Since I started blogging I have really come to understand my reading tastes and, as a result, I am very rarely disappointed by the books that I read. There were no books I read in 2019 that I actively hated, which is amazing. These are all books that I liked but had high expectations for so they ultimately disappointed me.
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
I think the problem here is that I expect a lot of Christina Lauren, especially after reading and loving The Unhoneymooners this year. There was something about Twice in a Blue Moon that just never quite came together for me. I think the story would have benefit from being longer and allowing the characters the time to work through their past. Everything seemed to resolve very quickly. Also, where was the epilogue?!
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
I have been trying to embrace thrillers this year and I had heard amazing things about Shari Lapena. This was actually a buddy read and I was glad that it pushed me to finally pick up one of her books. Sadly, it was not as good as I was expecting. Every character was horrible and I just never found myself caring about who did it. It was really fast-paced though, so I am open to reading something else by her.
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Another book I picked up on my quest to read more thrillers! I read The Death of Mrs. Westaway earlier in the year and very much enjoyed it, so I was excited to read Ruth Ware’s latest. Unfortunately, something about it didn’t work for me. There is no doubt that Ware is a genius at creating atmosphere, but I found that this particular story dragged. I also found the ending to be unsatisfying!
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
I have heard so many amazing things about Christina Henry”s novels and I love the idea of them. I am always here for an original retelling! There were things I liked about The Girl in Red and the twist on Little Red Riding Hood, but there were quite a few things that didn’t work for me. I have come to the realization that I do not love stories about people on a journey, particularly if they are on foot. I do not know why that is but I just find them boring! I also wish that more of the world was explained. A lot of her other books intrigue me though so I am hoping to try again in 2020.
Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker
K.A. Tucker is an author I have been wanting to read from for awhile, and I will still be picking up The Simple Wild at some point. It is such a shame that this book didn’t work me because I usually enjoy second chance romances. I will say that I thought that the chapters set in the past were interesting, but there was something about the chapters set during the present that felt off. I just didn’t feel the connection and I actually thought that some of the love interest’s actions bordered on stalking.
The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
On paper The Last Romantics should have been a book that I absolutely loved, and I did love the first half. The dynamics between siblings is always interesting to me and I am here for a good family drama. It was the second half where things started to fall apart for me and I just did not care. Honestly, I remember the first half vividly but I have little recollection of the second half. That said, Conklin is an incredible writer and I can wait to read more from her.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
I am definitely in the minority on this one but this kind of thriller is just not for me. This book confirmed for me how much more I care about characters vs. plot. No Exit is extremely fast paced and action-packed to the point that it was exhausting for me. I also do not enjoy when the bad guy is revealed so early on! I really liked the epilogue though!
You may have noticed that there are quite a few thrillers on this list. That is because it is not a genre I have read a lot from in the past and I am slowly learning what I love from the genre and what I don’t. I will talk more about it in a future post. I am confident I will pick better thrillers for myself in 2020!
What was the most disappointing book you read this year?
