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Choosing my favorite reads for 2019 was actually kind of hard this time around. I think it was because I read a LOT of back list titles and wasn’t keeping up with the new releases as much (something I’m going to try to be much more aware of this year…but also- there are SO many great books that have been written in years past and I don’t want to discount them either…). Bibliophile probs! But, I finally narrowed it down to 6 books that I really enjoyed.
Favorite Reads of 2019
I think I liked The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle so much because I couldn’t figure it out. Usually, I’m pretty good at unraveling a ‘whodunit’ before I get to the end, but this one really had me stumped. I thought the way it was written was really interesting- I mean, waking up in a new person’s body each day makes for lots of interesting perspectives. The whole time I was binge-reading it, I kept telling my Husband, “READ THIS SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT!” Highly recommend if you’re looking for something different, enjoy mysteries, and want to stay up way past your bedtime reading.
Close Enough to Touch was a favorite just because I didn’t expect it to be at all. When I first read the back cover, I was intrigued but wasn’t expecting much. It started out slow, but then I started to get really invested in the characters’ lives, and really wanted to know what would happen in the end. Maybe not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. One of those books that finds you…
Where the Crawdads Sing was a recommendation from a good, fellow avid reader friend. I opened it up while we were on a mini vacay and just hanging out at a hotel. I read the first page or 2 and thought, “oh no- I’m going to hate this!” But, a few more pages and I was HOOKED! Could.not.put.it.down. I read the entire book that day. Loved the characters, got sucked into the story, and just- please read it! It went straight to the top of my maybe favorite books of ALL TIME.
The Secret of Clouds ended up being another pleasant surprise. Honestly, I think I picked it up because I liked the cover…yes, I do that a lot. If you read the synopsis, yes- it’s heartbreaking. But, also so joyous and beautiful. (And has lots of literary references which is always a win for me). A breath of fresh air for a reading slump I happened to be in. Grab the tissues, but don’t skip it.
The Room on Rue Amelie was a book I grabbed a signed copy of at an antique store flea market stall for a STEAL. I just recently got into historical fiction and I’m a huge Francophile so I knew I would get to it eventually. Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it back down. There may have been a sobbing in the bathtub incident…It was a little long, but I really loved the characters. I also discovered one of my new favorite authors. I think I’ve read 3 or 4 more Kristin Harmel books since. And loved all of them!
It’s a Love Story by Lincee Ray is my nonfiction pick. I had more than one that I really enjoyed, but I’ve shared a lot of them this year already. She just has the bubbliest, most endearing personality. You can’t help but love her and wish she was your best friend! She laughs at herself and even though sometimes she’s sharing hard things, she’s so relate-able. Also her pop culture references are on point!
I hope my favorite reads of 2019 help you choose one of your next reads- or at least some more to heap onto your TBR pile. What books did you love this past year? And which ones are you looking forward to reading in 2020?
Please join our Reading Challenge this year and read along with us!
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