My Top 10 Favorite Books I Read in 2019

1. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

When I found out this book was published in 2017, I was shocked! It received such hype towards the end of 2018 and all of 2019! You know what that means, don’t you? It’s going to receive the attention it deserves for many years to come.

If there was a book that impacted me the most this year, it would be this one. The Great Alone fell into my lap at a really difficult time in my life and it helped me to overcome my obstacles. The beauty of Alaska (a place I’ve always wanted to go) made me forget my surroundings, and the story of Leni and her independence and ability to overcome each obstacle brought me my own determination and peace.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s such a beautiful story of growing up, love, and persistence; the setting and descriptions are extraordinary; and the characters are all so incredibly strong and so skillfully written. Check out my review if you want more details.

2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I picked up this book because I had read all good things about it from Reese Witherspoon (an absolute idol of mine–and there’s also a rumor that one day Witherspoon might turn this book into a movie??? Fingers crossed!). It’s another one that made me look at my life differently.

Eleanor Oliphant is a recluse who likes being alone, drinking vodka, and criticizing people’s social abilities. I immediately related to this woman. I’m a woman living alone who isn’t in a relationship, who has absurd crushes on men who don’t know I exist, battles with depression, and works a job that only makes me semi-happy. Eleanor is exactly the same. It took Eleanor finding a helpful friend to want to make a change in her life, but when she decided she wanted to, there was no standing in her way. She took her depression and conquered it, cut out the negativity from her life, and learned how to make friends and enjoy each moment she was in.

I couldn’t help but be inspired by this quirky, grumpy, sassy, hilarious, STRONG character–while also becoming completely engrossed in the story being told. Check out my review to read more about it and see if it’s a book for you.

3. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

The Testaments was one of the most highly anticipated books of 2019, and with good reason. I read this entire book in two days and nearly wept when it was over. I fell in love with the uniqueness of The Handmaid’s Tale and the extraordinary writing of Margaret Atwood, so I knew without a doubt that I would love The Testaments.

Atwood has a way of stringing words together to create a beautiful scene. She also has a way of creating unique ideas and making them realistic. Her character development is also an amazing quality she possesses. The Testaments was written with three different points of view–and each time the chapter changed into a different character, you could tell. Atwood made each character’s voice sound so different, which is a difficult feat as an author. I could go on about Atwood’s writing abilities for days, but I also have to mention the complexity of the story. The story itself is entertaining and something I had never read before in any other novels, but it also carried on beautifully from The Handmaid’s Tale written decades ago and also had many parallels to our own society. The Testaments truly is a masterpiece and a work of art.

If you’ve read The Handmaid’s Tale, I don’t know why you haven’t read The Testaments yet! And if you haven’t read either, pick these books up and I promise you’ll be entertained and wowed. Check out my reviews on The Testament and The Handmaid’s Tale to see all of the praise I give them!

4. Where the Crawdads Sings by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing was at the top of the New York Times Fiction Best Sellers in 2019 for 20 consecutive weeks and, exciting, exciting!, it’s in the process of being turned into a movie with the help of Reese Witherspoon! Man, she just keeps popping up in my post today, doesn’t she? What an icon–and what a beautiful woman who uses her platform to encourage reading and wellness. Anyway. I digress.

I’m starting to notice a recurring theme in the books that have impacted me this year. They all have very unique storylines, they don’t revolve around love, and the main character is a strong, lonely, yet determined female. This isn’t any different for Where the Crawdads Sing following the life of the fascinating Kya. Kya embodies the human emotion loneliness as well represents outcasts and minorities. She is a unique character, one you can’t relate to, but fall in love with anyway. She takes you on an adventure you could never yourself go on, shows you what it’s like growing up alone practically in the wilderness, and thrusts you into a mystery that will keep you turning the pages. And the ending is one of the best endings from a book I’ve read in the past year or two.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a book that will keep you entertained and feeling satisfied. It’s not dull and you feel your brain being nourished as you read this novel. Check out my review for more details on this glorious book.

5. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove came out in 2012 and I can’t believe it took me this long to read it! It was recommended to me by my grandma, whose husband (my grandpa) is Ove to a tee! I couldn’t help but chuckle reading the book because it reminded me so much of my grandpa, but it also left me feeling endeared.

Ove is a grumpy old man who likes things old fashioned, until he meets his new neighbors who change his life–in his eyes for the worse. This book has you laughing on nearly every page and it also warms your heart with the paternal love that oozes through the writing. It was refreshing to read a novel that was first of all, written by a man and from a man’s POV, and also that wasn’t about growing up and romance and drama, but about being satisfied with the life you are living and have lived.

If you’re looking for a feel-good book, I 100% recommend this one. It’s one the whole family can read. Check out my review if you want to know more about this beloved novel.

6. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lang

This book snuck up on me. It wasn’t recommended to me by anybody, it didn’t pop up on my Instagram timeline, it simply just stumbled into my lap when I was searching for a book to read–and I WAS NOT disappointed. As far as I know, this is Ruth Emmie Lang’s first and only novel, but it’s written so well it seems like her 30th.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances isn’t like any other novel you’ve ever read. It’s about a boy who was raised by wolves (sounds cliche, I know) but it’s about so much more than that. It’s about the beauty of time and connection, how people impact your lives forever, and how powerful you yourself can be. I liked this book not only because it was inspirational and entertaining, but because it was truly such a strange, unique idea that grasped and held my attention. It’s not a love story, it’s not a mystery, it’s simply a book with deep meanings and thought-provoking ideas–not to mention completely enthralling from cover to cover.

A review will be up on this shortly where I will continue to praise this novel, but in the meantime, check it out yourself and let me know what you think!

7. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Hey, look, a book from the 1930’s made it onto my 2019 list! I had shockingly never read this book until this year even though it had been recommended to me over and over again by a handful of people. All I can say is that I completely understand why everyone who reads this book is in love with it.

Glamour, mystery, scandal, beauty. What more could you want out of a good read? I found the main character so relatable even in 2019 because of her obsession with Rebecca. It just goes to show that even women in the 1930’s could become obsessed over a man or that ex that seems to haunt your relationship. The narrator gets dragged into a mystery of trying to find out what happened with Rebecca and why everyone at Manderley was so in love with her. We get to go on that journey with her and uncover secrets, lies, affairs, and the glitz and glamour that surrounds the estate.

If you haven’t read this book yet, read it. I believe everyone woman should have a chance to read this book because it’s so impactful, entertaining, and beautiful. My review is linked here so you can read more details about why I’m absolutely head over heels for this novel.

8. How to Be Single and Happy by Jennifer Taitz

I bet you can’t guess why I picked up this book this year. You guessed right. I went through a breakup and for some reason could NOT get over the feeling of loneliness like I normally can. I just get more and more afraid that I’ll end up alone. Does this sound like you or someone you know? Get you/them this book now.

Sometimes I’m not a fan of self-help books because most of them are all, “You’re sad?! I was too! Here’s what I did and this ONE technique will work for everyone too!” But that was not at all the case with How to Be Single and Happy. Dr. Taitz took each scenario when you’re single (i.e. “Stalking and obsessing,” or “Wanting to start a family but you don’t have a significant other,” or “Struggling to find happiness in your day to day life without someone there to share it with,” etc. etc. etc.) and gives you MULTIPLE remedies to fix them–because Taitz knows everyone is different and will respond to methods in their own way. Truly, she covers everything you feel when being single and gives an entire book of suggestions in overcoming these dark feelings. I’ve never connected with a self-help book as much as I have connected with this one. It was also science-based, so her methods she suggests have been PROVEN to work. That’s comforting, yeah?

Recent breakup, single for a while, a friend struggling, etc. I recommend this book for you. My review will go into more detail and convince you that you need this book in your life as I did in mine.

9. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

Okay, maybe I didn’t read this series for the first time this year. Maybe I’ve read this series at least four different times. But I started 2019 with these books and can’t not share my absolute love for them.

I used to be obsessed with YA novels but I’ve slowly slipped away from them–except Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles). UGH! This series satisfies my every single desire I have when reading. I read them at least once a year and I read each one practically overnight because I cannot put them down! The love stories are FREAKING BEAUTIFUL, the characters are all absolutely TOUGH, and the storyline just appeases to your every book craving. Basically it’s a rendition of Cinderella (Cinder), Little Red Riding Hood (Scarlet), Rapunzel (Cress), and Snow White (Winter). Seriously. I’m not going to tell you anything about them other than you have to read them. I love them, my mom, my grandma, my aunts, my sisters, my friends, EVERYONE.

I haven’t written a review on these, (except here where I talk about binge-worthy YA novels) but take my word and everyone else’s word for it. These books will fulfill your every novel necessity.

10. A Deadly Wandering by Matt Richtel

I had to read this book for one of my college classes, which I know we all struggle enjoying our college books, but I fell in love with this novel. It’s full of scientific facts, facts concerning the law, and a thrilling story and cautionary tale. It’s written by Matt Richtel, a journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner. He spends years gathering facts for this novel and goes even further to uncover the emotions and consequences that come with texting and driving.

A Deadly Wandering is about texting and driving: the neurological side of the addiction of social media/texting, how the laws for texting and driving came about, and the emotional, physical, and mental consequences that come from doing so. Reggie Shaw was texting and driving and killed two innocent men on the highway. This novel follows Reggie’s story. I definitely believe it’s a story everybody should read. It’s a warning and a plea to stop distracted driving and to also not let social media run your life. Everybody–young, old, teenager, adult–could benefit from reading this life-changing, mind-changing book.

My review goes deeper into the novel and explains more about how impactful this book could be for you.