May 2019: Recap + On My Shelves

May 2019: Recap + On My Shelves

• Jun 7, 2019

In May, we celebrated several birthdays, took a family vacation, and just enjoyed the gorgeous weather. It was a busy month! I'm so excited about the start of summer, though it's crazy that we're almost halfway through 2019.

1. My Son Turned Three – On May 3, we celebrated our son's third birthday! It seems like just yesterday I was being induced and praying for his safe delivery. He has been the sweetest blessing and brings me so much joy every day. I'm so thankful for this smart and loving little boy. Raising him is a privilege and an honor.

2. Completed My Goodreads Goal – In the last few years, I've set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal at 100 books. I typically far surpass that number of books read in a year, but I don't enjoy the pressure of a higher number. I like when it's attainable. I reached my goal in May, and my 100th book was a five-star read!

3. Mountain Vacation – We spent five or so days in the mountain about halfway through the month and made such sweet memories. I finished a book or two per day, which was a huge win! We did a little shopping, spent some time exploring, and just enjoyed relaxing in such a gorgeous environment. I can't wait to go back! 

4. Fresh Flowers & Summer Reading – My mom came to babysit one day so that I could go shopping by myself, and she brought me some gorgeous hydrangeas from her backyard. It was such a treat, and then seeing those beautiful blooms in my library inspired me to make my Summer Reading TBR that same day.

Read 26 Books | Favorites:

The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn

Honorable Mentions:

China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

“Guilt is a burden, so forgive yourself for the mistakes.”
The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta

“I don’t understand. How can a credit card ever be rejected? It’s not like it’s a kidney!”
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

 “If I was going to commit to someone, I wanted him to be worth the worry,
worth the part of me I was going to give him.”
If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

“I look around and see that I'm surrounded by so much wonderful mundane joy.
Life is good, for the most part, which is why we are all greedy about wanting more of it.”
Love and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum

 “But that was the way life worked. Every human being was the result of a million different factors
mixing together – one of a million sperm arriving at the egg at exactly a certain time;
even a millisecond off, and another entirely different person would result.
Good things and bad – every friendship and romance formed, every accident, every illness –
resulted from the conspiracy of hundreds of little things, in and of themselves inconsequential.”
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

 “You get in trouble no matter what you do,” Vix said sagely,
“so you might as well do everything you can.”
Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

“I love you […] but whatever made you think I want to follow your stars, and not my own?”
Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn

“Living everyday in the presence of those who refuse
to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage.”
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

 “You want to see a very bad man? Make an ordinary man successful beyond his imagination.
Let’s see how good he is when he can do whatever he wants.”
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

As always, I started off the month with my April 2019 recap. Then, I posted my Quick Lit: April 2019. My reviews were actually written in a timely manner, hooray! Since I hadn't shared a So Obsessed With post in a while, I realized it was a great time to chat about signing up for Book of the Month. The next day, I reviewed four BoTM books that I've read recently. And finally, my favorite post of the month, I shared ten of my favorite books from the past ten years. My biggest fail? The fact that I still haven't blogged about my UK trip!

I've continued to post a little more regularly on Instagram, though I'm not great with sharing book reviews in a timely manner. And I know it's because I overthink it and procrastinate writing them. Oh well! There were a few other photos I loved in May, three of which I used in my What I Loved section, but this was at the top of my list. I snapped it quickly and love how it turned out! (But this was my favorite caption.) • @soobsessedblog

  Favorite Album: Front Porch by Joy Williams
I've loved Williams' solo music and her work in The Civil Wars, so I couldn't wait for this album.
It didn't disappoint! It feels like music you'd listen to while rocking on your front porch on a summer evening.

Sex and the City, Season 5, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Kim Cattrall – I flew through the first four seasons of this show in October and November, and then I lost steam on watching it. It isn't a favorite for me because I don't like any of the characters, but I still want to finish it! I picked back up with season five, which was fine. My interest is waning, so I'm glad I've just got one season left.

Isn't It Romantic (2019) starring Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, Adam Devine, and Priyanka Chopra – I thought the previews for this made it look funny, so I got it from Redbox when it came out. It was fun overall, though it didn't wow me. I liked how it made fun of romantic comedy tropes while still basically doing everything you'd expect from the genre. Cheesy, predictable, not very memorable – but somehow still fun!

Miss Bala (2019) starring Gina Rodriguez – Listen, I love Gina in Jane the Virgin so I've been curious about what she'll do next. When I got a coupon for a 50¢ Redbox rental, I decided to get this one. I didn't want to pay full price for it because it looked ridiculous, but I still wanted to try. Gina did fine in the role, but the story just made no sense. It was so choppy! It wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't really recommend it. 

Always Be My Maybe (2019) starring Randall Park and Ali Wong – Ahhhh, the best thing I watched all month! I was a little nervous because Ali Wong's comedy routines are too crass for me, but this movie cracked me up. What a great script! I laughed so much and can't wait to watch it again soon. I loved the diversity and hope to see more movies will be made like this one. Plus, it was such a fun take on the friends-to-lovers trope!

New Releases: The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum, Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, and The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta

Book of the Month: Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak and The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Used Bookstores: My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, The Leavers by Lisa Ko, How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan, The Secret to Southern Charm and Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein, The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, A Million Junes by Emily Henry, and The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne

Book Outlet: The City of Brass by S.K. Chakraborty, The Blythes are Quoted by L.M. Montgomery, and The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

For Review: Then There Was You by Miranda Liasson, The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell, The Clergyman's Wife by Molly Greeley, and Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

NetGalley: The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory and Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh

Audible: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo (not pictured)