Here is my monthly declaration of how I can't believe it's a new month because I just can't...
HOW IS IT OCTOBER ALREADY?! It's autumn! There are red leaves everywhere and the sky is grey and the Halloween decorations are out and, I'm not going to lie, I'm excited. I love October through to November - it's my second favourite time of the year (besides June-August because SUMMER). I'm so excited to fully embrace all the autumn festivities that October brings!
September honestly passed in such a blur. I've been very, very busy with school, but I'm in a nice routine which I'm grateful for. I start school at 8:30 and I generally finish at 14:30-15:00. Then I walk to the library, stop in at few shops along the way and write up my revision notes from that day's physics lesson in the library. I'm generally free from 5pm. I then try to fit in exercising, chores, socialising and reading into the mix. It's a nice routine but not perfect because I'm finding it quite hard to balance blogging, reading, school, socialising and all my other hobbies, so my blog has suffered quite a bit. August to December is generally super busy for me but from January things should slow down slightly as that's when I should have completed all my coursework!
My life definitely has gotten busier as my family and I are becoming quite deeply ingrained in this new church we have found! There's such a wonderful community feeling and everyone is so welcoming. We're starting to volunteer at the weekly meals held for international students this week, which I'm really looking forward to! I'm also going to try the youth group on Fridays and attend the student lunches every Sunday. I'm really looking forward to making friends but I'm quite nervous about it too, as I'm really shy among large groups of people and I don't know anybody there, so, wish me luck!
I also started my new ballet term last week and I love it so much! Two new girls have joined that are around my age, which is really nice! I'm also getting my ballet shoes this week, which I'm so excited for! I've been dancing barefoot and it's not the best experience because I can't turn easily and my toes hurt with the constant pointing against the wooden floor. I absolutely love the lessons, though, and I wish I could dance more than once a week. I'm hoping that once I've learned the steps more and become more familiar with ballet that the teacher will decide to put me in a proper graded class. Fingers crossed!
I have a lot to look forward to in October! I have several literary events lined up this week (EEK!!!), I have half-term break in three weeks time (which I'm really looking forward to) and I'm going to be getting super involved in the church this month, so I have a feeling October is going to be a good month!
Truly Madly Awkward by Beth Garrod - 💛💛💛💛.5 | 13 Journeys through Space and Time by Colin Stuart- 💛💛💛 | A Dangerous Year by Kes Trester - 💛💛💛💛
Whelp, that's a dismal amount of books. I was planning on reading 10 books and boy, did I fail miserably. BUT, all the books I read I really enjoyed - so that's a good thing! Truly Madly Awkward was super funny and I had so much fun reading it! I highly recommend it if you're looking for a lighthearted, fun read. 13 Journeys Through Space and Time was an enjoyable non-fiction read that was simple and informative! A Dangerous Year was a super fun teenage espionage novel! I had to speed read this because I realised I had to have my review up for the blog tour and I was only a quarter through the book on the day it had to be up. I never realised I could read so fast until that day. 😂
I don't really have a set plan of what to read this October because I don't think I'll have a lot of time to read, if I'm being honest. However, there were several ARCs I got sent so I'm definitely going to get to those this month! I'm also currently in the middle of four books (FOUR BOOKS, who even am I?!) so I'm planning on reading and finishing them in October. I also still have the Steelheart trilogy out from the library that I need to get to this month!
I'm currently reading Since You've Been Gone, The Call, Denton Little's Death Date and (rereading) Ink and Bone. I'm loving all of them, which is fantastic! I'm probably going to read A Shiver of Snow and Sky next as it's releasing soon, followed by The Treatment and Otherworld. I'm trying (emphasis on trying) to review my ARCs in a more timely fashion - so wish me luck!
I'm also super stoked to read It Only Happens in the Movies as I LOVE Holly's novels - they're absolutely incredible! Her new one sounds brilliant and I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it. I'm also hoping to read more of the Darkmouth series this month. I read the first book in August and I loved it - I have high hopes for the rest of the series!
I'm *hoping* to get to Warcross, The Murderer's Ape and I Capture the Castle, as well. They sound incredible and as they were sent to me within the past month, I want to read and review them as soon as possible.
I have a brilliant month of reading ahead of me and I'm SO excited to read all these wonderful books!
Have you read any of these and did you enjoy them? What books are you going to try to read this month? How was your September? What was the best book you read last month?