Hi, bookworms! This is coming to you a day late because while I had this post all typed up and nicely edited, I forgot. to. post it. (Major face-palming moment, but better late than never, right?) 🙂

I can’t believe for the bookish has been a passion of mine for three whole years. I can’t think of anything besides reading itself that I’ve done for three years in a row. (Even with piano, I’ve quit lessons only to pick them back up every few years.) Occasionally I’ve gone a few months without checking in, but I’m so proud of my little corner of the internet. 318 posts later, I’ve built up a wonderful following, made so many friends, grown as a reader and writer, and read 136 books. (At least. I didn’t keep track of every book I read in 2014, but I did review most of them.)

I was bookish. I am bookish. If you look up “Emily” in the dictionary, bookish will be right next to my name. I am destined to be bookish for the rest of my long, bookish life.

– my first blog post, april 3 2014. 

(unfortunately I couldn’t get my hands on a cupcake in time for this post, but a birthday candle will do. *no books were burned in the making of this photo.)

I’ve been MIA the past few months because I haven’t read many books… as in, at all. (Four since January! I know!) Unless you’d like me to post a review of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass or The Old Man and the Sea (school-required reading, which isn’t always dull, but not always my cup of tea), I haven’t had very much in the way of content for the blog. Blessedly, the school year is wrapping up, which means summer vacation is in sight! (And with it the biggest itch for stacks and stacks of good books. Leave recommendations below, please!)

Since I knew my “blogaversary” was coming up, I’ve been browsing through all of my old posts. I love that I’ve had For the Bookish to document all of my reading adventures and tastes. Through blogging, I’ve met so many readers all over the world, and because of them I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and found amazing books I never would have glanced at otherwise.

I’ve also learned that the phrase “birds of a feather flock together” is oh-so-true! I’ve found that if I and another girl four states or countries away share a favorite book, then we also share favorite TV shows or styles or we’re both home schooled or Christian or have the same personality type, etc. – it only confirms again how literature unites people everywhere, forever.

My Favorite Blog Posts Over The Years

2014:

– “happy birthday to me! // updates & more” (detailing my thirteenth birthday and also the day I began what was to be one of my FAVORITE books ever, to this day – Code Name Verity)

– “interview with author heather vogel frederick!” (I remember being over the moon excited about this one. Heather has been a beloved author of mine for going on six years, and this interview, which she mentioned on her own blog in 2014, introduced me to my pen pal Brooke!)

– “why books?” (throwback to my very short, four paragraph posts here. I’ve written posts of several variations on this same topic, but this was the first time I talked about why I love reading.)

– “cats are good company” (I wouldn’t necessarily publish anything like this now… but this post is one that gives me a good laugh. An entire post dedicated to why cats are important to readers and books? And half a paragraph all about a “conversation” you had with your cat, Emily? Face palm. Needless to say, this received no comments… ha!)

2015:

– “my bookshelf tour!” (Compare to my “2017 Bookshelf Tour.” Obviously book blogging has taught me a lot about the proper organization and aesthetics of bookshelves. I would also venture to say I’ve improved in my iPhone book photography/filter skills. 😉 )

– “IT’S FOR THE BOOKISH’S BIRTHDAY!!! + MY FIRST GIVEAWAY” (You can hear the excitement straight through the title! I also love reading through the comments – a lot of you who followed me then are still around today. Trisha, Grace, Olivia, Izel, Abbey (then Audrey), and of course Brooke – you guys are the best.)

– “my year in books: 2015 recap” (I’m so glad I wrote this post! I didn’t do anything like it for 2016, and now I really wish I had. I covered the funniest, most romantic, most anticipated, favorite books, etc. I read in 2015, and it’s perfect to look back on.)

– “meeting kiera cass (!!!!!!!)” (The Selection series isn’t my biggest book obsession anymore, but in 2014/2015, you can bet your bottom dollar if you said one word about it, I’d jump at the opportunity to discuss it. I still think meeting Kiera was SO COOL. The event was very large, and I even remember the girls I talked to all night about other books while we waited for Kiera.)

2016:

– “25 Bookish Facts About Me” (I loved writing this, because what bookworm doesn’t like talking about all their bookish quirks? It was also fun to see what you guys shared in common with me, bookworm-wise, in the comments.)

– “my favorite (rainy-day specific!) bookish movies” (Of course finishing a thick book is more satisfying than TV, but I’ll take any fictional world. In this post, I list four bookish movies – be it a book adaptation or movie about an author – perfect for rainy days. They’re my go-to’s.)

– “Meeting Morgan Matson!” (Book signings are the MOST FUN. Of the two I’ve been to, I get giddy and nervous meeting the authors, as if they were celebrities. But of course, in my book – pun intended, oops – they are! Morgan Matson writes the best sweet, bittersweet, and downright depressing summer romances. In fact, I can’t wait to reread one this summer. Meeting her was a blast!)

– “The Dream Factory Workshop: My Recap” (Another highlight of my bookish year, I spent a weekend at the home of my writing coach and favorite author Rachel Coker with four other storytellers. We learned so much about the art of storytelling, from Rachel, each other, and our several adventures. I can’t talk about it enough — it seems like a dream.) 

The past three years have been full of writing and reading adventures. (Not to mention my blog has inevitably documented my phases, book and non-book obsessions, and various haircuts throughout my middle and high school years so far – who knows what’s in store the next three years!) 😉

If you’ve followed my blog or commented or sent me an email at any given time, THANK YOU! My family can even vouch for the fact that whenever I get a sweet message, I talk about it to them because it makes my day. I hope to put up more posts soon, and talk to you guys below. 🙂

Love,