March 2021 Wrap-Up: Novel Writing, Packed Schedules, TV Finales, and More!

It’s now April! The first quarter of 2021 is over, and it is hard to believe that. Time really does fly. March was another chaotic month, so let’s get started with this Monthly Wrap-Up!

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Synopsis

When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood’s only salvation is his friendship with fellow “delinquent” Turner, which deepens despite Turner’s conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. As life at the Academy becomes ever more perilous, the tension between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades.

Based on the real story of a reform school that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of children.

Date Started: March 1
Date Finished: March 9
Thoughts: This book reaffirms the notion that abolishing the prison system is long overdue. The Nickel Boys is based on a true story. It is an eloquently written book with so much painful history. And the systemic racism makes incarceration a million times worse. The Nickel Boys is such an essential read, but it is also a good book. Our main character, Elwood, is a compelling protagonist. The plot makes you want to read until the very end. And throughout it all, the fact that this school did exist that only closed in 2011. It is a horrifying fact and a cruel reminder of the rampant systemic racism and the need to abolish the prison system. The first fifty pages made it difficult to get into the narrative, but once it picked up the pace, I could not put it down. My heart breaks for the real-life Elwoods and Turners that attended the Dozier School.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆

You can change the law but you can’t change people and how they treat each other.

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Synopsis

With her newly completed PhD in astronomy in hand, twenty-eight-year-old Grace Porter goes on a girls’ trip to Vegas to celebrate. She’s a straight A, work-through-the-summer certified high achiever. She is not the kind of person who goes to Vegas and gets drunkenly married to a woman whose name she doesn’t know…until she does exactly that.

This one moment of departure from her stern ex-military father’s plans for her life has Grace wondering why she doesn’t feel more fulfilled from completing her degree. Staggering under the weight of her father’s expectations, a struggling job market and feelings of burnout, Grace flees her home in Portland for a summer in New York with the wife she barely knows.

In New York, she’s able to ignore all the annoying questions about her future plans and falls hard for her creative and beautiful wife, Yuki Yamamoto. But when reality comes crashing in, Grace must face what she’s been running from all along—the fears that make us human, the family scars that need to heal and the longing for connection, especially when navigating the messiness of adulthood. 

Date Started: March 1
Date Finished: April 1 (let’s pretend it says March 31)
Thoughts: This book is poetry. There really is no other way to describe it. I can write a ten thousand word paper, and it still would not do justice to Morgan Rogers’s writing. Seriously, that is by far the biggest strength of Honey Girl. I loved how raw, honest, and flawed the characters and relationships are. I find them highly relatable. I loved the themes of belief, especially regarding myths. It worked well with this book. My only issues involved the military and the pacing. I did not like the incorporation of the military. I think there are plenty of ways to deepen a character’s or relationship’s complexity without using the military. The book was also a bit slow initially, but once Grace makes it to New York, I could not put the book down. Honey Girl is a unique concept with well-written characters and dynamics. The book covers a variety of serious subjects, all done with great care. Wow, what a stunning debut novel. Read it if you haven’t!
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

“You are made up of stars and the black glittering universe,” she says quietly. “It may be too romantic for most of the people in this field, but it’s true. But you are still just a human. Just a small thing that has to find its way like everyone else in this enormous world. It will not be simple, Grace Porter, and it will not be easy. You may have to make a lot of noise, and the universe’s silence can be oppressive and thick. But you want them to hear you, and they will. So do not, not even for one second, stop making noise.”

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Synopsis

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

Date Started: March 1
Date Finished: April 1 (let’s pretend it says March 31)
Thoughts: This book is so adorable. I love romances that have elements of soulmate love and fate because I am just that cheesy. And in New York, my favorite city? With Jewish characters? What If It’s Us is seriously right up my alley, and I loved every moment. Arthur and Ben are great characters, and I had the best time watching their dynamic unfold. The secondary characters were also wonderful, especially loved Dylan. The story also moved at the right pace. My only issue is that I felt the book was starting to get repetitive with the do-over dates, and I didn’t think it did anything for the plot. Otherwise, I adored the novel. What If It’s Us has all my favorite tropes combined into one adorably epic love story. Plus, discovering another methods of best friends to lovers (strangers to fated lovers to best friends to lovers)? Too good to be true. Alright Becky and Adam, I am ready for the sequel STAT! December is far too long of to wait.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

What if there’s a do-over down the line for us? What if we end up in the same city again and pick up where we left off? What if we go as far as we once hoped we would, and boom, happy ending for us? But what if this is it for us? What if we never get to kiss again? What if we’re there for each other’s big moments, but we aren’t at the heart of those big moments anymore? What if the universe always wanted us to meet and stay in each other’s lives forever as best friends? What if we rewrite everything we expect from happy endings?
Or . . .
What if we haven’t seen the best us yet?

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

I reviewed Chain of Iron earlier this month! Click here to read my review.

“There’s something I always wonder,” she said, her breath against his neck. “We are raised to see demons, and we do. I cannot even recall the first I ever encountered. Yet we do not see angels. We are descended from them, but they are invisible to us. Why is that?”
“I suppose,” James said, “because angels require you to have faith. They want us to believe in them without seeing them. That is, I think, what faith is meant to be. We are to believe in them as we believe in all things intangible—goodness, and mercy, and love.”

Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

I reviewed Sweet & Bitter Magic earlier this month! Click here to read my review.

That was the trouble with dark magic. People always assumed that the stories were exaggerated, that the truth was not nearly so terrible, when in fact the opposite was true.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Synopsis

In the summer of 1956, Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall, decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. The six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in fascism, two world wars, and an unrealised love between the butler and his housekeeper.

Date Started: March 15
Date Finished: March 23
Thoughts: I was surprisingly disappointed with this book. I had read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, which I enjoyed very much. I knew this wasn’t a science fiction dystopian novel, but I still had somewhat high expectations for it. I think I found it quite boring because the protagonist is boring. I realize that is the novel’s entire point, but the book is so character-centric that it is difficult to consider other aspects. Even though I did not enjoy this novel, Ishiguro’s writing brought the rating up for me. He is still a terrific writer, and I appreciated that even if I did not care for the book itself. The Remains of the Day also has some interesting talking points about politics and similar subjects, but otherwise, there was nothing else to the book.
Final Rating: ★ ★ ☆

After all, there’s no turning back the clock now. One can’t be forever dwelling on what might have been. One should realize one has as good as most, perhaps better, and be grateful.

Television

Superstore Season 6: And just like that, Superstore has ended after a six-year, six-season run. The last few episodes were terrific, especially the finale. It had everything I had hoped for: Amy & Jonah reunion, Dina & Garrett endgame, a bittersweet and beautiful reflection, and a chapter coming to a close. There could not be a more perfect sitcom ending if television tried. Seriously, other sitcoms need to get on Superstore’s level. There is incredible diversity, and comedy that will keep you laughing long after the episode is over. I cried during the final scene because of how beautiful it was. It made me realize how much I am going to miss this show. Amy and Jonah reunited in such an authentic way that it made their breakup worth it. Everyone left Store 1217 for bigger and brighter futures. Don’t be surprised if this show appears in my April Monthly Wrap-Up—I’m planning to do a rewatch soon. Thank you, Superstore, for everything. You should watch the show if you haven’t already!

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Season 1: I’m not sure if this show is meant to be a mini-series or have multiple seasons, but I love it so far either way. I was skeptical going into the series because I was afraid it would just be another MCU imperialist military propaganda project. But so far, it’s the complete opposite. The themes are intriguing, the storylines are compelling, and the characters are complex. I’ve always loved Sam, Sharon, and Bucky, but The Falcon and The Winter Soldier gives their time to shine. They are the main characters they always deserved to be. Steve Rogers who? I also like how the show blurs the line between enemy and ally, hero and villain. It makes the overall storyline so much more complex and riveting. And finally, our new Captain America is Sam Wilson, not bland white dude with an imperialist complex. I can’t wait to see the rest of the show!

Film

Raya and the Last Dragon (2020): It’s been a while since Disney released an animated film that was not Pixar or a sequel. And Raya and the Last Dragon did not disappoint! My favorite kind of Disney films involve magical and/or talking animals with musical numbers. While this film did not have the latter, it certainly made up for it with its riveting storyline, complex dynamics, and stunning animation. Also, I adore the theme of found family, and this film centers around that. Of course, I was extremely disappointed to realize Disney made a movie based on Southeast Asian culture, but they cast mostly Central Asian actors. I realize this is typical of Disney, but I sincerely hope they would learn their lesson one day. I’m an optimist, but even I don’t have that much faith in them anymore. This beautiful film deserved the proper representation, and it is sad to see that it did not get it. Nevertheless, I still liked the movie, and Raya and Namaari are the ultimate enemies to lovers lesbians we deserve. Also, protect Sisu at all costs.

Albums

Album: evermore
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: at this point, I just say that she’s her own genre, honestly
Thoughts: Is there anything else to say? My favorite songs have not changed. My thoughts have not changed. This album has been on repeat consistently since it came out in December. It will probably move to the back burner in April to make room for Fearless (Taylor’s Version), so that’s something. I just love evermore so much.

Songs

Song: Love Story (Taylor’s Version)
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: Country Pop
Thoughts: I also spent the month of March with Love Story on repeat because I’m really that predictable. Love Story has always been one of my favorite lead singles from Taylor, so I really had the best time listening to it on repeat, something I have not one in over a decade. It really does feel like it’s 2008 all over again, in the best way possible. Well, I’m glad 2008 is now in 2021 because it was probably one of the worst years for me on a personal level (except that summer). Anyway, Love Story will be on repeat well into April, so don’t be surprised if this pops up again.

Song: You All Over Me ft. Maren Morris (From The Vault)
Artist: Taylor Swift
Genre: Country Pop
Thoughts: Well, we got to hear the first vault song that will appear on Fearless! I’m kind of bitter that Dark Blue Tennessee did not make the cut, but I’m sure the songs Taylor chose are just as great, if not, better. You All Over Me certainly proves that. I get emotional every time I listen to the song because it transports me back thirteen years. I am so excited to hear the rest of the album and the vault songs. Also, Maren’s vocals work beautifully with this song!

• March 2: February 2021 Wrap-Up: Reading Surprises, Highs and Lows, Dealing with Stress, and More!
• March 22: Book Review: Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
• March 31: Book Review: Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

My Novel: So, I wrote another two chapters of my novel, which I’m really excited about. I also got a lot of feedback on them, which made me rethink some key plot twists. I love workshopping sections of my novel because I always feel like I make progress with it, even if it does make me rethink everything I wrote. In April, I hope to do a lot of rewriting and world-building, and I plan to spend the summer researching and writing future chapters.

My Diary: Unfortunately, I wanted to write more than two entries this month (but at least two), but I only got around to writing one. Considering March was particularly chaotic, I’m disappointed in myself for not writing more about it. Well, I still got one good entry in, even if it is only one. Hopefully, I’ll write more in April!

TV Fanatic: March marked my first anniversary writing for TV Fanatic. It’s been wild so far, in the best way possible. Sometimes, the job is stressful, especially when I have many shows to cover (or I have to cover live), but it is worth it. Writing for TV Fanatic is so much fun! I love reviewing TV, and I love passionately talking about different shows for editorials. I’m excited to see what my second year at TV Fanatic brings!

Grad School: We hit the semester’s midpoint in March, so things got pretty crazy. I had a lot of work to submit. While it was stressful at times, the end products made me realize I had a lot of fun. It’s neat how I love school with every new level I enter. The best part is I’m living my high school self’s dream: completing an MFA in Creative Writing in Boston or New York. I also chose some courses I’ll be taking in the summer and fall! I finalized my summer schedule, but fall registration is not for another couple of weeks. I’m taking a copyediting class as an elective during the summer, and hopefully, a fantasy literature class and another novel workshop in the fall.

Continuing Education Certificate: Before grad school, I started in Ryerson University’s Publishing Program (all online) in the hopes of obtaining a certificate. Once I started at Emerson, I had to press pause at Ryerson. But I still have the summer to continue my certificate, so I’m taking a class on the publishing education industry. Ideally, I would take two courses, but I’m already taking one at Emerson, so I only registered for one class at Ryerson. Still, I’m excited to take another publishing class. This one does not start until May, so I probably won’t mention it in my April Wrap-Up.

Boston: With vaccines underway (at least in the United States), Emerson is shifting to classes that are half in person, half online (rather than entirely online). That means it’s officially time to start preparing for my move to Boston. Since I’m uprooting my entire life, there is a lot to do before I actually get there. I’m nervous because this move is different—instead of going back and forth between Sherbrooke (where I did my undergrad) and Montreal (home), I’m moving to Boston permanently. Ideally, that means I’m not coming back every break. But I am excited about this next step, and I can’t wait to continue documenting it in future Monthly Wrap-Ups.

Passover: This is the second year in a row that we’re quarantining/locking down for Passover. The holiday came early this year—it started the last week of March and ends this week. Usually, we are nine people during the holidays (we used to be twelve), but since COVID, it’s just immediate family, which means we’re only four. We also don’t do Zoom seders, so it was just the four of us. My mom still did a lot of cooking, and she made good food, especially gefilte fish and Kosher-for-Passover latkes. I ended up falling sick after the first night, so the second seder was not as enjoyable. Being sick also made me fall behind in other areas of my life, but more on that in my reflection.

Overall, March was jam-packed from start to finish. I had an unusually high amount of responsibilities, which I always do, but they were significantly higher this month. I became stressed many times, but I stayed on track until the very last week when I fell sick. Also, I was sad that I did not get to read and blog as much as I wanted to, but I stayed as active as I could. Despite these setbacks, I had a much better month mental health-wise, so I’m happy about that. April will be another busy month, and I’m anxious (in both good and bad ways) to see what it brings. Let’s go over my checklist!

Books

March Reading Goals:

• Read at least four books ☑︎
• Good representation in more than half of the books I read ☑︎
• At least half the authors I read be diverse (i.e. POC, LGBTQ+, and/or Jewish) ☑︎
• Finish the books on my currently reading shelf ☑︎

March Books to Read:

• Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare ☑︎
• Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers ☑︎
• Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas ☒
• The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead ☑︎
• The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro ☑︎
• Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali ☒
• Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley ☑︎
• What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera ☑︎

Completed Goals: 4/4

TBR List: 6/8

Other Media

March Television:

• Finish Superstore ☑︎
• Watch Falcon & The Winter Soldier ☑︎
• Watch Little Fires Everywhere ☒

March Film:

• Watch one movie ☑︎

March Music:

• Listen to artists other than Taylor Swift ☒

Completed Goals: 3/5

Blogging

March General Goals:

• Stay active on blog and social media ☑︎
• Plan Royal Teatime & other feature posts ☑︎
• Post more on Instagram with a focus on stories ☒
• Cater Twitter more to books ☒
• Connect more with the book community ☑︎

To Post in March:

• Book Review: Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley ☑︎
• Book Review: Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare ☑︎
• Book Review: Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas ☒ (not counting this against me since this was always a maybe)
• March 2021 Wrap-Up ☑︎

Completed Goals: 6/8

Writing

Novel in March:

• Finish writing chapter two and write first interlude ☑︎
• Rewrite chapter one ☒
• Continue world-building and mythology research ☑︎

TV Fanatic in March:

• Post an editorial ☑︎
• Stay on top of reviews for shows I’m covering ☑︎

Diary in March:

• Write at least two entries ☒
• Write longer entries ☑︎

Completed Goals: 5/7

Miscellaneous March Goals

Organization in March:

• Check out bullet journals ☒
• Continue using Notion ☑︎
• Use personal agenda actively ☒
• Stay neat and organized, clean room and workspace if either becomes messy ☒

Personal Goals for March:

• Attend therapy and follow goals ☑︎
• Use faith in stressful & dark times ☑︎
• Stay up to date with school ☑︎
• Find a part-time job ☒
• Study & learn Torah ☑︎
• Stay involved & informed ☑︎

Completed Goals: 6/10

Total Completed Goals (including TBR List): 30/42 (71%)

Total Completed Goals (excluding TBR List): 24/34 (70.5%)

Books

Reading Goals:

• Read at least four books
• Good representation in more than half of the books I read
• At least half the authors I read be diverse (i.e. POC, LGBTQ+, and/or Jewish)
• Finish the Grisha trilogy before the show premieres

Books to Read: (asterisk means they’re on my currently reading shelf, exclamation mark means I have to read the book for class)

• Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu !
• Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
• These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
• The Roommate by Rosie Danan
• This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone * !
• Trust Exercise by Susan Choi !
• Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin

Other Media

Television:

• Finish The Falcon & The Winter Soldier
• Start Superstore Rewatch
• Watch Shadow and Bone

Film:

• Watch another movie

Music:

• Listen to *one* song that isn’t by Taylor Swift

Blogging

General Goals:

• Stay active on blog and social media
• Post more on Instagram
• Cater Twitter more to books
• Connect with book community

Planned Posts:

• Herongraystairs: The Best Dynamic in The Shadowhunter Chronicles
• Book Review: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
• A Look My Kindle Shelves + Book Recs
• April 2021 Wrap-Up (posted within first few days of May)

Writing

Novel:

• Finish rewriting chapter one
• Continue world-building and mythology research

TV Fanatic:

• Post an editorial
• Stay on top of reviews for shows I’m covering

Diary:

• Write at least two entries

Miscellaneous Goals

Organization:

• Check out bullet journals
• Continue using Notion
• Use personal agenda actively
• Stay neat and organized, clean room and workspace if either becomes messy

Personal:

• Follow therapy goals
• Use faith in stressful & dark times
• Stay up to date with school
• Find a part-time job
• Study & learn Torah
• Stay involved & informed

And that sums up March! It was a hectic and chaotic month full of surprises, but I made it through. What was your March like? Did you read any new releases? Watch any new shows? Tell me, I’d love to hear from you guys!

As always, if you have any recommendations to change elements of my monthly wrap-ups, please let me know! Advice is always welcome and much appreciated. I hope everyone has a wonderful April!