Happy New Year’s Eve y’all! Today is the official end of 2019, and I couldn’t think of a better way to end the year than with annual end of year survey. I can say that 2019 was a much, MUCH better year than 2018. 2018 saw lots of health scares with my family, and as a result my reading suffered. 2019 I found myself back on track. This year has been full! I got to crash a writer’s retreat and meet up with one of my favorites and meet a few new-to-me authors. Amanda and I have gotten a decent routine down (thank you Google!) and are on a semi-regular schedule with posts every day Sunday through Friday and an occasional Saturday post. I’m loving blogging and reading again, something that I couldn’t say at the end of 2018. The next decade is looking fun y’all ☺️
2019 Reading Stats
Number Of Books I Read: 108 (this includes audios)
Number of Re-Reads: 9
Genre I Read The Most From: Fantasy, though Sci-Fi was a close second
Best in Books
Best Book I Read In 2019
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is my favorite book from 2019. It was everything I never thought to ask for in a YA space opera. Combining the action and adventure of Star Trek with the wit and dry humor of The Breakfast Club, this book has something for everyone. A little romance, a lot of sarcasm, space battles, and even a little time travel. I loved it and cannot wait for more of the series!
Book I Was Excited About & Thought I Would Love More But Didn’t
I hate listing this one here, but it’s true. Sky Without Stars had so much promise. It’s a sci-fi, retelling of Les Miserables and that’s where it went wrong. I think the premise behind the story is really good, and it truly had a lot of potential. However the author gets caught up in trying to create a world reminiscent of the classic. If those elements were left out, it would be a great story. However I found myself distracted and barely able to finish it.
Most Surprising Book I Read
Ok hear me out….I haven’t read Twilight in several years. I’m thinking 2013. Before that I read it yearly, sometimes twice a year because I enjoyed it so much. This book gets a lot of flak. People either hate it or love it, very few fall in between. Y’all I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this reread as much as I did the first time I read it. I love Bella and Edward, the town, and all the characters. I can’t wait to continue rereading the series….hopefully soon 😉
Book I “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 😂 The funny thing about this is that I DNFed it during 2018. I didn’t enjoy it AT all. This year I picked up a copy of the audiobook while it was on sale and binged it. I promptly picked up and read The Wicked King and The Lost Sisters. I also preordered Queen of Nothing which I still need to read. Y’all I loved it and have raved about it to anyone that would listen. I convinced Amanda to read it and even my sister-in-law. Now I must make time to read the last book of the series….y’all don’t spoil it for me 😉
Best Series I Started in 2019
Best Sequel of 2019
Best Series Ender of 2019
Favorite new author I discovered in 2019
Technically J.M. Sullivan isn’t a new author, but she is new-to-me. I devoured Second Star (and y’all it’s currently free for a limited time). I’ve rediscovered my love of fairy-tale retellings and this is a sci-fi Peter Pan….that’s right SCI-FI! Tink is a nanobot….I loved everything about this one, and cannot wait to dive into Lost Boy which just came out.
Best book from a genre I don’t typically read
It’s been a long time since I read mystery/horror. I used to love it. It was what I grew up reading. R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike morphed into James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark, and Lilian Jackson Braun. I haven’t read this genre since high school. I honestly can’t even say why because I don’t have a reason for not picking it up. I’ll be reading more though after devouring Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper. When I say I devoured it, I mean it. Less than 24hours and I wanted more. It is SO good!
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year
I read an advanced copy of Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout while on vacation this summer. No joke y’all. I started it at bedtime and I finished it at 4am. Did I regret those few hours of sleep before going to a theme park with my kid? Not at all! I loved every word of this book. It is a spinoff of her Dark Elements series which I have not read. It was fantastic! And y’all it has GARGOYLES *squee*
Book I Read In 2019 That I Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year
See previous question 😂 I have every intention of rereading it along with the Dark Elements series prior to book two’s release this coming summer.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2019
Most memorable character of 2019
Trixie Towers from Scarlett Dawn’s new series of the same name. She is an elven princess, mated to the king of shifters and is on a quest to save the kingdoms from sleeping giants. She’s funny, feisty, and I can’t wait to read more of her story!
Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2019
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett is well deserving of this title. It is a haunting read, beautifully written, and will leave you thinking long after it’s finished.
Book I can’t believe I waited UNTIL 2019 to finally read
Shortest Read of 2019
Longest Read of 2019
Book That Shocked You The Most
It takes a lot to shock me. I’ve read so much that I can usually tell you what’s going to happen. BUT Katherine McGee’s American Royals left me with my mouth hanging open. I was bereft and heartbroken. This book is so far outside of my normal read, but I loved every word. I loved the drama and the romance, the twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I loved it all and I cannot wait for more.
OTP OF THE YEAR
My one true pairing of 2019 is….
Annie and Lee from Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
Oh my goodness y’all! First this book is one of those you cannot put down. Second these two….my heart aches for them. I was so broken hearted for them throughout most of the book and I shipped them right from the beginning. I need to see them sail away into their own HEA.
Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
I absolutely loved the relationship between Anhuset and Ildiko from The Wraith King series by Grace Draven. Ildiko is the human wife of Brishen, a Kai prince (similar to an Elf/Fae). Anhuset is Brishen’s cousin and second in command. There’s a mutual respect that blossoms into a familial relationship.
Favorite Book I Read in 2019 From An Author I’ve Read Previously
Best Book I Read In 2019 That I Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else
Newest fictional crush from a book I read in 2019
Zayne from Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout *swoon* Am I the only one that hears Goliath’s voice when he’s in gargoyle form? I’m showing my age with that question 😂
Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting I Read This Year
Book That Put A Smile On My Face/Was The Most FUN To Read
Hidden Gem Of The Year
My Blogging/Bookish Life
Favorite post I wrote in 2019
Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2019
Most challenging thing about blogging or my reading life this year
Finding my groove again. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a decent blogging schedule or reading schedule. I think I’ve found it again. I have had to relearn how to do certain things, and I’ve learned to say no when I’m overwhelmed and ask for help from my blogging partner. This has been hands down the year I’ve learned and grown as a blogger. I’m happy to say that I’m ending 2019 in a good place.
Most Popular Post This Year
Post I Wished Got A Little More Love
Did I complete any reading challenges or goals that I had set for myself at the beginning of this year?
Yes I did 🙌 I beat my Goodreads challenge finishing the year at 108 books. I also completed 4 out of my 5 yearly reading challenges. I’m pretty proud of myself 😉
Looking Ahead to 2020
One Book I Didn’t Get To In 2019 But Will Be My Number 1 Priority in 2020
Book I’m Most Anticipating For 2020 (non-debut)
2020 Debut I’m Most Anticipating
A Sequel I’m Most Anticipating in 2020
One Thing I Hope To Accomplish Or Do In My Reading/Blogging Life In 2020
So 2020 is going to be a year of change for our family. We made a big decision a few months ago to pull little man out of school and begin homeschooling. That starts for us in a couple of weeks. I’m nervous and excited about the freedom it will give us in teaching him. In adjusting to this, I have no idea how much reading I will get done. Here are a few of my goals though:
- Listen to one audiobook a week
- Read two hours a day for fun
- Blog daily
- WRITE!!!
That last one is for me 😉 I’ve been writing in some form or fashion for what seems like my entire life. I currently have one finished trilogy, a mostly complete series, and five other works in progress. My goal this year is to polish those up and *maybe* publish them. The authors I met at the writer’s retreat were so supportive and convincing that I’ve been secretly working on my WIPs since then. It’s always been my dream to publish a book, and I think accomplishing this would be a great start to the new decade, don’t you?
Your Turn! How would you sum up 2019 in books? What were your favorites? Any you DNFed? Who is your OTP? Share below
There was only one book I did not finish this year, but all the rest – really good!
Davida Chazan recently posted…TCL’s Top Five (or 10) Favorite Books of 2019
So many great books. I’m sorry to hear about Sky Without Stars. I still want to read it, but that is disappointing. I am glad Twilight held up for you in the re-reading! It’s a fun series.I will definitely have to check out Aurora Rising. I really need to give Maniscalco’s books a try. They sound right up my alley. I hope you have a wonderful 2020! Good luck with your goals this year, bookish and personal!
Literary Feline recently posted…2019: A Year in Review
Despite Sky Without Stars letting me down, I’m still planning to read the sequel. I’m hoping that it will not try to tie into Les Mis as much and get to the story the authors have crafted (because really it has great bones!). I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. Aurora Rising is one I recommend to everyone. If you enjoy audio, it is a full cast and done very well. Happy 2020!