2019 in Review

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!