January Wrap Up: It’s Been a Busy Start to the Year!

January 31, 2020 by Jeann @ Happy Indulgence | Books, Monthly Wrap Up

January Life Update

January has been a month filled with milestones and changes – Amelia’s 1st birthday, my birthday, Chinese New Year, returning to work…and if it’s anything to go by, the start of the decade is going to be a busy one. We celebrated Amelia’s first birthday with a huge birthday party with family and friends – it was hectic, but also super cute with all the babies! Now that she’s a toddler, she’s been developing and learning in leaps and bounds. She’s now climbing the furniture, pulling herself up to standing, couch diving, and crawling at top speed to chase Toby around the house!

More than ever I’m finding myself to be stretched for time and there are never enough hours in the day to get things done. I never really appreciated the free time that I had beforehand, the time that I had to read, blog, plan, exercise, socialise, etc. These days I have barely enough time to make food and do the groceries, go to work, organise the house…let alone look after the baby.

Oh, I also celebrated my birthday yesterday! Thank you everyone who wished me a happy birthday, you made the day really special!

So what about blogging?

I actually did a video update on Youtube below on why I haven’t really been posting actively if you’re keen to hear more. I know the time with Amelia as a baby is short, and the year has flown by already, and there’s always time for hobbies later.

The plan is to be present, but not to be as active as before, so I can spend all this precious time being a human and a mum! While I’m not giving up blogging, I’m just dedicating time to it when I can and that seems to be enough at this stage.

January Wrap Up

Despite what I said before, you’d probably be surprised to know that I’ve gotten some reading done! It’s definitely not as much as I did before, but I’m glad I’ve still been able to read what I can. I have a long drive to/from work so I’ve been listening to audiobooks in the car which is the only way I’ve been able to read.

Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao – 3.5 stars

I was curious about this book because of the controversy behind it and also because the book has been revised significantly afterwards. The premise is also up my alley – a Russian fantasy about a princess that has outcast and accused of the murder of her father. I actually really enjoyed this book and the banter between Ana and Ramsom, and the twists and turns as we found out who was behind the murder. I liked the blood magic and the affinities in the book as well.

 

Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan – 3 stars

This was such a disappointing read for me and if I really had to, I would blame it for my reading slump. I’ve been reading this book for 1.5 months now and the slow, draggy pace and the numerous side characters that I don’t really care for really bogged it down for me. I really think the unwelcome twist at the end of the last book really shot this one in the foot, because not much happened in terms of plot progression. I’m still here for Wren and Lei and that’s pretty much it.

 

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire – 4 stars

This is a re-read for me as I wanted to continue on with this series after abandoning it in the past. I listened to it on audiobook and loved this paranormal fae story about Toby Daye, a changeling who is half human half fae. In this book she gets bound by fae law to investigate the murder of an acquaintance and I really enjoyed it!

 

What books have you read in January? Link me to your wrap ups below!

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Jeann is an Aussie YA blogger and mum who loves to read and recommend books! You can usually find me fangirling about books on my various social media channels including Twitter @happyindulgence, Instagram and Youtube.

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3 responses to “January Wrap Up: It’s Been a Busy Start to the Year!

  1. Yay for a good start to the year for you all!! AND LOTS of celebrations there So wonderful! I am nervous to read Girls 2 because I liked the first book but I just…am not psyched for more? I don’t know I’ll get to it eventually. I really enjoyed Only Mostly Devastated (first book of the year and LOVED it) and was totally here for my reread of The Foxhole Court series. I am rather trash for those Now I’m looking forward to Chain of Gold and Discovery of Witches coming up on my tbr, eep! I hope February treats you well!!
    CG @ Paper Fury recently posted…[Blog Tour & Giveaway] Break The Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli — Olympics, Survivors, And Painful HopeMy Profile

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