Book Events & Blog Events

The Overstuffed Bookcase is 6 Months Old!

Snape approves. Image from sarlyne.tumblr.com
Wow, it feels like it has been so much longer than 6 months, but at the same time, it feels like it has been no time at all!

First of all, I just wanted to thank all of you for reading this blog.  It is so amazing to know that people like to read what I’m writing, and that you’re interested in my opinions of all these books.  I’m just so grateful for every one of you.

I’ve also learned so much in these past 6 months!  I had a personal blog before this, and it never really had any focus to it.  So when I decided to start a new blog where I focused on reviewing YA books, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I followed a couple of review blogs already, but I wasn’t aware of this huge community and all the awesome bloggers that I would come to consider my friends.  And I’ve learned so much about reviewing, about blogging, about promoting books and authors, and interacting with authors, publishers, and other bloggers.

Here are some stats and highlights from the past 6 months of The Overstuffed Bookcase:

  • First post on January 14, 2012
  • This is my 111th post
  • I’ve posted 29 book reviews and 1 movie review
  • I successfully co-hosted a readalong
  • I’ve had 1 giveaway plus the one with the readalong
  • I participated in my first readathon
  • I’ve had one guest post on another blog
  • I’ve added 569 books to my Goodreads lists (mostly my TBR list)
  • I got one book from NetGalley (a “read now” book)
  • I received 3 books for review
  • I borrowed 5 books from the library and 2 books from friends
  • I won 7 books through giveaways
  • I got 14 books as gifts (mostly for my birthday and Mother’s Day)
  • I bought 35 books, not including Kindle Freebies

And now, things I’ve learned from the above list:

  • I read really slowly (actually I already knew this but the number of reviews proves it!)
  • I have way too many books on my TBR list
  • I need to start actually requesting books from NetGalley
  • I need to utilize my awesome library more
  • I have a book-buying addiction (as do most book bloggers!)

Here are a few things that are coming up on The Overstuffed Bookcase:

  • I’ll be participating in the Vacation Reads Giveaway Hop (International!) from July 19th-25th
  • Jessie @ The Daily Bookmark and I hope to have another readalong sometime
  • I plan on participating in another readathon
  • I’ll be a part of a book tour in the future!
  • I hope to start a new feature (I have ideas but I’d love suggestions!)
  • More reviews, more bonus points, more discussions, etc.
  • I also hope to get a new design in the future, or at least get a new header and a button that others can grab and share
  • I hope to go to some book conventions, especially BEA next year

Overall, I just hope to keep on doing what I’ve been doing with this blog, and I hope that my blog can grow and that I continue to meet other wonderful bloggers and continue to read awesome books!

Thanks again to all of you for all your support.  Without you, this blog really wouldn’t be such a huge, fun exciting part of my life.

28 Comments

  1. Nicole Spencer

    July 13, 2012 at 7:25 am

    YAY, CONGRATULATIONS :D

    I'm glad you've fallen in love with blogging as much as so many other people have, and you have an absolutely wonderful blog! Congrats! *toasts*

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 14, 2012 at 8:19 pm

      Aww, thanks Nicole! I really appreciate it!

  2. Catherine@thebookparade

    July 13, 2012 at 8:32 am

    Wow, congratulations! :D Your blog has done really awesomely in six months! I'm nearing the six month Mark myself with The Book Parade actually, and you're right, it does feel like it's been a lot longer, although it also feels like a lot shorter at the same time! :)

  3. Kimberly @ On the Wings of Books

    July 13, 2012 at 11:23 am

    Congrats! I tell myself to use the library more all the time… but I don't like it. I prefer to own, even if I end up not liking the book, which is completely ridiculous. I look forward to more goodness from you in the future :)

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 14, 2012 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks, Kim!!

      I really love to own my books, too, like I feel bad that I loved Delirium and Pandemonium so much but I don't own them. I'm sure I'll get them eventually, though!

  4. Kathy Schneider

    July 13, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    Congratulations! Here's to another great six months!

  5. Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

    July 13, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Happy half-birthday!
    Your blog is great — it's one of my favorites!
    NetGalley — yes! And if you don't already do e-books from your library website, check that out too. I get some great stuff that way.

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 14, 2012 at 9:11 pm

      Aww, thanks Jen! Your blog is one of my favorites, too!

      I haven't checked out any ebooks from my library yet, but I do know that it's available. Although it doesn't seem like they have that great of a selection, and they have a fantastic selection of physical books. I just need to use the library more, either way!

  6. LHughes

    July 13, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    Yay! Congrats! Your blog is one of my favorites!

    You really have accomplished a lot in 6 months! Very cool that you made a list! And I love your goals/plans for the future :)

    Ditto on needing to use the library more.
    Ditto on buying to many books.
    And ditto on wanting to go to BEA. I love conferences, but most of the time I go to writing focused conferences and it'd be fun to do one that's more geared towards readers :)

    Lauren @ Hughes Reviews

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 14, 2012 at 9:23 pm

      Aww, thanks Lauren! Your blog is one of my favorites, too!

      It would be awesome if we could both go to BEA next year! Jessie from The Daily Bookmark wants to go too. It would be awesome to meet both of you!

  7. Krista

    July 13, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    Congrats! 6 Months is seriously awesome. I think my six months are coming up in a week or two :) You have done so much in 6 months, wow! I've learned I'm a slow reader as well, lol. And then there's the book buying addiction – the one I'm sure most book bloggers wish they didn't have. I love your blog though, so keep up the awesomeness :) Your layout, design, and reviews are some of my favs! Can't wait to read more!

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 14, 2012 at 9:25 pm

      Aww, thanks so much Krista! I love your new blog design, too! And yeah, I am way too slow of a reader. I need to fix that! ;)

  8. pagesunbound

    July 15, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    Congratulations! You've accomplished so much in six months!

  9. fakesteph

    July 16, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Happy 6 month bloggoversary! Love the Snape gif. :)

  10. Bengal Reads

    July 17, 2012 at 3:50 am

    This is so awesome Andrea! So amazing that you have accomplished 6 months and are still at it! I have so enjoyed your reviews and presence around the blogosphere! Here is to another 6 months :D Hope to go to BEA next year too :D

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 18, 2012 at 2:55 am

      Aww, thanks Kayla! Oooh, yeah, it would be awesome to meet you at BEA, too! I hope we can all go!

  11. Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books!

    July 17, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! ♥
    You've done such a fantastic job and I absolutely love your blog! You've accomplished so much and I'm so happy to how found another new blog to follow XD Hope to see you around for a lot longer!!

    All the best ♥
    Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books!

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 18, 2012 at 2:56 am

      Aww, thanks, Mackenzie! I love your blog too!

  12. Bittner

    July 19, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    I am so proud of everything that you have accomplished in such a short time on this blog! You have really done an amazing job!

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 19, 2012 at 10:32 pm

      Aww, thanks Courtney! I'm pretty proud of myself! ;)

  13. Kate@Midnight Book Girl

    July 20, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Love the Snape pic! I swear it feels like you've been blogging longer! Only 6 months? You've built a wonderful book blog in such a short time, it's truly impressive! I am so lucky to count you among my friends in the blogging community, I love having bookish friends! Congrats on your blog, I see big things in your blogging future!

    1. Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase

      July 21, 2012 at 8:33 pm

      Aww, thanks Kate! I''m so happy to have you as a friend as well!

      And I did have that personal blog for a couple of years, and I did a reading challenge on it last year and kind of did mini reviews for the books I read. But yeah, only 6 months for this blog! It totally feels like I've been doing it much longer!

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