Staying strong on Day 4 of Project 14 Lists! This is surprising me more than it should. Where this energy is coming from is beyond me. Anyways, Project 14 Lists was created by Shealea from That Bookshelf Bitch , a blogging event happening from December 18 to 31. It challenges bloggers by coming up with creative bookish/blogging list ideas, and on each day, write a list and post it on their respective blogs.
For today’s list, I want to feature the books that I wish I read in 2018. What a year it has been. A few days away from Christmas, and here I am nonchalant about preparations and instead gearing for what I want to happen next year. As I continuously reflect, it can be reiterated that it is a year full of what if’s. I started the year not knowing what to expect, especially since I tried to be as lowkey as possible with new releases. But then I started to take a direction with the books that I wanted to read and ended up having the best time ever. I want to explain the full details of this ~project~ on a separate post, but this is sort of a preliminary explanation for that. I wanted a majority of the books listed below to be a part of the direction that this reading year took. Unfortunately, being both a slow and a mood reader always has its drawbacks. It was hard to narrow this list down because there’s so much more that I want to read. Realistically speaking however, this is more plausible.
The list is separated into two groups: 1) Books that were highly recommended by bloggers who I trust wholeheartedly with their reviews, and 2) Books that were personally on my radar and / or books that I was planning to read in 2018 but didn’t get to because the life of being a mood reader is hard. Now let’s get on with the books!
Want by Cindy Pon (Recommended by: CW from The Quiet Pond)
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (Recommended by: JM from Book Freak Revelations)
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan (Recommended by: Shealea from That Bookshelf Bitch)
Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi (Recommended by: Marie from Drizzle Hurricane Books)
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan (Recommended by: Cait from Paper Fury)
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Why I wanted to read it: I was drawn to it. I’ve had a copy for over a year now and I was convinced that I wouldn’t get to it until I actually have Muse of Nightmares at hand. Then my moodiness randomly made me pick it up and I had to resist the urge to drop everything after reading a few pages. This one is a classic example of bad timing. I had to prioritize other books over it, so now it will probably stay buried for the meantime until I get my hands on its sequel.
Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Why I wanted to read it: Something about the premise of this novel made me fall head-over-heels for it. Maybe it’s the Romeo and Juliet undertones. Maybe it’s the cover (very likely). Or maybe it was the MC’s misfortunes of having relationships that end with the other person finding their perfect half. I didn’t know that I authorized people to publish my biography. Kidding aside, I love a good contemporary read. (But it’s so darn pricey when it’s a new release and my wallet is dying.)
Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry
Why I wanted to read it: Probably a personal preference of mine, but I love it when a main character questions their personal beliefs. It validates the feeling that I believe we all encounter every now and then. So, if you can please direct me to a copy, that would be very helpful. Thank you.
My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Why I wanted to read it: It’s by the Lady Janies! I could not and would not shut up about My Lady Jane so it’s only natural that I would continue to support their future Jane books. Even though I haven’t read Jane Eyre, I feel severely attached to this book because of the historical undertones. Next to the Tudors, it’s the Georgians who take the cake. Alas, my paperback-loving self needs to appeased. (Which I kinda hate myself for.)
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Why I wanted to read it: Hello?? FELICITY *freakin* MONTAGUE. The lady who basically kicked ass and almost stole the show in the gentleman’s guide? That FELICITY. Not that I’m switching sides because I still absolutely adore the 18th century rascal that is Henry “Monty” Montague. But it’s Felicity we’re talking about.
And that’s about it for today’s list. Another day of wishful thinking and hopefully an ominous foreshadowing for the reading year that I will face in 2019. (Also, how gorgeous are the covers for these books?)
If I got to choose which book you read first from this list, it would be EMERGENCY CONTACT! I absolutely LOVED that book and it is probably my favourite from this list that I have read. I hope you get to all these books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the recommendation, Jamie! I’m definitely eyeing myself a copy when a sale comes and hopefully read it in all its glory. 💕
LikeLike
Want, My Plain Jane, and Girls of Paper and Fire are all on my list, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yay! Hopefully we’ll fulfill reading it by next year. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely list! I REALLY want to read Starfish and my plain Jane! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kelly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently read Starfish and really, really enjoyed it. I would love to read Always, Never, Yours, but I don’t have it and neither does my library. BOO
LikeLiked by 1 person
It brings a smile to my face that you enjoyed Starfish aghhhh. 😍 I would really love to read that book next year. Haha tbh we don’t even get YA titles here if we don’t personally request for it, but there’s probs still a chance for you. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
The books on this list are so interesting! I wanted to read Girls of Paper and Fire this year but didn’t because ugh, being a mood reader is genuinely not the best thing sometime. I have a hardback of My Plain Jane also and it’s waiting to be read XD I recently read Emergency Contact and it was fine for me. Loved reading this post ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy to hear that, Fanna! 💕 True, being a mood reader sucks but hey, maybe they’re just waiting to be read in 2019 so we can have a super awesome reading year. 😉
LikeLike
I have a similar huge list too because I’m too much of a mood reader….
I hope you love Lady’s Guide… it only made me love Monty more 😜😜😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
This maybe too ideal of me but I know we can conquer our lists! For the love of reading haha! 😊
Oh gosh. Hearing that just makes me want it more. 😭 I need me some more Monty. 💕 Thank you so much, Sahi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully we will conquer our lists someday 😊😊😊
And Monty is the most adorable ever.. I just kept wanting even more of him while reading the book 😍😍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am currently reading the astonishing colour of after. Hoping to read it before the year ends. Hope you get to read them next year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy reading with that wonderful book! Your current read sounds like you’re ending the year with a bang. 😉 Thank you, and I’m staying optimistic for it. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄 yeah I hope I enjoy it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oohh all these books look SO GOOD. I want to read them so bad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!! Cheering you on that you’ll be able to read them as well. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh this is a great idea for a post, I love it! And I’m so happy to see Emergency Contact here and that you want to read it because of my recommendation, this makes me so happy. Also, a big massive YAY for Always Never Yours, I loved that sweet contemporary so, so, so much ❤ I hope you'll get to read all of these next year! 🙂
LikeLike
I want to read Plain Jane 😅🌟
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy to hear that! Crossing our fingers that we can read it the soonest. 😉
LikeLike
please read strange the dreamer soon, it’s the best ever ever. i love laini taylor’s writing style. lyrical and whimsical.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will! Just waiting to get my hands on its sequel so I can binge read it. I’m actually hoping to get to Daughter of Smoke and Bone as well. 😍 I already know I’m going to love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes!! i can’t wait for you to read daughter of smoke and bone. it’s going to be epic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There were SO MANY books I didn’t get to in 2018. I still need to ready Our Lady Jane AND The Gentleman’s Guide… that’s how behind I am. It is shameful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No need to be ashamed, Lydia! We still have the next year to be enthusiastic about. 😊 We’ll be able to catch up soon!
LikeLike
I can so relate with being a mood reader! It just ruins my reading plans but oh well, we gotta be easy on ourselves, don’t we?
I wanted to read The Female of the Species and I even included it in a couple of monthly TBRs but I still haven’t picked it up. Oh, and Persuasion by Jane Austen, as well as Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë! By the way, pleaaase read Starfish in 2019! 😁😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
True! This moodiness is really ridiculous sometimes. It is a perk though, I believe, since our chances of picking a book we know we wouldn’t love are less.
I hope your reading experience with The Female of the Species will be fantastic! It really is amazing especially if you’re in the right mojo to read. I hope to read and enjoy Starfish in 2019, Salwa. Thank you so much for dropping by! 😊
LikeLike
I really wanted to read Jade City, The Bone Witch and Strange the Dreamer this year but I don’t think I’ll still get the chance now 😭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry, Rain! We still have next year to do so. We’re really going to kick ass with Asian titles next year! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
i haven’t read any of these but i also really want to read my plain jane! i love my lady jane so i have high hopes for that one. also i really need to read mackenzie lee’s previous book (i forgot the title haha) since i’ve been hearing good things. hope you get to read them all!
LikeLike
I wanted to read some of these too
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear that. I hope we can by next year. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too!! I got Girls of Paper and Fire for Christmas 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luckyyyy 💕❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait! The cover is gorgeous
LikeLike