April 2022 Wrap Up – Month of Romance and Notion!
Hello readers! I hope you all had an amazing April. My month was good and I did two things most in April, read more romance books and used Notion extensively or should I say more than usual, hence the title Month of Romance and Notion. I hope you didn’t think I meant anything related to the romantic notion. So here is my month in reading and life…
Highlights of the Month
5 yrs blog anniversary It was great to spend these many years on this blog and share this milestone with you all.
Watched Bridgerton 2 – it was enjoyable show even with little lack of research from the creator.
I got the idea for rolling reviews for Twitter making twitter thread of my thoughts on book.
I read more google discover posts this month! It was interesting to find different content than one I regularly read through WP reader.
I’m finally using Notion regularly. After trying many note-taking apps. It finally worked for me. Now I use it to dump everything from ideas to notes while reading to keep track of month and books.
I tried audiobooks. Can you believe it? After listing many points why I wouldn’t read Audiobooks I finally gave it a serious try. My experience still supports some of these points (that’s the topic for another time, I guess I will write a post on it) but in general, it’s not that bad.
We had a family get-together to see my brother’s marriage album and we all had so much fun.
We planned to visit our in-laws in May end. I might be going on hiatus, I’ll announce when the dates are nearer.
Reading Stats
Books Read 8
Pages read 2703
Best Book – Obsidio
Books I read
Obsidio by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
Obsidio is a thrilling rollercoaster ride and fantastic wrap up of The Illuminae Files trilogy. This was of the best Sci-Fi series I ever read. I enjoyed reading this with Toni and we had fun discussing the characters and themes. Review will be up this month.
The mad girls of New York by Maya Rodale
The Mad Girls of New York is fantastic, motivating and inspiring first book in Nellie Bly series that revolves around how Nellie Bly started her investigative journalist career by going undercover as a patient at notorious insane asylum for women on Blackwell’s Island to get the inside story. Best part of the story is Blackwell’s asylum and theme and layers. Check out my full review HERE.
Set On You by Amy Lea
Set on You is fun and inspiring romcom that revolves around Crystal, a fitness instructor and Instagram influencer for curvy women who realizes self-love is a constant journey and having swolemate by her side makes that journey easier, happier, and more beautiful. The best part is theme and I loved author kept it center of the story. I loved Crystal’s Instagram posts. I loved what she said about body positivity in all her posts. Review will be up this week.
The No-Show by Beth O’Leary
The No-Show by Beth O’Leary is a realistic, relatable, and utterly emotive and surprising romance that revolves around three women who were stood up on Valentine’s Day by the same man they have feelings for. What I loved most apart from these female protagonists and Joseph’s mystery is their support system. Check out my full review HERE.
Seatmate (Love Lines, #3) by Cara Bastone
First audiobook and first time I read series out of order. Seatmate is fluffy and fun romance that revolves around Gwen and her handsome seatmate Sam, traveling from Boston to NY, getting to know each other, and becoming more than just friends during their 5 hrs journey. Best part of this is a full cast of narrators and they did an amazing job. Review will be up this month.
Call Me Maybe (Love Lines, #1) by Cara Bastone
Call Me Maybe is fun and lovely romance that revolves around Vera virtually meeting Kal through customer service call that lasts more than few minutes and soon that call turns into more than just friendship. Best part of the book is Vera’s Date-in-a-Box subscription idea, narration, and there are surprising turns. Review will be up this month.
Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper
Business Not as Usual is fluffy, fun, and heartwarming romcom that revolves around leading characters Dreamy Daniels and Karter Redford, with their different bakcgrounds andat different level of life tries to cross the bridge of their different socioeconomic backgrounds with their growing attraction and feelings that might turn out their biggest investment of life. Best part is many laugh-out-loud moments, unbelievable yet surprising turn near climax and the layer of of workaholic lifestyle and how it can affect badly, the importance of having relaxing time and work-life balance. Check out my full review HERE.
Zero day by Hussain S. Zaidi
Zero Day is an intriguing thriller that revolves around DDoS attacks in Maharastra and ATS team trying to catch the hacker behind attacks. Author kept the focus on the best part of the story, the plot and suspense. Another thing that liked most is the technical aspect and police sytem and their work. Cyber terminologies and its description in layman’s language is interesting to read. Check out my full review HERE.
Reviews I Post
- At Least You Have Your Health by Madi Sinha
- If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher
- Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper
- The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page
- Zero day by Hussain S. Zaidi
- The No-Show by Beth O’Leary
- The mad girls of New York by Maya Rodale
Discussion Posts
Blog Stats
Views – 3515
Visits – 2372
Comments – 295
Links I enjoyed
5 asian adult fantasies to add to your tbr @ it’s just a coffee addicted bibliophile
portrait of a thief arc review @ a fictional bookworm
What is Space Opera? The Best Diverse Space Opera Books & Literary Themes & The Myth of Universality in Literature @ Bookish Brews
30 Best Romance Novels for Adults @ the wordy habitat
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy @ bookertalk
Being a “Bad Art Friend” – An Unpleasant New Writing Trend or a Tale as Old as Time? @ The orangutan librarian
Is the Hype Around New Releases Merited? @ booksophobias
Quality vs Quantity in Blogging @ the wordy habitat
Plans for this month
Nothing much! I have two or three priority reads.
I might start a new series.
It’s summer vacation in my kid’s school so we registered her for summer camp.
We are going to visit my in-laws and I plan to buy books.
Thank you for reading! Let’s chat..,
How was your month?
Have you read any of these books or plan to?
What are your plans for May?
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Books Teacup and Reviews
Hi, I'm Yesha, an Indian book blogger. Avid and eclectic reader who loves to read with a cup of tea. Not born reader but I don't think I’m going to stop reading books in this life. “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
30 Comments
theorangutanlibrarian
Thank you for the mention!! <3
Books Teacup and Reviews
You’re welcome ❤️
Carla
You had a great month Yesha. First thanks for bringing Cara Bastone’s series to my attention. I can listen to them as part of my membership. I am very curious about Notion. I use excel spreadsheets, notes on One note, highlights and even pieces of paper, so it might be nice to have something to use all in one. I will be checking it out, thanks.
Books Teacup and Reviews
You’ll like Love line series. It’s cute, fluffy and no steam at al, completely clean romance. ANd they are quick audiobooks.
I still use spreadsheet for charts and calculations but I think you can do all that in Notion as well, I havn’t found templete for that in Notion yet. I keep table in Notion for TBR books though. I have switched writing notes and everything to Notion. i like keeing things in one place and it’s super easy.
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Siena
I love using Notion as well, I find it so helpful to organize virtually everything. Thank you so much for mentioning my post, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Books Teacup and Reviews
It will be hard to replace Notion. You’re welcome.
Bookstooge
So is notion an app for your phone or computer?
Books Teacup and Reviews
You can use it on both/any devices. It sync data.
Bookstooge
Thanks.
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Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes
I’ve been using Notion for a bit over a year now and find it fantastic. My whole blogging and reading system is on it and it really changes everything for me! 😀
Books Teacup and Reviews
Yes, I love it too. It’s flexible, sync with all devices, and it’s easy to find something that is very hard with physical notes.
Susy's Cozy World
I am glad you finally found an app that works for you! Sometimes it can really be hard!
And you read a lot of amazing books! Let’s hope that May would be at least as good as April! And if it is better… Well, no complaints!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Yes, I ahd many trials and errors with app but Notion finally works for me. Nothing can be better than quality books. Wish you amazing May.
Kaya @ afictionalbookworm
glad to see you had a great month yesha! notion is amazing! thank you for linking to my post💜
Books Teacup and Reviews
You’re welcome, Kaya! I agree, i like that I can have everything at one place and I can find it easily as physical notes has become mess lately.
WendyW
What a great month of reading. I’m intrigued by the notion app. I use evernote and like it.
Books Teacup and Reviews
I used Evernote in past but it has lately incorporated so many limits. It’s like I can never fully use it unless I pay for plans. I like Notion better than it. Even Miscrosoft One Note is better than Evernote.
Teri Polen
You had a great month, Yesha! A couple of these things I know nothing about, so I’m looking them up to see if they’ll benefit me. Thanks for the info!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Teri! I hope you find them interesting.
Lady Tessa
I love all the new things you tried last month. All of them are very cool ideas! Sounds like April was a great month.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Tessa! Yes, it was fun to find and try something new but it’s always hard to make them a regular thing. Just yesterday I finished a book and I didn’t make Twitter thread for it. 😅
Lady Tessa
I’ve been looking at Notion. It has so many interesting aspects. Nice find!
allaboutbooksnstuff
Sounds like you had a really good month overall! For me audiobooks really depend on the narration, I find it’s easier/more enjoyable to listen to a full cast narration vs. just one person.
Books Teacup and Reviews
I agree, if it’s just one person it’s confusing which character is speaking and that all ‘he said, she said’ makes it tiring.
Zoe (zbestbooks.blogspot.com)
I love notion and use it for everything! Especially as a student, notion is the only way I meet all my deadlines and get everything done! Happy May!!
Books Teacup and Reviews
I wish they can configure google calenders and all notifications in it.
Reading Tonic
Happy Monday! Sounds like you had a great April and did so much in the month. Once again, congratulations on the fifth anniversary- it is such an achievement in this transient world! I don’t know anything about Notion, but sounds like it’s a great tool for keeping all your notes and tasks organised- I don’t know how you do it, juggling a very busy family life and blogging.
Can’t wait to read about your audiobook experience.
Have a wonderful week!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Notion is very helpful to keep notes while reading, all quotes and everything in one place. Mine is not super aesthetic looking but it’s easy to neviagate.
Trust me it’s not as smooth in my life as it sounds on blog. My family think I spend too much time here and I love books more than anything. 🙄