Best Reads Of 2019 .... So Far

We are quickly approaching the midway point of the year and that means checking in on my reading progress and the books that have stood out so far.

I am always amazed at how fast the year is going whenever I decide to write one of these posts. It seems like it is flying by in particular this year.

I have not read nearly as much as I wanted to. I am already 8 books behind in my Goodreads challenge. I am hoping to refocus my attention on reading and the blog and making some progress this summer.

Taking a look at what books I have read this year has made me realize that I have become quite good at picking books that will appeal to me. I feel like my reading is made all the richer as a result. I still stray outside my comfort zone (especially if friends recommend a book) but feel like I genuinely know what books I will and will not enjoy. This has made picking my ten favourites even more difficult.

Here, in no particular order, are the ten books that have stood out to me during the first half of the year;

1. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

2. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3. Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

4. The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

5. A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

6. You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn

7. Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

8. Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

9. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

10. Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen

All of the above books are linked to my reviews so you can discover exactly why they made my list if you so choose. Chase Darkness With Me is not currently reviewed so there is no link for that, but expect a review closer to release date.

I will be curious to see which books make it on to my year end list as the year continues! What book makes your own best of 2019 (at least so far) list? Let me know in the comments!

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
Release Date - May 28, 2019
Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages -  352 pages
My Rating - 5/5

**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Welcome to the Kingdom... where 'Happily Ever After' isn't just a promise, but a rule.

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom(TM) is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species--formerly extinct--roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful "princesses" engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time... love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana's memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty--and what it truly means to be human. 

If you took Westworld, mixed it with a true crime podcast, and added in some Disney theme park elements you would get The Kingdom. A story about a place that has a darkness under the happily ever afters it promises. Jess Rothenberg has written a unique story that not only entertains but causes the reader to think and ask questions of themselves.

Ana's voice, for me, was so distinct it made her a really strong character. It felt like the author had a very clear sense of who this character was, her motivations, and it translated off the page easily. She is one of those characters who just resonates with you and lingers long after you've finished the book.

The romance it tentative, and sweet. Seeing Ana experience emotions for the first time and grapple with what it means was part of what made this story feel so unique. Ana is aware that she shouldn't be dreaming, or feeling what she is feeling, but her reaction to it happening felt so authentic. It made the romance feel a touch more believable for me in a lot of ways. Ana's joy, sorrow, and everything in between adds to her relationship with Owen. Their moments are subtle, but so important to Ana's journey.

The Kingdom is basically Disney World dialed up. It's bright, magical, and the place where dreams come true. We, however, quickly see that not everything is as it seems. There is a darkness, particularly what happens to Ana and her fellow 'Fantasists', that pulses under the surface. The nods to the abuse that they suffer under the hands of wealthy men may only be delicately woven into the story but it is more than enough to repulse and turn your stomach. The lavish parties, the leering looks, the crass comments, the unwanted touches.  They all serve to paint a terrible, rage inducing picture. The anger that coursed through me as I read this made me realize how well crafted this book is. I cared about Ana and the others almost from the beginning and it was quite evident as this part of the story came into sharper focus.

The sexual harassment and abuse Ana and her 'sisters' face is, obviously, quite timely. This book is a product of the #metoo movement. There is female anger here and commentary on the right to feel it. There are questions and exploration of rape culture and the effect it has on women. It isn't overt but that makes it all the more impressive how it was woven in along with a strong mystery. The Fantasists to many men are things to be used with zero thought of consequences and that feels extra relevant right now.

The murder of Owen is the central mystery to the story. It is told in flashes of different story telling techniques. You have regular prose mixed with transcripts, photos, articles, and interviews. This allows for the twists and reveals to be perfectly paced. The mystery is important to the story but it really feeds into the overall narrative of humanity and what it means to be human. The use of all these narration devices is part of what makes this story as strong as it is and it shows what a clever choices it was in the set up of the mystery. The premise rests on whether Ana could be convicted for murder if what she experienced was a technical glitch of a piece of artificial intelligence. Who would ultimately be responsible if that were the case. The idea of agency and self awareness is the heart of this story and it threads into all the other elements.

Feeling for Ana is the entire point of this story. It asks us to question what we consider human. It also asks us to consider what we would owe to a creation like Ana if we do consider her human. It is fascinating, smart, and well written. It's the type of book you'll want to discuss with your book club or friends. I highly recommend this one for those who want a little something extra with their mystery read. 

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Kingdom

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Welcome to the Kingdom… where ‘Happily Ever After’ isn’t just a promise, but a rule.

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom™ is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species―formerly extinct―roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful “princesses” engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time… love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana’s memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty―and what it truly means to be human. 

This book has been described as Westworld meets Serial and I am dying to get my hands on it. I love the entire premise and think there is a lot of potential for this one to be amazing. I cannot wait to discover the world building that went into this story because it sounds like it'll be pretty impressive.

Expected release date - May 28, 2019

2019 Most Anticipated - The Kingdom

The next book in my 2019 Most Anticipated event is being teased as Westworld meets Serial (the podcast). I read this synopsis and this book immediately became my must read of 2019.

The description brings to mind a true crime inspired story set in a theme park where humans interact with life like artificial intelligence. It has all the makings of a book that will have everyone completely obsessed. 

The Goodreads synopsis for this novel only cemented my need to read this book. There is the potential for a lot of heartbreak as Ana is accused of killing the boy she loved. 

Welcome to the Kingdom… where ‘Happily Ever After’ isn’t just a promise, but a rule.

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom™ is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species—formerly extinct—roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful “princesses” engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time… love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana’s memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty—and what it truly means to be human.

I love the role reversal. It could have easily been gendered swapped with the artificial intelligence 'robot' being male. It would have fit most of the true crime stories out there where a woman gets murdered and it is the male in her life that is responsible. There could have been some great social commentary there. The decision to flip it makes it a much more interesting story in my opinion.

As part of offering up a variety of posts this year, I am going to share my personal top three reasons to be excited about this book!

1 Westworld meets Serial. Enough said. That premise alone should excite you.

2 The Kingdom as a setting has me really intrigued. The potential for world building and creating something really unique has me excited. Getting to play with what is real and what is part of the 'experience' could also make things really interesting and offer up a unreliable perspective. 

3 The part of me that loves mysteries cannot wait to unravel what really happened to Owen. The romance, for me, is going to be such a huge part of this story and its emotional impact so I hope that aspect is well done and that the mystery is satisfying because all of the other elements are there. 

The Kingdom releases May 28, 2019 but you can pre-order it right now from any retailer (or snag it with those holiday gift cards).

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // BAM

You can find out more about Jess by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Does this not sound incredibly unique? Are you a fan of mysteries that also have another strong hook to them? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2019 most anticipated list. 

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Release Date – February 21, 2012
Publisher Website – Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 400 pages
My Rating- 8/10
**purchased **

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Reading this novel took me longer than I was expecting it to. It wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy it (I totally did) or that it was not engrossing (totally was). It took me longer because I kept stopping to listen to music. Each of the chapter titles is the name of a song. Listening to the song prior to reading the chapter provided a unique reading experience, and so many of them are fantastic songs. It's a lovely touch as it provides a soundtrack for the book.

Brie, just 16 years old and dead. Cause of death? Heartbreak…literally. Her boyfriend Jacob tells her that he doesn’t love her and Brie’s poor heart snaps in two. This could have been awkward if not handled properly but Jess Rothenberg makes this seem plausible and realistic.

Jess Rothenberg’s writing style is perfect for this time of story. She mixes humour, and touching moments so wonderfully. She manages to make you relate to the characters, even when they are not at their best. She mixes the 80s with current times flawlessly and manages to make this novel seem nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

Brie’s voice immediately resonates with you. She’s this adorable, full of life teenager that loves her family, her dog and her best friends. She starts out a little young, and naïve but grows throughout the book. There are times when you want to scream at her and make her see reason but ultimately you’ll forgive her because she learns from her mistakes and takes responsibility.

Taking the journey with Brie through the different stages of grief allowed the reader to really understand her. It also helped to know she was working through something that would eventually end at acceptance. There are some stages (this means you anger) that Brie was not the like likeable person. She was vengeful, single focused and wanted to lash out. The old say of "no fury like a woman scorned" rings true in Brie's case. It makes her eventual progression feel earned.
Patrick, tour guide and 80s hottie is there to help Brie reach acceptance. He’s full of charisma, funny one liners, and seriously reminds me of someone from a John Hughes movie. He rides a motorcycle! Basically, he’s hot. The chemistry between him and Brie is fun. It’s filled with banter, genuine friendship with a tease of the romance that could be.

What I loved most about this book were the twists and surprises that you experienced along the way. Patrick has his own mysterious past that we unravel along with Brie that provides some shocking moments.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me is one of those books that will make you laugh, cry, and even have you doing both at the same time. It’s about the power of love, forgiving yourself and others, and taking responsibility for your actions.

In My Mailbox

This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

This week I got 2 books from the library and purchased one.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg (goodreads)
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (goodreads)
The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight by L.J Smith (goodreads)

I purchased The Catastrophic History of You and Me. I have been hearing great things about it and can't wait  to read it. Halo is for my angel event. I have heard mixed this so hopefully it ends up being good. The Vampire Diaries book is simply because I've read the rest of the series and want to see it through until the end.

I have two books for review via Netgalley and the publishers

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (goodreads)
Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay (goodreads)

I am super excited to read Romeo Redeemed as I really enjoyed Juliet Immortal.

Happy Reading everyone!

Waiting on Wednesday..The Catastrophic History of You and Me

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

This sounds like such a great premise. Who hasn't felt like they were dying of a broken heart?! It could end up being a really heart pulling, but sweet story.

Expected release date - Feburary 21, 2012