Sunday Post #100

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (image above belongs to @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer). It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 
I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where bloggers discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics.

Life

Okay, crazy week. On Thursday evening the government announced schools, restaurants and bars would close, starting this weekend. I'm a teacher, so I will not be able to teach in the traditional way but I will have to provide material online. Not sure how or what yet though. I will also be asked to go to school because pupils who can't stay home are allowed to spend time at school. And future meetings should be placed in this "lockdown" period, never mind a group of teachers is still a group, and something we should avoid...

Blog and books

I didn't read much except for webtoons, I read Let's Play, SubZero, Midnight Poppy Land and Asura's Bride. Really enjoyed all of them.

Movies and TV Shows

This week I didn't watch much, except for a couple of episodes of The Crown's season 3.

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sunday Post #99: Webtoon

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (image above belongs to @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer). It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 
I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where bloggers discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics.

Life

I had another busy week at work, although now my schedule is a little bit better and I should be able to get enough sleep most of the time now. I'm looking forward to my next break though. 

Blog and books

I haven't read any books this week but I did start to read a couple of comics on Webtoon. I'm now a little bit obsessed with that site. I binged Lore Olympus in two days. Highly recommend this modern Hades and Persephone retelling. The art is stunning!

I'm currently reading True Beauty, which is fun as well.

This week I also posted my February wrap up!

Movies and TV Shows

This week I finished Lovesick, which was a fun show. I also started and finished I Am Not Okay With This, which I really enjoyed. Have you seen it? It definitely gave me some Stranger Things, Carrie and The Breakfast Club vibes. My favourite character was Stan.

I also watched The Endless Trench on Netflix, which is about the Spanish Civil War. I highly recommend this film, even though it was a bit too long.

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

January 2020 Wrap Up

Here is my January wrap up. It was quite a busy month, so I only read three books.

1. Snug: A Collection of Comics about Dating Your Best Friend by Catana Chetwynd

I got an e-arc from Netgalley, which I really enjoyed. You can find my review here. 

2. Carry On (Simon Snow #1) by Rainbow Rowell

I didn't like this one as much as most people did. I guess  Rainbow Rowell's books are just not for me. 2 stars.

3. Waiting for Spring 10 (Waiting for Spring, #10) by Anashin

I really like this manga series, it's very cute.

What did you read recently?
Have you read any of these books or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts and recommendations down below!

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sunday Post #96

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (image above belongs to @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer). It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 
I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where bloggers discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics.

Life

On Friday I went to two art exhibitions in Brussels which I enjoyed immensely. I visited one about Magritte and Dalí, and I loved seeing how these two great painters influenced each other. The other one was about Keith Haring, which was also interesting. I had a great day!

Blog and books

I'm currently still reading Little Women, I'm enjoying it but it's a bit slow at times. I also read the webtoon Punderworld (about Hades and Persephone) and I'm really enjoying it, can't wait to read what happens next. The artwork is incredible as well. I might also check out Lore Olympus. Do you have any webtoon recommendations? I'm quite new to them.

I wrote a Can't Wait Wednesday post and a Stacking the Shelves one this week. Next week you will be able to read what I read in January.

Movies and TV Shows

I watched the sequel To All the Boys on Netflix and it was fine. I also watched the second episode of The Durrells, a TV show I'm really enjoying at the moment.

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Review: Snug: A Collection of Comics about Dating Your Best Friend by Catana Chetwynd

Why bother getting out of bed when you could stay bundled up with that special someone and a book of cozy, cute comics. From the author of the bestselling Little Moments of Love comes Snug, a collection of comics that perfectly captures the honest, playful, and relatable snapshots of romantic life.

Chetwynd’s second book has the same charming and inviting style as her first and includes 50 percent new, never-before-shared comics. Snug is a celebration of the quirks and peculiarities of every one of us—and the magic that happens when we find our matching puzzle piece. 

-- Goodreads.com description --

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I have seen some of Catana's comics around, so I was very excited to read this book. The illustrations are cute, I like that they are rather minimal and black and white. The book is made up of adorable little moments in Catana's and John's relationship. The thing I probably liked the most is how supportive they are to each other. 

I really enjoyed this collection of Catana's comics. This was a very sweet, adorable, feel-good book that reminded me of my reading experience of Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen because both books are relatable and fun to read.

I haven't read Catana's first book but now I really want to!
Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful week!

Review: Croquette & Empanada: The Book Romeo Would Have Given Juliet by Ana Oncina

A classic love story: doughy appetizer boy meets doughy appetizer girl. Together they exist in a world cohabited by humans.

Croquette is looking for love—his sweet, silly other half.  Empanada hopes she can find someone who accepts her for who she is. It’s a match made in tasty, tasty heaven. Internationally bestselling author Ana Oncina’s Croquette & Empanada explores modern love and domesticity with charming comics. Enjoy the antics of this adorable, culinary couple as they navigate romance and cohabitation, from deciding to move in together to purchasing their first pet. 

-- Goodreads.com description --

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was drawn to this comic because the author is Spanish and really want to read more books by Spanish authors. I would like to reread this in Spanish.

This comic is about the relationship of Croquette and Empanada and all the little things that you can love or annoy you about living together and being a couple.

I quite enjoyed this collection but I still don't really understand why Croquette and Empanada are portrayed that way while the rest of the world is normal and populated with humans. That said, I really liked the art style, it is cute and quirky, exactly what I love in these types of comics. 

Some comics were really funny, relatable and so, so cute! Spain is my favourite country and I love eating tapas (especially patatas bravas and croquetas) when I'm there. I do wish there were more Spanish influences in the story but I guess this makes it more universal.

I recommend this book to everyone who want to read a fun, short collection of comics about little moments in a relationship. 3 stars! Will read more by Ana Oncina in the future!


Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful week!

Review: Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.

When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her kingdom, where the nuns of the convent spend their days peacefully praying, sewing, and gardening. But the island is also home to Margaret, a mysterious young orphan girl whose life is upturned when the cold, regal stranger arrives. As Margaret grows closer to Eleanor, she grapples with the revelation of the island’s sinister true purpose as well as the truth of her own past. When Eleanor’s life is threatened, Margaret is faced with a perilous choice between helping Eleanor and protecting herself. 

-- Goodreads.com description --

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This graphic novel intrigued me from the start because it was a reimagining of the exile of Queen Elizabeth I. As I have a master's degree in English literature I was immediately drawn to this synopsis. 

The story centres around Margaret who has spent most of her life on the island being raised by nuns. She slowly starts to discover everything about the island, the people who live there and the people who arrive.

Margaret's budding friendships were fun to read about and her loyalty knows no bounds. Her character was well developed but I often thought it was too convenient to have Margaret think of all the best solutions.

The art style is rather simplistic but it fits the story wonderfully. I would have preferred it if the story was either as historically correct as it can be or not based on history at all. I often found the characters resembling the royal family jarring because they acted and looked more or less the same but had completely different names.

The plot of Queen of the Sea moved quite slowly but this is fitting because time on the island would have moved slowly as well.

All in all, I did enjoy this graphic novel but if you are looking for a Queen Elizabeth I graphic novel you might be disappointed. If you are looking for a graphic novel set in a historical time period with new characters you might enjoy this a lot more. I gave Queen of the Sea 3 stars.


Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful week!

Review: Loading Penguin Hugs: Heartwarming Comics from Chibird by Jacqueline Chen

Where do you turn to when you need a pick-me-up on a bad day? Loading Penguin Hugs is here to add a big boost of positivity to your life. The book is loaded with Jacqueline Chen’s motivational Chibird comics and illustrations. Every page offers cute and creative perspectives on topics, such as self-esteem, mental health, and getting through tough times.

Loading Penguin Hugs combines adorable illustrations with wholesome messages to cheer you on. Expressions like “You are not a failure. You are still growing!” provide encouragement and promote healthy mindsets. Chen’s chubby penguins, hedgehogs, Chibirds, and friends of all shapes put a smile on anyone’s face, and they’ve already made millions smile on Instagram, Tumblr, and GIPHY.

Loading Penguin Hugs is full of brand-new Chibird comics alongside popular favorites. The book comes with two bonus pages of cute exclusive stickers, and the cover features a special silver foil detail!

This inspiring book is perfect for new and old Chibird fans. Chen and her animal friends are ready to brighten anyone’s day, one comic at a time.

-- Goodreads.com description --

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this comic a couple of months ago but didn't find the time to review it. I didn't know anything about Jacqueline Chen in advance but I quite enjoyed Loading Penguin Hugs. At first, I didn't realise this was a collection of comics and not a story. 

The comics were cute, motivational and fun to read. I will definitely check out more of Chen's work in the future! The comics were indeed heart-warming and I read this at the right time. Everyone can use a motivational penguin every once in a while.

Later, I actually saw one of Chen's penguin on an English exam made by a colleague wishing her students good luck. 

This collection is one I would like to reread every time I'm in the need of a penguin hug. I highly recommend it and I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars!

Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below! 


If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Sunday Post #52

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (image above belongs to @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer). It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

Life

Not much but work happened and dealing with the aftermath of what happened last week. I will receive some support tomorrow as someone will come visit my lesson but it will add extra stress because they will be evaluating me as well.

Blog and books

Currently reading Giant Days volume 6 and really enjoying it, although I don't have much time to read.

Movies and TV Shows

I adored Love 020 and started watching another Chinese drama on Youtube, Boss and Me, it's a lot slower, not sure if it will grab my attention until the end but we will see!

I still feel a little down over what happened last week. Any recommendations on how to lift my spirits are welcome!

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Sunday Post #51

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer (image above belongs to @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer). It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

Life

Life wasn't great this week. I found out I have to teach earlier on Tuesdays but I only get home around 11:30 p. m. from my Spanish teaching class on Monday, so I will always have less than 6 hours of sleep on Tuesdays. Not looking forward to that.

Also, an incident happened on Tuesday last week. I'm not going to go into too much detail but it ended in two pupils calling me names ("cancer whore" among others). This resulted in four pupils getting suspended immediately after my lesson. Safe to say, this wasn't a great day. I still feel a little shocked this happened.

Blog and books

Due to the incident, I didn't actually do much but I did read the first volume of Deadly Class this weekend!

Movies and TV Shows

I started watching the Chinese drama Love 020 this week and I'm really enjoying it. It's about two people who meet as characters in a computer game and later in the real world. I love the game elements and the cast of characters is very intriguing. I still need to watch the final four episodes and I'm so ready for it!

What did you read or watch recently?

As always please leave some recommendations on what I should read or watch next! 

If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Review: Book Love by Debbie Tung

Bookworms rejoice! These charming comics capture exactly what it feels like to be head-over-heels for hardcovers.


Book Love is a gift book of comics tailor-made for tea-sipping, spine-sniffing, book-hoarding bibliophiles. Debbie Tung’s comics are humorous and instantly recognizable—making readers laugh while precisely conveying the thoughts and habits of book nerds. Book Love is the ideal gift to let a book lover know they’re understood and appreciated. 

-- Goodreads.com description --

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I previously read and reviewed another e-arc written by Debbie Tung, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story, which I really enjoyed and when I saw her new title, I immediately knew I needed to read it.

Book Love is a collection of comics all about reading, buying and loving books. It is definitely a must read for booklovers. While reading the comic, I got the warm and cosy feeling that I always associate with reading a book or watching a movie while being cuddled under a warm, soft blanket with something to drink nearby. I got the same comforting feeling whilst reading Book Love.

Every single page is so relatable and could have been a moment from my own life. I really enjoyed reading Book Love and recognizing myself within its pages. I highly recommend this comic! 5 stars! 

The drawings are so cute and funny, I can't wait to see what Debbie Tung draws next!



Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below! 


If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Review: Open Earth by Sarah Mirk, Eva Cabrera and Claudia Aguirre

Rigo is a young woman of her time: specifically, the time just after the collapse of Earth. After living her whole life on a small space station orbiting the planet, the cultural norms and rules of her Californian parents are just history to her. In between work shifts at the station air farm, Rigo explores her own desires, developing openly polyamorous relationships with her friends and crewmates. When she starts to feel one of those relationships change, however, Rigo must balance her new feelings with the stability of her other relationships, as well as the hard-earned camaraderie of a small crew floating in the vastness of space. But, as the ship motto goes, "Honesty keeps us alive."

A heartfelt, positive, and erotic look at one woman's adventure in love and sex, as a new generation learns to make their own rules and follow their own hearts.

-- Goodreads.com description --

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately hooked by the cover, a comic set in space, I needed to read that! The space elements are definitely there but the comic focusses on the sexual relationships of Rigo and her friends. I really liked the diversity of the characters in this comic and the inclusion of Spanish words (however, if you don't speak Spanish it probably would have been better if they added a translation at the bottom of the page). 

To me, the characters felt very superficial and could have used a lot more development and growth. I do know these things are not always easy in this format but I often didn't quite understand certain relationships or the space setting. I often felt that things were not that well explained which made me confused and made it harder to focus on the story which is why I ultimately gave it two stars. 

Also, keep in mind that this comic is very graphic and sexually explicit.

Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below! 


If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Shades of Magic: The Steel Prince Vol. 1 (The Shades of Magic Universe) by V.E. Schwab, Andrea Olimpieri (Artist)

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting On Wednesday hosted at Breaking the Spine.

The comic will delve into the thrilling backstory of Kell’s adoptive father, prince Maxim Maresh, before he became the king of Red London. When Maresh is sent to a violent and unmanageable port city far away to cut his military teeth on strict orders from his father, King Nokil Maresh, he encounters an unruly band of soldiers, a lawless landscape, and a newly returned pirate queen.

-- Goodreads.com description --

I love the Shades of Magic trilogy by V. E. Schwab and I can't wait to read more books set in this world! Very excited to read this comic when it comes out in the beginning of October!

Have you read this book or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below!

Which books are you excited to read?

If you enjoyed this post, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Review: Aquicorn Cove by Katie O'Neill

When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a storm, the last thing she expects is to discover a colony of Aquicorns—magical seahorse-like residents of the coral reef. As she explores the damaged town and the fabled undersea palace, Lana learns that while she cannot always count on adults to be the guardians she needs, she herself is capable of finding the strength to protect both the ocean, and her own happiness. 

-- Goodreads.com description --












First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-arc of this comic in exchange for an honest review.

Aquicorn Cove is a fun comic about a little girl and magical sea horse-like creatures. I mainly picked this up because of the art and the ecological plot points.

I absolutely love the artwork and the colours, it's very cute and vibrant, and just for this reason alone I recommend this comic.

I did have a couple of issues with the plot of Aquicorn Cove. Although there are certain ecological elements explored, I was hoping that the comic would discuss more. For example, a point is made about the villagers and the damage of using plastic nets to fish and I thought the author could have expanded more on this as plastic in the ocean is a big problem. I really missed that here.

All in all, I really enjoyed Aquicorn Cove. It's a lot of fun and tries to address real ecological problems in a fantasy story. The art is stunning and cute but the plot itself is quite basic. I could have used a more developed story but this is probably difficult in this format. 4 stars!

Have you read this comic or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts down below!


If you enjoyed this review, please follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, TVShowTime and Goodreads! I would really appreciate it!

Have a wonderful day everyone!