My Year in Books | 2019 in Review

Monday, December 30, 2019


The year is coming to a close. And reading-wise, this is most I've ever read yet. I rated quite a few of books 5 stars. It’s been a blast! Since I'm not doing this on the last day of the year, I'll probably read a book or two more that won't be part of the stats. I do the Perpetual Page-Turner’s End of the Year Book Survey every year; it’s just a great way to close out the year. Here is my bookish year in review:

Number of Books Read:

Star Ratings of 2019:

Genre Read the Most: Contemporary

Length of Books Read:


Best book I read in 2019?


A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 

Book(s) I was excited about and thought I was going to love more but didn't:


The Fandom by Anna Day: I thought this was going to be a 5-star for me. The Fandom follows a group of friends who are transported to their favorite fandom while at a fan convention. From there, they accidentally murder the main character of the series which changes the story completely and makes the group center stage. The concept was top notch but the execution was just okay.

American Panda by Gloria Chao: My main reasons for picking this up, besides the cutest cover, was my expectation of a fluffy romance and a Taiwanese female lead who stands up to her parents. It sounded remarkable! Sadly, there was minimal fluffy romance scenes (however, I cherished every scene with the two together). And while standing up to her parents was empowering, I felt like a lot of it was glossed over and could have explored the dynamics and emotional break more than it did.

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly: Here I was expecting a dark reimagining of what happened after Cinderella becomes a princess. Stepsister follows the ugly stepsisters. And its borderline middle grade tone took away most of the darkness. The book went for a much lighter, whimsical tale which is not what I expected.

Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book I read?


The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand: I went into this knowing that it was going to be a retelling of A Christmas Carol, following the Scrooge. I got almost 60% in and I was ready to put it down for a bit. Hanging out with our Scrooge as the protagonist, it was getting to be a little much—and it didn’t look like she was learning anything from her experiences either. I stuck it out and Cynthia Hand definitely surprised me. So much so, I ended up giving the book four stars!

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal: I was hesitant to pick this one up. I received it in a book box the month it released but waited on it because as soon as the reviews started rolling in, a lot of them were negative. A few months went by and I decided to pick it up. I ended up really enjoying it. The beginning was a bit slow and it did take me a while to get into the story but once I was in, I was in it forever. It turned out to be such an amazing work of art and I can’t wait for the sequel to release in 2020.

Best series started? Best sequel? Best series ender?


Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon | Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco | Deadly Little Lessons by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Favorite new author I discovered in 2019?


Jennieke CohenDangerous Alliance: It was a fun, riveting, and entertaining read! If you like Jane Austen, fangirling, and just an all-around amazing time, you need to pick this one up.

Best book from a genre that is out of my comfort zone?


Honor Bound by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre: Science fiction is so far out of my comfort zone but for The Honors series, I gave it a shot. And Honor Among Thieves was remarkable and its sequel is no exception. It’s nonstop action with a fantastic new setting!

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?


Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige | The Wickerlight by Mary Watson | The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie

Favorite cover of a book read in 2019?


Gravemaidens by Kelly CoonWe Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett | Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Most beautifully written book read in 2019?


Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen | With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo | An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson 

Most thought provoking book of 2019?


Book I FINALLY read this year?


House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski: I picked this on up back in 2013 and read about 50 pages of it. Back then, I thought it was absolutely great but school work just got in the way and I had to return it to the library. Since then, I purchased my own copy and finally picked it up this year. It turned out to be as great as I thought it would be too!

Shortest and longest book read this year?

Favorite book from an author I've read previously?


A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab | Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry 

Best worldbuilding/most vivid setting?


The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert 

Book that put a smile on my face/most fun to read?


Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett | The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman 

Book that made me cry?


All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover | All Our Broken Pieces by L.D. Crichton

Hidden gem of the year?


Refraction by Naomi Hughes

Books I didn't get to in 2019 but will be top priority in 2020:


Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier | Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor | Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard 

Non-debut books I am most anticipating in 2020:


 Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett | Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz | The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

2020 debut I am most anticipating:


The Upside of Falling by Alex Light | The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park | These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong 

Series ending/a sequel I am most anticipating in 2020:



Happy New Year! What was your favorite book of 2019? What book are you most anticipating in 2020?

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3 comments

  1. I loved Strange the Dreamer. I think I need to read Fire on High.

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  2. It looks like you had a great reading year. I can see I am going to have to give Brigid Kemmerer a try! Her books seem to be well liked. That's too bad about Stepsister. That's one I have been wondering about. I just picked up a copy of The Honor of Thieves and am so glad to see you liked it! The Bookish Life of Nina Hill put a smile on my face too. :-)

    I hope you have a Happy New Year!

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  3. Love all these stats and your photos are so pretty ! I didn't know Ally Condie had a new book out. I'm going to second reading Strange The Dreamer in 2020, it's so different from anything else I've read.

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