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abinthebooks
this will actually be a full review, because I have some thoughts so get ready suckers*
I have some mixed feelings about this book overall. The banter and wittiness of these characters kept me entertained, but not enough to get me to care? If that makes any sense.
This book didn’t really have a plot is what I’m trying to say. We get 100 pages of not really pining, and then 100 pages of a carriage ride, and then about 100 pages of Georgie being bored in a house. There just wasn’t enough for this to fall back on, when the banter failed.
I feel weird reading this book in the first place because I didn’t know any of these characters. I’ve always been reluctant to read the Bridgertons series (because of that one rape/very dubious consent scene at the end of The Duke and I) and even the prequels, mainly because I haven’t always heard the best things.
And while my points above do stand clear, I did still enjoy this. It was really fluffy. Nicholas is adorable, and so is Georgie. Their romance is, like I said, fluffy. They work so well together, and it was really interesting to see the way the both connected through their mutual interest in medicine and science.
This book also has a lot of underlying feminist themes, which was an interesting (and great) choice on Julia Quinn’s part. This book takes place in the late 18th century, and it was throughly enjoyable to see a female of this time period be girly, but also like the things that only men were supposed to like.
Also, just putting this out there, that this book had top tier smut. I mean it was just, Hot. Our hero is actually a virgin, and it was so hot seeing him talk dirty yet be so inexperienced towards Georgie. I was like:
I have some mixed feelings about this book overall. The banter and wittiness of these characters kept me entertained, but not enough to get me to care? If that makes any sense.
This book didn’t really have a plot is what I’m trying to say. We get 100 pages of not really pining, and then 100 pages of a carriage ride, and then about 100 pages of Georgie being bored in a house. There just wasn’t enough for this to fall back on, when the banter failed.
I feel weird reading this book in the first place because I didn’t know any of these characters. I’ve always been reluctant to read the Bridgertons series (because of that one rape/very dubious consent scene at the end of The Duke and I) and even the prequels, mainly because I haven’t always heard the best things.
And while my points above do stand clear, I did still enjoy this. It was really fluffy. Nicholas is adorable, and so is Georgie. Their romance is, like I said, fluffy. They work so well together, and it was really interesting to see the way the both connected through their mutual interest in medicine and science.
This book also has a lot of underlying feminist themes, which was an interesting (and great) choice on Julia Quinn’s part. This book takes place in the late 18th century, and it was throughly enjoyable to see a female of this time period be girly, but also like the things that only men were supposed to like.
Also, just putting this out there, that this book had top tier smut. I mean it was just, Hot. Our hero is actually a virgin, and it was so hot seeing him talk dirty yet be so inexperienced towards Georgie. I was like:
*4.5
This was really, really good. A very solid and emotional retelling of Little Women, and an extra half star for not killing off Beth. Also it’s gay so that deserves another half star.
This was really, really good. A very solid and emotional retelling of Little Women, and an extra half star for not killing off Beth. Also it’s gay so that deserves another half star.
I actually forgot I read this, this month so I think that says enough. I read this in preparation for the Netflix TV adaption (which I started Monday I think? Tuesday? The days all blend together at this point) and I can say I didn’t love it. I was actually reluctant going into the tv series because of this book. But the tv series, is really really amazing so far. I’m so intrigued even though I know some things that are going to happen, and I’m so invested omg. Anyways, I’d skip on the book and go right to the show. (Also called Tiny Pretty Things)
I just wanna say first, that I love how this is what I read on Christmas. Not a Christmas book or a holiday Novella, but a daddy kink novella. I need help.
Anyways, This was...something. I got a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas and a Kindle Unlimited membership so naturally, I wanted to try it out. This was just, idk weird. I’m fine with age gap romances, and a little weirded out by the daddy kink but ya know whatever? But it just made me uncomfortable that our heroine is the daughter of our hero’s ex best friend. I mean I know taboo romances are a thing, but maybe that’s not my thing
Anyways, This was...something. I got a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas and a Kindle Unlimited membership so naturally, I wanted to try it out. This was just, idk weird. I’m fine with age gap romances, and a little weirded out by the daddy kink but ya know whatever? But it just made me uncomfortable that our heroine is the daughter of our hero’s ex best friend. I mean I know taboo romances are a thing, but maybe that’s not my thing
Ya know, I kinda forgot I read this book until a few days ago. Then I remembered all the wacky shit that happened in this book. I think originally read this in 5th grade, and I loved it? Ya know why? Because it had sex in it. That’s literally it. I then showed it to all my friends, who then also read, and they also loved it. And this book was fun for me at that age. But now looking back, damn this book is a whole ass dumpster fire. I remember the male lead was such a douche canoe, and when our characters were having sex they used...whip cream? I’m scarred for life over that. Anyways don’t read this lol
I read this in like 2nd grade and liked it then. Don’t remember it now, but it was good when I was younger lol
So, this year with my reading has been a trip. I've definitely grown a lot as a reader, and found books that I've loved and hated, and my favorite genres. I've matured in my reading, and started venturing into adult books, and older literature (classics). I've found some of my new favorite authors, characters, books, and series this year, and have done nothing but read since quarantine started. So far, as of 12/31/2020, I've read 225 books (including DNF's.). If we're excluding DNF's I have read exactly 201 books. Not gonna calculate how many pages I read without the DNF's, but with them I 'read' 81218. Not typing all the books I read this year, because ya girl don't have nearly enough energy for that (says this, and then looks at my review for [b:How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories|53439886|How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #3.5)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589827409l/53439886._SY75_.jpg|83102956]). Anyways lmao, here is my year in books:
January - 11 books read, 3950 pages
Favorite book - The Battle of the Labyrinth - ★★★★★ (Book #4 in the Percy Jackson series, Middle Grade/Young YA Fantasy/Mythology/Contemporary)
Least favorite book - Truth Witch - ★ (Book 1 in the Witchlands series, Young Adult Fantasy? Paranormal?)
Notes - Amazing reading month for me. Only one book I truly disliked
February - 9 books read, 3510 pages
Favorite book - Go With the Flow - ★★★★★ (Stand-alone graphic novel, Middle Grade/YA? Coming of age, Contemporary)
Least favorite book - The Awakening - ★.5 - (1st book in The Vampire Diaries series, YA Paranormal Romance)
Notes - Pretty bad reading month for me. Only a few books I enjoyed, the rest either average, or really bad
March - 13 books read, 4381 pages
Favorite book - The Cruel Prince - ★★★★★ (Reread, Awesome audiobook, 1st book in the Folk of the Air trilogy, YA Fantasy)
Least favorite book - Bone Criers Moon ★★ (Bad audiobook, First book in the Bone Grace duology, YA Fantasy)
Notes - Not a terrible reading month, and not an amazing one either. Pretty average, but read a few books I really enjoyed
April - 17 books read, 5876 pages
Favorite book - Mistborn: The Final Empire ★★★★★ (First book in the Mistborn series, Adult Fantasy)
Least favorite book - To hard to choose. Loved all the books I read this month.
Notes - Read a lot of audiobooks this month, and had an amazing reading month with numbers and ratings.
May - 9 books read, 3179 pages
Favorite book - I Wanna Be Where You Are ★★★★★ - (Standalone, YA contemporary)
Least favorite book - None. A lot of the books were to average to consider least favorites.
Notes - Pretty ehh reading month for me. All of the books I read this month were pretty average, except for a select few.
June - 20 books read, 9524 pages
Favorite book - A tie between: A Very Large Expanse of Sea - ★★★★★ (Standalone, YA Contemporary), and The Shadows Between Us - ★★★★ (More of a 5 star read than 4, Standalone, YA Fantasy)
Least Favorite - When Dimple Met Rishi ★ (Hate this book with a fiery passion, 1st in the Dimple and Rishi series, YA Contemporary)
Notes: Pretty good reading month, enjoyed a lot of books.
July - 33 books read, 11736 pages
Favorite book(s) - A tie between: Starfish - ★★★★★ (Made me cry more than once, Standalone, YA Contemporary), and Carry On - ★★★★★ (Amazing, 1st book in the Carry On series, YA contemporary fantasy)
Least favorite book - Verona Comics ★★.5 (More of a 2, Bad dealings of mental health, Standalone, YA contemporary)
Notes - Best reading month to date!
August - 31 books read, 11651 pages
Favorite book(s) - Pride and Prejudice ★★★★★ (Probably my favorite book of the year, Amazing, outstanding, Mr. Darcy marry me, Standalone classic)
Least favorite book(s) - A Court of Mist and Fury - ★ (Hate this book with everything I have, 2nd book in the ACOTAR series, YA *coughs* New Adult *coughs* fantasy)
Notes - Arguably my best reading month of the year. Had the time of my life reading this month!
September - 29 books read, 10669 pages
Favorite book(s) - Tie between: I'll Be the One - ★★★★★ (Best plus size rep I've ever seen in a book, Standalone, YA contemporary) and [b:Today Tonight Tomorrow|52766407|Today Tonight Tomorrow|Rachel Lynn Solomon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582468069l/52766407._SY75_.jpg|62013760] - ★★★★★ (Didn't write a review, whooooops, Standalone, YA Contemporary)
Least favorite book(s) - And I Darken - ★ (I couldn't force myself to continue this one, 1st book in the And I Darken series, YA *coughs* New Adult *coughs* Fantasy)
Notes: Another amazing reading month! So many amazing books read this month
October - 12 books read, 5043 pages
Favorite book(s) - Tie between: The Young Elites - ★★★★★ (Amazing! So good, definitely going to make it on my top of 2020), 1st book in the Young Elites trilogy, YA fantasy), and The Diviners ★★★★★ - (SOOOO good, another book that's going to make my favorites of 2020, 1st book in The Diviners quartet, YA Historical, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery Thriller).
Least favorite book(s) - To hard to say. Loved most of the books I read this month.
Notes: Good reading month in ratings, not so good in numbers. That's ok though, would rather read less books and love them than read more and dislike them/think they're mediocre.
November - 17 books read, 5802 pages
Favorite book(s) - Easily How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories - ★★★★★ (Probably my 2nd favorite book I read this year, fantastic, everything I needed and more, 3.5 in The Folk of the Air Trilogy, YA Fantasy)
Least favorite book(s) - Easily The Hobbit ★ (Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, in the deepest pits of hell is what I feel for this book which is self explanatory enough, Prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, YA? Adult? Classic? Fantasy).
Notes: Ok reading month. Read some books that were really good, some that weren't
December - 17 books read, 6 Dramione fanfics read, 9473 pages
Favorite book(s) - A tie between Scarlet - ★★★★.5 (Such a good historical fiction, great herione, awesome retelling), The Wallflower Wager - ★★★★★ (Favorite historical romance of all time, amazing characters, die from happiness moments)
Least favorite book(s) - Scythe - ★★ (Gave into hype, and didn't get it. B O R I N G, Predictable plot twists).
*Had many two stars this month, but decided on my least favorite two star.*
Notes: I didn't really had a great reading month this month. I had 3 5 stars, but I didn't even remember reading 2 of them until I was looking back at my month.
And ladies, gents, and nonbinary peeps, as of December 31st @ 11.54 PM, I am done reading for the year ): I had an amazing reading year in stats, and found some new favorites that I loved too. Done below are some extra categories for y'all to look at. Enjoy
All DNF's (Some I put actually DNF'ed, some I put down for later)
1. [b:Truthwitch|21414439|Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)|Susan Dennard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1428675822l/21414439._SX50_.jpg|40715259]
2. [b:Strange Grace|41885688|Strange Grace|Tessa Gratton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537223132l/41885688._SX50_.jpg|53424754]
3. [b:Blood Promise|5996153|Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4)|Richelle Mead|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442530605l/5996153._SY75_.jpg|6651007]
4. [b:Witch's Bell 1|21398640|Witch's Bell 1 (The Adventures of Ebony Bell, #1)|Odette C. Bell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394206057l/21398640._SY75_.jpg|21364416]
5. [b:Wild Beauty|33158561|Wild Beauty|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496161758l/33158561._SY75_.jpg|50370943]
6. [b:Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë|130346|Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë|Hilda D. Spear|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347798585l/130346._SY75_.jpg|46028536]
7. [b:The Well of Ascension|68429|The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480717596l/68429._SY75_.jpg|2120474]
8. [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone|8490112|Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)|Laini Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1461353773l/8490112._SY75_.jpg|13355552]
9. [b:A Good Girl's Guide to Murder|40916679|A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #1)|Holly Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545494980l/40916679._SY75_.jpg|63791847]
10. [b:Shuffle, Repeat|26067503|Shuffle, Repeat|Jen Klein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458716313l/26067503._SY75_.jpg|41155361]
11. [b:The Kingdom of Back|45872054|The Kingdom of Back|Marie Lu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562771370l/45872054._SY75_.jpg|55261587]
12. [b:Empress of a Thousand Skies|30269126|Empress of a Thousand Skies (Empress of a Thousand Skies, #1)|Rhoda Belleza|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485697898l/30269126._SY75_.jpg|47512648]
13. [b:The Gilded Wolves|39863498|The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525714353l/39863498._SY75_.jpg|53547018]
14. [b:Scavenge the Stars|42248816|Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551991682l/42248816._SY75_.jpg|65856486]
15. [b:King of Fools|37545571|King of Fools (The Shadow Game, #2)|Amanda Foody|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530205230l/37545571._SY75_.jpg|59149219]
16. [b:Clap When You Land|52516332|Clap When You Land|Elizabeth Acevedo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570558443l/52516332._SX50_SY75_.jpg|68292349]
17. [b:Time of Our Lives|40076537|Time of Our Lives|Emily Wibberley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561399215l/40076537._SY75_.jpg|62110766]
18. [b:The Bone Witch|30095464|The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch, #1)|Rin Chupeco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592725583l/30095464._SX50_.jpg|47934504]
19. [b:The Devil's Thief|38336563|The Devil's Thief (The Last Magician, #2)|Lisa Maxwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519248756l/38336563._SY75_.jpg|59995337]
20. [b:You Should See Me in a Crown|50160619|You Should See Me in a Crown|Leah Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568912283l/50160619._SX50_SY75_.jpg|69288604]
21. [b:This Was Our Pact|40864829|This Was Our Pact|Ryan Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1536917259l/40864829._SX50_.jpg|65285306]
22. [b:And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1)|Kiersten White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449153532l/27190613._SY75_.jpg|41682914]
23. [b:The Last Time We Say Goodbye|17285330|The Last Time We Say Goodbye|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403710453l/17285330._SX50_.jpg|23904471]
24. [b:Lovely War|44107480|Lovely War|Julie Berry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554392694l/44107480._SX50_.jpg|63030536]
Best book of 2020 - Pride and Prejudice
Most hated book of 2020 - The Hobbit
Worst book of 2020 - When Dimple Met Rishi
Longest book of 2020 - [b:Star Crossed: 7 Novels of Space Exploration, Alien Races, Adventure, and Romance|42243247|Star Crossed 7 Novels of Space Exploration, Alien Races, Adventure, and Romance|Christine Pope|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539007337l/42243247._SX50_.jpg|65849742]
New favorite author - [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588941810p2/1265.jpg]
New favorite series - The Lunar Chronicles - Read 3 of 4 main books; Cinder, [b:Scarlet|13206760|Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470056982l/13206760._SY75_.jpg|18390691], [b:Cress|13206828|Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470057005l/13206828._SY75_.jpg|18390772], [b:Winter|13206900|Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470057036l/13206900._SX50_.jpg|18390887]
Best 2020 release - How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
January - 11 books read, 3950 pages
Favorite book - The Battle of the Labyrinth - ★★★★★ (Book #4 in the Percy Jackson series, Middle Grade/Young YA Fantasy/Mythology/Contemporary)
Least favorite book - Truth Witch - ★ (Book 1 in the Witchlands series, Young Adult Fantasy? Paranormal?)
Notes - Amazing reading month for me. Only one book I truly disliked
February - 9 books read, 3510 pages
Favorite book - Go With the Flow - ★★★★★ (Stand-alone graphic novel, Middle Grade/YA? Coming of age, Contemporary)
Least favorite book - The Awakening - ★.5 - (1st book in The Vampire Diaries series, YA Paranormal Romance)
Notes - Pretty bad reading month for me. Only a few books I enjoyed, the rest either average, or really bad
March - 13 books read, 4381 pages
Favorite book - The Cruel Prince - ★★★★★ (Reread, Awesome audiobook, 1st book in the Folk of the Air trilogy, YA Fantasy)
Least favorite book - Bone Criers Moon ★★ (Bad audiobook, First book in the Bone Grace duology, YA Fantasy)
Notes - Not a terrible reading month, and not an amazing one either. Pretty average, but read a few books I really enjoyed
April - 17 books read, 5876 pages
Favorite book - Mistborn: The Final Empire ★★★★★ (First book in the Mistborn series, Adult Fantasy)
Least favorite book - To hard to choose. Loved all the books I read this month.
Notes - Read a lot of audiobooks this month, and had an amazing reading month with numbers and ratings.
May - 9 books read, 3179 pages
Favorite book - I Wanna Be Where You Are ★★★★★ - (Standalone, YA contemporary)
Least favorite book - None. A lot of the books were to average to consider least favorites.
Notes - Pretty ehh reading month for me. All of the books I read this month were pretty average, except for a select few.
June - 20 books read, 9524 pages
Favorite book - A tie between: A Very Large Expanse of Sea - ★★★★★ (Standalone, YA Contemporary), and The Shadows Between Us - ★★★★ (More of a 5 star read than 4, Standalone, YA Fantasy)
Least Favorite - When Dimple Met Rishi ★ (Hate this book with a fiery passion, 1st in the Dimple and Rishi series, YA Contemporary)
Notes: Pretty good reading month, enjoyed a lot of books.
July - 33 books read, 11736 pages
Favorite book(s) - A tie between: Starfish - ★★★★★ (Made me cry more than once, Standalone, YA Contemporary), and Carry On - ★★★★★ (Amazing, 1st book in the Carry On series, YA contemporary fantasy)
Least favorite book - Verona Comics ★★.5 (More of a 2, Bad dealings of mental health, Standalone, YA contemporary)
Notes - Best reading month to date!
August - 31 books read, 11651 pages
Favorite book(s) - Pride and Prejudice ★★★★★ (Probably my favorite book of the year, Amazing, outstanding, Mr. Darcy marry me, Standalone classic)
Least favorite book(s) - A Court of Mist and Fury - ★ (Hate this book with everything I have, 2nd book in the ACOTAR series, YA *coughs* New Adult *coughs* fantasy)
Notes - Arguably my best reading month of the year. Had the time of my life reading this month!
September - 29 books read, 10669 pages
Favorite book(s) - Tie between: I'll Be the One - ★★★★★ (Best plus size rep I've ever seen in a book, Standalone, YA contemporary) and [b:Today Tonight Tomorrow|52766407|Today Tonight Tomorrow|Rachel Lynn Solomon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582468069l/52766407._SY75_.jpg|62013760] - ★★★★★ (Didn't write a review, whooooops, Standalone, YA Contemporary)
Least favorite book(s) - And I Darken - ★ (I couldn't force myself to continue this one, 1st book in the And I Darken series, YA *coughs* New Adult *coughs* Fantasy)
Notes: Another amazing reading month! So many amazing books read this month
October - 12 books read, 5043 pages
Favorite book(s) - Tie between: The Young Elites - ★★★★★ (Amazing! So good, definitely going to make it on my top of 2020), 1st book in the Young Elites trilogy, YA fantasy), and The Diviners ★★★★★ - (SOOOO good, another book that's going to make my favorites of 2020, 1st book in The Diviners quartet, YA Historical, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery Thriller).
Least favorite book(s) - To hard to say. Loved most of the books I read this month.
Notes: Good reading month in ratings, not so good in numbers. That's ok though, would rather read less books and love them than read more and dislike them/think they're mediocre.
November - 17 books read, 5802 pages
Favorite book(s) - Easily How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories - ★★★★★ (Probably my 2nd favorite book I read this year, fantastic, everything I needed and more, 3.5 in The Folk of the Air Trilogy, YA Fantasy)
Least favorite book(s) - Easily The Hobbit ★ (Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, in the deepest pits of hell is what I feel for this book which is self explanatory enough, Prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, YA? Adult? Classic? Fantasy).
Notes: Ok reading month. Read some books that were really good, some that weren't
December - 17 books read, 6 Dramione fanfics read, 9473 pages
Favorite book(s) - A tie between Scarlet - ★★★★.5 (Such a good historical fiction, great herione, awesome retelling), The Wallflower Wager - ★★★★★ (Favorite historical romance of all time, amazing characters, die from happiness moments)
Least favorite book(s) - Scythe - ★★ (Gave into hype, and didn't get it. B O R I N G, Predictable plot twists).
*Had many two stars this month, but decided on my least favorite two star.*
Notes: I didn't really had a great reading month this month. I had 3 5 stars, but I didn't even remember reading 2 of them until I was looking back at my month.
And ladies, gents, and nonbinary peeps, as of December 31st @ 11.54 PM, I am done reading for the year ): I had an amazing reading year in stats, and found some new favorites that I loved too. Done below are some extra categories for y'all to look at. Enjoy
All DNF's (Some I put actually DNF'ed, some I put down for later)
1. [b:Truthwitch|21414439|Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)|Susan Dennard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1428675822l/21414439._SX50_.jpg|40715259]
2. [b:Strange Grace|41885688|Strange Grace|Tessa Gratton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537223132l/41885688._SX50_.jpg|53424754]
3. [b:Blood Promise|5996153|Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4)|Richelle Mead|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442530605l/5996153._SY75_.jpg|6651007]
4. [b:Witch's Bell 1|21398640|Witch's Bell 1 (The Adventures of Ebony Bell, #1)|Odette C. Bell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394206057l/21398640._SY75_.jpg|21364416]
5. [b:Wild Beauty|33158561|Wild Beauty|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496161758l/33158561._SY75_.jpg|50370943]
6. [b:Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë|130346|Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë|Hilda D. Spear|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347798585l/130346._SY75_.jpg|46028536]
7. [b:The Well of Ascension|68429|The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480717596l/68429._SY75_.jpg|2120474]
8. [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone|8490112|Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)|Laini Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1461353773l/8490112._SY75_.jpg|13355552]
9. [b:A Good Girl's Guide to Murder|40916679|A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #1)|Holly Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545494980l/40916679._SY75_.jpg|63791847]
10. [b:Shuffle, Repeat|26067503|Shuffle, Repeat|Jen Klein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458716313l/26067503._SY75_.jpg|41155361]
11. [b:The Kingdom of Back|45872054|The Kingdom of Back|Marie Lu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562771370l/45872054._SY75_.jpg|55261587]
12. [b:Empress of a Thousand Skies|30269126|Empress of a Thousand Skies (Empress of a Thousand Skies, #1)|Rhoda Belleza|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485697898l/30269126._SY75_.jpg|47512648]
13. [b:The Gilded Wolves|39863498|The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525714353l/39863498._SY75_.jpg|53547018]
14. [b:Scavenge the Stars|42248816|Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551991682l/42248816._SY75_.jpg|65856486]
15. [b:King of Fools|37545571|King of Fools (The Shadow Game, #2)|Amanda Foody|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530205230l/37545571._SY75_.jpg|59149219]
16. [b:Clap When You Land|52516332|Clap When You Land|Elizabeth Acevedo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570558443l/52516332._SX50_SY75_.jpg|68292349]
17. [b:Time of Our Lives|40076537|Time of Our Lives|Emily Wibberley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561399215l/40076537._SY75_.jpg|62110766]
18. [b:The Bone Witch|30095464|The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch, #1)|Rin Chupeco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592725583l/30095464._SX50_.jpg|47934504]
19. [b:The Devil's Thief|38336563|The Devil's Thief (The Last Magician, #2)|Lisa Maxwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519248756l/38336563._SY75_.jpg|59995337]
20. [b:You Should See Me in a Crown|50160619|You Should See Me in a Crown|Leah Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568912283l/50160619._SX50_SY75_.jpg|69288604]
21. [b:This Was Our Pact|40864829|This Was Our Pact|Ryan Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1536917259l/40864829._SX50_.jpg|65285306]
22. [b:And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1)|Kiersten White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449153532l/27190613._SY75_.jpg|41682914]
23. [b:The Last Time We Say Goodbye|17285330|The Last Time We Say Goodbye|Cynthia Hand|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403710453l/17285330._SX50_.jpg|23904471]
24. [b:Lovely War|44107480|Lovely War|Julie Berry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554392694l/44107480._SX50_.jpg|63030536]
Best book of 2020 - Pride and Prejudice
Most hated book of 2020 - The Hobbit
Worst book of 2020 - When Dimple Met Rishi
Longest book of 2020 - [b:Star Crossed: 7 Novels of Space Exploration, Alien Races, Adventure, and Romance|42243247|Star Crossed 7 Novels of Space Exploration, Alien Races, Adventure, and Romance|Christine Pope|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539007337l/42243247._SX50_.jpg|65849742]
New favorite author - [a:Jane Austen|1265|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1588941810p2/1265.jpg]
New favorite series - The Lunar Chronicles - Read 3 of 4 main books; Cinder, [b:Scarlet|13206760|Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470056982l/13206760._SY75_.jpg|18390691], [b:Cress|13206828|Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470057005l/13206828._SY75_.jpg|18390772], [b:Winter|13206900|Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470057036l/13206900._SX50_.jpg|18390887]
Best 2020 release - How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
*2.75
At this point, this book is must-read/gateway ticket for the YA Fantasy genre. What I mean by that is, if you like YA Fantasy, this book should be on of the starting books you read. Or at least, that’s what I’ve heard from other people. I’ve been avidly reading YA, especially Fantasy, for 2 and a half years now, and I still haven’t got around to this book, until this month.
I wouldn’t say this book is bad, based on my rating, but I was also a bit disappointed. I’ve had this book recommended to me on numerous occasions. From some of my irl friends, booktubers, and even my Goodreads friends. Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed. To be fair, my expectations were on a god tier level so I guess I don’t really have anyone to blame but myself, but it still doesn’t wash away the pitiful despair of something similar to fraud. Ok I’ll shut up now because I sound like a soap opera script
This book follows a girl called Scarlett and her sister Tella. Scarlett has always wanted to go to this magical carnival game called Caraval, and so she writes letters to the wring master/leader/head, Legend, from ages 9 to 17 for a ticket for Tella and herself to go to this carnival. She doesn’t receive a reply, until a week before her wedding. Scarlett decides that she will not disobey her duty, and her abusive father but her sister, Tella, has other plans. Scarlett, Tella, and a guy named Julian, embark on the adventure to Caraval. But when they arrive, Scarlett’s sister is gone, until she realizes, Tella is all part of the game.
This book had so much potential than what it was given. I’m not saying this book is bad, but there were so many things that could have been better.
For example, Scarlett is really really stupid. And her stupidity is actually a plot device because with her idiocy, she does some really dumb things that enhance the plot. The plot wouldn’t move forward if Scarlett wasn’t an idiot, which definitely could have been done...a different way. I’m not lying when I say Scarlett is a really really stupid character. She’s naive, and you can argue that’s she’s been on an island her whole life, but Tella isn’t anywhere near niave? Scarlett, even though she claims has been protecting her sister for years, and not trusting her father for years, suddenly trusts the first pretty boy she sees? Umm anyways.
Scarlett also has about as much common sense as a fish. The whole, gold fish have a short memory, I know has been a debunked theory for awhile, but let’s talk about a bass for example. So let’s say a bass is swimming with their friends, and the friends see four fish hooks in the water. Bass A sees the bait on one of the said fish hooks, and says to his friends (In bubble language of course) “I’m going in for dessert suckers.” Bass A goes in for dessert, and gets jerked to the surface. The other bass are terrified, but then bass B decides that even though Bass A (his best mate) gets jerked to the surface, it’s a good idea for him too. Now this analogy describes Scarlett’s brain function. At one point Scarlett is told by, not one, not two, but three (her gut is three), people that she shouldn’t do something. It’s dangerous. Yet, the idiot still does it. And then she’s so surprised it ended badly.
Scarlett also describes herself as, plain, ugly, and not as pretty as Tella because even though she has, “flowing brown hair, pouty lips, and high cheekbones” she couldn’t possibly be pretty. Give me a break.
The writing in here was also...weird. It’s very pretty, I’ll give the author that, but some metaphors make absolutely no sense. Similar to the book Shatter Me, which has a stomach roiling amount of eye descriptions, and loss of brain cells from the metaphors, this book has similar metaphors and weird descriptions. To be fair, I shouldn’t really be comparing the two, because Shatter Me is a garbage induced dumpster fire, but the descriptions have the same flowery prose and writing.
The world building in here is also, nonexistent. I remember reading The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Choski earlier in the year (June or July I think), and I hated that book. One of the reasons is because the world building is absolutely desolate. The world building in here is similar, and where this doesn’t have a knock off twist from Daughter of Smoke and Bone (yes I’m condescendingly looking at you for being entirely unoriginal, The Star Touched Queen) in here the world building is the same. We have an island, that’s conquered, by someone that was mentioned once I think. We don’t know who it belonged to before, or how they were conquered. We have another island, which Caraval resides on. We don’t know where this island is either, only that it takes a day or two to get back to the conquered one. We also don’t know anything about the oceans, or rulers, or rules that said islands and places enforce. Yeah, that’s about as much world building as this has.
Tella is also the worst character in this book. I ripped Scarlett a new one for her stupidity, and her I’m so ugly and plain, I’m not like other girls bullshit, but I’m going to rip Tella a new one for being a terrible person, sister, and a bitch. Tella is a terrible sister. Scarlett loves Tella with everything she is, (even though she doesn’t have any brains, she has a heart), and you can tell Tella gives zero shits about her in return. I know we’re supposed to feel that way about Tella’s character, because “she’s hard on the surface, but caring on the inside”. I know that’s what you were going for author. It didn’t work. I’m sorry, but it didn’t work. Tella is a bitch, and a terrible person, and I don’t think book 2 will justify her terrible personality.
Julian was my favorite character in this whole book, because 1 he’s described as really hot, so how can I not like that? That may make me shallow, but I don’t care. And 2, he has a cute personality.
While I make all of these criticisms I actually think I’ll continue on with the series. This book is described as something I’ll definitely hate. And yeah, while I was annoyed with the points I made above, I was still swept into Caraval as a world. Even though their is no world building, and many of the plot points lean heavily on Scarlett to be an absolute idiot, this was still very fun and cool. I guessed some plot twists, but others I was absolutely shocked by others, which definitely made me continue. This book is definitely one you can binge, because yeah even though their is no world building, the world is really easy to delve yourself in because of the writing. I don’t know when I will continue on with this, but at some point I’ll pick up Legend.
At this point, this book is must-read/gateway ticket for the YA Fantasy genre. What I mean by that is, if you like YA Fantasy, this book should be on of the starting books you read. Or at least, that’s what I’ve heard from other people. I’ve been avidly reading YA, especially Fantasy, for 2 and a half years now, and I still haven’t got around to this book, until this month.
I wouldn’t say this book is bad, based on my rating, but I was also a bit disappointed. I’ve had this book recommended to me on numerous occasions. From some of my irl friends, booktubers, and even my Goodreads friends. Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed. To be fair, my expectations were on a god tier level so I guess I don’t really have anyone to blame but myself, but it still doesn’t wash away the pitiful despair of something similar to fraud. Ok I’ll shut up now because I sound like a soap opera script
This book follows a girl called Scarlett and her sister Tella. Scarlett has always wanted to go to this magical carnival game called Caraval, and so she writes letters to the wring master/leader/head, Legend, from ages 9 to 17 for a ticket for Tella and herself to go to this carnival. She doesn’t receive a reply, until a week before her wedding. Scarlett decides that she will not disobey her duty, and her abusive father but her sister, Tella, has other plans. Scarlett, Tella, and a guy named Julian, embark on the adventure to Caraval. But when they arrive, Scarlett’s sister is gone, until she realizes, Tella is all part of the game.
This book had so much potential than what it was given. I’m not saying this book is bad, but there were so many things that could have been better.
For example, Scarlett is really really stupid. And her stupidity is actually a plot device because with her idiocy, she does some really dumb things that enhance the plot. The plot wouldn’t move forward if Scarlett wasn’t an idiot, which definitely could have been done...a different way. I’m not lying when I say Scarlett is a really really stupid character. She’s naive, and you can argue that’s she’s been on an island her whole life, but Tella isn’t anywhere near niave? Scarlett, even though she claims has been protecting her sister for years, and not trusting her father for years, suddenly trusts the first pretty boy she sees? Umm anyways.
Scarlett also has about as much common sense as a fish. The whole, gold fish have a short memory, I know has been a debunked theory for awhile, but let’s talk about a bass for example. So let’s say a bass is swimming with their friends, and the friends see four fish hooks in the water. Bass A sees the bait on one of the said fish hooks, and says to his friends (In bubble language of course) “I’m going in for dessert suckers.” Bass A goes in for dessert, and gets jerked to the surface. The other bass are terrified, but then bass B decides that even though Bass A (his best mate) gets jerked to the surface, it’s a good idea for him too. Now this analogy describes Scarlett’s brain function. At one point Scarlett is told by, not one, not two, but three (her gut is three), people that she shouldn’t do something. It’s dangerous. Yet, the idiot still does it. And then she’s so surprised it ended badly.
Scarlett also describes herself as, plain, ugly, and not as pretty as Tella because even though she has, “flowing brown hair, pouty lips, and high cheekbones” she couldn’t possibly be pretty. Give me a break.
The writing in here was also...weird. It’s very pretty, I’ll give the author that, but some metaphors make absolutely no sense. Similar to the book Shatter Me, which has a stomach roiling amount of eye descriptions, and loss of brain cells from the metaphors, this book has similar metaphors and weird descriptions. To be fair, I shouldn’t really be comparing the two, because Shatter Me is a garbage induced dumpster fire, but the descriptions have the same flowery prose and writing.
The world building in here is also, nonexistent. I remember reading The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Choski earlier in the year (June or July I think), and I hated that book. One of the reasons is because the world building is absolutely desolate. The world building in here is similar, and where this doesn’t have a knock off twist from Daughter of Smoke and Bone (yes I’m condescendingly looking at you for being entirely unoriginal, The Star Touched Queen) in here the world building is the same. We have an island, that’s conquered, by someone that was mentioned once I think. We don’t know who it belonged to before, or how they were conquered. We have another island, which Caraval resides on. We don’t know where this island is either, only that it takes a day or two to get back to the conquered one. We also don’t know anything about the oceans, or rulers, or rules that said islands and places enforce. Yeah, that’s about as much world building as this has.
Tella is also the worst character in this book. I ripped Scarlett a new one for her stupidity, and her I’m so ugly and plain, I’m not like other girls bullshit, but I’m going to rip Tella a new one for being a terrible person, sister, and a bitch. Tella is a terrible sister. Scarlett loves Tella with everything she is, (even though she doesn’t have any brains, she has a heart), and you can tell Tella gives zero shits about her in return. I know we’re supposed to feel that way about Tella’s character, because “she’s hard on the surface, but caring on the inside”. I know that’s what you were going for author. It didn’t work. I’m sorry, but it didn’t work. Tella is a bitch, and a terrible person, and I don’t think book 2 will justify her terrible personality.
Julian was my favorite character in this whole book, because 1 he’s described as really hot, so how can I not like that? That may make me shallow, but I don’t care. And 2, he has a cute personality.
While I make all of these criticisms I actually think I’ll continue on with the series. This book is described as something I’ll definitely hate. And yeah, while I was annoyed with the points I made above, I was still swept into Caraval as a world. Even though their is no world building, and many of the plot points lean heavily on Scarlett to be an absolute idiot, this was still very fun and cool. I guessed some plot twists, but others I was absolutely shocked by others, which definitely made me continue. This book is definitely one you can binge, because yeah even though their is no world building, the world is really easy to delve yourself in because of the writing. I don’t know when I will continue on with this, but at some point I’ll pick up Legend.