Bookish Babble [4] - Goodbye, July! (Monthly Recap)

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July Monthly Recap!
(Reads, hauls, and other shenanigans)

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We're halfway through 2018 (YAHOO!) and who says you can't make a big change mid-year?

I guess the biggest change I got is that I finally get to do this kind of stuff. I never thought I’d actually last around to share something recap-worthy (I know I'm a few days late but gimme a break!) These past months that I've been on hiatus, I've experienced lots of milestones - both in real life and in the bookish sense. I finally graduated (yay!) and actually got a job (double yay?) So yes, I'm legitimately adulting and that's the best excuse I can give for being inactive *ugly cries*

Anyway, adulting definitely has its perks. I've expanded the places I can go to (I still have no sense of direction whatsoever though), and I finally get to participate in so many bookish activities that I've only been seeing through my feeds before such as book signings and events! Ya girl finally went to MIBF and attended her first ever International author signing (waves to Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian) 

Also, because earning my own moolah now, I can HOARD ALL I WANT MWAHAHAHA! Well, actually not as much as I want to (because fresh grad job huhu) but still! Way more significant that the little ones I've been getting before - but I got to participate in nationwide sales and book bazaars such as the Big Bad Wolf and the NBS Book Binge Bazaar so yay!

Anyway, I know it was supposed to be a July recap - not a recap of whatever happened these past months but hey! It's my first time doing this! I'm just so glad to feel like I'm actually ~part~ of the community now. Wow I feel so legit???

Anyway, here's a quick run through of my July adventures. Roll!

Highlight Events!

Bookworms Unite PH 2018

I’ve been wanting to attend since forever and this month, I finally got the chance! Bookworms Unite PH is actually the primary reason that motivated me to come back to the bookblogging community. Seeing these people's contagious enthusiasm and passion for the printed word, I can’t help but be swept away too! Check out my recap here and enter the giveaway!

NBS Thank You Sale

As mentioned, now that I am officially adulting, I now have an extra budget solely for my book babies! And for this month, I splurged during this fantastic sale! I was supposed to do last minute shopping during the 31st but unfortunately, I got sick and had to stay home (maybe it's the Universe sign for me to stop hauling?) Which brings me to the next segment..

...July Book Haul!

The biggest haul I’ve posted so far included only 4 books (insert internship haul) but wow, now I’m sharing book stacks this big??? My heart is happy!

Received during Bookworms Unite PH Year 4:
1. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly [From the Book Blind Date]
2. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian [From the Book Blind Date]
3. Redemption 3-5 by Karen Kingsbury [From the Book Blind Date]
4. The Memory Book by Lara Avery [From the Book Blind Date]
5. Unrivaled (ARC) by Alyson Noel [From the Book Blind Date]
6. Serafina and the Splintered Heart by Robert Beatty [From the Book Blind Date]
7. The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro
8. Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider
9. My so-called Bollywood Life (ARC) by Nisha Sharma
10. Puddin' (ARC) by Julie Murphy
11. There's Someone Inside Your House (ARC) by Stephanie Perkins
12. Trouble Never Sleeps (ARC) by Stephanie Tromly
13. Soulmates by Holly Bourne [Bought from Hazel]
14. How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne [Bought from Hazel]
15. The Upside of Unrequited (ARC) by Becky Albertalli [Traded from Hazel]
16. Literally by Lucy Keating [Bought from Hazel]

Bought during NBS Thank You Sale:
1. Down And Across by Arvin Ahmadi

2. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige

3. What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

4. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

5. All the Feels by Danika Stone

Received as gifts:
1. World War Z by Max Brooks
2. Secret Believers by Brother Andrew

3. Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon (Journeys, Junctions) by Virgilio Almario

4. Writing Home by Ruel de Vera (editor)

5. The Best of This is a Crazy Planets by Lourd de Veyra

6. Catacombs (ARC) by Madeleine Roux 

7. Tell Me Three Things (ARC) by Julie Buxbaum
8. Say Her Name (ARC) by James Dawson

*special thanks to Ate Meryl for books #1-5 and Dianne for books #6-8! Hearts to both of you!

Won from giveaways:

1. Stay Sweet (ARC) by Siobhan Vivian - Thank you so much for this Siobhan! *hugs*

Books read this month!

1. PJO: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan [5 Stars]

2. PJO: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan [5 Stars]

3. Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski [4 Stars]

4. Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell [4 Stars]

5. The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder [3.5 Stars]

To be honest, I haven’t been reading as much as I want to (one of the many adulting cons) because responsibilities are taking up my time! Also, as you may have noticed, I didn't get to read any titles from my haul because BACKLISTS and RE-READS SEASON and yes, I know - what is wrong with me huhu

Again, yes, I know I haven't reviewed ANYTHING! ARGH I'm the worst! But as I've said, I'm definitely making a comeback now! Slowly but surely, folks! Will definitely have a review up soon! (Don’t we all say that? Haha!)

Anticipating August!

If you don’t know, August is actually my birth month! (full disclosure: I’m accepting book gifts or GCs haha!) Anyway, with that said, here are things I’m looking forward to this month:

Comeback to the blogosphere and bookstagram

Announcement: I'm officially now trying to make my bookish comeback! As mentioned, I've been inactive for a while now but ya girl's baaaack! I can’t say much for now but there’s definitely a big change coming and I’m so excited to share it with y’all very, very soon so stay tuned!

#BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy

August isn’t just special because of the birth of yours truly *wink* but also because we’re celebrating #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy! I’ve always been an active supporter of local-made works so I’m really excited for what this month’s bringing and how I can help to spread the word (and the love!) 

#bookishwishph + Bookish Secret Tita

Recently, this twitter trend emerged and I’m really stoked to grant others’ wishes (and of course, to have mine granted too!) In line with this, I’m looking forward to the Bookish Secret Tita! Think: Book blind date meets Secret Santa. Only this time, we’re doing it this month and it’s because we’re all August babies! This is going to be so much fun! 

Philippine Readers & Writers Festival 2018

As I’ve mentioned, I can now attend all the bookish events I want and one of these is the annual PRWF! Truth be told, I was planning to sit this one out (because ya girl’s birthday expenses are already on max!) but my #ladybirds have convinced me otherwise so yes, I’m attending my very first PRWF and celebrating my birthday with my gals! Will I see you there? :)

Giveaway Winner!

And last but not the least, I’m excited to be announcing the winner for my first ever giveaway! Have you joined yet? You might wanna check it out HERE!

Other July recaps!

Check out how other lovely peeps wrapped up their month below:

• Shealea at That Bookshelf Bitch ("Wrapping up July 2018: a month of lists, and um, overnight fame?")
• Fay at Bibliophile Soprano ("My Bookish Advenmtures: July Wrap Up")
• Aimee at Aimee, Always ("July Crippled Me with Anxiety, But at Least I Got a Lot (and I Mean a LOT) of Books!")
• Imogene at Muggle Boooks ("Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2018")

How about y'all? How did you spend July? Please tell me I'm not the only one splurging on hauls huhu + any plans for August? (ahem I'm accepting gifts! *wink wink*)

That's it for now! Happy reading *hugs*