Goodbye 2019!

Posted 31st December 2019 by Emma in Challenges / 7 Comments

2019 has been quite the year. It has had its ups and its downs but I will be quite happy to start not only a new year but a new decade tomorrow.

Before we say goodbye to the twenty-teens it’s time for my customary wrap up post.

Challenges

If you would like to see how I did on my challenges for 2019 you can follow this link. On the whole, I am happy with how I did. I completed my Goodreads challenge of 100 books again. I smashed my audiobook challenge and while I didn’t quite meet my netgalley challenge I did make a big dent and got my % up to 28%.

Top Books of 2019

UGH, every year I hate this part. I read SO many good books that I just don’t know how to pick! It’s so damn hard and I feel bad for the books I don’t pick! I have managed to narrow them down to the following.

King of Scars was one of my early reads of 2019. in 2018 I became a big fan of Leigh’s work and Nikoli is one of my favourite characters of all time. I loved this book and I CANNOT wait for the second part.

I have read a few of Gi’s books and the BF bought me a hardback copy of Eve of Man as a present (which btw is BEAUTIFUL!) and then I saw this on my library audio app, Borrowbox, and I just had to listen to the audio and keep my hardback in pristine condition.

We met Detective Young at the end of 2018 and I instantly liked her. Since then Graham has released A Body in the Lakes and Fear in the Lakes. Book 2 blew me away and I can’t wait for more from Beth Young!

This next book was an easy addition to this list. A Curse so Dark and Lonely is a retelling of my favourite fairytale Beauty and the Beast. I absolutely adored this retelling and I am counting down the days until the next instalment A Heart so Fierce and Broken.

I am SO late to the part on The Nevernight Chronicle I am starting to become a big big fan of Jay Kristoff. I love his writing style. It is addictive and funny and it gets you straight in the heart.

This next book was another that was easy to add to this list. Girls of Paper and Fire is not an easy read but it is fuelled by a powerful message. If you can read it then it is well worth it.

This next series is the retelling of 4 fairytales. Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White. The Lunar Chronicles is a retelling with a difference. Set in the future with elements of Sci-fi this really is a retelling with a twist.

This year I started a few new Detective series but the one that stands out is Iris Locke. Iris was a character that really captured me. I love her and all the team. I can’t wait to go back and learn more about these characters.

Detective Josie Quinn is a character that I fell in love with last year but it feels so much longer. This year we were treated to 3 more books on this kick-ass detective!

Holly Martin has been a favourite author of mine for quite a few years now. I love her writing style and this latest series is just gorgeous! The Village of Happiness is full of magic and wonder.

Detective Gina Harte is another character I fell in love with only last year. Gina has a dark past that unravels more and more as the series progresses. This year we were given 3 more books and I can’t wait to go back next year.

Aurora Rising was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019. Last year I read the Illuminae series by these two amazing authors and I was SO excited to read this. It was excellent and I cannot wait for book 2

I have been a fan of Lindsey’s for many many years. I Heart Hawaii is the end of the I Heart series. It was sad to say goodbye to Angela. This series will always have a place in my heart because it inspired me to start blogging.

Aven is one of my favourite authors and this year she released 2 new books and re-released Connectivity. It was very hard to choose my favourite but Outscored just edged it for me. I loved the two main characters so much and from the opening chapter, I was laughing out loud!

Heidi Swain is another of my favourites. This year Heidi released 2 books one in the summer and one just in time for Christmas. Both were amazing but if I had to pick just one then The Christmas Wish List would just edge it for me. All that festiveness gets me every time!

For me, a Jenny Hale book is what Christmas is all about and this year she did not let me down! Christmas at Silver Falls is set in a gorgeous town with everything you need for a real family Christmas.

The last book on my list this year is Out of Practice. This book has been on my TBR pile ever since it came out in 2016. I adored this book and I cannot wait to read the other 3 in this series!