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February 2021 Goals

Feb 9, 2021

February is a special month in our house because it's full of birthdays: mine, our baby's, my bestie's, and Nick's! I'm sharing my monthly goals a little later in February than I typically would, so we've technically already celebrated three of those fourth birthdays. But no matter! It's still one of my favorite months in the year, despite the fact that it's usually full of gloomy weather. It snowed in Georgia on Saturday night, and the last time it did that was the day our second was born. We celebrated his birthday on Sunday, so it was a sweet little moment of déjà vu.

I made good progress on my January goals! While I didn't check everything off my list, I saw results and that's the biggest motivation for me. I've got good momentum going into February, and I'm excited to tackle the two things I missed + introduce a few new mini goals into the mix. Introducing change a little at a time works for me. 


On My Calendar:
– My 32nd birthday
– Celebrating our baby's first birthday
– Valentine's Day with my boys
– Nick's birthday
– A few doctor's appointments

Currently Obsessing Over:
– The 1 Second Everyday app is such a delightful way to record our days. I can't wait to do this entire year!
– I'm currently re-reading the ACOTAR series on audio before the next book, A Court of Silver Flames, comes out on February 16 and remembering just how much I love this world and these characters. *sigh*
– I will now be ordering all my masks from Ann Taylor LOFT because they're the most comfortable ones I've worn. 
– My husband and bestie gifted me this Pride and Prejudice and this Anne of Green Gables for my collection. 

Yearly Goals:
(These should stay the same all year, so I'll just do month-to-month progress reports!)
– Read a devotional every morning.
– Do Soulspace meditation every night.
– Blog 2x per week.
– Complete the Contentment Challenge (Q1). 
– Maintain monthly photo organization + daily delete.
– Use the 1 Second Everyday app.

January progress:
– I'm reading Jesus Calling for 2021 and only missed four days in January.
– I did Soulspace for 60% of January. But it is a brand-new habit, so inconsistency is to be expected!
– Yes, I blogged at least 2 times every week.
– I'm doing good with my no-spend challenge!
– Done! I love the daily delete, and Miss Freddy's class (see below) made monthly organization even easier.
– I recorded a video for every day in January, and we already love watching it back.

Revisiting My January Goals: 
– Watch church online every Sunday. / I only watched the online service one Sunday. I think I may try listening to the podcast version of the message every week? I'm not sure, but I'll figure it out.
– Only drink one Diet Coke per day. / This is part of my goal to make healthy choices. While I didn't have perfect progress in January, I'm so proud of myself for succeeding for 70% of January. My track record was stronger at the end of the month than the beginning, so I hope to continue to see improvements here in February. 
– Complete Eleven Months in the baby's journal + take monthly photo. / Done. I'm so happy there's only one monthly photo left to take + only yearly updates in his journal from this point forward!
– Complete Eleven Months in the big boy's journal. / I procrastinated on this goal, so I'll carry it into February. 
– Cull 2020 photos and videos from my phone. / I can access my entire photo/video library from the OneDrive app on my phone, so I culled everything prior to 2021 on my camera roll down to about 300 favorites.
– Make our 2021 family bucket list. / Done! I'll share this year's list in a blog post later this month.
– Prepare for the baby's first birthday in February! / Everything that was on my list got checked off.
– Watch Backup Bootcamp course. / I watched the entire course, making notes on what I needed to do. 
– Break down my meal planning goal into action steps. / I forgot about this goal, so it's on February's list.
– Blog about my 2021 personal and bookish goals. / I shared my personal goals and my bookish goals.

My February Goals:
– Walk 3x per week.
– Complete Eleven Months in the big boy's journal.
– Celebrate our family's February birthdays.
– Break down meal planning goal into action steps.
– Read a cookbook (Dinner: A Love Story). 
– Make a list of pantry staples and go-to meals.
– Complete Backup Bootcamp course.
– Watch Family Yearbook course. 
– Write a discussion post.
– Send happy mail to a friend.
– Start journaling weekly.

Do you have any goals for February?
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'I knew that I had her in my corner.'

Feb 8, 2021


Yesterday was my best friend's birthday and my baby's first birthday! What could be more perfect than celebrating two of my favorite people in the entire world on the same day? When I first told Kelly I was pregnant and due in February, she immediately said, "That baby is going to be born on my birthday!" I was due on the 12th – right in between my own birthday (the 1st) and Nick's (the 29th). I figured the baby would arrive on a day all his own, but she always he would arrive on the 7th. And she was right. (She always is. Except when I am.)

My friendship with Kelly has been one of the very best things to come out of blogging. I will always be glad that talking about books on the Internet led me to her. I have been lucky in my life to have wonderful friendships. Some have lasted for only a season and a few ended dramatically, but I have learned something from each and every one. While I didn't love everything about Big Friendship by Ann Friedman and Amintou Sow, this quote stood out to me:
If you prioritize only your romantic relationships, who is going to hold your hand through a breakup? Relying on your spouse to be your everything will definitely undo your marriage. No one human can meet your every single emotional need. If you only prioritize your kids, what happens when they’re grown and living far away, wrapped up in their own lives? Or if you only prioritize work? Wow, that’s too sad to even contemplate.
In honor of my bestie's birthday, I decided to share my favorite female friendships in books and what they taught me about friendship. And since her birthday is the 7th, I've naturally got seven besties to highlight:

1. Lily and Trix in Pretty Face and Making Up
“Whenever I need help, you're there. It was one really shitty page in what I hope is a very long book for both of us.”

The Lesson: Celebrate the friend who can forgive you and "stretch" with you as life brings changes that shift the foundation of your friendship. Whether it's a bad boyfriend, a new job, or a big move, the best friend sticks around for all of it. Find someone who, like Lily, says, “We're forever, you and me.” And means it.

2. Kristin and Sloan in The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist
“My job is to help you with your crazy. Make you the best, most magnificent crazy you can be.”

The Lesson: Never let go of the friend who knows exactly what to say to make you flustered, joins in your crazy scheme, gives you a pep talk, and isn't afraid of a hard conversation or a little tough love. The friend who's been licking the inside of a chip bag with you since sixth grade and is willing to put on a disguise to spy on your ex.

3. Laurie and Emily in If I Never Met You
“Laurie had thought Dan was the source of unconditional love in her life, but actually it was Emily: she wasn't going to turn round and say sorry, she'd found a new Laurie.”

The Lesson: A good friend will tell you it's a bad idea to fake a relationship with a co-worker, but a best friend will approve of the plan once she vets his attractiveness. And if your friend confesses that she's afraid a man won't love her if gets to know the real her, it's a great time to remind her: “But I got to know you, and only loved you more.”

4. Anne and Diana in Anne of Green Gables
“A bosom friend — an intimate friend, you know — a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life. I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too. Do you think it’s possible?”

The Lesson: The best friends balance each other out. Sometimes a daydreamer needs the grounding of someone more practical – and someone more steady needs some spice brought into their life. Also, if you (accidentally) get your underage friend drunk, you'll need to save her baby sister's life to get back in her mom's good graces.

5. January and Shadi in Beach Read
“[Falling's] the part when you can't believe the person standing in front of you both exists and happened to wander into your path. It's supposed to make you feel lucky to be alive, exactly when and where you are.”
“You're wrong that you never saw that with me. [...] That's how I felt when I found you.”

The Lesson: If your friend texts you "I need you," get there immediately. And when you get there, read the room. Does she need a shoulder to cry on? Distracting small talk? Shit-talking the person who hurt her? Show up when it matters. Also, make sure you tell your friend how much she means to you. Don't take her for granted!

“Zuzana was the best friend she'd ever had, and she didn't want to lose her.”

The Lesson: You have to be willing to open up and tell your story if you want to take a friendship from "we have fun together" to "I'd follow you into another world." Even if sharing involves confessing, in all its unbelievable detail, that an angel tried to kill you in Morocco. And when someone opens up to you? Be ready to listen. 

7. Bryce and Danika in House of Earth and Blood
“But she was the one person I could be myself around and never feel judged. The one person that I knew would always pick up the phone, or call me back. She was the one person who made me feel brave because no matter what happened, no matter how bad or embarrassing or shitty it was, I knew that I had her in my corner.”

The Lesson: Best friends will leave a mark on your life, even after they're gone. Loving someone means you might get hurt – there's no guarantee they'll always be there. The bond between friends is a choice, a heart connection, but the reward of a best friend is always worth the risk whether they're in your life forever or for a season.

And, just for kicks, here are seven things Kelly has taught me during our friendship:
1. There's probably a movie or TV quote for every moment in life.
2. Sometimes you need to be assertive and say what's on your mind. 
3. The library exists; not every book needs to be purchased.
4. You can do hard things... like trek up a muddy hill on a cold, windy day.
5. England is so much better with your best friend.
6. Be thoughtful – get on the plane, send the care package. People remember.
7. A best friend will let you ramble and go with you on every Journey.

I'm so thankful for her and for all the books out there that remind me of how to be a friend and what a joy it is to have one. There's no one I'd rather drive in Atlanta traffic to get, and I can't wait for our 2021 reunion! 

What's your favorite fictional female friendship?
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January 2021: Recap + On My Shelves

Feb 5, 2021


The first month of 2021 didn't feel all that different than our recent new normal, though I did experience a renewed burst of blogging energy and bought a lot of exciting new books. I can't wait to see wait to see what February holds.


1. Book Dates with My Sister – My sister, @talesandtigerlily, and I went on several bookstore dates in January. We hit the jackpot on one trip and found stuff on the shelves that hadn't released yet. We came home with a pretty big haul that night! But my favorite part is spending time with my sister and bonding over nerdy stuff.

2. Quiet Days at Home – Most of my photos from January are from our normal, daily life. There wasn't a lot of excitement, but still plenty of sweet memories. We went on a few walks in the neighborhood, read some books, ate some snacks, made some messes, and soaked up big brother making his baby brother belly laugh.

3. A Week at My Parents – Nick had to travel for work in January, the first time he's had to go somewhere in several months. And while I'm quite capable of being home alone with the boys, I couldn't pass up my mom's invitation to stay with her and my dad. Best week ever! I was so thankful for help and loved being there.

4. Visiting The Story Shop – My mom and I drove the boys to our favorite children's bookstore, The Story Shop. It's just far enough away to make regular visits difficult, but close enough for a spontaneous adventure. We had the best time and came home with so many excellent books, including Thesauraus Has a Secret by Anya Glazer.


Read 20 Books | Favorites:
The Searcher by Tana French
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

“Life is change – if nothing's changing, you aren't living.” 
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

“People ask how you’re doing, but they don’t really want to know if you’re struggling or not; 
they want the answer that enables them to go about their day without feeling guilty.”
The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

“It’s hard to persuade anyone, especially a man, 
that your regard is worth having if you have none for yourself.”
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

“We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, 
revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” 
Wintering by Katherine May

“A great deal of life will always suck. There will be moments when we’re riding high 
and moments when we can’t bear to get out of bed. Both are normal. 
Both in fact require a little perspective.” 
Wintering by Katherine May

“But they both knew that words were weapons too, 
and when fashioned into a story their power was almost limitless.” 
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

“I think in life you can know you're loved without peering too closely at the edges of it.
It's almost scary, seeing that there aren't any – it doesn't have a beginning or end.
It just kind of is.”
You Have a Match by Emma Lord

“Those who cannot win hearts with love often control people with fear.” 
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

“We are all of us more complicated than the roles we are assigned in the stories other people tell.” 
Educated by Tara Westover

“Truth hides in fissures and hollows, in broken places and empty parts. 
It can be buried, crushed, or burnt, but the truth will alway rise.”
Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton

“You're so wrapped up in your preconceived notions about my motives 
you've never stopped to consider that maybe I'm different. 
You can't know what I think because you don't know me.”
Shipped by Angie Hockman


January was a great month for the blog! The content may have felt repetitive, since a lot of it focuses on my goals + recapping 2020. But they were all posts I wanted to share, so I'm glad I felt inspired to write. I kicked off the month with my December 2020 recap and most anticipated 2021 releases. Then, I shared my 2021 goals, got specific about my January 2021 goals, and shared my ten 2021 bookish goals. I spent a little time looking back after that with my 2020 bookish goal recap and my sister's favorite books of 2020. I reviewed my December 2020 reads and my sister's top three from the month. And finally, I wrapped up all my 2020 reflections by highlighting my top ten new-to-me authors in 2020 and completing the 2020 End of Year Survey. Whew! I had a lot to say.


Favorite Albums: Sing: Remembering Songs by Ellie Holcomb
This album of children's worship music was on repeat in our household in January.
I love these lyrics! And one song in particular inspired my word of the year.


Bridgerton, Season 1, starring Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page – Watching this show was a little bit like my experience watching Emily in Paris. I was absolutely addicted... but I'm not sure how much I actually liked it. I loved the drama of it, but I'm not a fan of the casting or styling. Honestly, most of the characters got on my nerves, and I hated all the sexual content. But will I watch the second season? Ugh, yes. You know I will.


Book of the Month: The Survivors by Jane Harper and The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

Barnes & Noble: The Next Right Thing Guided Journal by Emily P. Freeman, The House of Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell, and The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

Gifted: The Anne of Green Gables Devotional by Rachel Dodge (from Kelly), Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Pride and Prejudice (Lit for Little Hands) by Brooke Jorden, The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon, Shipped by Angie Hockman, Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager, Good Apple by Elizabeth Passarella, The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman, The War Widow by Tara Moss, The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (all from my parents), Storm from the East by Joanna Hathaway and The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg (from my sister)

Audible: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas and None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney (not pictured)
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32 Facts About Me

Feb 3, 2021


On Monday, I celebrated my 32nd birthday. When I turned 30, I shared one of my favorite blog posts – 30 things I'd learned by 30. While today's post isn't nearly as exciting, I did think it would be fun to share 32 facts about myself in honor of my birthday. So, here are a few things you may or may not know about me:

1. I'm the oldest of four children.
2. Horseback riding is the only sport I love.
3. Being tall is the best. I'm just shy of 6 ft.
4. When I tell stories, I always give too many details.
5. Jeans are my favorite item of clothing, even in the summer.
6. A skill I want to learn: how to use my DSLR camera.
7. Being a stay-at-home mom to my two boys is a dream come true.
8. Five years ago, I found out I had thyroid cancer.
9. Georgia has always been my home.
10. I failed my first driver's license test because I couldn't reverse into a space.
11. Every morning, I make my bed.
12. Go Dawgs! I graduated from The University of Georgia.
13. My best friend and I met through blogging. 
14. Instrumental movie soundtracks give me life, especially Pride and Prejudice (2005).
15. I have a fake tooth. After the baby tooth fell out, there was no adult one to replace it.
16. One summer in college, I studied abroad at Oxford.
17. This July, I'll celebrate 10 years of marriage.
18. I have a freckle in the corner of my eye that people often mistake for dirt.
19. All of my favorite movies are costume dramas. 
20. The best gift I've ever received: the bookshelves my husband built for me.
21. I used to say I'd never have a dog or an iPhone... Hahaha!
22. Felicity is my favorite American Girl.
23. I was in a sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, in college.
24. My husband and I met on a trip to South Africa.
25. A scene in the movie A Little Princess always makes me cry.
26. I love buying cookbooks but don't love to cook.
27. Even though my kids wake up early, I'm still a night owl.
28. Eddie Redmayne and James McAvoy are my celebrity crushes.
29. I am definitely an overthinker. 
30. The sound of nails scratching tights/pantyhose makes me want to gag.
31. Birds make me irrationally nervous. 
32. My love for Jesus and my faith informs everything I do.

When I was making my list, many of the facts I initially typed were related to books. Since I talk about books in this space all the time, I decided to stick to things you're less likely to know about me. However, I will probably share another list in a week or two with some nerdy facts about my reading life. 
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2020 End of Year Book Survey

Jan 28, 2021


I've almost reached the end of my reflections on 2020. I wasn't lying when I told you this was my favorite time of year! I love looking back at what I've learned, the progress I've made, the obsessions I've discovered, and more. I've already shared my top 20 books of 2020, but I love filling out this end of the year survey (from Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner) as a more in-depth look at the best and worst of my bookish and blogging life last year.

1. Number of Books You Read: 170 books
2. Number of Re-Reads: 20 re-reads
3. Genre You Read the Most From: Contemporary, per usual

1. Best book you read in 2020?
As always, I can't choose just one! Here's one for each of the top five genres I read this year:


CONTEMPORARY | If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

FANTASY | The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

HISTORICAL | Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

MYSTERY | Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith

NON-FICTION | I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott

All of my favorites will be mentioned throughout this post, but here's my top twenty books of the year.

A Note: I challenged myself not to repeat any books in the answers below so that I could highlight a greater variety of books. It was difficult, but it helped me avoid highlighting the same books over and over again.


2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn't?
I was really looking forward to The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss based on the adorable cover, the setting, and my bestie's love for it... and then I hated it. I wasn't a fan of the writing, but the romance was the worst.

3. Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book of 2020?

 IN A GOOD WAY | I'd heard great things about Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, but it didn't sound like something I'd typically pick up. Well, I ended up loving it and pushing it on my mom and sister, too.

 IN A BAD WAY | After adoring The Flatshare, I really expected to love The Switch by Beth O'Leary. I even pre-ordered a UK copy for their adorable cover! And while it wasn't terrible, I was definitely disappointed overall.

4. Book you "pushed" the most people to read in 2020?
There are a handful of books that I pushed on people in real life this year, and one that immediately came to mind is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. My sister, cousin, and bestie all read it based on my recommendation.


5. Best series you started in 2020? Best sequel of 2020? Best series ender of 2020? Best series overall in 2020?

 STARTED | Although I had mixed feelings for House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas at times, I can't deny that it made me so hyped for a new series from this beloved author. The last 25%, in particular, totally delivered!

 SEQUEL | No one is more shocked than I am that it's How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny. I thought I'd written this series off after reading the first four books, and yet I binged a ton more in 2020 and 5-starred this one.

 ENDER | Igniting Darkness by Robin LaFevers was an amazing conclusion to this duology that I didn't even know I needed. I loved seeing where all these characters ended up and have my fingers crossed for another spin-off!

OVERALL | I didn't love every book equally, but I've got to hand it to The Travis Series by Lisa Kleypas. Kelly has been begging me to read it for years, and I refused until our March Madness bet. Welp, she was right. I said it.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?
This was a tough call, and you can check out my ten favorite new-to-me authors of 2020 to see who was in the running. I've got to hand it to Emily Henry. Beach Read was fantastic and has me excited for more from her!


7. Best book from a genre you don't typically read?
I had more options for this question than in most years, thanks to the variety of what I read this year. The standout was I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott, which was an essay collection that I adored.

8. Most action-packed, thrilling, unputdownable book in 2020?
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, for sure. I checked this out from the library based on the hype and never expected to love it as much as I did. I'm so happy it's a series and that book two is out soon.

9. Book you read in 2020 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
There are 4-5 books that I've already got in mind for a re-read, but one of them is definitely You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. I already bought the audio for a future re-read, too! This one was just so much fun.

10. Most memorable character in 2020?
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel was a fictional story inspired by her own mother's story, and wow. That's honestly all I've got to say about this book. I think it's my favorite read of 2020, and Betty was an unforgettable heroine. 


11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2020?
Here are four of my favorites: A Place at the Table by Sadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan, Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, Jane Was Here by N. Jacobsen, D. MacLennan, and L. Nilson, and Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl.


12. Most beautifully written book read in 2020?
There were a few contenders that fit better in other categories, so I'll go with The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. I loved how Schwab's writing had a fairy tale quality to it. It was so easy to lose myself in this story!

13. Most thought-provoking book in 2020?
That would be The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi. I learn so much from her weekly podcast, and her book was no different! I love that the principles are applicable to so many situations and plan to re-read this one.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2020 to finally read?
The last two books in the Dublin Murder Series – The Secret Place and The Trespasser – by Tana French. I thought I was done with the series after book 4, but I'm so glad I picked it back up. French won me over in no time!

15. Book that shocked you the most?
I continue to be obsessed with the world of Cormoran Strike and think each mystery is better than the one before it. Troubled Blood – a whopping 944 pages – was full of shocking twists and turns from beginning to end.

16. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2020?
Two favorites from books that I haven't mentioned anywhere else in this post:

“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” – Devotions by Mary Oliver

“The truth of course is that if people really were as happy as they look on the Internet, they wouldn’t spend so much damn time on the Internet, because no one who’s having a really good day spends half of it taking pictures of themselves. Anyone can nurture a myth about their life if they have enough manure, so if the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, that’s probably because it’s full of shit.” – Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

17. Shortest & longest book you read in 2020?

SHORTEST | And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman

LONGEST | The Holy Bible


18. OTP of the year?
Definitely the couple in Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis! I randomly got this book for review, and it ended up being one of my absolute favorite reads of the year. So much swoon – with depth, too. I was rooting so hard for this hero!

19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year?

 CO-WORKERS | I loved how Friends & Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan explored the sticky friendship between a mother and her child's nanny. This was a slower, character-driven read that totally worked for me.

 FRIENDSHIP | The ladies in The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes were wonderful. I loved their adventurous spirits and how they helped each other, despite their differences. Friendship + horses + books = my kind of book.

 FAMILY | While it was all very messy and dramatic, I am totally here for the family dynamics in The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. I didn't always like their choices, but I still couldn't put it down.


20. Favorite book you read in 2020 from an author you've read previously?

 ADULT | Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan was a delightful retelling of A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, one of my favorite classics. I loved this world of wealth and drama and thought it was a clever contemporization.

NON-FICTION | Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel was really helpful for me and will likely be a book I re-read in the future. I am definitely guilty of overthinking and indecisiveness, so it felt like this was directed at me.

21. Best book you read in 2020 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?
I would never in a million years have picked up The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix if my sister hadn't recommended it to me. Horror? Heck no! But y'all, this ended up being a really fun read. 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2020?
He definitely has flaws, but Jason Larsen from The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez did steal a little piece of my heart this year. There's just something about his charming personality and musical ability got to me!


23. Best 2020 debut you read?
Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin was a satirical take on motherhood, wealth & privilege, and having it all. I loved the elements that felt relatable – and laughed at the drama. This was such a satisfying read. 

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2020?
The desolate, small Texas town in Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore felt like it was a character all on its own right. I could picture it in my mind and loved how Wetmore explored how the heroines were shaped by this place.

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2020?
That would be If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane. It was the first book I read after my baby was born, one of my most-anticipated 2020 releases, and gave me ALL THE FEELS. I have great memories of reading it!

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2020?
Chanel Miller's memoir, Know My Name, detailed the sexual assault she suffered and the additional trauma of the trial/sentencing. It's infuriating and heartbreaking, especially because you know it's one story of many more.



27. Hidden gem of the year?
Lucy Parker's Headliners was such a great addition to her London Celebrities series. I still think she's an underrated author! She's so great at contemporary romance – just the right amount of drama and so much swoon.

28. Book that crushed your soul?
I debated this one for a while, but I think Long Bright River by Liz Moore is the most vivid in my mind. The way it depicted the opioid crisis, addiction, and poverty was absolutely heartbreaking. It's a heavy read.

29. Most unique book you read in 2020?
The most unique story was Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, in which two kids set themselves on fire when angry. The most unique format was Annie's Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney, written entirely in list. 

30. Book that made you the maddest?
My least favorite book was The Marriage Game by Sara Desai, but What You Wish For by Katherine Center made me the biggest. The heroine made me want to scream, and the writing was so internal. Show me, stop telling!
1. New favorite book blog/bookstagram you discovered in 2020?
I'm cheating because this isn't a book blog, but I'm obsessed with Em for Marvelous. I originally started following for her goals posts but have quickly become a fan of everything she shares on her blog.

2. Favorite post that you wrote in 2020?
I mainly wrote mini reviews for my Quick Lit posts, but my favorite discussion post I wrote was about what I've learned from our newest love. A close second was my post about my favorite bookish memories!


3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?
Maybe this photo of The Heir Affair? It's what first came to mind. I've stopped posting to bookstagram, so I didn't take very many creative bookish photos this year. I did love this photo with my newborn in it though.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Did I participate in any bookish events this year? I honestly don't think so. 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2020?
My sister discovering a love of reading! I've always been the only avid reader in my immediate family, but sister became a total nerd in 2020. She's even featured on my blog now! I love our monthly dates to Barnes & Noble. 

6. Most challenging thing about your blogging or reading life this year?
Some of the challenges to my blogging and reading life stemmed from having a new baby and making time for both hobbies. As I approach 10 years of blogging, I've struggled a bit over my vision (goals?) for this space.

7. Most popular post this year on your blog?
In terms of views, it was my post celebrating 10 Years of Top Ten Tuesday! I doubled the fun and made two lists: one revisiting my past answers to 10 topics and one sharing my 10 favorite past topics I'd answered. 

8. Post you wished got a little more love?
There isn't anything that jumps out at me, though maybe my posts about my planners? And I think I might enjoy writing my My Year in {2020} posts more than people like reading them. Oh well. Haha!

9. Best bookish discovery?
I love this nerdy tee from Bookshelf Tees, and Lauren Naylor Designs' bookmarks are gorgeous. And my AirPods have increased my audiobook consumption more than I ever anticipated, so they deserve a mention, too.

10. Did you complete any reading challenge or goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I did! I completed most of my reading challenges/goals that I set for myself, and you can read about them here. I've already set new bookish goals for 2021 and am so excited to see how I do!


1. One book you didn't get to in 2020 but will be your number one priority in 2021?
I can't believe I haven't read Admission by Julie Buxbaum. Even though it didn't come out until December, I've read most of her past books early for review or the day they released. This is a 2021 priority, for sure!

2. Non-debut book you are most anticipating for 2021?
How can I choose between Sarah J. Maas and Mhairi McFarlane? I will reluctantly give the the edge to A Court of Silver Flames because I can't wait to be back in this beloved world. Here are all my 2021 most-anticipated releases.

3. 2021 debut you are most anticipating?
Early reviews have me excited for Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. As far as non-fiction, I'm really looking forward to Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First. by Laura Tremaine. But I've got my eye on more books!

4. Series ending you are most anticipating in 2021?
I cannot for the life of me think of any series that are ending in 2021! I'm excited for a bunch of sequels but can't think of many endings. Maybe Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez if it's the last book in that companion series? 

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2021?
For reading, I'd love to catch up on all my NetGalley reviews. It's just 15 books, some 2021 releases included, so it's manageable. For blogging, I want to improve my email newsletter which means I've got research to do.

6. A 2021 release you've already read and recommend to everyone?
I didn't read any 2021 releases in 2020 and haven't loved any that I've read so far this year enough to rave and recommend them to everyone. But The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George is the strongest contender!

If you completed the survey, leave a link below.
I'd love to see what made your list for 2020!
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