October Whispers // There’s a First Time for Everything (INCLUDING ARCs!) + NaNoWriMo Nerves + Am I going on Hiatus?

October was the month of chocolate and pumpkins, drowning in leaves and generally just being a flailing Fangirl™

BASICALLY, I am a puddle of excitement on the floor and THIS MONTH WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN LAST MONTH!!!

For the first time in forever I:

  • Read a John Green Book. I’ve NEVER Read any of his books but I quite enjoyed Turtles All The Way Down
  • WON TWO GIVEAWAYS (this has never happened to me before)
  • Received an ARC and got accepted for 4 more!
  • Traded tons of books (SO MUCH FUN for some reason?)
  • Became an affiliate FOR SOMETHING SUPER BOOKISH
  • Got an acception to receive a PageHabit book box (for November!)
  • AGHHHH
  • Made an aesthetic board for WIP
  • Said that I would be participating in NaNo
  • GOT ACCEPTED FOR RENEGADES.
  • did Top Ten Tuesday
  • Hit 400 followers on Twitter #winning

SO AS YOU CAN SEE SO MUCH AMAZING MIND BOGGLING THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING TO ME AND ASDFGHJKL I AM SQUEAAALLINNGGG.

Ahem

Onto the recap

(oh and I know you are wondering about the hiatus but carry on reading okay)

BOOKS

*all links take you to the Goodreads page and maybe treasure.

Screenshot 2017-10-31 at 20.25.30

Screenshot 2017-10-31 at 20.25.35

I completed my Goodreads CHALLENGE. WHOOP. WHOOP! I am officially WINNING AT MY BOOK LIFE. I mean 100 books? DAMN, I AM IMPRESSED WITH MYSELF.

Screenshot 2017-10-31 at 19.37.39

I read 8 books this month which is actually really great by my standards! I did have a holiday last week and I could have got a lot of reading done but, haha, too much procrastinating and homeworks :/

I DIDN’T EVEN GO TO THE LIBRARY ONCE HAHA R.I.P ME.

ebooks

Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn ★☆☆☆☆ // I’m back to trashy books and 1-star reviews. This was too happy and underdeveloped. #sorrynotsorry

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi ★★★☆☆ // Had a bucket load of problems BUT WARNER WARNER WARNER WARNER. Also this buddy read failed. :/

As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti  ★☆☆☆☆ // Jerkish and sexist main character who actually annoyed the hell out of me plus dry writing. A big FAT NO from me.

The Truth and Lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr ★★☆☆☆ // Worst case of Intsa Love in all the universes and galaxies plus so far-fetched!

purchased

Warcross by Marie Lu  ★★★★★ // Not her best work BUT OMG THAT ENDING MY MIND IS COMBUSTING AND EXPLODING

Our Dark Duet by V.E Schwab ★★★★★ // Buddy read with the lamb AND OMG MY FREAKING HEART.

BORROWED FROM FRIEND AND SCHOOL

Blood Brothers by Willy Rusell ★★★★☆ // This was a play i read for school and I actually really liked it?!

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green ★★★★☆ // My first Green novel and I loved how the OCD was tackled!

BOOK HAUL

Most of these were from #booksfortrade!

REVIEW COPIES

IT’S BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT. Thank you HOT KEY BOOKS for sending me THIS PRECIOUS PRROF Love, Hate and other Filters. IT HAS MUSLIM REP!!! WHICH I AM LIKE DYING TO READ ABOUT plus its OWN VOICES!! ouadgjdhisuj FOR MY FIRST EVER ARC!!! *screams* And look, THEY SENT ME A POSTCARD PLUS BADGE AND OTHER STUFF WITH IT AND IT WAS PACKAGED BEAUTIFULLY. I’m not crying obviously.

BLOGGING

MY BLOG SCHEDULE FLEW OFF TO GERMANY.Aka I missed my posting days. Wyyy? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I missed like a week of posting and then went back and posted whenever I could. I REALLY DON’T LIKE IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS?!

I also participated in my first ever blogging meme, Top Ten Tuesday. Which was really fun but I feel like the quality of the post wasn’t too good. But aesthetics for the win

online

I got accepted for ARCs!I’ve already received Love, Hate and Other Filters but I will also be getting To Kill a Kingdom AGHAHAHA. And i got accepted for an ARC of Like Love and it LOOKS SO COOL and I might be receiving Batman by Marie Lu and OKAY I AM SO CALM. OH, AND I WILL BE RECEIVING KIDS LIKE US IN THE MAIL SOON. I feel great.

I am now an affiliate for The Willoughby Book Club! It’s THIS AMAZING business where they HAND PICK the books that arrive in your subscription box based on your Goodreads, favourite authors and favourite books. SO YOU WON’T EVEN HAVE TO CHOOSE. Ahaha, SO GOOD and I receive a small little amount of money if you make a purchase through there. SO IF YOU WANT A COOL BIRTHDAY BOOK PRESENT FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND DON’T KNOW WHAT TO BUY, just get this okay. And use the link above and get 10% off.

I’m going to be a rep for something bookish! OKAY CALM DOWN It’s not Fairyloot or Owlcrate but IT IS PAGE HABIT. yeah okay, FINE none of you have probably heard of it before but I’m going to be receiving one of their lovely November boxes to review and aghhhh EXCITED!!

I WON 2 GIVEAWAYS. Wooow, like I knew I was obsessed with retweeting them BUT LIKE HOW DID I WIN?! I got Warcross by Marie Lu from the fabulous Ju and a pre-order of MY MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF EVER, Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody from Emily Mead!

V.E SCHWAB RETWEETED MY TWEET. Okay, so replies and likes from authors ARE LIKE COOL, but like, RETWEETS?! THIS TOPS THEM ALL LITTLE ONIONS. And it was about Our Dark Duet making me cry because that is what happens to me okay. 😀

ME GOING SUBTLY VIRAL ON TWITTER IS THE USUAL NOW, apparently?! This tweet got more likes than that ‘Steps on becoming a writer’ tweet so like,,#winning. I LOVE MYSELF.

I won my GOODREADS CHALLENGE?! All the winning this month! And really, winning this? IT’s taken off a LOT of stress of! Now I don’t feel like I have to keep on schedule and read as much.

I broke my Netgalley ban and UM GOT ACCEPTED FOR RENEGADES.Which is like only one of my anticipated releases of ever. I could have got a physical proof, but they ran out :/ NOT TOO SALTY BECAUSE EBOOKS ARE GREAT FUN. And I have started it and it IS a little slow but omg I’m not even past the 10% mark so I shall stop nitpicking.

Also THANK YOU:

Screenshot 2017-10-29 at 18.29.42

blogoshphere

EXCITING NEWS

BLOGGING

TWITTER

  • READ THE REPLIES TO THIS PLEASE.
  • erm
  • If you want to receive ARCs and are an underrepresented teen fill out this form!
  • And if you have Diverse ARCs you want to donate fill out this form!
  • Basically, the above two is this organisation that aspires to get ARCs in the hands of diverse and marginalized teens! I love the idea. Their website is coming in November.

trending

LIFE

  • LIFE?? WHAT IS THIS THING. I don’t even know anymore. Someone do inform me, I seem to be quite of the loop.
  • I had a week off school! AND DID…nothing. WHY AM I LIKE THIS?!
  • My bullet journal arrived. AND IT IS PRETTY ❤ I CANNOT WAIT TO USE. Hahaha, hopefully, I DO use it. Maybe. Here are some pictures of the beauty!
  • I buddy read with the amazing Lu for ODD! We were supposed to work on our joint review but I am horrible and I forgot. ALSO, SHE HAD A BIRTHDAY AND THERE Were CAKE AND LUUUU.
  • Oh yes, The Apprentice! AGHH ITS GOOD. Jeff and his breakdancing? I AM SO HERE FOR IT. And then he went and got fired. :/ I LOVE MIKAELA I WANT HER TO WIN. WHO ELSE?
  • NaNoWriMo is tomorrow. SEND HELP. Or you know, look at my word count goals.
  • Screenshot 2017-10-29 at 13.13.40
  • If I manage to stick to this though

NEXT MONTH

So, THE QUESTION. Am I going on a hiatus?

I had planned from the beginning of October that I WAS doing NaNo and I was determined that I needed AS MUCH time as possible. And I do! That’s where the idea for going on a hiatus came to me. And I was also feeling really demotivated and ugh, so that was another reason.

However, a few days ago, I started feeling REALLY great about blogging and all these ideas were coming to me and these ARC acceptions and?? I was torn.

I am NOT going on a hiatus.

I have thought this through! And I’ve just started out with this blog and I don’t ALREADY want to leave it. I love posting at the moment and I really want to continue with that. I don’t think I WANT to go on hiatus.

That being said, I WILL be only posting once a week.

Mave twice IF I’M FEELING GENEROUS but I DO NOT want to pressurise myself and not win NaNo. Writing is taking priority over reading and blogging this month. And that’s okay. And I’m doing it. This means you will get probably 5 posts from me in the month which will include some of the following;

  • A REVIEW/MINI REVIEWS
  • How to be a motivated blogger
  • On ARC’s/ requesting physical ARC’s
  • A LETS WHISPER discussion
  • THINGS THAT DISCOMBOBULATE MY SOUL

GOALS

{goals for last month}

  • Reach 1350 followers ❌ (currently 1340, SO CLOSE)
  • Order Our Dark Duet and my Bullet Journal✔
  • Buddy read ODD with Lu✔
  • Post better quality posts✔❌
  • Stick to my blogging schedule – no unplanned hiatus, please.❌❌❌
  • hopefully, get accepted for at least ONE PHYSICAL ARC✔✔✔
  • Read at least 8 books✔✔
  • 3 of them should be from Netgalley✔✔
  • STICK TO THE NETGALLEY BAN❌❌
  • Stop procrastinating and do homework on time and NOT LAST MINUTE!!✔✔
  • Prepare for Nano✔❌
  • Have some ice cream excuse me✔✔✔✔✔✔

{goals for next month}

  • Win NaNo
  • Reach 1400 followers (currently @ 1341)
  • have ice cream
  • Read 6 Books
  • 2 of them should be from Netgalley
  • Post at least once a week
  • STICK TO NETGALLEY BAN
  • don’t procrastinate
  • be nice
  • BUDDY READ VICIOUS WITH JU
  • I’m honestly not making too many goals because of NaNo

Books #3

Let's Whisper

How was your month? Are you doing NaNo this month? What amazing, exciting things have you been up to? WHAT ARE YOU DRESSING UP AS FOR HALLOWEEN? What were your favourite reads of the month! TELL ME ALL PINEAPPLES.

Ilsa - Edited

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55 thoughts on “October Whispers // There’s a First Time for Everything (INCLUDING ARCs!) + NaNoWriMo Nerves + Am I going on Hiatus?”

  1. you are a fricken boss what the heck how are you so accomplished (im side eyeing your word count goal) dont ever talk to me again

    also CONGRATS ON YOUR READING GOAL YOU DID IT MY DUDE IM SO PROUD!!!
    and thanks for the tag you cupcake, ily ❤

    good luck with nano (also where is your link so we can be writing buddies)

    Like

    1. YOU just told me to not talk to you ever again but hello, I’ve never talked to you (unless you are some stalker and you are actually some person i know IRL but that’s highly unlikely)

      AND THANK YOU THO ❤ I'M SO GLAD I REACHED 100+ BOOKS! And obvs I tagged the tea queen. why elese do i exist.

      OH YES WE SHOULD DEFFO BE WRITING BUDDIES. I'm Ilsa Nite!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. wow rood, chatting online counts as talking okay dont get technical on me

        FIUHAFUIOEAHFDIOUSHFAS SHUSH DONT SAY CUTE THINGS LIKE THAT IT MAKES ME GET ALL FLUSTERED

        girl, you’re already slaying it yassssss

        Like

  2. THAT TITLE ILSA IS SO MISLEADING WITH THE HIATUS TEASE you are cruel!
    Anyway, OMG you had a wonderful month!!! I’m honestly so jealous of you rn haha but you deserve it all so much!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Congratulations on all of your amazingness and all the exciting things that are happening!! Super jealous over here. As a new blogger, you are definitely one that I look at as a great example and I would be sad if you went on hiatus, lol. Congrats again! 🙂

    Like

  4. GO YOU
    I’D FOLLOW YOU NINE MORE TIMES
    I have no reason to write a recap- #1 zilch people who care and #2 i’m on a who knows how long hiatus while i waste time browsing pinterest

    Like

  5. aaaahhhhh thank you for mentioning my post!! It seems like you had a really great month 🙂 the 1 post/ week thing seems like an awesome idea, I hope you kill it in NaNo!! I’m waiting for my friend to finish Turtles so that I can borrow his copy and I CAN’T WAIT!!! Congrats on the retweet and viralness it’s incredible ❤

    Like

  6. Glad you had a happy October! Congrats on all the books you read and your author retweet and your followers and good luck on NaNo! Yay for no hiatus, the posts you have planned for November look really good 🙂 wishing you a great next month!

    Like

  7. ok how are you able to accomplish so many things and have such big goals?? i am eNVIOUS. good luck with nano! and congrats on your gr reading challenge! also i am so jealous of your love, hate & other filters arc omg

    Like

  8. Petition to add DISCOMBOBULATE to Oxford’s Dictionary plssss
    Gurl you are ON FIRE 🔥🔥🔥 CONGRATULATIONSSS! 🎉🍦🍰 From a fellow giveaway-non-winner to another, your achievement is our achievement 💪 😂 Also subscription box rep? How fun! 😄
    Love how one of your goals for next month is to be nice 😁 Good luck on Nano! I’m not doing that since Inktober exhausted me ugh (No regrets tho)

    Like

    1. YES DISCOMBOBULATE IS A MAGNIFICENT WORD THAT DESERVES TO BE IN THE DICTIONARY. I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. TOPICS LIKE THIS ARE SO IMPORTANT.

      Ahh, thank you! I honestly have NEVER won a giveaway before SO LIKE,,,, ahaha THIS IS BIG FOR ME! Well yeah. I mean I am so evil to all my subjects, I thought I could witch it up and be nice for a while. OMG INKTOBER!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. YES. THIS IS A TOPIC WORTH DISCUSSING.
        I can just imagine how it must have felt like to receive that “Conhratulations! You won!” message 😁 Haha yeah, it was exhausting but REALLY FUN! Hope you have fun with NaNoWriMo too!

        Like

  9. WOOOW congrats on the followers and the giveaways and the ARCs!!! :DD I SEE WONDER IN THE LAST PICTURE THERE. I read it and I might do a book review soon. ;))
    and tell me how Goodbye Days are!! I’ve seen it around but not sure if it’s good.

    Like

  10. GO KICK BUTT AT NANO YOU CAN DO IT!!! Also congrats on all the followers (HA it sounds like we’re following you somewhere…I hope it’s an ice-cream truck but knowing you it’ll probably be a new dimension where you are the queen so. I have #expectations which will forever include ice cream!)
    I am SO GLAD to know that I’m NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A FREE WEEK THIS MONTH AND DID NOTHING!!! I mean…I was a lump and kinda did homework?? But than not really?? I now have to study for all of the tests now because I didn’t do THAT and left them all to last minute yey. (Why am I like this??)
    You read over 100 books??? BOW WHAT WHY??? I read like..40??? Wow look at you go! (And wow so many disappointing Ebooks though)
    And good luck eating ice cream for Christmas now!!

    Like

  11. That’s such a random number of followers; I love it. 😂 Also, ahh to getting your first ARC; that’s amazing. ❤️ I’m really hoping to get back in the requesting spirit next month, maybe (or maybe this month. I don’t know). YOU MUST READ ALL THE JOHN GREEN BOOKS IMMEDIATELY. And I hope I can keep up with all your posts this month BECUASS THEY ALL SOUND SO INTERESTING. 😍 And thanks so much for linking back to my post; I appreciate it! 😄

    Like

  12. This was SUCH an amazingly written and planned out post, I absolutely loved reading this!! Congratulations on all your winning and your followers, it sounds like you’ve had an amazing month!! xx

    Like

  13. This is more productive than I will ever be in my life, the level of productivity in that nano plan exceeds my comprehension
    and shh you already have great quality posts, I love your posts.
    Also aw thanks for linking to my post ❤

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh and by the way, Mikela is the best candidate on the Apprentice by far. I miss Jeff though and Elizabeth is so annoying! WHY DID THEY LET HER ON THE SHOW?

        How did you become a rep for companies I am really interested!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh yes, Mikeala is such a strong candidate! I honestly don’t like Elizabeth either and Jeff and his break dancing,,, Ahh, I miss it! Excited to watch tonight’s show!

        Really I think you should contact the company, small companies to start off with, and email them with your details and stats and blog link and picth to them why you would be good to represent my brand. I make sure my emails are powerful whilst also not too informal! Hope that helps.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thank you so much, you helped a lot! Would you recommend emailing companies that are big or small?

        Please don’t spoil the Apprentice for tonight episode, I have to watch it tomorrow! I have to watch Bake Off tonight even though I already know who goes, oops! I am so pleased it is not Steven though, I found him very annoying and self-centred.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. It seems like you had such a great month! Congrats on completing your GoodReads goal – I’m so behind on mine due to a 2 month reading slump ugh. Oh and congrats on the giveaways/amazing ARCs/followers! Good luck with NaNo Isla! I loved your idea and I’m sure it will be amazing!!Discombobulate(d) is honestly my favourite word, should definitely use it more often haha.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. You had a great month! (obvs the buddy read was the best!! OMG WE NEED OT DO THE REVIEW) and UGERUIBGFUGBF the ARC!! I want to read that so bad gbrebgeirg I really hope that you enjoy it!
    omggggg your bullet journallll!! I’ve wanted to start one for the longest timeeeeee but I can never stick to it properlyyyyyyy :((9

    Good luck again for nanowrimo!! You’re going to smash it!! yassssss!!!!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. YASSSSSS I’M BACK FROM THE DEAD. AND I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. And our Shatter Me buddy read failed SO HARD like all of you have finished it and I’m still in the middle of it LMAO and I’m the one who’s the #1 fan 😂😂😂 and congrats on winning two giveaway??? And that VE Schwab RT??? AND ALL THE ARCS??? *dies of jealousy* October seemed to be such a fantastic month for you, let’s hope November will be even better! And good luck with NaNoWriMo omg you’re already so far ahead I lowkey hate you XD

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Your month sounds so eventful I got excited reading it! October was a pretty okay month, as I’m settling into routines after recovering from mental things and oral surgery. The most exciting thing, though, is that I’ve been hard at work on starting my blog (AHHH). For Halloween, my friends and I went as fruits, and I got to be the watermelon. 😛 And lastly, my favorite book this month was Dreamlander (I almost DIED). Also can I just say that tweet is flawless.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. YAY, I’m so glad you enjoyed Turtles All The Way Down. I love John Green’s books and am currently reading his newest release, really enjoying it so far as well 🙂
    CONGRATULATIONS on the giveaways, the ARCs, the affiliation thingy, you just had like, tons of great bookish things happening this month for you, that’s insane. AND the Goodreads challenge as well, just, WOW, you’re ON FIRE ahah 🙂
    Thank you so, so much for sharing my post! I’m so glad you enjoyed it ❤
    Best of luck for NaNoWriMo, I hope you're off to a good start, can't wait for you to share a bit more about this, snippets and such, maybe? 😉 hope you'll have an amazing november! xx

    Liked by 1 person

  19. holy crap there is so much going on here!! Your haul is epic though wofijwolijfwiejf
    Ahh thank you for mention me I CRY (also being a writer is just hard okay and I like to complain)
    Yay for NaNo!! ARE WE BUDDIES ON THERE??? Because that needs to be a thing TBH
    You are doing so well and ÖIJÖWOEFJEOI @ SCHWAB RETWEETING YOU
    I seem to have totally abandoned twitter as I always do but I need to get back on that bandwagon.

    Like

  20. WOW YOU WERE SO PRODUCTIVE WITH YOUR MONTH. UM… ME TOO. yeah. totally. i did… stuff?????

    i read FOUR books this month. excuse me while i go cry in my shower because HOW DID MY READING COUNT DROP SO LOW??? WHYY THOOO????????????/

    also freaking congrats on all of your arcs you great and awesome blogger. i quake in your presence.

    I AM NOT READY FOR NANO EVEN THOUGH IT ALREADY STARTED LOLOLOL RIP ME

    Liked by 2 people

  21. You’ve already accomplished so much as a book blogger I’m just gonna crawl into a hole and die😭😭 So happy you had such a good jam packed month, I hope November is just as good! 🖤

    Liked by 1 person

  22. CONGRATS Ilsa with all the cool things you have happening! Reviewing a box is soooo cool! And Renegades! (Getting accepted for that is cool but I’m kind of glad now I was rejected… I’ve been reading too many books with slow starts!) And a physical ARC is the BEST! I don’t get those often but I don’t seek them either… I’m bummed you didn’t like As You Wish because I just won that… it I’ll give it a go. ♥️ Hope your November is fabulous!

    Like

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