I am not someone who usually makes New Year’s resolutions, but there is something about the start of a new decade that has been doing some reflecting. I was looking at my shelves and I realized that there are some books I am dying to read (some of which I have had on my shelves for years!), but I just never picking them up! I am determined to change that in 2020. I am hoping that his post helps to hold me accountable.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
American Gods has so much potential to become a book that I adore. I already know that I am a fan of Gaiman’s writing and I love anything to do with mythology. This is a book I have had on many five star prediction lists and TBRs. It is getting truly ridiculous at this point!
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Why am I so terrible at finishing series?! I absolutely loved Illuminae and I have been told many times that Gemina is even better. I am a huge fan of mixed media, and I know that, despite it’s size, Gemina will be a quick read. One of my goals this year is to read more SciFi, so I really have no excuses to not get to this.
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
I actually have an annotated hardcover of this book thanks to Page Habit (what ever happened to them?!). I know that The Great Believers is going to be hard-hitting and emotional. My gut is telling me it will become a new favourite and I have only heard incredible things. I think I have just been saving it for whatever reason!
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Seeing as Golden Son is the second book in a series, it has fallen into the same trap as Gemina. I enjoyed the first book quite a bit and I heard that Golden Son is incredible. I am dying to know what happens to these characters, so why haven’t I picked it up?! I don’t have an answer for you!
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
I used to watch Hank Green’s Youtube channel religiously and I get the feeling that anything he writes would be compelling. I would be curious to compare his work to his brother’s, John Green. I love when books incorporate social media in some way. There is something about this that sounds similar to The Themis Files, my favourite SciFi series!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
As a lover of historical fiction, I cannot believe I have yet to read anything by Ruta Sepetys. All of her novels appeal to me, but Salt to the Sea is the only one I currently own. So many people have told me I would love this book and that I need to have tissues ready! I have had this book on my shelves for three years and I am ashamed.
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney wrote one of my favourite novels of 2019, Normal People. Even though that is the only book I have read by her, I will now read anything that she writes. I am very curious about her debut novel even though I have heard mixed things. I am sure that is the reason I have been avoiding it!
I wish you luck with all these in 2020, love! I keep wanting to compile a 20in20 post devoted to my backlist, but how in the world I’d narrow that down to 20 is beyond me lol.
Thank you! I was going to the same but with my mood reading I just knew I couldn’t commit to 20!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who buys books that they’re desperate for then doesn’t read them 🙈 I’m really hoping to get reading properly again this year and fix that bad habit. I would have started already but I have a headache that keeps returning and I know it’ll ruin my concentration if I try to pick up a book. I’m hoping it goes soon -_-
Anyway good luck getting all of these read, I’m sure you can do it (: there are a few that I’m curious about on here too. And Happy New Year (:
I think so many of us do this. There must be some psychological reason behind it!
I also suffer from headaches so I know what that’s like.
Good luck to you. Happy New Year!
Yes there must be.
Oh I’m sorry to hear that ❤️
Thank you (:
I really enjoyed An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, definitely worth checking out. I’d really like to read The Illuminae Files this year!
I have heard it’s great. Sounds like something different!
GOLDEN SON! My fav of the original trilogy!
GOLDEN SON! My fav of the original trilogy!
I’ve heard it’s the best!
Oo you have so many great reads on this list! My favorite thing about the Illuminae books is how quickly you can get through all of them. The format makes them so much more enjoyable and less daunting (since they are pretty big!)
Salt to the Sea is one of my favorite books! Gosh I’ve read it twice now and I still love it so much! It’s such an emotional read but I feel like that goes without saying for most historical fiction.
I hope you enjoy your reads and have a great 2020 🙂
Thank you! I loved that about Illuminae. Such a fun reading experience!
I think I am emotionally prepared for Salt to the Sea!
I hope you read Gemina! I love that one!
(www.evelynreads.com)
I have a feeling that I will!
Now I personally *adore* American Gods but there are those who love Neil Gaiman’s other books but just cannot get on board with American Gods and dislike it immensely. It’s for sure an acquired taste but I do hope you enjoy it and that you get round to reading it this year!
That is good to know! I tend to like books that are for an acquired taste so that makes me excited!
I really enjoyed Salt to the Sea, so I hope you like that one! I’m hoping to pick up Conversations With Friends this year as well.
I think I will! I hope we both love Conversations with Friends!
I loved Gemina! Good luck on getting to these this year.
Thank you! I think I will love it as well.
🙂
American Gods is worth the read!
I am so excited to hear that!
I love all of the Red Rising series, but Golden Son is my favorite book! I hope you love it!
Ah I really need to get to it. I have to read more about Mustang!!
I really don’t want to be *that person* but I am very curious about your inclusion of John Boyne on this list and just wondered about it given the views he has expressed last year in relation to trans people (and the writing of The Book) as well as his recent twitterpades relating to Auschwitz Memorial twitter account. Sorry if this is badly worded, I’ve tried to be as tactful as possible 🙂
I am not an active Twitter user so it is something I have to look in to. I see his books all over bookstagram and no one seems to be talking about that, which surprises me. I know there is a debate about seperate the art from the artist, but it’s something I have a hard time doing so I will look more into this. Thanks!
Also, I deleted that portion of the post because it’s not something I want to promote. Thanks again!
Thanks friend <3 I really appreciate it. Again, I hope it wasn't too confrontrational!
It didn’t come off confrontational at all! I appreciate being more informed. 🙂
I think you’ll love Salt to the Sea!
I think I will too! It seems to be the book everyone is commenting about!
It’s my fav from Sepetys. 😍
Salt to the Sea was so, so good! I read it last year and loved it.
After so many people have commented about how much they loved it, I now want to read it ASAP!
Good luck with your resolutions and back list reads – you’ve got this girl! Happy New Year, Alexandra <3
Thank you!! Happy New Year to you!
I read Gemina last year and I absolutely loved it! It’s my favorite in the series. I hope you love it!
So many people say it’s their favourite!! Can’t wait to get to it!
What a great list! I’ve loved the books I’ve read from it so far (especially Conversations With Friends and Golden Son) and there are several that I really need to read as well. Looking forward to your thoughts as you get to these!
So glad you enjoyed them both! I will definitely be sharing my thoughts!
Nice list! I need to read Salt to the Sea as well, and I’ve been wanting to read The Great Believers too. To be honest, American Gods is not one of my favorite Gaiman books, but I know I’m in the minority on that. Looking forward to all of your review!
I have heard that about American Gods! That is probably part of the reason I haven’t picked it up.
I’m terrible at getting through a series too! I definitely prefer stand-alones
Me too! Something more satisfying about having a story wrap up in one book.
Yes!
YES! Golden Son is incredible. In fact, I think it’s my favorite of the series. Darrow’s character development is simply amazing! And the plot keeps you hooked. I really hope that you enjoy it. Gemina, too! Which was also my favorite of that series!
That is what everyone has told me! I love that those two books don’t seem to suffer from middle book syndrome
Not at all! I really do hope the prove to be just as entertaining for you 🙂
Thank God I’m not the only one lol. But I’m unlike you though my backlist of books is a long one! Lol I keep forgetting to read them bcoz I always find new ones a be alike “oooh!! Going to read that!”, then buy it then end up not reading it. 😂 it’s an endless cycle really lol.
Haha I have so many more unread books, but these are the ones I want to prioritize! I’m always distracted by shiny new things!
Ikr! Lol it doesn’t help that there are alot of amazing books that are out this year. Urgh my ever-growing, never-ending tbr list 😭😂
ooh I loved salt to the sea and gemina- hope you do too!
Thank you. I’m sure I will!!
I’ve added some of these to my TBR list. Thank u! Also I just bought an absolutely remarkable thing and I’m so excited to read it 😊
That makes me happy. I hope we both love them!
I fell in love with Gaiman’s writing when I picked up Norse Mythology. He’s definitely on my list for 2020!
Norse Mythology is one of my favourites!!
Love this! I’ve had similar thoughts re: reflecting at the beginning of the year, but mine turned into what books I should read again rather than delving into my backlist (probably far less useful, lol). This has definitely inspired me to dig out the old to-read lists! Also, I actually preferred Sally Rooney’s debut novel, although I know most prefer Normal People.
I wish I was someone who reread books more often!