We’re starting our 2019 wrap-up on a negative note to get those out of hte way first so we can start talking favorites. But these are my 2019 reads that I DNF’d or were disappointed by in some way. And stay tuned at the end of the post for a few honorable mentions of surpises (in a positive way!)
Click the title to read my reviews and the authors name to go to the book’s goodreads page! And you’ll notice a reoccurring theme of not connecting/liking characters being the biggest reason I DNF a book. The first set of books are DNFs and after the double break is books I finished, but was disappointed by in some way.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon | This was a little too slow for me and I just couldn’t focus. But I did love the worldbuilding and am planning on giving it another chance.
Nocturna by Maya Montayne | I could tell where the story was headed and I knew I would start liking it less.
Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan | Wrong book, wrong time. I lvoe RR books, but something about this series didn’t quite click. I might try it on audio
Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | I wasn’t connecting with the characters at all, but I did end up giving this a second chance and I loved it.
Storm Crown by Kalyn Josephson | The worldbuilding was a miss for me. I feel like a lot of stuff was glossed over and underdeveloped.
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika & Maritza Moulite | There was some stuff happening in the book that was pushing it in a direction I didn’t really wanna go down. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was looking for.
The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco | I was never invested in any part of the story. I was reading it to read it, not to enjoy it.
House of Salt and SorrowĀ by Erin A. Craig| The was a drag from the start and proabbly my quickest DNF. I was immediately bored when I tried to read this.
Off -Script by Kate Watson | Not having read the companion novel migh have hindered my experience, but it culdn’t have been my much. The characters were just too juvenille for me.
Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen| As the story got further and further along, I started liking the characters less and less.
Hungry Hearts edited by Elsie Chapman &Ā Caroline Tung Richmond | I lost interest along the way, but I felt pressured to finish because it was a library book and it was due in a few days. There was a few standouts, but this was the most mediocre anthology I’ve read.
Love to A to Z by S.K. Ali | I just started liking the characters less and the story went on, even though I loved the premise at the start.
*Honorable Mentions For Happy Surprises*
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | After giving this another shot, I fell in love. Yes, alex was still annoying, but I connected wit hthe relationships and became invested.
Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan | This was an adorable LGBT romance set at a fair ground and it was just super cute and I never would have picked it up if it didin’t meet a readathon prompt.
The Wicked King by Holly Black | I thought the political schemeing and interpersonal drama skyrocketed in book 2 and IĀ was all kinds of here for it.
The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton | There was so much worldbuilding and development that addressed a lot of the issues I had in the first book.
What were some of the books you DNF’d or were disappointed by in 2019? Did any of these make your list?
Share below and look out for my favorite debuts and new-to-me authors soon!
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