I was going to do a similar post on my own about this anyway, but since it gels with the weekly TOP TEN TUESDAY, all the better! What better way to wrap up the year? I’ll talk about my favorite releases from 2019 here only.
Doing a TTT after what feels ages. It’s good to be slowing finding my blogging foot back.
The Beantown Girls | Jane Healey
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this gem of a book. Three friends join as volunteers in Red Cross Clubmobile girls during World War II. My favorite thing about this book is probably the female friendships. But it’s also about courage and love.
You can find my review here.
Have You Seen Luis Velez? | Catherine Ryan Hyde
Another ARC that I loved. An uplifting and heartwarming coming-of-age story about a black teenager living with his white mother and her family from her second marriage to a white guy. He finally finds a sense of belonging when he meets his ninety-two year old neighbor, and sets out on a mission to help her. It’s wonderfully written and impossible to dislike.
You can find my review here.
The Bride Test | Helen Hoang
A beautiful love story between two very different individuals. I liked this one a lot more than its predecessor. It could be because both the main characters are Asian, or that they are equally flawed. Or it could be just because they’re both adorable and fleshed out really well.
You can find my review here.
The Place in Dalhousie | Melina Marchetta
This particular story is about Jimmy Haller coming home, Rosie – the mother of his child, and Rosie’s step mother Martha. It’s about how these people figure out their lives and their complicated relationships. And Melina Marchetta can write about dysfunctional families like nobody else.
You can find my review here.
Love From A to Z | S. K. Ali
This book explores many themes that I hold close to my heart – Islam, migrant condition workers in the middle east, feminism, and love. And the author does full justice to it.
You can find my review here.
Lovely War | Julie Berry
This book is narrated by Greek Gods and intertwines two love stories set in World War I. Really, what’s not to love?
You can find my review here.
Daisy Jones & the Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid
A book narrated in forms of interviews where the characters look back on the rise and fall of an iconic band. This book was too real and raw for my heart. Taylor Jenkins Reid sure knows how to write strong women.
You can find my review here.
The First Girl Child | Amy Harmon
A book about Nordic kings, runes, curses and magic. It’s a masterpiece, is what it is. If you haven’t read Amy Harmon, you’ve made a mistake. Easily my top 3 of the year.
You can find my review here.
Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo
The best writing of the year for me. There are a lot of polarizing reviews on this. Yes, the beginning does not make it easy, nor do the triggers. But the story only gets better from there. I absolutely loved the writing, the plot and the characters in this world about ghosts, magic, portals and whatnot.
You can find my review here.
Bringing Down the Duke | Evie Dunmore
Hands down my most favorite romance of the year. This book almost reads like a modern romance, with its incorporation of the suffrage movement. What’s not to like about this book? Sizzling chemistry. Just the perfect amount of angst. Women fighting for their rights. A progressive hero. Relatable heroine. Compelling backdrops.
You can find my review here.
So, these are my favorites of 2019. I can’t wait to read the lists of everyone else and see if there are any matches!
I have The Bride Test at the top of my tbr and I just picked up the audiobook to Daisy Jones! I’m looking forward to reading both in 2020. 🙂
My TTT
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy both of them! 😀
LikeLike
Two of yours are on my list too – Beantown Girls and Daisy Jones! Wishing your 2020 is filled with wonderful reads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! I haven’t really seen Beantown Girls in many lists so far, so I’m glad you read it and loved it. Wish you a lovely 2020 too with amazing reads! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
My husband also just plowed right through it, and he’s not really into historical fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That more than anything else says what a great book it was. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Daisy Jones and the Six also made my top 2019 list for being the best audiobook. I will definitely be reading more by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I hope 2020 will be another great year full of lovely books!
My TTT.
LikeLike
I’ve heard some great things about Daisy Jones and the Six audiobook but I think I’m still not ready to feel all those emotions again that the reading the book invoked in me.
May 2020 be an even better year in terms of our reading with more amazing books! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard so many good things about The Bride Test.
My TTT.
LikeLike
It’s really good! Hope you get to read it soon and like it. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m so glad to see Ninth House on here, I haven’t read it yet even though I want to, because I keep seeing so many negative reviews. And Love from A to Z was one of the best books of the year for me as well!
Great list, and happy new year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’m on the minority with how much I loved Ninth House. And Love from A to Z was indeed SO good! Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year as well. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to read a Taylor Jenkins Reid book in January. I need to know what all the hype is about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaay! I hope you join the hype train too. :p
LikeLike
The First Girl Child sounds intriguing! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
LikeLiked by 1 person