The Hit Books of the First Half of 2019

We're not halfway through the year.

@MatthewRix when would the halfway through the calendar year be then?

Ryan wrote: "@MatthewRix when would the halfway through the calendar year be then?"

End of June, when six of twelve months have passed.

Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."

Today is 6/6/19 and there are twelve months in a year

Not a single one from my to read list. This year doesn't look promising so far, but it's ok, I still have more than 1000 books to read. :-D

MK ( Makayla) wrote: "Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."

Today is 6/6/19 and there are twelve months in a year"

Right, so five months and six days have passed....not half the year.

Can you do the same with spanish language books?
Latin American, Spanish writers or any good translation.

This list is called " The Hit Books of the First Half of 2019" (which is not quite true) and has been created because

"... we wanted to see which 2019 new releases have captured readers' attention! Digging through our data across genres, we found the books that have the highest reader anticipation (which we measure by the number of times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves). Then we factored in the number of reader reviews as well as the average review for each book published in the U.S. through early June. "

Well, these are two different things that have been amalgamated into one, which makes the result very muddy. Looking at the level of anticipation of a book

(which we measure by the number of times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves)

is a different issue to looking at the reaction to the book (ratings and reviews).

Then we factored in the number of reader reviews as well as the average review for each book

...and I'm sure this sentence meant to say the average rating, because of course, a review is not something that can be measured numerically.

But what is certainly true of many of the books above is that there has been enormous hype surrounding their release which is why many of them have been shelved so many times. The most interesting thing to look at IMO would be out of all the people who have shelved the various titles as WTR, what % have actually now shelved each one as read and rated it?

Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."
I hope they delete this post and then re-post it at the end of the month. I'll feel so much better then! How about you, buddy?

I was most surprised by The Bride Test. Didn't expect to love it as much as I did.

Also The Winter of the Witch was a perfect ending to a magical series! Must read for any fantasy lover.

The Priory of the Orange Tree is on my TBR stack but not sure if I should move it up. Thoughts?

Since when is 5 months half of the year?

MK ( Makayla) wrote: "Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."

Today is 6/6/19 and there are twelve months in a year"

right...so 5 are over and we have 7 more months to go.

kittykat wrote: "This list is called " The Hit Books of the First Half of 2019" (which is not quite true) and has been created because

"... we wanted to see which 2019 new releases have captured readers' attention..."

You bring up all valid points. The big publishing houses have the clout to push and push and push the hype on some of these books. Also whenever someone enters a giveaway for a book it's immediately added to their "to read" shelf.

Notice how many of these are thrillers? They are pushing this genre like crazy. It is nice to see at least Jane Harper, Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoffs books made the list, they were actually well written books.

#1 is the one that had the most hype about it and continues to, the publishers spent a ton of money on galleys and other promotions for this book.

I feel sorry for any small presses and authors who can't afford the large marketing teams, it has to be so frustrating for them.

There I feel better now, sorry for the rant :)

Dorie - Traveling Sister :) wrote: "... I feel sorry for any small presses and authors who can't afford the large marketing teams, it has to be so frustrating for them."

Hear, hear, rant away, no apologies necessary!

I read a lot of books by self-pubbed authors and some really are excellent but have little to no buzz. It's so frustrating.

Considering how early Goodreads starts the best books of [year] polling, this IS halfway through the reading year.

Good Lord!! Really?! Who cares if it's not EXACTLY six months??? LOL

I agree with H & Gail. even though June isn't over yet, we are almost or already in the middle of the year anyway. some people are being nitpicky...

Great titles. I wonder if they will be worth the read

LOL

I've Only Read One Book from This Hit List

Looks that most popular contemporary fiction is written by female autors.

Congrats. Great to know, and to have set out so enticingly.
How about including somewhere The First Rose Of Tralee: The Love Story That Inspired Ireland's Famous Festivle #TheFirstRoseofTralee

Can't you break this down by genres, so nonfiction doesn't get buried?

I want to read only 8 this year...

It is the list that is important. Who cares about whether it’s an entire 6 months? So however the list was created I thank you. Keep up the great work that you do.

kittykat wrote: "Dorie - Traveling Sister :) wrote: "... I feel sorry for any small presses and authors who can't afford the large marketing teams, it has to be so frustrating for them."

Hear, hear, rant away, no ..."

kittykat, pray tell, what are some of these books of which you speak?

Ryan wrote: "@MatthewRix when would the halfway through the calendar year be then?"

it doesn't really matter, ryan. someone just showing their 'knowledge' of practically everything. AND, I realize your comment was pretty much the same as my thoughts on it.

I have 'THE LOST ROSES' and 'THE HUNTRESS' in my stack to read. i'm packing up my house and am moving home after having become a widow. this house is too full of sorrow--I tried for 3 years, but i'm going home to live with one of my sisters who is a widow, as well. Anyway, I inadvertently packed up my 'TO BE READ' stack (I get nervous if I don't have at least 20 or so books in that stack--it's a 'reader' thing, I guess. SO, i'm down to five books, and i'm not sure yet of the move date, so I have been holding on to these two, as I FLY thru their books, because the writing is SO good, characters well-formed, unfortunately, too, VERY fast reads, even tho they are large tomes. I haven't been reading now for about one week, and i'm getting 'reading unstable', so I picked up 'THE HUNTRESS' and will begin it today or tomorrow. I LOVE kate quinn's writing, but I DREAD the fact that I fly thru them. Anyone who hasn't read her books who appreciates excellent writing, great character development and a great story line needs to give Kate Quinn a read. i'll follow it with 'THE LOST ROSES', and then i'm screwed if I haven't moved home yet. it's unfortunately all timing, so i'm going to try and SAVOR these books and force myself to put them down, rather than sitting up all night because I JUST CANT PUT THE BOOKS DOWN!!!! wish me luck!!!!!

Pat wrote: "kittykat, pray tell, what are some of these books of which you speak?"

If there wasn't a stench of condescension in your tone I might consider providing you with some examples...

So many great books to add to my want to read list!

The Huntress is the only one I've finished; it was okay but a country mile behind "Lanny" by Max Porter. This list should have that in it.

Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."

almost. chill out.

Can you do the same with male authors?

tim davis wrote: "Can you do the same with male authors?"

This is a mixed gender list, there are four male authors on it.

I’ve read five of these. My favorites are My Lovely Wife and The Huntress!

Herwig wrote: "Looks that most popular contemporary fiction is written by female autors."

it IS kind of interesting, as I 'usually' read, or should I say 'coincidentally' read books written by men. but, I gotta tell you, when I started reading KATE QUINN, MARTHA HALL KELLY, MARIE BENEDICT AND FIONA DAVIS, again, by sheer coincidence, I was hooked, as most of the books are fiction based on mostly fact except for MARTHA HALL KELLY who is non-fiction. I am a BIG fan of ww2 history, and this year alone I have read no less than 20 books written by (female) survivors of the holocaust. these books keep coming and coming, and all of them are BRILLIANTLY written, and, of course, at the same time, gut-wrenching to read, but being a student of history (self-taught, that is), I cant resist reading them. 'THE TATTOO ARTIST OF AUSCHWITZ' (cant remember the author at this time) is literally about a young man who does indeed put the numbered tattoos on people in the camp, and is non-fiction. a magnificently told tale, it is, at the same time, difficult to read, but really worth reading. as I said, it's all coincidence, but in the meantime, I've had a BUNCH of VERY GOOD books that I've read this year. too, I discovered a new author, MARK PRYOR, of whom I had NEVER heard, and I cant imagine why, who writes of an American who works for the American embassy in paris and a friend of his who is in CIA (?) BLACK OPS (???) (we're never told) who works with him on the side, if you will. I just read one of his books and have packed it up for my move home, so i'm sorry to say I don't know the title, but I have THE PARIS LIBRARIAN by MARK PRYOR to read. if you have not read his books, I highly recommend them if you like solving 'mysteries', if you will that take place in paris. the only unfortunate thing about MR PRYOR'S books is that they are a VERY quick read--I finished the first one I read in two days. happy reading!!!!!

okudum çok teşekkürler.

https://medium.com/@bahissitelerico/d...

Omg...why be so picky...the books are new the titles/suggestions are welcomed. I just want to read new (and old literature). %/dates/particulars of lists make no matter to me‼️‼️

Linda wrote: "Omg...why be so picky...the books are new the titles/suggestions are welcomed. I just want to read new (and old literature). %/dates/particulars of lists make no matter to me‼️‼️"

linda, everyone of course does not read the same kinds of books. I was sort of surprised at some of the comments, but I just ignored them. we're all different. I just offered my comments of new writers I've discovered this year (and the last quarter of '18) to people who may be interested in new writers. I have always been a non-fiction reader, but these books which have come forth written by survivors of the holocaust grabbed my attention, and I have DEVOURED them. I only pass them on in case others like that genre. it appears for some reason that people don't agree with our reading preferences, and that is ok, but it has seemingly turned into some sort of 'argument' which I don't understand. to me this site is about SHARING and nothing else, people do not need to read what I recommend; I just offer them to people who may be interested. read on, peggy!!!!! you ARE among friends who are readers!

I've read 9 of these so far

I can't believe I just scrolled through this and saw an ongoing argument as ridiculous as "We're not halfway through the year."

El Jair wrote: "I've read 9 of these so far"

Sasha wrote: "Not a single one from my to read list. This year doesn't look promising so far, but it's ok, I still have more than 1000 books to read. :-D"

I know right? Ridiculous

Jessica wrote: "I can't believe I just scrolled through this and saw an ongoing argument as ridiculous as "We're not halfway through the year.""

I know right? Ridiculous!!

Gail wrote: "Good Lord!! Really?! Who cares if it's not EXACTLY six months??? LOL"

Amen to that! Really people!

kittykat wrote: "Pat wrote: "kittykat, pray tell, what are some of these books of which you speak?"

If there wasn't a stench of condescension in your tone I might consider providing you with some examples..."

I'm interested in your recommendations; I read quite a few indie authors, no condescension here.

Thanks for this great list...i have to very soon go for my bookstore invasion

ʚϊɞ Shelley ʚϊɞ wrote: "MK ( Makayla) wrote: "Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."

Today is 6/6/19 and there are twelve months in a year"

Right, so five months and six days have passed....not half the year.

Maybe "half the year" here is a figure of speech? :D let's not get too technical

Sasha wrote: "Not a single one from my to read list. This year doesn't look promising so far, but it's ok, I still have more than 1000 books to read. :-D"

Kelsqi wrote: "MK ( Makayla) wrote: "Matthew wrote: "We're not halfway through the year."

Today is 6/6/19 and there are twelve months in a year"

right...so 5 are over and we have 7 more months to go."

OMG. Who cares! Thank you goodreads for letting us see it early. If any newer ones come up they can be added!!!

A S H L E Y ⚡️ wrote: " I have read five of these books and four of them I rated 5 stars and one rated 3. I’ll definitely check out the others on this list!"
Just out of curiosity, which 5 have you read?
(Of those listed, I've only read An Anonymous Girl, which I enjoyed, but still have to write a review.)

I'm not interested in any of these books lol