too much miya

Hi, I'm Miya.

If you're not new here, you might have realized that it's been a while since my last post. In fact, this is the first time I click the publish button this month. But why the hiatus?

Well, the short answer is life got in the way. The longish one is this:

*this is my bullet journal's august spread, by the way*

I have moved to another apartment closer to my sister's university and for some godforsaken reason, we couldn't get wifi or cable TV in the new place. I still don't know why exactly, but after innumerous frustrating calls with the company, we finally set everything up. The no-wifi issue is the main cause of my hiatus, actually. I hadn't realized how much I'm depended on it until I was denied for over 20 days.

That aside, I also had some problems with my student visa, which, to my absolute despair, still isn't in my hands. I've sent so many documents over the mail and paid so many taxes already that if I don't get approved for the visa, I'll go insane. One would think that getting into a university abroad and then getting a fricking scholarship would be the hard part, right? Well, not so much.

Anyway, let's move over to the happy things.

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Uma publicação compartilhada por miya 🌺 comms are open! (@toomuchmiya) em 13 de Ago, 2020 às 1:30 PDT

milestones

I received my first ko-fi ever! I literally screamed with joy. If you don't know, I'm trying to raise enough money to buy myself a personal laptop for school and absolutely every penny I get (through ko-fi or my shop) is a huge help.

Speaking of my shop, I've also seen an increase in sales, which makes me so damn proud. In my shop, I make everything available for free (because not everyone can afford some of the products I make) but in a 'pay what you want' style. Every time I see someone has paid for something I did it just feels me with joy.

In the time I've been gone, I noticed an incredible growth in my Pinterest statistics, which is just incredible to me. Nowadays, Pinterest alone is responsible for over 60% of my blog's page views, and witnessing the growth is mind-blowing.

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Uma publicação compartilhada por miya 🌺 comms are open! (@toomuchmiya) em 12 de Ago, 2020 às 12:34 PDT

instagram

Oh, and I started a bookstagram and an art Instagram! I'm still very new at social media (with the exception of Twitter, of course) so bear with me. But it's been awesome the process of learning to take pictures (yes, I'm still learning).

Concerning my art Instagram, I've received an overwhelmingly good response as well, and it's been great, For the longest time, I've been too embarrassed to show people my artwork and having people enjoying it just makes me so happy (and relieved).

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Uma publicação compartilhada por miya 🌿 comms are open! (@tooartsymiya) em 12 de Ago, 2020 às 12:33 PDT

blog tours

If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably noticed that I've been freaking out lately about blog tours. The reason, actually, is these two companies Caffeine Tours and Colored Pages Tours. Both of them are run by POCs and/or international bloggers and are committed to getting #ownvoices ARCs in the hands of #ownvoices and international bloggers. Because of them, I have the honor to participate in the following book tours:

We Are Not Free by Traci Chen
Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
These Violent Delights by Chloe Cong

I'm so excited! Stay tuned for reviews + extra posts about them.

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Uma publicação compartilhada por miya 🌺 comms are open! (@toomuchmiya) em 14 de Ago, 2020 às 12:40 PDT

commissions

I opened commissions! I ran polls on both my Instagram and my twitter account and the unanimous response was: I should do it. Plus, I could really use the money for, as stated before, buying a personal computer for university in the fall.

So, after coming up with pricing, the graphics, and the logistics for it, I can finally say I'm open for business. If you're interested, here`s the information you should now.

And don't hesitate to send me an email (toomuchmiya@gmail.com) or comment (or DM) with any questions regarding the commissions. Oh, and don't worry, I intend to post a very detailed post with a how-to-order tutorial as soon as possible!

Thank you so much for bearing with me,

May August treat us all kindly.

So, I'm quarantining for over a week now and I'm bored. Then, I thought: why not write about some 2020 book releases that I'm looking forward (or not so much)?

Just a few warning first:

I'm bi and tend to read books with queer characters, so there's that
I've had a book blog before but I sucked at it and probably will continue to do so
English is not my first language so prepare yourself to a lot of shitty shitty writing

Enjoy!

sequels

Imagine Me
(Shatter Me #6)
by Tahereh Mafi

The explosive finale to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shatter Me series.
Juliette Ferrars.
Ella Sommers.
Which is the truth and which is the lie?
Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong—between Ella and Juliette—blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control.
The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.

March 31st | Goodreads

Here's the thing: back in 2015 when everyone was talking about the first three books I read them and didn't like them. I thought they were lazy and boring and the characters were, honest to gods, annoying as fuck. However, according to my goodreads shelf, I already got to the fourth book of the series so maybe I'll finish it? I mean, it's not like there's a lot happening on my life now anyway... And maybe the story got better?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

(The Hunger Games #0)
by Suzanne Collins

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the 10th annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to out charm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

May 19th | Goodreads

It's the Hunger Games and I'm here for it. Twelve-year-old me is thriving this year.

The Last Confessions of Mara Dyer and Noah Shaw
(The Shaw Confessions #3)
by Michelle Hodkin

In this apocalyptic finale to the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, alliances will be tested, hearts will be broken, and no one will be left unscarred. Noah's confessions end here.

Noah Shaw wants to start over without being haunted by his past.

He can't.

Despite his recent losses, he's sure he knows who he can trust.

He doesn't.

He thinks he's finally found his happy ending.

He's wrong.

August 25th | Goodreads

When is this book gonna be published and put me out of my misery? The last of the Mara Dyer series (or Noah Shaw's or whatever) was delayed almost a year and I need my life back, thanks.

releases

Woven in Moonlight
(Woven in Moonlight #1)
by Isabel Ibañez

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.
When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.
She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.

January 7th | Goodreads

I got some magic realism vibes from this book so I'm like 'hell ya let's do this'.

Infinity Son
(Infinity Cycle #1)

by Adam Silvera

Balancing epic and intensely personal stakes, bestselling author Adam Silvera’s Infinity Son is a gritty, fast-paced adventure about two brothers caught up in a magical war generations in the making.
Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.
Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.
Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be.
Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.

January 14th | Goodreads

I have never read any of Adam Silvera's books (except for What If It's Us but I'm not counting that) which I deeply regret and, apparently, this is a fantasy (hopefully a gay one) so why not start with Infinity Son?

Only Mostly Devastated

by Sophie Gonzales

Summer love...gone so fast.
Will Tavares is the dream summer fling―he's fun, affectionate, kind―but just when Ollie thinks he's found his Happily Ever After, summer vacation ends and Will stops texting Ollie back. Now Ollie is one prince short of his fairy tale ending, and to complicate the fairy tale further, a family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country. Which he minds a little less when he realizes it's the same school Will goes to...except Ollie finds that the sweet, comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn't the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, closeted―and, to be honest, a bit of a jerk.
Ollie has no intention of pining after a guy who clearly isn't ready for a relationship, especially since this new, bro-y jock version of Will seems to go from hot to cold every other week. But then Will starts "coincidentally" popping up in every area of Ollie's life, from music class to the lunch table, and Ollie finds his resolve weakening.
The last time he gave Will his heart, Will handed it back to him trampled and battered. Ollie would have to be an idiot to trust him with it again.
Right? Right.

March 3rd | Goodreads

I loved 'Grease', okay? And a gay summer love story is absolutely everything I've ever asked for. (p.s.: I totally acknowledge that Greases did not age well but the musical numbers are still great so let's leave it at that for now)

Check, Please!, Book 2: Sticks & Scones
(Check, Please! #3-4)
by Ngozi Ukazu

Eric Bittle is heading into his junior year at Samwell University, and not only does he have new teammates―he has a brand new boyfriend! Bitty and Jack must navigate their new, secret, long-distance relationship, and decide how to reveal their relationship to friends and teammates. And on top of that, Bitty's time at Samwell is quickly coming to an end...It's two full hockey seasons packed with big wins and high stakes!
A collection of the second half of the mega-popular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: Sticks and Scones is the last in a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life.

April 7th | Goodreads

I read the first volume of Check, Please! (year 1&2?) and absolutely fell in love (it's so f-ing cute, yall). However, I tried for a while to follow the rest of the story via Tumblr and lemme tell ya: it did not go well. I'm so glad the graphic novel is coming soon!

The State of Us

by Shaun David Hutchinson

When Dean Arnault’s mother decided to run for president, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone, least of all her son. But still that doesn’t mean Dean wants to be part of the public spectacle that is the race for the White House—at least not until he meets Dre.

The only problem is that Dre Rosario's on the opposition; he’s the son of the Democratic nominee. But as Dean and Dre’s meet-ups on the campaign trail become less left to chance, their friendship quickly becomes a romantic connection unlike any either of the boys have ever known.
If it wasn’t hard enough falling in love across the aisle, the political scheming of a shady third-party candidate could cause Dean and Dre’s world to explode around them.
It’s a new modern-day, star-crossed romance about what it really means to love your country—and yourself—from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson.

June 2nd | Goodreads

Ok, I admit I only considered this book because, after a year, I'm still not over 'Red, White & Royal Blue'. And also I'm a politics junkie so there's that too.

Cemetery Boys
by Aiden Thomas

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

June 9th | Goodreads

Ghosts? And warlocks? In like, a gay love story? I AM HERE FOR IT. (also, own voices = gold).

Cinderella Is Dead
by Kalynn Bayron

It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.
Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .
This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

July 7th | Goodreads

I have read way too many Cinderella retellings (considering I never liked the story in the first place), but apparently, there's a wlw friends-to-lovers situation so I'm happily giving this retelling a chance. (also, the main character is not white anymore... AMEN)

Here the Whole Time
by Vitor Martins

The charm and humor of To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets Dumplin' in this body-positive YA love story between two boys who must spend 15 days living with each other over school break.
What would you do if you had to spend the next 15 days with your lifelong crush?
Felipe gets it -- he's fat. Not chubby. Not big-boned. Fat. And he doesn't need anyone to remind him, which is, of course, what everyone does. That's why he's been waiting for this moment ever since the school year began: school break. Finally, he'll be able to spend some time far away from school and the classmates who tease him incessantly. His plans include catching up on his favorite TV shows, finishing his to-be-read pile, and watching YouTube tutorials on skills he'll never actually put into practice.
But things get a little out of hand when Felipe's mom informs him that Caio, the neighbor kid from apartment 57, will be spending the next 15 days with them while his parents are on vacation. Felipe is distraught because A) he's had a crush on Caio since, well, forever, and B) Felipe has a list of body image insecurities and absolutely NO idea how he's going to entertain his neighbor for two full weeks.
Suddenly, the days ahead of him that once promised rest and relaxation (not to mention some epic Netflix bingeing) end up bringing a whirlwind of feelings, forcing Felipe to dive head-first into every unresolved issue he has had with himself -- but maybe, just maybe, he'll manage to win over Caio, too.

November 10th | Goodreads

this book is written by a Brazilian author! And I'm Brazilian! And it's gay! And I'm gay! What more could I ask for really?

already read

How to Speak Boy
by Tiana Smith

Quinn and Grayson have been fierce speech and debate rivals for years. They can't stand one another, either in competition or in real life.
But when their AP Government teacher returns their school assignments to the wrong cubbies, they begin exchanging anonymous notes without knowing who the other is.
Despite their differences, the two come together through their letters and find themselves unknowingly falling for the competition. Before the state tournament, the two of them need to figure out what they want out of life, or risk their own future happiness. After all, what’s the point of speech and debate if you can't say what's in your heart?

January 7th | Goodreads

Ok, I hated this book because a) it was so boring and b) I wanted to murder the main character so she'd shut up for once. And also because there's a better version on Netflix. I should've just watched Candy Jar and never even consider this book in the first place.

Heartstopper: Volume Three
(Heartstopper #3)
by Alice Oseman

In this volume we’ll see the Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private…
Meanwhile Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem… rather close…?

February 6th | Goodreads

So. Cute. and. Perfect. Alice. Oseman. Is. Queen. I. Don't. Make. The. Rules.

Chain of Gold
(The Last Hours #1)
by Cassandra Clare

Chain of Gold is the first novel in a new trilogy that stars the Shadowhunters of Edwardian London.
Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.
James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

March 3rd | Goodreads

After the crushing disappointment of Queen of Air and Darkness, I honestly thought I'd never fangirl about any Cassandra Clare book over again. BUT WE'RE BACK BABY. Chain of Gold was everything I like about her: the pompous writing, the angst, the plot twist, the characters I want to adopt. I just hope the rest of the trilogy lives up the first book.

Well, this is everything I guess... Thanks for reading (hopefully you found this post at least a bit useful). I'll continue to write for as long as I'm bored (maybe do a part II or something). See you around...

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