Monthly Wrapups

What I’ve been up to in January ❄️ New Year & Thesis Stress

Caro @ bookcheshirecat

January Wrapup 2022

Hello fellow bookworms ❄️ January was a busy and intense month for me, something I had already predicted at the end of 2023! It was mentally exhausting, so I’m sadly a bit behind on blog stuff such as blog hopping and answering comments 🙈 I really hope that I can catch up soon though, as I really missed regularly reading posts!

Important Resources

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whatiread

🔁 = Reread 💌 = Library Books ⌛ = Digital Arc

📚 = #ProjectBacklist 📖 = #DevourYourTBR 😊 = Buddy Read & Book Club

I read 16 books in January – off to a good start in 2023! I was thinking of being more laid-back with my reading, but listening to audiobooks brought up the number again. Out of the 16 books, 9 were audiobooks and they really helped me read when I was feeling tired from University work! I also finished all 6 books from my initial January TBR!! I’m trying to start the months with fewer books from my TBR and want to really focus on getting all of them read – this month I succeeded! I picked up lots more nonfiction and I’m trying to work more on continuing/finishing series as well. I also found the first TWO 5-star books of 2023 🥳 I absolutely adored Emily Wilde and Mysteries of Thorn Manor 🥰 Sadly I already found a couple of not so great reads as well, but all in all everything balances out!

OOCZUpdate

I read 14 books out of my comfort zone this month! Except for two books, everything I read in January was out of my comfort zone in one way or another 👀 I read 10 Adult books and also read 5 Nonfiction books! I’m way ahead in my plans already, as I wanted to read 1 Nonfiction per month, but the mood really struck me to explore this genre in January 🥰

January1

  • Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Heather Fawcett) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖
  • Because Internet (Gretchen McCulloch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 💌📖🎧
  • You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince (Timothy Janovsky) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 💌📖🎧
  • Everything Is OK (Debbie Tung) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 💌📖
  • Legends & Lattes (Travis Baldree) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

January2

  • I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki (Baek Sehee) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧
  • The Broken Girls (Simone St. James) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧
  • A Court of Frost and Starlight (Sarah J. Maas) ⭐⭐⭐.5💌📖🎧
  • Kill Joy (Holly Jackson) ⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧
  • The Secrets of Winterhouse (Ben Guterson) ⭐⭐⭐💌📖

January3

  • Admissions (Kendare James) ⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧
  • Spare (Prince Harry) ⭐⭐⭐💌🎧
  • The Winterhouse Mysteries (Ben Guterson) ⭐⭐.5💌📖
  • Kiss Her Once for Me (Alison Cochrun) ⭐💌📖🎧

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Other Books

1. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Heather Fawcett) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

2. Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Margaret Rogerson) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

3. You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince (Timothy Janovsky) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 💌📖🎧

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4. Because Internet (Gretchen McCulloch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 💌📖🎧

5. Begin Again (Emma Lord) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 ⏳📖

6. Everything Is OK (Debbie Tung) ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 💌📖

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7. Legends & Lattes (Travis Baldree) ⭐⭐⭐⭐📚📖

8. I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki (Baek Sehee) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

9. The Broken Girls (Simone St. James) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

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10. A Court of Frost and Starlight (Sarah J. Maas) ⭐⭐⭐.5💌📖🎧

11. Kill Joy (Holly Jackson) ⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

12. The Secrets of Winterhouse (Ben Guterson) ⭐⭐⭐💌📖

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13. Admissions (Kendare James) ⭐⭐⭐💌📖🎧

14. Spare (Prince Harry) ⭐⭐⭐💌🎧

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15. The Winterhouse Mysteries (Ben Guterson) ⭐⭐.5💌📖

16. Kiss Her Once for Me (Alison Cochrun) ⭐💌📖🎧

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Favorite Books 💕

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whatiposted

 Blog Tour: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute 💕 Banter, Angst & Romance ~ What I’ve been up to in December 🎄 Holiday Romances & Holiday Stress 

Out of Comfort Zone 2023 Reading Challenge Announcement 💗 feat. 2022 Wrapup ~ 2023 Reading Challenges I’m joining 📚 Goals, #DevourYourTBR, Project Backlist & Magical Readathon 

30 Most Anticipated Releases of 2023 (January to June) 💕 ~ Arc Review: Begin Again by Emma Lord 📻 College, Radio Shows & Finding Yourself ~ My 2023 Out of Your Comfort Zone Challenge TBR 💗

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faveposts

For this section I’m sharing my Favorite Blog Posts of the Month 💗

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life stuff

New Year, Same Old Problems 😅 Let’s start with the good news: I made it through the block seminar (it ended up being only 2 days and was held online) and presented my thesis with a poster, so at least I can check this off my list! I finally saw how our study is going to look like, so I can finally start researching and planning for my thesis! 🥳

The bad news? 1) The last three weeks of January were super stressful because we just got the link to our study and were supposed to present on the first seminar date. We all protested and got pushed to the second date. Still, it was SO much work and none of us could prepare over the holidays. I was exhausted and worked all day for two weeks. 2) There were some issues with my research questions. I was full of despair and anxiety, as it looked like my entire structure would be a mess and there was no help at first. Luckily, I was able to have a meeting last week and we got things sorted for now! Despite my frustrations, my supervisor isn’t unfair, but the communication is just difficult. I also got a heap of Imposter Syndrome from dealing with these difficult research questions 😓

3) I now have a mountain of work ahead!! I had months of free time, but not enough info to do anything and now I have too much to do 🙈 I also had to pay for another semester and that brought up mixed feelings (student fees aren’t as expensive here in Germany. However, I’m now TWO semesters over the recommended course plan, something I wanted to avoid. There’s a bit of shame that I’m still not done when others are already finished 😅)

❄️ What I Watched in January ❄️

I didn’t watch too much in January as I was so busy and pretty frustrated with Netflix for canceling all the good shows 😓 I did end up watching two shows with my friends though!

Emily in Paris Season 3 Web Series | Review, Cast, Trailer, Watch ...

  • The Witcher: Blood Origin (S1)
  • Emily in Paris (S3)
  • Currently Watching 📺 Kaleidoscope (S1), Bake Squad (S2)

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looking ahead

It’s already February!! 💖 January went by so slowly and yet we’re already entering the second month of the year. My main plans will be working on the research for my thesis and hopefully finally starting the study AND formally applying for my thesis 🤞🏻 There’s so much more work ahead now that I can finally start, let’s see how much I’ll get done! Apart from that, I’m hoping to wrangle my Mental Health in a more stable state 🌷 I also love using February to read a lot of romance and cozy books, though I also have plans to read some more nonfiction, as I’ve been really getting into it this year 😄

📚 #DevourYourTBR 📚

This month’s challenge is to “read some lighthearted reads: romance, humor, and all the comfy and cozy vibes!”

© DevourYourTBR

💖 February TBR 💖

One of my resolutions for 2023 is to start the month with a TBR of no more than 6 books! 📖 I’m going to read more than the books listed below, but I really needed to get rid of my overambitious TBRs!

  • All the Feels (Olivia Dade) 📚📖💗🎧
  • Ship Wrecked (Olivia Dade) 📚📖💗
  • The Roommate Risk (Talia Hibbert) 💌📖💗

  • Never Been Kissed (Timothy Janovsky) 💌📖💗🎧
  • A Deal with the Elf King (Elise Kova) 📚📖💗
  • Mythos (Stephen Fry) 💌🎧

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What were you up to in January? Have you found a new favorite book already? I hope you had a good start into the new year! ❄️

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Published by Caro @ bookcheshirecat

25 thoughts on “What I’ve been up to in January ❄️ New Year & Thesis Stress”

  4. I’m glad you enjoyed I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, and that you read so many nonfictions! I also was (and kind of still am) on a nonfiction kick, and it’s just so good to enjoy it! I hope you’ll enjoy Mythos in February, it’s really amazing!
    I’m sorry things are stressful and that you had to pay for another semester but try not to be ashamed by the fact that others already finished. It’s not your fault, and it’s okay to finish later. 🥺 Though it’s really frustrating that you had to pay because of the school’s fault.
    Thank you for sharing my posts, Caro!
    I hope you’ll be able to find that mental health balance in February! 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sometimes I barely read nonfiction, but in January I was really in the mood for it!! I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki was a great memoir! I’ve read Mythos but now and have thoroughly enjoyed it as well 🥰

      Aww thank you so much!! It’s a bit frustrating that I have to take longer now, but at least I can finally get started!
      Thank you! I hope you’re having a good February 💕

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. Wow! You read a lot! Great job! And that’s awesome so many were out of your comfort zone. I also watched Emily in Paris. I didn’t love this season as much as the others but the CLIFFHANGER. Ugh haha

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. You read so many good books in January! Hehe I just read the new Debbie Tung book earlier and thought about messaging you to ask if you had read it, and then I saw it here, and now I’m wondering if I had seen you post about it somewhere and forgot about it but subconsciously read it because of you! 😂 Do you ever feel like you do that sometimes with friends’ recs?

    On another note, I’m so sorry you’ve been SO stressed and I know you are so ready for this to be over 😭 for what it’s worth, I bet your thesis is going to turn out amazing! I wish I could kick out your Imposter Syndrome for you, but since I can’t, I’m just going to send you lots of big hugs and well wishes 🥺

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I love Debbie Tung and her newest book was amazing!! I know you love her as well which made me even more excited to read it, so maybe we inspired each other 🤔 I’m definitely influenced by what books my friends love 👀

      Thank you so much, it means a lot!! 💕🥺 January was rough, but at least I finally have more info now and can begin my real work!

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  8. looks like you read some wonderful books last month! I’m hoping to read Thorn Manor this month, I set it aside while I was reading other books, but I’m interested to see how it wraps up. 🤭📚 I was working on other projects so I didn’t read as much, but planning a big tbr for February! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Ahh so many books read, and SO many out of your comfort zone, that’s so exciting! ❤ I'm also happy to hear you could get some replies to your questions, at least, and I know everything will work out okay, in the end. I can only imagine how stressful it has been! Here for you always if you ever need to rant, and rooting for you always ❤ ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing my post, Caro! I’m so sorry to hear about the struggles with your thesis. It sounds really frustrating and stressful but I hope now that some issues have been cleared up, everything can proceed smoothly moving forward. Good luck with the research and prep—you’ve totally got this! 🙌🏽 It also looks like you had an amazing reading month. I can’t wait to read Emily Wilde and Thorn Manner so it’s exciting to see those were your faves! 😍 I like the look of your Feb TBR as well. I loved Hibbert’s book and I really need to get a crack on reading Dade’s books as well. I hope you enjoy all of your planned reads and have a great month ahead!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! 💕 I’m glad that I can finally work more independently now and have more information than before!

      Emily Wilde and Mysteries of Thorn Manor were so good, I hope you enjoy them as well! I love Talia Hibbert as well and I’m working my way through the entire backlist 🥰 Thank you! I hope you have a good February!

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  11. I’m glad you finally got some information for your thesis but it seems so unfair that you have to fit the work in a shorter space of time and pay for an extra semester for things outside of your control. Sending you best wishes again 💜💜

    Congrats on reading all your TBR in January, I hope the 6 per month continues to work! I’m glad the Emily Wilde book was enjoyable!
    I hope you enjoy your February reads too– especially The Roommate Risk!
    Thank you so much for the shout outs 💞✨

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Sophie! 💜 It’s a bit frustrating, but I’m glad that I can finally get started and make up for all the lost time!

      I truly had such a good reading month! Emily Wilde was such a lovely surprise and an instant favorite 🥰 I’ve read The Roommate Risk by now and it was so much fun!
      You’re welcome 💕

      Liked by 1 person

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