It’s that time of year again. We’ve got the final rounds of the Goodreads Choice Awards going on now. I always like to look at the lists and see what books I’ve read or been eager to read. I saw Sam @ We Live and Breathe Books do just that, and I was inspired to write a post about it too!
Then Roberta @ Utopia State of Mind posted about Paste’s 30 Best Young Adult Novels of the 2010s, and I decided I had to see how my reading has stacked up against that list too!
I’ll start with the Paste list. This was curated by Eric Smith and the Paste Books staff. I ADORE Eric Smith. His Twitter feed is both hilarious and informative, and if you don’t follow him, you need to. Since he was involved in creating this list, I decided I needed to see it. Here’s their list (you can click the link above to see more details about the books and their decision process—they only chose one book per author).
Paste’s Best of the Decade
- Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan (2019)
- Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (2017)
- Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (2015) – READ
- Timekeeper by Tara Sim (2016) – READ
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (2018) – TBR
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (2016) – TBR/OWN
- The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma (2015)
- Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (2016) – READ
- The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (2011) – TBR/OWN
- Legend by Marie Lu (2011) – TBR/OWN (Actually, I started reading this one a month or two ago but had too many review books I needed to catch up on and didn’t get that far before I gave in and read those instead.)
- Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed (2018) – READ
- Want by Cindy Pon (2017) – TBR/OWN
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (2015) – TBR/OWN
- Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (2018) – READ
- This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (2016) – READ
- Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig (2016) – TBR/OWN
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (2014) – READ
- The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (2015) – TBR
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (2015)
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (2015)
- Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older (2015)
- The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (2010) – READ
- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (2015) – READ
- Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (2012)
- The Diviners by Libba Bray (2012)
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (2015) – READ
- Pointe by Brandy Colbert (2014)
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) – READ
- Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (2010)
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (2012) – OWN/TBR
As you can see, I’ve only read 11 of the 30 books on the list (and I totally agree with them on almost all of them), but I have another 9 on my TBR (all but 2 of which, I actually own). As for the 10 I didn’t specifically have on my TBR, most of them are books that I’ve seriously considered reading and very well still may at some point. There’s only one book that I actually haven’t heard of (Ship Breaker—has anyone read it? Should I have it on my radar?)
Now let’s move on to the Goodreads Choice final round books. These books are voted in by Goodreads users.
Goodreads Choice 2019 Final Round
I have read ZERO books from most of the lists (not surprisingly—I tend to stick to YA and MG). I’ve read ZERO books from all these categories: Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Humor, Non-Fiction, Memoir & Autobiography, History & Biography, Science & Technology, Food & Cookbooks, Poetry or Young Adult Fiction!!!
What is surprising to me is how few of the books on this year’s lists are even on my radar. Usually there are more that I’ve heard a lot about and have at least considered reading. This year there are only a few:
- Fiction – At some point I’ll probably read Margaret Atwood’s The Testament. (Though I’m ashamed to admit I still haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale, so…)
- Fantasy – Actually, I guess most of the books on this list have piqued my interest, even if they haven’t actually made it to my TBR. I’m especially interested in Priory of the Orange Tree and Ninth House (someday I’m going to read Leigh Bardugo, I promise).
- Horror – I’ve heard great things about The Girl in Red, and I definitely want to read it!
- Poetry – I want to read Shout and The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One at some point.
- Young Adult Fiction – This is where I start to think my world has gone crazy. How have I read none of these?! (I’d read some of the ones that were initially nominated, but none that made it to the final round). BUT I own I Wish You All the Best (and am chastising myself for not having read it yet), and I definitely want to read Five Feet Apart, American Royals and On the Come Up. Every other book on the list is also one I’m at least interested in, but I don’t know that I’ll get to them soon.
CATEGORIES WITH BOOKS I HAVE READ
Okay, so I have managed to read a few books from this year’s lists.
- Romance – Red, White & Royal Blue. Got out of my YA/MG comfort zone for this one.
(I also really want to read The Bride Test because I loved The Kiss Quotient. And I’ll probably get to Verity at some point too.)
- Graphic Novels & Comics – Teen Titans: Raven.
(I definitely also want to read Pumpkinhead, and I’ve heard great things about Heartstopper and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me.)
- Debut Novel – Again, Red, White & Royal Blue. So it almost feels like cheating.
(And I already said I want to read Shout. And I’m in love with the cover of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, but I know nothing about it beyond that. Still, it makes me kind of want to read it—I’ve never denied the fact that I judge a book by its cover.)
- Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction – The Toll (I’m actually currently reading it, and it’s PHENOMENAL!). A Curse So Dark and Lonely (also fantastic!!). Finale (Still fabulous, but the other two win in my mind).
(I also own Aurora Rising and Sorcery of Thorns will hopefully read them soon. Wayward Son is also high on my TBR.)
- Middle Grade & Children’s – Dragon Pearl.
(I own Aru Shah and the Song of Death—need to read it soon! I also really want to read Coyote Sunrise, Tunnel of Bones, New Kid and Guts.)
- Picture Books – Sulwe. (Love, love, love this picture book!!)
Overall, I’m really disappointed with how many of the YA and MG books I’ve managed to read. I’ve read over 160 books so far this year, yet I still feel behind the times!!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Do you like to look at these types of lists and compare your reading to them? I want to know!
This post has been linked up to the 2019 Book Blog Discussion Challenge.
I’ve read Ship Breaker! I think I even reviewed it on my blog a billion years ago. It was okay. I’ve read 9 of the Paste books and 0 of the Goodreads books. I’m so bad at reading new releases. I bet I’ll read 2019’s books in 2022.
I’ll have to go look for it on your blog!
I’ve read 6 of the Paste books, but I want to read a few more of those. You MUST read Code Name Verity. It’s a favorite of mine!!
I don’t think I’ve read much of the Goodreads ones…but that’s not shocking for me. I find I don’t often read the biggest or most popular books, but I have read some including Pumpkinheads and Red, White, and Royal Blue.
-Lauren
SO many people recommend Code Name Verity. I know I definitely need to read that one!
I’m shocked that I’ve actually read a few from the first list lol
I had read several from the first round of Goodreads voting and Girl in Red, Red White and Royal Blue.
Karen @ For What It’s worth
Well, Red White and Royal Blue won in two categories, so I guess you read a winner! 🙂
You’re doing better than me! I have only read 5 of Paste’s List, and the only Goodreads book I’ve read is Sorcery of Thorns. Yikes!! So many are on my TBR, though.
It’s kind of fun to check out these lists at this time of year, though, and compare. 🙂
I wrote a response to the Paste list too! I’m not familiar with their site, but agree that Eric Smith seems awesome on Twitter.
I was also surprised at how few of the GR nominees I’d read overall! I feel like usually I’ve read a few in several categories. I just read Ninth House, and it’s the only fantasy finalist I’ve read. I haven’t read any of the fiction, historical fiction, sci fi, memoir, or nonfiction, all of which are genres I like. I’ve read Pumpkinheads and Shades of Magic in the graphic novel category, and I’d also read Bloom and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me from earlier in the voting. In poetry, I’ve read Shout but *whispers* didn’t love it.
MG/YA is better for me as well–I’d read On the Come Up, I Wish You All the Best, Two Can Keep a Secret, and Vanishing Stair, but I gotta be honest–those were all really good, but not the best books I read this year. I’m SHOCKED Internment didn’t make it further. For Spec Fic I’ve read The Toll, Wilder Girls, and King of Scars, and feel much better about those being on the Best Of ballot. I also really liked New Kid, Coyote Sunrise, and Guts from the MG list.
Ship Breakers won a Printz, which is why I’ve read it. It’s a very different sort of dystopian novel that probably got lost in all the Chosen One dystopians out around the same time.
I haven’t read Internment yet, but I obviously really need to. And I might have to check out Ship Breakers too.
I’m surprised that I’ve only read 5 on the Paste list, but I will say that several of the others are on my TBR. There were several categories I had to skip in the voting on the Goodreads lists because I haven’t read any of the books yet.
Yeah, I skipped voting on MOST of the categories.
I haven’t read any on this list but I am very picky about what I read.
Yeah, the books listed aren’t for everyone, but it shows what’s been popular this year.
I love looking at these lists, even if I don’t agree with them. I read 12 of the Paste books, and I only have two others on my TBR. I am going to read Pointe when I read Sparrow, because I think they will pair well together.
Yeah, I just love looking at lists like these!
You still haven’t read The Serpent King!?!? Nicole, you need to reevaluate your life choices! I have read 14 of the Paste ones (I also agree that Eric Smith is a fabulous human!) I don’t think I have read many of the Goodreads ones either, but I wholly agree with your thoughts on The Toll- has to be one of the best series finales EVER tbh! Glad you are loving it too!
Literally every time I put that book on a list, I think, “Oh, Shannon’s going to be so disappointed that I haven’t read this yet.” Every. Time.
Wow this is a fantastic list! And as far as the Goodreads Awards are concerned yes….some fantastic books are missing from the choices!
Yeah, that’s pretty much how it always works. There are always plenty of good books that don’t get recognition, but I guess there’s no way to recognize them all!
I have read three from Paste’s list, which I suppose is alright given that I don’t focus on reading YA? 😛 I also haven’t read most of the GoodReads Choice finalists. Even in the middle grade category, I recognized all of the titles but haven’t read any of them :O I am rooting for Seanan McGuire’s Middlegame in the (adult) fantasy category, though.
That’s how it was for me too—a lot of the books I recognized but I hadn’t read.
I haven’t read most of the books from these lists – especially the Goodreads books. I’ve been reading mostly fantasy this year, but I’ve been reading older books, which wouldn’t have shown up on the list. I did read A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Dragon Pearl, and Teen Titans: Raven. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is fantastic.
I was surprised how few of the books I’d read this year, but it’s just impossible to keep up with ALL the new releases!