My nerdy little heart is so pleased right now because…it’s time to recap the BEST OF 2018!
I love doing these end-of-year posts. The pie charts! The stats! Lines of pretty covers so I can enthusiastically rant about their goodness!! One of my favourite parts of reading is also making lists of books…so in this post, I am THRIVING.
It’s been both a brilliant and terrifying year for me…because I mean, HI, my debut novel was published with Hachette UK. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it??? I am a pUBLISHED AUTHOR. A lot of people asked me how it felt to “turn from blogger to author!” but in truth it was the other way around: I started blogging while waiting to be published. I do want to do a whole post on how my writing has changed this year…but right now…
I just want to thank you all a monumental amount for supporting A Thousand Perfect Notes!
It’s available on Amazon, Book Depository, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble…and in bookstores! (Asking your library to get it in too is awesome. Do that. I love you.) It’s also coming out in Polish, Slovak, Czech, and Romanian sometime next year! Flaaaaail. It’s still this incredible jolt seeing and hearing of someone reading it. My book!!! MY BOOK !!!!! And next year in April you get The Boy Who Steals Houses from me too.
While this year has been good and epic…it’s also been tough. My mental health has been pretty much the worse it’s ever been. So despite the awesomeness of a book out in the world, Life Things™ have eaten me up and spat me back out like a mangled refried goat. Depression has been really much this year…sigh. And I’ve definitely been quieter in the blogging community unfortunately.
But hey! This year has still been full of good books and I’ve made lovely new friends and I have more bookshelves than common sense in my room.
Which is not hard. I have very little common sense.
anyway on with the recap! My 2017, 2016 and 2015 recaps are all here!
Also this post is LONG…but it makes me happy to look back each year so afjkdslad excuse me.
I appreciate how every year Goodreads thinks I’m good at more than just reading, but c’mon Goodreads. Lower your standards of me.
I also read the least amount of books I’ve read in, um, like 3 years. I KNOW IT’S SILLY TO BE SAD ABOUT THIS. But I aaaaam. But I did choose my reads more carefully and therefore read more enjoyable books this year! (I also spent like the first 6 months of 2018 rewriting a book ARGH again and again. So I didn’t have time to read as much as I usually do.)
STAR RATINGS
Honestly it’s been a weird star rating year for me??? Most of my 5-stars were REreads and my “best of the year” goodreads shelf had half the books of last year. This, um, worries me.
I picked up a lot of Good Books, Brent. But not extraordinary books. (And I have no idea if this is the books’ faults or mine, since I’ve had a rough mental health year??? Gah.)
GENRES READ?
It was the YEAR OF THE CONTEMPORARY! Which actually is also because I’ve tumbled into the author world as a contemporary monster master so I need to read plenty.
I’ve smoothed all the “fantasy” sub-genres into one — but I read very little epic fantasy this year. MY BRAIN WAS TOO TIRED.
YEAR PUBLISHED + CATEGORY READ
Surprise surprise, I am a fiend of the new and shiny young adult books.
At some point I may eat more adult books per year? I won’t go wild though. I don’t want indigestion.
And I’ve actually read a fair amount of 2019 books already??? WHO AM I. THIS ORGANISED MONGOOSE.
AUTHOR & CHARACTERS GENDER
I read mostly YA and it definitely continues to be run by smart women which I am very much here for.
Although tbh, I do like reading boy narrators. It’d be nice to have some more??? And we continue to need more enby rep (but I’m excited for a few coming out in 2019!)
HOW BIG WERE THE BOOKS I READ?
I continue to be successfully tERRIFIED of large books. Around 300 pages is my favourite — not too long and not too short. But I literally read a whopping four books that were over 600 pages lmao.
They scare me ok. I am the delicate spin cycle on the washing machine.
WHAT FORMAT DID I READ THE MOST OF?
I wholly admit I still love physical books > ebooks. But this is also because I read on a tiny iPod screen aaaand THIS YEAR I finally splurged and bought myself a kindle! So hopefully my ebook consumption will go up (because lol lol I have so many eARCs I keep, um…not reading).
WHERE DID THE BOOKS COME FROM?
That moment when AMERICA DEFINITELY RULES THE BOOK PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. You couldn’t tell I’m Australian from looking at that country chart on the left AJFSHOhsghslHSG.
As for book sources ➸ you can definitely see the the majority of my books are GIVEN or BORROWED. Huge reminder you don’t have to have a huge book buying budget to be a blogger!!
DIVERSITY STATS
I still read nearly 50 books that had NO diversity in them…and, mate. This needs to be improved.
Also it still pains me a lot how often disability gets left out of the diversity conversation. This isn’t just happening in publishing — the book community barely looks beyond sexuality and race. And I DO NOT want to put those down at all. But we need way way more disability and mental health rep. We need to talk about it.
Still there are so so many important and amazing diverse books out there and I’m SO GLAD I got to read so many of them!
I’ve read 207 books so it IS HARD to try and mention everything good! I’ll do my best. ALL THE RECS.
ALL COVERS LINK TO GOODREADS
Ace Of Shades ➸ magnificent con artists and badass girl gangs and soft boys omg
The Cruel Prince ➸ mURDER FEY, honestly Holly Black can do no wrong
The King’s Men ➸ ridiculously addictive, sport…and then the MAFIA. Neil/Andrew tho. Seriously how is anyone even aLIVE after all the stupid things these boys do. I don’t even LIKE SPORT AND I LOVE THIS.
Muse Of Nightmares ➸ aka a literally DESSERT. it’s so delicious and clever and the character arcs are a+
The Wicker King ➸ one of my top 5 books of EVER. I CAN’T SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS…mental illness, neglected tragic boys, everyone is queer, unique formatting that makes the book a visual feast as well aHHHHHHHHHH
Iron Gold ➸ ruined the first trilogy for me…no joke I wish I hadn’t read it ahgosrhggh
Ship It ➸ everyone is awful and so much fetishing of m/m that’s not called out…um…
A Semi-Definitive List of Worse Nightmares ➸ problematic af, mocks mental illness and makes suicide jokes.
Miles Away From You ➸ again…so problematic to trans people not to mention the protagonist is entitled and disgusting
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing ➸ lmao i just had NO idea what was going on and April May was nasty??
Bright We Burn (#3) ➸ tHIS WAS PERFECT. Radu!! Best arc. And Lada jafkdlsa stabby monster but I still love her
Obsidio (#3) ➸ again, brilliant ending. THE PARACHUTE OK. And Nik/Hanna remain my favourite. Total 5-star trilogy!
Legendary (#2) ➸ loved it waaaay better than Caraval and the villains are lovely…I mean, um, bad (SHH LOVELY)
Smoke and Iron (#4) ➸ ending better have been a typo [SOBBING] but so good! I’m so (not) ready for the finale next year.
The Ask And the Answer (#2) ➸ this trilogy is gOLD and brutal and such a journey. I ache for Todd in this one so much. I only finished the trilogy for the first time this year and my opinion, entirely, is yes.
Keeper Of The Bees (#2) ➸ ok I absolutely am in love with this one and I did not expect it??? but tragic unwilling antiheroes and mental illness books are my FAVOURITES so !!
Pacifica ➸ I hadn’t loved the author’s previous books but tRASH PIRATE SAND FRIENDSHIPS. Pure gold
Anger Is A Gift ➸ omg this was brutal and powerful and super queer and super here to make you cry
The Foxhole Court ➸ again, dude, did not even expect to like this lmao and now I’m wholly addicted
Bring Me Their Hearts ➸ this was witchy and sassy and just a good ol’ fantasy romp!
An Enchantment Of Ravens ➸ ok I only saw negative reviews but I LOVE fey books so…I tried it. And it’s AMAZING. Magical and a little dark. Artists! Swords! A completely endearing stupid immortal prince! And Isobel’s sass gives me life. SO excited for her next book Sorcery of Thorns this year!
Boomerang ➸ am utterly crYInG. This one will break you. I immediately bought the author’s toher book, These Gentle Wounds, and will read everything by here tbh.
Sadie ➸ this was my first Courtney Summers book?? I MUST READ EVERYTHING BY HER OMG SHE IS BRILLIANT.
Fawkes ➸ I will sell my right eyeball for more historical retellings so YES to this one! Also the author is lovely adfjskald and so kind to me in my debut year!!
The Wicker King ➸ shh gonna squeeze this one again because WILL DO ANYTHING FOR K. ANCRUM AND HER BOOKS.
Maggie Stiefvater ➸ 6 (The Raven Boys, Blue Lily Lily Blue, Opal, Ballad, Lament, and Shiver)
Lemony Snicket ➸ 5 (books 5 – 9 in A Series of Unfortunate Events)
Patrick Ness ➸ 7 (Chaos Walking trilogy, Snowscape, A Monster Calls, Release, And The Ocean Was Our Sky)
Tahereh Mafi ➸ 5 (Shatter Me, Unravel Me, Destroy Me, Furthermore, Whichwood)
Lots of rereads here and I am pLEASED.
The Falconer (2014) ➸ I’d always vaguely known of this one but I finally read it and WOW AM I IN LOVE. Scottish fairies and stabby heroines. This is my language yes please and thank you.
The Iron King (2010) ➸ And I’d meant to read this one for YEARS and finally!! I did!! And it’s totally cliche and a bit trashy (the heroine is the last interesting part ha ha, um, oops) but it was so much fun. Again with the stabby fairy courts!!
Every Last Word (2016) ➸ this has brilliant OCD/anxiety rep and ajfdksla I just did not expect to fall so hard for it.
Carry The Ocean (2015) ➸ aww this was so wholesome and uplifting while also being really dark at times about mental illness. PERFECT social anxiety + autism rep!
Complicit (2015) ➸ Stephanie Kuehn books are SO messed up…but yet. I love them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Cruel Prince ➸ Holly Black is a FAVOURITE and she did not disappoint with this backstabby masterpiece.
Ace of Shades ➸ I loved Amanda Foody’s Daughter of The Burning City last year!!
I Was Born For This ➸ ALICE OSEMAN IS PRECIOUS AND CAN DO NO WRONG.
The Trials of Apollo ➸ I am so so traumatised. I come to Rick Riordan books to have a good time jafkdsl what was this (LOVED IT THOUGH…also love that I never grow out of the Percy Jackson world!)
Summer Of Salt ➸ I have yet to meet a Katrina Leno book I didn’t like!
The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats and Piracy ➸ not as good as Monty’s (shh sorry) but still epic girl gang and I LOVED it. I adore Mackenzie Lee’s style.
Ok yes I reread a LOT this year. And I’m super happy with this! Sure it means I didn’t read as many new books as I, um…needed to. But good books should be read often! I refuse to feel guilty for rereading now. Also a ton of these are audiobooks which is my most very favourite way to reread. (What If It’s Us and The Wicker King got reread 2 x this year lmao I am unstoppable.)
Least to say these are all BRILLIANT and 4 or 5 stars!
I just…read a lot of contemporaries ok. These are my standouts and I thoroughly recommend them all. Also how incredible are all the diverse contemporaries YA has these days??? RULING THE WORLD.
To be truthfully, I didn’t read as much fantasy this year (my brain has been tired gah) but these were pure marvels and delights.
I’m particularly DEAD about Queen of Air and Darkness…but in my defence, (a) firstly it took forever to arrive, and then (b) I’m still rereading Lord of Shadows, and lastly (c) it’S A SHEER BRICK SO I’M BUILDING UP COURAGE. I’m so so stressed over it afjsdklafd it is my favourite series. DID I MENTION AM THE STRESSED.
And see the sheer amount of epic fantasies I’ve avoided? TIRED BRAIN. I’m hoping next year is better.
WE ARE GETTING 3 CASSANDRA CLARE BOOKS NEXT YEAR. IT IS THE YEAR OF LIFE. I AM SO EXCITED.
…and of course there’s a very very special book called THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES (long extended scream) coming from yours truly in April 2019. I’m SOBBING. I CAN’T BELIEVE I WILL HAVE TWO BOOKS OUT. This story means so much to me and I can’t wait to break you all again.
I won’t pretend to know when the cover reveal is anymore lmao but…January maybe!!
ok WOW this was a mammoth post and cake for you for surviving (if you did…i am bold to assume)
I really hope your mental health improves in 2019, you deserve all the cake and happiness!! And I’m SOOO excited about The Boy Who Steals Houses EEK! It seems so far away but it’s also very close and i can’t wait to obsess over it dfhgjdjfhgd. and I NEEd to read Bridge of Clay too, i got an e-galley and then never read it…i am with you there on procrastinating ebooks. AND CONGRATS ON GETTING YOURSELF A KINDLE, I am very proud of you for converting to the darkside!! and I’m SO jealous you’ve read muse of nightmares because I REALLY WANT TO READ It but I’m too broke to get it so i’ll have to check my library now but I don’t know if they have it and *melts into slobbering mess* It’s FiNE.
Thank you Ilsa *squishes you* 😭💛💛I’m definitely hoping for a better 2019 too and afjdkslad I’m fREAKING OUT (mostly in a good way though haha) about TBWSH. I can’t wait for everyone to read it!!
And I’m kind of relieved I’m not the only one who procrastinated Bridge of Clay. looool. sob. It’s so long too?! I know it was like the most “highly anticipated book” of ever or something and is a bestseller, but I’ve legit seen no one talking about it in the blogosphere?? I have questions. 😂
YES THE DARK SIDE HERE I COME. Actually legit the dark side, because I managed to buy one with no back light and I’m freaking annoyed. Sigh.😂
I hope you get Muse soon too!!
I LOVE YOUR YEAR-END POSTS AND YOUR GRAPHS I’M SOBBING. And Cait 200 books read = MORE THAN FINE. You’re already an immortal legend for juggling your blogger, reader, bookstagrammer, and author statuses. You’re the one I aspire to be in life tbh.
This year I’ve read… *checks goodreads* okay my goodreads app won’t load but I’m sure I’ve read more than 85 books this year. I seriously don’t know if I’ve reached 90 already but either way, I’m proud of myself for reading 80+ books. This has been a year for reading backlist titles because I seriously couldn’t relate to most of the hyped books when people talk about them so it’s a relief THAT NOW I FINALLY CAN.
It’s sad that I hardly read books by Asian authors this year but that’s going to be my primary goal for 2019. So far, Asian-inspired books are filling my TBR.
I ALSO CAN’T WAIT FOR THE COVER REVEAL OF TBWSH (I’ve already asked you a hundred times for it sorry) SO I KNOW JANUARY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT MONTH (book wise of course. January is the month of my first semester finals so I’m not excited for that).
Congratulations for all your achievements this year Cait! I hope you’re going to have a great 2019 too 😊
I knooooow! I feel SO bad for whining…I mean I sound really awful saying I’m SAD I only read 200 😫and I have to remember quality > quantity anyway. aFjdskald. But you’re too sweet and I would give you aLL THE DRAGON CAKES. And hey you’ve balanced blogging and reading and sCHOOL and that’s a heavy workload!! I’m so proud of you too *squishes you*
I’m really excited at the amount of Asian fantasy books that are filling my TBR for next year *flails*
And I can’t wait to see the final TBWSH cover too omg. I feel like I’ve been promising it since october. 😂I know nothing.
Way to go, Cait! I’m sorry you’ve had a hard year when it comes to mental health, though, and I really hope 2019 will be much better for you!
I actually listened to you and some other bloggers and didn’t read Iron Gold. So, the trilogy is still strong in my mind 🙂
I loved many of the same contemporary novels as you, Leah on the Offbeat was great, and I also enjoyed Tyler Johnson Was here, and adored What If It’s Us!
I’m a little surprised you didn’t read A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi – it was so good, and I really think you’d enjoy it as well.
Here’s to a fantastic 2019, I look forward to reading YOUR book again 🙂
Thanks, Lexxie!! You are so kind 💛💛 and I am definitely hoping to do better in 2019 eep. Also I’m kind of glad I wasn’t alone with the Iron Gold opinion lmao, because mostly I only see people raving about it and I’m like: did we read the same book. 😂
What If It’s Us is SO CUTE. I love some Albertalli fluff! (And actually I’m about to start AVLEOS by Tahereh Mafi! I’m a bit slow for it ahha.)
I love these posts with charts and favourite books SO MUCH I feel like I need to keep lists for the next year so that I can do something like that too haha my nerd brain is so in love with this.
I’m a bit sad because a bunch of my favourite books of the year (like An Absolutely Remarkable Thing or Leah on the offbeat) were… not liked by a bunch of awesome bloggers but I did and just ahhhh sometimes I do wish we all had more similar tastes.
But I’m so glad you read so much amazing contemporary because I LOVE that genre and I want to read even more in it so obviously recommendations are great for me.
Anyway, thanks for always inspiring people to read more diversely and for always recommending amazing books! I hope the end of the year is good to you <3
I’m so glad you like them, THANK YOU, TAMI!! I know it was pretty long ahh 😂 I did like Leah on the Offbeat a lot but sadly I’m on the anti-side with An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. I’m sorrrry. I mean it is good that we all have different tastes and loves, but I always miss flailing over favourite books if I’m in a minority opinion about them too. *sends you cake*
I’ve read 34 books as of today, but it will be 35 by the end of the year. I was hoping for more but given how stressful Uni was this year, I’m honestly just pleased that I will have met my Goodreads Challenge! Top 5, ahhh that’s so hard, I have a top 12 rather than a top ten this year, I’ll give it a go though:
1. Firestarter-Tara Sim-My fave book of the year even though it’s not out till 2019! It makes me so sad that more people don’t flail over the Timekeeper books because they’re so good!
2. Children of Blood and Bone-Tomintoul Adeyemi-AGHHH! Such a refreshing epic fantasy to read, I’m so excited for the second one!
3. Legendary-Stephanie Garber-So good! Even better than Caraval, the pretty dresses, the villains, I am in love!
4. Vicious-VE Schwab-What can I say? Schwab is Queen.
5. Fawkes-Nadine Brandes-Magic + history=this book was made for me!
My biggest disappointments of the year were probably The Burning Maze, Hero At The Fall and Sea Witch, I had high expectations for all three and they did not meet them, sadly.
Congrats on all you’ve achieved this year Cait!
I love these book recommendations! And 207 books in a year!!! What?!? I know you said it was the least you’ve read but that’s super impressive! I hope 2019 is a better year for your mental health, but let goodreads compliment you because you published a book and that’s amazing!!!! All the exclamation marks! Also, your posts make me smile. Also, also, GO AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS!!!
I’m glad you liked An Enchantment of Ravens because I thought it was soooo gooood but had only read negative things about it and was confused. I need to read Godsgrave too, which I feel bad about because I got it signed (sorryauthoriwillreaditdon’taskmeanyquestionsaboutwhathappenedwhileyousignitiloveyou). Some of the books you recommended are now on my to-be-read list for next year and I’m looking forward to getting stuck inside them 🙂
Hey, since you have donned yourself the Master of Contemporary™️, this might be a good time to ask you if you have any good recommendations for those those of us who don’t usually read contemporary? Because I have a book idea that only works within a contemporary setting (the main character has a chronic illness so you can see how that setting only really works for this book), but I’m not a big fan of the genre (the last contemporary book I read was The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs and that wasn’t even contemporary), so….any recs so I can get a feel for the genre?
Well…yes! I mean I recommend all the contemporaries I listed on this post. 😂
Alright, thank you.
Ahhhh there were so many beautiful books this year! And also I was actually caught up on some new releases this year which never happens? Normally I am 100% in the backlog trying to read old hyped books lol.
My top five from this year: OH ITS SO HARD but I read the Raven Cycle and All the Crooked Saints this year and MY WORD they were both incredible. I know now why you shriek. I join you in shrieking. XD I may have liked AtCS a wee bit more? But Stiefvater is a queen and I adore her and I needeth the Ronan trilogy please and thank you.
I also really really enjoyed a lot of indie books this year (a lot of my friends are authors, what can I say) and I bought SO MANY books this year lol. The unfortunate thing is that I had money because I had a job…but then I had a job so I had no time and therefore was unable to read a lot of them. My heart is sad. 🙁 but hey, I don’t have a job anymore for a little while so BRING ON ALL THE BOOKS
This was actually a really good year for me in terms of reading good books? Like I found a TON of amazing ness and gave really good ratings and learned to reserve my five-stars and it was amazing.
(Sadie and The Cruel Prince we’re both SO GOOD and made me shriek though, and I just finished Strange the Dreamer and will be getting Muse of Nightmares from the library next time I go because I NEEDETH.)
This was an awesome wrap up post! I really hope your mental health improves, and gosh I can’t wait for the BwSH. It’s going to be amazing, I just know it. Apologies for the monster comment too 😂
I’M SO GLAD THE RAVEN CYCLE IS ON YOUR LOVED LIST WOOOOO!! Seriously some of my favourite books of all time and ever. So I’m glad you love them too. The Ronan books can’t come soon enough adfsjakld. I hope we get a release date this year!?
and that is the tragicness of adulthood I guess…one needs money to read, but earning money means less time to read. We need a TIME TURNER *wails* Still, I’m glad you have tons of author friends! You are so kind to support everyone! And omg The Cruel Prince though right…!! I just started my reread jfadksalfd.
Some of my favorite books of 2018 (in no particular order)-
1. The Hate U give
2. A song of ice and fire
3. Shatter me series
4. A queen of air and darkness
5. Paperweight
6. My heart and other black holes
7. Every last word
8. Letters to the lost
9. A thousand perfect notes
10. Leah on the offbeat
11. To all the boys I’ve loved before
12. Dumplin
13. A very large expanse of sea
14. A reaper at the gates
15. the summer of Jordi Perez
16. revoultion
17. crazy rich asians trilogy
18. falling into place
19. the thirteenth tale
20. from twinkle with love
x
Aw this list is EPIC and I’m so glad you had so so many epic reads this year! I’m flailing that you mentioned Letters To The Lost because I LOVE that book and need more people to talk about it. And I just finished A Very Large Expanse of Sea and jafkdlsad AMAZING.
also thank you so so much for reading ATPN. 💛💛💛I’M SO HONOURED
I really loved Grim Lovelies this year – it was a surprise new to me author and I;m looking forward to Midnight Beauties next year. Also, Holly Black and Maggie Stiefvater are ah-mazing.
I am in full agreement here! I also want to read more Megan Shepherd books now! Grim Lovelies was just that good!
Yes to allllll the Megan Shepherd books!!
I’ve read more books this year than ever before, and I read so many different kinds of books!! I’m a little proud of me. 😊 I’ve read 120 books this year, and probably almost 150 including re reads!! So 2018 has been an amazing reading year for me!!
All of the amazing books you mentioned here make me so happy, btw!! And I love seeing the stats and pie charts for everything you’ve read! Seeing the diversity in YA makes me smile and I’m so glad I have this blog for all the fabulous recommendations. Thanks so much for blogging, Cait!!!
My top 5 reads of the year were:
• Caraval & Legendary
• A Monster Calls
• Code Name Verity & Rose Under Fire
• The Book Thief
And • Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom
(I definitely cheated on that list but whatever 🤷♀️🤷♀️😂)
ahhh congrats on reading so many epic books to you too! 120 IS AMAZING and rereads are so good right?! I count them as solid reads because rereads deserve all the love and recognition *nods* Also it is good to see diversity rising up, right?! I’m glad it’s here to stay.
Also omg Code Name Verity *sobs* I read that years ago but WILL NEVER FORGET.
Lovely post, Cait. Loved all your graphs and I might steal the idea 😛 I am sorry about your mental health. I really hope 2019 is better for you in every possible way 🙂
I don’t know how do you even read 200 books in a year and that too with so many re-reads. I can’t re-read so it makes me really happy that you take time to go back to your favourites.
There are so many books on your list that I wanted to read in 2018 but off course didn’t, including your book 🙁 I am really sorry, but promise I am going to read it soon.
To Kill A Kingdom is my favourite of the year and I am glad that you loved it too.
I can’t wait for the cover reveal of The Boy Who Steals Houses and off course can’t wait to read it. I wish you all the best for the new year 🙂
Aww SIM THANK YOU!! It’s so weird to admit it was a hard year for me, when all this good stuff happened too?! I’m terrified of seeming whiny haha. But yeah I hope I cope better for 2019 and gets lots done *flails* and aw no no don’t be sorry for not reading my book! I’m honoured it’s even on your list. But no pressure. Truly. 😉
To Kill A Kingdom was some SASSY GOODNESS. Ahhh loved it!!
I love this post because I love stats, hahaha! Makes me want to do it. And 200 books is a lot. I struggled to read my 60+ books this year. But I read a lot more non-fiction, I think. I also loved pretty much every book I read. I can’t wait for your new book! As for diversity, I love when it’s done well and actually adds to the story instead of feelings pushed for the sake of being diverse. I feel my writing will be diverse as it’s going to show how homeschooled/ large families/ conservatives ACTUALLY think and live. It really bugs me the way most contemporary portray those things. Also, I’ll have unique takes on relationships and depression and identity. Happy 2019 and I hope you feel less stress this next year!
keturahskorner.blogspot.com
YESSS I WANNA READ YOUR BOOK WHEN YOU’RE DONE!!!
Aw thank you!! 200 is a lot haha so I shouldn’t be worried that it’s less than the other years.😂 And I’m SO glad you had a good reading year and loved everything you read! I imagine nonfic takes longer to get thru too, than fiction, maybe? I always slow down for things that aren’t in story format haha.
And oh that’s awesome you’re writing about big families too!! My second book has big families in it and I AM EXCITED. I don’t consider it diverse though.😂
Nonfic does take longer, so that’s why I read fiction at the same time lol 😉 It takes more processing ;D
Yeah, I get it’s not “politically diverse” but it’s still not the norm ;p I guess, I’m not for diverse and neither am I anti-diverse. I like a story that good but structurally and morally. I know not everyone’s for the moral aspect, but to me that’s more important than being diverse. I don’t mind if the theme/plot characters is common, if it’s a good, well-rounded story I like it. But then some diverse things do attract me for being diverse, such as Stephanie Morrill’s new book, Within These Lines. That’s an amazing book.
Eee, well, it’s kind of an issue to be anti-diverse, so I’m glad you’re not. But supporting marginalised people and voices and creating a world where people of different race, sexuality, neurodiversity, and disability all have equal voices and aren’t oppressed or dismissed is VERY important and I’m extremely passionate about it.
This was such a fascinating read and I loved the pie charts. And congrats on the second book! I am definitely adding both to my TBR. B x
http://www.babblesnbooks.wordpress.com
Aww thank you! It’s so exciting and surreal knowing I’ll have another book out in a few short months eeep!!
THIS IS BASICALLY A ‘I FOUND NEW BOOKS TO READ’ POST!
Alright now I just have to go to the libraryyyyyy. Yay. I have to leave my house to do that
Aww YESSSS! I am so glad you like my recs! LIBRARY LIFE FTW.
Congratulations on reading so many books! And on publishing a book! I need to read Bridge of Clay, too. I preordered it, but it came late (because that always happens to me), and then I didn’t get a chance to read it. I hope we both like it. I need to get back to reading YA. I haven’t read most of your favorites. That’s a goal for next year, I guess.
Aww thank you, Aj! And I hope we both survive the brick that is Bridge of Clay too 😂 YA books are getting hefty these days…weapons of choice for the apocalypse. :’)
I could not be more impressed by your 2018. And you were playing hurt. Cheers to a brighter 2019, though you are shining magnificently already. Congratulation on your amazing success! I have never been so inspired by pie charts.
Aw thank you! that’s really kind of you to say! and pie charts are just giving me LIFE over here. Also pie is good…I need pie.😂
omg yes Queen of Air and Darkness is such a brick!! I’m a little over 200 pages in and it looks like I’ve made legit no progress. My brain is also super tired. I read a lot more adult romances this year and like…am I even a YA blog anymore?? I’m low key having an identity crisis, lmao. Also, 207 books is super impressive! Even if it’s the lowest in a couple years, imagine how many times you’ve read A Thousand Perfect Notes w all the rewriting, drafting, etc!! It’s super impressive you read over 200 books, got a book published, and consistently blogged! What are your tricks?? Teach me, sensei! I’ve owned The Iron King for SO long now. I actually own the whole series, and yet I’ve never picked them up. I’m determined to at least start it before the spring though! That, or I’m going to unhaul them, which I’d rather not do.
I hope you have a wonderful last days of the year and 2019! Sending you hugs!
Identity blogging crises are hard!! But I think if our blogs grow and change with us, that’s only a good thing right?!
And omg YES I admit to having read ATPN a ridiculous amount of times too this year…like it gets to the point where I never want to open it again. 😂 I also did massive rewrites and tons of edits on my next book *collapses* It’s amazing how much time (and energy) that takes?😂
Aw I hope you read the Iron Fey series too someday soon. THEY ARE GOOD. Totally fun!
Aaaaah I’m so happy you finally read The Iron King!!! To be honest though, as someone who thrives within the backlist books, a lot of them can be predictable. We shouldn’t be holding backlist titles to this years standards in my opinion, which I think a lot of people do by mistake. STILL YOUR SECOND BOOK IS OUT NEXT YEAR OMG CAIT I KNEW 2019 WAS GONNA BE AN EPIC YEAR!
I haven’t read Queen of Air and Darkness yet either….it truly is a brick and just looking at it, makes me stressed. I still want to reread the rest of the books in the Shadowhunter world first….and review them *laughs sheepishly* but I’ve been in a reading slump since August and I’ve still read books, but it meant I found it harder to just pick up a book and read *sobs*
I’ve read 41 books this year…not bad I mean its not my lowest record ever but last year was my highest. Then again I’d only been blogging 4/5 months last year haha. I think my Top 5 books would have to be a reread of Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill (I’m dying to finish rereading the longgggg series to read the spin off book eeeep),It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne erm *flails* my minds blanked so we’ll go with three and have It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover as the other one. Honestly, this year has been a year of contemporaries for me too hahaha.
Now can we please flail over CHAIN OF GOLDS COVER CAUSE OMG I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE IT WAS FIRST ADDED ON GOODREADS SO A GOOD 2+ YEARS
THE COVER IS GORGEOUS AND I WILL PROBABLY BE IN PIECES WHEN READING IT THANKS TO QOAAD *rolls around in panic* lets be real here, it’s hard to find any other book/series where the characters stress you out so much, you think you’re turning grey *stares at Jules and Emma*
I think I agree with you there 😂 I mean it’s easy to say a backlist book is “cliche” but…10 years ago it wasn’t so cliche?! I try to remember that. And I just really enjoyed a good ol’ fantasy romp with Iron Fey. I’m really excited to finish the series this year eep. And I’m JUST ABOUT TO START QOAAD and only hyperventilating a little in terror.😂 ANd omg holy wow the Chain of Gold cover right!????? IT’S FREAKING DIVINE.
Oh I just got It Only Happens In The Movies from the library so this is epic to hear you loved it so much. And contemporary is a fabulous genre. *hi fives for our good tastes*
I have so far read 80 books this year (THE YEAR ISN’T OVER! I MIGHT REACH EIGHTY ONE!) Which is more than twice as many as last year (39) and I’m pretty happy, I’m hoping to read more next year but it looks like 2019 will be super busy for me.
My top five books are probably
-Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
-Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
-Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
-The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee (which autocorrected to F.C. Yes and I 27978% agree)
-Skyward by Brandon Sanderson or Wildcard by Marie Lu, I can’t decide
Some books that disappointed me the most (traitors)
-Batman Nightwalker by Marie Lu, I trusted her, she was supposed to do no wrong!decide
-Renegades by Marissa Meyer, how does one ruin a premise that’s so me by the author of The Lunar Chronicles????
-books 2-3 of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, I’m not sure about most of those twists
-One of Us is Lying by What’s Her Face, wow never dnf’d a book after only one chapter and never been so disgusted by a plot twist (suicide is not a good twist for your murder mystery) also an the only one who guessed the “murderer” before it even happened???
-Allegiant by Veronica Roth, we don’t talk about this one 😒
Ahh congrats on the 80!! And maybe 81!😂I did sort of post my recap a little early haha and I ended up reading a few more *facepalm* But omg I am SO pleased that Starfish and SoC made it onto your list. They’re absolutely brilliant. Goals to write like that.
And ugh yeah I was disappointed with Batman too. I mean it wasn’t even BATMAN!? It was honourable Baby Bruce Wayne and he was so boring.😂 I’m also with you on Renegades haha.
I read around 100 books, which was good considering how I was in grad school for half of it then back teaching full time the second half. The Cruel Prince was one of my favorite reads. (I have The Wicked King release day marked in my planner!) Some of the books you plan to read in 2019 (both 2018 releases and new-in-2019 releases) are on my TBR as well.
That is incredible!! I can’t even imagine trying to balance ANY reading along with grad school so *sends you all the celebration cake* I freaking adored The Cruel Prince and am about to start rereading because I can’t WAIT for The Wicked King!!!
It involved a lot of prioritizing. Sometimes books have to take precedent, and they kept me sane 🙂
Same here! I’ll be rereading TCP as the TWK release date nears. (CANNOT BELIEVE IT’S ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY!!)
Ahh I love this post so much and these pie charts and the patience to do all of that, I admire that SO much.
I’m glad I’m not the only one terrified of big books! I also think that around 300 pages is the best, it feels long, but not too long either. I’m terrified to pick up long books haha.
I need to read The Wicker King next year, NEED TO. I will, I hope so haha.
I’m sorry you were disappointed by Hank Green’s debut though, I personally loved it but I get where you come from, April wasn’t the nicest person ever haha.
AND AGREE ALICE OSEMAN IS PRECIOUS AND DOES NO WRONG, I love all of her books SO much.
I hope 2019 will be filled with incredible reads! <3
I’m so glad I’m not alone in my terror of big books 😂 *hi fives* I mean sometimes they ARE good, but also I could read two contemporaries in that time and feel much more chill lmao. (But this year I won’t procrastinate so many big books!!) And omg I hope you read The Wicker King! It’s becoming my goal to get everyone to read it.😂
I think I just personally didn’t mesh with Hank’s book.😂It went over my head! So that’s on me, lmao.😂
OMG ALICE IS PERFECT AND SO SO PURE. PROTEC ALICE OSEMAN BOOKS AT ALL COSTS.
Ahh I love all your fancy charts! It’s so interesting to look back at a year’s worth of reading and see what kind of trends or patterns appear. I’m so hyped to see Heretics Anonymous on your list of contemporary faves because that book is SO GOOD and no one talks about it!! Sky in the Deep was also one of my favorite books of the year, I hope you enjoy it if you get to it in 2019! 🖤
Omg yes I loved Heretics Anonymous SO SO MUCH. Why is it so underrated?! It was funny and very thoughtful. 😍 And I will definitely read Sky In the Deep soon…kind of hoping to start it in January! I’ve put it off too long haha.
At risk of sounding like a person that lists “Microsoft Excel” as a hobby, you had me at “pie charts.” I love looking at people’s yearly (and monthly for that matter) wrap-ups, and the charts make it even better. (I’m fun. I’m a very fun person. Ask anyone.)
I made it to my goodreads goal this year, which was half of yours! (200 books is… super impressive!) I feel like you’ve got a lot of books on your lists this year that are still on my TBR… This year was a year of rereads for me too. I think I reread more books than gone through new reads this year, which might be a bad thing?
Congrats on the book release as well! Best of luck with 2019!
Omg this makes me happy you love pie charts so much!!! WHY ARE THEY SO FUN TO DO?! And look at! Omg. I am in love. And honestly making lists of things brings me just as much joy as reading so…you’re in good company here. :’)
I’m glad we reread a lot this year though! I mean some books are too good to have only experienced once. 💛
Okay so I only read 42 books this year (SHOCKINGLY LOW I know, but I am slow :-P). My top five would be All the Crooked Saints, The Raven Boys, Summer of Salt, The Shield Ring, and Eagle of the Ninth.
I was suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper disappointed in The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (further confirming that epic fantasy is really Not My Thing), and in Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery (I guess it was just too long & boring & scattered, for me??)
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES. And my birthday is in April and just . . . *flails*
In other news, I’m getting close to the end of my novel!!! and I hope to move closer to trying to get it published this next year!!! 😀
42 is AMAZING!! Apparently the average person reads like 2 books a year haha (and the average goodraeds goal is 12?!) so I think we’re all doing amazingly. And omgggg you have THE RAVEN CYCLE ON YOUR LIST SO THAT MAKES MY LIFE 100 X HAPPIER. YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
And definitely can confirm TBWSH’s release date is just for you. 😌💛
AHHHH I hope you finish your novel amazingly next year and have so much fun with the publishing process!!
Awwwww thank you!!!! Yeah one of my friends was like “well the average is only 4 per year” and I was like . . . wait wat???? XD AND YES. I LOVE THE RAVEN CYCLE SO MUCH. <3
This makes me feel very very validated *squishes you*
THANKS, I SHALL TRY *grins*
Oh, Cait, this is AMAZING! How do you keep track of all these stats and charts and make such lovely pie graphs??? I’m SWOONING..
And I mean, reading 200+ books and publishing a book is kind of, um,,, amazing? But why is goodreads expecting you to do anything else right? They should know that reading is enough work all on its own.
I saw Ship It on the disappointing list and I want to clap my hands. That book was SO DISAPPOINTING. Ugh, it makes me semi-mad to think about how I tried to read that thing.
But so many contemporaries! So many! And of course, reading more Rick Riordan books because one can never have enough of the PJO world, right?
I really want to read Tahereh Mafi more in 2019. I’ve just read A Large Expanse of Sea and I’m very interested in her other series! Oh, and good luck getting to The Poppy War and QOOAAD – both are SO GOOD!!!!
Also, is the email subscription thing still not working? I’m going to tell it to notify me of new posts and hope it works. 😊
Awww thank youuuu!! 💛💛 I do have a spreadsheet but tbh it’s NOT very well set up and I spend a lot of time getting confused with my own numbers lmao. But it’s fun and I really love making these charts eep. And haha, yes I mean what does Goodreads think I have TIME to do if I’m reading so much.😂😂
Ugh Ship It was…disturbing too?! And I was so looking forward to that one omg. I’m glad you read so much PJO this year though! I secretly want to read the HoO series but I don’t know if I’ll get there. I want to reread the Shadowhunters books this year so THAT will take me forever.😂
And sadly the emails are still not working…I don’t know how to fix it. 😭 It’s breaking my heart. I’ve lost so so many readers and friends over this because people just think I stopped blogging.
I’ve read 87 books this year. My top reads of the year include both volumes of Batgirl: Stephanie Brown <3 , Sleepless by Lou Morgan, Robin: Year One, Haikyu, and Middlemarch. I've had A LOT of disappointments though. I have only one five star read that wasn't a graphic novel. I haven't even thought about how to do my year wrap-up yet. *Internal screaming*
It sucks to have so many disappointments *wails* I feel for you. I feel like overall I read a lot of GOOD books, but not as many mindblowing ones that weren’t rereads?!
Top 5 would be the Illuminae Files, Simon Versus the Homosapiens Agenda, and The Cruel Prince. There were definitely disappointments but I can’t remember what they were as I read as many books as I could after them. Having been my first year using Goodreads and tracking how many books i’ve read, I’d say I did pretty good (50/20). Next year I hope to read more books I already own before buying more #sorrynotsorry.
Aw that is the BEST news that you read more good than meh books this year! And isn’t The Cruel Prince so freaking fantastic?! Omg. I’ve heard The Wicker King cliffhanger is brutal though haha. BUT I WANT IT SO BAD. And congrats on totally smashing your reading goal!
My last read for 2018 was Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas and I have already reread it like two times… so yeah, that is definitely my fav of the year!
I have to say that I LOVE your recaps!! I’m a fan of lists and stats as well, so this is like heaven to me, haha.
Aw that’s great that it lived up to expectations for you! And omg I’m so glad you enjoyed all the stats *happy flails* 😂
AHHH this post made my heart SO happy with all the stats and graphs and ahh!! I didn’t reach my goal of 120, but I’m over 100, which isn’t terrible. I /am/ still kinda disappointed though!
My top reads of 2018:
The Lunar Chronicles!!!!
If I Run Trilogy by Terri Blackstock (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Contemp suspense)
and All the Bright Places
I read some GOOD books this year holy heck *hearteyes*
I mean 100 is AMAZING, HANNE! But I do understand the slight disappointment of not meeting one’s own secret top goal. 😭 Like I really wanted 250 haha but…200 is just fine, Cait, chill ouuttttt. 😂
I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES AHHHHHH.
The most awaited post of the yeaaaaaar (at least for me). I love the pie charts and the stats just as much as you do, Cait, and I’m always impressed by how much you read in one year.
I am pleased that The Wicker King made quite a few appearances in your list, as your Goodreads review was definitely a motivator for me to pick it up. The same goes for Nora Sakavic’s books: I was interested on them, but reading your reviews made me 10x more excited, so you’re rocking this influencer thing, girl.
2018 was also a very tough year for me, mental-health wise. I feel like this slowed down my reading and every other goal that I had for the year. Even though I had plans for catching up on all of my favorite shows and binge-watch some Korean dramas that have been on my to-watch list forever, I realized I didn’t have the energy even for the smallest tasks sometimes. I ended up not commiting to anything and only watching old rom-coms when I felt like it. Living in auto-pilot was such a huge part of my 2018 and I really don’t want to feel the same way for the new year, so I’m trying to become more self-aware and slowly move away from things that make me feel bad about myself.
Hopefully, 2019 will be a better year for all of us, not only reading-wise! I also hope to see your book everywhere, Cait. You’re so deserving of all the success! Even though I didn’t keep up with book-blogging for 2018, I was stocked to find out you were releasing a book. I remember reading your writing tags and looking through your pretty Pinterest boards, and now you’re a complete published author, which is a dream! Despise that, you’re still reading & blogging & being amazing as you’ve ever been. I don’t know how you handle it all, but I really hope you never forget to take your time if you need to.
Anyway, this ended up going a lot deeper than I anticipated, but I just really wanted to hype you up for a second here, hahah. Have a great end of the year, Cait! 🌟
Aww I’m SO glad you enjoyed this post, Lais!! That makes me very happy eeep. And haha, yes I have basically no life lmao. Just books. 😂 Also I’m super pleased at how many people I’m convincing to read The Wicker King. MY JOB HERE IS DONE.
Also I really truly understand how it’s hard to read when one’s mental health is in a black hole. Sigh. Very much relate. I mean I still read a lot, but I felt I forced myself a lot and wonder if this is why I didn’t have as many mind-blowing reads as I thought I might? But hey nothing is truly wrong with having a quieter reading year! I hope both you and I manage to feel a little better within ourselves next year though.
(And omg thank you so so much for your kind words about my book!! I’m cryyyying 💛💛💛)
yesss I am here for charts, stats, and shoutouts to The Wicker King and the Chaos Walking trilogy
Also so many books here on my TBR… The Poppy War, The Cruel Prince, Girls of Paper and Fire, Vengeful, Muse of Nightmares (tbh I feel like the last person on Goodreads not to have read those last two)
Sorry to hear it was a rough year for you! Here, have some cake!
Ahh you have so many good books coming up on your TBR then though!! And omg you are in for such a TREAT with The Cruel Prince and Girls of Paper and Fire and MoN. I think we should both yell at ourselves to read The Poppy War next year. 😂 I’ve heard it’s spectacular.
I read 93 books. My top five are Four day fling, eleanor oliphant is completely fine, legendary, always never yours, josh and hazel’s guide for not dating, all your perfects✨
Ohhh congrats on the 93 THAT IS AMAZING!! And also Legendary was so so good right?! *hi fives for our good taste in books*
I’m sitting at 74 books for the year, but am hoping to cream through a few more before it’s over. Given that I’ve been struggling to hit 50 the last couple of years, I’m quite proud of myself. A lot of it was that I decided to make sure that I had read a book from each author that I hosted in Indie e-Con this year, and … well, there were a lot more authors that I HADN’T read that signed up than ones that had. As in, 26 of the books that I read this year were in review for this. It was crazy.
Best books I read this year. Oi. I read a lot of good ones, tbh – handed out 36 5-stars, but … let me try. In no particular order.
Blood in the Snow: Snow White mash-up with the tale of the Goosegirl, set in an Asian Culture. Eep!
Overpowered by Kathryn McConaughy: Snow White told around the story of Gideon’s sons, set in a sort of a parallel history where magic was an actual thing.
Suit and Suitability: A Depression era retelling of Sense and Sensibility. So much awesome!
Lacy by Jaye L. Knight: A spin-off companion to book 5 of the Ilyon Chronicles, this one just tore my heart out and it was so beautiful. Ugh. (I loved Bitter Winter, too, but this one was so much perfect!!!)
Coiled by H.L. Burke: A very touching romance set in a pseudo-Greece, about true beauty.
Most disappointing read: Songkeeper by Gillian Bronte Adams. I loved book 1, but this just did everything I don’t like in a sequel, and just left me so disappointed. I do plan to finish the trilogy, but this one definitely was not my favorite.
And, argh, I started out the year keeping careful track of all of my reads (tracking genre, length, publication method, ect), but then I got distracted and forgot where I was, and bleh…. Maybe I should redo it? Or cut my losses and try again next year?
And, also, take care of yourself, Cait. Honestly, this year was tough on me as well, mental-health-wise. I put myself through way too many burnouts, and it wasn’t healthy.
Here’s to a more balanced 2019, eh?
Ahh I loved seeing your list of favourites too! And I’m glad you had SO many 5-stars…*flails* that just makes one feel epic and satisfied about reading, right?! (Also a Sense and Sensibility retelling is pretty awesome eep.)
And honestly I think it’s easier to keep track as you read, because I sure can’t remember things months later.😂I have to update my stat charts after every book. BUt I love it so !! it’s fine for me haha.
It sucks that we’ve both battled burn out this year though. 😭I feel for you and really understand gah. It’s a bit gutting. I had a lot of unanticipated life changes this year and change sucks lmaoooo. So definitely hoping we both cope better in 2019? *sends you cake too*
Congratulations on the book! 😊
How is it possible to read more than 200 books in a year? 😄
Love your blog! 😍
Kiss from Portugal 😘
Aww thank you!! 💛 And I have no life apart from reading haha so that’s how I fit it all in. 😂
Cait how are you so impressive? Like, it takes you all actual year to compile this stuff and wow. Just wow. My “year end” thing is going to be like, 2 lines iin my monthly post hahah. Though tbh, it will say a lot of the same stuff as yours. MH kicked my ass too (and I am SO SORRY that it has been a cruel beast to you, too ♥♥♥) and I have read fewer books than I have since I started blogging and it makes me want to cry even though I KNOW it isn’t important in the grand scheme of things but… ugh.
Also um HOW did I not know about Wilder Girls, that sounds fabulous and is now not only on my TBR, but on my wishlist. Obviously I am SO excited for The Boy Who Steals Houses, too! EEEEEP! They need to give you a cover though, tell them your minions require it.
You have a LOT of favorites! I need to do a favorites post soon. Is there a TTT with one? because that’s probably my only shot, let’s be real hahha. Also I approve of all the Patrick Ness.
Ok but this is just books lmao. I accomplished nothing else (except making ice cream sandwiches??) Honestly I have been a sad bucket this year 😂 And even though my book came out, like I did all the hard writing work years ago for it so it doesn’t feel like I wrote anything much THIS year.😂 BUT ajfdkslad anyway. I’m sorry our brains sucked this year for both of us. *sends you hugs* I can’t even imagine going through what you did though, so just !! you are an amazing and marvellous human, just so you know. 💛💛💛
(Also the cover for Wilder Girls is FREAKING EPIC.)
This post was pleasing in so many ways — the pie charts, stats, favorites, least favorites, etc. I found myself adding SO many books to my “to read” list which I am half happy about and half annoyed about. That list is too long as is ha ha! However, I cannot wait to up my goal of books read. Some reads that I found myself loving included Baby Teeth, The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish, and Daughter of the Pirate King. P.S. I found your blog not too long ago and absolutely fell in love with it ♥
AHH I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT THANK YOU!! I always get nervous when I do long rambly posts 😂 But I love being able to look back at stats over the years! And also am so so glad I convinced you to add a few of these as well. 😉
I’m absolutely going to read Daughter of the Pirate King next year!! I’ve procrastinated that one too long.
Also welcome to the madness of paper fury *sends you welcome cake* 😂💛Thank you for reading!! I actually tried to comment on your blog but the comment box wasn’t working? Could be my internet though. I will try again!!
Anything with stats, numbers, or pie charts always holds my attention! I love seeing percentages. Especially when it comes to books! I am thinking I might try to do something like this next year if I can find the time to sit down and do so ha ha!
Honestly, I sort of put off reading Daughter of the Pirate King at first… but I am so glad I finally read it! Not to mention a little annoyed with myself for not reading it sooner ha ha.
Thank you so much for letting me know about the comments! After about an hour, I finally was able to troubleshoot what the heck was going on. Oh my gosh was it a MESS. An hour just to find that one box had not been clicked. I could not figure it out because all of the other boxes were clicked. Oh my goodness. It is good to go now ha ha!
I read around 85 books this year I think? Which is not as much as I usually do, but school + college apps took up a ton of time this year. My very favorites were probably The Secret History by Donna Tartt, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, and This Way to the Sugar by Hieu Minh Nguyen.
YES YES THE FOXHOLE COURT AND THE WICKER KING. I THOROUGHLY APPROVE OF THESE CHOICES. And I usually don’t get excited for a lot of new releases (I’m not really a new releases kind of person?? almost everything I read is backlist), but I also am hyped for King of Scars and The Fever King. (And Red, White, and Royal Blue; and Bloodwitch; and Kevin Sands’s next book….)
I actually found myself reading a lot of adult this year and much less YA than usual. I think in my old age of 17 years, I’m drifting away from the genre. All of it just seems the same nowadays. Like I’ve read the Basic YA Fantasy Story that is 90% of YA fantasy stories, so I’m moving on. I’ve also been drifting from fantasy to contemporary, which is, uh?? Completely unplanned and kind of not allowed?? But here we are I guess. C’est la vie.
(And it’s nice to know someone else has the same opinion on April May. I haven’t read the whole book yet, but so far she seems totally unlikable and unnecessarily obnoxious. Yet everyone is raving about her?? Why??)
Eleanor | On the Other Side of Reality
85 books is awesooooome. I mean you’re reading AND balancing school! Sometimes I struggled to fit in reading time and I don’t even have an excuse lmao. Also I’m definitely reading The Secret History next year. Autoboyography is one of my FAVES. Hence my reread afjdsklad. And omg The Wicker King…like it was visual perfection as well as a story that simply sunk into my heart. I can’t stop thinking about it! (Her next book is The Weight Of Stars and it’s f/f and I’M SO EXCITED.)
Aww haha, I guess YA doesn’t resonate for everyone forever? I haven’t grown out of it (I’m oooold though) but I did the same with moving onto contemporary! Although one of the reasons (besides being tired and struggling to concentrate on epic fantasy world building) is I find contemporary is more diverse? And I really crave books that aren’t so narrow.
Ugh April May is a nasty monster to her girlfriend too. Like. Why am I going to feel anything for her. grrrrr
Hey Cait. I love reading your yearly wrap up posts and wow you read a lot of books. I think i read like 30 books and Im so proud. I read Illuminae this year and im so excited to read the sequel. I also read the poppy war and it was so dark and so good but it has triggers so be careful when you finally decide to do it. How do you get these pie charts, spill the secrets and maybe ill give you cake, Happy Holidays Cait
AWW THANK YOU! I’m actually relieved because I know this is long and probably rambly for some.😂 But eep! And oh I’m so glad you liked Illuminae (the sequels are even better!) And oh I’m fine with triggers in The Poppy War haha, I read adult epic fantasy and it gets super dark.
*sends you all the cake too* THANK YOU LOVELY SOUL.
One day I will teach you the joys of DNF’ing. 😂
It’s always rereads that throw off my diversity stats! But not counting them, I think I’m at around 80%.
One day I will learn and therefor stop whining about unlikeable books. 😭😂
I read around 40-something books this year which disappointed me because I wanted to read 62 and make a dent in my TBR. GOSH DARN IT.
Most of my reads this year were 3.5 stars so that kinda SUCKED.
I did read Starfish and American Panda so that was great. Don’t think I have up to five books that I would consider my faves xD
And I hope you check it The Poppy War. It’s so dark and gory. I’m not a big fantasy reader at all? Only read like 6 this year *cries* but it was a four star read for me!
Aw no it sucks when the TBR really gets no dent in it after a hard year of reading. Honestly with so many rereads, I feel super behind haha.😂 BUT NO REGRETS!! It was so comforting and good being back in my old fave worlds. (Epic fantasy is kind of exhausting?! But I hope I’ll love the Poppy war too!)
Oh, Cait, I’m sorry to hear that this year has been a struggle for you. I’ve actually heard several authors say that the year their debut books came out was a difficult time for their mental health, so you’re not alone. Make sure you take care of you!
BUT congratulations on an amazing writing year. I can’t wait to read TBWSH!!
I definitely think debut years are harder than we all let on haha (especially for books that aren’t like “The Famous” ones you know?! Debuts that rocket to fame set this very high bar that the rest of us feel very daunted by. 😂) But thank yoooou! You are so so sweet! and I hope to blog better next year too!
AHH, this post made me so happy!
I definitely feel 2018 not being the best year. It really pretty much stank for me. :/
But the reading was good! And your sweet book was definitely a highlight. I got a paperback for Christmas and I’m rereading it. It’s just as wonderful as the first time around. <333 And I am so excited for The Boy Who Steals Houses. It's at the top of my 2019 TBR.
I totally agree that we need more mental health rep. I'm a mental health advocate, and that diversity is sooo important.
200 books is amazing! I got in around 150, but 200 is absolutely amazing. Your reads looked lovely, and wish you the best in 2019!
Gah, I’m sorry 2018 sucked for you too. Honestly it was just…a really mess of a year. I feel so ungrateful for saying it though, with my book being finally out and everything but ajfdksla we can’t help everything else that goes on. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for being excited for TBWSH though!! I’m so nervous about it and hope it doesn’t disappoint everyone!!
150 IS INCREDIBLE. YOU ARE A READING MASTER.
Aww look at you reading all the contemporaries! Contemporary is my favourite genre. *_*
The Last Namsara and Grace & Fury were SO GOOD. The Caged Queen has just come into my library – I AM MUCHLY EXCITED.
I hope you have an amazing 2019!
Contemporary is just an entire DELIGHT. I love it so so much!! I like the heartbreaking ones though, no surprises there.😂 And I just got The Caged Queen out from the library too!!
I get so excited when I see others loved some of the same books as me and it makes me want to read the rest on the list so much! Definitely have a few on here that I’ve been wanting to read for aaaaaaages. I guess there’s always next year 😉
These end of year posts we all do are GREAT for comparing favourites…and also flooding our TBRs with more recs, right?!😂
I love these statistics and diagrams as well, but I enjoy looking at them way more than making them myself, so thanks!
I read 102 books this year, so roughly half of your count but no one could ever dream of coming near that, so that’s okay. And it’s totally fine reading less if it means that you’re making books yourself!
My top 5 were Golden Boy, Ramona Blue, The Lady’s Guide to Pettycoats and Piracy, Simon vs the homo sapiens agenda (yes, I’m late) and A thousand perfect notes, so I’m very hyped for your house stealing boys.
Have a great new year!
Ah hahah I’m so glad you like my pie charts.😂They’re not too hard to make on canva which is a relief (anything to technical and I’m out lmao) Also 102 books is AMAZING and I know how awful I sound whining that I’m disappointed ajfdklsa I’m so sorry.😂 I just don’t have a good excuse for reading less because I don’t do much else haha.
omggggg ATPN MADE YOUR LIST I MAY CRY *sends you cake*
Hi Cait! Congrats on all your reads this year!!!!! (and on a published book!)
I am so close to my goal, just one more book- probably Lord of Shadows. My favorite reads of the year were definitely Thunderhead and Empire of Storms. I also ADORED The Astonishing Color of After.
Just looking at this post has made my TBR just spontaneously grow by like, ten books.
I hope 2019 brings you lots of joy and cake and good reading (and writing)!
Ahh thank you, Elizabeth, you kind soul!! And I could have finished Lord of Shadows today too for my last read of the year, but hehe I’m going to cheat and finish it tomorrow for the 1st.😂SNEAKY ME. And omg The Astonishing Colour of After was all sorts of incredible and heartwrenching right?!
Yes!! 🙂
I hit and surpassed my goal of 30 by reading 41 books this year. Last year I found it really stressful to hit my goal, so I thought I’d set a lower one this year that made me feel more relaxed.
I loved how you did the charts with this post! I also hope you manage to get to The Poppy War next year, it was one of those books for me that I thought would slump me, but then it ended up being ONE OF THE BEST THINGS EVER!
Happy new year! 🎉
That’s honestly a good idea to keep it relaxed! I mean we do ourselves no favours by stressing over reading (says me lmao 😂I stress over it still) and I’ve heard NO BAD THINGS about The Poppy War so I am excited. *flails*
I read 100 books, nine fewer than last year. But still, I had two jobs and finished uni and somehow made it through! Social anxiety is not my friend, though, and I could definitely use more reading time and stories that deal with mental health.
Well done on your progress this year, Cait, and may next year be better for you!
Reading anything and doing all that is incredible! YOU MASTER. (Social anxiety sucks though…I really feel for you.)
I will never cease to be amazed at people who read more than 100 books a year, I’m barely scraping 50 for the year, but thats more than I read last year so I’m happy!
I LOVE your pie charts! There should always be pie charts!!!
I JUST got the Illuminae Files for Christmas and I’m SO EXCITED to read them! Especially because for some reason every winter is my SciFi season, like I just read The Disasters and really enjoyed that chaotic bisexual energy! So good!
The more pie the better. This is a fact. :’) And ahhh I hope you ADORE The Illumiane Files! They’re so clever and epic and also I am super keen for The Disasters too *flails*
This year has been insane for me (graduating high school and starting college), so I definitely did not read as much as I wanted to. But I cannot believe you are a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!!!!!!!!! That’s insane, and it’s definitely the DREAM. I am so proud! But okay, no more gushing over that or we will be here all day. I just started Queen of Air and Darkness and I forgot how frustrating these books can be to read because everyone is hurting and miserable and you just want to hug them and make everything better and you can’t! *sigh* Rant done now. I also read The Hazel Wood, and it was…interesting? I really liked the idea, but the main character makes some questionable decisions. Also, I am like the only person who hasn’t read The Cruel Prince yet…I’ll get to it this year, hopefully. This semester flew by for me, and I miss reading books and blog posts, as well as writing my own!
AHHHH congrats on starting college and graduating highschool and being an all-round amazing human bean!!! (I can’t believe I’m published either lollll. I still have to pinch myself.😂)
QOAAD is going to kill me I know it ajfdkslafd. And I’ve heard such mixed things about The Hazelwood tbh, but I own it so I will get to it!!
Omg this is hilarious, looks like we used the same application to make those pie charts! I loved looking into the stats this morning lol. Yaaasss for Wicker King and Cruel Prince and Muse of Nightmares on the favourites list! Ohhh I still need to read Legendary and Smoke & Iron omg.
I’m so glad you’ve also discovered re-reading as a great hobby because omg, some of them are just so good and we want to relive it ok. I still need to read The Last Namsara! READ THE POPPY WAR YOU WON’T REGRET IT but also omg trigger warnings!
YAY FOR CANVA. 😂 It’s a lifesaver tbh. And stats are just Good Things and make me feel so satisfied to make them at the end of the year. I’m so glad we both adored The Wicker King and TCP and Muse!! I just wish more people had read Smoke & Iron!? It’s such an underrated series.
I WILL TACKLE THE POPPY WAR NEXT YEAR AND I WILL SURVIVE (maybe lol sob)
I honestly felt that I had waaaay more disappointing reads then ones then I loved. (I was particularly excited for The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein … it was good, but not at all what I had been expecting :/ ) BUT. I adored Legendary (by Stephanie Garber) and got that and Caraval for Christmas so as of right now, I am rereading, which is life.
I’ve also bought (and received) so many books this year, oml.
ALSO, I CANNOT FRIKKIN WAIT FOR THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES. I’M GOING TO GO AND STEAL MYSELF A TIME MACHINE, THANKS.
I’m glad you liked Legendary!! I felt a ton of people didn’t like Tella but I ADORED her?! 😍
ajfdkslad I’m so glad you’re excited for my smol book I can’t even with how much that means to me
ahhhhhh THUNDERHEAD I finished that book right before school (like, literally twenty minutes before the bell rang) and I was wrecked. It was so hard to focus during my first class and I was having a terrible time of it. Unfortunately I didn’t get through much else…. oh well.
Omg I can imagine…that ending was nOT FAIR AND NOT OK AND I’M CONVINCED IT WAS A TYPO. *flails wildly for the third book*
this was so much fun to read!! your blog has helped me discover so many amazing books! <3 i'm sorry 2018 was rough & i really hope things are much much better this year. also yay for becoming a published author, that is so so cool!! i'm looking forward to hearing more about the boy who steals houses!
i read 98 books this year. probably because i kept falling into reading slumps (which happens every year so i don't really care at this point). i'm so impressed that you read 207 books AND got so much writing done. i don't think i can just pick 5 but i'll throw out some titles that come to my mind right away – what if it's us, autoboyography (which i read because of your review!!), darius the great is not okay, vengeful, reaper at the gates….i'll just stop there for now haha. i have a copy of ace of shades waiting on my kindle and after reading your post..i think i'm going to have to read it next!! can't wait any longer lol.
Aww thank you, kind soul!! This is SO NICE of you and honestly I’m so grateful to all my blogging friends for championing ATPN ahhhh. I don’t deserve all of you!!
And agh to slumps. I do feel for you with those. But 98 is pretty amazing so like *flails for you* And I’m SO glad you tried Autoboyography and loved it. It is so special and incredibl omg. And I want to read Darius The Great this year!
Ohhh pie charts! The stats! They’re so beautifulll! Yesssss – and oh wow, I am still completely obsessed with A Thousand Perfect Notes – it was honestly one of my favourite books of this year, I enjoyed reading it so much and ooohhh it made me feel so squishy and lovely inside whilst tearing ME APART!!! And I literally cannot wait for the Boy Who Steals Houses it sounds amazing!!
This year has truly been amazing and I’m really sorry that your mental health has been so bad. I hope that 2019 is even brighter for you – you deserve all the cake and loveliness 🙂
Gorgeous post as always 🙂 x
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Ahh I’m so glad you liked the pie charts and OMG GRACE !! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I’m just flailing in happy tears here that you liked ATPN 😭💛💛 (I promise Houses is here to be kinder…mwahahhaah ok fine maybe not.)
But you’re so lovely and I hope 2019 treats you well too!
2018 was an awesome year for me! I feel like I really jumpstarted my blog, I wrote a lot, got accepted as a regular contributor for a magazine, and read a ton of books. I also got my first e-ARCs of To Best the Boys and Romanov which is so exciting! *flails* I can’t wait for 2019!
Ahh I’m so so glad you had an epic time in 2018!! Here’s for an equally successful and amazing 2019 for you *flails and throws confetti* And omg I’m SO excited for To Best The Boys! I have an ARC too *heart eyes*
Aww, Cait. *hugs* 2018 has been rough for all of us, but 2019 will hopefully be loads better! I hope your mental health improves immensely. <3
Keeper of the Bees and Bring Me Their Hearts were favorites as well! AND YAY YOU READ THE IRON KING. It definitely is, but the stabbing part is the best. 😉 Plus Grimalkin…
Hooray on getting a Kindle! The dark side is the best side and wow, what is sleep when you have books to read when everyone else is snoozing.
omg thanks Sophia 😭💛 definitely am trying to dwell on the amazing parts and hope 2019 just is really a lot better and more positive! For you too!! Also agreed that Grimalkin is a GIFT and I love him so much.
While I don’t do year end recaps, I LOVE reading them! So many lists! So many pie charts! So many books to add to my wishlist! I’m like a kid in a candy store!
I only read 77 books this year, missing my goal of 100 yet again. Going to try again this year as hope springs eternal! Hope that 2019 is better for you. And congrats on being a superstar! <3
77 is a really awesome number though so WOOO GO YOU !!! And I hope you had tons of good reads in that too *happy flails*
Hey! What a wonderful wrap-up post! I loved all the pie charts and well, it seems as if you had a great year. All the best for 2019 too. Plus, I just want to say that I love all the graphics and photos on your blog.
Aww thank you so much!💛I’m so glad you like my post and the graphics *flails* I had a lot of fun putting this together!
GOSH YES I AM LOVING CASSANDRA CLARE AND HER POETIC AND HEART-STABBING WRITING RIGHT NOW! I finished rereading Lord of Shadows on New year’s eve and wow how can a book break you twice? I am currently reading Queen of Air and Darkness and the general amount of pain and agony in this book is just agdsfsgkla !!! I am probably going to fail my upcoming exams BUT PRIORITIES!
SHE IS A QUEEN AND EVERYTHING SHE WRITES IS PERFECT AHHHH 💛💛💛 And I’ve only just started QOAAD so I’m still waiting to be fully destroyed but ajfdksald yes please
I loved this post so much, Cait! Stats and gorgeous books and short, sweet descriptions? YES PLEASE. Also please can we fangirl about Muse of Nightmares and Obisidio. Such good sequelllsss ahhhhhh.
Also all the good thoughts for your mental health in 2019, I am always here if you want a chat or virtual cake XD.
Happy new year, dear <3
Megan @ http://www.booksbirds.com/
Ahhh I’m so so glad you liked the stats and pie charts!! They make me very happy eep. And omg wasn’t Obsidio amazing too?! That series was flawless the WHOLE way through!
And thank you for the kindness!! 💛💛💛
Wow. This post must have taken ages to write and format! Well done!
I had wanted to read The Poppy Wars last year too, but never got ’round to it. Maybe in 2019!
It did a bit haha.😂But WORTH IT. I hope we both get to The Poppy War soon then!!
Yes indeed! I’m planning on starting it soon. I hadn’t read much fantasy in 2018 but now I’m craving it.
These are my favorite posts to write (and read), too! Yay for you for keeping up on current releases! I have grand plans to stay current every year, but the reality is I can’t afford to buy hardbacks all the time and my library can’t always afford to buy new copies all the time, either. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. The Boy Who Steals Houses comes out so close to my birthday, I might have to ask somebody to buy it for me! Although that’ll mean waiting a whole week after publication to read it . . . hmm, I have decisions to make . . .
You’re the third blogger I’ve seen today raving about Fawkes. It definitely looks like my kind of book. I’m in the middle of Lady’s Guide right now, and while I’m really liking it, I’m not loving it as much as Gentleman’s Guide. As much as I admire Felicity, I think her prickliness doesn’t leave a lot of room for the humor I fell in love with. Hoping for more snark as the book goes on! Felicity can definitely do snark.
AHHH THANK YOU, KATE. I AM FLAILING AND VERY HAPPY. And honestly even though I read so many new books I am…still…so behind.😂 But totally feel for you with the library too. I’ve only just been tapping into a library that’s 1.5 hours away and I screech softly every time I see they do, in fact, have newer books in.
And naturally TBWSH is out in your birthday month JUST for you. 😘😂
I totally get it about Felicity’s book. I liked it, but just didn’t LOVE it or fall madly for the banter and darker themes like I did for Monty’s sadly. And I could’ve done without all Felicity’s constant shaming about queer people, sigh. I know it was part of her arc but still…