Been getting a relatively high amount of rain in SoCal - high as in, it‘s sprinkled more than 5 days so far this year. I‘m working remotely today and curling up with my #LMPBC #GroupM book.

Panic! at the Deathly Hallows

New bookish/music-ish ink for my birthday.

Happy Monday! Here is my first draft of options for #LMPBC #GroupM - can we come up with a cute group name? 🙃 I know these are pretty popular/mainstream, so I can totally search for other books if you‘ve read these or are not interested. They‘re tagged in the comments.

I started reading these books after the Netflix series was announced. (I love NPH.) Show‘s been out a while and I‘ve yet to even watch one episode. This particular book was my least favorite so far, maybe because I listened to the audiobook and didn‘t really like taking in the story that way. Made my teeth hurt. The creepy harpsichord music did not help. Let me go back to the quick, fun reading of the physical books.

1) Harry Potter
2) Working remotely, writing a paper for my Organizational Change & Leadership class, Pokemon Go Community Day, and seeing Panic! at the Disco 😍
3) The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
4) I‘m going to count terrible memory as a stupid human trick. I have the uncanny ability of forgetting major plot points in movies and books.
5) 🙋🏻‍♀️
#friyayintro

This is AMAZING. Just look at all these goodies. There is an antique mirror in this thang! I‘ve been wanting to read Keurium for a while, totally read my mind because I don‘t think it‘s on my TBR ✨ The Storyteller sounds lovely. Sending so much gratitude into the world for this #HappilyEverAfterSwap giving me a perfect example of what a swap is supposed to be/look/feel like 😍

I am so overwhelmed with joy, can‘t wait to open all of this. Every detail is so thoughtful ☺️ @monalyisha @Chrissyreadit #HappilyEverAfterSwap

This was funny as F**K. And so real and painful. I loved the audiobook and was screaming and laughing in my car listening to Tiffany Haddish tell her story. It will likely offend some folks and is definitely not for the faint of heart.

I met Miss Val after a UCLA Gymnastics meet a couple weeks ago. She was just as beautiful and gracious as I imagined. It‘s no wonder our team is so amazing. She signed my book and I will definitely be reading it soon as a way to honor her final season. #GoBruins

Is a book swap ever really #JustABookSwap? Thank you, thank you, thank you @cwarnier for this amazing package that I opened at the end of a tough week. So excited to dive in.

@TheBookKeepers

Can‘t wait to see what‘s inside 😍 These were the first #LitsySwaps I participated in so I‘m learning more about the little details that enhance the experience. #HappilyEverAfterSwap @Chrissyreadit @monalyisha #JustABookSwap @TheBookKeepers @cwarnier

I hated this book. Until I loved it. Almost got sick of the deadpan apathy and then I got to the Bad Days, absolutely cried my eyes out, and stayed up all night to finish the book. It was a lovely and amusing experience.

Mailed off these goodies 😍 Feeling like Lara Jean writing letters. #JustABookSwap @TheBookKeepers should arrive by 2/9. #HappilyEverAfterSwap @Chrissyreadit should arrive by 2/13. I hope my matches like them!

I wanted to love this book and I‘m sad I didn‘t. Many people who have the same tastes as me love this book. And I totally rock with the author. I think if I had read it at another point in my life, I would have absolutely rode for it. The writing is beautiful in its own way. The voices are distinct and trippy. It def gets points for Asian-American working class characters and complicated, deep love, and the painful ways we try to find belonging.

After watching TATBILB about 94 times on Netflix, I grabbed the first book and hoped the old adage about a book being better than its movie adaptation would hold true. It didn‘t. But I‘m glad I stuck with the series because John Ambrose McClaren is absolutely 😍 And spoiler alert 🚨Peter Kavinsky is lowkey trash.

(photo courtesy of http://www.literberry.com/)

Tagged my fave book of all time to give my match a little insight into my bookish brain. I‘m new to this book swapping stuff and SO excited for #JustABookSwap hosted by @TheBookKeepers

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiIZLER9hmh178Hz_5OV80X8OnEZkVINfu3a_f...

Loved how the series turned out. Major points for multiple HP and Hamilton references. A lot of the plot is driven by college admissions and college choice, which spoke directly to my higher ed heart. I was obsessed with the TATBILB movie, but slightly disappointed with the first book. Glad I stuck with it because the books got better and better. Teenage angst in a realistic and joyful way, portrayed in a manner I could never relate to until now.

Okay, but can I take a second to celebrate this real quick before we get too far into the new year? In 2018, my love for Harry Potter deepened even more with some re-reads and the Binge Mode podcast. I also figured out that OotP is my favorite HP book (as of now anyway). And now I‘m gonna spend an hour adding the books I read to my profile.

I think I‘m back on this thing! In 2018, I reached my goal of reading 35 books a mere three hours before midnight. Got started on my 2019 goal of 40 books today.

Continuing to pass car rides with HP audiobooks, thanks to the #Libby app. Seems fitting in honor of Harry's birthday tomorrow. Feeling a renewed obsession with this fandom. It's so easy to pick up at any time for a quick (yet emotional) escape from life.

Listening to this audiobook! Just discovered the magic of the Libby app + my library card. My husband has never read the books, but we take a lot of roadtrips so I capitalize on these opportunities to share the magic of the wizarding world with him. Currently on the way home from Las Vegas.

I'm officially off work! Ice water and a book are all I want in this moment. Working at a high school means I get a summer break, albeit an abridged version. Cheers to a month of reading and recharging.

No history, no self. Know history, know self. Finally diving into the work of #CarlosBulosan.

Airport reading and a bookmark from Windsor Castle. A friend who lives in London raved about this book on IG so I immediately added it to my list on Litsy and quickly found out this cover is exclusive to the U.K. Naturally, I got over to Blackwell's the day before leaving Scotland and picked up a copy.

Never thought I'd be enjoying views of Edinburgh while reading Harry Potter. Book lover's dream come true.

Finished The Potter Trail walking tour in Edinburgh, where we saw the places that inspired J.K. Rowling, as well as the cafes where she wrote the first 4 books. Had to grab my own copy of Harry Potter and the *Philosopher's Stone, printed by Bloomsbury - the publisher who originally picked up the series after 12 rejections from other publishers. (Also had to purchase Rob Roy for relevant reading during this England/Scotland trip.) #bookhaul

Next up on the list! Really enjoyed Mindy's first book and I'm pretty sure this one will not disappoint. I'll already hooked from the description inside the jacket alone.

It's been a while since I've gotten to sit down and read. I grabbed this book from the Black History Month section of my local library and the month was over before I got to finish! Better late than never.

Next up, in the land of e-books. Been seeing Waheed's work all over my feed - have a feeling I'm gonna like this one.

Curling up with a book and headphones, enjoying the last of my 4-day weekend. Really pleased with how many books I've gotten through in the first 2 months of the year. February is flying by!

Listened to Wes Moore speak at the School Counselor Leadership Network Conference in Riverside, CA today. His keynote was captivating, inspiring, and challenging. Excited to read his books.

Absolutely loving the character development in this story. While the plot is moving slow, I'm enjoying discovering what makes each person tick. I'll always be more attuned to paper books, but I'm not mad at reading on my iPad. I'm actually in bed early and can read before I have to sleep. The little things make all the difference.

Because life should be as simple as a bucket of fish caught a few miles offshore and a van full of produce bought at a roadside stand. It should be as sweet as a cube of melon the color of your heart.

Sitting in the dentist chair, but he is in high demand, running around serving all his patients. Luckily, I have some e-books on my phone. Diving into this one! Was excited to find out the author is a UCLA alum. #gobruins

Light reading before I hit the gym. Been purchasing a lot of e-books lately because the deals are too good to pass up.

Catching the last few minutes of daylight outside in Hollywood. Getting some reading in while I wait for the show to start.

Tried to resist audiobooks because I subscribe to a ton of podcasts, which I listen to in the car. Recently went on a 9-day roadtrip and didn't cancel my Audible subscription after the free trial ended. Excited to listen to this on my way to LA to see Rent at the Pantages. Perfect length for the roundtrip journey.

Been meaning to get a library card since I moved last May. Found out everything at the library bookstore was 50% off today, which was the perfect motivator to finally get over there. Got all this for $6.75! Excited to dabble in some essays - curious to see how much life has and hasn't changed for twentysomethings since this book was published in 2005.

Today has been rough for me. I am dealing with family issues and big life decisions. I don't have many people to turn to because my partner in crime is gone a lot and my core support system isn't always within reach. Things could be worse, but today is one is those days where work, life, and goals feel heavy. Ready to get lost in some pages.

I know I said I would finish this last week, but here we are. Home from work early so I am going to power through the rest tonight. Anxious to find out what happens to Oscar at the end and why his life is considered "brief." Lots on the calendar this weekend, but I just want to stay home and read and drink wine.

I know making New Year Resolutions sometimes sets us up for failure, but I love the idea of a fresh start - even if it's socially constructed. This year I'm trying to read daily and get outside at least once a week. Hoping to finish this book by tomorrow.

I was never one to perfectly recount details or write reviews expounding everything I read. I remember writing, stories, and books by how they make me feel. Been going through it with my family - as of now my dad has "disowned" me, even though I'm an adult with my own home who fully supports myself. Grateful to Rupi Kaur for these words.

I begin each work day with coffee and writing in this amazing meditation journal. I usually spend 7-8 minutes on one day's prompt. It's a great way to reflect, pause, and set the tone before diving in to whatever the day may bring.

Been slammed at work all day. Even though I LOVE my job and helping high school students, I need a brief reprieve to recharge (except I'm still reading/eating at my desk). Poetry is perfect. Working on my own healing while I'm at it.

Loving Oscar's obsession with all things nerd culture. Here's to the first of many books this year.