap Up
During March, I read 5 books which I was pretty chuffed about – considering how one of them is a 800+ page dragon fantasy!
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5 stars
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – Absolutely adored this feminist dragon fantasy – I wish there was more even though everything was wrapped up by the end. Here’s 5 reasons why you should pick it up!
4 stars
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman – this was the cutest graphic novel about a gay relationship that slowly builds up over the course of friendship!
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas – I loved this story with Bri who wants to become a female rapper, despite everything she has thrown her way including being stereotyped as a hoodlum and street kid. Full review to come!
3 stars
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein – It was fascinating having Elizabeth obsess over the creepy Victor Frankenstein, and to see how her morals slowly slide over the course of the story. I listened to this one on audiobook so I don’t have too much more to say about it.
2.5 stars
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – I was so disappointed with this one after the fantasy murder mystery premise. While I love supporting #LoveOzYA authors, there were some problematic elements here to do with eugenics and burying your gays which Cait @ Paper Fury and Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity discuss.
March Book Haul
I was lucky enough to receive so many amazing books during March! There’s a few more here but the stack was getting a bit big so yeah. I’ll just link them below.
Purchased
- Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Collector’s edition)
Review copies
- What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson
- Impossible Music by Sean Williams
- Ursa by Tina Shaw
- All the Invisible Things by Orlagh Collins
- Dig by A.S. King
- How it Feels to Float by Helena Fox
- The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James
- The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab
- Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
- DEV1AT3 by Jay Kristoff
A big thank you to Bloomsbury Australia, Pan Macmillan Australia, Walker Books Australia, Allen & Unwin, Text Publishing, New South Books and Jay Kristoff for sending these books to me!
Discount code: I’ve become a April-June rep for YA fantasy subscription box Faecrate. Use my code HAPPY5 for 5% off your monthly box, subscription or past items (not valid for hangover boxes).
What did you get up to during March? How many books did you read? Chat to me in the comments below!
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I’m certain you’re doing great with Amelia and I think you’re amazing for being able to get so much reading in as a new mumma. #goals
K M Tanner recently posted…Book Review: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Aww she’s beautiful! My babies are almost all grown up, it’s a total cliche but enjoy this time, it’s over too soon!
Awww thank you so much! I know, I’m trying to savour every moment because it goes so fast!
Aww congrats on the baby! She is so adorable 😀 I’m glad you are enjoying motherhood, that’s amazing <3 I loved the first year as well, it was hard. We barely got any sleep. I'm still not getting enough sleep.
Enjoy every moment
Still awesome to see you have such a great reading month on top of everything!
Thank you so much! Yes the sleep thing is the biggest adjustment, that and trying to go anywhere with a million things lol. I was lucky lol
I’m so happy you’re enjoying motherhood and ahh I love your updates every time and Amelia looks way too adorable <3
I'm glad to hear you liked Heartstopper, it's such a soft, adorable story and ahh, I love it so, so very much <3
I hope you will have a wonderful April, Jeann! <3
Awww thank you so much Marie! It has been such a joy so far and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us.
I’m sorry Four Dead Queens was such a dissapointment. It sounded so good at first. 🙁
Annemieke recently posted…Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book / #toptentuesday 182
I was really disappointed as well! I did enjoy the read but yeah there were a few things by the end that I was disappointed at.
Aw congrats on being a Faecrate rep! And on all the good reads (SO must read Priory omg it just sounds fantastic…someone give me the stamina lmao) and AMELIA IS ADORABLE. I’m also glad she’s calm and cuddly the cutest everrrr. My sister’s last baby (he’s about 14 months now) went straight from little blob potato to aggressively climbing and biting everything. Like, child, enjoy your babyhood. I want to carry you around. Aaaanyway. I’m glad you’re enjoying motherhood (and always here’s to hoping you both get enough sleep, eep!!)
Thank you so much, their boxes are fantastic! She is defintiely the cutest little baby and I wonder what is in store for us in the future hahah. Thank you so much Cait!