Tuesday, January 22, 2019

My Most Anticipated Books of 2019

2019 is looking pretty good so far with a long list of books to be looking forward to. Here are my top ten most anticipated books, with some of my favourite authors like Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare and Tahereh Mafi among them.

#10

Maybe This Time by Kasie West

One year. Nine events. Nine chances to . . . fall in love?

Weddings. Funerals. Barbecues. New Year's Eve parties. Name the occasion, and Sophie Evans will be there. Well, she has to be there. Sophie works for the local florist, so she can be found at every big event in her small hometown, arranging bouquets and managing family dramas.

Enter Andrew Hart. The son of the fancy new chef in town, Andrew is suddenly required to attend all the same events as Sophie. Entitled, arrogant, preppy Andrew. Sophie just wants to get her job done and finish up her sketches so she can apply to design school. But every time she turns around, there is Andrew, getting in her way and making her life more complicated. Until one day she wonders if maybe complicated isn't so bad after all . . .

Told over the course of one year and following Sophie from event to event, this delightful novel from master of romantic comedy Kasie West shows how love can blossom in unexpected places. 


#9

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett

Mystery-book aficionado Birdie Lindberg has an overactive imagination. Raised in isolation and homeschooled by strict grandparents, she’s cultivated a whimsical fantasy life in which she plays the heroic detective and every stranger is a suspect. But her solitary world expands when she takes a job the summer before college, working the graveyard shift at a historic Seattle hotel.

In her new job, Birdie hopes to blossom from introverted dreamer to brave pioneer, and gregarious Daniel Aoki volunteers to be her guide. The hotel’s charismatic young van driver shares the same nocturnal shift and patronizes the waterfront Moonlight Diner where she waits for the early morning ferry after work. Daniel also shares her appetite for intrigue, and he’s stumbled upon a real-life mystery: a famous reclusive writer—never before seen in public—might be secretly meeting someone at the hotel.

To uncover the writer’s puzzling identity, Birdie must come out of her shell…discovering that most confounding mystery of all may be her growing feelings for the elusive riddle that is Daniel.

#8

If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

High school senior Cameron Bright’s reputation can be summed up in one word: bitch. It’s no surprise she’s queen bee at her private L.A. high school—she’s beautiful, talented, and notorious for her cutting and brutal honesty. So when she puts her foot in her mouth in front of her crush, Andrew, she fears she may have lost him for good.

In an attempt to win him over, Cameron resolves to “tame” herself, much like Katherine in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. First, she’ll have to make amends with those she’s wronged, which leads her to Brendan, the guy she labelled with an unfortunate nickname back in the sixth grade. At first, Brendan isn’t all that receptive to Cameron’s ploy. But slowly, he warms up to her when they connect over the computer game he’s developing. Now if only Andrew would notice…

But the closer Cameron gets to Brendan, the more she sees he appreciates her personality—honesty and all—and wonders if she’s compromising who she is for the guy she doesn’t even want. 


#7

Untitled (The Shaw Confessions #3) by Michelle Hodkin 

 Who can resist Noah Shaw?













 


#6

Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves #2) by Mary E. Pearson

Kazi and Jase have survived, stronger and more in love than ever. Their new life now lies before them―the Ballengers will be outlaws no longer, Tor's Watch will be a kingdom, and the two of them will meet all challenges side by side, together at last.

But an ominous warning mars their journey back, and in their rush to return to Tor's Watch, just outside the fortress walls, they are violently attacked and torn apart―and each is thrust into their own new hell.

Unsure whether the other is alive or dead, Kazi and Jase must keep their wits among their greatest enemies and unlikeliest allies. And all the while, Death watches and waits.

 
#5 

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours #1) by Cassandra Clare

Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London... and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero... and falling in love.


#4

Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge. 

 
#3 

The World of Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass) by Sarah J. Maas

The official guide to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series complete with characters, creatures, new artwork, and more!

Everyone knows the story of the assassin queen. But now, fans of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series will be immersed in her journey like never before. From Adarlan’s dark past to Terrasen’s bright future, this comprehensive guide will bring the people, creatures, settings, magic, gods, and world of Aelin’s epic journey to life in stunning illustrations and descriptive portrayals. Complete with an expansive vocabulary and timeline of events, this is the must-have official companion to the Throne of Glass series.
 

#2

The Traitor's Kingdom (The Traitor's Circle #3) by Erin Beaty

Unlikely alliances are forged and trust is shattered in the stunning conclusion to The Traitor’s Trilogy.

A new queen under threat.
An ambassador with a desperate scheme.
Two kingdoms with everything to lose.

Once a spy and counselor to the throne, Sage Fowler has secured victory for her kingdom at a terrible cost. Now an ambassador representing Demora, Sage is about to face her greatest challenge to avoid a war with a rival kingdom.

After an assassination attempt destroys the chance for peace, Sage and her fiancé Major Alex Quinn risk a dangerous plot to reveal the culprit. But the stakes are higher than ever, and in the game of traitors, betrayal is the only certainty.


#1

Untitled Novella (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.2) by Sarah J. Maas

I wasn't the greatest fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses but from the second book on in this series I was simply sucked into the story, fell in love with the characters and can't wait to read the next book!









Monday, January 21, 2019

Books Read in 2018

Hi fellow bookworms! I still love books and am very passionate about reading. In the past year I just didn't find the time to sit down and concentrate on composing a new blog post. So I'm glad to change that now! Overall 2018 was a very challenging and emotional year and I am more than thankful for all the books that brought me joy. Here is the record of a fabulous reading year. Here are the 57 books of 50 books I challenged myself to read. Among them was the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas which I had been avoiding until 2018 and which just blew my mind! What an amazing universe! I'm hoping for more YA gems in 2019 and will be sharing my most anticipated books of this year as well as a few pictures of my trips to Japan and Scotland soon.

Happy New Year 2019!

 January


Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson 3/5 stars
First & Then by Emma Mills 4/5 stars 
Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West 5/5 stars JANUARY FAVOURITE


February


Turtles All the Way Down by John Green 4/5 stars
The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye 4/5 stars
Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins 4/5 stars
Love and Other Train Wrecks by Leah Konen 5/5 stars
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund 3/5 stars
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare 5/5 stars FEBRUARY FAVOURITE


March


Suspicion by Alexandra Monir 1/5 stars
Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi 5/5 stars MARCH FAVOURITE


April


May


Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett 4/5 stars MAY FAVOURITE
Der Fremde by Albert Camus
Der Fall Meursault - eine Gegendarstellung by Kamel Daoud
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken 3/5 stars 


June 
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From Notting Hill with Love... Actually by Ali McNamara 3/5 stars
Everless
by Sara Holland 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Heir of Fire
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Queen of Shadows
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Empire of Storms
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Tower of Dawn
by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars JUNE FAVOURITE
Hot Mess
by Lucy Vine 2/5 stars
Das Mädchen, das in der Metro las
by Christine Féret-Fleury
Listen to Your Heart
by Kasie West 4/5 stars


July


Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch 3,5/5 stars
Since You've Been Gone
by Morgan Matson 5/5 stars
The Final Six
by Alexandra Monir 4/5 stars
This Adventure Ends
by Emma Mills 5/5 stars
All the Bright Places
by Jennifer Niven 5/5 stars
Fixing Delilah
by Sarah Ockler 4/5 stars
Replica
by Lauren Oliver 5/5 stars JULY FAVOURITE
Bittersweet
by Sarah Ockler 4/5 stars
Let Me List the Ways
by Sarah White 3/5 stars
Ringer
by Lauren Oliver 4/5 stars


August


The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James 4/5 stars
Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West 4/5 stars
Save the Date by Morgan Matson 4/5 stars
The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby 5/5 stars AUGUST FAVOURITE
One in a Million by Lindsey Kelk 4,5/5 stars


September


Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson 4/5 stars
The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty 5/5 stars SEPTEMBER FAVOURITE


October


The Heir by Kiera Cass 3/5 stars
The Crown by Kiera Cass 3/5 stars
The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty 5/5 stars OCTOBER FAVOURITE


November


Evermore by Sara Holland 3/5 stars
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars NOVEMBER FAVOURITE
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 3/5 stars
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars NOVEMBER FAVOURITE
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas 5/5 stars NOVEMBER FAVOURITE
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas 4/5 stars
The Reckoning of Noah Shaw by Michelle Hodkin 4/5 stars

December
 

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard 3/5 stars
Snow in Love by Melissa de la Cruz,Nic Stone, Aimee Friedman, Kasie West 4/5 stars
The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman 2/5 stars
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson 5/5 stars DECEMBER FAVOURITE