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Best Books of 2019

Books, Lists, Recommendations
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The last post was my genre favorites of 2019, but this is the big one. These are my overall favorites of 2019. These are my top 12 favorite books of the year. I tried to narrow it down to a top 10, but I couldn’t choose 2 books to remove form the list, so here we are. Below are my top 12 favorite books in order from lowest to highest rated.

Choosing blindly, my favorite books of the year were surprisingly heavy in the contemporary category. Last year, nearly all of my favorite books were fantasy, and this year, only two fantasy books made the list. Science fiction made a larger appearance, and two non-fiction books made the list.

Finally, I’m not going to include summaries for these books. I included summaries in my monthly wrap-ups as well as in my last post of genre favorites. Instead, I’m going to give you a quick reason why I loved it.

The Interestings

Why I loved it? Even though I’m not typically a fan of slice of life contemporaries, this was actually a page turner. The characters felt completely real and I was totally connected to them.

The Rithmatist

Why I loved it? This fills a niche in the upper middle grade / younger YA crowd that I think is often missed. The magic system is really fun and the friendship is very well executed.

The Flatshare

Why I loved it? This is the best written romance that I’ve ever read. Both characters were complex, their relationship developed authentically, and the side characters are well thought out.

A Ladder to the Sky

Why I loved it? This is a contemporary/literary fiction that reads like a thriller. The protagonist is deeply unlikable, yet you still want to spend time with them, which is (in my opinion) the mark of an excellent book.

Other Words for Home

Why I loved it? It was deeply vulnerable, beautifully written, and highly relatable. Simply an excellent middle grade book.

The Monk of Mokha

Why I loved it? Written by one of my favorite authors and about one of my favorite things ever (coffee), so it’s just a surefire win.

The Way of Kings

Why I loved it? It’s one of the best fantasy books every written. Enough said.

Educated

Why I loved it? It’s hard to say I “loved” this book because it is filled with so many hard topics, but it deeply affected and inspired me.

Into Thin Air

Why I loved it? I’m obsessed with Mount Everest and this book was so fast paced and gripping while being more than just an adventure novel.

The Humans

Why I loved it? It was hilarious and touching at the same time. A somewhat topical science fiction with a deep message about what it means to be human.

The Martian

Why I loved it? I was gripped every single second of this novel. I loved the protagonist that we spend nearly the entire book with, I was rooting for him the entire time, and it made me completely obsessed with Mars.

City of Girls

Why I loved it? The writing was so beautiful that it felt like it was wrapping itself around me like a warm blanket. I loved the gorgeous setting and the complexity of the main character.

What was one of your favorite books in 2019?

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Genre Favorites of 2019

Books, Lists, Recommendations
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Today, I am going to write about my favorite books that I read in each genre. Only a handful of these books will make it to my absolute favorites of 2019, but if you’re looking for my recommendation in a particular genre, you’ll find them here.

I was able to choose three books as my favorite romances that I read in 2019. Oddly enough, all of them were published in 2019 as well. This is likely because I’m not a huge fan of romance, so I’m not typically reaching for backlist romance. Each of these struck my fancy for a different reason, but primarily because the premise of each was something that sparked my interest. In the Flatshare, we have a unique set-up for how the couple meets. In Red, White, and Royal Blue, we have a zany premise regarding the two main characters. In The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, we have a protagonist that I knew I’d relate to. None of these books are particularly smutty (nearly all of the intimate scenes are “fade to black” and stay pretty tame), but all of them are intensely charming. If you’re not typically a fan of romance, I think you’d still enjoy all three of these picks.

I adore the thriller genre. Nothing is better than cuddling up with a thriller on a cold day or laying on the beach with a great suspense story. I chose these books because of the atmosphere, characterization, or plot (twists and turns). The Institute by Stephen King is admittedly the most out of place on this list, probably falling more into the “supernatural” genre, but it felt more at home on this list than on the fantasy list. The Institute has some of the best characterization that I’ve ever read and a premise that is un-put-downable. Joyland is a backlist from King, which is a pulpy murder mystery with a supernatural bend. Ultimately, though, this book is a character study with an incredible setting (spooky boardwalk amusement park). Final Girls is Riley Sager’s debut novel about a girl who survives a mass murder at a cabin. In this book, the slow reveal of information and Sager’s ability to capture anxiety in a relatable way is what put Final Girls on this list. My favorite thriller of the year, though, has to be Ruth Ware’s Turn of the Key. I loved the modern take on a gothic – an old, isolated home that has been transformed into a smart house. The audiobook was particularly great as the narrator did an excellent job at reading the spooky creaks that could be ghosts or the wind. The twists and turns were well planned and all of the characters contributed to the plot in a unique way.

2019 might have been the year of science fiction for me. Again, there is a book that doesn’t quite fit on this list, but it doesn’t fit well anywhere else. That book would be The Humans by Matt Haig, which doesn’t feel like traditional science fiction, but isn’t necessarily literary fiction. It’s a quiet story about an alien who comes to earth and must learn what it means to be human. This book is poignant and funny and quick and quiet and overall perfect and should be read by everyone. Spin is a character-driven science fiction story that follows three friends after the stars disappear. We learn why this happens and how it affects each of the friends. All Systems Red is a novella about a security robot who has disabled their governing settings in order to watch space operas. This is a story about building relationships and free will that is executed incredibly. Finally, we have Dark Matter, which is a science fiction thriller hybrid that is ridiculously consumable. This is a book that begs to be read in one sitting, which is exactly what I did. Without giving much away, we follow a man who goes to the pub and returns home to find that his life looks exactly like it used to, but there are some key differences. We follow his quest to discover what happened and return to his life as usual. Lovers of science fiction or thrillers will enjoy this fast-paced novel.

While 2018 was the year I truly discovered fantasy, 2019 is the year that I read a lot of disappointing fantasies. Because of that, only two fantasy books that I read deserve to make this list. The first is The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. After binging the Mistborn trilogy, this book was a bit slower paced and harder for me to get into than Mistborn, but once I got going, I couldn’t stop. The last third of this book completely blew my mind as probably one of my favorite reading experiences of the year. The second fantasy that I absolutely adored, was another Brandon Sanderson, this time, though, something that he wrote for his middle grade audience. (There is some debate as to whether it is middle grade or YA, and I think it falls solidly between the two age ranges as an “upper” middle grade or “younger” YA). The Rithmatist is about two friends solving a mystery in a world with magic created by drawing lines and figures out of chalk. The friendship Sanderson writes in this book and the magic system he created were too fun to not include on this list.

If 2018 was the year for fantasy, than 2019 was the year for contemporary. I read so many contemporary books that I LOVED with nearly all of the books on this list making it to my all time 2019 favorites. City of Girls takes place in 1920s New York at a raggedy playhouse. The writing is easily the best that I read all year. The Great Alone is another contemporary with a setting that is like a character in itself, taking place in desolate Alaska. Ladder to the Sky really shines with its characterization – following a writer who is an awful person and will do literally anything to get a story. The Interestings shines through the complex and relatable relationships that Wolitzer writes, intricately exploring the factors that affect power dynamics over time. Finally, we have Other Words for Home, a middle grade story told in verse about a Syrian girl who moves to the United States. This is some of the most raw and vulnerable writing that I’ve read and I already want to reread it.

There were a few YA books listed as my favorites in other genres, but these are my favorites that didn’t get listed otherwise. Truly Devious is a fun mystery that takes place at an elite boarding school. Dry is an excellent modern dystopian about what would happen if California turned off all of the taps due to a water shortage. Girls on the Verge is a hard-hitting contemporary about high schoolers on a road trip to seek an abortion. Finally, Scythe is a dystopian about a society that has conquered death, so “scythes” must kill people in order to control the population. All of these were thought-provoking without being contrived and well-written.

Lastly, we have middle grade. Again, a few middle grade picks made my favorites in a genre (fantasy and contemporary), so these are my other favorites for that age range. The False Prince is a fairy tale type story about three young boys vying to win a competition to take over the throne. Small Spaces is a gorgeously written spooky story where our protagonist’s school bus is stranded it a creepy farm. While this book does an excellent job at building a light horror novel for kids, it really shines in its depiction of grief, friendship, and strength. Finally, we have Jason Reynolds’s latest release, Look Both Ways. This book is a collection of 10 vignettes about kids living on 10 different blocks that come together in a unique way. The writing is incredible and the depth Reynolds gives each character in only a few pages is fantastic.

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Favorite 2019 Book Releases

Books, Lists, Recommendations
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Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where there was time to read all of the books? I’d even settle for time to read all of the books that came out in a given year. Unfortunately, that’s not reality, so I could only read a limited number of 2019 releases. Below are my favorite releases of 2019.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

A romance about two people who share flat to save money. The catch? They never see each other because they work opposite hours! A romance where the couple gets to know each other through notes, personal possessions, and small living habits. This is easily the most well-written romance I’ve ever read. The excellent writing style and the well developed characters (including side characters) makes this a standout and easily one of the best releases in 2019.

Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller

If you told me how heartwarming and endearing a book about abortion would be, I don’t know that I’d believe you. This book somehow balances poignancy with charm in order to create a story that is absolutely captivating. A road trip story about female friendship, reproductive rights, and overcoming adversity, this was a surprising page turner that is well worth a read.

The Institute by Stephen King

This was my first Stephen King book, and I have to say – wow is the man good. This is a story about capturing kids with exceptional abilities and locking them in an institute (hence the name). The subtlety of this story and the parallels with current events are striking – much more haunting than something explicitly “scary.”

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The setting in Ninth House is incredibly rich and too good for this book to not make the best of 2019. Leigh Bardugo captures a melancholy, spooky Yale campus where occult magic runs rampant in secret societies. We follow Alex who is part of the house that polices the other secret societies. I absolutely loved reading the different kinds of magic in this book and digging into this universe.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Spoiler alert, but this might be my favorite book of 2019. If you read this, you’ll be lucky enough to spend 470 pages in 1920s New York hanging out with showgirls in a lowbrow playhouse. What else could you ask for? The setting is one of the most lively and lush that I’ve ever read. The narrative structure is loopy and magnificent and the characters are flawed and delightful and everything comes together to be exactly as it should.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Blake Crouch’s science fiction thriller hybrids are some of my favorite to read, and his 2019 release held up to the standard that I’ve come to expect from him. People begin having false memories that drive them to suicide, and we follow our main characters who have to figure out why this is happening. Emotional, thrilling, and thought-provoking.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

If you’re a bookworm, you must read this book, and I suspect you’ll relate to Nina Hill more than pretty much any character. This book was filled with charm and surprising depth. Nina Hill loves her quiet, bookish, and predictable life, when she discovers that the father she never met has passed away and left her something sizable in his will. This book was timely and endearing and brought me major amounts of joy.

Lock Every Door Riley Sager

Riley Sager writes some of the best tension I’ve ever read – in terms of both setting and character. A twenty-something female down on her luck accepts on opportunity to apartment sit in the most iconic hotel in New York, but things aren’t as good as they seem… This book was a modern gothic that is firing on all cylinders.

What was your favorite release of 2019?

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Unpopular Opinions – Books everyone else loved that I didn’t love

Books, Lists
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Not only are these books that everyone seemed to love, but these are books that I really wanted to love, too. Each of these books covers a topic, theme, or trope that I adore! Whether it was the writing style or execution, something fell short in all of these that stopped me from loving them in the same way that others seemed to. Read on to see the top 8 books that everyone loved, but I didn’t.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

A space opera told through found documents and interviews. Two lead characters who recently broke up are all each has left, and something starts to rekindle as they use their wits to save their colonies and find each other.

So, I listened to this one on audio, which might have been part of the problem. I chose the audiobook because it was a full cast, which I typically love. However, that meant that I had to listen to all of the dialogue read aloud, and the back and forth between the characters was my least favorite part of this book. Sure it was witty and snarky, but it felt out of place when the characters were in such dire circumstances. Along with that, the plot just didn’t connect with me and I listened to the audiobook feeling disconnected and apathetic about the outcome. That being said, I really liked the artificial intelligence character and looked forward to listening to the scenes with that character, so there’s some positive to be found here! I don’t think this book is bad by any means, it just didn’t work for me.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

A take on Russian folklore, we follow Vasya as she grows into her magical abilities in a small Russian village amidst conflict with her family and the church

Speaking of books that aren’t bad, The Bear and the Nightingale is a great example of a book that is objectively good, just not for me. I LOVED Arden’s writing style (so lush, so fairytale-like, so atmospheric, so beautiful), but I didn’t love the story overall. I thought I would like it since it deals with religious fundamentalism and small villages and folksy magic (all things I tend to enjoy in books) but somehow the pieces didn’t come together in a way that I liked. This book put me in somewhat of a slump because of the way that the plot meandered and the magic system that didn’t fully make sense. If you like meandering folksy fairy tale fantasies, you might like this. I didn’t love this story, but I did love her writing style, so I decided to read her middle grade series, Small Spaces, which I totally enjoyed!

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

A mid-list author nearing fifty accepts every literary invitation in order to avoid his birthday and take a trip around the world

When I heard the premise of this, I was like, “sign me up!” I thought I’d absolutely love this! This is another case of a book that I think is extremely well-written and absolutely an important book, but not one that ultimately entertained me. If you really like literary fiction, you’ll probably like this. Unfortunately, I entered this book thinking I was getting a mass-audience contemporary, but instead I got something a little more fussy and a lot less fun than I was hoping for.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

A former baseball player known as a womanizer and a career clown who wants to be taken more seriously fake date to improve their reputation

I should probably start by saying that I’m not a romance reader, so I’m probably not the intended audience for this book. In my opinion, there are some romances that are solidly “romance” in genre, but work well for someone who tends to reach for “contemporary” with a hint of romance. Christina Lauren is a good example of an author that writes solidly romance but plays nicely with contemporary readers. This book had so much buzz on Booktube that I thought I’d give it a try. I knew I was getting something steamier than what I typically go for, but people also raved about the characters and the plot, so I thought it would still work for me. Unfortunately, the characters and plot fell totally flat for me, and I even found some of it problematic. The intimate scenes were definitely more explicit and steamier than I’m used to, but again – they fell flat and were also somewhat problematic in my non-romance reader opinion.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

A romance set at a Renaissance fair, two characters who seem to hate each other have intense chemistry when in character at the festival

This book is the kind of book I was talking about above – a softer romance that falls in-between hard romance and contemporary. Less explicit and more focused on the build-up of the romance and the characters, this book had so much potential. I mean, setting a romance at a Renaissance fair? Heck yes! Unfortunately, the attempts at characterization totally failed for me. Attempts at making the characters more complex and well-rounded felt cheap and at times laughable. The author does a lot of “tell not show” here, especially when describing attributes of the main character. Also, I never really bought the romance between the two characters. They go from hating each other to loving each other over night, and even though the author tried to explain why the male lead transforms while in character, it didn’t make the romance more believable to me. I won’t totally write off Jen DeLuca, especially if she writes another romance in a fun setting, but this debut was a low rating for me.

The Devouring Gray by Kristine Lynn Herman

A girl moves to a small town where a group of founders have special powers to control a monster that inhabits the town

The really vague summary that I gave above? That’s literally all I remember about this plot. My main issue with this book is that it was poorly plotted. When I started this book, I thought I was getting a diverse cast, village-based fantasy of cool teens using magic to fight a monster. And I sort of got that? But I also thought that I’d be getting something that made sense. Unfortunately, the world building in this book only poses more questions than answer, and we’re left with a story that is nearly impossible to engage with because the plot and lore don’t add up. Many people note that the representation in this book is excellent, which it is, but it also felt a little bit forced.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

A wealthy nobleman’s daughter is fascinated with forensics and works with her uncle and his assistant to solve the mystery of murders happening in their city. Light romance, light mystery, light gore/horror.

This is a case where me not being the intended audience for this book stopped me from enjoying it. There are many cases where I enjoy middle grade and YA books despite not being the intended audience, but sometimes I read a book in one of those genres and I can only notice how much I would have loved the book if I was 10+ years younger. This is one of those cases. I probably wouldn’t have noticed the excessive and explicit pointedness that the author takes to show how “different” our female character is and how unfair it is that she can’t openly work at the forensics lab because she’s a girl.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Sophie, a girl who can read minds discovers she’s an elf. When she leaves her family to live in the elven world, she discovers that the politics of the elven world aren’t as friendly as they seem, with a vigilante group that is more involved in Sophie’s life than she thought and a sinister rebel group that are complicating her life.

I’ve already talked about this series and how I keep reading them despite knowing they aren’t for me and not particularly enjoying them. The main issues I have with this series are – the threads of world building and lore that begin then disappear, the relationships between Sophie and the male leads that focus on her physical appearance, the way all of her male friends are pining for her affection, and the over-the-top “kids doing things adults should be doing” trope that goes beyond what typically happens in fantasy. I read through book four of this series because I do genuinely enjoy the characters and the world, so I was hoping the author would correct some of the shortfalls.

Tell me about a book that everyone else seemed to love that you didn’t enjoy in the comments below!

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Top 6 non-fiction books for lovers of fiction

Lists, Recommendations
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When reading non-fiction, the writing style and the narrative structure can make or break your reading experience. While this is true of all books (fiction and non-fiction), when it comes to non-fiction, you need a certain je ne sais quoi to round out the reading experience – especially if you’re used to reading fiction. Non-fiction, though, can be an amazing way to diversify your reading – whether gaining perspective from someone’s life in a memoir or learning about something new in long form journalism. Sometimes, truth really is better than fiction. Keep reading to find my fail safe non-fiction picks for people who tend to read fiction. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them!

Top 6 non-fiction books for lovers of fiction
The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts by Tessa Fontaine
I’m listing this one first for two reasons. First, it isn’t hyped anywhere (at least I haven’t come across many bookish folks on the internet who have read it) and it totally deserves some hype! Second, I truly believe it is perfect for lovers of fiction because the content is just so fantastical. The Electric Woman follows Tessa who joins America’s last traveling sideshow after her mother suffers a stroke. Tessa breathes fire, charms snakes, and swallows swords alongside a cast of characters that prove reality can be more interesting than fiction. The chapters shift between Tessa sharing her experience working with the sideshow and Tessa sharing her relationship with her mother who recently suffered a stroke. This story is as fantastic as it is poignant. This is a beautiful memoir that is absolutely worth a read. (Note: My only critique is that the book is a little bit long… some sections are repetitive and in my opinion the editor could have used a heavier hand. While I really loved this book, I don’t want someone going into it thinking it is perfect on my recommendation).

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
On the other hand, we have one of the most hyped non-fiction books out there, but it is so well-deserved. Jon Krakauer is one of my favorite journalists to read (his writing helped me to realize my absolute love for long form journalism), so combining his writing talent with this incredible story and content is a recipe for excellence. Into Thin Air tells the story of the 1996 Mount Everest season, which resulted in several climbers being killed due to a freak storm. The interesting thing, though, is that Krakauer is not just reporting on the event – he was there experiencing it. If you like to read thrillers or adventures tories, you’ll absolutely love this. At times, I forgot that I was reading a work of non-fiction. Bonus: This book led me to discover that I am OBSESSED with reading about mountain climbing, and I’ve since read at least 5 more books on the topic (though none met the high standard of Into Thin Air).

Bonus: All of Krakauer’s work is incredible. If you’re up for a tough (but compelling) read, check out Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town. If you’re interested in religion and the danger of fundamentalism, Under the Banner of Heaven is a slow, but solid read. I’ve also heard great things about Into the Wild, which is on my list.

Educated by Tara Westover
Another incredibly popular book (and for good reason) is Educated. This is a memoir and coming of age tale about a woman who grew up in a survivalist and fundamentalist family. Tara tells of growing up without a formal education in a remote area of Idaho. Eventually, she pursues a formal education (with disdain and backlash from her family) and we see how this completely changes the trajectory of her life, though not without the scars and shadows of her upbringing. Trigger warning for physical and verbal abuse as well as gaslighting.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Start-Up by John Carreyrou
Bad Blood is the last majorly hyped option on this list, which tells the story of of a medical technology start-up called Theranos, and how its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, exaggerated the scope and advancement of the technology. It explores how people got involved and why they stayed, even as they knew that the technology was hardly capable of the things Holmes claimed it was. This book will appeal to people who read fiction because of the almost dystopian lengths that Elizabeth goes through to keep everything under wraps. It reads like a thriller because you’re just waiting for the moment she gets caught and groaning as she gets away with another test or get another investment. I listened to this one on audiobook, which worked really well for me. It was like a long form true crime podcast!

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
From Here to Eternity is a bit of an odd pick, but stick with me – it’s about death and the traditions different cultures have around death. How people bury their dead, how people honor their dead, and how people mourn their dead. Doughty writes about something that could be morose with grace. She never fetishizes traditions that are vastly different than ones that the reader is probably familiar with, and she somehow writes a book about death that feels light. The author definitely has an agenda (she has issues with the current funeral industrial complex), but it doesn’t overshadow the cathartic nature of this book. I think contemporary and fantasy readers will enjoy this read because it is deeply emotional and it exposes fascinating aspects of other societies that we otherwise would never have known.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
I read this book in one sitting. I feel like that’s such a marker of a quality plot and writing style. Trevor Noah sets out to educate about his upbringing in South Africa during apartheid and how he grew up in the post-apartheid world. This book has it all – relationships, laughter, pain, politics. And of course, Trevor Noah is a comedian at heart, so his writing, even when things are dark, has a lightness to it that makes you want to keep reading. There were moments that made me actually laugh out loud and moments that actually made me tear up. This book is entertaining and educational. It’s a book that I feel comfortable and confident recommending to anyone.

And that’s a wrap, everyone! Those are my top non-fiction books for people who tend to gravitate towards fiction. Write your favorite non-fiction book in the comments below, so we can all add a new non-fiction to our TBR!

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