Tag: WWW Wednesday

#WWWWednesday: 22 May 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads2 Comments

Is it really only Wednesday? It feels a little like it should be Friday already, but this is probably the side effect of having my holiday end on Monday, instead of at the weekend. It’s only been a day since I’ve come back to the office and the struggle is really real, y’all. All I wanna do is go back to that poolside bed and get sunbaked with a book in one hand and an iced coffee in the other. It’s times like these I really question why I don’t read for a living? Lol.

But before I drift off into my dream world, it’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

Since last week, I managed to finish reading Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, The Bride Test by Helen Hoang and Some Choose Darkness (e-ARC) by Charlie Donlea. I haven’t written my reviews for any of these yet, but hope to post one for Little Fires tomorrow (probably). I thoroughly enjoyed these reads though and they all received a 4/4.5 star rating from me! Little Fires Everywhere has been hyped a lot since last year and I was honestly scared to read it, but I’m so glad that my decision to take part in #APICelebrAsian / the #AsianReadathon pushed me to finally open it because I was impressed! I can’t wait to read more of her books and I’m so excited Little Fires is being made into a movie! The Bride Test was a fast, fun and super sexy read that I finished poolside while on holiday. Hoang won me over with The Kiss Quotient and she has done it again with The Bride Test! I loved the characters and the inclusiveness with characters on the spectrum. I loved the family relationships and the exploration of Asian (Vietnamese) culture and society. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a heart-fluttering feel-good read! My first finished ARC of the month, Some Choose Darkness was also my first Charlie Donlea read and it had me wondering how I hadn’t heard of him before because I loved it! While not entirely unpredictable, it still kept me on my toes and was fast-paced enough that I never felt bored. I devoured this and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! My full review for this will also (hopefully) be coming soon!

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading Final Girls by Riley Sager. I have heard so much about his books on bookstagram over the last few months that I couldn’t resist buying this when I came across it at the bookstore last week. I started it by the pool last week, but put it down because of my buddy reads, but now that those are out of the way, I’m back on it! Because of my hectic schedule and staycation, as well as my inability to really plan reads, I’m still also reading The Wedding Planner (Whisper Woods #3) by Eve Devon and How to Find Love in A Bookshop by Veronica Henry. The pub date for The Wedding Planner has already come and gone (03 May), but I just can’t seem to get into the story. It’s honestly too confusing jumping in without knowing the backstory between the characters and pairings. I’m feeling iffy about this, but I’m going to speed read and push through because you know I hate to DNF! As for the bookshop, there’s definitely no rush and I’m going to take my time reading it and perhaps using it as a palate cleanser between the thrillers I’ll be reading!

What will you read next?

So. Many. ARCs. Ohmygoodness, I just crept onto NetGalley on my lunch break today and there are so many ARCs that I need to get to reading. Why is my ass so lazy and disorganized? Seriously. I send myself into a tailspin every single time I go on the site to check what books need to be read. But literally 90% of the books waiting for me are being/have been published in May! Here are some of the ones I have to read because the pub dates have already passed or are coming up quick: The Vanishing Season by Dotch Hutchinson (21 May), The Women by S.E. Lynes (HAPPY PUBDAY! 22 May), and I Spy The Boy Next Door by Samantha Armstrong (25 May). Welp. Why do I do this to myself again?

What are you currently reading? Have you read any of these? If you’ve done a WWW Wednesday post today, leave your link in the comments below 🙂

#WWWWednesday: 15 May 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads5 Comments

Hey book friends! Hope everyone has been having a great week so far. My bestie has arrived from Brisbane today to spend a few days with me for my birthday this Sunday, so I don’t know if I’ll have much time to make more posts this week, but since Wednesdays are usually shorter posts, and the night is almost over, I thought I’d take a quick break from our catch up to write something. I’m so happy my bestie is here, she makes everything so much better and for the last few hours we’ve been reminiscing about our Melbourne days and catching up on all the latest face-to-face.

Anyway, without further ado, it’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

Most recently I finished an ARC that I had been “reading” for weeks, an upcoming poetry book and a popular contemporary fiction that I didn’t want to put down. Friends, I’ve finally finished Little Darlings by Melanie Golding. I think I really psyched myself out of reading this one for fear that it’d be too scary for my easily frightened imagination, but I ended up enjoying it well enough. You can read my review here. I read an ARC of a poetry collection called Between You and These Bones by F.D. Soul, which was published yesterday (14 May), and although I didn’t fully connect with it as much as I hoped I would, there were still some beautiful pieces that I really enjoyed. You can read my review here. Lastly, I stayed up late last night to finish Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. I’m still thinking over my review, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I haven’t read Ng’s debut so I didn’t really have an idea of what her writing would be like, but I can definitely understand why this book was so hyped! Definitely worth checking out. My review will be coming up (hopefully) soon so keep an eye out for that!

What are you currently reading?

The Wedding Planner (Whisper Woods #3) by Eve Devon. This is an ARC that was actually published yesterday too (14 May) — I’m so behind on my NetGalley reads because I’ve been feeling a little bit “slumpish” recently. I didn’t realize that this was actually the third book in a series, so to be honest I’m feeling a little bit lost with all the character and pairing mentions, but it seems to be a cute read so far. I hope that it won’t take me long to read! I’m also reading How to Find Love in A Bookshop by Veronica Henry. I recently looked through the books I’ve read and rated but didn’t write a review for and this is one of the ones I came across. I love books about books, especially when there’s romance involved, so I immediately felt the need to pick this up for a reread. It’s almost like reading it ‘new’ because my memory is notoriously bad, but some things are coming back to me as I read. Let me just say that I’ve already cried three times reading the first few chapters. I’m amazed at how this book has me so emotional so quickly!

What will you read next?

I’m hoping to also pick up The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine over my short little holiday. I’ve been told it’s a really good fast paced thriller and since I’ll be lounging by the pool/beach over the next few days, I thought it’d be the perfect book to start reading! It definitely sounds juicy, so I’m looking forward to it!

What are you currently reading? Have you written a WWW Wednesday post too? Leave your link in the comments below 🙂

#WWWWednesday: 01 May 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads3 Comments

Happy first of the month, book lovers! It seems that there’s a lot to look forward to in the month of May. Work is going to be hectic this month but I’m also taking a week off to celebrate my birthday with my bestie who’s coming up from Brisbane to join me in Bali! It’s gonna be a week of awesome hangs, reading pool/beachside, exploring what Bali has to offer, and of course, eating. Also, we’re five months into the year already — can you believe it?!

On that note, iIt’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

Pride by Ibi Zoboi. I finished this book in the nick of time for it to be counted as my last April read! I’m a little bit on the fence about it because while I really enjoyed how Zoboi took this classic and made it into such a culturally vibrant modern tale, I wasn’t too keen on Zuri Benitez or Darius Darcy, the two MCs. Pride & Prejudice is one of my all-time favorites and while all the ‘boxes’ were basically ticked, I also felt that maybe the story could’ve done without some of them because not all elements added to this story. Still mulling over my review for this one, and I’ll hopefully post it soon!

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading three books. Little Darlings by Melanie Goldman, Mixed Signals by Mia Heintzman, and Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come by Jessica Pan. Yes, I’m still reading Little Darlings. I can’t bring myself to pick it up at night and this week has been so busy with work and after work dinners and outings that I haven’t had much time to read. I hope to finish it by the weekend though! 🤞🏽 The other two are also ARCs because I want to cut my NetGalley reads down by just a little bit; my list on there has grown alarmingly fast and I’ve banned myself from requesting new reads until I read and review a few more! Mixed Signals is a cute little rom com that I’m reading alongside Little Darlings to keep myself happy, and Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come is a non-fiction about the author’s experience as an introvert living the extrovert life for a year. As an socially anxious introvert, this book really appealed to me and I’ve enjoyed what little I’ve read so far!

What will you read next?

Next up are two buddy reads that I’ve committed myself to with my bestie and an IG group. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. I’m hoping to read Good Omens before the show comes out this month!

What are you currently reading? Have you done a WWW Wednesday too? Leave your link in the comments!

#WWWWednesday: 24 April 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads5 Comments

We’ve come to the last Wednesday of April! I’ve seen a lot of people posting about trying to fit in their last few reads for the month and I am too! I think it’s been a pretty decent reading month though and I think it might even be comparable to March! Hope everyone has been going well with their April reads too! But without further ado, let’s get back to it… It’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven (Monstress #3) by Marjorie M. Liu. I discovered this gem earlier last year when I started exploring graphic novels. If you can’t tell by the name and the cover, it’s a pretty dark tale. Set in a matriarchal 1900s steam-punk Asia, the story is full of violence, magic, and supernatural monsters. While the story is still a little bit confusing, the world building is mind-blowing and the artwork by Sana Takeda is so beautifully gothic. We follow Maika Halfwolf, who’s on the run from coalition forces and who embarks on a journey to learn about her late mother’s secrets, and to learn how to cope with the monster living inside her. If you don’t mind a bit of a twisted gorey read, I would definitely recommend this to you!

What are you currently reading?

Normal People by Sally Rooney. When this book exploded on my bookstagram feed earlier this month, I was quite hesitant to pick it up because of how I felt about Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations with Friends. It was one of my least favorite reads last year and it left me feeling angry and full of discomfort, and I was sure that I wouldn’t pick up another of Rooney’s books again (a big statement, I know). So when I was facing my two-book hangover last week and picked this up on a whim, I didn’t think it would be the one to pull me in, but I was hooked from the start! It’s honestly shaping up to be one of my favorite reads so far this year, although it should come with a trigger warning for major depression, suicidal thoughts, depictions of physical and sexual abuse, and consent.

I’ve also started The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides on the side. I’m only a few chapters in but I can sense that this is going to be a thrilling and fast read that will be keeping me on my toes until the very end! This is another book that’s been very hyped everywhere, so I’m hoping it’ll live up to my expectations!

What will you read next?

One of the books I am going to stop waffling over and will definitely be picking up at the weekend is the e-ARC for Little Darlings by Melanie Golding. When I requested to read this on Netgalley, there was no mention in the description that it would a supernatural thriller, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have requested it. Supernatural horror is really not my jam. I’m not even gonna lie, I’m weak like that and I’m absolutely okay with it, so the thought of reading this is making my imagination jump from 0-100 and I’m basically just shit scared. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as I think but best believe I’ll be reading this under the full light of day and I’m aiming to finish it before sundown!

Have you read any of these or are you planning to?
What are you currently reading? 🙂

#WWWWednesday: 17 April 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

Another week, another Wednesday. I’m a bit thrown off by today because it’s a national holiday (it’s election day in Indonesia) and so after voting (for the first time in my life!) I’ve been lazing in bed with my latest read. The intensely humid heat is oppressive and makes not want to leave the comfort of my air-conditioned room, and the overall vibe is pretty much “the weekend”. Is it really still the weekday? Do I really have to go back to work tomorrow?

Anyway, back to the books! It’s WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

I finished The Dry by Jane Harper yesterday and there are no words for how much I loved it! It’s probably the most intensely atmospheric novel I’ve ever read and it’s hard to believe that this is Harper’s debut novel. The characters, the story, the setting all made this a ★★★★★ read for me. I’m writing my review for this right now so be on the lookout for that either later today or tomorrow! Also, I just found out that it’s becoming a movie and they’re casting Eric Bana to play the MC! I wonder if they’ll change Bana’s looks to fit how Aaron Falk was described in the book because I thought his unique looks were a distinguishing part of his character. I’m hoping that they do the story justice!

I read a graphic novel as a “palate cleanser” before moving onto what I’m currently reading. The Tea Dragon Society was a very short and cute story that has a simple message suitable for all audiences, including children. Making tea from the leaves that grow on a dragon’s back is a pretty unique concept and that’s definitely not the first thing I usually think of when thinking of dragons. But it’s a nice story, and the little tea dragons are SO adorable, like can has all please? I’m so lucky to have received a special edition in the February Owlcrate!

What are you currently reading?

I’ve moved on to another Jane Harper novel because I loved The Dry so much! I’m currently reading The Lost Man with a few ladies over @travelingfriendsreads hosted by Norma and Brenda of The Traveling Sisters. These ladies make group reads and discussions so much fun, I’m so excited to be doing another group read with them. I’m only a few chapters in but I’m already feeling the magnetic pull of the characters and story dragging me under and it’s such a thrilling feeling!

What will you read next?

There are actually a few ARCs that I’m hoping to read by the end of April/early May before they’re published! Yikes, I’ve been slacking a bit being so caught up in the Australian outback with Jane Harper’s irresistible characters and stories. So I think I will be picking up these ARCs after I finish my current read: Little Darlings, The Goodbye Summer, Between You and These Bones (Poetry).

What are you currently reading? If you’ve done a WWW Wednesday post, drop your link in the comments!

#WWWWednesday: 10 April 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads3 Comments

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a meme hosted by Taking On A World of Words. I can’t believe how quickly the week is going. Hope everyone is having a great week so far?

The three questions are:
1. What did you read last?
2. What are you currently reading?
3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

I finished a few books this past week: Midnight Radio (Graphic Novel ARC), Nocturnal (ARC Poetry), The Stillwater Girls (read my review here), and The Dreamers. I read The Dreamers with some lovely ladies in the Traveling Friends Instagram Reading Group organized by The Traveling Sisters. I’m glad that I read this with others because I definitely wanted to discuss my thoughts on it. Plus, these ladies were so friendly and fun to talk to, I’m so happy that I joined! I’ll be posting my review tomorrow, so stay tuned 😉

What are you currently reading?

There are a couple of ARCs that I’m trying to get through this month but I also want to balance these out with other reads. Just yesterday, I picked up these books: Don’t Even Breathe (ARC, coming out 18 April), The Hunting Party, and Pride. I started Don’t Even Breathe yesterday and it basically had my head turning in the second chapter! I’m only 40% through, but it’s fairly fast paced, so I hope it continues to deliver!

What will you read next?

I’m planning to start a bestie buddy read for The Dry by Jane Harper. I’m really excited to read this as I’ve heard lots of good things about it, but thankfully it’s not as hyped as her more recent book, The Lost Man (*phew*). I’d also like to start on The Silent Patient, but I think I’m going to have to break up this slew of thrillers with a lighthearted YA, The Goodbye Summer by Sara van Name, another ARC coming out 01 May 2019!

Wooh, if I actually end up reading all of these books, my April just might end up being almost as good as March!

So, what are your three W’s? Have you posted a WWW Wednesday? Leave your link in the comments below and let’s chat books 🙂

#WWWWednesday: 03 April 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads10 Comments

Hey, book lovers! Another Wednesday has come and almost gone over on this side of the world. Today I’ll be posting my first WWW Wednesday, which is a meme hosted by Taking on A World of Words. This meme is about answering these three questions:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

So, without further ado, here is what’s happening in my book world right now!

What did you read last?

I just finished two books the other day: an e-ARC for Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer and One of Us is Lying by Karen M McManus. Both books were very different from each other but both were enjoyable, although I enjoyed the latter much more. Suddenly Single was cute and empowering, although the romance aspect left me wanting. This book comes out 08 April 2019 so I’ll be posting a full review up soon! It took me a while to read, and even though I enjoyed it, it wasn’t a favorite. On the other hand, I read One of Us is Lying in about 6 hours! I think this was my first YA Thriller/Mystery and I really enjoyed the Breakfast Club meets Gossip Girl meets How To Get Away With Murder vibes of the story. I’m not a complete noob when it comes to mysteries/thrillers, but this one actually kept me guessing up until the 60% mark, when it all came rushing together. I look forward to checking out her other book: Two Can Keep A Secret!

What are you currently reading?

I finally decided to pick up The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I’ve been reading a lot of romance and chicklit lately, and I’ve missed immersing myself in fantasy, so I’m quite eager to get lost in this. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Winternight Trilogy, so I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone’s talking about. Plus, the books are all out, so there’s zero waiting time between the first, second and last book, if I end up loving this! Work has been tiring me out the last few days, so if I don’t make much headway during the weekday, I’ll be able to read interruption free this weekend. (I can’t wait!)

What will you read next?

Since March was such a great reading month, I’m hoping that April will be too! After I finish my current read, I’m hoping to get to these three books, whether that’ll be at the same time or one after the other will depend entirely on my mood! The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker. All of these books have been crazily hyped on bookstagram so I’ve been very excited to get my hands on them. I’m not sure which one to read first though… I’ve been wanting to read The Dreamers since the beginning of the year, but I’ve heard mixed reviews. Daisy Jones & The Six is a recent almost immediate favorite by everyone and their mother, and while I love TJR and haven’t been disappointed with the two books of hers that I’ve read, I’m still a little apprehensive about diving into this one so quickly. Lastly, I’ve heard The Night Tiger is a beautiful novel filled with magical realism, and set in the neighbouring country to mine, Malaysia. Oddly enough, I actually haven’t read many books that have roots in Southeast Asia, so I think this’ll be interesting! Any thoughts into what you think I should read next?

What have you been reading lately?
Come let me know in the comments and let’s chat books!