2019 EOY Book Survey

Jamie, The Perpetual Page Turner created this EOY Book Survey. I've participated several years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), and 2018. I enjoy the survey so much that I am here again for 2019. I've discussed in the past how difficult narrowing down these are for me, but I'm going to try to do better keeping each category to one selection. Some of these get out of hand. Oh and feel free to join in and do your own survey. Just link back to Jamie.

2019 Reading Stats

128 books read so far (including a few children's books)
0 book re-read
Genre Read the Most From? Adult (for the first time in the history of my blog) & Contemporary by only 3 books more than Historical fiction (which is an all time high for my blog as well)

Books

1. Best book you read?

Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend - the only book I rated 5 Stars in 2019.

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter
A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Hunter
The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, # 1) by Kiersten White

3. Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read?

With This Pledge (Carnton, # 1) by Tamera Alexander

4. Book you read that you recommended to people the most?

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, # 1) by Darynda Jones

5. Best series discovered? Best Sequel? Best series ender?

Series: Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones

Sequel: Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, # 2) by Darynda Jones
Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson, # 6) by Darynda Jones
Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson, # 7) by Darynda Jones
The Curse on Tenth Grave (Charley Davidson, # 10) by Darynda Jones
The Trouble with Twelfth Grave (Charley Davidson, # 12) by Darynda Jones

Ender: Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3) by Jenny Han
Maybe Now (Maybe, # 2) by Colleen Hoover

6. Favorite new author you discovered?

Darynda Jones

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

The Royals series # 1-3.5 (Paper Princess, Broken Prince, Twisted Palace, Tarnished Crown) by Erin Watt - I hated that I liked these books.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book?

Shadow Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 2) by Jennifer Anne Davis (finished the fastest of all the books I've read in 2019)

9. Book you read that you are most likely to re-read next year?

No time for re-reads probably.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read?

Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, # 1) by Robin LaFevers

11. Most memorable character?

Charley Davidson

12. Most beautifully written book read?

With This Pledge (Carnton, # 1) by Tamera Alexander

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you?

Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL this year to finally read?

Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, # 6) by Sarah J Maas

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read?

There were no huge moments that blew me away, but I did have several small quotes that I'd like to share.

-My wife is not as fickle as a flame. She is an ocean. I knew from the first that I cannot own her, cannot take her, but I am the only storm that moves her depths and stirs her tides. (Iron Gold by Pierce Brown)

-To be driven to such extremes, loving wholeheartedly and desperately wishing for a minute alone? Or was she being selfish? Either way, God bless each and every self-sacrificing mother on the planet. (The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep)

-"Is she beautiful?" Dagmar frowned, startled. "I don't know, Master. She is ... frightening. And dirty. And sad. But ... she could be beautiful if ... someone ... loved her." (The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon)

-"...he'd found himself already making peace with death, something he'd done many times over the past three years. But making peace with death was a tricky thing because death wasn't something one merely acknowledged once and then it was done. Death was stealthy, shadowed and cloaked. And above all, unreliable. Just when you were certain you were done for--that death had tapped you on the shoulder and your last breath was only a breath away--death would slip right past you." (With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander)

-"And sometimes, in remembering, I catch glimpses of who I was then and can see myself more truthfully than I did at the time. Which, in turn, sheds light on who I have become, and how far I still have to go to become who I hope to be in Christ before I die, if that makes any sense." (With this Pledge by Tamera Alexander)

-"Sometimes," she continued, staring into the fire, "life on this side of the veil is far more difficult than I think it should be. Especially for those of us who belong to God. But then again, his promises do not eliminate suffering." ..."And yet, with all my heart," she continued, "I trust that God knows best." A slow, almost sad smile turned her mouth. "Even in those moments when I'm fairly certain I might know better." (With this Pledge by Tamera Alexander)

-What a weighty treasure parenthood was. To have the ability to whisper to a child, "Everything will be all right," and have them believe you without question. Even though it really wasn't within your power to make that promise. (With this Pledge by Tamera Alexander)

16. Shortest and longest book you read?

Longest: Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, # 6) by Sarah J Maas - 664 pages
Shortest (not including children's books): Tarnished Crown (The Royals, # 3.5) by Erin Watt - 168 pages

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it? (Updated to: Book that shocked you the most?)

The Charley Davidson series. I'm dying for my IRL reading friends to pick up this series.

18. Favorite relationship from a book you read (romantic)?

Charley & Reyes

Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

19. Favorite relationship (non-romantic) from a book you read?

Charley & Cookie

Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

20. Favorite book you read from an author you’ve read previously?

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

21. Best book you read that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?

Paper Princess (The Royals, # 1) by Erin Watt

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read?

Reyes for sure!!!!

23. Best debut you read?

How do you guys even remotely keep up with debut authors? This question kind of miffs me every year because I just don't pay attention to whether an author is brand new or one who has published 57 books before.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read?

The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon

25. Book that was the most fun to read?

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry?

Daughters of the Northern Shores (Blackbird Mountain, # 2) by Joanne Bischof
With This Pledge (Carnton, # 1) by Tamera Alexander

27. Book you read that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?

A Proper Scandal by Esther Hatch (only 167 reviews on Goodreads at the time of this post)

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown - I don't know if "crushed my soul" is the proper term, but this book had some incredibly sad moments and wasn't very hopeful where it ended.

29. Most Unique Book You Read?

The Keto All Day Cookbook by Martina Šlajerová - I never read cookbooks.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

A Modest Independence (Parish Orphans of Devon, # 2) by Mimi Matthews
Beasts of the Frozen Sun (Frozen Sun Saga, # 1) by Jill Criswell

Blogging

1. New favorite book blog you discovered?

Honestly, I haven't had the time I'd like to visit other blogs. Again, it's the stage of life that I'm in. Perhaps soon, I'll have a new favorite blog to share with you guys.

2. Favorite review you wrote?

Iron Gold (Red Rising, # 4) by Pierce Brown

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Honestly, I hate it, but I didn't get any discussion posts done this year, and I didn't have any reviews receive a substantial amount of comments like I had last year.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signing, festivals, virtual events, meme’s, etc)

N/A

5. Best moment of book blogging/your book life this year?

Exceeding my reading goal is always a good thing. I've been trying to keep things on kind of an even-kill until I move into a different season of life that allows for more focus on reading and blogging..

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Well keeping up really. I did great with my reading goals, but with life, being Mom is much more important than reading or blogging. So often times I'd have to put one or other to the side.

7. Most popular post this year on your blog (views or comments)?

Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors

8. Post you wished got a little more love?

Since I didn't have any of my other features (From the Ashes, Upon Further Review, Discussions Only We Know, or Mountains Out of Molehills) this year, I guess any post would do. I love the engagement I get, but who would complain about more?

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, stores)?

Again...no new real discoveries this year.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of the year?

My Goodreads challenge (128 books of 52), Series Enders Reading Challenge (6 of 5-10 books), Reading the Bible in a Year (Succeeded)

Looking ahead…

1. One book you didn’t get to this year but will be your number 1 priority next year?

Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas

2. Book you are most anticipating next year (non-debut)?

Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm, # 3) by Jennifer Anne Davis (probably because I JUST finished book 2 before completing this survey)

3. Debut from next year you are most anticipating?

No debuts are currently on my radar I don't think. Or they might be, but I really don't make note of that when I'm adding to my TBR list.

4. Series ending you are more anticipating next year? Sequel?

Sequel: Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger, # 2) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Ender: Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness, # 2) by Robin LaFevers

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging next year?

This has been my main goal for the last four years...Just keep going. With dwindling time to read and blog I'm hoping to just hang tight and keep doing the best that I can until another season in life comes that will allow me more time to do both.

6. A Release from Next Year You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

What would your answers be to the 2019 EOY Book Survey? Leave me your link so I can check out your post. Or just leave me a comment! Let me know!