I’m sitting on my mom’s couch at 1 AM watching Emma (2020) and it’s thundering outside. My dog, Mac, doesn’t like it very much, and despite being pretty damn wiped out from this week I’m finding it hard to sleep. So, I’ll write about books instead, while I listen to the rain tapping against the living room windows.
I didn’t really want to set a reading goal this year; instead of coming up with a concrete number I decided to keep track of how many books I’ve read, plain and simple. My goals are usually too lofty, I’ll admit that, and the past two years have really put a damper on my desire to read some months. I never thought reading would feel like a task as much as it has lately. Somehow I ended up mustering the energy to read right around 20 books; some of them were fairly thick reads, and I’d consider those like a two for one. Romance dominated more than any other genre, but I dipped my toes into fantasy and science fiction a bit more than usual this year.
Every book I read gets a rating out of five. I’ve never given much thought to what the scale means beyond making sense of it in my own head, but you can assume the following about a book based on my rating:
1 Star – Didn’t enjoy or didn’t finish. It’s pretty likely the story didn’t make sense, the characters were unlikable beyond redemption, or the writing didn’t knock my socks off.
2 Stars – It was okay. I made it to the end, but there were definitely some issues. Would only recommend to certain people.
3 Stars – I liked it. The story and characters were fine, maybe not memorable, but I had a good reading experience. Would recommend to someone if they enjoyed the genre or themes.
4 Stars – Very solid story with well-rounded, realistic characters. The writing kept me engaged and wanting to read more. Minor issues with how believable the story is or there’s a plot point I can’t get over.
5 Stars – Extremely engaging story and characters or the story has something important to say and sparks discussion. I couldn’t get enough of it and probably recommend it to everyone I talk to about books.
With that out of the way, here are some books I particularly enjoyed this year, and a few that were misses.
The Hits
Kindred by Octavia Butler – 5 Stars
Dana, a modern black woman, is inexplicably sent back to the antebellum South where she comes face to face with the brutal realities of slavery. It’s one thing to read about the horrific circumstances of the past and another thing entirely to go back in time to experience it. Dana spends much of her time reflecting on what it’s like to be a black woman in the two times she is torn between. Butler’s writing never shies away from the uncomfortable moments in our country’s history. This story illustrates how easy it can be to accept what society deems normal, even if you may not agree yourself, and how society perpetuates abusive systems. I’d recommend this to everyone, but especially readers who enjoy books with a bit of history or science fiction.
Verity by Colleen Hoover – 5 Stars
This one took me on a wild ride. I knew I was in for something crazy after reading the first chapter, and the more I read the more I found myself saying “what the fuck”. A ghost writer named Lowen comes on board to finish writing a successful series after its author, Verity, suffers from injuries due to a car accident. She was only supposed to spend a few days in her home, where Verity’s husband and son also live, to collect notes for the final few books. When Lowen stumbles upon a memoir written by Verity, containing some disturbing confessions, she begins to question what is real. I never saw this twist ending coming, and each turn of the plot made me feel more anxious than before. After the last page I still find myself contemplating what version of events actually happened.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas – 4.5 Stars (average)
Back in the spring, it was impossible to open up the internet without seeing pictures of this series all over the place. I’ve discovered I like fantasy romances after devouring all three books over the span of a couple months. I’ll keep the summary short. The faerie realm of Prythian is in danger after one of their own has taken over by force. Desperate to release the curse cast over their land, a faerie named Tamlin kidnaps a human girl, Feyre, agreeing to let her keep her life if she comes with him to the other side of the wall that separates their worlds. Turns out Feyre is the chosen one, big shocker. I loved the world building in this series, and the sexy men are a plus too, because there’s no shortage of those. The main cast of characters if a group you can’t help falling in love with.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – 4 Stars
Poppy and Alex have been the best unlikely friends since their freshman year of college, but of course this is a romance, and it’s much more complicated than that. The story bounces back and forth between present day, where Poppy makes one last desperate attempt to repair her friendship with Alex, and memorable vacations the two have taken in the past. If you like goofy humor and friends harboring feelings for each other then you’ll love this. I see this book as a love letter to all hopeless romantics and people who believe in the magic of second chances. Poppy and Alex felt like people I know in my own life; I appreciated how Henry didn’t shy away from their flaws. I just keep wondering why there aren’t more men like Alex Nilsen in the real world.
The Misses
The Roommate by Rosie Danan – 2 Stars
The plot had all the makings of a great book, yet the execution here was lacking. It involves a socialite, Clara, moving across the country to L.A. where she unknowingly cohabitates with a porn star, Josh. The two love interests didn’t work for me due to lack of chemistry and substance as individual characters. The plot was unbelievable, yet refreshing, and I can’t speak highly enough about the positivity in the writing surrounding sex work. I needed more character development to care about the romance, which was pretty lackluster beyond the ~spicy~ moments. Josh was charming as hell, and his off the charts charm made it impossible for me to see him with someone as guarded as Clara. I reward some points for originality, but this wasn’t a memorable read.
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz – 2 Stars
I just finished listening to the audio book for this a couple days ago. Two best friends, Emily and Kristen, being involved in two murder cover-ups was enough to catch my attention. I’m all for an unreliable narrator and last minute plot twist, but I had no idea what to think of the last bit. The entire time I was convinced I had it all worked out, mostly because Bartz spends the majority of the book coming up with reasons the reader should believe one of the friends may be a psychopath. My biggest complaint is how much time we spent inside Emily’s head while she dissects her entire friendship with Kristen. So many chapters were repetitive without revealing new information and it irritated me to no end. By the last few chapters of the book I was wondering if everyone was unhinged to some degree.
Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey – 1 Star
I was bamboozled by the buzz surrounding this one. It was talked about a lot by the staff of a local bookstore I love, and the unfortunate truth is I was disappointed by yet another romance. The main female character acted like an ignorant teenage girl, complained a whole lot about how no man can compare to fictional Tom Hanks characters, and was honestly really shallow. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t consider any of these characters to be particularly well-rounded. Winfrey’s book could have been one of those adorable, cliché romances I love to read in the winter, yet once again the chemistry is nearly nonexistent. I’d have loved to see the friendships fleshed out and a leading lady with a bit more sense and maturity.
This is just my two cents about these books, so don’t take it too seriously. Maybe next year I’ll get through the to be read shelf, yes I did say shelf, full of books I own. I might have to pay someone to bar the doors at the library next year so I can’t get in until I’ve finished reading every book I have.
The Rummy Writer 