Dazzling Chapters

Best Books of 2019

Books, Lists, Recommendations
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The last post was my genre favorites of 2019, but this is the big one. These are my overall favorites of 2019. These are my top 12 favorite books of the year. I tried to narrow it down to a top 10, but I couldn’t choose 2 books to remove form the list, so here we are. Below are my top 12 favorite books in order from lowest to highest rated.

Choosing blindly, my favorite books of the year were surprisingly heavy in the contemporary category. Last year, nearly all of my favorite books were fantasy, and this year, only two fantasy books made the list. Science fiction made a larger appearance, and two non-fiction books made the list.

Finally, I’m not going to include summaries for these books. I included summaries in my monthly wrap-ups as well as in my last post of genre favorites. Instead, I’m going to give you a quick reason why I loved it.

The Interestings

Why I loved it? Even though I’m not typically a fan of slice of life contemporaries, this was actually a page turner. The characters felt completely real and I was totally connected to them.

The Rithmatist

Why I loved it? This fills a niche in the upper middle grade / younger YA crowd that I think is often missed. The magic system is really fun and the friendship is very well executed.

The Flatshare

Why I loved it? This is the best written romance that I’ve ever read. Both characters were complex, their relationship developed authentically, and the side characters are well thought out.

A Ladder to the Sky

Why I loved it? This is a contemporary/literary fiction that reads like a thriller. The protagonist is deeply unlikable, yet you still want to spend time with them, which is (in my opinion) the mark of an excellent book.

Other Words for Home

Why I loved it? It was deeply vulnerable, beautifully written, and highly relatable. Simply an excellent middle grade book.

The Monk of Mokha

Why I loved it? Written by one of my favorite authors and about one of my favorite things ever (coffee), so it’s just a surefire win.

The Way of Kings

Why I loved it? It’s one of the best fantasy books every written. Enough said.

Educated

Why I loved it? It’s hard to say I “loved” this book because it is filled with so many hard topics, but it deeply affected and inspired me.

Into Thin Air

Why I loved it? I’m obsessed with Mount Everest and this book was so fast paced and gripping while being more than just an adventure novel.

The Humans

Why I loved it? It was hilarious and touching at the same time. A somewhat topical science fiction with a deep message about what it means to be human.

The Martian

Why I loved it? I was gripped every single second of this novel. I loved the protagonist that we spend nearly the entire book with, I was rooting for him the entire time, and it made me completely obsessed with Mars.

City of Girls

Why I loved it? The writing was so beautiful that it felt like it was wrapping itself around me like a warm blanket. I loved the gorgeous setting and the complexity of the main character.

What was one of your favorite books in 2019?

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Genre Favorites of 2019

Books, Lists, Recommendations
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Today, I am going to write about my favorite books that I read in each genre. Only a handful of these books will make it to my absolute favorites of 2019, but if you’re looking for my recommendation in a particular genre, you’ll find them here.

I was able to choose three books as my favorite romances that I read in 2019. Oddly enough, all of them were published in 2019 as well. This is likely because I’m not a huge fan of romance, so I’m not typically reaching for backlist romance. Each of these struck my fancy for a different reason, but primarily because the premise of each was something that sparked my interest. In the Flatshare, we have a unique set-up for how the couple meets. In Red, White, and Royal Blue, we have a zany premise regarding the two main characters. In The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, we have a protagonist that I knew I’d relate to. None of these books are particularly smutty (nearly all of the intimate scenes are “fade to black” and stay pretty tame), but all of them are intensely charming. If you’re not typically a fan of romance, I think you’d still enjoy all three of these picks.

I adore the thriller genre. Nothing is better than cuddling up with a thriller on a cold day or laying on the beach with a great suspense story. I chose these books because of the atmosphere, characterization, or plot (twists and turns). The Institute by Stephen King is admittedly the most out of place on this list, probably falling more into the “supernatural” genre, but it felt more at home on this list than on the fantasy list. The Institute has some of the best characterization that I’ve ever read and a premise that is un-put-downable. Joyland is a backlist from King, which is a pulpy murder mystery with a supernatural bend. Ultimately, though, this book is a character study with an incredible setting (spooky boardwalk amusement park). Final Girls is Riley Sager’s debut novel about a girl who survives a mass murder at a cabin. In this book, the slow reveal of information and Sager’s ability to capture anxiety in a relatable way is what put Final Girls on this list. My favorite thriller of the year, though, has to be Ruth Ware’s Turn of the Key. I loved the modern take on a gothic – an old, isolated home that has been transformed into a smart house. The audiobook was particularly great as the narrator did an excellent job at reading the spooky creaks that could be ghosts or the wind. The twists and turns were well planned and all of the characters contributed to the plot in a unique way.

2019 might have been the year of science fiction for me. Again, there is a book that doesn’t quite fit on this list, but it doesn’t fit well anywhere else. That book would be The Humans by Matt Haig, which doesn’t feel like traditional science fiction, but isn’t necessarily literary fiction. It’s a quiet story about an alien who comes to earth and must learn what it means to be human. This book is poignant and funny and quick and quiet and overall perfect and should be read by everyone. Spin is a character-driven science fiction story that follows three friends after the stars disappear. We learn why this happens and how it affects each of the friends. All Systems Red is a novella about a security robot who has disabled their governing settings in order to watch space operas. This is a story about building relationships and free will that is executed incredibly. Finally, we have Dark Matter, which is a science fiction thriller hybrid that is ridiculously consumable. This is a book that begs to be read in one sitting, which is exactly what I did. Without giving much away, we follow a man who goes to the pub and returns home to find that his life looks exactly like it used to, but there are some key differences. We follow his quest to discover what happened and return to his life as usual. Lovers of science fiction or thrillers will enjoy this fast-paced novel.

While 2018 was the year I truly discovered fantasy, 2019 is the year that I read a lot of disappointing fantasies. Because of that, only two fantasy books that I read deserve to make this list. The first is The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. After binging the Mistborn trilogy, this book was a bit slower paced and harder for me to get into than Mistborn, but once I got going, I couldn’t stop. The last third of this book completely blew my mind as probably one of my favorite reading experiences of the year. The second fantasy that I absolutely adored, was another Brandon Sanderson, this time, though, something that he wrote for his middle grade audience. (There is some debate as to whether it is middle grade or YA, and I think it falls solidly between the two age ranges as an “upper” middle grade or “younger” YA). The Rithmatist is about two friends solving a mystery in a world with magic created by drawing lines and figures out of chalk. The friendship Sanderson writes in this book and the magic system he created were too fun to not include on this list.

If 2018 was the year for fantasy, than 2019 was the year for contemporary. I read so many contemporary books that I LOVED with nearly all of the books on this list making it to my all time 2019 favorites. City of Girls takes place in 1920s New York at a raggedy playhouse. The writing is easily the best that I read all year. The Great Alone is another contemporary with a setting that is like a character in itself, taking place in desolate Alaska. Ladder to the Sky really shines with its characterization – following a writer who is an awful person and will do literally anything to get a story. The Interestings shines through the complex and relatable relationships that Wolitzer writes, intricately exploring the factors that affect power dynamics over time. Finally, we have Other Words for Home, a middle grade story told in verse about a Syrian girl who moves to the United States. This is some of the most raw and vulnerable writing that I’ve read and I already want to reread it.

There were a few YA books listed as my favorites in other genres, but these are my favorites that didn’t get listed otherwise. Truly Devious is a fun mystery that takes place at an elite boarding school. Dry is an excellent modern dystopian about what would happen if California turned off all of the taps due to a water shortage. Girls on the Verge is a hard-hitting contemporary about high schoolers on a road trip to seek an abortion. Finally, Scythe is a dystopian about a society that has conquered death, so “scythes” must kill people in order to control the population. All of these were thought-provoking without being contrived and well-written.

Lastly, we have middle grade. Again, a few middle grade picks made my favorites in a genre (fantasy and contemporary), so these are my other favorites for that age range. The False Prince is a fairy tale type story about three young boys vying to win a competition to take over the throne. Small Spaces is a gorgeously written spooky story where our protagonist’s school bus is stranded it a creepy farm. While this book does an excellent job at building a light horror novel for kids, it really shines in its depiction of grief, friendship, and strength. Finally, we have Jason Reynolds’s latest release, Look Both Ways. This book is a collection of 10 vignettes about kids living on 10 different blocks that come together in a unique way. The writing is incredible and the depth Reynolds gives each character in only a few pages is fantastic.

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Favorite 2019 Book Releases

Books, Lists, Recommendations
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Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where there was time to read all of the books? I’d even settle for time to read all of the books that came out in a given year. Unfortunately, that’s not reality, so I could only read a limited number of 2019 releases. Below are my favorite releases of 2019.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

A romance about two people who share flat to save money. The catch? They never see each other because they work opposite hours! A romance where the couple gets to know each other through notes, personal possessions, and small living habits. This is easily the most well-written romance I’ve ever read. The excellent writing style and the well developed characters (including side characters) makes this a standout and easily one of the best releases in 2019.

Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller

If you told me how heartwarming and endearing a book about abortion would be, I don’t know that I’d believe you. This book somehow balances poignancy with charm in order to create a story that is absolutely captivating. A road trip story about female friendship, reproductive rights, and overcoming adversity, this was a surprising page turner that is well worth a read.

The Institute by Stephen King

This was my first Stephen King book, and I have to say – wow is the man good. This is a story about capturing kids with exceptional abilities and locking them in an institute (hence the name). The subtlety of this story and the parallels with current events are striking – much more haunting than something explicitly “scary.”

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The setting in Ninth House is incredibly rich and too good for this book to not make the best of 2019. Leigh Bardugo captures a melancholy, spooky Yale campus where occult magic runs rampant in secret societies. We follow Alex who is part of the house that polices the other secret societies. I absolutely loved reading the different kinds of magic in this book and digging into this universe.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Spoiler alert, but this might be my favorite book of 2019. If you read this, you’ll be lucky enough to spend 470 pages in 1920s New York hanging out with showgirls in a lowbrow playhouse. What else could you ask for? The setting is one of the most lively and lush that I’ve ever read. The narrative structure is loopy and magnificent and the characters are flawed and delightful and everything comes together to be exactly as it should.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Blake Crouch’s science fiction thriller hybrids are some of my favorite to read, and his 2019 release held up to the standard that I’ve come to expect from him. People begin having false memories that drive them to suicide, and we follow our main characters who have to figure out why this is happening. Emotional, thrilling, and thought-provoking.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

If you’re a bookworm, you must read this book, and I suspect you’ll relate to Nina Hill more than pretty much any character. This book was filled with charm and surprising depth. Nina Hill loves her quiet, bookish, and predictable life, when she discovers that the father she never met has passed away and left her something sizable in his will. This book was timely and endearing and brought me major amounts of joy.

Lock Every Door Riley Sager

Riley Sager writes some of the best tension I’ve ever read – in terms of both setting and character. A twenty-something female down on her luck accepts on opportunity to apartment sit in the most iconic hotel in New York, but things aren’t as good as they seem… This book was a modern gothic that is firing on all cylinders.

What was your favorite release of 2019?

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November 2019 Reading Wrap-Up

Books, Wrap-Up
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I know, I know. December 18 is almost January. And definitely not even close to the end of November. But this month has been crazy! I started a new job at a new school teaching a new grade level. So that’s my excuse, but I hope you enjoy my wrap-up nonetheless.

In terms of audience, I read 3 young adult books and 5 adult books. I read 3 of these books physically, 3 of these books as e-book, and 2 via audiobook. Finally, I read all of these as rentals from my library, except for one – the Golden Compass, which I purchased at a local book store.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

An occult fantasy set at Yale where we follow Alex who is in charge of policing the magic at the other secret societies.

This book is majorly hyped, which I get (major YA author transitions to adult and goes extra edgy), and I think it deserves some of the hype. It definitely isn’t perfect (some parts dragged, some issues were handled in a way that I didn’t love), but it was pretty great overall. That being said, this book has several elements that are “auto-buy” factors for me – secret societies, Ivy League setting, and occult magic. If you’re sort of “meh” about these plot factors, then the larger issues with this book might really bother you. Since I have affinity towards books that share many of these features, I was much more forgiving and just happy to be in this immersive atmosphere.

Girls on the Verge by Sarah Biggs Waller

A high school senior in Texas needs access to abortion, so she takes a roadtrip with her friends. The story of what it means to be a friend and the importance of a women’s right to choose.

This book knocked my socks off. If you told me that a story about a teen girl seeking abortion would be hard hit-hitting but also joyful, I wouldn’t believe you. I mean, how is it even possible to infuse joy into a story about a girl who does not have access to abortion? This book somehow pulls it off. While this book definitely has an agenda and absolutely intends to inform, it also entertains in a heartfelt way that I didn’t expect. I read this in almost one sitting and I am so glad I picked it up. This should be required reading for high schoolers. Seriously. If you have even a little bit of interest in YA about this topic, pick it up. You’ll be impressed and entertained.

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman

A middle grade/young adult/adult fantasy (determining an audience for this is nearly impossible) about Lyra’s journey to the magical north to escape from the “gobblers” who steal children and her determination to save the children who have been stolen.

I finally picked up the Golden Compass, and boy did it deliver on the things I was hoping it would. First, the writing style blew me away! It is so lyrical and prose-y and the kind of writing that you want to read out loud. Lyra is such an interesting protagonist (not necessarily likable but truly fascinating to follow). The plot is meandering, for better or for worse, but that’s the sort of thing I like. And finally, the themes and setting are incredible. This is a classic for a reason, and everyone (I mean everyone) should read this.

Bunny by Mona Awad

A genre-bending novel that follows an outcast in her MFA program filled with sugar sweet prepsters. When accepted into their clique, our protagonist finds that they’re doing some interesting things… with bunnies… and men…

It’s nearly impossible to describe this book without spoilers because it’s so bizarre. It’s literary fiction meets horror meets science fiction mets thriller. If you love thriller/horror and want to dip into literary fiction, give this a try. If you love literary fiction and want to dip into thriller/horror, then this would be a great pick.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

A romance about two people who are sharing a flat to save money – one party works 9 to 5 at a publishing company and the other works 5 – 9 as a hospice nurse. They get to know each other through the notes they leave to each other, and things evolve as their lives begin to blend…

This is easily my favorite romance of the year. Not only is the premise adorable, but the writing is stunning and far beyond what I usually see in romance. Furthermore, the side characters are highly developed in this story and actually contribute to the plot in a meaningful way. Also, this is a dual perspective story, with distinct writing styles for each character. There is also a social justice bend, including diverse characters, which is also rare in romance.

Very Nice by Marcy Dermansky

A tale of privilege in the northeast, we follow a writing professor fresh off of a hot novel who hooks up with one of his students. When he unexpectedly moves in with her mother, things become tricky. A multi-perspective story that touches on many social issues

This is a hard book for me to rate. It’s a beachy literary fiction (if that’s even a thing), with about 6 different points of view that all intersect in fantastic finale. Everything about this book is incredibly subtle, so if you like a layered story that has only a slight element of family drama, salaciousness, social commentary, and relationship drama – then you might like this. For me, it mostly just fell flat.

Simon versus the Homosapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli

A YA contemporary about Simon and his email correspondence with a potential love interest when a peer intersects these emails and sees an opportunity for blackmail. Deals with the teen experience and coming out.

For the most part, YA contemporary just isn’t my thing. It’s rare that I read a YA contemporary that rises to the 4 star level to me. That being said, this book is so well written and if you like YA contemporary, there is no doubt that you’ll love this. Becky Albertalli does probably the best job of capturing a teen voice that I’ve ever read. I listened to this on audiobook, which I highly recommend, because much of the book is teens bantering back and forth or the internal thoughts about day to day teen life. Because Albertalli captures the voice of Simon so well, it was totally encapsulating to listen to on audio. I liked this one SO much more than Leah on the Offbeat, which I listened to early this year.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

A romance about a woman with little to no experience with sex who hires an escort to help her learn.

The things I liked about this book – amazing own-voices autism representation and great side characters. The things I didn’t like about this book – everything else. But that isn’t the book’s fault! I just don’t love romance, particularly romance that is so focused on physical aspects of a couple’s relationship. The slow burn thing works way better for me in terms of reading experience, so this book just didn’t strike on all cylinders for me. Basically, this book worked as well as it could have for me, considering my limitations on the genre.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

A science fiction about a “murderbot” that prefers to watch space dramas than do its security duty. The story about the challenges of human interaction and the power of agency over one’s self

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Ahhh! I am so torn between 4 and 4.5 stars on this book. It took a while for me to get into it because the beginning is very world-based jargon heavy, but once you get past that, it’s great. The narrator, Murderbot, is incredible. I totally related with the character, as an introvert, who would rather spend time watching television dramas (in my case, reading) than socializing. Because this is a novella, though, I missed some world building. I’ll probably pick up the next in the series soon, though!

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Unpopular Opinions – Books everyone else loved that I didn’t love

Books, Lists
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Not only are these books that everyone seemed to love, but these are books that I really wanted to love, too. Each of these books covers a topic, theme, or trope that I adore! Whether it was the writing style or execution, something fell short in all of these that stopped me from loving them in the same way that others seemed to. Read on to see the top 8 books that everyone loved, but I didn’t.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

A space opera told through found documents and interviews. Two lead characters who recently broke up are all each has left, and something starts to rekindle as they use their wits to save their colonies and find each other.

So, I listened to this one on audio, which might have been part of the problem. I chose the audiobook because it was a full cast, which I typically love. However, that meant that I had to listen to all of the dialogue read aloud, and the back and forth between the characters was my least favorite part of this book. Sure it was witty and snarky, but it felt out of place when the characters were in such dire circumstances. Along with that, the plot just didn’t connect with me and I listened to the audiobook feeling disconnected and apathetic about the outcome. That being said, I really liked the artificial intelligence character and looked forward to listening to the scenes with that character, so there’s some positive to be found here! I don’t think this book is bad by any means, it just didn’t work for me.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

A take on Russian folklore, we follow Vasya as she grows into her magical abilities in a small Russian village amidst conflict with her family and the church

Speaking of books that aren’t bad, The Bear and the Nightingale is a great example of a book that is objectively good, just not for me. I LOVED Arden’s writing style (so lush, so fairytale-like, so atmospheric, so beautiful), but I didn’t love the story overall. I thought I would like it since it deals with religious fundamentalism and small villages and folksy magic (all things I tend to enjoy in books) but somehow the pieces didn’t come together in a way that I liked. This book put me in somewhat of a slump because of the way that the plot meandered and the magic system that didn’t fully make sense. If you like meandering folksy fairy tale fantasies, you might like this. I didn’t love this story, but I did love her writing style, so I decided to read her middle grade series, Small Spaces, which I totally enjoyed!

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

A mid-list author nearing fifty accepts every literary invitation in order to avoid his birthday and take a trip around the world

When I heard the premise of this, I was like, “sign me up!” I thought I’d absolutely love this! This is another case of a book that I think is extremely well-written and absolutely an important book, but not one that ultimately entertained me. If you really like literary fiction, you’ll probably like this. Unfortunately, I entered this book thinking I was getting a mass-audience contemporary, but instead I got something a little more fussy and a lot less fun than I was hoping for.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

A former baseball player known as a womanizer and a career clown who wants to be taken more seriously fake date to improve their reputation

I should probably start by saying that I’m not a romance reader, so I’m probably not the intended audience for this book. In my opinion, there are some romances that are solidly “romance” in genre, but work well for someone who tends to reach for “contemporary” with a hint of romance. Christina Lauren is a good example of an author that writes solidly romance but plays nicely with contemporary readers. This book had so much buzz on Booktube that I thought I’d give it a try. I knew I was getting something steamier than what I typically go for, but people also raved about the characters and the plot, so I thought it would still work for me. Unfortunately, the characters and plot fell totally flat for me, and I even found some of it problematic. The intimate scenes were definitely more explicit and steamier than I’m used to, but again – they fell flat and were also somewhat problematic in my non-romance reader opinion.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

A romance set at a Renaissance fair, two characters who seem to hate each other have intense chemistry when in character at the festival

This book is the kind of book I was talking about above – a softer romance that falls in-between hard romance and contemporary. Less explicit and more focused on the build-up of the romance and the characters, this book had so much potential. I mean, setting a romance at a Renaissance fair? Heck yes! Unfortunately, the attempts at characterization totally failed for me. Attempts at making the characters more complex and well-rounded felt cheap and at times laughable. The author does a lot of “tell not show” here, especially when describing attributes of the main character. Also, I never really bought the romance between the two characters. They go from hating each other to loving each other over night, and even though the author tried to explain why the male lead transforms while in character, it didn’t make the romance more believable to me. I won’t totally write off Jen DeLuca, especially if she writes another romance in a fun setting, but this debut was a low rating for me.

The Devouring Gray by Kristine Lynn Herman

A girl moves to a small town where a group of founders have special powers to control a monster that inhabits the town

The really vague summary that I gave above? That’s literally all I remember about this plot. My main issue with this book is that it was poorly plotted. When I started this book, I thought I was getting a diverse cast, village-based fantasy of cool teens using magic to fight a monster. And I sort of got that? But I also thought that I’d be getting something that made sense. Unfortunately, the world building in this book only poses more questions than answer, and we’re left with a story that is nearly impossible to engage with because the plot and lore don’t add up. Many people note that the representation in this book is excellent, which it is, but it also felt a little bit forced.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

A wealthy nobleman’s daughter is fascinated with forensics and works with her uncle and his assistant to solve the mystery of murders happening in their city. Light romance, light mystery, light gore/horror.

This is a case where me not being the intended audience for this book stopped me from enjoying it. There are many cases where I enjoy middle grade and YA books despite not being the intended audience, but sometimes I read a book in one of those genres and I can only notice how much I would have loved the book if I was 10+ years younger. This is one of those cases. I probably wouldn’t have noticed the excessive and explicit pointedness that the author takes to show how “different” our female character is and how unfair it is that she can’t openly work at the forensics lab because she’s a girl.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Sophie, a girl who can read minds discovers she’s an elf. When she leaves her family to live in the elven world, she discovers that the politics of the elven world aren’t as friendly as they seem, with a vigilante group that is more involved in Sophie’s life than she thought and a sinister rebel group that are complicating her life.

I’ve already talked about this series and how I keep reading them despite knowing they aren’t for me and not particularly enjoying them. The main issues I have with this series are – the threads of world building and lore that begin then disappear, the relationships between Sophie and the male leads that focus on her physical appearance, the way all of her male friends are pining for her affection, and the over-the-top “kids doing things adults should be doing” trope that goes beyond what typically happens in fantasy. I read through book four of this series because I do genuinely enjoy the characters and the world, so I was hoping the author would correct some of the shortfalls.

Tell me about a book that everyone else seemed to love that you didn’t enjoy in the comments below!

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October 2019 Reading Wrap-Up

Books, Wrap-Up
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Intro

In terms of audience, I read 3 middle grade, 1 young adult, and 6 adult books. For genre, I read 2 thriller, 3 supernatural/paranormal, 3 fantasy, 1 non-fiction, and 1 romance. I read 3 physical books, 4 e-books, and 3 audiobooks. All of the books I read were acquired from my library or Scribd.

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Middle grade supernatural/paranormal about a girl grieving the loss of her mother by holing away with books. When she comes across a mysterious book about the lore of a local farm, she needs to rely on her wits and her friends in order to survive a spooky situation. Touches on themes of grief, friendship, and bravery.

Despite the mid-range star rating, I really enjoyed this book! After reading The Bear and the Nightingale and loving the writing but not the story, I was excited to try another series by Katherine Arden. The cover also totally hooked me and the story seemed perfect for spooky season. This book didn’t have a particular impact on me, but the story really was beautiful and I was engaged throughout the entire thing. I might even read the second installment in the series after reading and loving a sample chapter and liking it just as much, maybe more, than this one. If you like middle grade or know a middle grade reader, I think this is a solid pick. Also – the book features a single dad (!!!) who loves to bake (!!!) and decorates their home in bright colors (!!!).

Keeper of the Lost Cities – Neverseen by Shannon Messenger

A middle grade fantasy series about Sophie, an elf, who is deeply connected to the Black Swan, a group of rebel elves. Sophie follows their clues to find out who she really is, as well as other mysteries in the lives of those close to her. She relies on her friends (some of which are boys with crushes on her and vice versa). Standard theming around friendship and bravery.

If you read my September wrap-up, you’ll know that I completed the 2nd and 3rd books in this series during that month and gave them 2 and 2.5 stars respectively. Why I continued on with this series is beyond me… Well, actually, I was looking for an easy plane read and while these books have major issues that really bother me, the author does a great job with characterization and endings, so I keep coming back to spend time with the characters and see how the series continues. Shannon Messenger builds a great world, but falls short in executing the follow through on the world she creates. She does a lot of tell not show and has crafted a painful love triangle square (?) with Sophie and the 3 male leads. I can see why pre-teens enjoy reading this drama, but a lot of the moments between the characters read as fan service and not character/relationship development. I’m officially ending my relationship with this series and chalking it up to the fact that these books are simply not for me. Some middle grade transcends age, and at least for me, this isn’t one of them.

The Institute by Stephen King

An adult supernatural thriller about a secret compound that holds kids hostage for their telekinesis or telekinesis powers. We follow two main characters – Luke, an 11 year old genius, and Tim, a middle-aged former cop starting a new life – as their unlikely stories merge. King grapples with ethical dilemmas, finding the power in oneself and others, and how can society creep into the inhumane. It shows us sorrow, empathy, and even hope.

First, I have to plug that the audiobook of this is excellent. I listened to all 19 hours and it flew by thanks to the diction and voices from the narrator. This was my first Stephen King book and wow was I not disappointed. There isn’t much to say other than to acknowledge the excellent character building and pacing throughout this novel. The other thing that stands out is the strong emphasis on theme that King provides without feeling preachy. He layers on the social commentary while never letting the reader feel comfortable with a simple explanation of it. My only critique is that the ending felt a bit standard for the complexity of the story and that it didn’t leave the extreme emotional reaction that I was expecting. That being said, those are personal to me and it was just missing the je’ne seis quai that would make it a 5 star read. Otherwise, this was an amazing story that I absolutely imagine I will be revisiting sometime in the future.

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Pérez

This non-fiction does a deep dive into the many ways that our society is designed for men, not women. The author talks about how when something is designed without gender in mind, that translates to being designed for men. She covers a variety of topics from restrooms to bus schedules to vehicle design to health care.

When reading this book, I had sticky notes out the entire time to mark the things that I found particularly interesting or profound. The author has a casual writing style that is quite accessible – it isn’t overly academic or conversational, but right in between. The author was frank honest about the inequity that exists, but she was also hopeful when providing solutions to the problems. Some of the chapters that I found the most interesting were about the data biases in technology (voice recognition is heavily reliant on male voices and recognizes them more often), gear design (military and other safety gear manufacturers scale down their men’s designs for women, but they often fit inappropriately and do not work as intended since they weren’t designed for women’s bodies), and transit schedules (designed for men’s working schedules and not the unpaid labor of women that requires more stops than a typical male’s commute). If you’re interested in data and feminism, I’m confident that you’ll like it.

Joyland by Steven King

Published under Hard Case Crime, this is Steven King’s take on a traditional crime novel. We follow Devin Jones, a college student recovering from a break-up, as he accepts a job at a North Carolina amusement park. A young girl was murdered at this park years ago, but no one has caught the killer, and rumor is that her ghost still haunts the place where she was killed. A coming of age story with a hint of crime and the paranormal.

Something about this just really worked for me. Steven King is a master at character building, so it’s not surprising that I totally fell into step with this coming of age story. I also happen to be a sucker for this particular setting – spooky amusement park, especially during a transition from summer to fall. I don’t have much to say about this other than that it was such a fun surprise that I really, really enjoyed reading.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

In this fresh take on a gothic thriller, we follow a down-on-her-luck girl named Jules who comes across the job of a lifetime as an apartment sitter. The rules of this arrangement are a bit restrictive, but Jules doesn’t have much a choice, so she ignores the warning signs until things start to get serious. Lock Every Door has a strong sense of tension throughout the entire thing, and it evokes themes of social class and resilience.

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This is definitely one of the better thrillers that I’ve read all year. I read the audiobook, which I think was well done. As mentioned in the summary, Riley Sager does an excellent job at building a sense of dread that slowly and steadily builds over the course of the story. I liked how the setting felt grand and claustrophobic all at the same time, and the many characters were distinct and well integrated. The ending is absolutely wild and completely unexpected, which I liked overall. However, it does go a little bit off the rails, which is why this isn’t a 4.5 or 5 star for me because some of the messaging did feel a bit contrived.

An Enchantment of Raven by Margaret Rogerson

This young adult standalone fantasy takes place in a world where people and fair people (faeries) coexist. Fair people are unable to perform human craft, so they value artisans and pay for these human services through enchantments. We follow Isobel, a painter, on an adventure through the world of the fair people and her complicated relationship with a fairy prince.

I wanted to love this book so badly, but unfortunately a few things didn’t work out. First, I have to say that I LOVE Margaret Rogerson’s writing style, and I would read something from her again. Her writing is the perfect mix of accessible while still having lovely prose. She does an excellent job at building a deeply atmospheric world, but that’s where things start to fall short. The world building starts to get interesting with lush descriptions of surroundings and hints at interesting lore, but there needs to be a lot more depth in order for the world to feel entirely fulfilling. It’s almost like this 250 page book needed to be twice as long. I also struggled to buy into the main relationship because we did not get much in the way of how the two characters grew to love each other. Because most of the plot and the challenges they face are contingent on their love, I was left feeling apathetic and sometimes even frustrated about the choices the characters make. Overall, this is a book that I know I would have loved when I was younger and it is something that I think the fantasy genre needs. As an adult who is a bit more critical, though, I’d be amiss to not mention the parts that fell short. If the premise sounds interesting to you and you’re in the mood for a standalone fantasy story, you might enjoy this.

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

A middle grade graphic novel about shy little dragons who grow leaves from their antlers that can make a magical tea. A diverse cast with differently-abled and LGBT+ representation and a beautiful story about friendship, love, tradition, and acceptance.

Oh how this book brought me joy. I read it a few times before returning it to my library, and I’m thinking about buying my own copy to have at home. The art is absolutely beautiful and the themes shared through this story are quiet, yet lovely. There isn’t much to say about this other than how lovely it was and what a great gift it would be for yourself or someone you know.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

A thriller where a husband and wife kill women to keep things interesting (yeah, really). Told from the husband’s point of view, we hear his thoughts when he starts to become weary about this “hobby” and things slowly unravel.

In a word, the critique that I’d give to this book is boring. I think that’s what Samantha Downing is going for in a way, but that doesn’t change the fact that long stretches of this book are simply a father describing his day to day life and sprinkling in moments of murder. The thing this book does really well is cause you to think about the kind of person that you can root for and demonstrate a situation where you can have a lovely father but still a terrible person. I listened to this on audiobook and eventually had to switch to 1.5x speed (I don’t know how you 2x speed people do it, my brain can’t keep up that fast). The increase in speed caused the narrator to sound a bit robotic, even further removing me from a somewhat robotic narrator to begin with. I appreciate this book for it’s unique take on a thriller, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Georgie is the youngest in her family, and she’s sick of not being taken seriously. Travis is a former baseball player and womanizer who needs to develop a more wholesome image. The two of them decide to “fake date” despite being “off limits” to one another since Travis is Georgie’s brother’s best friend. This is an adult romance with explicit scenes that don’t fade to black.

I might need to write an entire rant review for this one. There’s too much to say to cover all of the bases (get it, baseball pun for a book about a baseball player). In short, I thought this book was cringey, unbelievable, and problematic. Just a few of the things I didn’t like were – The way the male lead talks about the female lead like she’s a little sister, yet still over sexualizes her. The pacing of the book that makes little to no sense (was it one week, one month, or one year). The addition of a female empowerment club that has no purpose other than to introduce other characters for a series. An absurd makeover scene like something from a 2000s rom com. An overprotective male lead that exhibits controlling behavior. Gross ways of approaching virginity, particularly regarding dirty talk during sex. Public sex at a school, which is a literal crime. I could keep going, but I won’t. This book was absolutely not for me, but I should add that many people seem to love this book. I’m not a romance reader myself, so if you like romance, I’d check out a few other reviews to see if this is for you since this isn’t typically a genre I read.

Even though I didn’t read any “favorites of the year” this month, I still am happy with the reading that I accomplished. Even the books I didn’t enjoy had some enjoyable components. What was your favorite book you read in October? Have you read any of these books? If so, do you agree with rating? Provide some insight below!

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Fall Book Tag

Books, Recommendations, Tag Posts
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First, a want to express a special thanks to Shanah at Bionic Book Worm for creating this incredible tag! If you decide to use this tag, please link back to her as the original creator (she also has really cute graphics you can use). Also, please let me know if you do this tag, so I can read your responses, too!

Second, I created a rule for myself that I’d only choose books for this tag that I read in 2019, just to narrow my options a little bit. I figured I would add that caveat, just so you all know where these recommendations are coming from. Also, these are all books that I actually recommend, meaning that I enjoyed each of the books on this list!

And without further ado, keep reading for some books inspired by our favorite fall cozy things.

Crisp Fall Air – A book that felt fresh and new

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

A world where chalk lines and drawings have magical abilities called rithmatism. A boy who isn’t a rithmatist pairs up with girl who is a rithmatist to solve a mystery happening at their school.

Even though the Rithmatist was published in 2013, Sanderson crafts the most unique magic system I’ve ever read, which is why I believe this book warrants the prize. The Rithmatist is about an alternative United States where “rithmatists” can perform magic using special chalk lines and drawings. We follow Joel as he solves the mystery of rithmatist students that go missing from their school. Not only is the magic system unique, but the way the plot is constructed is fresh as well. In my opinion, this book works well for the oft forgotten younger YA audience, which is something else “fresh” about this pick.

Howling Winds – An ending that blew you away

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

A morally corrupt author takes advantage of everyone around him.

This book is told in three parts, and at the end of each, I gasped with surprise. Is this a contemporary? A thriller? A literary fiction? All three? This book hits so many marks, and I can’t imagine anyone reading this and not enjoying it.

Comfy Sweaters – A book that gave you warm and fuzzies

Red, White, and Royal Blue

The son of the president of the United States falls in love with a member of the Royal Family in England. An enemies to lovers romance with a dash of politics.

This book has so much hype, but it is so well deserved! I’m not a huge romance reader, so for this book to get the praise that it gave me “warm and fuzzies” and not “heebie jeebies” is a big deal. The banter is smart and fun every second of the way. This is impossible not to like.

Bright Colors – A cover with either red, orange, yellow

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

California experiences a “tap out” meaning no taps work in the state due to drought. Everyone fights over water and chaos ensues. We follow multiple perspectives of children trying to survive.

Considering that this book has fire on the cover, I think it fits for the theme. I actually think that the cover of this book is really cool looking. While this book isn’t perfect, it had me wanting to turn the page and invested in the characters. It also made me thirsty (???), which is something I’ve never experienced while reading a book!

Leaf Fight – A book with non-stop action

The Martian by Andy Weir

A man is trapped on Mars when his crew team thinks that he died during a dust storm. We follow Mark Watney through his journal entries as he uses his ingenuity to get off of the planet and back to earth.

The Martian hooks you in, and then it doesn’t stop. This is one of the first “hard” science fiction books that I read, but it was so easy to get through because of the non-stop action. There are sections where our author gets into the weeds about the mechanics and science of what is happening, but it added to the “realism” of what was happening, connecting me to the story even more.

Pumpkin Spice – Your most anticipated read

Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

This series is about Morrigan Crow, a girl who was treated terribly in her town because everyone believed her to have a curse that caused their misfortune. She is swept away to a new land where she tries out for the “wunder society” and lives in a magical hotel.

I wanted to choose something that comes out in 2019, but this pick comes out January 28 of 2020, which I figured was close enough. (If I had to choose a 2019 release, I’d choose Starsight by Brandon Sanderson, which comes out on November 26 of this year). The Nevermoor series is the only middle grade fantasy series that has come close to giving me Harry Potter feels, so I’m seriously looking forward to the next part of this series.

What is your favorite fall read? Let me know in the comments below!

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September 2019 Reading Wrap-Up

Books, Wrap-Up
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Every season of reading is great, isn’t it? Summer reading reminds me of reading on the beach in the sun, where fall reading reminds me of reading inside with a cup of coffee as the leaves change. September is the transition between these two reading seasons, with the first half more like summer and the second half more like fall (at least in Chicago, where I’m from). Maybe that explains why this month’s books were so all over the place. It’s a bizarre mix of genres, but hopefully that means you’ll find a recommendation in a genre you enjoy or something that interests you outside of your normal reading habits. Either way, I hope you enjoy my quick summaries and mini reviews of all the books I read this month.

PS: All of my mini reviews are spoiler-free, so no worries if you have any of these books on your TBR and don’t want to be spoiled!

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

A bookish millennial discovers she has a huge extended family after her biological father whom she has never met leaves her a gift in his will. We follow Nina, who loves her quiet and precisely-scheduled life, as she grapples with this new discovery and maybe even possibly pencils some dating into her agenda!

I listened to this one on audio, which worked really well for me. If I was reading a traditional book form of this, I might have struggled with it a bit as it really is just a character study/slice of life with our protagonist. So many constant reader types will absolutely identify with Nina, which makes this even better. If you’re looking for a cozy contemporary with a slice of romance and you like character studies, pick this up. This book really stuck with me and is one of my favorite romanic comedy type books I’ve read all year. As someone who is a planner-obsessed, constant-reader, anxiety-ridden (yes, this book has some generalized anxiety disorder rep) millennial, reading this book made me feel less alone and also like I want Nina to join my trivia team!

Note: While the audio narrator is awesome, you will miss out on some things if you choose audio over the paper copy. Each chapter starts out with an actual page of out Nina’s planner. The author reads these aloud, but it would have been fun to see the actual pages. Also, the author uses capitalization to make a point about the sheer millennialism of Nina, which you’ll obviously miss in an audio version.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

A coming-of-age and love story about class difference, social status, and misunderstandings. We follow Marianne and Connell from high school all the way through college and see how each character’s social positioning changes how they view themselves and each other. It’s hard to give this one a summary – just know it’s a beautifully written, literary fiction that is absolutely worth your time.

You’ve probably heard the hype about Sally Rooney, and it is so well deserved. The reason this book is so great is that it is unbelievably raw and paints a picture of fully developed characters and the complexities of platonic, romantic, and sexual relationships within that web.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvian Neuvel

A story told through interviews from an unnamed interviewer about a secret, pseudo-governmental search for giant pieces that can only be remnants of an alien invention.

This is my second attempt at a science fiction in this format and I didn’t love it. My first attempt was Illuminae by Jay Kristoff, which I really did not like. Sleeping Giants is way better, in my opinion, but not my favorite read. I love the “big dumb object” trope and I liked the characters, but the overall plot development didn’t completely hook me. I listened to this on audiobook, which I don’t think did me any favors. The audibook has a full cast, which is a definite bonus, but I think I might have preferred to read this in text format.

End of the Rope by Jan Redford

A memoir from Jan Redford who tells the reader about her experience as a female mountain climber and the complex range of experiences and emotions that come along with it.

I’m obsessed with books about climbing mountains. Don’t ask me why; I have no clue. I don’t climb mountains myself (nor do I think I actually could because I’m chronically anxious and convinced that a rockslide, avalanche, or just a slip of the foot will kill me at any second). This isn’t one of my favorite books about mountain climbing, but I liked Jan and was rooting for her the entire time, which has to amount to something. If you enjoy domestic stories with a hint of mountain climbing, you might enjoy this more than I did. Jan experiences some pretty toxic relationships, one of which lasts a very long time and is particularly traumatic. While this experience is real and her own, I struggled to read through it at times.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

An alternative version of the United States (called United Isles of America) where magicians called rithmatists draw figures in chalk that have magical abilities. We follow Joel, a young man obsessed with rithmatists but not granted that special ability, and Melody, a rithmatist who seems hopeless at the fundamentals, uncover the mystery of several missing students at their school.

This book totally took me by surprise! The magic system is so unique, and I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but I should never doubt Sanderson because it totally did. I absolutely loved our lead characters and their friendship. A platonic friendship in a YA fantasy? Cheers to that! I also thought that the relationship that the kids had with adults was very well done. One of my pet peeves in a middle grade fantasy is when kids are given unreasonable responsibility in the fantasy world (yes, I know that is a major trope of the genre but there are ways to construct a story so it is somewhat reasonable), but Sanderson balanced that dynamic really well . The world building was solid, with information being slowly revealed, and a sequel would totally round out the information that we began to receive in this book (Sanderson said he’d like to write a sequel for this one sometime soon, but he doesn’t have it on his schedule at the moment). If you enjoy middle grade, young adult, or even adult fantasy, you’ve gotta give this one at try.

Paper Towns by John Green

A shy and responsible senior named Quentin has a wild night with his impossibly cool neighbor, Margot, and spends the final part of his senior year searching for her in one of her infamous antics.

I know I’m late to the John Greene train. The only other book I’ve read by him was Turtles All the Way Down, and I haven’t seen any of the movie adaptations. In all honesty, I downloaded this to my Kindle because it was available at my library and I needed something that would hook me in right away and be an easy read for my flight. This did just the trick. The main plot of Quentin following Margot’s clues wasn’t my favorite. What I really loved was the trio of friends surrounding Quentin and their friendship. The three boys were each unique without wandering into sickeningly quirky and their friendship was portrayed as positive but also realistic. Additionally, I thought that John Greene did an excellent job with unpacking the “manic pixie dream girl,” and (mild spoiler) I love that he actually kept her as shallow and unlikeable instead of redeeming her in the end. Overall, this is a well-written story that follows great characters who made me want to keep reading in order to continue following them on their adventure.

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Another Brene Brown book about living whole heartedly. This one focuses on what it looks like and how to do so in leadership positions, specifically at work.

This is another hard one for me to review. I listened to this on audio in between other audio books I was listening to or during times when I couldn’t give me 100% attention to what I was listening to. I’ll read anything Brene Brown publishes, but her latest books are really just variations on one another with slightly different themes. This isn’t a criticism as I believe that is exactly what she’s trying to do, but it does taint my experience a bit as the books are starting to become repetitive and I’m not gaining as much out of them as I did in the beginning. I highly recommend the audio version of this as Brene reads it herself, which I think adds to the experience.

Keeper of the Lost Cities – Exile and Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

A middle grade fantasy series that takes place in the elvin world and follows Sophie Foster, a 13 year old who is especially powerful and raised in the human world

In my opinion, this is not a middle grade fantasy that adults will enjoy in the same way that some other middle grade fantasies can transcend age. I have a soft spot for middle grade fantasy because I find that the genre lends itself well to telling beautiful stories that convey fundamental themes like courage and grace really well. Unfortunately, I think that the Keeper of the Lost Cities should stay in the hands of the children it was written for. I enjoyed the first book because the world was so whimsical and the characters were quite endearing. Books 2 and 3 (and also 4, yes I kept reading even though I had given all books after the first one 2 stars) spend a lot of time on fan service and actually have some themes that I find somewhat problematic. I get why this series is insanely popular with children, but if you’re an adult looking for a whimsical middle grade, you can do better.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What was your favorite book you read in September? Let me know in the comments below!

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Top 6 non-fiction books for lovers of fiction

Lists, Recommendations
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When reading non-fiction, the writing style and the narrative structure can make or break your reading experience. While this is true of all books (fiction and non-fiction), when it comes to non-fiction, you need a certain je ne sais quoi to round out the reading experience – especially if you’re used to reading fiction. Non-fiction, though, can be an amazing way to diversify your reading – whether gaining perspective from someone’s life in a memoir or learning about something new in long form journalism. Sometimes, truth really is better than fiction. Keep reading to find my fail safe non-fiction picks for people who tend to read fiction. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them!

Top 6 non-fiction books for lovers of fiction
The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts by Tessa Fontaine
I’m listing this one first for two reasons. First, it isn’t hyped anywhere (at least I haven’t come across many bookish folks on the internet who have read it) and it totally deserves some hype! Second, I truly believe it is perfect for lovers of fiction because the content is just so fantastical. The Electric Woman follows Tessa who joins America’s last traveling sideshow after her mother suffers a stroke. Tessa breathes fire, charms snakes, and swallows swords alongside a cast of characters that prove reality can be more interesting than fiction. The chapters shift between Tessa sharing her experience working with the sideshow and Tessa sharing her relationship with her mother who recently suffered a stroke. This story is as fantastic as it is poignant. This is a beautiful memoir that is absolutely worth a read. (Note: My only critique is that the book is a little bit long… some sections are repetitive and in my opinion the editor could have used a heavier hand. While I really loved this book, I don’t want someone going into it thinking it is perfect on my recommendation).

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
On the other hand, we have one of the most hyped non-fiction books out there, but it is so well-deserved. Jon Krakauer is one of my favorite journalists to read (his writing helped me to realize my absolute love for long form journalism), so combining his writing talent with this incredible story and content is a recipe for excellence. Into Thin Air tells the story of the 1996 Mount Everest season, which resulted in several climbers being killed due to a freak storm. The interesting thing, though, is that Krakauer is not just reporting on the event – he was there experiencing it. If you like to read thrillers or adventures tories, you’ll absolutely love this. At times, I forgot that I was reading a work of non-fiction. Bonus: This book led me to discover that I am OBSESSED with reading about mountain climbing, and I’ve since read at least 5 more books on the topic (though none met the high standard of Into Thin Air).

Bonus: All of Krakauer’s work is incredible. If you’re up for a tough (but compelling) read, check out Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town. If you’re interested in religion and the danger of fundamentalism, Under the Banner of Heaven is a slow, but solid read. I’ve also heard great things about Into the Wild, which is on my list.

Educated by Tara Westover
Another incredibly popular book (and for good reason) is Educated. This is a memoir and coming of age tale about a woman who grew up in a survivalist and fundamentalist family. Tara tells of growing up without a formal education in a remote area of Idaho. Eventually, she pursues a formal education (with disdain and backlash from her family) and we see how this completely changes the trajectory of her life, though not without the scars and shadows of her upbringing. Trigger warning for physical and verbal abuse as well as gaslighting.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Start-Up by John Carreyrou
Bad Blood is the last majorly hyped option on this list, which tells the story of of a medical technology start-up called Theranos, and how its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, exaggerated the scope and advancement of the technology. It explores how people got involved and why they stayed, even as they knew that the technology was hardly capable of the things Holmes claimed it was. This book will appeal to people who read fiction because of the almost dystopian lengths that Elizabeth goes through to keep everything under wraps. It reads like a thriller because you’re just waiting for the moment she gets caught and groaning as she gets away with another test or get another investment. I listened to this one on audiobook, which worked really well for me. It was like a long form true crime podcast!

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
From Here to Eternity is a bit of an odd pick, but stick with me – it’s about death and the traditions different cultures have around death. How people bury their dead, how people honor their dead, and how people mourn their dead. Doughty writes about something that could be morose with grace. She never fetishizes traditions that are vastly different than ones that the reader is probably familiar with, and she somehow writes a book about death that feels light. The author definitely has an agenda (she has issues with the current funeral industrial complex), but it doesn’t overshadow the cathartic nature of this book. I think contemporary and fantasy readers will enjoy this read because it is deeply emotional and it exposes fascinating aspects of other societies that we otherwise would never have known.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
I read this book in one sitting. I feel like that’s such a marker of a quality plot and writing style. Trevor Noah sets out to educate about his upbringing in South Africa during apartheid and how he grew up in the post-apartheid world. This book has it all – relationships, laughter, pain, politics. And of course, Trevor Noah is a comedian at heart, so his writing, even when things are dark, has a lightness to it that makes you want to keep reading. There were moments that made me actually laugh out loud and moments that actually made me tear up. This book is entertaining and educational. It’s a book that I feel comfortable and confident recommending to anyone.

And that’s a wrap, everyone! Those are my top non-fiction books for people who tend to gravitate towards fiction. Write your favorite non-fiction book in the comments below, so we can all add a new non-fiction to our TBR!

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Book Blog Newbie Tag

Tag Posts
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Hello book blogging world! My name is Heather, and I’m new around here. I wanted to introduce myself, so what better way than the Book Blog Newbie Tag. Hopefully this will give you some background around me as a reader and what I can bring to this community. Special thanks to Jenniely who totally doesn’t know that I borrowed these questions from her, but I want to ensure she gets credit!

  1. Why did you start this blog?
    Long time listener, first time caller here. That’s really the best way to put it – when I discovered the book blogging (as well as booktube and bookstagram) community, I was hooked. An entire community of people who like reading as much as I do? Sign. Me. Up.
  2. What are some fun and unique things you can bring to book blogging?
    I few things, I hope. I aim to bring authenticity through my voice. I read a wide variety of genres. And, I have a background in education, which (I think) gives me some ground to stand on when evaluating middle grade and YA books.
  3. What are you most excited for about this new blog?
    I’m SO excited to have a platform for longer form reviews. Writing mini Goodreads reviews always gave me closure when I finished a book (preventing the dreaded book hangover). Also, like I said before, I want to be a part of and contribute to this amazing online community of readers.
  4. Why do you love reading?
    This answer is going to sound uninspired, but hear me out – it is my preferred form of entertainment. Television and movies are fun and all, but I lose interest with them quickly. It’s rare for me to make it through an entire movie without wanting to look at my phone or work on something on my computer. With reading, that’s never a problem. I’m also so inspired by the power of language to build these amazing stories that have lasted or will last for generations.
  5. What book or series got you into reading?
    I remember loving to read since I learned how to do it. Reading class was always my favorite, and I was never bored by the selections my teachers chose at school. I’ve always been a wide genre reader, happy to devour anything I could find. Some nostalgic books that stand out as early favorites? the American Girl series, the Magic Attic series, Anne of Green Gables, and (of course) Harry Potter.
  6. What question would you ask your favorite authors?
    Dear JK Rowling, why do you insist on adding crazy non-cannon cannon to your already perfect universe? (Hopefully I don’t get too much hate for that one).
  7. What challenges do you think starting a blog will be the hardest to overcome?
    I’m sure some will arise, but as of now I am confident and ready to go! Consistency could be an issue when I’m busy, but as of now, I have ideas and time and I’m ready to go.
  8. When did you start reading?
    Like mentioned before, since as long as I can remember.
  9. Where do you read?
    Everywhere! Seriously. I read on the train on the way to work. I read during my lunch at work. I read on the train on my way home from work. I read on the patio before dinner. I read on the couch after dinner. I read in bed before sleeping. I read audiobooks while running errands. I. Read. Everywhere.
  10. What kind of books do you read?
    Not sure if this is asking about genre or format, so I’ll answer both. Genres I read are as follows (in a loose attempt at order of frequency): contemporary, fantasy, science-fiction, thriller, romance. I typically stick to adult, but I occasionally read YA and I REALLY love middle grade fantasy. In terms of format, I read about 40% ebooks, 40% library books, and 20% new copies. What can I say, I love the library!

Well folks, that’s all I have for you today. Thanks for taking the time to get to know me. Why do you love reading? Tell me in the comments below.

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