Weekly Update | 5-15-22

May 15, 2022 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 7 Comments

Hello Lovely Bookworms!

This week has been very busy!

My daughter is practically finished with school as she has finished all of her main classes and just has a side class to do for a couple more days. My husband had his graduation ceremony yesterday. It was nice to be able to celebrate him with family after. Now I feel even more emotional with all of the changes that are continually happening and it’s definitely taken a toll on my emotions, lol.

I have tried to read as much as I can this week through it all, mostly audiobooks. I would say my reading has definitely improved the last couple of weeks.

I hope you all have been having a great weekend. ❤

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik ⭐⭐⭐✨
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill (arc) ⭐⭐
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wind Daughter by Joanna Ruth Meyer (arc)
Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
Babel by R.F. Kuang (arc)

How was your week? Did you do anything fun over the weekend? Read anything good this week? Let me know in the comments!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Monthly Wrap-Up | February 2022

March 6, 2022 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 7 Comments

Hello Lovely Readers!

Does anyone else feel like this year is just zooming by?

February was filled with a couple visits to the doctor and just getting back into the swing of things after having the plague in January. I have skipped more blog posts and hopping this month than any other for quite some time. It’s been hard to fit it all in when I have a lot of places to go and homeschooling my daughter. This weekend I have taken some time to write ahead, ones that are reviews. Hopefully I can get back into a schedule. 🤞

My reading has been about the same the last couple of months. I didn’t like a lot of the books I read in February though. I don’t know if it was because of my slump or just not actually enjoying the book. I’m hoping that March goes much better when it comes to ratings.

Other than that, it’s been playing a game here and there and just spending time with my husband and daughter.

This month I managed to read 9 books, 5 audiobooks, and 3 mangas.

17 books in total!

My favorite book of the month would be White Fang by Jack London! I was very surprised with how much I liked it.

My least favorite would be what I dnfed.

None This Month

White Fang by Jack London (audiobook)
One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (audiobook)
Waiting for Spring Vol. 10 by Anashin (manga)
Those Not-So-Sweet Boys Vol. 5 by Yoko Nogiri (manga) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle (arc)
Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald (arc)
The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller (arc)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (audiobook)
Sadie on a Plate by Amanda Elliot (arc)
How to Fake it in Hollywood by Ava Wilder (arc) (3.5 stars)
The Hacienda by Isabel Canas (arc)
A Sign of Affection Vol. 5 by Suu Morishita (manga)
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (audiobook)

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary (arc)
Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett (audiobook) (2.5 stars)
A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (arc)
A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan (arc)

None This Month

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike (audiobook)
This Woven Kingdom by Taherah Mafi

How many books did you read in February? Did you have a favorite?

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Monthly Wrap-Up | November 2021

December 2, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 18 Comments

Hello Lovely Readers!

Here is another monthly wrap-up! Not sure how it is December already…

November was a very busy month! My husband has been going into work earlier and now working on weekends. My daughter is still going strong with school as well as my husband. I can tell school is coming to an end for the semester! I will be happy for a break though, but will still continue to do some things with my daughter.

I didn’t read as much as I wanted to, but that’s okay. I also didn’t have any 5 stars, although one came close! Hopefully December will be filled with all of the 5 stars to end the year right, haha.

This month I managed to read 12 books and 4 audiobooks.

16 books in total!

My favorite book of the month would be Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier! It was a 4.5 star read and it will definitely be added to my shelf since I at first borrowed it from the library.

My least favorite was my dnfed books. I just couldn’t get into them.

None This Month

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian (arc)
Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso (arc)
Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #3) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (audiobook)
Autumngale (Bridge of Legends #4) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett (audiobook)
Winterfast (Bridge of Legends #4) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier (4.5 stars)
Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross

Lease on Love by Falon Ballard (arc)
Witchshadow (The Witchlands #4) by Susan Dennard (audiobook)
A Psalm of Storms and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown
If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher (arc) (3.5 stars)
The Singles Table (Marriage Game #3) by Sara Desai (3.5 stars)

The New Girl by Jesse Q Sutanto (arc)
When We Were Them by Laura Taylor Namey (arc)
The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman (arc)

None This Month

Gilded by Marissa Meyer
The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud
Starling by Isabel Strychacz

How many books did you read in November? Did you have a favorite?

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Happy Thanksgiving! (Thanksgiving Book Tag) | 11-25-21

November 25, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 7 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all have a great day even if you don’t celebrate.

This year I have a lot to be thankful for, especially after the crazy year that was 2020. My family has remained healthy through the last couple of years. My husband is doing great in school and soon will be done next year when we start another chapter in our life. I’m grateful for the 12 years we have had together so far with 7 of them being married. I’m also so happy that this year he can go with us to the in-laws over the weekend to look at Christmas lights. He didn’t get to go last year and so I’m glad we will get to have him around this time.

There is so much more I could write when it comes to my personal life and what I am thankful for in it. I do want to say that I am grateful for all of you who follow my bookish life! It’s great to be able to share my love of books with you all. Thank you. ❤

I saw this tag being done by Yolanda @ Past Midnight and wanted to join in on the fun! It was originally done by Anna’s Book Nook. Check them out!

Friends and Family: A Book with Characters that Feel Like Family

I’m going with Well Met by Jen DeLuca but honestly I’d pick the whole series. I have been able to relate to the main characters for each book in some way. They feel like family to me especially after three books.

Fallen Leaves: A Book that Fell Flat (didn’t meet your expectations.)

I finished When We Were Them by Laura Taylor Namey recently. I have enjoyed her other two books but unfortunately this one just didn’t have the same spark for me.

Thanksgiving Dinner: A Book You Want to Read Every Year During This Season

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden isn’t a Thanksgiving book and instead has a wintry setting. The reason I picked this one is because once fall hits and it gets colder, all I can think about is winter. I used to hate it but have grown fond of it over the year and for that reason I always think about this book.

Turkey: A Book With a Bird in It

For some reason I have a hard time thinking of books with birds in it, haha. Since I am reading the third and last book for Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto I will choose it!

Ham: A Book that Made Your Eyes Glaze Over (Boring.)

I dnfed All These Bodies by Kendare Blake for this very reason.

Dinner Rolls: A Book that Melted Your Heart and Made You Feel Warm

I love the Moose Springs, Alaska series by Sarah Morgenthaler especially the second book called Mistletoe and Mr.Right! Ugh, it warmed me up a lot!

Mashed Potatoes: A Book With a White Cover

I’m going to cheat and use the Owlcrate cover for Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, haha!

Gravy: A Book You’re not Totally Sure Why You Love, but You Do

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer! Why do I still love the Twilight books? I have no idea, lol.

Pumpkin Pie: A Dessert Book That You Love

In Battle Royal by Lucy Parker both characters are bakers! It’s perfect, haha.

Bonus: Black Friday: The Top 5 Books on Your TBR

I should get to these in the coming weeks!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Weekly Update | 11-21-21

November 21, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 12 Comments

Hello Lovely Bookworms!

Another week down! Seriously, though. How is Thanksgiving almost here already? I don’t get why time moves so fast, haha.

This week was kind of a slower week for me when it came to reading. I just didn’t feel like it, although it may just be the books I am picking up. Some just haven’t grasped me as I have wanted them too. If I did pick up a book I liked (I’m looking at you Year of the Reaper!), I devour it. It’s just one or the other, lol.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my husband and daughter since he going to be starting his busy season at work today which means only one day off a week. At least I will have more time for reading but it just sucks when he also works on the holidays. This will be our last year for this as he will transition into a new job next year so I’m hanging on!

I hope you all have been having a great weekend.❤

Autumngale (Bridge of Legends #3) by Sarah K.L. Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Winterfast (Bridge of Legends #4) by Sarah K.L. Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
A Psalm of Storms and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown
When We Were Them by Laura Taylor Namey (arc)

How was your week? Did you do anything fun over the weekend? Read anything good this week? Let me know in the comments!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Weekly Update (10/3/21)

October 3, 2021October 2, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 13 Comments

Hello Lovely Bookworms!

It’s been a week.

My daughter has had temper tantrums like no other after not having any for a couple weeks now. On top of high levels of stress and anxiety I feel like I can’t win…

This weekend we have been away at my husband’s mom’s house. At least she keeps our daughter busy so it’s somewhat of a break, ha. I’m just happy that in a week and a couple days her fall break starts and we get 5 days off.

This week I did manage to finish two books and I rated them both five stars so at least that is a positive.

I hope your weekend has been going well!❤

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We Were Kings by Court Stevens (arc) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien (audiobook)
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

How was your week? Did you do anything fun over the weekend? Read anything good this week? Let me know in the comments!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

August 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up

September 4, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 5 Comments

Hello Lovely Readers!

Here is another monthly wrap-up! I say this every time but each month goes by so quickly.

August was filled with finding a routine for my daughter and schooling and just getting back into the swing of not having my husband around as much. It took a bit in the beginning but we have managed to finish a month of school so far! I’d say that’s pretty good, haha. I’m going to keep celebrating the small things when it comes to it. My daughter seems to be enjoying it for the most part and having little problems.

I’ve still been playing the usual game, World of Warcraft. It’s been fun and we’ve met a few new friends through it.

My reading wasn’t as great as it has been due to anxiety and just not feeling like it so it took a dip but that’s okay! I did manage to finish all of my arcs recently so I am solely focusing on mood reading through my tbr.

This month I managed to read 11 books and 3 mangas.

14 books in total!

My favorite book of the month was both of my 5 star reads! It would be hard to pick between the two.

My least favorite was probably Prince Freya Vol. 5 by Keiko Ishihara. It was disappointing as the series just seems to get worse for me.

The Red Palace by June Hur (arc)
Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray (arc)

Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur (arc/graphic novel)
Dark Waters (Small Spaces #3) by Katherine Arden

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft (arc)
A Fate of Wrath & Flame by K.A. Tucker (3.5 stars)
When Night Breaks (Kingdom of Cards #2) by Janella Angeles (arc)
The Raven Heir by Stephanie Burgis (arc) (3.5 stars)
A Song of Flight (Warrior Bards #3) by Juliet Marillier (arc) (3.5 stars)
I Fell in Love After School Vol. 2 by Haruka Mitsui (manga)
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Prince Freya Vol. 5 by Keiko Ishihara (manga/arc)
Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz (arc)

None This Month

None This Month

How many books did you read in August? Did you have a favorite?

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Weekly Update (8/22/21)

August 22, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 4 Comments

Hello Lovely Bookworms!

It’s been a good week!

I feel like I am managing to get everything I need to get done without feeling overwhelmed which is such a great thing. My daughter has been enjoying her schoolwork and not giving me too much trouble, haha. I managed to get a few books read as well.

This coming week should be interesting though since my husband starts back at school and our time together will lessen. We both have dentist appointments on different days and we will be leaving to see his family once again for the last time for a bit while we bunker down with school. It’s going to be busy!

I hope you all have been having a great weekend. ❤

The Red Palace by June Hur (arc) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz (arc) ⭐⭐
Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur (arc/graphic novel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I Fell in Love After School Vol. 2 by Haruka Mitsui (manga) ⭐⭐⭐
Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray (arc) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien (audiobook)
Dark Waters by Katherine Arden

How was your week? Did you do anything fun over the weekend? Read anything good this week? Let me know in the comments!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

June 2021 Monthly Wrap-Up

July 3, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 15 Comments

Hello Lovely Readers!

Here is another monthly wrap-up! I say this every time but each month goes by so quickly.

June was filled with family visits and a lot of birthdays, which included my daughter’s 5th birthday! There hasn’t been anything else going on besides my husband doing summer school and he will be done this week so July is dedicated to family time before school starts once again in August.

My reading for the month was pretty consistent with other months from this year. I’ve been taking breaks every now and again from reading which helps to stay out of slumps. I have 8 arcs left since I did get more but I’m still knocking them out!

I’ve been playing videogames like usual too. Mostly it’s been World of Warcraft but also Mario Kart every now and then. It’s fun to play with my daughter and I’m glad we decided to get a Nintendo switch for her birthday. One day we will get Animal Crossing, haha.

We did watch Luca and Raya and the Last Dragon as a family. I think I liked Raya more but they aren’t in my top ten favorite Disney movies. I’d most likely give them a 3.8/5 stars.

That’s about it! Time to get on with the all of the bookstuff.

This month I managed to read 22 books, 1 manga, and listened to 4 audiobooks.

27 books in total!

My favorite book of the month was The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier. It was so good! It had me crying but it was worth it.

My least favorite was A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson. It was just not my cup of tea and had too much petty drama that was meant to be funny.

The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier (arc)
Fae Pursuit (Tangled Fae #4) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Fae Conqueror (Tangled Fae #5) by Sarah K.L. Wilson
The Splendor by Breeana Shields (arc)
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (audiobook)

For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Those Not-So-Sweet Boys Vol. 2 by Yoko Nogiri (manga)
Could You Escape the Paris Catacombs? by Matt Doeden
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova (arc)
Made in Korea by Sarah Suk (audiobook)
The Cruelest Mercy (The Kinder Poison #2) by Natalie Mae
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (arc)
Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli (arc)

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle (arc)
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (arc)
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (audiobook)
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
She Who Rides the Storm by Caitlin Sangster (arc)
You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao (arc) (2.5 stars)
Vampires, Hearts, & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston (arc)

The List of Unspeakable Fears by J. Kasper Kramer (arc)
Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead (audiobook)
The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu (arc)
Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe (arc)
Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood (arc)

A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson (arc) (1.5 stars)

None This Month

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is border2.png

How many books did you read in June? Did you have a favorite?

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

Weekly Update (6/6/21)

June 6, 2021 ~ Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette ~ 8 Comments

Hello Lovely Bookworms!

This week wasn’t bad. Although there was one day that was just piling one thing on top of the other and it definitely messed with my mental health but I got through it and that is all that matters!

We got a nintendo switch for my daughter’s birthday which is at the end of the month. We have been playing Mario Kart and my husband is jealous of my skills, haha. My daughter is having fun and plays Minecraft with my sister on it. I’ve also been playing World of Warcraft as usual.

My reading has been fantastic! I’ve been getting through books and actually enjoyed a few. I would say that is a win-win.

I hope you all have been doing well this week too! ❤

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle (arc) ⭐⭐⭐
The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier (arc) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (arc) ⭐⭐⭐
Fae Pursuit (Tangled Fae #4) by Sarah K.L. Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fae Conqueror (Tangled Fae #5) by Sarah K.L. Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The List of Unspeakable Fears by J. Kasper Kramer (arc) ⭐⭐

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (audiobook)
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

How was your week? Did you do anything fun over the weekend? Read anything good this week? Let me know in the comments!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads