Oh wow. It’s the last day of January, which means I am sliding this post in just in time before it becomes waaayyy past overdue. Somehow January has flown by, but I still wanted to get my thoughts out there on the best books I read last year.
It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. My 2019 was a whirlwind, from getting into my top graduate program, to getting my driver’s license, to starting a new job, and even moving! All while spending half the year sober lol. I’ve had a bit of a hectic year, but somehow I still managed to read a whopping 74 books! I know I can’t believe it either!
With that comes my ranking of my favorite books of 2019! Below I am going to review my top 19 books I read last year. For the purposes of this post, please note I won’t be including anything I read in which I have a personal relationship with the author. Not because I don’t love those books, I just feel icky about ranking them. Be sure to check out my GoodReads for full reviews on all my fave indies.
So without further ado, here’s my favorite books of last year!
Part of this reason this book is so special to me is because I received the ARC when I went to my first BookCon over the summer. The Uglies series was one of those formative books for me when I was in middle school, and I’ve cherished it ever since. A decade later, I find out that Scott Westerfeld is revisiting the world with a new series, I. Was. HYPE. I devoured Impostors, book one of the series. When I went to BookCon I actually got a chance to meet Scott Westerfeld!! And he signed my ARC!! I was terribly awkward about it, but now Shatter City is such a prized book in my collection <3
But I guess I should talk about the story, right? Check out my review for Impostors here if you want to learn more about the book itself (you don’t need any background knowledge on Uglies!) and if you want to know more, here’s my full review of Shatter City as well! Needless to say, I absolutely loved this book, was somehow shocked about the twists (I never learn), and I am so excited to see how things wrap up in the next one!
I know, I know, I’m late to this book. But I’m so glad I read it! Honestly, nothing about the cover or concept really draws me into this one, so I would have never picked it up if I wasn’t assigned to read it in class. We studied this book as a multi-modal story, meaning it includes both words and pictures. It actually won the Caldecott, making it the first of its uh . . . hefty size to do so. Selznick’s drawings were beautiful, and the story was riveting! It’s so brilliantly put together. A truly fun experience.
This book is set in France in the early 20th century when movies are first entering the public sphere. We follow an orphan named Hugo who wants to be an inventor, and is currently living in a train station caring for its clocks. When he finds a strange automaton, he vows to fix it and learn its many secrets. The pictures in this book make it feel like you’re reading an old-school film. Every flip of the page feels like you’re sorting through images and title cards on a movie reel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a magical experience rooted in a love of early films.
I received this book on my birthday, but prior to that I had never heard of it! It is a fun, silly, but also poignant feminist comic book about a world in which men have all disappeared. It has a similar premise to the popular comic Y: The Last Man, which was one of my lowest rated books of the year. Woman World takes that concept but shows the take from an actual female author, which made it feel much more realistic and relateable.
One thing I loved about this book was the representation of diverse women, especially its inclusion of trans women. In a book that is considered feminist, it is really important to show diverse bodies; bodies of all color, shape, age, size, etc. There are some really great messages in this book, but as I mentioned it’s also a hilarious comic. Highly recommend for a fun, quick read!
This book was sent to me by a friend from bookstagram, and I am so grateful for it, because otherwise I might not have picked it up! It is a Pride & Prejudice retelling set in modern day Brooklyn and features an Afro-Latina lead grappling with the gentrification of her neighborhood. I adored this book for a number of reasons, but especially how atmospheric it felt. Zoboi beautifully depicts a real Brooklyn neighborhood and makes Zuri’s home feel like I could have been there. Her writing is stunning, and her characters are fantastic. It deals with real world issues while still remaining fun and light. I highly recommend this one to anyone, but especially P&P lovers!
I picked up this audiobook on a whim, simply because it was available at my library. I definitely did not expect to love it as much as I did. It is absurd and hilarious and beautifully written. The book features two protagonists, Sophie the quintessential “good” character, and Agatha the quintessential “evil” character. When they are whisked away to the School for Good & Evil, however, Sophie gets dropped on the evil side while Agatha is dropped on the Good side. They work together (sometimes) to right this wrong through a hilarious middle grades fairytale adventure. I also really enjoyed book 2 which made me laugh out loud. I’m excited to continue the series! You need to get this one for all of your middle grade readers.
This book was simply fantastic. This was another one I had to read for class, and I am so grateful for that assignment! George is a book for younger readers that features a young trans girl who wants to be the lead in the school play. It is complex and yet very simple; there are so many quiet moments that feel like they contain great magnitude. This book was an excellent, quick read, and I hope to incorporate it into my curricula as a teacher someday.
I’ve heard so much about this book, but I finally got the chance to pick it up this year. Fun fact: when I ordered it from the library I brought it home and didn’t realize they had given me the original FRENCH version instead of the English one. I am barely passable at french, so I did end up exchanging it, but man the look on my face when I settled in to read this and didn’t understand a damn word.
ANYWAY, I loved this book. Sometimes I struggle to get really, truly pulled in by graphic novels until I’m deep into a series, but this book drew me right away. It is equally funny and heartbreaking, lovely and grim. Satrapi captures her experience growing up in Iran with a keen voice. She explains what she can while admitting what she didn’t understand. As a character, she is fascinating and admirable. I was moved to tears by this book, which probably made me look ridiculous crying over a comic on the train. But I have no regrets. This book deserves every acclamation it receives.
I waited something like 18 weeks for this audiobook to come available at the library, and when it finally did, I snatched it up. I devoured it, and I totally see what all the hype is about now. Last year, one of my top books was Dear Martin, which has a very similar theme. This book explores it from a different perspective, and I loved watching Starr Carter’s gripping journey. Thomas has such a vivid voice, and I really felt like I was experiencing these things along with Starr, while also having to reconcile with the realities of the part I play as a privileged white person in our modern society. This is another book that moved me to tears, especially as Thomas listened the names at the end of those who have lost their lives to racist police brutality. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. A true must-read.
I was so nervous to read Circe,. I feel like after all the hype it started to received mixed reviews. After reading it, I can see why people wouldn’t like it . . . but I personally LOVED this one. Miller’s prose is stunning; she can somehow make the most mundane day in the life of our protagonist seem fascinating. This book is a character study of the Greek mythological figure Circe, as she experiences the trials and tribulations of living as the daughter of a Titan in Ancient Greece. Many of the problems she faces relates back to her womanhood and femininity, which makes many call this a feminist novel. While I wouldn’t call it an inclusive feminist novel, many of the issues that affected Circe felt relateable to me personally. Miller captured the reality of being a modern woman through this ancient character so poetically. If you have interest in quiet, beautiful re-examinations of classic mythology, I recommend this one to you.
This retelling of Sherlock Holmes is unique because it focuses on two characters who claim to be the descendants of both Holmes and Watson. It is a bit bizarre in that way, with the two protagonists meeting at a boarding school in America and solving a murder mystery modeled after the cases from the original Sherlock books. And yet, I absolutely loved it. I adored the author’s writing style, and I really enjoyed the new takes on the characters. It somehow felt realistic the way that the legacy of Sherlock Holmes affected his descendant, a quirky girl named Charlotte. Jamie Watson was our point of view character, and I couldn't help rooting for him. Plus, romance. We love to see it.
Besides the fact that this might be one of the prettiest books I purchased last year, this also ended up being one of my favorites. Our lead is a biracial Muslim girl who is struggling with the aftermath of a sexual assault--committed by a prominent member of her mosque. This YA contemporary felt like a light, atmospheric read, but it also took turns into some pretty dark material. I agonized with Janna as she struggled alone with her suffering, and I rooted for her the whole way as she triumphed over pain. This book is a great look into the intersections of conservative religious culture and our societal rape culture, and how those realities are at war within a faithful teen girl. Highly recommend. This is another one I hope to incorporate into my classroom someday.
Okay, maybe I am biased because this book is set in Philly, but I absolutely LOVED Acevedo’s second novel. Her writing is rich and beautiful, and the character of Emoni is lovely to follow. She feels like a real teen. Her main problem is trying to figure out what to do after she graduates high school, while also being a working mother to a two year old daughter. I have read books with teens who have babies, but I have never read a book about a teen mother that focused on the time after her pregnancy. This book shows Emoni’s motherhood and the realities of the struggle of balancing that tremendous task with school, a job, and dreams. This book inspired me to pursue my passions even when I felt mired in my current reality. Acevedo has become one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to her next release.
This book has sat on my shelf for a while, so when I saw the audiobook at the library, I decided to give it a go. I was blown away. The story follows an Elvis Presley-esque character’s life from birth to death, told from the perspective of music, personified. Think The Book Thief, but focused more on mid-twentieth century band culture, than, like a major tragedy. Am I selling this? It’s beautiful and fascinating, and the audiobook is so, so good.
Let me wax poetic about this audiobook for a second. The narrator was not only fantastic, but there were guests as well. We heard some music. We heard from famous musicians like Tony Danza and Ingrid Michelson. Albom weaved real celebrities’ stories into the life of his fictional protagonist, making him seem like he really was an iconic musician of the American past. Every chapter felt like a story in itself, and it all wove together to create a fascinating tapestry of Frankie Presto’s life.
I knowww this is another one I am behind on. But I am so, so glad I finally got to this one. I have looked up to Malala Yousafzai’s story since I first watched her UN address years ago, but this book added so much perspective to her story. She is truly a modern day hero--and she’s younger than me! I will never cease to be inspired by her story. I especially liked how she emphasized that she was a child when she became an activist. In fact, I don’t think she even saw herself as an activist at the time. She saw herself as simply a young girl who wanted to learn. And that is so beautiful to me. Please read this one! And if you don’t already know who this amazing lady is, here is the UN address I am talking about.
YES I am including this on my list of top reads because I am obsessed! If you haven’t heard of Lore Olympus, it is a webcomic that features a Hades & Persephone romance. This story is so funny and cute, not to mention the art is gorgeous. I love the world and the personalities that the author has created for all of the Greek mythological characters. If you are interested in Greek mythology, I highly recommend you give this one a go. You won’t be able to put it down! Fortunately (or unfortunately, because I NEED TO KNOW) it is an unfinished serial, so episodes are still being released weekly on WebToon. Check it outtt.
4, 3, and 2: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Series by Jenny Han
I’m combining this whole series into my 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place slots because I just cannot choose one. I received these books for my birthday since my friend Alisha (another writer! Follow her) knew I loved the recent Netflix film. I was worried I wouldn’t be totally interested since I know what happens already due to the movie, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The book goes into even more detail about these characters and their lives, and of course expands on the story more than the films ever could. I am obsessed with Lara Jean’s family and her predicament with the letters. Plus, her and Peter Kavinsky are just too cute. Ugh my heart melts as I write this.
Jenny Han is another author whose writing can somehow make the most mundane scene captivating. These books were all so fun to read, and I will be definitely going back to them in the future. And no, I’m not ranking them among themselves because that’s evil and they’re all fantastic.
This book slid in as one of my last reads of the year, but it left such an impression on me I had to put it as my fave. There is SO MUCH to this book that I cannot rave enough about. The writing? Beautiful. Our protagonist? A perfect cinnamon roll. The setting? Lovely. The food? Yum. Representation? Chef’s kiss. Romance? I die.
This book follows a boy named Darius (or Darioush), a biracial, kinda overweight, teen struggling with depression and loneliness. When his grandfather is diagnosed with a terminal illness, their family travels to Iran for the first time to be with Darius’ grandparents. There, he grows closer to his family, to himself, and makes his first friend. The premise is simple, and yet the whole book was riveting. This is another one that had me bawling on SEPTA, but for entirely different reasons. It was happy crying. Some moments in this book are just so beautifully tender it moved me to tears. I swear to god. This book is amazing.
This was another book I never would have gotten to if it hadn’t been assigned for school. There was so much to talk about with this book, from Darius’ struggles with his half-Persian identity, his weight, his loneliness, his depression, and his place within his family. I think he is also struggling with being gay, but the jury is kinda out on that one? I don’t know, but I think we’ll learn more in the sequel coming out this year. It will definitely be on my pre-order list.
I need to stop ranting about this one, but it’s hard because I want everyone to read it. Pleeeease. I’m obsessed. Talk about it with me!
-
PHEW and with that we are finally finished with this monstrous post in which I gush over my favorite books of 2019. I read so many great books last year it was hard to pick, but these 19 took the cake for me. I recommend them all.
I know this post was way late, but I am still curious what your favorite books last year were! Comment or message me because I want to know what should be on my TBR for 2020.
Thanks for reading and happy new year!
Peace out,
Grace K.