While we're already a week into 2022, I don't think it's too late for me to declare my new year's resolutions. (Someone, please agree with me.) So, without further ado and fanfare, let's dive in. Reflecting On 2021 Truth be told, the majority of my resolutions for 2021 were ungracefully yeeted into the void. In simpler words, I crashed and burned. Without disclosing too many personal details, last year was a very bizarre time for me. In an effort to heal (in more ways than one), I became more withdrawn, disconnecting myself from things I enjoy doing and people I care about. And ... Read the Post...
Blogging Mindset: Shift Your Thinking For 2022
Bounce back with a better mindset for blogging! Can that be done? 🤔 Blogging really took a backseat for me in 2021. While I have no regrets about this decision, I am extremely eager to get back into creating content. And I am hoping to make the biggest blogging comeback in 2022! Yes, it sounds a little daunting. And yes, a part of me is worried that I might be setting myself up for disappointment. Especially because life can be irritatingly unpredictable at times (hello, miss corona 🤢). But for 2022, I want to choose optimism and a can-do attitude. Moreover, I believe that with the ... Read the Post...
Exclusive Cover Reveal: Daughter of the Wolves by K.S. Villoso
Hey, readers! Yes, I'm still alive and kicking while life is simultaneously kicking me back. And what better way is there to celebrate being alive than surrounding ourselves with pretty things? Wink, wink. 👀 With that, I'm extremely thrilled to share today's exclusive cover reveal! In case you haven't heard, K.S. Villoso is in the process of re-releasing her books with gorgeous new covers to boot! This includes Daughter of the Wolves, which is part of the Blackwood Marauders series but can be read as a stand-alone. When the author first reached out to me about revealing the new cover, I ... Read the Post...
Spring Cleaning Challenge 2.0: Decluttering with a Vengeance
In my five years (and counting) as a blogger and active participant in the book blogging community, I've hosted many an event. From community read-along activities to secret gift exchanges for Filipino readers. But if I'm being honest, none of them gave me as much serotonin as last year's first-ever Spring Cleaning in September project. I don't know what to tell you. There's just something wonderfully empowering and inexplicably magical about a whole community collectively trying to get their shit together. Don't you think so? Also, ever since I sold my soul to the corporate world, I've ... Read the Post...
25th Birthday Giveaway and (Slight) Blog Comeback
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 ... Read the Post...
Exclusive Excerpt & Interview: American Betiya by Anuradha Rajurkar
American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar book cover by Saqiba Suleman (artist) & Angela Carlino (designer) published 09 March 2021 young adult, contemporary tagged for authors of color (asian, diaspora) & poc representation (indian american, diaspora) read synopsis: Rani Kelkar has never lied to her parents, until she meets Oliver. The same qualities that draw her in--his tattoos, his charisma, his passion for art--make him her mother's worst nightmare. They begin dating in secret, but when Oliver's troubled home life unravels, he starts to ask more of Rani than she knows how to give, ... Read the Post...
Books on the Rice: March 2021 releases from Asian authors
Happy March, friends! In time for the new month, let's take a look at all the March book releases written by Asian authors. With more and more Asian authors being given a chance to tell their stories to the world, I guess we can say that they're on the rice. 📈 This post is part of my newly introduced series unironically entitled 'Books on the Rice'. It's a recurring series dedicated to spotlighting Asian-authored books that are nearing their release date. Check out last month's post for February 2021 releases. If I'm not mistaken, March has a whopping total of 17 exciting releases. I'm ... Read the Post...
Monthly Synopsis: A January of Delays & Delights
Maybe this is an unpopular sentiment, but I really enjoy writing wrap-up posts. In fact, they're my favorite! I'm a very sentimental person, and I find satisfaction in documenting aspects of my life. Even if very few people read them. With that said, I'm personally bummed that my last monthly synopsis was way back in September. (Is it in a coincidence that I temporarily stopped writing wrap-up posts after I secured a full-time job? Probably not.) So much has changed since then. But I'll save those stories for a different post (aka the world's most delayed wrap-up post). For now, let's take ... Read the Post...
