Today, I’m sharing a mini-review for every book I read in 2019… pt. 2. You can read the first half of my 2019 reviews here.
The Dollmaker of Krakow by R. M. Romero
This book is a charming, heartbreaking tale about what unlikely friends will do to protect each other from outside threats. I read this book for a young adult literature course (DREAM class) and diving into its literary qualities made the reading experience all the more enjoyable. One of my highest recommendations for kids and adults alike.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
I loved the way Marissa Meyer constructed the plot of this book: it was a slow burn, but didn’t feel like it dragged. It was perfectly paced, the characters were vibrant, and the world of Gatlon City was masterfully developed. I loved the ingenuity and creativity that went into producing this fantastic novel.
Rating: 5/5 stars
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
I liked The Gilded Wolves, and that’s about it. The premise was cool but not striking, the characters were nice but not vibrant, the plot was almost believable. There wasn’t anything expressly terrible, but there wasn’t anything expressly fantastic. A good, middle-of-the-road book.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Emma and Luke Are Totally Together by Rachel Arnett
I read Emma and Luke Are Totally Together right after I finished The Unhoneymooners (review here) and couldn’t help but compare the two. Two people who’d rather gauge their eyes out than date each other, but pretend to date while on vacation? The similarities are rampant. Thus, I compared this book to The Unhoneymooners. I know that’s not entirely fair, but the chemistry between Emma and Luke didn’t feel authentic to me. It’s worth a read, but I wouldn’t expect fireworks.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Every Day, Every Hour by Natasa Dragnic
If you’re in the mood for a swoony narrative about star-crossed lovers, this is the book for you. I loved the ill-fated romance (mostly because I’ll read any book that features an ill-fated romance). Even though I noticed the implausibilities and didn’t appreciate how the book romanticized infidelity, it’s a fluffy romance, and I’ll read fluffy romances ten ways to Sunday.
Rating: 4/5 stars
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
I finally got around to reading The Raven Boys and now I get the hype! The premise of searching for centralized magical power lines was really interesting once I understood it. The writing was lyrical and beautiful, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
This book had me cackling aloud in the first third. I loved the banter between Georgie and Travis, but once the book got steamy (and I mean REALLY steamy), the humor got overpowered. However, Georgie and Travis felt like very authentic characters and I liked their candor and quirkiness.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith
Another fluffy romance that I loved! Who knew! The elements of happenstance and cross-country travel were nicely layered over this by-chance romance (I’m really proud of that rhyme, ok?).
Rating: 4/5 stars
The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
My enthusiasm for this book grew as I got deeper into the narrative. The beginning seemed a little drab, and the premise is totally unrealistic, but if you persist past the first hundred pages, the story really picks up and will have you smiling like an idiot and canceling social engagements to finish one more chapter.
Rating: 3/5 stars
The Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle
The Goblins of Bellwater has a really interesting concept: one family acts as a liaison between the human and goblin worlds, periodically bringing them gold so they don’t attack humans. I liked how the story unfolded, but the characters felt a little bit like caricatures. They all had their thing, whether that was being the young guy who wants nothing more than to get out of town or the responsible older sister.
Rating: 3/5 stars
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
This book gave me total Twilight vibes and I was kind of here for it. Derting’s descriptions of how Violet uncovers bodies were so intricate and beautifully detailed. The entire concept of the book was incredibly unique and I enjoyed how the story unfolded.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Jackaby by William Ritter
For better and worse, Jackaby read like a Sherlock Holmes wannabe. It has the quick-witted, socially unaware detective, the “normal” sidekick who acts as a sort of liaison between the detective’s giant ego and the rest of the world, and the murder that the police just can’t seem to solve the right way. With that said, I did enjoy the plot and plan on continuing the series.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
It’s hard to up the ante in a series, but someone get Marissa Meyer on the phone and ask her how she does it. In this sequel to Renegades, Meyer accomplishes that same slow burn while keeping plot fast-paced. The world and characters continued to develop and I’m beyond excited to get to the third book. If this series isn’t on your TBR, it should be.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Don’t mind me, I’m reading everything Alice Hoffman has ever written. After Practical Magic, I fell in love with her writing style and incredibly unique way of delivering a narrative. The entire novel reads like a summary, which would be annoying if she hadn’t pulled it off so wonderfully with gripping language and a plot that I can’t stop thinking about.
Rating: 5/5 stars
The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
My only DNF of 2019. This one’s tough because I was really looking forward to a good ole spy fiction, but the characters were incredibly immature and the entire premise was beyond implausible. Maybe it’s the book for you, but it’s not the book for me.
Rating: 0/5 stars
One Day in December by Josie Silver
This book had everything I wanted: snow, ill-fated romance, a ten-year timeline, and characters that feel so real I wanted to invite them over for brunch. Everything I love about the romance genre is packed into this book.
Rating: 5/5 stars
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Geez, I’m really ending this post on a high note. The Sun Is Also a Star was the perfect YA romance and reminded me why I love Nicola Yoon’s writing so much. She crafts narratives with so much care, but they read like she was casually putting words on the page. Not sure who let me go so long without reading this, but it was worth the wait.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Did you read any of these last year? What did you think?
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