best of 2019

Bookish Goals for the New Year (2020)

Wednesday, January 01, 2020

Happy New Year! 2019 is over! 2020 is here! I have quite a few goals this year that I hope to accomplish. However, I start my graduate program this year which may affect my reading a bit. I know when I was working towards my bachelor’s degree, I only had time to read my textbooks between all my classes and homework. Still, I’m hoping for the best and by the end of the year, I can look back at this post and see how well I really did! Here’s my bookish goals for the new year:

Read at least 50 books

This goal remains a constant every year. Sometimes it’s easy to surpass, sometimes I have some difficulty. I finished 2019 off with 147 books read so I definitely didn’t have trouble hitting it last year. It all depends on what I’m doing during the year and what things I’m prioritizing. I probably will not be able to make it to 140 books this year or even 100 but that’s okay. I have to learn to go easy on myself. As long as I read at least 50 books, I’ll count it a success.

Continue using my TBR jar

My TBR jar doesn’t contain book titles. It contains a bunch of dates with the month and the year. I usually pick out three dates and pull a book title that I hauled in that month to read. It’s worked well so far. I tend to only pick out three books and then read two from those. In the new year, I hope to continue picking from the jar. It’s been a great way to work on the loads of backlist books I own.

Buy less books

I did much better in 2019 than I did in 2018 when it came to purchasing or acquiring books. And, hopefully, in 2020, I can beat the number of books purchased in 2019. In 2019, I received about 100 books. I’m looking toward my graduate program to distract me in not purchasing as many books. 2020 is the year I practice shelf control. 😊

Read at least 3 classics

I failed miserably at this last year, totaling the year out at only 2 classics read (when I wanted to read 5). However, I’m determined to read these as they’ve been sitting on my shelf for a while now. Here’s the three I hope to get to:


A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens | Little Women by Louisa May Alcott | Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Read at least 6 epic reads of a lifetime

My brother got me this lovely scratch-off poster of 100 Epic Reads of a Lifetime for Christmas. I immediately scratched off the ones I already read and have only read around 30 books. So, I guess I need to get reading. Most of the books were on my to-read list already and some I even own already. To keep myself accountable, I want to try to read at least 6 of the books this year. Here’s the 6 I hope to read:


Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro | And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie | Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 


Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy | A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin | The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Finish at least 6 series

I only completed 11 series last year in an attempt to get to my goal at 12 finished series. So I’m bringing the goal down to 6 series, since I am anticipating less reading this year with school. Here’s the series I hope to finally finish this year:


Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (1 book left) | Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (1 book left) | The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (2 books left)


Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (2 books left) | The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (2 books left) | Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (2 books left)

What are your bookish goals for 2020?

best of 2019

Every 5 Star Book I Read This Year (2019)

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

I don’t give many 5 stars out. It’s crazy to think that I read 147 books this year and I only gave 5 stars to 21 books. However, if they got full marks, they usually make it onto my favorite list and instead of giving a structured top 10 list of my favorites, I wanted to showcase each and every favorite of the year.


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is: Top Favorite Books of the Year (2019):


Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke Cohen: Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke Cohen is Jane Austen meets The Bachelor. 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.

The Wickerlight by Mary Watson: The Wickerlight was a glorious companion to The Wren Hunt. It was atmospheric and magical, a novel that will have you on the edge of your seat.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang: I rarely read graphic novels but I just had a feeling about this one. It is an absolutely lovely and endearing story. And the art is stunning! It holds such a powerful message to all readers. And it is definitely a book I will return to again and again.


Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon: Another one I gave many heart eyes to. This is such a phenomenal fantasy! The twists and turns kept me on my toes. There’s an unexpected mystery at the heart of this and I was living for it. Kelly Coon’s writing was captivating and immersive. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz: Laurie Faria Stolarz is one of my favorite authors of all time. Deadly Little Voices is the fourth out of five books in the series. Each Touch book has the same plot outline: creepy letters/files/etc. introduces new stalker that leads Camelia figuring the mystery out. It may be the same outline but I don’t mind—the outline works. I would read 10 more of these books.

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab: Why did this take me so long to read? I took me weeks to finish this. I was savoring every moment. The original trilogy is over and it’s devastating. I’m hoping Schwab will return with more since the ending was left open for more. A reader can dream, right?!


Well Met by Jen DuLuca: This book was everything I wanted and didn’t know I needed. A romance set at a Renaissance Faire? It’s ingredients for the perfect novel! The writing was a bit rough in the beginning but as the story progressed, the writing improved immensely.

As Kismet Would Have It by Sandhya Menon: This short story started my month off right, kicking my ugly reading slump to the curb. It was so cool to hear what Rishi and Dimple have been up to since When Rishi Met Dimple ended.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne: Love, love, love this one! I couldn’t stop thinking about it. As soon as I finished the book, I spent the next day just reading my favorite parts again in order to quench my raging book hangover. It was amazing! I don’t reread books very often but this one will likely get a reread at some point; it was just that good.


Refraction by Naomi Hughes: Sci-fi isn’t really my thing but Refraction was so fast paced with lots of outstanding twists. I can’t wait to reread it!

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Soon after rereading the first book in the series, it was finally time to continue and this book blew away all my expectations. Mara Dyer was such a fantastic unreliable narrator in the first book but Hodkin kicks it up to a whole new level. And that ending leaves you in dire need of the third and final book!

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: This was one crazy ride! This entire series is absolutely mind-blowing. The twists and turns are enough to go back for multiple rereads. This finale was everything I wanted and whole lot I didn’t even expect. It was great!


Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen: If this series could go on for forever, that would be great. Please and thank you.

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover: Wow! I’m so glad I finally picked this one up. This is the second book I’ve read from Colleen Hoover and most definitely not my last. Amazing!

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi: So it’s been a good five years since I read the first book, Shatter Me. And it’s been a goal of mine to try and continue in the series and finally this year, I decided to give the sequel a try. And I loved it!


Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry: A 5-star prediction came true! I haven’t read a Katie McGarry book since her debut, Pushing the Limits, released but I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to read more from her. Only a Breath Apart was fantastic, with a few unexpected dark elements and a looming family curse.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige: I was so surprised how amazing this one was. Like, why did I wait so long to read it? It takes on a whole new angle of The Wizard of Oz, a look into what happens after the story we all know. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi: This one gets all the love! Choi created such amazing and real characters with real issues. Sam and Penny were so adorable! I wish we get a sequel someday.


A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti: I was thinking about unhauling it without reading it a couple of months ago. However, I am so glad I kept it. Caletti put tears in my eyes to how gorgeous this story is.

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer: A contemporary take on Beauty and the Beast that will certainly have you on the edge of your seat. It was so difficult to put this one down with its non-stop action, strong female protagonist, and slow burn romance!

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: I decided to pick this one up on a whim. All I knew about it was that it’s loved by many and it’s a children’s book. I thought it was a picture book but as there are only a few pictures, I wouldn’t categorize it as such. However, it was a lovely piece of art. The writing was so melodic and enticing. Plus, it holds such valuable discussion about humanity, Earth, and imagination.

What were your favorite books of the year?

best of 2019

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 Cohen – Dangerous 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 Coon | We 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?

best of 2019

35 Most Anticipated Books of 2020

Thursday, December 19, 2019


Last year, I made a master list of 50 books I was anticipating in 2019. I had such a blast sharing all those books with you that I decided to do it again. However, I did think 50 books was a bit much. That post ended up being a mile long so I shortened it this year with 35 books. It was so difficult to choose only 35. There are just so many amazing books coming out in 2020 and I want to read them all!


Get ready to add a bunch of books to your Goodreads because, seriously, you do not want to miss these releases! (The list is in release date order.) Here’s 35 of my most anticipated reads of the new year:


A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer (1/7): It’s the sequel to A Curse So Dark and Lonely which was one of my favorites from this year. Judging by the title, I’ll probably cry my entire way through the book. I just want everyone to live happily ever after!

The Night Country by Melissa Albert (1/7): The Hazel Wood took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting fairy tales and dark worlds and twisted stories. I can’t wait to return to Albert’s world again in this sequel!

Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz (1/7): I am so happy this is the year we are getting a new Stolarz novel; it’s been so long! “Jane” was kidnapped and held in a white room for seven months before she escaped. Now, returned home, she lingers on her journal from when she was kidnapped and it begins to reveal certain puzzle pieces.


The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (2/4): Princess Leo has one thing on her mind: what man will save her and her family from financial ruin this engagement season? When Elliot, her first love, returns as this season’s most eligible bachelor, things get complicated. The book is set in space which is really not my thing. However, this one sounds to be more focused in romance than science fiction so I’m going to give it a go.

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (2/4): Jamie and Maya are tasked with going door to door asking for their votes. As the polls get closer, so do Jamie and Maya. This sounds like it will have the best amount of both discussions and swoon-worthy elements. It’s going to be great!

Night Spinner by Addie Thorley (2/11): A retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame! I don’t need to know more than that; this will be awesome!


Honor Lost by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre (2/11): I rarely read science fiction; it’s just not for me. However, I read Honor Among Thieves when it first released and the unique friendship group is what drew me to read the sequel. And so here I am for the third and final(?) book in The Honors series.

The Upside of Falling by Alex Light (2/18): I love a good fake dating debacle. Becca is sick of her friends pestering her about not having a boyfriend so she makes one up. Brett having heard about Becca’s lie, decides to swoop in and pretend to be her boyfriend. However, fake dating is hard, especially when you barely know the other person.

Hearts, Heroes, and Heath Hall by Kasie West (3/3): Kasie West is the queen of cute contemporary. All of her books have put a big smile on my face! This one follows Hadley who wants nothing more than to swim. When a mystery guy dressed as Hollywood’s latest action hero crashes her swim meet, she’s less than impressed. Discovering the identity of the boy, she uncovers certain things about herself as well that Hadley wished remained hidden.


The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski (3/3): I adored The Winner’s trilogy so I can’t wait to dive into this new fantasy! The synopsis says it best, “…Rutkoski returns with an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves.”

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco (3/3): I’ve been wanting to read a book by Chupeco for a while now. All her books sound intriguing. This one follows Tala who is descended from a legendary Filipina heroine. Her and her family are tasked with guarding Avalon’s last prince.

The Winter Duke by Eliza Claire Bartlett (3/3): We Rule the Night was such a fantastic debut this year! I can’t wait to pick up her next book! This one is part Sleeping Beauty and part Anastasia which sounds like an incredible mash up!


The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park (4/7): Nate and Kate meet at a zombie-themed escape room where they work. Both decide to join a weekend-long survivalist competition that will help solve their problems. You had me at zombie escape room.

Unscripted by Nicole Kronzer (4/21): A debut set at a comedy improv camp. Just for the setting alone, I would be interested in this.

Time of Our Lives by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (4/21): I still haven’t read any of their books. I own Always Never Yours but haven’t gotten to it yet. However, I will keep being drawn to their novels no matter what. This one follows Fitz and Juniper on their grand college tour and how growing up is going to happen whether or not either of them are ready.


The Betrothed by Kiera Cass (5/5): From the author of The Selection comes a new release about Hollis who spent her years vying for the king’s attention, is finally given the moment she’s been waiting for: a betrothal from the king. However, when a commoner declares that this isn’t exactly what Hollis wants, she begins to question everything she’s ever known.

The Dark In-Between by Elizabeth Hrib (5/5): A fallen angel book! I haven’t read one of these in a long time! Casey is haunted by her best friend, Liddy’s death, until she witnesses a man falling from the sky. Red, a fallen angel, aids Casey in saving her best friend by taking her to Limbo where Liddy is residing.

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett (5/5): You know when a new Jenn Bennett releases, I have to read it. Josie returns home only to have her plans interrupted in a big way when she falls for the local bad boy.


Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (5/12): Bashardoust is coming out with a new book and it sounds fantastic! Princess Soraya is cursed to live with a poisonous touch. Living her life hidden away, she must decide whether or not to attend her brother’s very public wedding. There is a solution to her curse: to visit the demon that lives in the dungeon—will he be able to help her? The synopsis gives me chills!

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton (5/5): I was obsessed with the adult romance, Well Met by Jen DeLuca, mainly because it was set at a Renaissance Faire. This one is set at Medieval Times. I couldn’t be happier! Kit works as a wench but dreams of being a knight like her brother. Except management only allows guys to be knights. One night, Kit secretly dons the knight’s costume and reveals herself at the end of the joust. She sparks a rebellion against the management that catches fire.

By the Book by Amanda Sellet (5/12): I adore books about readers! Mary knows to steer clear of certain characters in real life because books act as a reflection. However, despite all her guides and careful calculations, she is still swooning over the bad boy. There’s nothing in books that prepared her for this.


Hood by Jenny Elder Moke (6/9): After Robin Hood’s story comes Maid Marian’s daughter’s story. When Isabelle becomes the target of the Wolf, King John’s right hand man, Isabelle’s mom begs her to escape and find the father she’s never known. Tracking down Robin Hood is easier said than done. I adore retellings and this one sounds so unique!

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross (6/23): This is a standalone fantasy which is almost unheard of so yes, please. Eva’s older sister makes an unexpected return home after serving in the queen’s army for years and years. Her sister is on the run and charged with murder. Eva volunteers to take part of her sister’s punishment. I can feel a great sister relationship coming on, and just reading the synopsis gives me goosebumps. Can’t wait!

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandya Menon (6/30): The third installment to the Dimple and Rishi series is here! I’m not caught up in the series but I adored When Dimple Met Rishi so I’m looking forward to this lovely contemporary by Menon.


We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal (7/7): I really enjoyed We Hunt the Flame, her debut this year. So you can bet I’ll be reading the sequel in 2020.

The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee (8/18): I didn’t even know we were getting a third book in the Montague Siblings series. Like, wasn’t there only two siblings? Not anymore! This one follows Adrian who discovers that he’s not an only child and is actually the youngest of three. However, Monty and Felicity, now adults, are missing and Adrian makes it his mission to find his new-found family.

Bright Raven Skies by Kristina Perez (8/25): The third and final book in the Sweet Black Waves trilogy has all the makings of breaking my heart (but, you know, in a good way). Sweet Black Waves is a retelling of the tragedy, Tristan and Iseult, with some magical twists. This is going to be so good!


 Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram (8/25): Darius the Great is Not Okay was one of my favorites from 2018. And I thought it was a standalone but was so surprised when this novel popped up. I’m looking forward to being with Darius again!

Vampires Never Get Old edited by Natalie C. Parker and Zoraida Cordova (9/2020): A whole anthology about vampire stories! Yes, just what I’ve been waiting for! We will be getting stories from Victoria Schwab, Dhonielle Clayton, Tessa Graton, Heidi Heilig, and more!

Medusa by Jessie Burton (10/2020) (no cover yet): Burton is best known for her adult fiction novel, The Miniaturist, which I read and loved. In this one, she takes the Medusa myth and turns it upside down to bring us a story of an empowering woman who takes the world by storm.

read beauty and the beast GIF by Disney

Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer (11/2020) (no cover yet): Meyer is dabbling in the contemporary romance genre with this new release. Prudence is quick to judge almost everyone she comes in contact with. When she trips and hits her head, she wakes to find that she has the power to cast instant karma on anyone she’d like… except her slacker lab partner. I adored The Lunar Chronicles and didn’t really like Heartless so I’m interested to see which way I’ll sway with this one.

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston (2020) (no cover yet): Goodreads claims that this one remains untitled. However, Poston has referred to the third book in her Once Upon a Con series as Bookish and the Beast. The first book was a retelling of Cinderella, the sequel was Prince and the Pauper and the third one, it seems, will be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I am so for it!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (Fall 2020) (no cover yet): This one is being pitched as a Romeo and Juliet retelling by way of the Godfather. I never knew I needed this in my life until I read the synopsis. It sounds absolutely remarkable!

Pride And Prejudice Book GIF by Focus Features

The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson (Fall 2020) (no cover yet): I’m all about adorable meet-cutes! Our main character is challenged by her friends to create real meet-cute moments to find a date for her older sister’s wedding. Swoon!

Recommended for You by Laura Silverman (Fall 2020) (no cover yet): This one is being pitched as The Office meets 10 Things I Hate About You. And wow, I am here for that! It’s a YA romcom set in a bookstore which sounds like it’s going to be a dream!

So many books, so little time. Which books are you excited about in 2020?