September Wrap Up & October TBR // I’m almost there!

September was expectedly hectic, with the deadlines looming on the horizon but it’s still a mentally exhausting month 😫 I didn’t get to read much and spent most of the month stressing out, so let’s just get into the post.

1. LABYRINTH LOST by Zoraida Cordova {eARC} // ✰✰
2. SAGA issue #1 by Brian K. Vaughan // ✰✰✰✰
3. CHARMING AS A VERB by Ben Philippe {eARC} // ✰✰✰.5
4. EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds {eARC} // ✰✰✰.5

I didn’t read much last month and all the books I read were okay…? I know it’s the anxiety talking for Early Departures (it was too dark and sad at the moment) but the rest seems pretty spot on.

I won’t be reading for the first half of the month since I will be having my thesis defense, but afterwards, these are the books that I’m going to read:

1. THE WICKED DEEP by Shea Earnshaw
2. THE DREADFUL TALE OF PROSPER REDDING by Alexandra Bracken
3. EMBASSY OF THE DEAD by Will Mabbitt {eARC}
4. THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett {eARC}

• Tracy @ Truffle’s Literary Wonders discussed on how to create a healthier relationship with reading
• Shealea @ Shut Up, Shealea guide us through 6 important questions to ask before writing a blog post
• Vicky @ Vicky Again recommended some books based on nerdy niches such as gaming, fandoms & other passions
• Amena @ Nerd in New York talked about why romance in YA can be harmful
• Katie @ Never Not Reading discussed on what makes us anticipate a new release
• Charis @ Charis Rae shared 5 lessons from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
• There are so many hallyu related contents this month! Tiffany @ Read By Tiffany shared her favorite throwback k-drama soundtracks, Shealea @ Shut Up Shealea recommends k-pop romance novels to make your heart flutters and Simone @ Simone and Her Books reviewed Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
• And of course you have my favorite k-drama OST post *wink wink*
• Mieke @ The Little Mouse that Reads shared how she uses Notion to track her life and reading. It’s so beautiful and detailed, it makes me want to explore and use Notion better!
• Erin @ The Book Archive is looking at the positive side of 2020 and it’s a much needed post

My thesis submission deadline was today and I’ve been feeling the stress this whole month. I just don’t want to rush anyone but it seems like it can’t be helped 😭

As a coping mechanism, I fell into k-pop hole this month. It all started with The Untamed, as usual, with me looking up Wang Yibo’s updates and saw Jackson Wang on SDC3 (which Yibo also starred). So I checked out GOT7 and fell for them because honestly, I always love “variety show” type of group who doesn’t care about their idol image (Super Junior, I’m looking right at you). Turns out, I’ve been loving them for years but never bother to check their new releases??? I love Girls Girls Girls and Hard Carry, and there was a time where I played Focus On Me everyday (seriously guys, this song is sooooo underrated). I ended up listening to their albums and watching their shows and interviews. The amount of laughs and betrayals I learned from this group really soothes my thesis-writing worries 😂✨

In case you’re curious: No, I don’t have a bias but I acknowledge that Jinyoung is such a bias-wrecker. Not By The Moon, Look, and Focus On Me are bops and they deserve more recognition!!!

I am also loving SuperM‘s Tiger Inside this month. I was initially unsure about SuperM after Jopping, but Tiger Inside has such a different feel to it and I am loving the choreography! Plus, it’s clear that the members already have a closer relationship and a much warmer dynamics, it’s really fun to watch their interviews now. There’s also I-land‘s I&credible, which was a surprise spotify discover since I don’t even watch the show. The winner of this month though, is definitely Stray Kids‘ God’s Menu. It’s just impossible to not want to dance while listening to it and it’s such an earworm! The choreography and the video also slaps, it’s been so long since I am this in love with a k-pop music video 🔥 As with GOT7, I actually know Stray Kids for a while now since I love both Hellevator and Miroh when they first released, but I never looked them up properly. This era earned them a new stay!

I love the dance practice video more since I can see the choreography more clearly, but the music video is also amazing! I know the most repeated parts of the video is Felix’s, but Hyunjin really took the crown for me. That half-up ponytail? Throwing the beanie?? The facial expression??? Legendary.

I’m already getting my defense schedule, which is at next Friday. I can’t believe it’s actually happening and it will all be over soon????? Please wish me luck and send me all the good vibes!!!!

• August 2020 Screen Rambles // Best Month So Far
• Charming As A Verb by Ben Philippe
• Top 5 Wednesday #53: Book Community Didn’t Make Me Read It
• American Midnight: Tales of the Dark by Laird Hunt
• Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
• Top 5 Wednesday #54: Reader “Canon”
• Book Blogger Memory Challenge
• Anticipated 2021 Releases (Yes I know it’s very early)
• Favorite K-Drama Soundtracks
• Halloween Recommendations Based on Your Reading Preference
• Books I’ll Probably Never Read Tag

How was your September?