Monthly Wrap-Up - May

May Wrap-Up // Much Ado About My Avg. Rating on Goodreads + I Gush About YOU 🌸

Posted on by Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams

I’m just going to come right out, and say it; May was not a good month for me, reading-wise. To be perfectly honest, I pretty much slumped my way through it, and spent more days not reading, than reading.

But since I always try to focus on the positive (well, sometimes): my Goodreads average rating is now 2.68! This is a huge deal for me, since I started this year with an average rating of 2.63, and I never thought I’d end up reading so many good books this year. And I didn’t even have to sacrifice my integrity for it to happen!! Meaning: I’m still as critical a reader as ever.

So, in essence: I didn’t read a lot of books, but I did enjoy many of those I read. And I guess that makes it a pretty decent month, after all. (See: positivity.)

86-2booksiread

Total score 📚: 13
Re-reads 📖: 2
Audiobooks 🎧: 3
ARCs 🔖: 1
Buddy Reads 👭: 4

Avg. Rating ⭐: 3.35

Young Adult: 8
Adult: 2
Non-Fiction: 3

28

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli 👫 | ⭐⭐⭐
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 🎧 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Raging Ones (Raging Ones #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie 🔖 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton 🎧 | ⭐⭐⭐½
The Young Queens (Three Dark Crowns #0.5) by Kendare Blake 👭 | ⭐⭐½

28

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 📖👭 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Captive Prince Volume I (Captive Prince #1) by S.U. Pacat ⭐⭐
Captive Prince Volume II: Prince’s Gambit (Captive Prince #2) by S.U. Pacat ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Card Captor Sakura (Card Captor Sakura #12) by CLAMP 📖 | ⭐⭐⭐
Circe by Madeline Miller 👭 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

28

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson ⭐½
Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake ⭐⭐⭐½
Bad Feminist: Essays by Roxane Gay 🎧 | ⭐⭐⭐½

86-2My Favorite Posts

These are posts I absolutely loved writing, because I talk about issues and books that are very important to me—and I’m so happy you guys enjoyed them as well! Your comments warmed my heart, and hearing you add books from my posts to your TBRs made me glow with happiness. (I’m getting very sappy now, but it’s the truth!!)

If you haven’t read these posts yet, click on the pictures to do so! Or don’t … if you want to miss out on great book recommendations. 😉

Mental Health Awareness Month - Book Recommendations

My All Time Favorite Books // Top Five asianpacificamericanheritagemonth

86-2Reviews I Posted

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie // Book Review To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

86-2Posts I Loved

I follow a decent amount of blogs (well, for me, it’s a lot), and I always try to comment and like all of your amazing posts, because I know firsthand how much time and effort goes into them. But as much as I wish that I could like all your posts and always leave comments—it’s impossible.

(A Time Turner would come really handy every once in a while—or, better yet, the ability to stop time.)

It’s very important to me to show love and appreciation to fellow bloggers, though, so here are some of the posts I adored this month (they’re not strictly blog posts from May).

    • Thomas continues to write so eloquently, and beautifully, about his personal experiences and topics that are so, so important, and you can tell that each word comes straight from his heart. His latest blog post is no different.
    • Bentley talks about why adults should read Young Adult Fiction, and I honestly want to send this blog post to everyone I know.
    • My favorite fellow critical reader Emma reveals more of her unpopular opinions, and is super witty and funny while doing so.
    • The Orang-Utan Librarian gives tips on how to write. If you’re an aspiring writer (and I know that many of you are!) you should go read this post now, and even if you aren’t, they apply to blogging as well!
    • Malanie outlines in this blog post why friendships are the best part of books and gives some great recommendations—and I love them. Romances taking precedence over friendships are so 2012.

A few of the blogs that blessed my eyes with their aesthetics, and captured my heart with their posts this month are: Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books 🌸 Anna @ Reading Peaches 🌸 Lu @ It’s Lu Again 🌸 Hannah @ Peanut Butter & Books 🌸 May @ Forever and Everly 🌸 Aurora @ Aurora Librialis 🌸 Mel @ Mel to the Any 🌸 Ilsa @ Whisper of Ink 🌸

But really, every (!!!) single blog I’m following—I’m so in awe that I’m a part of a community with such talented people (I think we’ve now established that I’m a complete sap in this post, so … let’s move on).

86-2Awards and Tags

Thank you to everyone who nominated me for an award!! I really appreciate it & it means a lot to me. I haven’t been able to do all the tags, and finish my Award posts yet, but they’re scheduled, and they’ll all be published in June! (Hopefully.)

The Unique Blogger AwardMystery Blogger Award The Sunshine Blogger AwardLiebster Award

Harry Potter Elder Wand MagicHogwarts Tag | Nope Tag | WWW Wednesday

blue-watercolor-wash-texture-5let's chat!What is your average rating on Goodreads & do you pay attention to it?
What was your favorite book in May?
Any June releases you’re looking forward to?

Feel free to leave me a link to your own May wrap-up post here, I’d love to drop by and see what you’ve been up to! 💗

xx, Lily

 

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Published by Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams

asian & diverse book blogger. eternal dreamer. infj. ravenclaw. pianist.

112 thoughts on “May Wrap-Up // Much Ado About My Avg. Rating on Goodreads + I Gush About YOU 🌸”

  2. Awh, I just love you! Thank you so much for the shout out and for your friendship! Also, I’m so happy you loved Circe! And I hope June is better than may and the universe gives you all the best things! 💗xx

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Lily: I’m slumping
    also Lily: reads 13 books

    SHUT UP THAT’S NOT A SLUMP DO YOU SEE ME OVER HERE READING 6 BOOKS A MONTH

    anyways congrats on everything I’m very glad you joined this community and jesus christ please be a little less of a critical reader you’re scaring me

    Liked by 1 person

    1. IT WAS A SLUMP, I DIDN’T TOUCH BOOKS FOR DAYS IN-BETWEEN READING THEM. Also, I used to read multiple books in one day, especially when I didn’t have to study. 😭

      You’re supposed to accept me for who I am, what kind of friendship is this.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. yeah may was a very bad reading month for me as well. Im looking forward to reading to a thousand perfect notes which releases in a few days. i probably wont get it this month but its one of my anticipated June releases.Have a great week

    Liked by 1 person

  9. ahhh thanks so much for the shoutout to my post ❤ your blog is seriously so pretty like how do you do it. hope june is an even better reading month (in quantity and quality) for you than may! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Of course!! I loved reading it. ❤ And ahh thankyousomuch, you're an angel!! My heart is warming, especially since your blog and all your posts are so gorgeous themselves. 😭💓

      I hope June is wonderful to you & blesses you with amazing books. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  12. aww lily thank u for including me!! that’s so sweet of u :>>>
    13 books is a pretty decent month!! especially when they were all actual novels! obviously im mostly excited abt the fact u read and enjoyed on the jellicoe road!! maybe i’ll just reread it myself one of these days…………..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your lovely posts & blessing me with so many recommendations, Anna! 💗

      Ahh thanks! ❤ But I'm a pretty fast reader, so it's really not that much for me … & it's more the fact that I spent most of my month doing other things, because I didn't feel like reading. 😦

      YES, DO IT (& rant to me about it!!).

      Liked by 1 person

      1. recommending books that ppl end up liking is the best thing in the world!!

        aaahhh yeah, my friend is an incredibly fast reader so for her 13 books in a month would also be almost nothing….. but for us, mere mortals…..

        not this month tho! im only rading lgbt books during this pride!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Very true!!

          Ahhh please don’t discount yourself!! Everyone has different strengths, and I wish I could always write so beautifully about books and authors I love.

          Ohh I have so many LGBTQ+ books I’m planning on reading this month, let’s hope we love them all. ❤️

          Liked by 1 person

          1. i just wish i could read faster bc there r so many books i wanna read!!!

            honestly i made myself such a long list for this month there is NO WAY i will finish it but fingers crossed!! for both of us!

            Like

  14. I never even payed attention to my Goodreads average but I know see that it’s at 3.73 which is so different than yours! I also had a bad reading month in May, so hopefully June treats us both better. Loved this wrap up!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I had to go to Goodreads to check my average rating, which was 3.81 but I can’t say that I ever really pay attention to it. I got better at picking books I tend to like during the past years, but I really hope you continue not to compromise your integrity just to get a higher average haha that would be a real shame.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I only started paying a lot of attention to it, when everyone pointed out how low mine was, and how I’m so critical all the time, haha. A 3.81 average rating is great! I aspire to read so many books I enjoy. And that makes sense, plus, having less time to read has also contributed to a slightly higher rating in my case.

      Thanks for your nice comment, Kat! I won’t!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh poor you! Don’t listen to them. You’ll find your way around books and see which ones are for you with time. Also, there’s bloggers who are like notorious for their low ratings and it works perfectly fine for them.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING MY BLOG YOU AMAZING HUMAN BEAN ❤ Also, did you cry @ girls made of stars?! And oof, that rating for Undead Girl Gang – EEK! Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it 😦 But at least Circe was good, I've heard so many other good things about it. My average rating on GR is like 3. sthing?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. YOU HAVE A BLOG MORE THAN WORTH MENTIONING, ILSA. ❤

      I teared up, but I didn't cry. I felt a bit detached and … empty during the entire book? And I'm trying to erase Undead Girl Gang from my mind at the moment, ahah. I hope you love Circe when/if you read it!! It's so gorgeously written.

      (ARE WE FRIENDS ON GR YET? 💓)

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I’m so glad I found your blog this month! It’s a little ray of sunshine on the Internet, and I’ve loved each and every one of your posts so far, not to mention that you are one of the sweetest humans ever?? 💞

    I hope you have a great June!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. your ???? blog is so aesthetic???? ALSO I Lov the fact that you’re Asian (bc I am too!!! I’m Chinese lmao) (it would be weird if I got excited over you being Asian if I was white)

    I thought Leah on the Offbeat was good!! (I rated it four or five stars I think) but some of it was problematic (the discussion of being bi was messy) and also I wanted to scream at Leah like 100% of the time. but also I want to scream at myself 100% of the time soooo who knows?

    ALSO DO YOU KNOW THE YOUTUBER JENN IM. BECAUSE I LOVE HER CHANNEL SO MUCH AND YOU USED ONE OF HER GIFS

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahhh you are so sweet, thank you so much, Julianna!! I’m so flattered. 💓💓

      And YES that would be very weird, haha. But ahh that’s so cool, do you speak Mandarin??

      I had my issues with Leah and the romance as well! And I just couldn’t connect with her the way I did with Simon, plus, he & Blue were the highlight of this book, to be honest.

      YES, SHE’S SUCH A PRECIOUS HUMAN BEING, AND I MADE THAT GIF MYSELF TO BRIGHTEN MY POST WITH HER CUTE FACE. She’s such an inspiration. :’)

      Like

  20. LILY YOU ARE THE BEST AND ILY SKJDFLS
    I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY AND I LOVED THIS POST
    1) captive prince kldjflsjdskljfdslkjfsl!! the third book is my favorite and it’s so precious, isn’t damianos the sweetest?? angelic?? purest ray of sunshine??? *who sometimes is scary bc when he goes into battle*????? I have dedicated so much of my tumblr to him c:
    2) YOUR BLOG IS SO PRETTYYYYY sdkjflsjfdsl
    3) now I want to read Jellicoe Road so much
    4) i’m sad may wasn’t the best reading month for you 😦 BUT YOU’VE READ CAPTIVE PRINCE SO IT’S A LITTLE BIT OKAY
    5) && you only gave Leah 3 stars!! and now i feel less alone bc I didn’t like Leah at alll??? she was so mean??????
    6) and your blog is one of my new favorites c:

    Liked by 1 person

    1. OH MY GOSH I TOTALLY MISSED YOUR COMMENT BUT AHHH MALANIE YOU ABSOLUTE SWEETHEART!!

      1) I miss my babies already, and I only just finished reading the series oh my god. (Link to your Tumblr, please??)
      2) THANK YOU SO MUCH asdfghjkl I love yours!!
      3) Read it, love it & scream about it with me, please
      4) Captive Prince was the highlight of my month, to be honest
      5) Exactly! And the romance just did not sit well with me, goodbye
      6) You are one of my favorites 😭❤️

      Like

  21. 13 books!?! I wish, I’m 12 books behind on my goal 😩
    I really need to pick Three Dark Crowns back up, there’s 3 books out and I still haven’t finished the first one 🤦🏻‍♀️
    Circe is in my BookDepository cart, it’s my next purchase 😍 that one is right up my alley because I’m a Classical Studies minor! ❤️
    Great wrap-up! Also, I’m obsessed with your blog 😅
    Happy reading 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ohh what’s your 2018 goal? 🙂

      To be honest, I don’t recommend the Three Dark Crowns series at all, book two was only marginally better than book one, which I almost didn’t finish. 😅 I can’t wait to hear what you think of Circe, though! It’s such a gorgeously written book, and I really think you’ll love it. ❤

      Ahh that means so much to me, thank you!! I love yours & I'm so happy we found each other. Happy reading to you as well! 🌷

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My goal is 75 books this year because I’m crazy 😂 I usually read like 35 so idk what got into me 🤷🏻‍♀️
        Oh really? Well, I’m glad you say that, now I don’t feel guilty about not finishing it 😄 I’ve never read anything by Madeline Miller, but I do own The Song of Achilles so I need to get to her books this summer. Everyone raves about them, I’m 99% sure I will love them 😋
        You’re very welcome and thank you, I’m glad you like my blog 😊💕

        Liked by 1 person

        1. You can do it!! 👏🏻

          Haha, you shouldn’t feel guilty!! And I know a lot of people who lost interest in it, actually. I really enjoyed The Song of Achilles! Definitely feel free to rant to me about it, when you get around to reading it. 🙂

          💗💗

          Liked by 1 person

  22. Slumps are the worst and most of the time, there is no quick fix. For me, time away from reading works, but also quick stories like graphic novels often do the trick. I get more and more intrigued by Circe by the day. Everyone seems to love that one. Hope you have a happy June!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your tips, Alicia! 😊 I don’t read graphic novels very often, but re-reading one of my childhood favorites definitely helped. And Circe is absolutely magical, I hope you love it, when you decide to read it!

      Thank you so much, I hope you have a wonderful June as well. 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Sooo glad you had a ton of good books read this month!! That’s a super low GR average though. 🙈 Rooting for you to find more books that really suit your tastes! Mine was about 3.6, I think? But I’ve kind of stopped doing negative reviews (just a personal choice…I just don’t review if I don’t like it) so it’s gone up to 4.something stars. I’m honestly not paying so much attention to it anymore. 😂 But LOVE that Goodreads records stats like that right?!

    And so so want to read Circe and have Leah on the Offbeat on my TBR! Although I’ve heard some serious mixed things about it haha.

    ALSO YOUR BLOG IS SO PRETTY.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Cait! 😊 I’m just a naturally critical reader, I guess, but staying away from ARCs has definitely helped. And YES, Goodreads is so great for keeping track of books and recording all kinds of info.

      I really hope you love Circe, it’s absolutely wonderful, especially the writing!

      AHHH THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH! That means the world to me, especially coming from you. 😭❤️

      Like

  24. I didn’t read a lot of books, but I did enjoy many of those I read.

    That’s the more important thing though, isn’t it?

    Alsooooo your blog is so pretty! It’s *soooo* pleasing to look at! #goals

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Loved your post and I’ll definitely check out your recommendation posts (not that I need even more books on my tbr …)
    My average on goodreads is 3.93. But that is probably a bit skewed because recorded all the books I remember from my childhood (only the ones I really loved really). I don’t know if I’m just not that much of a critical reader or just very good at picking books I’ll probably like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but I don’t really pay attention to it anyways.
    My fav book in May was probably either The Sleeping Beauty Killer or The Damage Done which is funny cause I don’t really read that much crime/thriller.
    As for June releases I am excited for: A Thousand Perfect Notes!! I think it’s coming out today and I can’t wait to pick it up as soon as I’m not broke af anymore 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, I’m so glad I could introduce new books to you! 🌸

      Childhood books definitely skew my average rating as well, and I always feel like ratings from more than a year ago don’t 100% reflect my opinion on the books anymore, but going back to change them all doesn’t feel right, either …

      I’m definitely going to check out those books, thanks for the recommendations! 🙂 & I’m super excited about A Thousand Perfect Notes as well, I hope you can get it soon, and we both enjoy it. 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Aww thank you so, so much for mentioning me, you’re way too sweet, you’re the one with the blog goals and aesthetics here for sure ❤ ❤ ❤
    I'm glad that you have been reading better books so far this year and I hope it'll keep on getting better and better – I found out that the blogging community has given me so many incredible recommendations, hopefully it will be the same for you 🙂
    I hope you are having a great June so far! xx

    Liked by 1 person

  29. So agree with what you say about visiting/commenting on the blogs we love, read and follow. I’m often in the same boat. Much as I love the blogs I follow, and have become friends with many of the bloggers, sometimes visiting them all is a challenge.

    So nice to meet you, Lily! I look forward to being a reader and visitor of Sprinkle of Dreams! 🙂

    ..also, you had an amazing reading month! Pretty sure I only read 3 1/2 books? Or something like that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad I’m not alone in this! & I always feel guilty for not being able to be more active, and finding new blogs as well.

      It’s so nice meeting you as well, Rissi! I can’t wait to see more of your posts, your blog is so beautiful. ❤

      Thank you so much! 💗

      Like

  32. every time I go to your blog it gets prettier… not fair ❤
    what the heck you've actually read so many books?? not to mention, omgg I still need to read Leah on the Offbeat. ahh I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Undead Girl Gang bc that cover looked so cute!! ))': (I definitely obsess over covers too much HAHA)
    honestly, my average rating on GR is probably somewhere around 3.5? 3.6? I think it's amazing that you're a more critical reader!! my feelings about books constantly change over time as my tastes evolve and I feel very tempted to re-rate everything. *sighs*
    My fave May book was a re-read, "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison!! (I also read A Court of Frost and Starlight and… no thank you)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahh thank you so much, Hannah, you’re too kind. 😭💖

      It’s actually not that much for me, but thanks!! Leah was honestly a disappointment & I really hope you enjoy Undead Girl Gang more than I did, because I agree, the cover’s super cute! (And same, they’re a valid reason to buy books.)

      That’s so sweet of you, thank you!! I’m honestly still trying to embrace it, so that means a lot to me! And I definitely relate to wanting to re-rate everything, but then my average rating would most likely be even lower. 😂 3.5-3.6 is a great average rating to have! 🙂

      Ohh I’m going to check it out on Goodreads right now, thanks for the rec! I’ve actually never read a book by Sarah J. Maas before (I think) & I’m glad I didn’t miss out on anything by steering clear of that book, and the series it’s part of.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. yikes this is such a late response but thank you for bearing w my constant unplanned hiatuses!! SJM books are super popular but super controversial (especially nowadays?) I honestly don’t think you’ll enjoy ACOFAS, but who knows :’)

        also just popping in to say ily! ❤

        Liked by 1 person

        1. No, don’t worry about it!! I totally understand, and sometimes you just need a hiatus from the blogosphere, take all the time you need. 💗 I kind of don’t think so either, haha.

          You’re such an angel, sending much love to you!! 💞💓💞

          Liked by 1 person

  33. IM JUST SEEING THIS IM TRASH. IM SO SORRY.

    (thank you for linking to my blog youre amazing ily)

    OMG ALL THE BOOKS YOU READ IM SO JEALOUS CAN I BE YOU. I hope that you have an amazing June (shhhh it’s like halfway through already) and read even more brilliant books!!!!!!!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  34. IM SCREAMING. YOU READ CARDCAPTOR SAKURA AND IM JUST AAAAAAAA
    Also haven’t heard of Jellicoe Road but that title sounds so interesting!
    13 books in a month is definitely a lot for me, considering I only read 2 or 3 books every month noe because college *cries* but I get what you mean! I used to read 2 or 3 books A DAY. Those good old times. Sigh.
    I do hoe you’ll get out of your reading slump! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. AHHHH PLEASE TELL ME YOU LOVE IT!! ISN’T SAKURA THE CUTEST. ❤

      It's such a gem, and hardly anyone has heard of it + Melina Marchetta is such an underrated author in general?

      That's so relatable, I hardly read anything when I have to study for uni & have classes. And reading two to three books a day sounds about right during holidays or breaks. 😦

      Thank you so much, Kate!! I hope you have a fantastic June! 🌻

      Like

      1. I’ve seen clips of the new series aND SAKURA AND SYAORAN ARE JUST TOO MUCH FOR MY HALF-BITTER HEART 😭💕

        Ooh! Then I’ll check that and the rest of her novels out on break!

        Ah yes. One of the main reasons why breaks are super important: it gives us ample time to read books. Like 24/7 ample time 😆

        Thank you Lily! Hope you have an awesome July ahead! 🤗

        Liked by 1 person

  35. IM SCREAMING. YOU READ CARDCAPTOR SAKURA AND IM JUST AAAAAAAA
    Also haven’t heard of Jellicoe Road but that title sounds so interesting!
    13 books in a month is definitely a lot for me, considering I only read 2 or 3 books every month noe because college *cries* but I get what you mean! I used to read 2 or 3 books A DAY. Those good old times. Sigh.
    I do hope you’ll get out of your reading slump! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Just getting around to this now, but wanted to say thanks so much for the shout out in this post Lily! You’re an energetic and prolific blogger and reader and I’m so here for it. Sending lots of warmth and strength and hope you’re doing okay.

    Liked by 1 person

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