Best Fiction I've Read This Year! | 2019 Yearly Rewind

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and instead of doing a mega-post of all my favorite books I read this year, I wanted to splice it up into four different categories. You'll see the best fiction, best non-fiction, best 2019 releases, and best romance books I've read this year, and there won't be any overlap/repeats!

Without further ado, here are my favorite fiction reads of this year, in no particular order! Keep in mind, not all of these are 2019 releases, but rather the books I read in 2019.

ADULT

Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Goodreads | IndieBound

If you want a book that is just full of energy and an all-around good time, then look no further than The Bookish Life of Nina Hill! Nina Hill just realized that she has a slew of family members when her biological father, who she has never known, passes away and leaves her as a beneficiary in his will. Cue a burgeoning romance, and you've got a lovely book!

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Goodreads | IndieBound

Such a Fun Age is my favorite book of the year! I sincerely can't recommend it enough, but if you need more incentive, you can read my review that was featured on the January 2020 Indie Next List.

BOOK REVIEW | Watch Over Me by Mila Gray

Title: Watch Over Me
Author: Mila Gray
Series? Watch Over Me is a part of a companion series, but you can read this as a standalone.
Pages: 352
Publication Date: December 3, 2019
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Source: I was provided an e-arc of Watch Over Me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

From the author of Come Back to Me comes a striking new novel about a young woman— desperately trying to protect her family from their violent father—who finds safety, and a passionate romance, with an ex-Marine.

Ever since Zoey was a kid she’s been caring for her mom and her little sister, defending them from her violent father. She’s been the strong one, the responsible one as she sacrificed her wants and dreams to keep her family together.

Now the life they’ve built for themselves in California is about to be upended. Her father, just released from prison, has discovered where they’re hiding and has come looking for them.

Enter Tristan. A former Marine and now member of the Coast Guard, Tristian promises his best friend, and Zoey’s Marine brother, that he will take care of Zoey and her family. Protect them, watch over them, and be the rock they need in their lives.

And as Tristan starts to help Zoey deal with the emotional fall out of her childhood, their relationship turns from protector to something more. The two grow closer as a romance blooms into a heart-pounding and powerful relationship that Zoey hopes will be strong enough to fight off the damage her father has done to her and her family.

But not everyone can be kept safe forever, and when Zoey’s father does show up, a confrontation ensues that will change Zoey’s world forever.

Goodreads |  Indie Bound

September, October, and November Wrap Up!

Hello everyone! Long time, no see! I'm Genni, and though it's been a hot minute since I've written on this lovely blog of mine, I wanted to say hello and talk about all the books I read in the last three months. . I haven't been doing too great at reading for fun, and most of what I do read isn't on goodreads (articles, chapters, bits and pieces of texts), so I am behind on my goodreads challenge. Here's hoping that I can squeeze my last twenty books in during Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks!

Without further ado, here are all the books I've read these past three months.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Romancing Mister Bridgerton is the fourth novel in Quinn's Bridgerton series, which I've been having so much listening to on audio. Though this one was fun, it was my least favorite so far, and I haven't picked up another in the series yet. However, I hope to begin listening to them again in the new year as I eagerly await Shonda Rhimes Netflix series! 

Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell

Anyone who thinks kids books are just for kids needs to read this book. Maybe Tomorrow is such a heartfelt and wonderful take on grief and friendship. And yes, I cried while reading it (are we surprised?). 

Watch Over Me by Mila Gray

The semester is in full swing, which basically means that it takes me a super long time to read books now. But that was not the case for Watch Over Me, which I read in one day. I opened it up on my kindle app, as I received the e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, and was immediately drawn in. Once again, Mila Gray delivers a heartfelt, sexy, and tender romance.

What I'm Currently Reading + Life Update!

Hello friends! Long time, no see! Welcome back (or to) my blog! Since I haven't been here in a hot minute, today's post is just a catch up. :)

To be honest, I've kind of hit a slump with reading and blogging. If y'all don't know, I have basically changed from predominately reading YA to reading adult romance. Since my reading tastes have shifted, I've felt kind of "off" about this blog; I started this when I was 16, and now I'm 20. Obviously in four years, I'm allowed to change, and I want this blog to, as well. So while I'll still be talking about books, the type of books might not be the same. You'll be seeing a lot more romance with some nonfiction and YA sprinkled in there. Also, I want this to be a place where I can express my opinion. I don't want it to always be about books, and while it predominately will be, don't be thrown off with new content!


Besides that lil' blogging update, I've been stuck in the middle of quite a few books. I stopped listening to Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren just over halfway through. Don't get me wrong, I was really, really enjoying it. CL is one of my favorite authors, and I'm determined to finish up their series this year. I just got way too overwhelmed with life to continue the audiobook at the moment. Plus, another book caught my eye...


And that book is Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl! I've never read anything by Pessl, but damn do I want to rectify that after I complete Neverworld Wake. It's been slow going listening to the audiobook - I only listen to it in the mornings and night when I'm getting ready for school and going to sleep - but it's been capturing me. When my mind wonders, my mind goes back to the book. It's essentially Groundhog Day meets a classic "whodunnit" mystery thriller with a hint of "battle until one survives" feeling. It's good, y'all! I highly recommend!

I've also been reading two other YA books! This is pretty different for me nowadays, since I'm usually reading romance. But since I got a bit of burnout, YA it was. I'm currently reading my advance reader copies of Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett and Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi. Both of these were two of my most anticipated releases this year, and I'm liking them so far. But the thing is, I'm not loving them. I don't know where the disconnect is - maybe it's because I'm reading it on my phone, or maybe it's because I have basically no free time whatsoever, so the reading is going very slowly. Either way, I recommend them so far, and I have a feeling I'll be doing the same when I reach the endings of both of them.

Talking about having basically no free time whatsoever, let's get into my life update.

If you didn't know, I'm currently a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. It's an amazing school, but I'm definitely feeling the pressure of being an upperclassmen. as someone who wants to work in publishing as a career, I'm hyper aware that the industry is competitive and that it takes a while to get a job that it self-sustaining. So basically, I'm doing everything to ensure that I will have a job by graduation, or soon thereafter, in publishing!

I'm a full time student living off campus, which is already taking up a ton of my time and energy, but I'm also working part time at a local bookstore as a bookseller. I love the store and get along great with my coworkers, but it's also a job, and takes a lot out of me. When I'm done working a seven hour shift, the last thing I want to do is homework, or clean my dishes, or put up my clothes. But alas, I have to.

Besides work and school, I also have several extracurricular. I'm the president of a student organization on campus, and it's a lot of work! I was the secretary last year, but I didn't realize that here was so much bureaucracy involved in running a student organization. Emails, orientations, delegating tasks, the list goes on.

And besides just that student org, I'm also the editor-in-chief of Her Campus at Chapel Hill, an online magazine written for women by women. As the editor-in-chief, I correspond with headquarters, manage a group of 20 women, schedule articles, apply for partnerships, and also write articles weekly. On a side note, check out my articles!

As you can tell, I've got a lot on my plate. It's a constant balancing act, and while I love this blog and think it's a testament to my hard work and passion, it does tend to get ignored in favor of all my other responsibilities. I don't want to make empty promises and say I'm going to get better, so keep in mind that maybe the most I can do is four posts a month. It'll have to be enough, or else I'm seriously going to have a breakdown. So I hope all of you can still come visit when I do post, and not be disappointed when I don't.

I don't want this post to get super long, so I'm going to leave it off here. Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you are having a less stressful fall than I am!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

BOOK REVIEW | The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: The Last Hope
Author: Krista and Becca Ritchie
Series? Yes, The Last Hope is the second in a duology.
Pages: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: August 13, 2019
Source: I received a copy of The Last Hope in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. :)

A stunning conclusion to the sci-fi romance duology by writing duo Krista & Becca Ritchie, The Last Hope is filled with twists and turns you'll never see coming.

Sacrifice all you have to survive.

Imprisoned for weeks on an enemy starcraft, Franny, Court, and Mykal have sat with an unfathomable revelation. But as they fight to stay alive, escaping prison means trusting a young mysterious stranger. He knows everything about their lost histories, and when answers aren’t given freely, the bonded trio are forced to join a mission. One that will determine the fate of humanity.

Legend says, a baby—the first of her species—has the power to cloak and teleport planets. Tasked with retrieving the infant, Court fears the baby is just a myth, and if they fail, they’ll never find the truth about their origins.

As Court and Mykal grow closer, their linked bond becomes harder to hide, and dynamics change when Franny begins to fall for someone new. Vulnerable and with no choice, the hunt for the baby sends the trio on a dangerous path to Saltare-1: a water world where their enemies can’t die and survival comes at a high cost.

Goodreads | Buy the Book!

August Wrap Up!

Hi everyone and welcome back (or to!) my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be going over which books I read this past August. August was such a busy month for me, both reading-wise and personally!

Without further ado, here are the 10 books I read last month!

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

 Goodreads

An Offer from a Gentleman is the third book in Quinn's Bridgerton series, which I have been consuming at a break-neck speed. I have taken a break since reading the fourth book, but this third iteration did not disappoint. I would highly recommend this series if you are trying to get into the historical romance genre!  

Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu

 Goodreads

I picked up Check, Please! for a readathon that I completely dropped the ball on. Nevertheless, I am so happy I picked this one up, and I'm looking forward to reading more about Bitty and Jack when the second volume releases. 

BOOK REVIEW | Start Here by Trish Doller

Title: Start Here
Author: Trish Doller
Series? No, Start Here is a standalone.
Pages: 352
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster)
Publication Date: August 13, 2019
Source: I recieved an ARC via Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest. Many thanks to the publisher! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two teens go on a life-changing sailing trip as they deal with the grief of losing their best friend in this heartwrenching, hopeful novel from the author of Something Like Normal and In a Perfect World.

Willa and Taylor were supposed to spend the summer after high school sailing from Ohio to Key West with their best friend, Finley. But Finley died before graduation, leaving them with a twenty-five-foot sailboat, a list of clues leading them to destinations along the way, and a friendship that’s hanging by a thread.

Now, Willa and Taylor have two months and two thousand miles to discover how life works without Finley—and to decide if their own friendship is worth saving.

From acclaimed author Trish Doller comes a poignant tale of forgiveness, grief, and the brilliant discoveries we make within ourselves when we least expect it.

Goodreads | IndieBound