Whimsies of a Nerd Girl

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My 2019 Bookish Favorites

Ashley Holdren

FAVORITE 2019 DEBUT AUTHORS

What makes these debut authors great enough to be featured for this is the fact that I could not put them down once I started reading them! I probably devoured these within hours or a few days which is saying something considering sometimes a book can take me a week or two to get through. If you haven’t read these yet please go pick them up ASAP.

FAVORITE 2019 YA BOOK COVERS

  1. 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

    • I normally don’t care too much for contemporary covers, but this one just speaks to me on a personal level!

      The colors are so happy and lively. I’ve also got a sweet spot for that waffle, laptop, and camera. <3

  2. Failed Future by Elise Kova

    • You’ll notice about a handful of these covers have artistically drawn people, these tend to be my favorite. They’re just too beautiful to pass up!

      In fact, these covers made me discover Elise Kova which are still on my TBR list, but fingers crossed that I read them this year! 🤞

  3. Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland

    • There’s something about the mystery behind closed doors…and keyholes.

  4. Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

    • This is one of my new(ish) favorite series in recent years. The cover artist does so well with creating a scene against the backdrop of the main character. Plus, a beautiful dress on a book cover is my kryptonite.

  5. Empire of Grass by Tad Williams

    • I’m a sucker for everything green and high fantasy vibes.

  6. Find Me Their Bones by Sara Wolf

    • The lantern in a dark cavern or ruin with what appears to be a dragon’s tail in the background - IT’S A MOOD!

  7. House of Salt and Sorrows

    • I love everything beach or ocean themed and this cover has the perfect details along with that gorgeous font. *swoons*

  8. Last of Her Name by Jessica Khoury

    • At first glance it seems like this is a somewhat boring cover, but look again! The title is made out of crystals which is really different for me to see on a book.

  9. Resurrection Girls by Ava Morgyn

    • I’m not going to lie, I probably wouldn’t have even bothered putting this on the list but this is a perfect throwback to the first book in the Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber - take a look at exhibit B. There may not be a skeleton, but it definitely has the gothic atmosphere going on.

  10. Sherwood by Meagan Spooner

    • A hooded archer with green clothing and a beautiful faraway backdrop, ‘nuff said.

  11. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

    • To be honest I could stare at this color scheme all day! One of the ya book subscription boxes also had featured this book with a purple background and it’s just as eye catching as this one.

  12. The Beholder by Anna Bright

    • Yup, again with the nautical theme. YES, PLEASE!

  13. The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

    • I’d mark this one as one of the more unique covers. The artist was clever in doing the contrast of light and airy dripping into the dark and starry night, kind of makes me think of a creative yin yang.

  14. Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

    • I absolutely adore a beautiful filigree cover. Give them all to me!

  15. The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young

    • Okay…I’m guilty of loving archers. WHAT OF IT!?!?!?!

  16. The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen

    • Although I haven’t gotten around to reading these, I love me some royal stories…crowns and pretty fabrics are all the rage.

  17. Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

    • OMG, I can’t believe I just realized that the author’s name is the same as where the story takes place. *facepalms* ANYWHO, I just love the glowy atmosphere of an underwater city with oceanic creatures swimming around. Sign. Me. Up.

  18. The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco

    • Alright, so there’s more covers with the whole light versus dark aspect, but I dig it!

  19. The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi

    • Though this is probably one of the more plain covers, it gives me Avatar feels.

  20. The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

    • I’m starting a buddy read of the first in this series and I’m excited to dive in! I’ve heard so many great things! Every one of these covers are perfect fantasy eye candy.

  21. Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner

    • Another less bejeweled cover, but it’s got the whole lady silhouette and symmetrical design going for it.

  22. Vortex Visions by Elise Kova

    • Last, but not least…I added another of Elise Kova’s books. In my defense, I mentioned that all the covers caught my eye. Mmmkay?

FAVORITE 2019 HISTORICAL FICTION

Hands down, Kerri Maniscalco’s Capturing the Devil wins this category. I sometimes even fact check out of curiosity and she’s pretty spot on when it comes to inventions and events these books. Not to mention I ship Audrey and Thomas who were really tested on their love for each other in this concluding book to the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. Though I’m sad this series is over, I’m looking forward to what 2020 has in store for YA historical fiction.

2019 TOP 5 FANTASY READS

  1. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

    • I have to admit, the storyline and the world sucked me in. I felt like Alice in Wonderland going down the rabbit hole and it was a delicious ride. All the scenes and magical abilities in this took me by surprise. It was like nothing I had ever read before so I give Stephanie Garber props for doing something so different from a lot of the YA already out there.

  2. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

    • This is a triple threat with the categories I’m showcasing for 2019! For one, I freaking love the 12 dancing princesses fairy tale and Erin Craig remixed it into a lovely horror retelling. Like I said earlier, I was so invested in this one that I was reading late into the night (whoops).

  3. The Beholder by Anna Bright

    • I couldn’t help but not be able to put this one down as well! I did feel like there was a little lack in a correct description of this one, due to the fact that she didn’t go see all of the possible suitors on the itinerary so it wasn’t exactly like the Bachelorette. Regardless, the first contender was a twist I did NOT see coming. I probably had a small idea, but it was still surprising. I adored the second man she met and that’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to give too much away!

  4. The Traitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty

    • I CAN’T WAIT TO READ THE SEQUEL. Though I’m a little scared to read it because it sounds like I won’t be seeing much of the love interest but don’t let that stop you from reading the first book. I adore the whole hate to love dynamic and getting off on the wrong foot start to relationships. SO MUCH YESH.

  5. The Wicked King by Holly Black

    • You’ll notice that I did not include the last book in The Folk of the Air trilogy…I felt like the second book was better than The Queen of Nothing which is a surprise because most of the time my favorite order is 1, 3, 2. There was so much rivalry and banter in the second book and I think that’s what the third book lacked. It’s like all their negative emotions were gone like they were never there and I disliked that it was written that way, as if it disappeared between one book to the next. It seemed like a lazy way of skipping ahead to the conclusion. Anyways, back to The Wicked King - it had so many conflicts going on that you really needed to keep reading to find out what happened next!

Now I want to hear about yours! What were some of your favorite YA book picks of 2019? Did you read any of the books I mentioned? What did you think about them?

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