IT’S JUNE!? That’s what has been constantly repeating in my head since yesterday. Wild. Anyway, what was May? May was my birthday month and it was one of the best ones I’ve had in a while because I had online and offline friends that made me appreciate it more. I’m so thankful for all the friends I’ve made on here and I wanted to say that I appreciate you all so so much! 💜
dinipanda magic
One of the gifts my sister gave me this year was a commissioned artwork of ME featuring my favourite things. She said it’s meant to “encompass the magic of being in love with books, like a master of loving stories, including other things that you love like Zelda and pandas.” It’s one of the sweetest and most thoughtful gifts anyone has given me and I love it so much! 🥹🥹🥹
Aside from that, May was also the month my work contract ended. I sent my official farewells to my colleagues of the last five years on the last day of May and it was quite a bittersweet moment. Silly of me to think that it wouldn’t affect me because of how “over it” I pretty much was by the end, but five years is a long time and as much as the job drained me, I really loved how passionate everyone was. I think I’ve processed it and I’m now ready to look forward to whatever comes next—which, for right now, is travelling to India to be with one of my besties for at least the next few months. Onward and upward and all that, right? 🛫
Although it felt like I didn’t read a lot this month, I finished 22 books and a lot of them were really great reads! I only had two 5-star reads but a lot of 4-4.5-star reads which I think is just as fantastic! Both of my 5-star reads are new favourites and they gave me all the heartwarming, uplifting and comforting vibes, and I’d definitely recommend them!
**BOOK COVERS are linked to Goodreads. The TITLE TEXT is linked to my review if available!**
5 pandas
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
(ARC) Everything for You
4.5 pandas
(KU) Meet Me Halfway
The City of Brass
(KU) Malice
4 pandas
3.5 pandas
(ARC) Starry-Eyed Love
(ARC) The Ivory Key
3 pandas
(ARC) Impossible
Unrated
Here are a few posts from the book blogging community that I’ve enjoyed reading this past month:
- Do you like books and boba? Veronica @ Little Corner Reads made a really fun post where you choose a boba drink and she chooses a debut by an Asian author for you to read!
- Kat @ Life and Other Disasters continues her awesome reading compatibility experiment with Harry Styles! I totally agree.
- Nick @ The Infinite Limits of Love made this incredible bookish fashion show post pairing romances with Indian couture and let me tell you right now, it’s *chefs kiss*! SO GOOD!
- Kaya @ A Fictional Bookworm wrote a review for The Atlas Six that had me cackling but she also wrote a great post about new adult books as a genre.
- Jess @ Jessticulates talked about Every Heart A Doorway specifically looking at the ace rep in the book.
- Mint @ Mint Loves Books tried out Readerly as a potential alternative to Goodreads.
- Ali @ The Lost and Found shared her thoughts about her favourite genre: the family saga!
- Are you looking for ways to increase traffic? Briana @ Pages Unbound shares two main ways to increase traffic to your book blog!
- Chris @ Biblionerd Reflections and Jennifer @ My Book Joy did the Meet the Book Blogger Tag and it was so great getting to know these bloggers better! 😊
And that’s a wrap for May! How was your reading month and what was your favourite read? I know the month ended on quite a sombre note for many, so I hope everyone is doing okay and taking care of themselves! I hope June is a good/great/better month for all of us! Giant panda hugs, friends. 💜🫂💜
dinipandareads 
The artwork your sister commissioned is BEAUTIFUL! It’s really such a thoughtful and personal gift, I love it.
Also, 22 books is A LOT! I’m glad you enjoyed most of them. I was already pleased with finishing 4 books hahaha
Thanks so much for featuring my reading experiment!
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I’ve never received commissioned art as a gift before but I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! 😍 And yeah, I’m pretty chuffed with the 22 books hehe I thought I read a lot less (cos sometimes it do feel that way) but it was a great month overall. I hope you have an amazing June, Kat!
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I love that piece of artwork your sister gave you. Most excellent! 😍
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Hehe, thanks, Tessa! I’m obsessed! 😍 I hope you have an amazing June!
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That artwork is fantastic! I love getting commissioned work as a gift. It just feels so special and unique. It’s probably my favorite gift to get other than books. Thanks for the shout out! 🙂
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This is the first commissioned work I’ve ever received as a gift and I’m obsessed! 🥰 I hope you have an awesome June!
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What a gift your sister gave you!
I hope you have a fabulous time with your friend on your trip.
And I think I need to look for A Psalm for the Wild-Built.
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She really surprised me with it (also because it came a little late and was not expecting it at all!) but I love it so much 🥰 Also, I would highly recommend A Psalm for the Wild-Built if you can get your hands on it. It’s fantastic! I hope you have a fabulous June!
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Oh man, that artwork is such an awesome gift! I’m so glad May was wonderful to you! Here’s hoping June is, too!
(Also 22 books?!?!? I’m so jealous you were able to read that many!)
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RIGHT!? I’m obsessed with the art 🥹 I hope June is better for you and the family, Jordyn! 💜
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This looks like a pretty great May to me!
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It was pretty grand! 😍
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Thank you for the shout out and have fun travelling!
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Thanks, Mint! I hope you have a fabulous June 😊
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Happy belated birthday 🥳 hope you had An amazing day.
That artwork your sister commissioned is so pretty 😍
Hope you have a wonderful June
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Thanks, Michaela! Hehe, I’m slightly obsessed with the artwork 🥰 I hope you have an amazing June as well!
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You’re welcome and thank you 😊
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Aw I love that birthday gift your sis got you and hope you had a fabulous birthday month! I see you finally read The City of Brass! I really need to get on that – hope you have an amazing June!
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Hehe, the artwork got done a little late and she only surprised me with it the other day and ah, I’m obsessed! I love it so much 🥰 And YES! I finally read it and… it took a while to warm up to it but I ended up *loving* it and now I’m so excited for the next book! I hope you have an amazing June as well, Yolanda!
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What an amazing gift! That artwork is awesome. I hope there are many amazing new things awaiting you in June.
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I love this artwork so much! 🥰 I hope you have an amazing June as well, Sam!
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Great wrap-up! I love the art, that’s precious 🥰 I hope June treats you so well!
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I’m obsessed with the art as well! I hope June is awesome for you, Destiny! 💜
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oh my gosh, your sister’s art is AMAZING!!! i hope you have a wonderful june!!! and thank you so much for mentioning my posts💜
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RIGHT!? Her commission made me a little bit teary cos she knows how much I love books and all these things and *my heart* 🥹 I hope you have a fabulous June as well, Kaya!
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Looks like you a pretty great May! I love that artwork, that’s such a thoughtful gift. Hope you’ll have a wonderful time travelling!
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It was pretty good and yes, I love this artwork so much 🥰 I hope you have an awesome June, Lindsey!
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[…] Monthly Wrap Up: May 2022 […]
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That commissioned artwork is so pretty & what a great reading month! 💕 I’ll be sure to read your review on The Ivory Key!! Not sure if you’ve made a post like this in the past, but I’d love to read about any tips you have to read more books as a blogger (especially while reviewing & making content throughout the month).
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I love the artwork so much too! 🥰 I’ve never actually done a post before with tips for how to read more as a blogger but that does sound like a fun idea so maybe I’ll prepare a post for that in the near future! 😍
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Congrats on a great month! I’m glad your birthday was a happy one, and I love the artwork your sister had commissioned. It’s gorgeous! I *finally* read the first Bergman brothers and now I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Happy to see you enjoyed Everything For You! ❤️
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Thanks, Dedra! I love this commissioned work as well. It’s so cute and it was so sweet of her to commission it for me. 🥰 Aah, I’m so glad that you’ve finally read a Bergman Brothers book! That’s one of my favourite romance series ever so I hope you continue to enjoy the stories 😃 Happy reading and have a great June!
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Whoa, the artwork is stunning! That’s an awesome gift!
You had a great reading month, Dini! Congrats! 😀
Also, I’m very interested in reading John Gwynne’s Malice. I’m obsessed with his Bloodsworn books! So good!
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Omg I just saw your comment! Thanks, Andie! 🥰 I’m so happy with this commission my sister gifted me! I hope you enjoy Malice! It was definitely a bit out of my comfort zone but it was *so* good 😍 I can’t wait to read his Bloodsworn books! I hope you enjoy it!
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That commission looks so great, what a nice gift! Thanks so much for sharing my post 😍 It was a lot of work but a lot of fun to write, and I’m so happy people have been enjoying it ♥
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Thank you! I’m quite chuffed with this gift from my sister 🥰 Loved the creativity of your boba post! Definitely lots of fun! I hope you’re having a great June!
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Thanks and you too ♥♥
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