Books

My Favorite Romance Books of 2018

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If you already checked in on my favorite YA reads of 2018, you know that I read 132 books in 2018, and I’m pretty impressed with that number if I do say so myself (and clearly, I do). I’m separating these posts so I can highlight more books, and hopefully share even more exciting new reads with you. Though, please note, these are books I read in 2018, not necessarily books that were published in 2018 (as you’ll notice right off the bat!).

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: I know, I know, I am way late to the party here. Also, I’m not here for the is Outlander a romance debate. To me, it is, along with a million other things, so let’s just go with it. I fell in love with the Outlander world this year. I read the first three books, and I’ve watched every episode of the TV show twice. I plan on reading book four as soon as the fourth season is done airing. I love me some Jamie Fraser, what can I say.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: If you are a romance reader, then you’ve heard about this book. It made quite a splash in the romance world,and I was among the many who was a huge fan of the characters and the extreme steam.

Intercepted by Alexa Martin: I’ve loved football for basically my whole life, so combine football and a love story, and I’m game. I also really love Alexa’s voice. I’m looking forward to more from her!

November 9 by Colleen Hoover: Not going to lie, I originally bought this book because the main character is named Fallon (spelled wrong, but I’ll let it go). But I ended up really enjoying this story and I’ll definitely read more from Colleen in the future.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, Dating You/Hating You, Roomies, and My Favorite Half-Night Stand, all by Christina Lauren: It’s safe to say that Christina Lauren (actually two people) were my favorite romance authors of the year. I tore through all of their most recent releases, and am now working my way through their older books. Their writing is closest in style to my own, and they are kind of my writing inspiration.

One Day in December by Josie Silver: I love London, I love Christmas, and I love romance. Therefore, I loved this book.

I really tried to read a lot more romance this year, as I have focused more of my own writing on my romance novels. I plan to read even more romance in 2019 so stay tuned for all the love! What are you favorite romance novels?

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My Favorite YA Books of 2018

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I’m happy to report in 2018, I read 132 books. 132! That’s insane. For the past several months, I’ve been reading almost fifteen books a month. If I continue that pace, I could bump up my number to 180 in 2019. #Goals Obviously after consuming that much literature, I have quite a few highlights, so for this year, I’m separating my top reads into YA and romance, since pretty much all of my favorites fall into one of those categories. There’s no particular order, these are just my favorite YA books of the year! (Side note: These are books I read in 2018, not necessarily books that were published in 2018.)

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The 2019 Books I’m Most Excited For

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It’s almost time for a slew of reading wrap up posts: my favorite romances of 2018, favorite YA, top reads, etc. But I’m not working on those yet, because I plan to read at least fifteen more books before the end of the year, and who knows if those might be good enough to make one of my lists! I am, however, already looking forward to some of the hot new releases slated for 2019, and since I threw my no buying new books rule out the window months ago, I’ve already pre-ordered a bunch on Amazon. Because why not? These are just a few of the books I’m looking forward to reading next year:

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne: Thorne’s debut novel, The Hating Game, took the romance world by storm. While it took me a little while to get into the book, in the end, I loved the characters and thought the story was interesting and charming. I’m looking forward to see what she comes up with next.

My Favorite Half Night Stand by Christina Lauren: I recently discovered this author duo, and I. am. obsessed. I’ve read about five of their books in the past couple of months and I can’t get enough. They have such a fun writing style that is light-hearted, romantic, and easy to read. At the same time, their characters have depth and their plots are unique and interesting. This one is high on my list for next year.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: Bardugo was another recent discovery for me, though she has released several popular books over the past few years. In 2018, I read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, along with her original Grisha trilogy. I love her style, and I am super excited to dive back into her world with King of Scars.

Slayer by Kiersten White: If you are a girl of my generation, chances are, you loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I also love Kiersten White, so this is a match I am super stoked for. I am really, really excited to see where this book goes. It actually is one I’m kind of scared about because I have such high hopes and I don’t want to be disappointed!

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: I’m automatically drawn to any book that even hints of a wedding plotline, since you know, weddings are my job. Add to that how awesome Hoang’s book The Kiss Quotient was, and I am all in on this one.

Finale by Stephanie Garber: The aptly named Finale will close out the Caraval series. I absolutely loved Caraval, and even though I wasn’t as enamored by Legendary, I’m hoping that Finale will be equal to the original. I would guess that the last book will alternate timelines between the two sisters and I’m curious to see how their story wraps up. Definitely one I will read before the spoilers abound. Also, this cover is gorgeous.

I’m starting out 2019 with a TBR already a mile long, but you can bet your ass I will be reading these guys shortly after release. In fact, I’ve already pre-ordered most of them, and you can too! Click on the links if you want these amazing books in your mailbox on release day! Which are you most excited for?

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My Top Ten Reads of 2018 (So Far)

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Guys. Shit just got real. I have already read 54 books this year. FIFTY-FOUR. It’s July! And yet, I still have like three shelves full of TBRs that I need to get through before the end of the year. In other words, I need to STOP BUYING BOOKS. Oy vey. Obviously, in those 54 reads I have come across some awesome books, and well, I love me a top ten list, so here is one with all of my favorites from the first half of 2018:

10. Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston: I just finished this one, and I really liked it. It’s a little more sci-fi than I usually lean to, but it was in an Owl Crate box so I read it, and enjoyed it. It kind of gave me some Star Wars vibes, so I was into it.

9. Asking for It by Louise O’Neill: I never would have found this book if I hadn’t abandoned my no book buying in 2018 rule (to be fair, I was on vacation so it was a special bookstore trip). I haven’t seen this one available many places, but every teenager should have to read this book. Shit’s important y’all.

8. Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir: I’ve read some disappointing series books this year, but overall I really enjoyed the third book in this series. However, I kind of wanted it to be the last book and now I’m low-key annoyed I have to wait for book four.

7. How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore: I loved the characters in this book, even the ones that were kind of crappy people because they were so well written. It’s not easy to make me love an asshole, but I did.

6. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: Okay, so I was way behind the times on this one, and yeah, I totally saw the movie before I read the book (blasphemy!) but I still loved this one nonetheless.

5. Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young: This was another Owl Crate book (they’ve been killing it lately) and the heroine was just such a badass that I couldn’t help but love this book. I also loved that the setting was different from what I’m used to.

4. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo: MERMAIDS. But like super badass mermaids who kill princes. Oh, and they’re actually sirens. UNDERWATER ADVENTURES.

3. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon: If you don’t fall in love with these sweet baby angel characters, then you have no soul. This book made my heart warm and squishy. Oh and I learned stuff about another culture so also cool.

2. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton: Some of the best world-building I have ever read. I didn’t know I needed cupcake dystopia in my life, but apparently I do.

1. Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills: A book about a high school Shakespeare production? Be still my former president of my high school drama club heart. I literally cried in a Starbucks finishing this book. Sigh.

I would think that would be enough book recommendations to get you through the next couple of months, but if not, check out below for some more of my highlights from the first six months of 2018 reading!


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My Favorite Bookstores in LA

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One of my absolute favorite favorite things to do is explore independent bookstores. I make it a point to find one every time I travel, and I have found some gems along the way (but that’s a separate post). Luckily, Los Angeles is home to plenty of amazing bookstores, so even when I am not on the road, I have plenty of independent options to fulfill my needs. Of course, this also makes it hard to stick to my no new books rule, but that is just a wee tiny detail. For today, I’m going to share some of the best indie bookstores has to offer. If you are a book lover and in the LA area, whether traveling or a local, definitely make some time to check these guys out!

The Ripped Bodice in Culver City: Okay, it’s a good thing that this bookstore is way far away (about fifteen miles, or an hour plus in traffic) because if it were closer, I would have no money left. As the name suggests, this shop focuses on romance, and they have more in print romance books than you can find in any bookstore (because romance gets a bad rap despite being a multi-million dollar facet of the publishing industry, but that’s a whole other post). They also have amazing finds from small businesses, everything from candles and totes to bookmarks and jewelry. I make a point to visit when I am on the west side and actually have money to spend, and I always walk out with pretty pics and yummy books.

The Last Bookstore in Downtown LA: The Last Bookstore is on pretty much every bookstore themed list in the history of ever. It’s home to the Insta-famous book tunnel and has become a kind of celebrity in the bookstagram world. Last Bookstore is in the heart of downtown, which is actually its only downside as there is no parking (#storyofmylife). This place is huge, consists of two levels, houses multiple local artists and shops, and sells both used and new books. They also buy your books if that’s a thing you do (note to self: go do that). A couple of warnings about Last Bookstore: there is no AC and no bathrooms, so this is a spring/fall/”winter” destination, and make sure you pee before you go. Because you will want to get lost in this place for hours.

Iliad Bookshop in North Hollywood: This bad boy is off the beaten path, but it is probably the best used bookstore I’ve found in the LA area. They have a huge selection, and every time I visit I leave with lots of new goodies (which is why I haven’t been in a while). They also tend to have boxes of free books out in front of the store, so this is a great place to visit when you are short on cash, but in need of a good read.

Skylight Books in Los Feliz: Why yes, that is a tree in the middle of this bookstore. Not going to lie, I mainly dig this shop for the aesthetics. But they have a great selection of books by local authors, in addition to everything else you need book wise. They also have lots of good photo opps, so there’s that. Skylight is on Vermont Ave., which is a great street to walk around and shop and eat, another reason why I love it so much. They also have a ton of author readings and events, most nights of the week.

Other notable bookstores in LA that I frequent include Vroman’s in Pasadena and Small World Books in Venice. Am I missing any awesome bookstores in LA from my list? Let me know so I can check them out!

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2018 Reading Highlights (So Far)

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As you know, I made one of my things to accomplish in 2018 reading all of the books that I already own. I’m happy to say that in just over three months, I have already finished 25 books from my list! Go me. I’ve been mentioning my reads in my monthly recap posts, but I haven’t done an in depth review of any of my faves for the year yet. Today, I want to highlight four of the stand-outs for me in the hope that you might read and enjoy them too!

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Okay, full disclosure here. As you know if you follow my bookstagram (@coffeebookswinerepeat), I struggled a little with this book. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it is SO LONG. I LOVE this story, but homegirl’s editor needed to step in with a firmer hand. That being said, I have fallen in love with Outlander, partially thanks to the amazing series on Starz, and partially thanks to Sam Heughan who is maybe the most beautiful man on the face of the Earth. I am now officially obsessed with Outlander. I’m scared that these might be the only books I make it through for the rest of the year because they take me forever to finish. But I’m gonna finish, because Outlander is bae.

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills: A love story set in the world of high school theater? A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Adorable characters and all the feels? Yes, yes, and more yes. I loved every second of this book, which I received in an Owl Crate box, and I can’t wait to go back and read it again. I may be slightly partial due to my own high school theater experiences, but this is such a fun love story for anyone who ever felt like a loner in high school (and if that wasn’t you, you must be a super special unicorn).

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl: Given how much time I have been spending in the Marvel universe over the past couple of months, it should come as no surprise that I loved this look into Black Widow’s life. I know a Black Widow movie is on the docket, and it is long overdue. Black Widow is such an interesting character, I loved this tiny glimpse into the inner workings of her spy-centered brain. This was an action-packed story, but it also was really nice to see the softer side of Nat. There is a sequel, and I will be picking it up soon!

Asking for It by Louise O’Neill: Guys, I’m not going to lie to you. This book is HARD to read. Not because of the quality of the writing or the story, but because the subject matter is tough. The book follows a young girl who is raped at a party, and what happens to her when she decides to speak out about it. It is heart-breaking, disturbing, nauseating, and thought-provoking. If you are only going to read one book this year, this is the book you should choose. Honestly, it should be required reading for every high schooler on the planet.

I still have like forty books on my TBR list, so I’m gonna get on that and get back to the reading! Not that I need more books to add to my pile, but let me know if you have any recommendations for me!

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The Best Books I’ve Read in the Past Three Months

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So I fell super behind with my What I Read monthly posts, so to catch up I’m going to give you the highlights from the past three months. I’ve already reached my yearly reading goal (woohoo!) and I have read a lot of amazing books so far. The past three months included some good ones, here are my favorites:

Glass Sword and King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard: I’m including both of these, though truth be told, I was a little frustrated by King’s Cage (mostly because I thought it was the last book in the series and it is so not). As I mentioned on the podcast a couple of weeks ago, I am really over all these YA books that keep their main couple apart for the entire series. Just let them get together already. This series definitely falls into the trap, but it is so well-written and such a cool concept that I let it go. But I better get some solid couple action in the end!

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell: Okay, first of all, the cover of this book is to die for. I’m so glad I didn’t buy the hardcover version because the paperback cover kicks ass. I love Rainbow Rowell, and this book is kind of a spin off of Fangirl, which is amazing. In Fangirl, the main character writes fan fiction, and Carry On is the book that she ends up writing. It’s basically Harry Potter, if Harry and Draco fell in love and there was swearing and cell phones and modern technology. It’s amazing and I loved every second of reading this book.

Ember in the Ashes and Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir: You know a series is good if I read two of the books in the same month. I am really enjoying this series, though I am feeling the same frustration as I did with the Red Queen series (in fact these books inspired my podcast rant). But again, love the concept, love the characters and the writing is beautiful so I’m gonna give it its due.

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy: This was just a fun book to read, and it was a nice relief from some of the heavier, darker books I’ve been reading lately. This is the kind of book that makes you smile. I connected with the characters, I was interested in their plights, and I love seeing body image issues dealt with in an unassuming way. I breezed through this one, and loved every second.

How about you? Read any good books lately? Let me know what to pick up next!

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