We thought it was time for a fun new post every week. In the Royal Update one of us updates you about our personal life, bookish news, what we’re reading, watching and listening to and anything else that might apply to this post. We thought it would be fun to share a bit more about our personal lives and hope you think so too!
Things are slowly getting opened here and we’re allowed to do a bit more. If I’m honest, I still am sticking to my own little bubble. So basically it’s still work, grocery shopping or little errands and spending time with two friends that live a few minutes away from us.
So these past two weeks weren’t really exciting. I worked, did some reading and last weekend we went over to the friends’ house that I just mentioned. I love board games, so we played Mansions of Madness and it was so much fun! It’s nice to get a bit more normalcy, even if we don’t have to go that far to achieve it. We ended up staying there a lot later than planned, so the next day was relaxing. I watched some shows and cuddled with the cats!!
This is going to be a very long part of my Royal Update. I was able to get some ARCs on Netgalley. I’m excited for all of these books, but my feedback ratio not so much… Hopefully I’ll be able to read a lot of these before they release. Or get to the ones I have already!
Three of the books I got from Netgalley are for blog tours.
Forest of Souls – Lori M. Lee Training to become the queen’s next royal spy? That sounds like something I need to read. I signed up for the blog tour, so my review will be up soon, so keep an eye out!
A Wicked Magic – Sasha Laurens I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I love cats and this cover is stunning! The story sounds amazing though and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The Craft. I knew I needed it after reading that.
The Ship of Shadows – Maria Kuzniar I’ve been saying this more often, but I’m loving MG and The Ship of Shadows sounds so good. Pirate ships and magic? SIgn me up!
All of these other books I was able to get access to! And I’m so excited.
They Wish They Were Us – Jessica Goodman I’ve seen this one around a few times and it sounds really good. They Wish They Were Us is Gossip Girl meets One of Us is Lying is another thing that sounds amazing together. I really need to read more of these mysteries, because I know I love them.
Super Fake Love Song – David Yoon The title caught my eye on this one. I haven’t read anything by David Yoon yet, but this one sounds interesting. A case of mistaken-identity gone wrong. Sounds good!
Darius the Great Deserves Better – Adib Khorram This is sequel to Darius the Great is Not Okay. I have been wanting to read that book, so getting the sequel is the perfect motivation to get going.
How It All Blew Up – Arvin Ahmadi I love that books get pitched as a combination of things we’ve come to love. How It All Blew Up is pitched as Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda goes to Italy. I have a feeling this book is going to be emotional, but one I need to read.
Lux: The Newgirl – Ashley Woodfolk Starting over is never easy, especially when things have been hard. Just when our main character thinks to be back on the good path, the group she’s with turns out to have a few secrets. The cover is making me really curious.
The Valley and the Flood – Rebecca Mahoney Magical realism is a hit or miss for me, but this sounds really good. Grief seems to play a big part of the story and I’m interested in how that plays out. The cover is so unique and stunning!
Meme – Aaron Starmer Again, this book is described for fans of One of Us is Lying. I really have an interest in thrillers and this one sounds right up my alley. I think I need to make a Halloween TBR.
Vicious Spirits – Kat Cho Wicked Fox has been on my TBR for ages and getting my hands on the sequel, will hopefully get me to read it sooner, haha. These covers are stunning!
Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf – Hayley Krischer This isn’t going to be an easy read, but I think that this is an important one. I’ll definitely have to be in a certain mind space for this one.
Watch Over Me – Nina LaCour I read We Are Okay by this author and it was intense, but really good. Watch Over Me is the follow up to this book and I’m excited to read this one.
Skywatchers – Carrie Arcos I have a feeling this book is a mix of historical fiction and science fiction. Skywatchers is a book I’m still a bit on the fence about, but I’m curious enough to give it a go!
Sources Say – Lori Goldstein This sounds like a lot of high school drama, but one that will have some important messages as well.
The Companion – Katie Alender Horror is a genre I’ve only read handful of books of, but I’ve been realizing it’s something I enjoy. The Companion sounds like it’s going to be creepy, but really interesting.
Dress Coded – Carrie Firestone I’ve seen this book around a few times and it sounds really interesting. There are definitely some unfair standards in this world and girls need to stand up for themselves and know they can!
The Circus of Stolen Dreams – Lorelei Savaryn Having a loved one disappear is a tragedy I hope to never experience and can’t relate to at all. I can only imagine that disappearing into a magical dream world would be something many would want to do in that situation. The Circus of Stolen Dreams sounds really good.
Closer to Nowhere – Ellen Hopkins What I love so much about middle grade books is that they’re often about family and frienship. I think that Closer to Nowhere is going to be an emotional read, but a really good one!
Thirteens – Kate Alice Marshall Like I just mentioned, I’m reading more horror, but have never read a MG horror before. Thirteens sounds like a book I need to read around Halloween!
The Once and Future Witches – Alix E. Harrow I have to say the cover is the first thing that caught my eye when I heard about this book. Witches are something I love reading about. I still need to read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by this author, but I’ve heard amazing things, so I think this one is going to be amazing as well!
Since my last Royal Update, I’ve read Spin the Dawn, Changeling, In Her Skin, Out of Play, The Unready Queen, Rage and Ruin, These Witches Don’t Burn and Betting on Sin.
I’m currently reading Fangirl, King of Scars, Girl Serpent Thorn and Late to the Party.
This week I’ll be starting Carry On, The Unhoneymooners, This Coven Won’t Break, In the Role of Brie Hutchens, Wild Highway and The Bridge Kingdom.
There was quite a bit of bookish news this week!
This is the part of the Royal Update that I use the least, haha. I don’t really buy much other than books. We did buy new pillows for our couch, but I don’t have any pictures.
I loved Love, Simon and when I heard about this, I knew it would be a show for me. I watched the first 7 episodes in one sitting! At the beginning of the week I finished the last three and I need more!! I really enjoyed this show. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed Love, Victor gets a second season.
I’m pretty boring when it comes to music. I’ve been loving Home Free and just don’t seem to get sick of them.
So that’s how the last two weeks have been for me. How have you been? Read anything interesting? I’d love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments!
