MONDAY UPDATES & A BLOGGING HIATUS

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by Renee (Itsbooktalk)

2018 sequels-4

 

Hi Everyone! I know it’s been pretty quiet on the blog these last couple weeks, life has certainly been busy for me and blogging has taken a backseat. Among other reasons, my reading life has taken a weird turn in that I don’t seem all that interested in reading my advanced copies or any new releases lately. Needless to say, that makes having any reviews wrote to post to the blog kind of difficult. What I have been reading is somewhat surprising to me, but on vacation a couple weeks ago I read my first Colleen Hoover book…It Ends With Us…and I was HOOKED! I absolutely loved that book and have to thank my friend Brandie at Running On Words and Wine for recommending I read it.  I had wondered for so long why so many readers seemed consumed by her books but now I know and I’ve proceeded to work my way through her backlist. Here’s what I’ve read in the past 2 weeks….

 

I loved all these books so yes, I’m having a Colleen Hoover reading love affair at the moment and my poor ARCS and new releases from the library will have to wait as I make my way through the rest of her backlist. I love it when I find a new favorite author, especially when they have a significant backlist.

A BLOGGING HIATUS….

During my unexpected blogging break over these last couple weeks, I’ve realized that I’m feeling a little unmotivated about blogging and can’t say I have much of a push to get back in the swing of things so I’ve decided to take a blogging hiatus for now. I still plan on visiting other blogs as I want to know what you all are reading and reviewing, it’ll just be on a more sporadic basis. If you’d like to see what I’m reading I’ll still be posting on Goodreads and working on my challenge. You can use my Goodreads link on the blog or send me a friend request at itsbooktalk@gmail.com.  Happy Reading to you all and hopefully I’ll be back soon!

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Renee (Itsbooktalk)

55 thoughts on “MONDAY UPDATES & A BLOGGING HIATUS”

  1. Finally… welcome to the other side :-). I’m so happy you like her books, I love how she can make me feel for the characters! I also can’t believe you already read All Your Perfects before me :-). I hope your hiatus helps to get you motivated again so we don’t have to miss you too long! xxx

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I will certainly miss your blog. Thank you for all the wonderful recommendations. I hope you enjoy your break from blogging and you are able to pursue some other paths😉

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  4. I am so glad that you finally got a chance to read It Ends with Us. I love that book and I also enjoyed November 9. Haven’t read Ugly Love though I have the book sitting on my shelf.

    Enjoy your break Renee. I look foward to seeing you back soon.

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  5. Enjoy your break Renee! It will be nice to not have any pressures and just enjoy your books! I will keep up with you on Goodreads. 🙂

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  6. You’ll be missed, Renee, but it’s good that you’re doing what you know is best for you. Text me anytime so we can touch base!

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  7. Isn’t CoHo the best?! So glad you’re enjoying her. I’m struggling with blogger burnout so bad right now too. I need to do something different, not sure what yet but I completely understand how you’re feeling.

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    1. Another author I was seriously resisting and how is it her books are so addicting? I love it! I’m sorry you’re feeling the burnout as well, I think for me mine centers around my complete disinterest in writing any reviews right now. I hope you figure out a plan that helps reenergize you, in the meantime, let’s keep in touch through DM:)

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      1. I think for me I’m getting tired of reading to a schedule, I need to block out a few months with no required reading I think! And yes, been way too long since we’ve had a good chat

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      2. That sounds like a good plan, it’s hard to feel like you have to read and write a review verses reading whatever you’re in the mood for…I really want to clear my netgalley as well and get those books read and some sort of review posted so I have no more ARCs waiting on me. I hope you can have a free reading summer maybe:)

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  10. Oh no!! Sad 😦 But you know you don’t have to read and post on new releases, right?!

    I’d love to chat more..email me!

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    1. I would love to hear your thoughts on this author and genre Janel! I never thought I would enjoy New Adult like I’m enjoying her books, if you do decide to read 1 start with It Ends with Us. I’ll chat with you over on your blog or Goodreads:)

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  14. CoHo is the best! 🙂 I’ve read everything she’s written except All Your Perfects, which I couldn’t get my hands on as an ARC, but that’s okay because I would have bought the hardback anyway, lol. I’m so glad you are enjoying her books! It seems like she appeals to everyone 🙂

    Enjoy your break! It can be so hard trying to keep up with your ARCs, and that takes some of the fun out of reading. I hope the time away and reading just for you brings that joy back. We’ll miss you, but you definitely need “you” time 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Stephanie, so I’m dying to hear your CoHo favorites! I just picked up Maybe Someday as my next one to read. I’m hoping a little time off of writing reviews and reading ARCS is just what I need

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      1. Oh! It Ends With Us is my favorite!! With that book, her writing style began to change from her romances, which I still love to more “adult” books that tackle tough topics. That book blew me away. I remember it being one of the 1st books I reviewed on my blog last year when I started it 😊 Without Merit is my 2nd favorite; it’s another atypical CoHo that was published after It Ends With Us. It’s about mental illness, and I found it very powerful since I have panic attacks and Generalized Anxiety Disorder…it is definitely a relevant read for today’s young adults with mental illness. I made both my boys read it because one has anxiety and the other depression …they’re 18 and almost 21. I love Maybe Someday and the Hopeless series. Ugly Love made me ugly cry, and is probably my 3rd favorite. I loved the Never, Never series too even though the last book was just weird. Book 1 was so good though!! I think I read all her books when I discovered them in a week…it was like 1 a day, lol. They’re addictive! I think the time off will help you. I’m taking a break in the summer even though I think I have 15 ARCs that release; sometimes we all need one for our mental health. I might try to read my books, write the reviews, and schedule them, but like you, I don’t feel like writing reviews. I just want to read! ❤📚❤ Enjoy your books! I hope you find some favorites!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It Ends with Us is also my fav so far. You’re the first person I’ve talked to who liked Without Merit, it seems most people were thrilled with that one. Ugly Love made me cry too which I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t realize you have 2 boys, they are the same age as mine! Well my oldest will be 21 in Oct so not too far away. I’d love to chat with you about All Your Perfects once you read that one!!

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      3. It Ends With Us seems to be most peoples favorite! Hmm, I didn’t realize that about Without Merit! I know that I raved about it with Chelsea (@suspenseisthrillingme) because she gave reviewed it before I read it and gave it 5 stars. I remember being THRILLED that she loved it because I was so excited and waiting for it to come out (it was one of my most anticipated fall releases). It was so, so very different than anything that CoHo had written before even very different than It Ends With Us, which was a huge departure from her other books, that I think people weren’t quite sure what to think about Without Merit because it’s not a romance at all but tackles depression, suicide, anxiety, etc. For me, I took the book very personally, and I think you can either relate to it or not, which might be why some people weren’t as thrilled. That would be my only thought or guess. If you want to read it, I’d definitely go check out Chelsea’s review on her blog or on Goodreads (I’m sure it’s on one or the other that I read it!), and see maybe see what you think her thoughts are. I still plan on reviewing it, but I just haven’t found the time with all my ARCs, but I will this summer.

        Oh, I’m glad that I’m not the only one who cried reading Ugly Love. I think I cried reading Hopeless too!

        Oh yes! I have 3 kids, but there’s a definite age difference between my boys and my daughter. She’ll be 8 in June. My oldest will be 21 the middle of Sept, so how funny our boys are almost the exact same ages!

        I can’t wait to get my hands on All Your Perfects!! I’ve heard some great things, and yes, I would love to chat with you about it!

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  15. Oh my goodness! I am so happy you loved some Colleen Hoover! She is one of my auto-buy authors and I love everything she writes! I am so excited for All Your Perfects!

    I hope you get some inspiration soon! I know how you feel, I had a huge blog slump the whole month of February this year. I think I only posted once that month, it was awful!

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  18. It’s nice to try new stuff (genre/author) from time to time!
    I got really fed up with my usual thrillers lately and been reading sci-fi / cyberpunk for now and it helped a lot.

    Have a nice break! 🙂

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  19. Many of us take a blogging break. It happens. Blogging is not easy, and if we aren’t careful it can start feeling like a job and not a hobby. I slow down when I feel like savoring my books without the pressure of reviewing them. I’ve slowed down a lot lately in fact. I hope you will be reinvigorated by your hiatus. ( :

    I bought It Ends With Us, and will be reading it likely in the next month or two. I can’t wait to read it.

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    1. You’re so right about blogging! It’s wonderful being a part of the community but lately it’s just hard keeping up with all the reading and writing. I hope my break will help too. I’m so happy you’re going to be reading It Ends With Us! I’d love to hear your thoughts when you’re done, so far it’s my favorite book of hers

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  22. Hope you have a restful hiatus and I look forward to your reviews when you get back. I’ll be sure to look you up on Goodreads too. I love a good mystery and suspense but I have seemed to been drawn to the romantic suspense genre and noticed you didn’t have any in your TBR list. I read an awesome one recently called “To Have and To Hold” by Ketley Allison. The book follows the kidnapping of Emme and it really puts the reader in her position. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time thinking “What would I do if I was Emme?” Little does she know that someone from her past is doing everything he can to find her. Not only did I LOVE this book I’m thrilled I happened upon the author because she has other books out that I’m excited to read as well. Check out her website: https://ketleyallison.com/
    Hope you check her out! She’s a great suspense writer for sure. Thanks again for your list!

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  23. Hi Renee, I came looking for you this morning when I realised I hadn’t seen you around and found this which explains it. My posting has also been hit and miss which is why I’m sorry it took me so long to notice! Enjoy your break, it can get pressured and start to feel a bit like a treadmill. Rediscover your love of reading and when/if the time feels right. we’ll all still be here. Looks like I might have to investigate Colleen Hoover now as well. Take care, love, Jill

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    1. Hi Jill! Thanks so much for your message and yes I just got somewhat burnt out on the whole blogging and social media thing. I hope to return at least sporadically. I had followed your posts during your treatment and I hope your recovery is going well. It sure sounds like a long road you have traveled and I hope things are looking up for you. Yes, check out Colleen Hoover for sure and I can also highly recommend my other author obsession, Taylor Jenkins Reid! You take care too!!

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  24. I also loved It Ends With Us, a touching and unforgettable novel.
    I hope your hiatus is going well and I hope you’ll be back soon!
    Throwback Thursday is such a good idea:)
    I also sometimes feel overwhelmed by my reading (unending TBR pile), writing (blog and novels), work (I’m a teacher) family (mother and grandmother) and life in general! So I take shortish blogging/reading/writing breaks now and again, but it’s such fun and so motivating feeling connected by blogging, that I’ve always returned, so far! Hope you do too:)
    All the best❤

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  25. I think readers have tons of empathy😍 We are good listeners and we understand and sympathise with so many people in such diverse situations that it makes us kinder and more insightful and if we blog, too, that makes us ‘the best people’🤩

    Liked by 1 person

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