june inked on paper || wherein all the screaming happened and exams tortured my soul + IT’S SUMMER

sometimes the months decide to be ridiculous and fly by you.

it’s the way of the world actually, because it feeds off of evilness like that.

giving you major existential crises sometime around july and the end of the year are it’s greatest reasons for being.

so that’s how you find yourself dreaming of a windy january day (or, like, a scorching hot one, depending on where you live, YOU ALIEN), looking out the window at the ice cream truck (REVERSE THE CONDITIONS OF EVERYTHING IF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS INVOLVED) and worriedly obsessing over the fact that EVERYONE SKIPPED MAY AND NO ONE EVEN SEEMS TO NOTICE.

i’m sorry, smol olive of mine, but maybe your memory is faulty. ALTHOUGH IF ASKED A FEW MORE TIMES, I’D AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION OF MAY WHATSOEVER. do we blame it on dark magic WE WERE NEVER ASKED TO BE A PART OF??? yes. yes, WE DO.

life is just easier like that. AND MAYBE WE COULD ALSO SOMEDAY GO IN SEARCH OF MAGIC AND FIND IT. so it’s actually a GOOD THING.

(or so we shall believe)

in honor of PRIDE MONTH, i joined all the nice little beans in reading only queer books in june SO LIFE WAS PERFECT LIKE THAT. i also may have created a 35 book long tbr (LOOK. IT HAD 44 BOOKS IN THE BEGINNING OK??? I TRIED) and then ended up defying it BECAUSE ISN’T THAT WHAT THE TBRs ARE FOR?? #YES

we are okay by nina lacour[4★] bawling your eyes out over a book at 2 in the night probably does not seem like a good idea. but two areas in this universe are firmly established as MY DOMAIN: the domain of the olives and that of wild decisions. THIS WAS THAT BOOK. and crying over it was the wild decision.

queens of geek by jen wilde[2★] one of my biggest regrets in life is NOT LOVING THIS BOOK ENOUGH. expectations are dangerous things.

i kissed shara wheeler by casey mcquiston[4★] there is evilness and mysteries and twists and AMAZINGNESS. and a song that doesn’t say which of them he’s jealous of. IT’S ALL PRETTY PERFECT, ACTUALLY.

home field advantage by dahlia adler[1.5★] it is hugely disappointing when your one-of-the-most-anticipated release for the year ENDS UP BEING TERRIBLE AND THEREBY CRUSHES YOUR LIFE. books are evil like that. BUT ALSO I LIKED THE SPORTS PART.

ace of spades by faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé[2★] am basically suffering from a syndrome known as INSANE-AMOUNTS-OF-CONFUSION because this book is famous like that?? ALSO THE ENDING MAKES NO SENSE and i am CONFUSION and HOW DID EVERYTHING BECOME SO HAPPY AND PERFECT????? ridiculousness. BUT THE BEGINNING WAS ADDICTING OK?

flip the script by lyla lee [1★] sometimes books set out with the aim of being perfect. but then they decide that rebelliousness suits them better and transform into trash. SORRY FOR THE RUDENESS, BUT I NEED TO BE TRUTHFUL RIGHT??

it’s a littttle sad how most of the books ended up changing their titles to DISAPPOINTMENT, but SHHHH. at least there were books?

nura and the immortal palace by m.t. khan [july 5th 2022] – look. judging books by the covers IS A PERFECTLY FINE WAY OF LIFE. ok?? why would you choose to evilly disregard all the work that the cover artists have put into it HMMM??? life is unfair like that. THUS COVERS MUST BE JUDGED AND I AM JUDGING THEM.

what souls are made of by tasha suri [july 5th 2022] – tasha suri has written it so i shall read it. THE CHOICE WAS ACTUALLY QUITE SIMPLE LIKE THAT. buuuuut there’s also indian rep and TALK OF BALANCING BETWEEN TWO CULTURES AND IMMIGRATION AND IS SET DURING THE BRITISH-RULE-IN-INDIA PERIOD. what about this DOESN’T? SCREAM? EXCITEMENT???

the darkening by sunya mara [july 5th 2022] – ‘everything fantasy’ is kind of my motto in life. this book features cursed storms and daughters of failed revolutionaries and princes terrified of their thrones. FUN STUFF.

wake the bones by elizabeth kilcoyne [july 12th 2022]this is horror and i’m currently on a smol mission to prove to the world THAT I DO NOT RUN UNDER BEDS FROM MERE THREATS OF BEING EATEN BY MONSTERS anymore. and there’s also talk of sleepy farms THAT ARE SECRETLY EVIL AND OWN MAGIC AND NEVER SHARE.

the daughter of doctor moreau by silvia moreno-garcia [july 19th 2022] – idk man, the cover looks ridiculously PERFECT and can you tell that i am OBSESSED WITH ALL THE COLOR???

long story short by serena kaylor [july 26th 2022] – a SHAKESPEARE (!!!) summer camp plus a main character WHO LIKES TO HIDE IN LIBRARIES WHEN FACED WITH HAVING TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE and all the generally-hellish part of life EQUALS FREAKISHLY HUGE AMOUNTS OF EXCITEMENT. obviously. ALSO THE TITLE BEING A TAYLOR SWIFT SONG REFERENCE DEFINITELY HELPS MATTERS.

the book of gothel by mary mcmyne [july 26th 2022] – i know nothing about this, BUT ‘GOTHEL’ SOUNDS NICE, OK?? plus IT’S A RAPUNZEL RETELLING AND – jhdsghdsaghv IT’S ABOUT THE WITCH WHO KIDNAPS HER!!!!! ARE WE ALLOWED TO SCREAAAAAAM YET

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen [July 26th 2022] – i get distracted by book covers too often. i’d call it rude if i didn’t love it so much. but i do. so I DON’T EXACTLY GET ALL THE COMPLAINING RIGHTS.

what do you do when you (accidentally) end up typing more instagram posts in ONE MONTH than you have in the entirety of the 5 other months that 2022 has lived for??

you celebrate with chocolate obviously!!! which is why no one DARE BLAME ME if they open the fridge and find all the chocolates missing (oops?)

(LOOK, CHOCOLATES TASTE AMAZING OKAY?? AND I SWEAR I TRIED EATING ONLY ONE. but self-control is a difficult thing. PLUS DON’T YOU THINK I EARNED IT??? DIDN’T I??? HMMM??)

(i did)

ok, technically that’s a lie. i didn’t type up more posts in june than i did in the rest of 2022. but it WAS my most-active month!! with a total of SIX POSTS and the rest of 2022 had only 12 SO THAT’S NICE, RIGHT??

YES. yes, it is. so you shall be tortured with smol summaries BECAUSE TORTURE IS NICE.

  • the one on the left is MY MOST FAVORITE POST OF THE MONTH (as in THE ONE WITH THE LARGEST AMOUNTS OF SCREAMS) because talking about favorite characters is THE BEST OF EVER RIGHT?? RIGHT. also there’s KAZ BREKKER AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS
  • the right-side post is the one that THE PEOPLE LIKED THE MOST and the comments are where the screaming takes place (except there’s some in the post too BECAUSE WHAT DO I DO IF NOT SCREAM ALL THE DAYS) and its about my recent shara wheeler obsession. BECAUSE IT IS A NICE THING.

oh WOW LOOK!! i wrote 5 WHOLE POSTS this month AND AM STILL ALIVE??!!! magic, am i right??

i also blog-hopped A LOT (so the ‘obsession’ part of this might be LOOOOOONG) and just generally tried to be THE GOOD BLOGGER, but am an exhausted olive right now *sobs* BUT ALSO HAPPY BECAUSE DID YOU NOT HEAR THE FIVE POSTS PART???

there’s screaming and there’s betrayal and SOME MORE SCREAMING. basically i was angry AND THE KEYBOARD HAD TO DEAL WITH IT. this post was the result.

sometimes i’m nice and create stories. on HIGHLY RARE occassions, i let you PEEK INTO THEM. this is one of those rare glances. GO LOOK.

i reveal some secrets and SCREAM OVER FAVORITES. also books make me cry sometimes AND I CONFESS STUFF OVER HERE. it’s SLIGHTLY sad and FREAKISHLY LONG but also S E C R E T S.

i found a new book and fell in love with it. there’s mystery and a friendship group (WHICH IS THE BEST OF EVER) and pink envelopes and messages and secrets. it’s all pretty perfect actually. AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

everyone knows that summer = WORLD DOMINATION. i lay bare my plans AND THERE IS HIDDEN EVILNESS BENEATH. also dragons BECAUSE THE WORLD ISN’T EVEN WORTH DOMINATING OTHERWISE.

i sometimes wish i had a more exciting life where magic still existed JUST SO i could write something interesting in THE LIFE SECTION each month. but the world is rude like that so my life is dull.

but also. come to think of it – if i battled dragons in real life, WOULD I STILL EVEN BOTHER WRITING WORDS??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA – you’re funny. WHY WOULD I BOTHER? my life is complete and i shall betray the words. obviously.

  • stranger things [season 1] – look. i know i’m late on the hype train and all, BUT I’M HERE NOW, AREN’T I?? i fell in love, basically
  • stranger things [season 2] – MAX, I LOVE YOUUUUUU!!! also JOYCE IS MY NEW HERO BECAUSE SHE’S FREAKISHLY FIERCE AND AMAZING AND ALSO SLIGHTLY BADASS AND THE BRAVEST HUMAN OF EVER AND I LOVE HER AND BEQUEATH HER THE WORLD
  • prom – hdhgedghdghv EXCUSE ME WHILE I SCREAMMMMM BECAUSE I LOVE!!!!!
  • i (FINALLY) cleared up all my goodreads shelves AND CHANGED RATINGS and sorted out the mess AND IT’S ALL KIND OF NICE NOW!! BE PROUD OF ME
  • but also. MY AVERAGE RATING IS 2.77 and. I AM SLIGHTLY PANICKING???
  • it’s actually all six of crows though. BLAME SIX OF CROWS. how am i supposed to just HAND OUT 5 STARS LIKE THAT when six of crows GOT IT, and no other book can ever reach that level of GORGEOUS PERFECTION????
  • life choices are DIFFICULT
  • oh and also i was 7 books ahead of my goodreads challenge BECAUSE REMEMBER THAT TIME I WENT WILD AND READ 23 BOOKS IN A MONTH?? yes, that helped.
  • but then all the nice things BORED ME so i ended up shifting my goal to 200 books BECAUSE WINNING IS VERY ORDINARY AND BLAND AND I AM JUST DUMB LIKE THAT??
  • don’t worry though! it’s still maintaining THE EXCITEMENT BIT and am (MOSTLY) not panicking!!!
  • in other news, THERE’S STILL THE MANGOES and i’m still surviving off of them AND THEY’RE MY LIFE. (but also books)
  • oh and THE SUMMER STARTED (on july the first) SO THAT’S NICE!!
  • except the books DISAGREE and have been set on cutting away my soul. RUDE CREATURES.
  • i… don’t think anything else happened??
  • I HONESTLY DO NOT EVEN REMEMBER AT THIS POINT. THE MONTHS ARE RIDICULOUS.

how was YOUR june, SMOL OLIVE OF MINE?? books you devoured??? ANY NEW FAVORITES THAT STOLE YOU?? KIDNAPPERS ON THE LOSE I MUST BE AWARE OF?? WAS THERE CAKE??? did you encounter ANY ICE CREAM VANS??? LEMONADE??? people, TALK

30 thoughts on “june inked on paper || wherein all the screaming happened and exams tortured my soul + IT’S SUMMER”

  1. Sorry you didn’t enjoy ace of spades!! I might’ve enjoyed the book a bit more than you did, but I found the ending too sudden and also a bit anticlimactic. Also your bookstagram posts are so pretty and aesthetic!!
    CAN WE SCREAM ABOUT THE CASTING FOR CLARISSE AND LUKE IN PJO AS WELL cause the actors look so good.
    Thanks for mentioning my post!!

  2. June was good. I went to see my parents for a week and took a side trip to a concert, and I went on another trip to the mountains with friends. I haven’t been reading or writing much, although I did start writing again this week, and the next episode of DLTDGB should be ready for this Sunday.

  3. Okayyy I completely agree – I’ve literally forgotten about May 😂 I had to look back at my pictures to realise I actually did a lot in that month 🙈 I’m hearing MANY THINGS about Ace Of Spades so I’m getting more and more tempted to read it! I’d love to read a full review from you! And I’m so excited for Heartstopper season 2!

  4. Eeeegeee how do you write such amazing posts? But in any case, I agree with you and I SWEAR someone just came into the world and stole May because WHERE DID IT GO I DON’T REALLY KNOW?!

    And also, I MUST get We Are Okay and read it (*ignores gigantic tbr*) because everybody loves it and it looks so good and THAT. Ace of Spades was amazing writing and the beginning was awesome and I couldn’t put it down but like… then I didn’t really get the rest of it like what exactly happened I’m not sure yeah it wasn’t the most amazing book ever but whatevs. Oh and sorry that you don’t get to battle dragons, but like I’m kinda selfishly hoping that you don’t get wrapped up in magic worlds so that I can keep consuming your writing because I MIGHT DIE IF I CAN’T. And uh, well yep, that’s it, great post!

  5. omg i seriously need to start reading we are okay because i’ve heard such good things about it and the cover, *chef’s kiss*, i love pretty books lol.

    AND YESS HEARTSTOPPER SUPREMACY BECAUSE I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF NICK AND CHARLIE💖💖 they make me feel so single but it’s okay because they are so cute to be true. AHHH I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY STARTED FILMING PERCY JACKSON?! can we please have a moment to appreciate the cast for Annabeth because oml she is so gorgeous? it’s so sad that some people hate on her because annabeth in the books and fan-arts are blonde and everything like, DIVERSITY I LOVE IT!! i haven’t even read red, white and royal blue so i might as well start reading it before the movie comes out

    OMG YOUR BOOKSTAGRAM IS THE CUTEST?! it’s so pretty, i might take a visit later one. I seriously need to start watching stranger things because everyone seems to be hyped up!

    lovely post and i hope july is treating you well💗

  6. Ahhh I love this so much! I recently finished I Kissed Shara Wheeler and I absolutely loved it so much, it was even better than I expected. I’ve also added Long Story Short (loving that Taylor Swift reference) and The Book Of Gothel (I love Tangled so) to my TBR, I’m so excited for them! Thank you so much for sharing.

  7. YOUR EXCITEMENT IS SO ADDICTING AND MADE ME SMILE AT MY SCREEN I LOVE YOUR ENERGY. i still have to watch heartstopper!! omg did u watch stranger things s3 and s4 yet?? excited to hear ur thoughts!! omg READ RED WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE WHAT ARE U DOING I NEED TO KNOW WHAT U THINK !! <3

  8. “Winning is very ordinary and bland” 😂😂😂😂
    Your logic. But it does make sense!
    Also you mentioned my blog 😭😭😭. You’re the bestttt oliveee! (💀Am i allowed to call u that?)
    Also bwahaha making goals for 200 books while mine is still 40 something makes me feel like a pain on this earth 🤩.
    Also can’t blame you for having a low average rating 😂. Six of crows does end up heightening people’s standards i guess.
    And tbh my own may passed by with me having every single day felt like it’s stretched out forever coz i had boards in that month and they never seemed to end 😂😭💀.
    But we’re past that abominable phase now!!!!!! 🤩
    Anyway, awesome posstt!!

  9. It sounds like June was productive for you and thank you for providing us with so much content 🥰 I wish you had a better time with your books though– you deserve all the 5🌟 books!!
    I buddy read the ace of spades and I had a great time with it, so I am sad you didn’t love it. The mystery and the end was not the strongest element at all.
    I know I have said this, but I need to read I kissed Shara Wheeler ASAP 😍
    Yesssss I love Joyce in Stranger Things, so fierce but loving!! 💗
    Also bold move to increase your reading goal to 200 books, I like it!! 😏🤩 I believe you can do it!!
    Your goodreads organisation sounds like a dream and I am a tiny bit envious of it 😂😂
    Hope you are having a fabulous July and thank you sooooo much for the post shout out 🥺❤️ you’re too kind but thank you, thank you 💗💗 so glad you liked it!!

  10. SFKJSNDSKJS ANOUSHKA THEA IS 100% CORRECT YOUR EXCITEMENT IS SO ADDICTIVE HAHAHAHA I LOVE IT 😭 i love love love heartstopper oh my god it was SO CUTE the amount of serotonin i got was just ??? unbelievable it was so cute 🥰 i NEED to read i kissed shara wheeler and i’m sorry you didn’t like ace of spades – i liked it much more than you did 😭😭 you can do the 200 books!!!!!!!! omg you go girl!!!!!!! i wish my goodreads was as organised as yours 🤠

  11. your june sounded like a lot!! i’m so glad that i’m not the only one who didn’t like ace of spades very much, it just didn’t have THAT feel you know 😭✋ ty so much for the shoutout omg you’re the best 🥺💜 hope july treats you well <33

  12. ANOUSHKA THIS POST IS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION???? I ADORE IT SO SO MUCH AHHH! 💖

    And HOW IN THE WORLD IS IT JULY ALREADY??? THIS HAS TO ALL BE SOME ELABORATE PRANK RIGHT?? 😭

    YES MAGIC WE NEED TO FIND IT AND EXCUSE YOU DARK MAGIC IS THE BEST AKJDSKADJ!!

    I’M SO SO EXCITED TO READ WE ARE OKAY (hello THAT COVER??) and omg books that make you cry like a baby ARE THE BEST NO DOUBTS.

    I kissed shara wheeler supremacy WE SHALL ALWAYS STAND BY THAT- THOSE SIDE CHARACTERS HAVE MY WHOLE HEART!!!

    Sigh ace of spades was so disappointing WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?? WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR BADASS CHARACTERS??? WE WERE BAMBOOZLED AND LED ASTRAY MY FRIEND
    Let’s not get started on the train-wreck that was flip the script, those five year old characters had me concerned for their sanity .

    AND OMG NURA AND THE IMMORTAL PALACE LOOKS FANTASTIC I’VE ONLY BEEN SEEING GOOD REVIEWS FOR IT TOO SOOOO (BUDDY READ???)

    YOUR INSTA IS SO SO SO STUNNING I LOVE THE THEME AHHH IT’S STELLAR!!( WE ALSO DEMAND MORE POSTS THANKS)

    5 whole posts Anoushka?!?!?!??!!?!? TEACH ME YOUR WAYS! 😭 😭 😭

    And aww THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE MENTION YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST ILY <3 <3

    Oooh PROM is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING I LOVE IT SO MUCH AHHHH!!

    AND IF YOU THOUGHT SIX OF CROWS WAS PERFECTIONS READ CROOKED KINGDOM ( JUST SAYING~~~~) hahah I remember how we changed our reading goals because WE ONLY READ WHEN WE’RE DREADFULLY BEHIND??? Ah fun times.

    SUMMMERRRR ENJOY THE MANGOES, AND THE ICECREAM, AND ALL THE BOOKS!11!!!!!!!!! HOPE YOU LOVE ALL OF IT!! <3

    LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! <3 (sorry if there are typos ignore them pleaseeee 😭 😭 😭 😭 exams kill you in torturous ways)

  13. Is it bad that I’m slightly gleeful that I’m not the only person whose June was filled with subpar reads? 😈😁 I’m glad you also had some amazing reads to make up for all those one- and two-star books, though! Everyone gushing about I Kissed Shara Wheeler is actually making me quite intrigued, even if the premise doesn’t really sound up my alley… (Although Red, White & Royal Blue is amazing, so yes, you should read it! AND OH MY GOD, WE’RE GETTING A SHOW?! 🤗 How did I not know this??)

    AND AHHH, ANOUSHKA, YOU STARTED STRANGER THINGS!! 🤗🤩🤗 Welcome to being obsessed!!! And yes, Joyce and Max (and Will 🥰) are beyond amazing and I want more of them!!

    Also, thanks so much for sharing my Poland post – I’m so happy you liked it! 😊

  14. I am so so so excited about 2 more seasons of Heartstopper!!! I need more of Nick and Charlie!! And PJO filming!! The casting is perfection and I am excitedly (and anxiously) waiting for its release! I’m sorry you didn’t like Ace of Spades very much. I liked it, but the ending was very confusing and I didn’t understand it at all.

  15. This post is full of great information! I’ve been wanting to watch Heartstopper but haven’t yet. Hopefully soon I’ll have some time to binge it. I have read I Kissed Sara Wheeler and loved it. I hope you have a great week!

  16. I need to get to I Kissed Shara Wheeler ASAP!!!
    AND I was SCREAMING when Heartstopper got renewed! It’s everything we all need!
    I’m so, so, so, excited for the Percy Jackson tv adaption…also nervous because I hope they do it justice!

  17. im excited for long story short too IVE HEARD AMAZING THINGS and the hype always gets to me eventually ok? SAME FOR SHARA WHEELER i promise i will read it someday. hah one can never rant about flip the script enough dont even get me started. YASS HEARTSTOPPER S2 AND PJO!! huh you didn’t enjoy ace of spades? talk about unpopular opinions

  18. okay i’m surprised you feel like may went by in a blink because, for me, may lasted for approximately 42 lifetimes. june, on the other hand, went by super fast and i feel like i didn’t even have that much time to celebrate pride month properly and get to all the queer romcoms i was hoping to! and pls don’t hate me, but i did get to “the prom” before the month ended and was so…… underwhelmed. like it’s okay but the fact every single homophobic character was given a redemption arc annoyed me to no end hahah.

    i’ve been seeing a lot of reviews recently talking about the ending of ace of spades and indeed, it was a mess hahah. i just remember reading it and feeling like: there’s no way that devon, with 2 twitter followers, is going to tweet about his school being racist, provide zero (0) receipts and still cause outrage. cause like, that will never, in a million years, happen in real life. but IT HAPPENED?!?!? somehow?!?!? lol. still, i liked the building uneasiness of it so much and the characters too, so i think i had overall a great time even though the ending made no sense.

    what souls are made of has a great cover + title, but considering how much i *didn’t* like wuthering heights when i first read it, i will be waiting for more reviews of this one hahah.

    hope you got to continue watching stranger things and that you’re enjoying the most recent seasons!!! good luck with your reading goal & all the best for your july!

  19. I am so horribly uninformed about new releases at the moment that I didn’t know about almost all of these!!!! Also I’m absolutely living for all those heartstopper, percy Jackson and rwrb adaptation news!!! And YES please read rwrb ITS GREAT!!!

  20. Sorry you didn’t love many of the books you read in June, but I hope you will be made content by the new season of HEARTSTOPPER that’s coming! (My daughter is literally sitting on the couch next to me reading Volume 4 of the graphic novel right now.)

  21. Oh my goodness, I don’t think I’ve held a smile for this long 😂 Brilliant writing, Anoushka! Your June was way better than mine – it was basically exams, exams and more exams heh. I’ve been hearing so much about Heartstopper and I can’t wait to read the books first. Also, ‘smol olive’ is definitely going to be a legendary phrase – it’s so cute and pretty! Speaking of cute and pretty, HOW IS YOUR BLOG SO AESTHETIC? Seriously though, livenhow you’ve used the blue and the stars and the cohesiveness of all of it 🥺👏💙
    Anyhow, here’s hoping your July was much more exciting!!😂❤️

  22. I’m absolutely excited for Nura and the Immortal Palace along with What Souls are Made Of, though the latter was mostly because of the title (because I want to know what souls are made of, but I think mine are made from books, IDK).

    ALSO I WAS NOT AWARE about Red, White, and Royal Blue becoming a movie maybe I’ve been in my shell for too long or more accurately, I haven’t touched social media all that long…

    I’m proud of you for writing 5 posts and made it out alive! And posting on Instagram! You definitely deserve all the chocolates (treat yourself).

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