It’s time for another discussion post! I’ve seen a lot of people talking about how book blogging and BookTube have changed their reading habits. I think that I’m a completely different reader than I was at the beginning of the year, when I started this channel. So here are the ways that book blogging have changed the way I read!
I’m reading more new releases
For whatever reason, I just wasn’t in tune with new books that were coming out. I had been reading a ton of adult fantasy, which of course has a reputation for long books in long series, and was more interested in books that had established themselves as ‘good’ or ‘popular’ with readers.
Now, I’m not only reading some things before they come out, I’m excited to discover new books and authors. The anticipation that comes before a book is released is just so fun!
I’m actually writing reviews
Confession time: I never wrote reviews before I started a blog. I’d leave my star rating on Goodreads…and that’s it. Honestly, I was just lazy. I think we all know that writing reviews can be difficult and time consuming — I was just never interested in reviewing (despite my author sister giving me disappointed looks).
Now I review almost every single book I read. I feel like I have a lot of room for improvement, but I am getting better and better at it (I hope)!
I’m reading books I would have never tried before
So I’ve told the story before of how I never really touched young adult books before this year. I had read a few that I liked (The Lie Tree) and a few that I really disliked, but never got into them. Then I read Rebel of the Sands, and a whole world of fiction was opened to me.
Do I still struggle with some aspect of YA? Yep. Am I super critical of most of the romances? Absolutely. But I feel like I’m not only learning about the lives of people different from myself, but I’m also swimming in a delightful sea of books by female writers. The number of diverse books I’m reading has absolutely skyrocketed.
I’m buying a lot more books!
So I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not, but I’m buying SO many books! I’ve always been a huge fan of buying books, but I feel like I have really ramped that up! I keep hearing about all these fabulous new titles and older favourites and I need them all!
I’ve made friends!
When I moved to the UK two years ago, I left a lot of wonderful people behind. It has been a struggle to not be as close to my amazing friends, and until very recently, I hadn’t made very many new friends. However, I’ve now got a wonderful community of book bloggers — you guys! It has been so amazing getting to know so many wonderful people here and on Twitter. For the first time in awhile, I feel really comfortable in my social situation. So thank you all for being so kind and welcoming.
I Should Read That 
Leave a reply to Blogmas Calendar #21 Cancel reply