Wrap-Up Post: July 2015

~ aentee @ read at midnight

julyrecap

This is my first full month blogging, so I wanted to follow the cool kids and do a recap post! Things I learned in making this post are:

  1. Book blogging has taken over my life.
  2. I love it + you.
  3. I need a book budget, cos wtf.

ReviewJuly

= 15 REVIEWS! 

Which means my credit card bill is going to be monstrous this month *CRIES*  I hereby impose a book buying ban.  Self, please concentrate on your ARC pile in August!  *leers*

I mainly read fantasy and scifi (what a shocker).  I did not end up reading as many contemporary or diverse books as I had promised.  Boo.  Recs of fantasy + diversity for this poor soul?  I also started making graphics for my review this month which increases the time I take to write a review by… a lot.  But now that I have started, it’s way too fun to stop!

CURRENT READ:  Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, I’m halfway through and it’s pretty phenomenal.  I am so excited to write and make graphics for this review 😀

discussionJuly

I discovered the magic of discussion posts for bringing traffic and comments to the blog.  Plus they are so fun to write y’all.  Of course, my lovely commenters are way more intelligent than the actual posts I write.  Check their comments out and visit their blogs!

1.  I lament Shipping The Wrong Ships,

2.  I question Whether We Feel Pressured To Read Popular Titles

3.  I Identified 6 Types of Book Bloggers In The Wild

4.  I Diagnoses Book Trend Burnout

BONUS:  I also made lists of Fairy Tale Retellings HERE & HERE

otherjuly

FIRST:  I’d like to thank everyone who commented, followed, or plain read my posts in the past month.  July has been amazing beyond my imagination, I reached 200+ followers on WordPress and 300 followers on Twitter.  But more than those numbers, I am glad to have an active audience that comments and interact with me.  Thank you so much for your support!

SECOND:  I want to avoid blogging burnout so I’m not sure if I will be posting nearly as crazily as I did this month haha.  But we’ll see if I can even keep away!

THIRDLY:  I am also contemplating opening up a graphics design shop in the next month, as I’ve been getting a couple of inquiries privately (for which I am forever humbled). I’ll start off with offering headers, blog buttons, teaser graphics and the likes. I’m both excited and nervous!

FOURTHLY:  Netgalley actually approves my requests now, you guys.  SQUEE.  Though I am also so greedy, I need a handler to stop me from requesting.

FINALLY:  I’ve been trying to read all of your July Wrap Up posts as well, but if I’ve missed yours, please link me so I can shower love on you?

Published by aentee @ read at midnight

64 thoughts on “Wrap-Up Post: July 2015”

  1. Girlllllll, if I don’t get this graphics things down, you know I’m coming to you! 😉

    That is such a crazy amount of reviews! I’m jealous at how fast you read and where you find time to read these books I’m always at a loss for time lately.

    Like

    Reply

    1. I will welcome your request with open arms 😉 But psst a really easy way to make pretty quote graphics is to download something like Typogram or Wordswag onto your smartphone. Best $2 I’ve ever spent as my whole Instagram is spawned from those apps.

      I usually read maybe 3-4 books a week, but I write reviews right away – I have no reviews in reserve ever D: It’s actually a little stressful.

      Like

      Reply

      1. I’ve been reading so slowly lately. I can’t seem to read more than 2 books a week anymore. And I take forever to write the reviews so I sometimes forget some information about the books. I need to learn to write the reviews right away.

        Like

    1. Thank you for your lovely comment XD I don’t know how much longer my bank account can sustain 15 books a month though haha.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. There are other ways to read many books if you wish. Amazon has many good offers in order to buy many books together and of course there are some freebies. If you can read e-books then your problem is solved. You can buy as many physical book as your bank account can handle and then you can just buy a couple of cheap e-books.

        Like

    1. Thanks Jenna my favourite part about writing review is actually making the graphics. I’m not a very wordy person haha.

      Like

      Reply

  4. First of all, congratulations!! 15 reviews in a month, and all of those amazing discussion posts (which I still need to catch up on!), I admire you so much, I really do! Maybe book blogging has taken over your life, but damn, you’re amazing at it, so keep going! 😀 (and please give me your productivity and your awesomeness, haha!)
    Really really excited to hear about your graphics design shop! I love everything you’re making and I wish I had the patience, the software and the talent to do that 🙂
    I can’t wait for August and all the awesome blog posts you’ll make this month, too! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your support haha, I was sick for a bit this month so I got to stay home and read – August probably won’t be nearly as productive 🙂

      Graphics is actually not that confusing, I always point to people to Creative Market and Freepik, it’s all anyone need to do the exact same thing :D!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. That’s so awesome that this is your first full month of blogging! And it sounds like it was a great month at that. I always say that comments/interactions are much much more important than followers because then you know that people are interested in them and are taking the time to leave you feedback so way to go!
    NetGalley really is the best and worst thing that can happen to a blogger! 🙂
    And yay for the design shop! With how beautiful your graphics are, you’re going to rock it!
    Happy reading and blogging! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I always think I’d rather have a few followers but lots of interesting comments, rather than have thousands but no one to talk with. I aspire to be like your blog, both huge and with great interaction with your readers. I don’t know how you do it 😀

      Thank you!

      Like

      Reply

    1. FIRST OF ALL: CONGRATS! Such a baby blog but an amazing progress! and 1, 2, 3 is understandable, love you too and freaking hilarious… and then cries together as we sit in the corner crying for money (… to buy more books ofc)

      Excited to read your review on Steelheart! and I’m so glad we share the love for your discussion posts. Its the reason that brough me here, and I’m forever grateful.

      I have yet to check out your Fairy Retelling Masterpost but I’m afraid that my TBR list on goodreads will explode in just a day, haha! I’m sure I’ll check out soon enough though because I love SFF. Also congrats for your follower growth! I’m still proud of being the 200th aw ye

      Please do relax sometimes though as we’ll miss you a lot if you ever undergo a blogging burnout but we’ll always be here waiting so don’t worry too much! and for THIRDLY & FOURTHLY a huge congrats!!!! I’m so happy for you x

      Here’s to more wrap up posts from you 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. What were you late for? Haha. And thank you so much again for being my 200th, and such a dedicated commenter and supporter of my blog I appreciate it so so much ❤

        That fairy tale retelling post actually put me off reading them a bit cos omg there are so many, I can't cope!!

        I will definitely try and relax a bit this month, I want my blogging to be more about the reading than the blogging, if that makes sense XD It's a hobby at the end of the day, so I don't want to overwork *lazy*

        Thank you again, you're the best ❤

        Liked by 1 person

      2. My first spot at the top of the comment list hewhewhew. Next time I’ll nab that place like a ninja!!

        Being your dedicated 200th is so my pleasure, keep up the amazing work 🙂 ❤

        I stopped halfway through and thought "dear heart, I'm sorry but I have to stop here because you'd be devastated in knowing that you definitely do not have the money to buy any of these," I swear when I do have the money I'd devour the list HAHAHA

        I understand completely!! It's never good to do something too much, moderation is key! It'll make every blog post, and every book for that matter, more worth it and more fun to do!

        The most welcome x

        Like

  8. Congratulations (on Netgalley approvals + Blog/Twitter Followers), Aentee! 😀 Mentioned not having book trend burnout but I’ve definitely had blog burnout before, so yes, take it easy for this month! 🙂 And the blog design shop is a really cool idea; I know you’ll have a lot of fun! And let’s have a book buying ban together! Every month this year I’ve said “Summer you will abstain from buying books,” but it has never worked out. We should do like some blogging or reading challenge, I don’t know, to keep each other in check. LOL. 😉 But knowing me, I’d probably still manage to splurge (I live really near a bookshop). XD

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You are amazing for keeping up with your blog and all your followers, I admire it, commenting back is like crazy intensive work haha.

      I say that I will have a book ban, but I just ordered a new book this morning *pouts* This will never work! I also work next to a bookstore, so it is the worst. So many temptations everywhere!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Aww, thanks Aentee! Honestly, I feel like commenting back is the process that takes the longest (aside from Top Ten Tuesday or meme posts) but it is well worth it to meet other book lovers. 😉

        Like

    1. The magic of discussion post is that you never have to put too much into words, your commenters will do the rest for you haha. As I said, the people who comment on my posts are waaaay more eloquent than I am XD

      Thanks for the link!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I stayed home from work due to a flu this month, so it helped me bust through the TBR! Thank you 😀

      Like

      Reply

  11. Wowww, July sounds pretty crazy 🙂 Congrats, gurl ❤ ALSO YES I ADORE YOUR GRAPHICS. They are beautiful and pretty and I will faithfully be evermore happy if you start doing the graphics thing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m so happy you like my graphics. I am actually quite haphazard in putting them together, I’m always surprised people actually like them 😀 thanks for your support ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I firmly believe it’s a genre, there’s so many of them out there – and even some books that aren’t explicitly marketed as a fairy tale retelling has a lot of the same elements in it 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. There are so many people who writes way more reviews per month, I am impressed and amazed haha. I just read short books ;)?

      Like

      Reply

  14. This is your first full month of blogging? Wow, you are so good at this I thought you’ve been at it for years! Well, let me congratulate you then on a great month, and I am so glad I found your site. You have some great reviews and discussion posts!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks Mogsy, that made me so happy because your site is one of my favourites to visit :D! I sucked when I first started out and I’m still finding my way – fake it til you make it, right, haha 😉

      Like

      Reply

  15. Yey love you so much! I didn’t realize you were a new blogger, welcome :D. I hope you don’t get burned out making the pretty graphics because they are SO PRETTY! Also I just wanted to let you know that you don’t have to read contemp if you don’t actually feel a desire to ;-). I used to try and then realized that I just like dragons and spaceships and that’s okay 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the welcome, I am too honoured because I *love* you and your blog ❤ ❤ The graphics are my favourite things about my reviews (I find writing a bit of a chore tbh 😛 ) so I don't think I'll stop.

      Yes, sometimes I want to say adios to contemporary as a genre altogether but then I see them on other people's blog and I want to engage with them – and commenting with just 'Hey looks like a great book!' is no fun haha.

      Like

      Reply

  16. I adore your graphics so much! They’re so sophisticated and pretty at the same time haha. I love anything by Brandon Sanderson so hope you continue to enjoy Steelheart 🙂 I thought the sequel was really action-packed too 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thanks Carolyn, Steelheart was so good — but I remembered that the sequel was titled Firefight 80% through the book and so I guessed the ending! BOO! But I am excited to hear the sequel is just as exciting!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Ohh nooo! I hate it when I get spoiled unexpectedly 😦 Well, the third book title at least won’t spoil anything because it’s the last book in the trilogy 😉

        Like

    1. That’s also an incredibly amount, and I’m so glad you like my fairy tale retelling list, I hope you find something you enjoy to read in them ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  18. OMG I DID NOT KNOW YOU’D ONLY BEEN BLOGGING FOR A MONTH. 200 followers in a month?! DUDE YOU ARE INSANELY TALENTED. XD And yes, you definitely need a graphic design shop. I spend and extraordinary amount of time just gazing at the beautiful headers in your posts. *strokes laptop screen*

    Like

    Reply

    1. Well, I took a leaf out of your book and went on a commenting spree – AND I SORT OF WENT A BIT WILD? So in effect I found my followers and commented them into following me 😛 *shameless* It’s tough work, I don’t know how you leave such weighty comments on everyone’s blog on the regular basis, you’re the incredible one haha. But I would follow your blog til the end of the internet even without your comments tbh.

      Thank you Cait, glad you like my graphics ❤

      Like

      Reply

  19. Your design talent is absolutely phenomenal Aentee, so beautiful it makes my heart ache. You’ll make a fortune! I’d be getting onto that store quick smart.

    I can’t believe that you haven’t been blogging so much longer, wow, that still blows me away. Of all the new blogs I’ve seen since I started blogging myself, yours is by far the fastest growing. You’ll like an old hand at this already! I hear you about the blogging burn out, up until a few months ago I was getting that way myself. Now I only post every third day, so I still have time to flutter about, write reviews and visit other blogs for a sticky nose. You’re going great guns hun, one of my favourite blogs to visit ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Ahahaha, I wish but the beautiful part is owed mostly to the packages I download from Creative Markets and troll from Freepiks 😉 But I am glad they have done their part in making me seem a decent designer hee!

      I just took a leaf out of yours and Cait’s book and just went on a commenting spree across the blogosphere, it works like a charm 😀 People pay attention to you if you pay attention to them, what a plot twist haha.

      Thanks Kelly for your support ❤ I hope to stick around and nose in everyone's business for a long while XD

      Like

      Reply

  20. sounds like such an amazing reading month Aentee! And you’re all caught up with reviews haha, pretty amazing 🙂 have fun with netgalley! i went a little too crazy when i first started and i have a never ending list of arcs on my tbr list that i am still plowing through… have a great reading month for august!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Caught up on reviews is a terrible state to be in Jeanette, means I have no posts in reserve and I’m scrabbling to catch up! I know, Netgalley is too tempting, I’m going to try and ignore it for a week or so while I whittle away at my current shelf. At least there’s a lot of US exclusive titles that I can’t request anyway XD

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks Lydia, I’ve enjoyed the two books I’ve read this month already, so August’s looking good on the bookish front 😀

      Like

      Reply

  22. I need a book budget too because I’M BROKE haha. Also, blogging + reading has taken over my life as well and I love it! I’m so glad this community exists because I love talking to other people who shares the same passion as me. And wow you reviewed a lot of books this month 😀 I surprisingly didn’t read a lot of contemporary books this month. Usually I read a sh(t ton of contemporary books during my summer vacation, but I ended up reading the Percy Jackson series and…NO REGRETS. It was amazing!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I need to get my hands on the Percy Jackson series and experience the sworn magic that is Percabeth haha. I love the book blogging community, but also resent it a little for making me want to read every single book being released this year. My moneys *sobs*

      Like

      Reply

  23. Congratulations on the first full month of blogging, Aentee! I didn’t know you started recently, but that’s great to hear – I hope you and your blog continue to grow and reach their fullest potential! 😀 I know what you mean, commenting back and paying ti forward works like a charm, every time. Cheers to you and for your future endeavors! And good luck with the designs and stuff, too! They truly are ever so lovely.

    Faye at The Social Potato

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Faye, you are blogging inspiration and goals 😉 Glad you like my graphics as your own for The Social Potato are beautiful!

      Like

      Reply

    1. I definitely won’t! Also, have you had issues with wordpress bloggers commenting on your blog recently? I tried to leave a comment this morning and it didn’t load through *pouts* It’s been happening on all blogspot sites argh!

      Like

      Reply

  25. Congratulations on your first month of blogging! To be honest, I thought you’d been really well established in the book community when I started following but I’m really impressed knowing you’ve only been around for like a month. You’re gonna be the next big thing!
    And I definitely think you should go for the graphics shop! I’m probably not gonna be able to get anything because my parents won’t let me but I think it’d be great! It highlights what you’re good at.
    In the meantime, I’ll be practicing on my own graphics to eventually reach your superstar status. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Kelly! I don’t think I’ll become huge but I am so happy with meeting all you guys in my (almost two) months of blogging haha.

      Don’t worry, I’m planning a graphics design tips and resources post in the coming month so you’ll hardly need me!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  26. Wow, congrats! I’ve been blogging for almost a year now and I agree – it takes so much time!! I should probably start doing wrap ups too. Everything is gonna get out of control soon if I don’t. Guess I will leave that for the end of August. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. While I was watching bloggers from the sideline on GR, I would never have imagined writing reviews would take such dedication. I tip my hat for all of you guys who have been persevering for so long. Wrap ups are so fun, you should definitely try it 😀 Don’t leave it building up, I almost passed out finding all my links for this post XD *lazy*

      Like

      Reply

  27. Aentee I can definitely sense your blogging excitement, your blog is absolutely beautiful and deserving of every follower, you’ve done so well! I love the graphics that you’ve put together as well. I totally know what you mean about the credit card whoops…you and me both.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you Jeann! Happy Indulgence is one of my blogging goals so I am so happy to hear you say that!!

      I am going to read mainly ARCs in August and save myself some money, I hope *cries*

      Like

      Reply

  28. Your graphics are beautiful. I am a very visual person so pretty blogs always catch my attention before I look at content. Your content is great too of course. I may be visiting your graphic shop at some stage though as I don’t know how to do them at all xx

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment