Earlier today, I posted my normal Top Ten Tuesday, counting down the ten best books that I read in 2019. I always have a hard time with this list because I read up to 100 books a year and its hard to narrow that down to ten! I also feel bad when I super enjoy a book but I don’t put it on my list. SO, I decided to do a countdown of months and share what book was my favorite for each MONTH of the year. Some of the books might be the same but I’m hoping some authors are highlighted as well. Lets jump in!
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January – Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Abdi wrote an incredible story about coming out in the 1980s, a time when the AIDs epidemic was prominent and in the minds in all gay men, whether out or not. Its a personal story that isn’t exactly Abdi’s story but still feels real and authentic and emotional. It is easily one of my favorites of the year and my favorites of all time.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
February – King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
Nikolai was my favorite character in the Grisha trilogy and I was beyond excited when I heard he was getting his own series. I absolutely loved this book – it was so great to be back in that universe and I think Leigh did such a wonderful job of meshing together the stories of the Grisha trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. I loved that there were new characters and so many familiar characters and I loved that we got to see Leigh’s beautiful fantasy world yet again.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
March – If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
I am so glad that I met Emily and Austin a couple of years ago because it introduced me to their wonderful books! I super loved the first one but I loved this second one even more. I like that they have taken known Shakespeare stories and twisted them into modern, contemporary romances that are fresh, funny and great. I love that the main character isn’t someone you love right away but you learn to love her. I like that she’s sort of unlike other YA characters – she knows exactly who she is and she doesn’t apologize for it. She doesn’t spend the book figuring out who she is, she spends it trying to figure out how to be the best version of herself. Plus the entire novel feels like a love story to LA and I just love LA and I’ve loved growing up here.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
April – The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
I’ve been reading Sarah Dessen since I was 13 years old and its amazing that here, even at 31 years old, she can still blown me away with her stories. Her stories are so emotional and real and I appreciate every single one of them. I super loved this one as well because it was so centered on family and I loved the background of mental health and it both felt heavy and light at the same time. Plus it brought back the summer vibe that is a staple of Dessen’s novel and it really was such a wonderful book.
Apparently I never reviewed it though!
May – Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
I absolutely ADORED the first book in this series, just absolutely LOVED it and I knew knew knew I had to read this one because it has a lesbian princess and I’m so here for that. I love LGBTQ books in general but I swear, we need more F/F books and Rachel delivered, while pairing one of my favorite things to read in fiction – modern royals! I looooooved this book and now that I’m sitting here, talking about it, I’m thinking – maybe a reread is in order.
This is yet another book that I failed to review this year, even though I loved it.
June – Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum
When you pick up a book that is centered around the tragedy of 9/11, you expect a book that is just going to make you feel sad. And yes, this book definitely has moments where I’m incredibly sad and remember the day that the world seemed to come crashing down among us all – I was 13, I remember it well. But this book is mostly full of hope and love and I truly enjoyed it. It wasn’t political, it wasn’t pushy, it wasn’t anything other than a bittersweet, hopeful story about two teenagers whose lives were dramatically changed by that day. A must read for sure.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
July – Maybe This Time by Kasie West
I adore Kasie West because her books always make me feel happy and hopeful and romantic and Maybe This Time was definitely a novel that accomplished all of the above. I really loved that it took place in series of events like Four Weddings and a Funeral and that the main character worked for a florist. That was one of my first jobs and it was a chaotic and fun time and I really connected to the character through it. But I also just loved the build up of the romance. Kasie’s books always make me feel…bright and light.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
August – The Lightness of Hands by Jeff Garvin
This book doesn’t technically come out until April 2020, which is when I’m going to super super push people to read this, once they can get their hands on it. However, that doesn’t change that this was easily one of the best books of the year and worth the wait as Jeff’s sophomore followup to The Symptoms of Being Human. Ellie has such an interesting, if sometimes bleak, life as a magician’s daughter and that alone keeps me glued to the page. But its Ellie’s struggle with her bipolar disorder and her inability to always take care of it because of the cost of her medicine – that is what really gets me. Mental illness is a HUGE, important topic, especially in how difficult it can be for people to treat it because of healthcare costs. I think this book is so emotional and so HUMAN and a definite pick up in 2020.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
September – To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
I feel like this year, I really focused even more on female characters of strength than ever before because I focused on female characters of ALL strengths. That is absolutely 100% Rhen. I love Rhen. I love that she is intelligent and brave and that she uses the two of them to move herself forward, not out of selfish means, but to find a cure to help her mother and all other sick people. I love that she doesn’t fold herself into what is expected of her but fights against it…hard. I love that she adores her cousin even though they’re total opposites because even though her cousin loves pretty dresses and can’t wait to be married, she’s also wicked smart and up for adventure as well. I truly loved this book and it made me sad that I waited until September to read it. Its a badass feminist novel without feeling like HEY I’M A FEMINIST NOVEL. Its just straight girl power.
You can read my spoiler free review here.
October – American Royals by Katharine McGee
I can’t even begin to describe my absolute love for this book. I did not expect what I got out of this book – I love any story with modern day royalty in it and the cover was fun so I decided I had to read it and I’m so so glad that I did. Its absolutely incredible. The alternate history of the United States becoming a monarchy and the way that Katherine is able to make the history we know change to fit her world was just so impressive. I’m DYING for the next book. This book blew my mind.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
November – Supernova by Marissa Meyer
This was one of my most anticipated novels of the year – I love everything that Marissa does and I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended because, honestly, I had no guesses. I couldn’t even begin to figure out who was good and who was bad or how it was going to end. It was SUCH a satisfying end. It was full of surprises and I honestly just felt so happy and incredibly satisfied at the end. I just wish I didn’t have say goodbye to that world.
You can read my full spoiler free review here.
December – The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst
I don’t normally read adult fantasy – I tend to find it long, drawn out, boring and predominantly written by white male authors who like to hear themselves talk. I took a chance on this one because it was on sale and it sounded really intriguing and I am so glad I bought it. This was such a rich world with incredible characters and a story that I couldn’t stop reading. I never read adult fantasy but I blew through this book faster than I normally would. I already can’t wait to read the second book because truly, what an amazing book.
I haven’t written a full review of it as I finished it a day or so before Christmas but it should be coming soon!
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