Review: Book of the Month

There are strictly two types of readers in this world: those who always know what they want to read, and those who want to read everything but don’t know where to start. I fall into the latter category without question. I’ve got lists all over the place of books that I’ve read about and find interesting, but when it comes down to picking what to buy and read next, I suddenly feel terribly overwhelmed. And though the feeling of indecision when choosing a new book will always be a part of who I am, a newly-discovered, 94-year-old service has helped make the process much simpler for me this past year: Book of the Month.

How Book of the Month works:

Each month, a curated list of 5 new releases ranging in romance to non-fiction is announced, and members are invited to choose one from the list to make their Book of the Month for $15. If more than one title catches their eye, they can add up to two more books (either from that month or previous ones) to their box at a deeply discounted price. if they don’t like any of that month’s books, they can always choose to skip. When a month is skipped, the member won’t be charged, and their credit rolls into the next month.

Why I like it:

Along with the expected synopses of each book, Book of the Month also enlists the help of guest judges who not only tell you why they love the book but why you will, too. Past and current BOTM judges have been singer Alicia Keys, actor Abbi Jacobson, and author Jasmine Guillory, just to name a few.

Another cool thing to mention is that Book of the Month makes deals with publishers to offer early releases of highly-anticipated titles, many of which, go on to become monster bestsellers. It’s like being in an exclusive club of readers who know how special a book is before everyone else. And while all books that are curated for the month are new, Book of the Month also features some older or not-as-well-known titles that are available for purchase as well.

Is Book of the Month worth it?

This is a fantastic service for people like me who love to have a sample of the latest titles presented in such a way that limits the feeling of being overwhelmed. It takes a ton of the guesswork out of what to read next and gets you excited for what new releases are on the horizon, especially if you’ve been in a bit of a reading rut. But, having said that, this is not a service for readers whose “to be read” piles grow faster than books can be replaced. Book of the Month allows members to skip any month, but if you find yourself skipping two or more months in a row because you’re running out of room for the books you’ve got, this service ultimately might not be worth it for you.

Want to learn more about BOTM? Click HERE!

Book Review: Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come

Jessica Pan is a self-described “shintrovert” - a shy introvert who finds comfort not in the spotlight, but in the background. All of her life, the prospect of making contact with strangers has seemed terrifying, and extensive interactions with large groups of people have drained her. Pan has never been a “people person,” and she’s accepted that. But in a particularly low period in her life, when she found herself unemployed, and lonely without local friends, she began leaning into her introversion to an unhealthy degree. No longer was her extreme shyness just a part of who she was, it was becoming a crutch.

So, Jessica Pan decided to make a change. Instead of closing herself off to the world, she would let it in. Instead of hiding, she would make herself the center of attention. Instead of saying “no,” she was going to say “yes.” For a whole year, she vowed, she would live as an extrovert…or die (of embarrassment) trying.

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come is the hilarious, at times cringe-y, true story of one introverted writer’s journey to push herself to new social heights, seeking the guidance of mentors, friends, and yes, even strangers, along the way.

The Good: The best material comes from never holding back, and Jessica Pan makes it clear that holding back was never an option. I loved that she really put herself out there - doing stand-up routines with barely-tested material, going on solo vacations to countries where she didn’t speak the language, even striking up conversations with people unknown to her, pushing through her self-consciousness to make true connections. Throughout the book, the reader is introduced to a variety of different characters, and Pan does an excellent job of giving them all their time in the sun without making it feel like a book of names with a few events sprinkled in. I chuckled frequently, shook my head periodically, and felt totally related-to. Pan’s writing is humorous, witty, and very fun to read.

The Bad: While I appreciate that this book is about an introverted person exploring life as an extroverted person, I feel like the term “introvert” was used to describe almost a completely different type of human. Yes, there are people who identify as introverts, and people who identify as extroverts, and even some who consider themselves “ambiverts” (someone in-between), but I worry that using those words as main identifiers may lead to boiling an entire human’s existence down to how much or how little they enjoy being social. But perhaps this is why she conducted and documented this experiment in the first place - to prove that you can adopt elements of both worlds, while still leaning towards one side or the other, personality-wise.

Bottom Line: Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come is a super-fast, very entertaining read. It’s an especially fun book to read in 2020, when many of us aren’t taking risks to go out into the world. It will remind you of a time when you could just walk up to anyone and leave the conversation knowing a little more than you did before, and possibly with a new friend, or at least acquaintance. It’s also a wonderful reminder of how short life is, how diverse experiences help shape who we are, and how important it is for humans to find common ground, even when it doesn’t seem like there could be any to stand on.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think you will, too!

You can find Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan HERE!

Winter Favorites (So Far)

Winter has been kind of long, you guys. Normally, I love the cold weather, but I've been sick twice, and now I'm ready for spriiiiiiiiiing. But it hasn't been all bad: I've purposefully chosen to surround myself with some pretty things here and there, enrich my mind with some books that I really want to read (to counter all the books I have to read for class), and make a little time for my beloved television.

Here are some things I'm digging this winter:

I start my mornings VERY early these days. To get over getting up before the sun, I need my  trusty travel mug of green tea. And while any vessel would do (so long as my tea stays piping hot), I find that the commute is just more fun when lounging walruses are around. If you're new to S'ip by Swell bottles, allow me to introduce you to your new favorite way to consume temperature-sensitive beverages. S'Well is just a company that I very much enjoy for their focus not only on eye-catching patterns, but their promise of keeping drinks hot and cold respectively. AND THEY DO. My commute is two hours, and in those two hours, not a single degree changes from the time the tea is made to the time I'm being squeezed against a seat by a person with poor spatial reasoning, but determination to force themselves into a teeny two-person seat. I live for a fun pattern. My only gripe is that these travel mugs work almost too well: my first trip ended in a severely burned tongue. From that point on, exactly three ice cubes make their way into that boiling hot leaf-water as soon as it's steeped.

Life is just one big collection of important papers, isn't it? Syllabi, to-do lists, receipts, everything. And because I have a minor panic attack when I can't find a post-it note with nothing on it but the word "lunch" even though I can SEE the lunch in front of me and am unlikely to forget it, I desperately need my papers to all be in one place. But just because I need to stay organized does NOT mean that my office supplies have to be boring. As you'll soon learn, I am never one to turn down a good print. And when I found this SUPER CUTE accordion folder on Amazon (at such a good price), I threw it in the proverbial cart. And so far so good: every time I snap the little button in place, I silently congratulate myself on being a good adult who has access to all her documents.

Yes, target marketing works on me. I see Glossier videos every single day of my life on social media. EVERY DAY. And because I am a sucker for minimalist packaging with a pop of color, make-up videos, and persuasive positive reviews, I finally, FINALLY caved and bought two tubes of the utterly popular Cloud Paint. My thoughts? I WILL VERY LIKELY NEVER GO BACK TO PRESSED BLUSH AGAIN. I love these blushes. I love them. Just as the name describes, the teensiest dot of this gel-based blush feels like you're painting your cheeks with ultra-light paint; leaving this subtle, BEAUTIFUL tint to your cheeks. While the tubes look small, I reckon these will last for months because honestly, a little goes a long way. I bought "Pufff" and "Beam" and I use them interchangeably. Get some.

Oh, are you surprised that I own more than one of these S'ip by S'Well bottles?  You know I only enjoy my beverages out of novelty vessels!! This one is in the print "Crab Walk" and it has SEEN some things. I have banged it, dropped it, and scratched it, and my lil buddy is still going strong, keeping my ice water icy for hours and hours. Totally worth it.

This list would not be complete without a cookbook because my obsession has not waned, not even one bit. If you're a part of the food world, then you have seen Alison Roman's book everywhere; and for good reason. She is amazing, and this book is just an awesome extension of the talented former Senior Food Editor of Bon Appetit. Alison is like that cool teacher who wants you to learn, but doesn't pressure you or push you before you're ready, and adds a little humor while she's at it. I have been learning to cook from her for years now, and I can already tell I will be reaching for this book over and over again. This book passed the test, and is now resting comfortably on prime real estate on Sydney's bookshelf. Expect a fuller review in the coming weeks!

There are twp things I love: PRINTS, and pouches. I have many, many of them, and they're all being put to very good use. There's something else I love: finding new stores on Etsy to fawn all over! When I saw this GORGEOUS print from Flowiestyle. I added it to the cart. I think I'm going to make this lil guy my travel snack bag.

I think I got two paragraphs into Exit West before I was absolutely hooked. Mohsin Hamid is a poet, a true poet. Every line is romantic and captivating and unique. If you love romance novels with a twist, you'll love this book.

and last but not least...

THE OLYMPICS!!!!!!!!!!!

PLEAAASSEEEEEE tell me you're watching The Olympics, guys! I know, I know, the summer games are decidedly more exciting, but DANG do I LIVE for the competition. Particular favorites: figure skating, snowboarding, and SKI JUMPING! Everyone goes so fast, so high!! I lose my MIND every four years without fail.

What are some of YOUR winter favorites?

Currently Reading...

You guys.

YOU GUYS.

Buy this book. For real. Buy this book.

And I know it sort of seems like a nonessential kind of cookbook. And honestly, I'm sure you're probably thinking, "who loves Mac and Cheese THAT MUCH that they wrote an entire book highlighting all the various ways to make virtually the same dish?"

But I am telling you as a friend, BUY THIS BOOK AND NEVER LOOK BACK.

Do you know that this evening I made arguably the most restaurant-quality dish that I have ever made at home? Like, I'm pretty sure if I put this on a dish at Noodles and Company (any Midwesterners out there?), they would not know the difference. And at the end of the day, isn't that the ultimate goal of home cooking? You want to be able to feel like you're in a restaurant, but in the comfort of your own home, and preferably in those jammies that your parents have been telling you to throw out for years, but you just can't seem to part with. (Don't even pretend that you all don't have a set like that!)

THIS.

THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is what I made tonight, and will be enjoying tomorrow for lunch:

CLASSIC MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON AND SPINACH.

And after this beautiful pot of magical, cheesy deliciousness was finally finished, I toasted some panko in the oven five minutes for an extra bit of crunchiness. I personally believe that mac and cheese always needs a little extra push, and toasted bread crumbs are certainly the way to do it.

BOTTOM LINE: BUY THE BOOK.

Buy the book, then tell me how it goes.

HAPPY BUYING/ MACARONI AND CHEESE EATING!

We All Know About My Obsession With Teacups

I'll let you in on another thing about me: I LOVE JANE AUSTEN AND ALWAYS WILL. A cup of tea and Pride and Prejudice always spells out a good time for me.

Who's with me?