Not only are we approaching the end of 2019, but also the end of a decade, which feels pretty monumental if you think about it. I don’t think I remember enough about the books I read ten years ago in order to write a ‘decade in review’ post, but I do remember plenty about the books I read throughout this year.
Per usual, I’ll be posting about my Goodreads Reading Challenge as well as sharing my answers to a Statistics Survey I found on Read and Treats‘s blog in 2016. Also, you’ll be happy to know I actually wrote this yesterday and scheduled it for tonight, so I am not writing this last-minute while my party guests wonder where I am. Go me!
You’ll also be happy to know that this year I did reach (AND SURPASS) my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal!!!!

Last year, I read a disappointing 38 books, severely missing my goal of 50 books. I set my goal as 50 again this year, and somehow wound up reading a whopping 62 books. You cannot imagine how over the moon I am about this right now. This has been my best year in reading for a long time now. Check out my stats!


And now, some more stats, courtesy of Read and Treats ❤

2019 in Books

- Number of books read…
- Under 250 pages: 14
- Between 400-449 pages: 6
- Between 450-499 pages: 3
- Over 500 pages: 4
- Over 1000 pages: 0
- Number of…
- Audiobooks: 31
- Re-reads: 0
- DNFs: 9
- Number of books rated…
- Five Stars: 20
- One/Two Stars: 10
- Number of authors met in 2019: 0
- Number of book events attended in 2019: 0
- Number of books you read in one day: 8
- Number of books that made you cry: 7
- Number of 2020 books you have on pre-order: 0

- Book read furthest away from home (vacation reads?): No vacation this year (again), but I did read Dark Matter at my girlfriend’s family’s house in West Virginia. That’s only a state away, but it counts.
- Book that took you the longest to read: The Catcher in the Rye
- Book that you personally connected with the most: They Both Die at the End. Not only was the story so dear to my heart, but I really related to Mateo more than I generally do with characters in books.
- Book that made you love the villain: You. I’m sorry, guys, I know Joe is a serial killer but I can’t get enough of him. He is my favorite person! I know, I know… But I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this.
- Book you said you’d come back to but still haven’t picked up again: Moby Dick. I started it in 2016 and still haven’t gotten past the first 200 pages. In fact, I haven’t picked it up since 2016….
- Book you read waaaay before it’s publication date: I mean, not waaaaaaaay before, but I did read The Vanishing Stair, like, a day before it was published! And I adored it.
- Book you read on your birthday: On a Sunbeam.
- Book with a character who shares your name: I still didn’t find an Alyssa 😦
- Book you weren’t entirely truthful about when rating (Fluff up any ratings? Rated even though you didn’t finish?): None. I definitely am honest in my reviews.
- Book you read in 2019 but already want to re-read: Ummmm the entire Illuminae Files series, tbh.
- Book you borrowed from a friend a long time ago and still have: I borrowed Dracula from my very first boyfriend and never gave it back… Kaleb, if you’re reading this, I have your book…
- Book you which you could go back and read for the first time again: Obsidio!!! That book!!!!! It left me dead.
- Most books read by one author this year: Gayle Forman — 4 books.

- Happiest & saddest: P.S. I Like You | They Both Die at the End
- Longest & shortest…
- By page number: The Goldfinch | Diary of an AssCan
- By title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle | You
- From buying to reading: Caraval | Wilder Girls
- Best & worst…
- Average rating on Goodreads: J.O.Y. Journal | The Sandcastle Empire
- Books you read/your rating: Obsidio | The Catcher in the Rye
- Series enders: Obsidio — The Illuminae Files | Just One Night — Just One Day
- First & last…
- Reads of 2019: Speak No Evil | Cat’s Cradle
- Books on your bookcase (1st book on the top left and last book on the bottom right): The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy |
- Most disappointing & biggest pleasant surprise: The Fever Code | The Knife of Never Letting Go
- Series you picked up & series you quit: I picked up quite a few series this year… To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Just One Day, Caraval, You, The Umbrella Academy, and Chaos Walking. I didn’t quit any, though!
- Most hyped & furthest under the radar that you read: The Catcher in the Rye | J.O.Y. Journal

- Book you read that is red: The Vanishing Stair
- Starts with X, Y, or Z: You
- Book you hugged when you finished it: Obsidio
- Book you wanted to throw across a room: Obsidio (and actually DID throw across my bed)
- Food you craved while/after reading a certain book: Ugh. Mexican food while reading What if It’s Us.
- Book that became an instant go-to recommendation: The Prince and the Dressmaker
- Furthest out of your comfort zone: Speak No Evil
- Read on a recommendation (that you may not have picked up yourself): J.O.Y Journal
- Forced yourself to finish: The Catcher in the Rye
- Series or author’s works you binged (whether all at once or throughout the year): Shirley Jackson!

- First…
- Post of 2019: 2019 Book-to-Film Adaptations
- Review of 2019: Speak No Evil
- Last…
- Post of 2019: This one!
- Review of 2019: The Ask and the Answer
- Number of posts in 2019: 89
- Number of reviews posted this year: 66
- Post with the most views (posted in 2019): Dream Casting “Wilder Girls”
What a year. I’m currently ringing in the new year with homemade crunchwraps and strawberry sangria! I hope you’re NYE is just as great, or better. Though I have to say, I really wouldn’t mind celebrating with a glass of wine and a new book…
Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone. Please share your own yearly wrap-ups! And have a great night!
Congrats on the great reading year!
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Thank you so much!! ❤️
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You’re welcome!
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