Ello friends! I haven’t done a book haul on here in a while but I really want to bring them back maybe 2x a month perhaps? But a little real talk: I stopped doing them. In the community there had been a lot of ~drama~ around them and quite frankly, even though I always do what I want, I got sick of even thinking about them and whether or not I was “offending” someone because they might have found my exuberance for sharing the books I got was bragging. Like, here’s the thing. I like sharing what books I buy or get out at the library or get for review. I’m not bragging. I see this space as a place where I sit down and talk to friends and I don’t know about YOU and YOUR friends but when MY friends/sisters and I get excited about new purchases that we’ve made or things that make us HAPPY we share them.
I’ve been doing this for almost 5 years and I can honestly say I’ve never shared or posting something with the intention of bragging…it’s always been about genuine excitement. That’s actually like LOL-inducing to me. It’s a book….and it will be published eventually. Maybe it’s just how I view life but I don’t find it brag-worthy. Very exciting? YES. YES YES. Am I very grateful when I get cool things? YEP. But this community is the place to go when I can be like OMG OMG THIS BOOK I AM HYPERVENTILATING AHHHHHHHH. You know what happens in my apartment when I do that? MY HUSBAND JUST STARES AT ME. And it takes the fun out of trying to explain why I am so excited. Y’all just GET IT.
So that’s why I do book hauls. To share what’s upcoming (especially because I might not GET to it in a timely manner and I still want you to know it still exists), what I’m excited about, what books I bought or got from my library.
So now that my little (unintended) rant about THAT is out of the way. Let’s get to the fun stuff. Here’s my book haul for most of April though I cannot remember for the life of me what came/I bought in the beginning week or two of the month. Oh and video format because it’s part of my GOALS for this year.
Books I talked about:
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Trouble From the Start & The Boyfriend Project by Rachel Hawthorne
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
The Girl At Midnight by Melissa Grey
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr
More Than This by Patrick Ness
Have you read any of these? Excited about any of these? Have answers to the various questions I asked??
PS. If you want a more “real time” book haul I post the books I purchase/borrow/receive on my Instagram a lot.
Frannie Pan @ In Clouds of Pages says
SOoooooo jeaulous (again!) for the hardcover of An ember in the ashes! *-*
Jamie says
SOON IT WILL BE IN YOUR HANDS AND YOU CAN DROOL OVER THE MAP <3
Kimmy says
I love book hauls! I love seeing what people are getting, whether the books are ARCs, library books, gifts, purchased, etc.
If someone is sharing about books that they are excited about, it gets ME excited, especially if they’re talking about a book that hasn’t been on my radar yet. Book hauls from fellow bloggers are where I learn about the majority of the books that I end up reading.
So happy you’re going to do more of these! 🙂
Jamie says
YES SAME! The first time I ever heard people talking about book hauls negatively I was like waiiiit whaaaat?! I couldn’t fathom you could seem them that way. I can get if people are interested in them but to see them as negative?! MIND. BLOWN. That’s how I always found books to read in the beginning and I love being able to be like OMG I READ THAT ONE MOVE IT UP ON YOUR LIST or get excited about a book someone got. Having book pals to mutually freak out over books with is the best part. I mean, my sister and I would do fashion shows of our clothing purchases and ooh and ahh over them with each other. THAT IS WHAT BOOK HAULS ARE because I feel like my readers are my friends. They get it. WILL DOES NOT GET IT WHEN I AM HUGGING A PACKAGE I JUST GOT.
Jessica @ a GREAT read says
OOoh nice! Lots of good ones there! LOVED Girl at Midnight and starting to really want to read An Ember in the Ashes! Hope you enjoy all your new reads!
Here’s my STS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Jamie says
Oh yay! Glad to hear you loved Girl At Midnight!!
Dahlia Adler says
Ooh, great haul!! I’m dying for EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, and I’ve heard such good things! I looooved THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT (and I am so so so not a fantasy person), and HOW TO SAVE A LIFE is also such a favorite; I read it twice when writing JUST VISITING because she handles dual-POV with the same gender *so* well in it, and it’s such a hard thing to do!
Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros says
You are too adorable Jamie! LOL. I agree- props to the other bloggers who can find the time to vlogs!
I wasn’t crazy about Victoria’s The Archived, but I’ve heard great things about her adult books. I won A Darker Shade of Magic so I’m excited to get it and read it!
I have been excited for An Ember in the Ashes for so long now! I can’t wait to find the time to get to it! I didn’t know it was being built up to J.K. Rowling! Wow!
I’ve actually NEVER read a Sarah Dessen book because I’ve been a bit afraid her writing would be too young for me. I’ve heard mixed things though, so I may just have to give her a shot.
And finally, I love your ‘rant’. I wouldn’t even call it that. It’s just fact. I don’t see sharing books as bragging. I see it like you do- we’re sharing how excited we are with fellow book lovers! I don’t have anyone else in my actual life that cares much for books, so it’s awesome I can squeal to other bloggers! The jealousy behind all this is just ridiculous. Sure, I get jealous seeing books I don’t have, but I don’t let it dominate my life and dwell on it! I just remind myself that I have some great books to look forward to!
Missie says
I always love seeing book hauls and excitement for books! I think you should bring it back for sure! I can’t wait to read Saint Anything!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Cassie says
All the Bright Places is EVERYTHING! I adored how real and honest it was. I finished it on the way to work and cried the entire 45 minutes it took to get there. So.many. feelings.
Rayna says
I’m really excited to read Magonia and An Ember in the Ashes, for sure! And honestly, I love seeing what others get in book hauls and stuff because then it interests me on what I may want. Plus, I’m excited for the person who’s doing the haul. It’s always exciting to get new books!
(Also, totally understand about trying to explain to the husband… Blank stares and smiles and nods all around.)
Angie says
AHHH So many fun books.
OMG JAMIE READ VICTORIA SCHWAB READ READ READ
I DNFed both Red Queen and An Ember in the Ashes so clearly I am just the black sheep of 2015 YA fantasy. I feel so shamed.
FROI <3333333 MY FAVORITE
Pili @ In Love With Handmade says
Aweee Jamie! You are so sweet and I love your enthusiasm! I have never considered book hauls bragging, mostly just sharing the excitement!
I absolutely ADOOOOORE ADSOM and I do hope you’ll love it!!
Ashley at Belletristic Books says
I’m excited to read A Darker Shade of Magic and Magonia! And I am really super quite psyched for Saint Anything since I totally love and adore Sarah Dessen! I read and reviewed All the Bright Places and Red Queen over on my blog. I liked All the Bright Places but I didn’t connect and love it like the majority of people who’ve read it have. I also liked Red Queen and would probably read its sequel but I did have some issues with it. Feel free to check out my reviews of both books if you get the chance! 🙂