We’re (over) half way through the year and so it’s a good point to take stock of how things have been going so far! It feels like a good time to assess what have been the best books of 2019… so far.
I am super happy with how much I’ve been able to read this year – I feel more in love with books than ever! However, choosing favourites has never been an easy task for me! Each month there is almost always two books battling for the top spot.
Rather than be swayed by what’s been post popular, or even the ones I found most fun to read, I’ve gone for the ones that have been most memorable and meaningful to me.
So, it is time to get serious and pick my six best books of 2019:
Normal People
Let’s get this one out of the way. If you’re a regular reader you’ll know how much I adore this book. This was the easiest one to choose.
Not only did I enjoy reading it, won awards, and generally blown the book community away, but it left a big impression on me.
Rooney’s prose is beautiful, original, and inspirational – I hope to one day write something half as good!
The Hate U Give
I’m ashamed to say that before this year I haven’t been as diverse with my reading as I’d have liked. That changed after THUG.
Not only does it feel important and educational to me as a white woman, it was also so much fun to read. I zoomed through it and stayed up half the night, because I just couldn’t get enough.
The Catherine Howard Conspiracy
I wrote a full review about how much I loved The Catherine Howard Conspiracy!
Motherhood
An exploration of what it means to be a mother today. From a thoughtful writer who wrestles with the decision whether to have children.
In this intimate memoir, Heti discusses how motherhood and womanhood are so interlinked, the pressures of being a mother can be suffocating for some. This book prompts so much personal thinking and exploration, it remains with you for a long while after reading.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Seven Deaths takes a classic Agatha Christie murder mystery story and turns it on its head. It’s definitely a book that sucks you in with its atmosphere, keeping you on your toes until the very end.
I’m not usually one for crime or mystery books so I was very surprised to find myself enjoying it so much. I did not see the twist ending coming at all, and it definitely stirs some emotions!
Daisy Jones & The Six
Daisy Jones is written in the style of a documentary about a 1970s rock band. It’s as cool and original as that sounds! In fact, it was so immersive, I had to stop and remind myself it was fiction several times!
It’s very well done and an excellent way of getting the points of view from everyone involved. Rather than switching between POV each chapter, Reid switches between them effortlessly across the page.
The mysteries and character layers build over time. Questions are asked and answered, just as it would on screen. The final twist at the end only adds to the magic!
Glad you liked evelyn hardcastle- really want to read it. And daisy jones is great!
Thanks, orangutan! You totally should add Seven Deaths to your tbr 🙂