Sophie Loves Books

Part studyblr, part booklr, part writeblr, part randomness, Sophie, 28, PhD student, developmental psychology, she/her

[sophielovesbooks]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to say that... I know I haven't been around much. Part of that is the fact that I removed social media from my phone (I still have it on my tablet, but definitely use it less now, which was the goal). But part of it is also that... at some point over the past few years... I just became more and more discouraged? And kind of felt like my posts on here were just a bit irrelevant and nobody even read them? 😅

I don't want to seem attention-seeking with this or anything, honestly. I just wanted to say that... it's a little bit sad, because I sort of feel like there is less engagement on Tumblr than there used to be? Or maybe it's a me thing. Idk. All I know is that, more and more, when I made posts that didn't get many notes I just started to feel a bit embarrassed? And that' why I hardly post anymore.

But anyway! I'm okay. Making progress with my PhD. Enjoying life with my husband. So no worries, I'm all good✌️

[sophielovesbooks]

When the gummy vitamin says not to exceed the daily dose... BOY do I exceed the daily dose!

[wonderstruck]

If you see this you’re legally obligated to reblog and tag with the book you’re currently reading

[sophielovesbooks]

You guys. I'm feeling all of the emotions right now.

For some reason, I decided to read through the first texts I ever exchanged with my husband. The ones where we flirted, set up a first date, then a second, third and fourth. Then joked about becoming one of those super annoying couples, indicating that we became official in the gap between two texts.

And you guys!! On our FIRST day as a couple he already joked about asking my dad for my hand in marriage. All silly and light-hearted, of course, but still! The fact he conceived of this as a possibility on literally the first day of being with me. And now, 8 years have passed and we've been married for 1.5 years and I love him more than ever. 🥹🥹🥹

Fuck, man. It's beautiful, coming of age together. I'm so incredibly thankful.

[fuukonomiko]

REBLOG if you have amazing, talented WRITER friends.

Because I certainly do, and I love every single one of them and their work.

[sophielovesbooks]

Wisdom teeth are actually so bizarre. I will have mine removed tomorrow, at the age of 28, and like... you're telling me they were just chilling in there this entire time? Like fucking sleeper agents? And NOW they decide to surface and cause issues, like, what? Who even gave them the order?!

[sophielovesbooks]

Happy Christmas to those who celebrate (plus a lovely day to everyone else)! 🎄🎁✨️

I spent some time with my mums. Now I'm in bed again, reading a book about a woman who absorbed her boyfriend during sex, having a grand old time. The magic of Christmas! 😊📚

[sophielovesbooks]

Lately my insomnia has been so bad it makes me wonder if invisible people are lacing my food with amphetamines

[sophielovesbooks]

It's not even my country, but I've been feeling so goddamn anxious about the election these past few days. 🥲

To all my stressed-out US-Americans... sending love and strength your way! 💫

[sophielovesbooks]

Fuuuuuuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK

[sophielovesbooks]

It's not even my country, but I've been feeling so goddamn anxious about the election these past few days. 🥲

To all my stressed-out US-Americans... sending love and strength your way! 💫

[sophielovesbooks]

You remind, Sophie, of my much younger self. Good luck with your studies and hold the course. You will succeed at whatever you set your mind to. Warmies, Gwen

Omg, is this real? 🥹 If so, thank you so much, Gwen! This was a lovely surprise! 🥰

[sophielovesbooks]

Fellow writers! What are five pieces of advice you'd give to your younger self?

Mine are:

1) Don't overtag dialogue. Less is more. Readers will understand who is speaking.

2) Stop being so explicit. "I didn't even know who I was anymore." "I'd never be alone as long as I had her." None of that. That's the stuff you convey implicitly. If you come up with ways to do that, it will elevate your writing massively. (Though to be fair, you're reading a lot of YA because you're the target audience for it and this is more common in YA. So it's what you know. Still, though.)

3) Focus less on describing characters physically and more on capturing their essence. Again, less is more. Try to come up with unique, memorable descriptions that allow the reader to fill in the gaps.

4) Keep trying to find novel ways to express things. Keep using unusual metaphors. But don't use too many of them. Be more selective. Again, less is more.

5) Most importantly: Keep going! :)

If you feel like doing this, please go ahead, tag me and tag other writers, okay? If we could make this a thing so I can read others' answers... I would love that! ♡

[sophielovesbooks]

Ah, fuck it, I'm rereading a Tana French book

[sophielovesbooks]

Alright lads, my reread of In the Woods so far has been WONDERFUL. I've sort of wanted to quote every bit of it and comment on so many details but always just kept reading instead. But now. BUT NOW.

I got to the scene where Rob goes back to the wood and remembers the full day up to when the terrible thing happened, the fucking loses it and calls Cassie. And she picks him up and takes him to hers. And?! When he says he didn't remember the important bit because he panicked, she says:

"That's a huge step, hon."

Hon?! So often, they call each other by their last names in this teasing manner. Cassie says "Ryan" more than I remembered before this reread and now she calls Rob "hon"?? I... that detail got me, okay? 🥹

Also? The next page?

"'Night, hon', I said. 'Thanks again.'"

Rob returns it almost instantly? It's just... oh my God. Somebody hold me.

[sophielovesbooks]

I'm near the homestretch now and god. This book truly is just watching a mostly functional and arguably well-adjusted human being self-destruct in slow motion. It's so painful. Like. Rob. Was any of that necessary? Truly ANY of it?

[sophielovesbooks]

I don't know. I feel like I'm due another reread. I have soooo many other books on my list but I miss my babies Rob and Cassie?! 😭 The Dublin Murder Squad siren's call is growing louder by the day...

[sophielovesbooks]

Hoooooly shit, I forgot to take my contacts out last night! 😳😳😳

Normally they hurt my eyes after 8-10 hours and I remove them. But apparently last night I forgot?! I woke up thinking I wasn't wearing them and put on my glasses (as I do sometimes when I'm alone, literally to give my eyes a break from the contacts!) Worked like that for half of the day. Just now I wanted to put them in, starting looking for them and only when I couldn't find them... did I have a horrible suspicion and checked my eyes.

This is so scary. I wore them for like 28 hours and didn't feel it?! How is that possible?? 😭😭😭

[sophielovesbooks]

OH MY GOD THAT MEANS I SHOWERED WITH THEM!! 😩😩😩

[sophielovesbooks]

Hoooooly shit, I forgot to take my contacts out last night! 😳😳😳

Normally they hurt my eyes after 8-10 hours and I remove them. But apparently last night I forgot?! I woke up thinking I wasn't wearing them and put on my glasses (as I do sometimes when I'm alone, literally to give my eyes a break from the contacts!) Worked like that for half of the day. Just now I wanted to put them in, starting looking for them and only when I couldn't find them... did I have a horrible suspicion and checked my eyes.

This is so scary. I wore them for like 28 hours and didn't feel it?! How is that possible?? 😭😭😭

[sophielovesbooks]

After a week of living in Oxford, I can confidently say that every cyclist in this city has a DEATHWISH. Unfortunately I adapt very quickly to local norms.

[sophielovesbooks]

I haven't been around much lately, but I'm moving to Oxford next week and could start sharing lots of autumn dark academia content perhaps? 🍂🥰📚🖤

[sophielovesbooks]

✨️ Autumnal Oxford Impressions ✨️