5 Books in 2018 I wanted to read but didn’t.

Don’t lie to me, we’ve all been there. TBR lists, I feel, are the archnemesis of book bloggers everywhere – and we try so hard to win the battle of the TBR but sometimes, we lose. This year was an exciting year for book releases, but I found that most of the books that I really wanted to read this year, I wasn’t able to! Either because of time, needing to read books that I’d committed to for authors or publishers or because I lost interest in the book itself. 

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1.The first one that comes to mind immediately is Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. The buzz surrounding this book was immense – as it should be – the fact that the YA writing community is slowly becoming more diverse with diverse authors, diverse characters and diverse stories, is something that constantly and continually needs to be celebrated. 

Buuutt, I could not get into the novel. I tried. God, I tried so hard. The universe was incredible and the history of the world itself was incredibly detailed and beautiful. But the character Zèlie annoyed me and I just could not fully immerse myself into her story. It’s something that I feel guilty about, but then Tomi did something ridiculous on Twitter to my absolute favourite author, Nora Roberts, and I don’t feel guilty anymore!

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2.LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff is another one that I didn’t finish! Jay Kristoff is an incredible Australian author who has co-written the utterly incredible Illuminae series with Amie Kaufman and authored the actually magnificent Nevernight Chronicles. So, suffice to say, Jay Kristoff would have to be one of my favourite authors at the moment as he really is a wonderful storyteller. So it legitimately boggles my mind that I lost the motivation to finish LIFEL1K3! I remember binge reading the first half and I was literally immersed within the world and the characters and absolutely loving everything about it. I then put it down, because I said to myself that I didn’t want to finish it in one day and wanted to extend the experience, and then all of a sudden – I just didn’t want to finish reading it! I lost it! I’m so annoyed at myself!!!!! But I am planning on re-reading it before the sequel comes out – so that will be a goal for 2019. 

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3.I was super excited for this book release. I went to its release event here in Melbourne, met the author and was so excited for a book that was bringing forth the raw and powerful truth of an aspect of our social welfare system. Stolen Girl by Eleni Hale was honestly, one of my most anticipated books of 2018. It focuses on the experience of the main character, Sophie Soukaris within the Australian foster care system. It aims to engage the readers with the realities of the foster care system and it is meant to be confronting. I remember thinking, yes a young adult novel that considers social justice issues that are specific to Australia. The truth of the matter is, I just didn’t end up reading it. And I am horrified at myself. I honestly think it was because my uni coursework that I just wanted to read something more ‘light’ and not as intense – but I really need to this book asap and you do to!

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4.I purchased this book as an impulse buy only because I saw everyone raving about it on bookish instagram and twitter, The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton. I didn’t really consider what the actual story was about, I just thought to myself that so many people loved it that it would be a sure thing, so I literally did not even doubt my purchase. When I came home and opened the book, I was, not disappointed, but kind of underwhelmed? I had read some of Clayton’s work in an anthology and I quite enjoyed how she wrote, but I just was uninterested in The Belles. I don’t know why but I felt as though the story itself reminded me of something I had read previously? So I didn’t read it and it’s been on my shelf ever since. I would like to read it eventually, but that didn’t happen this year. 

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5.If you have followed me long enough, you would know that I adore the author Katie McGarry. Her Thunder Road series was everything and I will forever love that series because Razor will always have a piece of my heart. When her new book Say You’ll Remember Me came out earlier this year, I was ecstatic! McGarry is such an incredible author and I was so happy for another book from her!

BUT I DIDN’T READ IT THE HORROR.

Ok, I’m pretty sure I remember starting to read it but then getting annoyed by Elle and stopping. But I regret not actually reading it more and watching the character growth occur and the romance. But at the time, Elle’s character was not tickling my pickle, so I stopped before I got too annoyed and moved onto something else. I will read it though, because it’s Katie McGarry and I love her stories. It’ll only take me some time until I do. 

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Honestly though, I’m pretty sure there are more. I wanted to read Neverland by Margot McGovern, Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (because of Chaol – I never liked his character but I need to read the book, goddamn it), Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell and others that I either didn’t have time to or because I was not interested at all. 

Question, my friends, were there any books that you wanted to read but didn’t this year? Let me know!

Until next time, happy reading!

Allie

xx

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