BOOKS I WANT TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

Happy Wednesday everyone! After inspecting my Goodreads TBR (that has 100+ books on it… yikes krispies), I’ve narrowed down a list of the 5 books that are non-negotiable I read by the end of 2019.

THE LAST WISH BY ANDRZEJ SAPKOWSKI

Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good… and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth. Goodreads →

I am definitely one of those people who is solely picking this up after viewing (and loving) the Netflix trailer which has been adapted from these books. The more I look into it, the more I see positive reviews from readers. Had I know there was a romance here, I would’ve seriously gotten to these books earlier. But my goal is to at least read this book before the show is released.

MISADVENTURES OF A CURVY GIRL BY SIERRA SIMONE

For the first time in her life, Ireland Mills is happy with her body. No more fad diets, no more hiding from every camera in the room, no more low self-esteem. She’d rather be alone than with someone who’ll only love her if she’s skinny.

Caleb Carpenter and Ben Weber are everything Ireland and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce dreamed of when conceptualizing the “Real Kansas” promotional campaign. They’re handsome, young, educated, and totally dedicated to their small prairie town.

When Ireland’s Prius gets stuck on a Kansas dirt road and a massive storm rips through town, she’s left stranded with nowhere to turn but to Caleb and Ben. These two hunky country boys are impossible to ignore, but could they ever be interested in her as well? Goodreads →

Sierra Simone is a new to me author this year and I’ve absolutely loved binging her books. Particularly because a few have actually featured plus size characters as romantic interests. I love a page turning romance and I’m sure this book will be no exception!

FINAL GIRLS BY MIRA GRANT

Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented proprietary virtual reality technology that purports to heal psychological wounds by running clients through scenarios straight out of horror movies and nightmares. In a carefully controlled environment, with a medical cocktail running through their veins, sisters might develop a bond they’ve been missing their whole lives—while running from the bogeyman through a simulated forest. But…can real change come so easily?

Esther Hoffman doubts it. Esther has spent her entire journalism career debunking pseudoscience, after phony regression therapy ruined her father’s life. She’s determined to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb’s budding company. Dr. Webb’s willing to let her, of course, for reasons of her own. What better advertisement could she get than that of a convinced skeptic? But Esther’s not the only one curious about how this technology works. Enter real-world threats just as frightening as those created in the lab. Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival. Goodreads →

I very rarely feel like picking up a book that sounds horrorful, but on the contrary I always get excited about picking up Mira Grant’s books. I’m so hesitant about this one because I’m being pulled in two different directions! But I generally enjoy Mira Grant’s stories, they often feature concepts that are unique to me and I love being taken out of my comfort zone with her books.

THE LUMINOUS DEAD BY CAITLIN STARLING

When Gyre Price lied her way into this expedition, she thought she’d be mapping mineral deposits, and that her biggest problems would be cave collapses and hear malfunctions. She also thought the fat paycheck would be enough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her mother. Instead, she got Em.

Em knows all about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash—and a lash. And Em has secrets, too . . . But as Gyre descends, little inconsistencies—missing supplies, unexpected changes in the route, and, worst of all, shifts in Em’s motivations, drive her out of her depths. 

On her own in this mysterious, deadly place, surrounded by darkness and the unknown, Gyre must overcome more than just the dangerous terrain. But when her sense of control is giving way to paranoia and anger, she must confront the ghosts in her own head. But she can’t shake the feeling that she’s being followed? Goodreads →

In the last year I’ve found I’ve really enjoyed stories surrounding expeditions — such as Jurassic Park and Into the Drowning Deep. I have a quiet confidence about this book, because although this is a debut release, it sounds like a thrilling read I’m going to enjoy.

THE PLAY BY ELLE KENNEDY

After last year’s distractions cost Hunter’s hockey team the entire season, he’s not screwing around anymore, period. As the new team captain, his new philosophy is hock and school, women later. Which means staying celibate…no matter how hard that makes things.

But there’s nothing in the rulebook that says he can’t be friends with a woman. Hunter’s new classmate Demi Davis is one cool chick and the fact that she’s got a boyfriend eliminates the temptation to touch her. Except three months into their friendship, Demi is single and looking for a rebound. And she’s making a play for Hunter. Avoiding her is impossible after being paired up on a yearlong school project and Hunter thinks he’s convinced himself that hookup up is a very bad idea. Now he just has to convince his body — and his heart. Goodreads →

Earlier this year I made a review proclaiming that I had fallen back in love with romance books thanks to The Chase, the first book in this series. If you love college/sports romances, or more specifically hockey romances, I highly recommend this series. You definitely don’t need to read the originally series either to enjoy these books. There is something brilliantly refreshing about this series. I know I will be impressed with The Play once it’s released this October!

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Have you read any of these books? I’d love to hear your thoughts on them. Let me know if you have your own deadline for books you’ve told yourself you must finish by the end of 2019. ☺️📚