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Dazzling Chapters

Archives for December 2019

Genre Favorites of 2019

December 30, 2019Books, 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

December 30, 2019Books, 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

December 19, 2019Books, 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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Here's what I look like, friends!I’m Heather. You’ll find book reviews, wrap-ups, and tags. You’ll also find Chicago and travel things. Stay awhile?

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