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Books of Q4 2019

My last reading recap of the year! Enjoy the recommendations, and let me know if you have any other books you think I should read based on this list. I’m always open to suggestions. This quarter was light on non-fiction because I’ve been crazy busy and stressed, but I’m hoping to change that trend in 2020.

To read past book recommendations, check out:

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That being said, my first preference is for you to check any recommended books out from your local library! Read more about my affiliate philosophy here. You can also check books out in e-book form and download them to the Kindle app, which means you don’t even have to put on pants and leave the house to get your book. Isn’t technology grand? Occasionally, books I read and review are also available for free through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program, and I make sure to note if that’s the case.

  • Drop everything to read this book (DEAR for short)
  • Highly recommended (HR)
  • Good book (GB)
  • OK
  • Meh don’t bother (MDB)

Nonfiction

Fiction

  • The House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig. HR. This book was so great. It was essentially a horror version of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale. It was dark and suspenseful, and the worldbuilding (along with the unique religious elements) were very well done. It was masterfully written and kept me reading until the end.
  • Ash Princess
  • Smoke Lady by Laura Sebastian. HR. This is a great fantasy series with a unique magical system and some great worldbuilding. The third book isn’t out yet, but I’ll be waiting for it eagerly–the first two were wonderful.
  • Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford. HR. This was another great book that I really enjoyed reading. It’s a fantasy with strong female characters, and the first books set up some really interesting plot points for the second book to flesh out more. And as a bonus, the kindle version is currently on sale for $2.99! It was a really unique plot, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.
  • The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh. GB. I really love Ahdieh’s writing, but this one was hard to get through at points. It was slow, and a little convoluted. I liked it fine, but it wasn’t one of my favorites–I think her other books are much stronger. I’ll probably still read the sequel though. It speaks highly to her skill as a writer that even one of her books that is only “ok” still gets a GB rating. She’s one of my absolute favorites.
  • The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. HR. This book was so cute. I don’t know how I ended up on a royals reading kick, but I’m glad I did. This is essentially a romance between an American studying abroad and a British prince. I love that it isn’t a “whirlwind” romance–the relationship develops over several years, and it seems believable and human. The plot is well-developed, and I’m excited for book 2!
  • Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. DEAR. Another great book that involves British royals! But this one was even better. The premise is that the son of the (first female) US president ends up in a relationship with the British prince. They have to navigate all of the implications associated with that, while also muddling through the beginnings of their relationship. It’s delightful and heartfelt, and it made all sorts of “best” lists this year. If you haven’t read it, put it at the top of your list.
  • American Royals by Katharine McGee. GB. Compared to the other two books in my royals binge, this was only okay. It explores an alternative world where George Washington accepts when offered the monarchy after the American Revolution. Some of it is interesting and entertaining, but I didn’t feel like it was anything new from a typical royal fiction novel. I’m pretty indifferent about whether or not I read the sequel.
  • Reign of Magic by K.M. Shea. GB. Free on Kindle Unlimited! I really like Shea. She has a lovely series of fairytale retellings, and this is the second book in a continuation of that plotline. I’ve reviewed other books in this series. They’re entertaining and fun plots featuring strong female characters. I just wish that the series wouldn’t take so long to conclude…I won’t enjoy waiting for the next book to finally come out.
  • Snow Queen: Heart of Ice
  • Snow Queen: Sacrifice by K.M. Shea. GB. Free on Kindle Unlimited! This is a prequel to the series I mentioned above. Again, good quick reads. I’m glad I read this after the “later” series though–I appreciated the connections more.
  • The Kiss Quotient. GB.
  • The Bride Test by Helen Hoang. HR. Ok, there are a lot of things I love about these books. For one, they feature characters you don’t often see in a typical romance novel. In both books, the main characters are Asian, and one of them is autistic. I love the representation of autistic characters being human and falling in love (rather than simply being a plot device or not being present at all). These are Hoang’s first two books. The Kiss Quotient wasn’t as good; you could see that she was still working out her pacing and her style. But I loved the Bride Test and thought it was a lovely plot and story. If you’re at all a fan of this genre, I recommend reading it.
  • The Prince by Jillian Dodd. OK. Free on Kindle Unlimited! The book was fine. Nothing special. The main character is a teenage girl spy, fresh out of “spy school.” It’s an overplayed plot device, in my opinion. But the book was free, and I was bored. I might read the next ones, but it wasn’t a series I was particularly invested in after the first book.

I’ve been MIA on the blog for a while (might have something to do with moving and buying a house…). Look for a year-end wrap-up, a 2020 Look Forward, and a housing update in the coming weeks though!

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An Anniversary, and Affiliate Links

Woohoo! Owning the Stars has been live for a year! This anniversary doesn’t feel like a huge deal because I know that I wasn’t posting very frequently at all in the beginning, but I am proud of what I’ve started here, and I love having this creative outlet.

With this milestone, I’ve started thinking about where I want this blog to go. I’ve mentioned my Etsy shop before, and I’d like to build this blog into something that might provide a modest side hustle income. That being said, it is so so important to me to stay true to the blog’s purpose and mission. It’s also important that I stay true to myself as well.

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