Best of 2018: JANUARY

There is a thing I am really bad at, and that is self promotion. I just don't do it. Partly it's because it can feel so awkward, but mostly it's because I'm lazy and forgetful. And also, I like to pretend that everything I do is such magic that people are just going to find it out of ***sheer amazingness*** or something.

I've always just been grateful for apps and extensions that auto-tweet/share my blog posts and videos, because I could set them up once and let 'em have at it, hope for the best, and then promptly forget about it all. But at some point last year, I realized that I was not only doing myself a disservice, but that this feeling of sharing things you make with the world and being proud of them is something awkward and to be frowned-upon is something women are conditioned to feel and internalize in the name of being seen as cool and not pushy, and that also, probably nobody cares? — and I have no need for that voice in my head anymore. 

This year marks my tenth year blogging, and I am proud of what I've done here.

I am proud of reviews I've written and books I've discussed in videos.

And if I can't share my own work and be happy with it, how can I expect it to find an audience of people who do care, and want to relate and discuss; who don't give a damn about being coolly aloof  and would rather gush about books along with me?

Obviously, since I run a blog where I share my opinions with the world, it's not like this is new territory. But in 2019, I want to embrace the work I've done, and let the world know it. 

Which is my long-winded way of saying, today starts a small series of looking back at my 2018 in reviews, videos, and general booknerdom and sharing my favorites.  Maybe you missed some of these things the first time around, or meant to read or comment when it first popped up, but forgot. Or maybe this is your first time here, and you're thinking I'm really dramatic right now, but still, maybe you'll look around and find a book you're going to love.

That's cool, too.

January

Okay, I really am not  going to share basically every post for each month, and not each post is going to be dedicated to one month only — but January had some good stuff, you guys! I mean, obviously, we need to start off by taking a look at all of the many things I loved (and the many that I did not) in 2017, with my Best Of / Worst Of, Year-End Wrap-up. I also had the first of a number of "lunch chats," which I intend to continue doing this year, because it's really relaxing to sit down and chat books over lunch with you guys! For this first one, I gushed over one of my favorite books of the year, Tess of the Road! (spoiler for a later post in this series. ;P )

I had a very. . . in depth and emotional discussion of T. E. Carter's I Stop Somewhere, rape culture, and the #MeToo movement.

I also reviewed Marissa Meyer's Renegades and Jennifer A. Nielson's The Traitor's Game (lolol):

"Some people might not find enough of a redeeming quality in the characters or the plot. . .[I rated it highly, but] in hindsight, when you get out of the glow of the book, you're like, ummm, was this a plot hole, could this have been stronger?"

~ on Renegades

"Yes, hello, I've just kidnapped you and am threatening your life, are we in love yet? It's been nearly a full 2 days, after all. Oh, we are? Yay!"

~on Traitor's Game

I gave you some of my favorite tips, tricks and approaches to reading more (as well as hosting the 3rd 30 Day Book Binge! And hey, wouldn't you know, it's still going strong! We're currently in round 7!), and shared some of the series I've really liked... but never finished. (Oops.)

I'll be back in a day or two with a look at my fave posts from February and March, but until then, I'd love to hear something that YOU did last year that you're proud of or wish more people had seen. If it's linkable, feel free to drop a link!