February Reading Journal Setup 📚 & What I Read in January | Square Reading Journal

[@artgirlsvenja3428]

T. Kingfisher is amzing, I loved "the twisted ones" and "nettle and bone" 10/10

[@Cacklesloudly23]

The Twisted Ones lived in my brain for a few months after i read it❤. My other fav is "what moves the dead". So good and so creepy

[@SusanYeske701]

I'm working my way through her published works. Haven't found a bad one yet! I inter-library loan requested Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking. Read all the Saint of Steel that's out, and the Sworn Soldier books.

[@faerieofthenorth]

I love T. Kingfisher!! I was so happy to get my hands on A Sorceress Comes to Call through the library - I especially love how she writes women who are slightly older as protagonists, I find that sadly difficult to come by in fantasy especially. I also just think I really enjoy her sense of humor and on the other hand how she doesn't shy away from quite dark subject matter. I would absolutely recommend Wizard's Guide, it does have a similar feel with a younger protagonist and the humor with the dark subject matter, but I'd also recommend Swordheart or the Paladin series as well as Nettle and Bone! These journal spreads are so pretty and elegant your calligraphy is so graceful! 🤍🤍💖💖

[@evebananas]

T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors! I would really recommend pretty much everything she's written. The Saint of Steel series beginning with Paladin's Grace is my favorite of her work.

[@ClaireGreen-wd2gm]

First one I read was Nettle and Bone and I found it so charming now Ive read so many. The way Steven and Grace meet eachother in Paladins Grace is too funny. 😅 I relate so much to the characters over thinking everything. Maybe its that Im older but Id take a Paladin from Kingfishers world way before a fae shadow daddy.

[@SusanYeske701]

I read those and thought it was a complete series! So now I have to wait over a year to see who gets the next book! I'm really looking forward to Marcus's book and also finding out more what happened to the Saint.

[@svenjakral5709]

This Video is just perfect, i actually thought maybe i should do my Journaling today, but i decided, i wait to do it with you. Turns out, i have to do it tomorrow. Just because ihave to get up early tomorrow, and i live in Germany, which means, its 7 pm at the time i am writing this. i just wanted to say thank you for being such an inspiration, i do really love to rewatch every single of your jounaling videos (mostly the reading Journal ones) and I love to sit down, start your Video and Journal with you. Ps: I apologize for my bad english, i dont speak much english, and I think I last wrote in English when I was in school, which means like 8 Years ago.✨💕

[@ClaireRousseau]

I wouldn't say A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking is middle grade - the main character is young but you've got war, discrimination, murders, it touches on dark topics. Also T Kingfisher also writes middle grade as Ursula Vernon, so you can assume if it got published under T Kingfisher, it's because it's on the darker side of her writing and she/her publishers don't want kids who like her middle grade books to accidentally read her T Kingfisher ones.

[@elliesnotes]

None of that means it’s not middle grade. The Rangers Apprentice Series touches on all of that and also drug addition and is still middle grade. And a quick search will tell you that it is in fact middle grade for ages 8-12. Obviously parents should read into the material to see if their child can handle it but it’s still a middle grade book.

[@alexschofield8085]

While I don’t know about this book specifically because I haven’t read it, I will say there are plenty of books with war, discrimination and murder that are made for 12 year olds. It’s totally normal.

[@ClaireRousseau]

You both make good points that MG books can touch on these topics. I'm thinking of one thing in particular that feels much more YA to me, but it's a big spoiler, so I'm staying mum for Erin's sake. I can see how it can have crossover between YA/MG given there's a younger secondary character, but I personally still find the story themes, ie. what the characters learn, how they grow, to be more on the YA side. I'm not trying to be the reading police "think of the children, they shouldn't read about murders" or to diminish MG in any way, it's just that this book feels more YA to me, having read it. Mainly, I think it's a fantastic read that has broad crossover appeal to everyone, regardless of the category you put it in! YA/MG is a porous distinction that's evolved in publishing in the last few decades. I've seen books reissued as YA that I read as 'adult books' when I was a teen myself - thinking on it now, these do for as YA, but at the time there was only "children's books" or various adult genres (I'm in my late 30s).

[@amandabrown9871]

I loved A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking! It is my favorite T. Kingfisher book I have read so far!

[@clairedecoste4310]

I am so sick at the moment and your videos are keeping me going. Thank you!

[@Mamadriggs]

You are, hands down, my favorite booktuber. I love your style, your reviews and that you just go with the flow! That's totally how it should be.

[@templecat1325]

T Kingfisher is my favourite fantasy author and Nettle & Bone is my favourite by her but A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking was my introduction to her novels and I loved it so much I needed to find everything else she had published. 🌺

[@quantquill]

Same for me with Wizard's Guide -- someone on KZbin recommended it and my library had the audiobook. It was enjoyable, not quiiite cozy, I loved the Gingerbread man's sass.

[@SusanYeske701]

Same, but my first was Nettle & Bone! I have WGtDB on request at the library. Working my way through her works.

[@krystlemyers9338]

A Wizards Guide To Defensive Baking is a coming of age story of sorts. I really liked it and thought it was a good quick read.

[@astridpiepschyk8899]

I have read T. Kingfisher's A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking as well as Illumnations. Both books are for younger readers, so I found getting through the first chapter a little tough, but by then I was hooked by the story and honestly, they are the two most imaginative and creative books I've read in a long time, I highly recommend them both. I have read A Sorceress Comes to Call as well and of the three books, it comes in third. A friend of mine has recommended Nettle & Bone as the next T. K. book to read, so it's on my TBR list.

[@SusanYeske701]

Nettle and Bone is great! It has the bestest goodest boy!

[@valskye3251]

💖 I love the way you setup the review pages and I´m still figuring out how to convert this for my journaling style.... Have a wonderful february with lots of good reads! 💞

[@Jeanny.Q]

💕 I’ve also read my first T Kingfisher this January! I listened to Thornhedge on audio, something new for me. I’m hearing impaired so I didn’t expect too much but I was surprised how well it went. I think short and easy reads like Thornhedge hit the mark for me when it comes to audiobooks. Your February page is stunning! I hope Notebooktherapy will rerelease these tapes, they are perfect for my witchy Y2K Millennial vibes I have going on in my life.

[@virginiamohlere6390]

I'm SO pleased that you liked Flyaway!!

[@ErinSmith]

Thank you for your wonderful recommendation! 😍

[@Haffina]

I actually did a 'review' in my reading journal for the book I dnf'd because I wanted to talk about what I didn't like it and didn't want to finish it. Instead of it having a star rating it just has big DNF on it. As always your spreads are so freaking pretty.

[@mooncraftbujo]

Love how you used the Marigona Suli stickers! I'm glad you like them 😊

[@ErinSmith]

I adore them 🥰 you’re the best Kim!

[@spencerjmt]

storygraph allows you to view your journal entries of dnf'd books which shows how far in you were, and it gives you an option to add an explanation. go to your stats and change the drop down from 'read books' to 'dnf books'. it gives you the average progess/time through before you dnf'd too. storygraph is great for dnf books

[@cinder00239]

Definitely A Wizard's Guide to Baking. I would consider it Middle Grade in that I think that middle schoolers and high schoolers should read it, but it was very enjoyable as a 30-year-old. The main appeal was how well-written the characters were and the underlying themes of "Wow, the adults are really bad at their jobs and should feel bad about being so bad at their jobs because now a teenager has to do terrible things all to clean up the adults' messes." Defining Quote: "You expect heroes to survive terrible things. If you give them a medal, then you don't ever have to ask why the terrible thing happened in the first place. Or try to fix it." Defining Character: Main character's familiar is a sourdough starter.

[@hannahbarrett6560]

I read A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking this month. Loved it - 5 star read for me. My favorite book for January was A Court of Wings and Ruin closely followed by Onyx Storm.

[@halimede]

I’m working on my January reads now and then setting up my February spread as well. Really enjoyed yours and got some good inspiration for my journal 🌸

[@queenvictoria6030]

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was a top read for the month, short read but enjoyable. But 100 years of solitude which I started in January but will finish in Feb by far was my favourite with all the complex different family members and their lives in the town of Macondo i recommend

[@himebirb]

🎀 Love these spreads! ✨ We read T Kingfisher’s Nettle and Bone for another book club I’m in and it was quite good! The main character is 30 in that one, so a bit more relatable, haha.

[@debra9916]

My favorite book of January was What Feasts at Night, the second book in the Sworn Soldier series by T. Kingfisher. The first boook is What Moves the Dead, and that one was really good, too. T. Kingfisher is known for horror writing, but they are not really very scary (at least not the two that I’ve read so far), which is fine with me. I also very much enjoyed Let Me In by John Alvide Lindqvist. It is a vampire story set in Sweden. 🌸

[@Kitkat_09090]

Love T Kingfisher! I recc. the Paladin's Grace series but if you want more standalones Nettle and Bone and Swordheart are also worth a read!

[@nan7022]

In addition to all the other great T Kingfisher books already mentioned in these comments, you might enjoy Bryony and Roses, which is an interesting take on Beauty and the Beast.

[@WickedWestBooks]

🌷 I just love your journaling

[@alexandrialupercio567]

american elsewhere was my top read for january! 💗

[@elder_vampire83]

💕 This was my best reading month in a long time. Took a long break from reading and now I have my own little journal and have rebuilt my collection! My favorite January book was Lost Gods by Brom, a very dark story but heartbreakingly beautiful. This month so far I think Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie is already my favorite (book 2 in The First Law Trilogy). Thanks for recommending Gwen & Art Are Not in Love! I’m really liking it.

[@ClaireGreen-wd2gm]

T Kingfisher has become a fav. I havent read A Sorceress Comes to Call yet but have read the Saint of Steel series (it may actually be a free listen on Audible membership or was last year) Ive read What Moves the Dead, The Seventh Bride, A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking, Nettle and Bone, and Swordheart. (Swordheart was free audible listen as well and my fav Jan read) I love how Kingfishers characters (if they arent kids) are usually age 30 and up.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking is supposed to be really good. A lot of older readers (like 30s) say it has “cozy vibes” in terms of it’s digestible and easy to read and nothing too graphic. It’s been on my TBR for a while. Currently the only book I’ve read is Nettle and Bone. I will say it’s quite well-written and I’d call it a dark fairytale. I actually wanted it to be much longer. It does have sensitive topics but they’re handled with kid gloves. You almost wouldn’t know they’re there. And the humor is great. I only gave it a 3 stars but that’s mostly because I wanted it about 500 pages longer and more of my favorite characters… but for me, 3 stars means the author is on my radar. 4 stars means I’m going to check out every book they publish and read most of them. 5 stars means i’m buying them for friends I love it so much… for reference on how I rate new to me authors.

[@ErinSmith]

Sensitive topics handled with kid gloves - what a wonderful description!

[@taytaytalk3937]

I like that we are reading some of the same books this year - interested to see how our star ratings differ (still using cawpile) 🌸

[@adrianwilfong4974]

The hollow places by her is favorite of mine, read twice already. And The audiobook is go good! ❤

[@Rachierooh]

Beautiful as always 💖

[@antzieisme]

🎟️ Great video as usual, Erin!

[@cadihardy143]

I’ve been loving your rating system!

[@ErinSmith]

I’m so glad! 🥰

[@jennifergentry144]

I just love your book journal content. I mainly read mystery and thriller fiction. My favorite book of January was Everybody is a Liar by Liv Constantine. I listened to it an audiobook and the narrators are fantastic!💕

[@kirasakuya7580]

... instant earworm of Macavity 🤣 your reading journal is stunning as always!

[@ErinSmith]

He’s broken every human law, he breaks the laws of gravity 😈🐈‍⬛🙀

[@simply_lisa_lisa]

I wish my caligraphy were as pretty as yours, Erin. I love your videos and your journals so much - the colors are 100%.

[@DancingBats]

Awesome as always! 📚💗

[@mechudoba]

My favorite book in January was The Paris Apartment.

[@Cordelia0704p]

👀 the sorceress book is kind of freaking me out 😂😂😂 love the journal as usual!

[@Bookbonkers8439]

I have only read Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight so I can’t say weather I love that series, and while I do love ACOTAR Crescent City has my heart. I love that series! I’ve heard that Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is really good! I don’t have a significant other, so in my house Valentine’s Day is Single awareness day 💘

[@happyplanner_jana]

🌸 have a great reading month 🩷

[@tds6519]

🎀 So cute! I always love watching... you give me so much inspiration! Thank you!

[@ahaaha6558]

I really liked Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher.

[@Complexity-in-the-Grey]

I ended up only reading one book this month… so hats off to you 😂

[@katball4145]

Absolutely love your videos and so does my 4 year old… we always have to watch one of your videos before bed 😂❤ you inspired me to go into a b5 for my reading journal this year and I love it… my favourite read of January was godkiller by Hannah kaner… give it a go i recommend it… I’m saving onyx storm for later on ❤

[@cherylmccallum725]

Love these pages! I'm updating mine today so I am ready to go for Feb. My fave January read was One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. And I just started the next book in that duology.

[@priyacray]

Love how you've changed the mitsu loading bar to match the one for peaches! 🐷

[@quantquill]

🦑🦑Your reading journal setup videos got me so inspired last December that I made a reading journal for the first time! From Dec 15 to Dec 30, I used my Sprocket (had it for years, bought a metric ton of sticker sheets on sale and then used it twice, until I realized, 'Hey, Erin is using the same printer I bought way back... Where is that thing? What a cool idea!'). I read 170 books last year (at least 120 were audiobooks). Have no idea if that's an unusual year, because it never occurred to me to count until YT said, "Here's a bunch of book journaling videos, you wanted to obsess about a new hobby, right?" If anyone enjoys dystopian alt-history magic, the Gunny Rose series by Charlaine Harris is excellent. I've listened to the first 3 (An Easy Death, The Long Fall, and Russian Cage).

[@Jen39x]

My only book for January is Ovid’s Metamorphosis (It’s a book club read). It’s surprisingly entertaining and readable but I don’t think I will ever call it a favorite. 🌸

[@waves_o_art]

The cheer I cheered learning about your newsletter!!! I'm excited!

[@lisabatten6068]

My favorite of January was The Nightingale.

[@lynndinely7167]

Hi Erin love the video as always. Could you show us how to use the circuit to create the stickers you use. Please 🙏🙏

[@charlottemalone7375]

Intermezzo was my favorite January read, I thought it was Rooney’s best by a mile. 🌸

[@JadeReads_2019]

🌸🎀🦩💕🌷 I read four books in January and half way through Fourth Wing. my favourite read was The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

[@dr.janaleewagner1177]

My favorite January read was Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros. 💕

[@ch4rli3majo16]

Lovely video ♡ 🎀

[@cheeseisdelicious4627]

I finally read the Heartless Hunter and I liked it a lot. At least it's true enemies to lovers haha. Another great find was Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson, which is like Mummy/Indiana Jones type of adventure.

[@dancingitalianurbanfarm8078]

🌸 I love your videos. That’s all I wanted to say 😊

[@juliangelus]

🩰🩰🩰 I was planning on setting up Feb while watching this but all 4 cats decided they needed cuddles instead. I tried Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher but it just wasn't for me. I can heartily recommend Salt and Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher - it's a witchy retelling of Jane Eyre and is absolutely amazing, definitely a comfort read for me.

[@soniaesquivel9385]

I’m curious if you wouldn’t mind sharing what kind of sticker paper you use. It looks like it’s a thinner, reposition-able, more flexible than what I have. I have a Cricut and bought the Cricut brand but I personally feel like it’s too thick for my liking.

[@ErinSmith]

I get mine locally at Stash World - I’ll pop a link below in case you’re Aussie based too - but I know a lot of people use label paper for its thinness! I find cutting the one I have on ‘washi tape’ setting with ‘more’ pressure works well for kiss cut stickers on my Cricut Explore 3. stashworld.com.au/products/a4-premium-matte-sticker-paper?_pos=5&_sid=925e7abd0&_ss=r

[@kateryna4833]

on storygraph you can recall dnf book's percentage and they did also On pause bottom recently

[@darlenehayes2416]

Bought my first journey say order today. Thanks to you.😂❤

[@draganascrafts]

Love the spreads! I started setting up January in my but I’m totally blocked. It seems my whole month has been a blockade in the 🧠sort of month 😅🌸

[@TouchstonesRanna]

🌸 My best read for January was Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.

[@claudia_elisabeth648]

🪷 My best book of January was Piranesi by Susanna Clark. Greetings from Germany 🙋‍♀️

[@kareydwyer9088]

Honestly the only time I write a review is if I don't finish a book. And it's definitely not for anyone else, it's for me to remember why I stopped reading the book. I will finish almost anything, only books that trigger me get DNF'ed so this just prevents me from picking them up again.

[@akkyraa]

I'm using PEACH as well for my ratings this year ❤

[@sioutanlaw6853]

A question: have you read The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff? If not, I highly recommend! They’re Australian.

[@ShikiPirs]

I'd also be zoned out if the cat sat nearby)

[@patlarson5986]

Pink emoji 🥰

[@CRISTI-NA]

💝Valentine's Day = My birthday

[@Luciana-Silva]

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[@Buried_InABook]

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[@karenseitz2328]

🎉

[@emmasdeaf]

maybe unconnected to this vid, but what microphone do you use to record your voiceovers??

[@ErinSmith]

It’s a Stadium Sydney USB microphone. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand, I recommend it! I bought it at JB HiFi for about $80. I have never been able to find it available online internationally though 🥲

[@down7own7]

shelving things on GoodReads huehuehue

[@ErinSmith]

I'm sorry the DanHumour isn't making sense to me today 😂

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

I have a “Pile of Shame” which are books I’ve put down but plan to go back to. The name is a joke. There’s no shame but no idea what else to call it.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

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[@l.j.charles2504]

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[@Aneelinka]

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[@rachelburke7969]

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[@bhuvanalakshmi5584]

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[@madamejuke]

🎀🎀🎀🎀

[@mayafs8877]

It shows me that this video was posted 25 seconds ago but the comments are from 2 hours ago-

[@jodowick]

I am pretty sure that members get early access so you are seeing those.

[@ErinSmith]

I made this one available early for channel members 🥰

[@annas5940]

[@DominiquePowell-t7e]

[@FrankieStyle]

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[@alexandrakliche6265]

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[@iarafariadecarvalho5302]

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[@shoggoth_roof]

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[@Juliet_Australia]

Hi Erin, its Juliet again from Brissy. I loved this video and what you did with your room. Good on you for doing it all yourself. Love it!! I just thought I would let you know I started a very basic reading youtube channel yesterday. I wanted to let you know that you were definitely one of the youtubers that have helped me while I have been sick and I just want to thank you. You have helped me so much and have always been so kind by responding to my questions or comments. 🥰. Anyway, from one Brissy girl to another thank you. My youtube channel is - Juliet's Reading Nook. I thought you might like to see what I look like after all this time 🤣. I did the whole thing in one take, because I don't know how to edit yet 🤣. And I said "basically" far to many times, not sure why because I never use that word 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I am definitely going to mention your channel when I show my very amateurish reading journal. I hope that is ok. Anyway, I just thought I would let you know, because you really have helped me so much over the last 16 months and I really appreciate it. Have a great day. Juliet 🥰

[@mirandaw.8158]

🩷, I loved quicksilver in january, I ate it up, really loved the banter between them. But I also really enjoyed the crimson moth. My other books were just not so great unfortunately.

[@ErinSmith]

Ooh! I have Quicksilver on hold at the moment 😍 looking forward to it!

[@carrie1817]

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[@theycallmesaucy]

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[@KittenishgirlJess]

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[@sarahkeeling6814]

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[@bethmetcalf3447]

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[@susan_brehm]

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[@soniamiller5452]

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