2019 was a good year for reading! I tried new authors, explored some new genres and even found an older fantasy series that I ended up loving.
In between moving, working, traveling and trying to keep my life together, I managed to read 54 books in 2019! A few more than the 52 book goal I set on Goodreads.
Putting this post together always makes me think about what, exactly, lands a book in my favorites category? It’s honestly not always the highest rated books I’ve read. Or the books with the most elegant, poetic prose. For me, it’s about the way the book and the characters linger. Do I think about it a week after I put it down? A month? A year? Would I recommend it to a friend? And, even more importantly, would I reread it? It has to be a yes on this counts in order to land in my favorites.
How do you decide your faves?
For this first year in a long time, I didn’t struggle at all with which books would make the list. All of these still stand out in my mind significantly. I think about the worlds and the characters often and can’t wait to revisit them all at some point.
My top 10 reads of 2019 (in no particular order)
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
This book was so good, I stayed up until 2am finishing it and then took another hour to lay in bed and cry over it. It’s a beautiful story about love, friendship, and growing up as a Black girl in America. Jackson’s writing and characters are both absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to read more of her work in 2020.
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa K. Adams
A male main character in a romance novel?! Instant intrigue! This book did not disappoint at all. I’m a huge fan of the romance genre, and it was so great to see this perspective shift that I think so many of those books misses out on. A real, sweet, and often frustrating look at a man who’s willing to do anything to keep his family together and please the woman he loves.
Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Halbert
As someone who deals with anxiety, I always love seeing good representation of people with “invisible” illnesses in the books I read. Our main character Chloe deals with chronic illness but is determined not to let her stop living her best life. Red, her love interest, is just the supporting force she needs to really begin living her life to the fullest. I loved how pure and flawed their romance was, and rooted for both of them the entire book!
A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy
If you loved Children of Blood and Bone or the Three Dark Crowns series, you will absolutely love this African inspired fantasy! Two sisters, both with magical powers, who must eventually fight to the death for the throne. There were so many well done characters, plot twists and action packed moments in this book. Not to mention that ending! I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
I already know I will reread this book a million times over. I’ve never wanted a fictional character to be my boyfriend more than I’ve wanted Samson. I fell so in love with both of the characters in this book, and loved the way it was written. I also thought the way dating app and startup culture where both major plot points was super well done, which a lot of books miss the mark on.
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid continues to be one of my all time favorite authors, and this was another hit. Told interview style, this book breaks down how rock band Daisy Jones and The Six came to be, and then broke apart. It’s full of deeply flawed and relatable characters and I loved every bit. You can read my full review for more spoiler free details.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
This book is the perfect read for a lazy Sunday with a strong cup of coffee where you just want to get lost in someone else’s world for a while. It’s written in verse, which makes it a relatively quick read, and the writing is truly amazing. In such a fast read, the author manages to pack in so many emotional storylines that really make you think and remember how intense it was to be a teenager.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morgan Crow by Jessica Townsend
The book that made me realize how much I miss reading middle grade novels! I picked this up because I needed something funny, easy and charming to get out of my own head a bit, and it did just that! A good middle grade novel makes me feel the same way I did when I first read a Harry Potter book, and that’s saying a lot. I’ve already picked up the second book in this series.
When You Read This by Mary Adkins
Read this book if you’re struggling with a broken heart, and need a good cry. Goodness, I ate this book up!! It’s told in a mix of emails, text messages, notes, etc, which I love in a book to keep things interesting and offer different perspectives into the characters! This book made my laugh, cry and start following the author on Instagram. All signs of a great read!
Queenie by Candace Carty Williams
I picked this book up, at first, because of it’s absolutely stunning cover. Those braids!! But I stuck with it because I related to the main character, dealing with a millennial life crisis and major anxiety, on such a deep level. There were times when I wanted to hug Queenie and times when I wanted to shake some sense into her. I know I’ll revisit this book often.
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What was your favorite read of 2019? Drop it in the comments section! And if you’re still looking for a fun way to discover new books and read from diverse authors, join my book club!