Saturday, February 1, 2020

Top Ten Reads of 2019


Yes, I am very aware that this post is kind of late. But January has been an exceptionally busy month and I'm just now getting the time (and energy) to sit down and write this post. So here it is. Before I get into it, let me say that these are ranked but they're not entirely definitive. Like, 1-3 are basically tied but I forced myself to put them in an order. That said, obviously all the books on this list are ones I'd recommend soooo yeah.

Now without further ado, my top ten favorite reads* of 2019!

*they all didn't necessarily release in 2019, but I read them in 2019

10. Paths by Brynne Asher


Paths (The Killers, #2)

This series was a pleasant surprise for me in 2019. I started reading it with the intent to get to book 3 because it sounded like what I was in the mood for at the time, but I ended up really enjoying books 1 & 2 as well. Book 2 ended up being my favorite in the series (so far). I'm looking forward to picking up book 4 sometime this year!



9. Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd


Faking Under the Mistletoe

This was the last book I read before I started by (still ongoing) binge of Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarian series, and I'm so glad I snuck it in right before Christmas. It just made me so happy and it hit on a couple of my favorite tropes (fake relationships & grumpy hero) perfectly. A favorite I'm sure I'll be re-reading.



8. Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon


Barbarian's Mate (Ice Planet Barbarians, #6)

Speaking of Ice Planet Barbarians... Say hello to my biggest "why the f didn't I read this sooner???" of 2019. It's so good! I'm on book 10 right now and in love. My favorite in the series keeps shifting (maybe once I'm caught up I'll make a post all about that?), but of the ones I read in 2019, this was my fav. It's a perfect example of instalove done right. The growth as a couple? How close they got? How cute? Instant favorite. 



7. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia


Eliza and Her Monsters

This book is such a gem. It's poignant and I couldn't put it down, and it had some Fangirl vibes I very much appreciated. Eliza and Her Monsters is the book that most touched my heart in 2019, and I still think about "There are monsters in the sea" all. the. time.



6. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer


A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1)

I read this one earlier in the year, and I give it high regards as a book that stayed in my mind all year. When I tried to think of what might land on this list, A Curse was one that easily came to mind without having to look back at what else I gave 5 stars. It was an enchanting story that I purposely read slower so it wouldn't end quite so quickly--and then it was over and I was desperately awaiting the sequel. Now I have it, and it's definitely going to be one of my reads in the first half of 2020!



5. Quiet Man by Kristen Ashley


Quiet Man (Dream #0.5; Dream Man, #4.5)

We all know it's never a list of favorites from me if KA isn't on it somewhere. I read multiple books by KA in 2019, but I think this was my fav (not including any re-reads). I loved this intro to what will be her new series. Mo was quiet and sweet and just...everything. I'm such a fan and cannot wait to get my hands on the books for all his friends and enjoy this world and group even more. It's gonna be so good!



4. Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson


Every Other Weekend

Okay, so this released early this January and let me tell you--if you read YA, you *need* this book in your life. It's a raw story full of complex familial relationships & the most beautiful friends to more ship. I read it in one sitting way too late at night, but it was 100% worth it. HIGHLY recommend.



3. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin


Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)

Ah, and now we're getting into the books that broke my brain trying to rank them. Serpent & Dove was everything I want in a book and more. It had witches, a marriage of convenience, a virgin hero, well done enemies to lovers, a delicious slow burn that was life changing, and definitely more. It's an all-time favorite for me--I just love it soooo much.



2. Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1)

Like A Curse, this was one that I read early in 2019 and stayed on my radar all year. Now, this one did have a little leg up in the on-my-radar department because it's by JLA and we all know I love JLA and blah blah blah but this. freaking. book! An ARC showed up at my house on my birthday last year (coincidentally) and I peeked at a page out of curiosity--then I threw away any other reading plans I'd tried to make and binged Storm and Fury. It's the kind of book where when I finished it, I wanted to sit and re-read it right away. I was obsessed. And now that it's 2020, I'm BEYOND excited to get my hands on the sequel this year!!



1. Bound to the Battle God by Ruby Dixon


Bound To The Battle God

Do you ever read a book and as you're reading it you just KNOW this book is going to be a favorite forever and it'll never be your brain and now it's something you'll always love? That was this book. I remember I saw it around a lot when it released and people recommended it for people who enjoyed slow burns. So I picked it up like "huh, I remember people saying this author is good fingers crossed I like it." And I swear, after only a little bit of the beginning I became obsessed with this book. Like, it took over my life. Even now I check Ruby Dixon's website for news about a companion or sequel or something because I am so ridiculously in love with this book (fyi, Sworn to the Shadow God is slated for February but it's going to be a long one so it might be late). So. Ahem. Yeah. If you enjoy fantasy with grump heroes and safe, beautiful slow burns give this one a try. It's kind of good. :)



So those are my favorites of 2019! I realized after I started this post that I broke my personal rule of only one book per author on my favorites list (which is why there's only one KA & JLA)...but since it was Ruby Dixon and she is without a doubt my top new-to-me author of 2019, I'm going to let it slide. Ha.

If you want to see all of what I read in 2019, you can check out my Twitter thread where I shared my reads & short thoughts on them. 

You could also check out my Goodreads challenge, where all my 2019 reads are logged.


Have you read any of these? What were your favorites of 2019?


4 comments:

  1. You have a lot of great ones on your list.

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  2. The only one I've read on your list is Eliza and Her Monsters. I liked it!

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  3. The only one I've read so far off your list is Eliza and Her Monsters but I'll definitely read Storm and Fury soon.

    I can't remember all of my favorite reads last year, but I really liked Daisy Jones and the Six, Where the Crawdads Sing, and several YA books.

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  4. I haven't tried any on your list but they sound great. Some of my favorites were 1. Leopard's Wrath and
    2. Shadow Warrior by Christine Feehan 3. The One You Fight For by Roni Loren 4. Deliver and 5. Knotted by Pam Godwin (a new to me author). Lots of other good ones but these were standing out the most for me.

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