We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent your time curled up reading in bed with or which book you wish you had time to read today!
I spent my Sunday reading The Ashes & the Star Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent. This is the second book of the Nightborn Duet and I’m looking forward to seeing how this ends. It’s a chonky bub but I’m close to 50% now and I plan to finish it by tomorrow (maybe, lol). I hope it’s a satisfying ending!
What are you currently reading?
It was another quiet week at work and well, at home as well. I really don’t have much of a personal or social life and I’ve been thinking a lot more about this lately because earlier in the week I was talking to one of my colleagues about what I was like when I was at uni and how different I was back then. It’s hard to believe, even for me, that someone as “anti-social” and introverted as I am now, used to thrive going out 4-5 times a week. I was probably the worst student but I made a lot of great memories from my uni days that I don’t regret. It’s funny how much that has changed and how much energy it now takes me to do anything outside of work.
Sometimes I think I need to push myself harder out of my comfort zone to try and meet new people (somehow) but part of me is also pretty okay being by myself, having my family for company, and knowing that although my closest friends are far away, we still always have each other. Sometimes I feel annoyed at myself for being “complacent” but I’m also just… Tired 99% of the time, lol.
On books: I haven’t read too much this past week but I did finally finish my group read of The Dragon Republic and holy granola, it absolutely wrecked all of us. I’m already an emotional reader and oof, I was a mess! 😭 It was so good but so heartbreaking. I loved it! I also finished cataloguing all of my owned books now. I’m kind of embarrassed to say how many books I own? 😂 But I’m also proud of my collection, at least of my physical books. It’s also been really interesting to see how my reading has evolved over the years, especially looking at my ebook catalogue!
On blogging: I need to catch up but I have tomorrow and I plan to spend most of my day blog hopping and wrapping up April because somehow it’s already May?! 🙃
ICYMI, here’s what I posted this week:
- The “I’ll Get Around to It Later” Book Tag!
- #FirstLinesFriday: 28 April 2023
- Book Review: The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
- #WWWWednesday: 26 April 2023
- #TopTenTuesday: Audiobook Narrators
- Book Review: The Perfect Match by Eliza McLane
the alcott – the national x taylor swift
I really hope you’re all doing okay and treating yourself with care. Let’s have a great week ahead! 💜
dinipandareads 
It’s so hard to keep up the pace you had at university, and even more difficult if you move away from where you went to school. I can totally understand not having the energy to work full time and make new friends, etc. When you really want it, I am sure you will make the time and effort to incorporate those things you desire into your life.
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I don’t think I’d expect myself to keep up with my uni days but it’s definitely hard making new friends when you move a lot and the older you get. Or maybe it’s just me and my lack of socialising making me feel more anxious about going out and meeting new people now 😂
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Being an adult makes life so much harder because you are always tired after work and adulting. I get how hard it is to make friends. I’ve lived in Cincinnati for 11 years and I only have like a handful of friends. Most, I made at work when I worked at the library. I just made another friend, who is my neighbor, and her son is in Ollie’s class. They are such good friends and she’s so similar to me. It’s so much easier to meet ppl when you have a pet or a kid. LOL. You just don’t have a choice by then! Whatever makes you happy is what you should focus on. ❤
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I mean, I’m more than happy with my besties even though they live far away and I think what drained me was that when I first moved back to Indonesia almost 9 years ago now, I really put myself out there and made all these friends until one by one they left (cos they were international folks) and when I had to keep repeating the cycle of “make friends and say bye to friends in 6 months to a year” it just got very tiring… 😂
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Oh goodness… that would be insanely hard and draining! I totally get having besties that live far away! I do too. Sometimes though, it’s nice to just grab a coffee with someone or something. I really wish it was much easier to make friends at our age.
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I wouldn’t say you’re “complacent”! Honestly, it’s also harder to make friends as an adult. Most of our time is spent working and it’s difficult to truly “be yourself” if socializing with work colleagues. When we’re not working we’re grocery shopping or running other errands, trying to maintain the friendships we already have, and also trying to keep up with our hobbies. Suffice it to say, you’re doing great, Dini!
I’ve seen Carissa Broadbent’s latest book *all over* my timelines, both on IG and on Twitter. It seems like most people like the books, though I’d never heard of either of them until a couple of weeks ago haha. They seem right up my alley. Unfortunately I canceled my KU subscription, but there’s a chance my library might have them…sometimes they have popular indie or self-pub in their e-book options.
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It’s comforting to know that other people are experiencing the difficulties of making friends as an adult 😂 Thanks, Celeste! I appreciate the supportive words 💜 Adulting really drains a body, lol. And YES, the reason I picked up Broadbent’s books was because they were all over my feeds everywhere too. I’m glad I read them, although at times they really felt way too long, but it’s a good intro to this world the author’s created. I hope you enjoy them if you get a chance to get your hands on them!
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When I moved for my first job, I was very much a hermit besides work. It was hard to get to know people and most of the people I worked with were older and had families. It took until my second year to finally meet people and get out a bit. You will do it when you are ready Dini.
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Yeah, I wouldn’t mind getting to know a few colleagues outside of work but they’re mostly older and have families and live far away so it’s definitely hard. But it’s OK, I think I’ve come accept it is what it is. But you’re right, maybe when I’m ready and tired of not socialising, I’ll put myself out there again 😂 Thanks, Carla!
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Honestly being around people is exhausting (the older I get lol). I’m kind of an introvert who can turn on the extrovert on like a light switch, especially in my college days. I saw an ex-coworker friend today and wow…I realized I haven’t worked in a “workplace” with other people in almost 11 years! I ran an Etsy business for awhile, but that’s lonesome work – even though I connected with a lot of amazing customers over email. I have my small core group of friends who keep me sane but I hardly see – we text almost daily though. And of course I have family. Now the new adults I meet are my kids’ friend’s parents lol…but juggling everything just gets so tiring. Like today…I am just TIRED. So I totally understand how you feel!
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Being around people IS exhausting, lol. I guess it is easier to meet other adults when you have kids and stuff, but I also have my online friends through book blogging, and honestly, I’m not mad about it 😂 Y’all make me happy and we get to talk about books together, what’s not to love?! I can definitely still turn on my ‘extrovert’ switch when needed but it takes so much longer to recharge after that these days too, lol. Adulting is so tiring 🥲
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Aw yes I love the friends I’ve made through blogging also! Yes, adulting is very tiring lol
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I think that’s how most adults feel. Adulting is exhausting with little energy left for anything else. Hope you have a good week!
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Adulting is *definitely* exhausting and really tires a body out, lol. Glad I’m not the only one who feels this way 😂 I hope you have a good week too, Tessa!
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I had a playdate scheduled last week for my daughter and my introverted self definitely wanted to stay home. 😂 My mother-in-law tells me I need to make friends and I tell her I have many online. She doesn’t think its funny lol.
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LOL, honestly, I’m with you there. I love the connections I’ve made with all of you online and it’s comforting to me (and makes me happy)! 😂
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I loved The Alcott! Such a great song!
It’s hard to push ourselves to interact these days. Making friends as adults is even harder than as kids and so is keeping up with friends.
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It is SUCH a good song! I love their harmonies 😍 So gorgeous! I’m glad I have my core group of besties from my uni days but it’s just hard when we all live in different countries spread out across the globe, lol.
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I’m hoping to pick up Broadbent’s duet soon. I’ll be reading The Dragon Republic this month, and y’all have me nervous! I’ve made it a goal of mine to get outside of my comfort zone a lot this year. I’ve made some fantastic memories and some new friends. I’m an introvert, so I always need some good rest, too. But, it’s been so worth the push for me.
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Ali… Dragon Republic… Gear yourself up! 😂 Kuang doesn’t hold back! I also hope that you enjoy Broadbent’s duet. It was fun—a little long (and it definitely felt like it was all 600+ pages) but a great intro to this new world! It’s awesome to hear that you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone and the results have been worth it! I feel like I don’t even know where to start here, lol.
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I’m definitely trying to gear myself up for it. Trying is the key word here. As far as the “starting” I just decided to start saying yes more often as opportunities came my way – even when the introvert in me wanted to say no. LOL!
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I feel you lol. I never the most extroverted person, but I have my moments where I hung out a lot with friends (like during high school and during my 10 month work on Lombok). Like I’ll be up for a hiking trip or going out until early in the morning during weekdays, never knew where did I get the energy loll. Or during my first job, I always have dinner outside with friends after work. But most of the time, I just like staying home after work and on the weekends. I guess it depends on the company? xD
I didn’t know there’s a new song by Taylor and The National??? It sounds so good though!
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You’re not alone, Dini! I feel like a completely different person than I was in college, too. It’s hard to make new friends. We especially feel like it’s a challenge where we’re at because everyone we meet has very different political/religious views than us. We wish we would have moved to a different state when we were younger. 😃 But I also feel like you: happy being by myself, too. I go round in circles about challenging myself all the time. 🤦♀️
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