Looking Back On My 2016 Blogging Resolutions

So back in early January of 2016 I made a post about my top ten blogging resolutions I wanted to achieve for 2016. I had a look at my progress in June and now its time to see how I went!

I resolve to read and review all of CJ Archer’s Freak House books,
I managed to re-read/complete the Emily Chambers Spirit Medium series, but I failed reading any of the Freak House books.
and her spin-off series The Ministry of Curiosities.
I didn’t even start this, and now she’s got the Glass and Steele series. I literally can’t keep up with her.
I resolve to ONLY request to review books I ALREADY KNOW ABOUT AND REALLY WANT and not just ‘oh, that sounds good’!
Until HarperCollins came along with their amazing 2017 HarperTeen haul on Edelweiss, I was doing pretty well with this. I blame HarperCollins. In my defence the haul was a mix of ‘This book is already on my to-reads list’ and ‘I read a book that sounded a bit like this and loved it, I think I’m ready to get my heart ripped out again thanks.’
I worked so hard last year to cut back on all of my review books. This year I resolve to have so few review books on my TBR pile that I can pick and choose my next read off my overflowing bookshelf.
This is what it’s like to be a reviewer: Oh no, I don’t have any review books! *goes to Edelweiss and requests seven different books. All are approved* Fuck.
This will obviously be something I try to achieve in 2017, however I have really cut back on the physical copies I’ve been requesting.
I did actually partially achieve this when I had enough time between review books to enter the Halloween Bingo contest.
I resolve to finish the several series I have waiting on my Sequels shelf.
I honestly pulled one of the sequel books out, but I got distracted by review copies and then the Halloween Bingo. I haven’t achieved this.
I resolve to re-read the Harry Potter series, starting with the beautiful illustrated edition!
I totally started reading it! However, it’s such a big book I can only read it sprawled on my bed, and only when my husband isn’t with me, which isn’t often, so I haven’t even got to Hagrid on the motorbike yet.
I’d love to start my Page (To Screen) to Stage segment, about books that became musicals (via films). This means I need to resolve to read more primary sources. And watch more films. And listen to more musicals. Yay!
I’ve discovered a bunch of new musicals, but they’re not necessarily based on a film based on a book. Anyway, this is a giant fail. I will, however, be featuring more musicals on the blog in 2017.
I resolve to buy less ‘filler’ books – I want to buy books I really want, not just because they are in the $2 bargain bin. Srsly I have no room for a new bookshelf.
Like I said in my mid-year freak out, this has only really worked because I bought all the stock I wanted and the bargain bins haven’t really been updated with new/interesting stock.
Last year I resolved to be one of the lucky few chosen to take part in a major blog tour for one of my favourite authors in 2016. I’ll be taking part in Maria V Snyder’s Night Study blog tour on 21^st January and as a Snyder fangirl I’m pretty stoked to have been included.
This turned into more of a ‘only tour books you’re reading/excited for’ instead of whoring out the blog for advertising. I was invited a couple of blog tours and I volunteered for a few. This year I took part in: Maria Snyder’s Night Study, Mary Weber’s Siren’s Song, Richelle Mead’s Glittering Court, Randa Abdel-Fattah’s When Michael Met Mina, Sara Raasch’s Frost Like Night, and PC Cast’s Moon Chosen. I consider this a win for the blog.
I resolve to shake the blog up in 2016 and soon I’ll have an announcement about that!
This happened when Taneika and I joined forces to create Young Adult at Heart! Unfortunately we’ve decided to amicably split ways – our focuses are too different to continue blogging together. Remember to follow Taneika on Instagram and Youtube!

Looking back, I think I could have done a lot better at these. I’m going to work even harder next year to achieve the ones I didn’t this year!

What about you? Did you make any resolutions for 2016?
Did you achieve or fail them?
What do you think about my resolutions and my achievements and failures?

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About Nemo

A lover of kittens and all things sparkly, Nemo has a degree in English Literature and specialises in reviewing contemporary, paranormal, mystery/thriller, historical, sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction. She is especially drawn to novels about princesses, strong female friendships, magical powers, and assassins.