Favorite Books in Each Genre

The last 365 days or so I’ve made a big effort to read more in a variety of genres. The result is that I’ve read some amazing books that I would never have read before! So I thought I would take some time to share with you all my favorite book from each genre.

Literary Fiction: Bel Canto

If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you’re probably tired of hearing about Bel Canto. But I’m going to tell you again anyway. In an unnamed South American Country, a group of rich industrialists get together for a birthday dinner/concert. A group of guerrilla terrorists show up to kidnap the president of the country, who isn’t there. Their indecision leads them to being stuck with a hundred hostages when the military shows up. The terrorists and the businessmen get to know each other, form friendships, and even fall in love. It’s beautiful, it’s heartbreaking, it’s just wonderful.

2019 in Review

I think I speak for everyone when I say THANK GOD 2019 IS OVER. Golly, this has been a stressful and difficult year for me, to say nothing of the state of the social internet. But I’m so excited about 2020 and what it’s going to bring for me professionally, personally, and as a blogger.

It’s been an interesting year for me here at my third year at Never Not Reading. I set an all-time personal record, reading 74 books this year (mostly thanks to my children’s and young adult literature class). I “discovered” graphic novels and non-fiction. But I haven’t been blogging much. Non-review posts have basically dropped off my blog altogether this semester, and my bookstagram has come to a screeching halt a whopping three times this year. So the blog has had its ups and downs.

So thanks, y’all, for reading. This community is so amazing and supportive, and I love every one of y’all.

So! Let’s get to wrapping this year up!

Top 10 of 2019

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See full post here.

Top 10 of 2019

Wow, what a year! This might be my best year for reading ever. Which I’m pretty sure I said that last year too, but it’s even more true this year. I read so many books that could have been on this list. Six 5-star books is an all-time record for me, and there were countless four-star books that were a HIGH four stars. For the last three or four months every time I’ve had to bump a book off the list it’s been such a difficult decision. The books that did make the list have been re-arranged multiple times. For the first time since I’ve started blogging, this could have been a Top 20 list.

Yet, alas, for some reason I limit myself to a Top 10. So without any additional rambling, here they are, my favorite books of the year.

1. Bel Canto by Ann Patchet

This book gave me ALL of the feels. I connected with it on such a deep emotional level. Bonus points for the love of music that permeated the novel.

What Makes the Perfect October Read?

There’s just something about October, isn’t there?

Even before our odd 2010s obsession with pumpkin spice and leggings, October had always been my favorite month. There’s just something in the air, this crispness, that isn’t there at any other time of year. Also, Halloween remains my favorite holiday, even (maybe) more than Christmas. I love costumes and dressing up, and there’s something so magical about the excitement on a child’s face when they get the perfect costume.

October is just the best.

The last few years I’ve been in the mood for a certain kind of book in October. It’s not necessarily a genre, though I know lots of people read mysteries, thriller, or horror in October. It’s more of a … feel. A mood. I don’t know if I can adequately explain it, but I’m sure going to try!

A little creepy or off

I don’t like scary books at ALL, but in October I love to read something where things are just a little edgy. There’s a tension, a creep-factor, missing from the average book. Enough to give you goosebumps, but not enough to keep you up at night. In October I eat that up.

Mid-Year Freak Out Tag – 2019 Edition

I’ve done this tag the last two years, and since I don’t do monthly wrap-ups and the like, I think that I really enjoy this way of giving myself a year-so-far summary. I’ve had plans to do this post for a week or so, but after being tagged by The Orangutan Librarian I’ve decided to bump it up to now. 🙂

Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2019

I haven’t ranted and raved about Bel Cano the way I’ve wanted to, mostly because I haven’t been around all that much so far this year. But y’all. THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. I am so in love. So many feels.

Review: The Psychology of Time Travel

The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas

Genre: Science Fiction
Maturity Level: 4
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

In 1967, four female scientists worked together to build the world’s first time machine. But just as they are about to debut their creation, one of them suffers a breakdown, putting the whole project—and future of time travel—in jeopardy. To protect their invention, one member is exiled from the team—erasing her contributions from history.

Fifty years later, time travel is a big business. Twenty-something Ruby Rebello knows her beloved grandmother, Granny Bee, was one of the pioneers, though no one will tell her more. But when Bee receives a mysterious newspaper clipping from the future reporting the murder of an unidentified woman, Ruby becomes obsessed: could it be Bee? Who would want her dead? And most importantly of all: can her murder be stopped?

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Ohmygosh THIS BOOK. It is not in any way an exaggeration to say that this might be the best time travel book I’ve ever read. That’s right, ever.

My Summer TBR

SUMMER VACATION SNITCHES!!!!!!

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Hem. Excuse me. Let’s try get back to some semblance of decorum, please?

It’s no secret that teachers look forward to summer vacation just as much (probably more) than their students do. Personally my favorite part of summer vacation is not getting up at 5 AM, but spending time with my kids is a close second. And, obviously, reading a boat-load of books is always a highlight of my summer.

Over the years I’ve gotten into a few summer reading traditions.
1) Read a completed YA series that is *still* popular and that I’ve neglected
2) Read a book in the Lady Trent series
3) Catch up on new releases
4) Read at least 100 pages every day

While I’m a little bit of a mood reader, since I started using the library more I’ve had to start planning my tbr a little bit more in advanced. (I’ll write more about THAT this summer!) So I’ve already got a bit of a list. Plus I know what my YA series is going to be, plus a few other books that I know I want to get to. So here are, in absolutely no order whatsoever, some of the books I want to read this summer!

Anticipated Books: February 2019

Happy February y’all!

So far I’m doing pretty well with my 2019 reading goals, but I’m sad to say of all of my anticipated January releases, I only got to two. Meh, what can you expect when you have work, school, and kids?

February is looking to be even more exciting for books. How is that even possible? Check out some of the books I’m the most excited about coming out this month:

Enchantee by Grita Trelease

February 5 (Available Now!)
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries—and magicians…

When smallpox kills her parents, Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail, naive sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic—la magie ordinaire—Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

With dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine’ and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. There, she gambles at cards, desperate to have enough to keep herself and her sister safe. Yet the longer she stays at court, the more difficult it becomes to reconcile her resentment of the nobles with the enchantments of Versailles. And when she returns to Paris, Camille meets a handsome young balloonist—who dares her to hope that love and liberty may both be possible.

But la magie has its costs. And when Camille loses control of her secrets, the game she’s playing turns deadly. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, freedom or magic—before Paris burns…