Um. Hello there. It’s been a while, huh? Please watch your step and make sure that you try not to trip over the dust bunnies.
Awful joke aside, I’m turning 25 years old in a few hours (as of typing this post). In an ideal world, I would be returning to this chaotic little space with a bang. Maybe with an eloquent thinkpiece on the 25 most hard-hitting life lessons I’ve learned.
Instead, I’m making my (slight) comeback with a whimper that sounds suspiciously like a resigned sigh. The kind that’s learned that life is mostly about rolling with the punches, however difficult it may be at times. The kind that’s come to accept that moving forward isn’t always what or how you envisioned it to be — and it is truly, genuinely okay.
While I can’t shake off the perpetual exhaustion from my bones (thank you, adulthood), I’d like to think that I’m also coming back to this space with endless gratitude, cautious optimism, and quiet enthusiasm. With the way things are in my life now, I can’t make extravagant promises — novelty, variety of content, or even consistency.
But I can assure you, dear reader, that I have no intention of letting go of this space so easily. And I can promise that I will continue to share bits and pieces of my life — and the journey that I’m on — whenever I am able to. For now, that’s going to be enough for me. And if you choose to still stick around, thank you. ๐
I’ve thought long and hard about how I wanted to celebrate the start of my quarter-life crisis. And while I am already internally panicking as I type this, I’m also filled with immense gratitude. I may not be where I hoped to be (especially with this pandemic and all), but I am optimistic about the direction I’m heading towards. And that makes me luckier than most, I think.
On that note, I’d like to extend my gratitude forward. A small gift from me to you. I’ll be conducting giveaways on Twitter and Instagram! Both giveaways will run until the end of the month, so be sure to check out the mechanics down below. ๐
Giveaway #1
Unsurprisingly, given the nature of my platform, I am giving away one book to a lucky reader! The winner can select any book worth $20 of their choosing. This is open worldwide, as long as Book Depository or Fully Booked can ship to your address. ๐
Mechanics
๐ป Subscribe to my blog (Shut up, Shealea). You can do this via email subscription, WordPress, or Bloglovin’.
๐ป Leave a comment on this post. Make sure to mention your Twitter or Instagram handle so that I have a way to contact you, should you be randomly selected as the winner.
๐ป +1 Bonus entry: On your comment, leave a book recommendation or mention a book that’s been a comfort to you during this weird, tumultuous time.
๐ป +1 Bonus entry: Retweet my birthday tweet and follow me on Twitter.
Giveaway #2
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, then you probably noticed that I’ve developed a huge interest in scented candles. They’re so calming and wonderful! Plus, the PH candle community is so kind. And on that note, I’m also giving away a scented candle to one lucky resident in the Philippines! Giveaway details will be revealed on Instagram in a couple of days, so make sure to follow me there, too.
I am so unbelievably rusty in blogging, so I have no idea how to properly end this blog post. But if you’ve made it all the way to this part, I hope you’re doing well, staying safe, and taking care of yourself. ๐ป
Happy birthday! The Cute Mutants series has been a great comfort read for me. It’s gay af, easy and enjoyable, and is all about superheroes!
Which is why, I’m also going to recommend it. It tackles a lot of societal issues, mainly about sexuality, gender preference, and homophobia.
IG: grimreaderx
Belated Happy Birthday! Please don’t count your age after your 20th Birthday so you would not turn 40, you would turn 20 twice hahahaha ๐๐ I just purchased 3 hardbound books from your unhauled books, can’t believe I got it for such a steal price ๐
For the book recommendation:
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Instagram: nattypabl0
Happy belated birthday!! ๐ฅณ๏ธ Hope it was amazing!!
Book recommendation: I really loved These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong and Bromance Book Club series by Lyssa Kay Adams.
Subscribed to your blog, following you on Twitter and RT-d you birthday tweet.
Twitter: @_Sandra_R_
Belated Happy Birthday Shealea! Glad to see you back๐ป
Romance books have been a huge comfort for me during these times. Two of my absolute favourite ones are- Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle and Battle Royal by Lucy Parker. Both are Grumpy/Sunshine tropes- so much fun and so soft.
Already following you on twitter and InstagraM & now your blog.๐
On both platforms as – @abooktrotter
Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen has been the (comic book) series that has serves as comfort read during this time. I truly jumped back into comics for a while and they sure served as moral support. My twitter handle is @characterstudy_
Also, a very belated happy birthday ๐
Happy Birthday dear! A book that really just got me feeling all types of right was the third book in The Bone Ships trilogy, The Bone Ships Wake by RJ Barker. It just reminded me why I LOVE fantasy and felt like coming home to characters that I absolutely adore.
My preferred contact is instagram @wilcoxmandy (https://instagram.com/wilcoxmandy)
and my twitter is @mankaa23 (https://twitter.com/mankaa23)
Happy Birthday!! I recently read XOXO by Axie Oh and it brought me so much joy while I was reading it!! I literally squealed out loud at some scenes, so I’d definitely recommend it ๐ also I’m @emmesbooks on insta!
Happy birthday!!
It’s still such a chaotic time for all of us, but I’m so glad to find some peace and joy in this community. My comfort read these days is a webtoon called “Odd Girl Out”! S1 focuses on character development and the female friendships in the series – if you ever meet someone who doubts how a story of middle school aged girls with little to no romance could be so engaging and gut wholesome, show them this story. Then, they can read S2, where the romance /actually/ begins – with not one but two respectful, dynamic, and emotionally intelligent love interests!
My twt is @rkvl_vr
Happy (belated) birthday! i found great comfort in reading romance these last few months, especially Twice Shy, by Sarah Hogle, which i read a few months ago but still find myself going back to it and reading my favorite parts.
I hope you’re doing well. โค๏ธ
(My Twitter : @sunshinenjoonie
My Instagram : @sunshinenbooks_)
Happy birthday!!!!! My comfort reads are surely the PJO Series, the books are too fun to read and it really helped me get through the rough pandemic life :<
@bibliophil.ellie on IG
@elixosh on TWT
Happy birthday! I’d highly recommend Heaven Official’s Blessing by MXTX
Twitter: @Athirajayakuma5
Welcome back!!!
I’m @lainasparetime
I’ve been really enjoying like thrillers and spooky stuff. I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle and Mexican Gothic recently and loved You Were Never Here earlier this year.
Happy birthday! I recommend The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley for these hard times.
Happy birthday and I wish you a good comebacK
Depends on what you see as a comfort read, but Never Let Me Go had those softly spooky, yet home-in-the-country vibes.
My twitter is lokikilledtanyx
Happy 25th, that’s an exciting one! You were one of the first blogs I found when I dove into the world of book blogging โฅ
Julie Tieu’s The Donut Trap is a book I went back and reread when I needed something lighthearted this year ๐
~Veronica @littlecornerreads
Happy birthday ๐๐ and thanks for hosting a giveaway! I rarely comment, but I really enjoy your blog and I have been lurking around pretty often (although I just noticed that I wasn’t following the blog before! ๐ Fixed it!). I followed the blog & your twitter, also retweeted ๐ for the extra entry, a book that has brought me comfort during these odd times has been Inkheart by Cornelia Funke! I read it as a child and now rereading for the first time more than 16 years later ๐ my twitter handle is @BookaDreamer
OMG yaaay so excited that you’ll be coming back here slowly ๐
Can’t wait! I’ve been re-reading the percy jackson and heroes of olympus series and it’s so soothing and really lifts my day cause god knows it has been a stressful few days. You know my social media handles <3
Happy birthday, Shealea! โจ I wish you all the scented candles you want!!
Long-time subscriber!!
TWT: @pamshenanigans
IG: @pamzaragoza
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is my reco! It’s one of those books that’ll make you forget about this panini we’re in, albeit temporarily.
Happy birthday!! Also, (soft) welcome back! Hope your year ahead is amazing and filled with comfort ๐งก I totally relate with adulthood driving us to exhausting – I’m at the same spot right now, with work taking over my life – but oh well. Apparently that’s life (ew).
For a book that gave me comfort during this time, What Are The Odds? by R. M. Virtues. Steaminess aside, I love the best-friends-to-lovers romance and it gives me SO MUCH COMFORT. Two people finally realizing they’re meant to be with each other and fit together so well? Yes, please. (I’m @thewordyhabitat on twt/IG and follow you everywhere)
YAY! Happy 25th Shealea!!! And thank you so much for the amazing giveaway, my recommendation would be American Panda by Gloria Chao. I also followed and RTed your tweet.
Twitter: @WordsThatStay1
Happy Birthday ๐ hopefully I’ll win this ๐
My twitter is @MeIiMaSsa
My book recommendations (lately) are
An Ember In The Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Happy birthday!!
I am subscribed to your blog, twitter (@bottgenbach) and instagram (@bottgenbacha307).
The Book of Hope by Douglas Abrams and Jane Goodall was amazing!!
i already said it before, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! i hope you’ve had a wonderful day, and take all the time you need to find your way back to blogging again, we’ll all be here no matter when you come back ๐ a super lovely manga i’ve enjoyed is witch hat atelierโbeautiful art and cute little witch girls!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ๐
I will never get tired of recommending Wink, Poppy, Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke. I read almost all of their books and i really like them but Wink, Poppy, Midnight has a place in my heart ๐
Twitter : @softfxllsun
Happy birthday!! I missed your posts so welcome back! Helen Hoang’s books have given me so much joy and comfort since I read the first two last year. I’m waiting on my copy of the third book <3
I'm subscribed via email and my Twitter is @literaryeffect ๐
Happy birthday! My twitter handle is @loverofromances and my book recommendation is the Immortals After Dark series! My favourite being Lothaire, it’s genuinely my favourite book of all time
shealea! i rarely comment on your blog, but i love reading all your posts, and hopefully i will be more active in the comment section soon ahh. happy birthday!! it was so great to see this post. one of my recent favourites has been iron widow, and if you haven’t read it already *clenches fist* i highly, highly recommend it! i also loved XOXO recently, and it was FAR from perfect, but it provided me with so much comfort, and i hope you enjoy it if you pick it up! yeeeessss, both of those books are asian, which honestly just proves i have a special place for asian authors writing stories in my heart ๐ญ
i don’t have twitter or insta (that translates to strict asian parents lol :’)) butttttt, you can contact me on my email (ahaanabhargava@gmail.com). i hope you had a wonderful day, and a great celebration! โค๏ธ
Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day!!! I am also approaching my quarter life crisis LOL – we got this!!!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab, and I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee have been a great source of healing for me.
IG: @bookish_nmt
Sending good vibes xx
Happy birthday! Hope you enjoyed your day :))
I’d recommend Miss Meteor by Anna Marie McLemore and Tehlor Kay Mejia.
IG: @angelamarie.reads
Happiest of happiest birthdays!! I always love reading your posts so you do you and post whenever you can๐ honestly the book I havent been able to stop thinking about is Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder — I think you’d like it๐
I would like to say Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday, Shealea! I’m glad to see you take the time to write for yourself and to somehow ease the cares from adulting. BIG HUGS and strength for taking unexpected paths and knowing that all is not lost in this new world.
Two books that have comforted me immensely this year is The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf and Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim! I have a special place in my heart for soft girls who have stubbornly refused to be hardened by the world, and I will forever fight for Suraya and Shiori.
Twitter: @eleennaeisloved
Happy birthday, Shealea!!!
happy birthday shealea! i recently read Darius The Great Is Not Okay and i loved it! i’m @prutha_reads on insta and twitter <3
Happy Birthday! I hope you have an awesome day and year ahead! I really admire your blog and I love reading all your posts. One book that became a comfort read is a YA contemporary, Like A Love Song by Gabriela Martins. This book just put a smile on my face and I hope it does the same for you!
(@cloudedgalaxies on twitter)
Happy birthday. Book recs is the edge of temptation by j. Saman. itsonmytbr at twitter
Happy birthday!! ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ๐ฅณ
Happy birthday! ๐
IG and Twitter: @whiteskyproject
Twitter: roundthememory3
Instagram: roundthememorytree
I am excited for what unfolds for you!
I haven’t read a book this entire pandemic. I’ve been feeling sluggish in the reading department these last few years. So I can only share that what keeps me hopeful was the chance to reread my favorite book which I can only find in our local library here in the province.
Btw, following this blog via email. ๐
Also, my personal reco: any book by Intisar Khanani! The Sunbolt chronicles is my favorite, but thereโs also Thorn and Theft of Sunlight. So good. ๐
Happy, happy birthday, Shealea! Have a great day!
Have you read The Others series by Anne Bishop or The Immortal Descendants by April White? They’re some of my favorites.
I am subscribed to your blog via email. I (ayanamifaerudo) also follow you in Instagram and Twitter.
Happy birthdayy Shealea! This post is so cute and scented candles are amazing! Hope you enjoy your day!
(I am subscribed via email and I follow your twitter and instagram! My handle is @sereneged_nelle)
Happy birthday! Glad your (sort of) back! <33
Happy, happy birthday, sis! โฅ๏ธ Getting to know you better has been one of the best parts of my year. I don’t wanna expose us both so my birthday wish for you can only be seen by a controlled crowd (I think you know where ๐). Can’t decide between two books that comforted me so wholly because I read them around the same time, so I’ll leave both: Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in A Crown, and John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed (nonfic). And we’re mutuals everywhere, but my Twitter’s @enaj_bot. Happy birthday again! Have a good one. โฅ๏ธ
Happy 25th birthday! Adulting can be rough, that’s for sure. So I turn to reading to help me forget about the world and my responsibilities. I have two books that brought me extra joy this summer–Better than The Movies by Lynn Painter and If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy. My twitter and instagram handles are the same @dhammelef. I’m an email subscriber–welcome back!
Happy birthday!! Today is my northern in laws birthday as well!! Thank you so much for the chance!! My Twitter handle is @mistymichelle30 and my instagram handle is @mistysbookspace
Happy Birthday!!
Late coming here, but Happy Birthday, Shealea!! You deserve all the best! I would highly recommend The Marvels by Brian Selznick. It was such a comforting (and queer!) read for me and I think you’ll like it!
Twitter: @sphynxreads
Twitter- @ChristinaOcean4 and book recommendation for you is Shadow Frost by Coco Ma!!
Currently Raybearer has become a comfort book for me now. Untill I find another I’ll keep reading it with lord of the rings!
Happy Birthday Shealea! Sending you virtual hugs ๐ Itโs truly amazing that you made it to a quarter of 100 years. I suggest you take in a breather and just take in what you already have in life that makes you happy, like books! One book that helped me cope during this global panini is A List of Cages by Robin Roe. Itโs a YA story of brotherly friendship, self discovery and learning to be brave. Itโs also a story of abuse, loss, and at times life-threatening. But with all that was the perfect book to make me feel all the emotions. I hope you find a book (or more books) that gives you a thrilling emotional roller coaster. Again, happy b-day and hope you have a relaxing day.
Colette (@cozy_coli on Twitter)
“+1 Bonus entry: On your comment, leave a book recommendation or mention a book thatโs been a comfort to you during this weird, tumultuous time.”
I enjoyed Jennifer Armentrout’s book “The Darkest Star.” It has a charming alien romance with excellent banter, and a very imaginative story!
“Leave a comment on this post. Make sure to mention your Twitter or Instagram handle so that I have a way to contact you, should you be randomly selected as the winner.”
I am a twitter follower, socialjsmith.
Happy Birthday and blog posting!
“Subscribe to my blog (Shut up, Shealea).” I am subscribed via email.
@lantsovism on twitter, book rec is AEITA <3
Happiest of birthdays, Shealea! I hope you have the most lovely year, ahh!! Surprisingly enough, my comfort read and favourite book of all time has become a contemporary. If you haven’t read it yet, I HIGHLY recommend Late to the party by Kelly Quindlen and you’re always welcome to scream about it in my DMs, lol! (I’m @birdienotabird on Twitter, btw!) You’ve been an inspiration for me for such a long time, so thank you for everything!