Reflections on My Reading Year of 2019

How many books have you read in 2019?

I have read 65 books in total, which means that I actually overcead my reading goal on Goodreads by 15 books. It's definitely the biggest amount of books I've read during one year in my entire life. I consider myself a slow reader, therefore 65 books really is a lot for me, but I strangely feel like I could've read more if I only put my mind to it. There have definitely been some months when I barely read one book this past year, but there have also been months when I read a ton. Over all it was a pretty good reading year, and I am glad for all the books that came into my life...

How many audiobooks have you listened to?
This year was definitely in the name of audiobooks for me. My eyes hurt a lot during the second half of the year and because of that I pretty much relied solely on audiobooks from then on. In total, I've listened to 31 of them, which basically means that half of the books I've read were actually audiobooks. And I am really glad for that because all of them were absolutely amazingly narrated and the format actually made the reading experiance even better for me. Some of my favourite audiobooks were The Swap by Megan Shull, Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, The Bride Test by Helen Hoang and The Gold-Son by Carrie Anne Noble.

What was the shortest and the longest book you've read?

According to Goodreads the shorthest book I've read was a little illustrated children's edition of The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (48 pages) and the longest book was the Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck (543 pages).

What was the best book you've read this past year?

Well, it's funny, but the best book I've read in 2019 was actually the very last book of the year that I finished on 31st December. The book is called Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. It was such a beautiful and poignant story with the best possible ending. I haven't felt so satisffied at the end of a book in a long time. The book made me cry and feel everything. It also made me think about my own ways in life and inspire me to try get better everyday in being a human. I can't recommend this book enough. It was just excellent. And you should definitely give it a go, if you haven't yet...

What book has surprised you in a good way?

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia. I picked this book on a total whim, but ended up loving it so much. It could very well be the second best book I've read this past year. It was an emotial ride but one I am so glad I've taken...

What book surprised you in a negative way?

Sadly, that would be Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. I really like Sophie Kinsella's books, but this one just didn't sit well with me. I didn't even like the movie based on it that was released this year, so I guess there was just something completely missing for me in the story...

What was the most original book you've read in 2019?
Everlost by Neal Shusterman was a book with the most original plot I've read this past year. It's a first book in a trilogy and it tells a story about these kids who died but didn't get where they were going, and so they find themselves in a world that is in between the living and the dead. They have to learn to navigate through it and find their purpose in it. I really enjoeyd the story and am looking forward to continuing on with the series. In regards of the execution, the most originally written book I've read in 2019 was In Paris with You by Clémentine Beauvais. This book was a modern take on the Russian classic Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin. If you ever wondered what would happen if Eugene and Tatyana met again, this book is for you. It's romantic and beautifully written and it portraits the Paris in exquisite way. I loved the book so much; I wanted to culr in between the lines and fall asleep to the lulling nature of the dialogue, filled with nostalgia and the possibilities of future...

What book have you recommended the most in 2019?

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia, for it is a very important read that teaches empathy and understanding for others. It spoke to me in a very deep way and I would love for it to be recognized by more people...

What book series have you found during this past year?

The Great Library by Rachel Caine. I've read the first three books in the series and absolutely loved them. The story takes placein a rich and imaginative fantasy world that totally absorb you from the very first page. I would definitely recommend it to everybody who loves tension, intrugue, mystery, action and romance. It's a blend between fantasy and sci-fi in an alternative universe where the history is different than we know it...

What new authors have bacome your favourite in 2019?

I've read so many great books this year, and therefore came across so many new favourite authors. Here is a list of some of the absolute best ones: Katherine Center, Francesca Zappia, Lorie Langdon, Rachel Caine, Laura Jane Williams, Julia Whelan, Elizabeth Scott, Nicola Yoon, Beth O'Lelary, Helen Hoang and Christina Lauren...

What books that you've read this past year are you probably going to re-read in 2020?

Definitely Made You Up by Francesca Zappia. I really wanted to re-read in 2019 but didn't get to it. So this year, I'm going to make it a prioroty. I would also love to revisit Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire, which is a given as it was the best book I've read this past year. And then I would really love to re-read The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, which was such a lovely and sexy book...

What character of 2019 is the most memorable to you?

Samantha McAllister from Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone. She is a character that reminded me of myself and my own struggles. She also went through an immense growth during the progression of the story, which was really inspiring to witness. I was rooting for her a lot while reading the book and I definitely won't forget her anytime soon...

What was your favourite literary relationship?

I've read a lot of romance books in 2019 and I've met a lot of cute couples throughout. Some of the most memorable ones were Olivia and Jack from Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon, Cassie and Owen from Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center, Lucy and Joshua from The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Tiffy and Leon from The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary, Josh and Hazel from Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren, Alex and Henry from Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, Aya and Kiran from The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons and Esme and Khai from The Bride Test by Helen Hoang...

What was your favourite book to movie adaptation of 2019?
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon was exceptionally beautiful love story and the movie was just as amazing. Would highly recommend both...

What was the funniest book you've read in 2019?
The Swap by Magan Shull. I've listened to the audiobook, which definitely added to the reading experince for me, as it was narrated extremely well. It might actually be the best audiobook I've ever listened to. And it was so hilarious, I was literally laughing out loud most of the time. And for the rest of the time, I was absolutely touched by it...

What was the saddest book you've read in 2019?

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan. It was so sad, but not in a way that makes you miserable. It was sad in a way that makes you realize how many things you take for granted when you really should treasure them. It makes you appreciate the beauty of the moment. Some books try too hard to make you feel that way and often come across as cliche, but this one was beautiful and genuine. It's definitely one of the books I will return to in the future...

Was there a book that made you cry?
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. This book wasn't as heartbreaking as the one mentioned above, but it still made me cry. I mean, literally cry. I've already read three books and one novella by Katherine Center, all of which made me cry, actually. There's something about the deliverance of the story by this author that makes me feel so much for the characters. It's as if I become one them and personally feel what they feel. She's that good with her words...

Was there a book that you couldn't believe you haven't read earlier than in 2019?

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Everybody was so excited about it since it came out, but it took me four years to actually get to it. Looking back now, I have no idea why it took me so long. It was an amzing book and a true evidence that sometimes super hyped books absolutely live up to the expectations...

What was your favourite part or quote from a book you've read this past year?

"That’s the thing I always love best about the human race: How we pick ourselves back up over and over and just keep on going." ~ Katherine Center, Things You Save in a Fire

"People say teenagers think they're immortal, and I agree with that. But I think there's a difference between thinking you're immortal and knowing you can survive. Thinking you're immortal leads to arrogance, thinking you deserve the best. Surviving means having the worst thrown at you and being able to continue on despite that. It means striving for what you want most, even when it seems out of your reach, even when everything is working against you." ~ Francesca Zappia, Made You Up

What was the best post you've shared on your blog?

The one post that gave me the most pleasure to compile was this one. Having a library of my own was the bigest and wildest dream of mine, and so to be able to share it with you was absolutely amazing for me...

What will you remember from 2019?

It was a year when we built my home library, which lirerally altered my life. It was a year when I stopped wearing braces on my teeth, which definitely helped with my confidence. It was also the year when I finished my all time favourite series The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck. And it was a year when Taylor Swift put out a new album, which totally made the rest of the year for me. It was just one of the best years of my life and I am so happy for everything that it brought to me and the people I love.

What are your literary plans for 2020?
Keep it fun!