Goodreads is probably the website I use most, and every year I love taking part in the Goodreads Choice Awards because I love having opinions about things.
But I can’t deny that every year I’m disappointed by the opening round of nominations, because there are often books I love that aren’t there. This year quite a few books I enjoyed, or books that are on my TBR, made the opening round of nominations which has been a pleasant surprise – particularly seeing Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow in the Fantasy category, which definitely has my vote this year! – but there are others books that aren’t there that I felt should be.
And that’s when I remembered… I can still nominate them! Somehow every year I end up forgetting that it’s possible to do write-in nominations in the opening round. I’ve ended up doing just that for a few of the categories this year, so I thought I’d share them with you!
Best Mystery & Thriller
After the Eclipse by Fran Dorricott
I really enjoyed this debut novel, and it was so refreshing to read a thriller with an openly queer woman at its centre and a second chance f/f romance that you can really root for.
Best Historical Fiction
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
I haven’t actually read this one yet, but after seeing Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies discussing the uncanny similarity between this novel and Jojo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars, which has made the opening round, I figured it was only fair to nominate this one, too. Check out Lisa’s review!
Best Romance
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
I haven’t actually finished this one yet – I ended up putting it down because I wasn’t quite in the mood for it – but I did like what I read, and I wanted to see some f/f romance on the list.
Best Graphic Novels & Comics
Sleepless, Vol.2 by Sarah Vaughn and Leila del Duca
I haven’t read many graphic novels this year at all, but I enjoyed this duology and I think it’s a shame I haven’t seen more people talking about it. The art’s gorgeous!
Best Middle Grade & Children’s
Darkwood by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch
I loooved this novel so very much and I desperately want to see more people reading and raving about this book. It’s such a fun MG novel, so well written and so genuinely funny!
Jessticulates 
I wrote in the Devouring Gray!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, yes Darkwood was so good! I made a few write in’s myself. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wrote in The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics too – I don’t think I’ve ever seen f/f romance on that list, and that should change.
And I agree so much about the first round always being disappointing (…I would like to know who how they choose which books are going to be there), but I was surprised by this years’ adult fantasy selection as well. There were so many great books in it (I ended up voting for Middlegame, which I’m currently reading and love.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually never think about doing write-in votes. I only vote in the categories where I’ve actually read a book (or books) so that limits what I actually have for consideration. I was a little surprised at a few in the romance category this year. I loved Verity by Colleen Hoover but it certainly wasn’t. Romance. It belongs in the mystery/thriller category. And The Flatshare was good, but again, not what I would consider a romance.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
LikeLike
I voted (but skipped certain categories — cooking, poetry, picture books — that I just have no connection to). I didn’t think about doing write-ins, and I should have! Especially since you were on the ball enough to write in a book I recommended! (Thanks for the shout-out <3) And now that the opening round is over, I wish I'd given it more thought!
I do love the Goodreads Choice Awards 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I voted in the Goodreads awards, but I had to skip a couple categories because I hadn’t read any of the books! I should have written in nominations like you!
LikeLiked by 1 person