2019 Archives - Brooke's Reviews and Sweeps

Hello! Today’s my 3rd Blogoversary for this web site (I’ve had a blog somewhere for about 20 years now), and it’s also time for one of my favorite posts of the year: my annual list of favorite books from the previous year. I count down my top 10 books that I read for the first time in the previous year, regardless of its release date. I also combine any series I read, if I think all the books in the series deserve favorite status.

Here’s last year’s list:

10. When Dimple Met Rishi/There’s Something About Sweetie – Sandhya Menon. Early last year, I went to the Colorado Teen Literature conference, where Sandhya Menon was one of the keynote speakers. Although I had heard of her before, I hadn’t read any of her books before. I read three of her books this year, and I get to be on her street team! These books were hilarious. I haven’t had the chance to read 10 Things I Hate About Pinky yet, otherwise that one might have been included on this list too.

9. Rebel – Beverly Jenkins. This list has some overlap with the top books of 2019 (which I posted yesterday), especially since I read a lot of new releases last year. I loved Rebel and would read more books from this author.

8. The Guinevere Deception – Kiersten White. This was one of two books that I read from Kiersten White this year. This is a King Arthur retelling with a strong and magical female lead. I’ll be looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

7. Spectacle – Jodie Lynn Zdrock. I think this book was one of the hidden gems from last year. It kept me up late into the night, because I didn’t want to put it down.

6. Ghosts of the Shadow Market – Cassandra Clare. One of the most anticipated books of 2020 for many people is Chain of Gold, the new book in The Last Hours series, which details the story of Will and Tess’s children, along with the other shadowhunters of their generation. Ghosts of the Shadow Market contains several short stories from Jem’s point of view.

5. The Grishaverse Books – Leigh Bardugo. One of the authors I really wanted to read last year was Leigh Bardugo. I liked the Grishaverse books so much that they ended up on my list this year. I also had the chance to read Ninth House and the Six of Crows duology.

4. Les Misérables – Victor Hugo. I’m guessing that there won’t be too many people in the blogosphere with Les Misérables on their top 10 list for the year. I read it for the first time last year though, and it was an excellent book, so it deserves a place on this list.

3. The Wicked King/The Queen of Nothing – Holly Black. 2019 was a year that was bookended with two great Holly Black releases: The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing. After I read the first book at the beginning of January, I really wanted to read the second (which was originally supposed to be released this year). They both came out this year, and both made my list.

2. Sky Without Stars – Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell. This was probably my surprise favorite of the year. It didn’t get a lot of hype, but when I read it, I absolutely adored it. I can’t wait until Between Burning Worlds comes out later this year, and I’m looking forward to rereading this book before it comes out.

1. Rebel – Marie Lu. This was not a surprise favorite, as Legend is one of my favorite books and I always wanted some closure for Day and June. I reread this book already. This was the ending to the series I was waiting for.

So there is the list of my favorite books that I read for the first time last year.

Hello, welcome to the final Top Ten Tuesday of 2019! It’s been a great reading year. Today’s Top Ten Tuesday Topic is supposed to be “Favorite Books I Read in 2019” but I normally release that list on January 1st, so today I’m doing my favorite 2019 releases, which is a slightly different list. There will be some overlap with tomorrow’s list. Anyway, here is the list!

10. Song of the Crimson Flower – Julie C. Dao. I absolutely loved this book. The main character, Bao, was sweet, and I loved the twist at the end. This is a great book if you’re looking for a happily ever after in a fantasy setting. I’d definitely read more books from her in the future.

9. There’s Something About Sweetie – Sandhya Menon. This is the second book in the When Dimple Met Rishi series. Rishi’s brother, Ashish, used to be a ladies’ man… until he fell in love. He hasn’t been able to get over his ex, and it’s even affecting his basketball. He ends up asking his parents for help. Sweetie goes to a school across town, and even though she’s a track star, her mother thinks she’s too fat to date an athlete. It was funny and I loved it.

8. Rebel – Beverly Jenkins. Rebel by Beverly Jenkins was one of two books with this title I read this year. I loved the main character in this book, who is a teacher who tries to teach black people to read in the years after the Civil War. I loved the historical setting, as well as the strength of the main character.

7. The Guinevere Deception – Kiersten White. Guinevere is on her way to marry King Arthur–but there’s more to her than everybody knows. As you read this story, you get to find out what her secrets are. I can’t give away too much without giving away spoilers, but I do plan on reading the second book.

6. Spectacle – Jodie Lynn Zdrock. Spectacle was a thrilling book that kept me up late the day I read it. I loved the historical setting that had me (virtually) running around the Parisian Catacombs.

5. Ghosts of the Shadow Market – Cassandra Clare and others. Chain of Gold‘s release date was pushed back until March, but I did get to read this great collection of short stories, whose dates range from right after The Infernal Devices to after The Queen of Air and Darkness. I plan on reading this book again before Chain of Gold comes out in March.

4. The Wicked King/The Queen of Nothing – Holly Black. I read The Wicked King on its release date on January 8th, and that ending! I wanted the next book right away. Fortunately, the release date for The Queen of Nothing was moved up to November from its original 2020 date. Since they both were released this year, they share a spot on my list of favorites from this year.

3. Sky Without Stars – Jessica Brody. I loved this story, which I got to read as an ARC and ended up buying after its release. This is one of those books I plan on reading before it’s sequel, Between Burning Worlds, comes out. I’ve already pre-ordered the sequel and can’t wait to read it.

2. Enchantée – Gita Trelease. Enchantée is the only book on this list that I didn’t read this year, and is not eligible for my list of top books I read for the first time in 2019. I loved this book, and while I’m sad that its sequel, Liberté, won’t be released on Bastille Day next year (it’ll be released in early 2021), I will read this book again before its sequel comes out.

1. Rebel – Marie Lu. There are two books on my favorite 2019 releases called Rebel, and it’s probably not a surprise that this book was my favorite. I just finished rereading this book, and I’m sure I’ll read it again at some point in the future.

So that’s the list of my favorite 2019 releases! There are a few more books I wished I could have added to this list, but I have to stop somewhere.

Tomorrow I release my favorite books I read for the first time in 2019, but next week for Top Ten Tuesday, we’re talking about our most anticipated releases for 2020!

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