It’s that time of the year where everyone talks about their 2019 Favorites! Today, I’m sharing my Top Books of 2019 – and linking up with Steph and Jana for Show Us Your Books. This coming Tuesday, I’m linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top 10 Tuesday. Join us!
My Favorite Books of 2019
Obviously I still have time to read some more books, so this might not be ALL the books I’d put on my favorites list, but it’s a good start. Do we have any of the same books? Anything catch your eye?
I’ve read 151 books so far this year which is pretty dang awesome for me, so for my favorites, I’m going to focus on the ones that got 5 stars.
Noble Hops by Layla Reyne – my first 5-star read of 2019. This is the third book in a series, and one that I really loved.
Cash Plays by Cordelia Bridge – the third book in another series that I fell in love with in 2019, and I gave 5 stars to A Chip and a Chair (number 5 in the series) too.
Saga, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – I’m all caught up on the Saga graphic novel series, and I cannot wait for more! I gave 5 stars to Saga Volume 8 and Saga Volume 9 as well.
Bad Judgement by Sidney Bell – a mystery m/m novel that I really loved!
Rend by Roan Parrish – the second book in a companion series, so you can read them whichever ones you want, but I recommend going in order. Rend was my favorite out of the three though!
Divide and Conquer by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban – another series I read and loved in 2019. I gave 5 stars to this one, the fourth in the series. I also gave 5 stars to the 7th book, Touch and Geaux. There are 9 books in the whole series.
Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea – I’ve read all of this author’s books so far, and I loved his 2019 release. I recommend this book, and author, if you love mysteries.
Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley – this YA debut is one of my absolute favorites of the year!
Part & Parcel by Abigail Roux – this is a spin-off of the Cut & Run series (Divide and Conquer, Touch and Geaux above), and I really loved this third addition to the series.
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston– Again, for those that still don’t know – this is NOT a Young Adult book. It’s Adult. Anyway, I really loved this book and I can’t wait to read whatever the author publishes next.
Keep This To Yourself by Tom Ryan – I really loved this YA mystery, and I don’t think a lot of people talked about it, so go get yourself a copy!!
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham – have you heard of the Tulsa Race Riots? Not a lot of people know about this significant event in American history, so Latham wrote a YA novel all about it. I think this is one that teens and adults should read. This was a book club read for me this year and I’m so glad I got the chance to read and discuss it.
Spellbound by Allie Therin– this book is set in 1920’s New York, and it’s full of magic and mystery. I’m so glad there will be another book – the sequel, Starcrossed, is due out in May 2020.
Fandemonium by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie – I finally got back to the graphic novel series, The Wicked + The Divine, in 2019 and this is the second book in the series. I also gave Mothering Invention, the 7th in the series, 5 stars too. I’m almost all caught up with this series!
John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles – this was a re-read for me actually, and I still loved it! I’m linking my original review from 2010.
Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany – this is the fourth book in the Year-Round Christmas cozy mystery series, and I just love these books! I recommend them for any time of the year.
***
If my calculations are correct, that’s 21 books that I gave 5 stars to in 2019 – and a few that are part of an overall series. Not too shabby!! I had a ton of 4-star reads too, so it was a good reading year for me.
So tell me- what were your favorite books of 2019? Do we share any of the same ones, or are there any books from my list you now want to read?
I also really enjoyed RW&RB. My only complaint was that I wanted more focus on that wonderful romance. I would love to see books for the other members of that squad. I think there are more stories to tell in that world
Definitely – I want more books set in that world too!
I haven’t read any of these!
I love this!
I haven’t read any on your list, but I’ve seen a lot of praise for the Cut & Run series and RW &RB. 21 5-star reads is great! I haven’t counted mine.
I really want to read Red, White, and Royal Blue! Everyone has been raving about how wonderful it is. I’m glad you said it wasn’t YA, because that’s definitely what I was expecting. I’m even more excited to read it now that I know it’s Adult!
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ☃?
Yes, a lot of people get thrown off because they think it’s YA, but nope!
Bad Judgement sounds really good. Mystery isn’t a genre that I read often but the plot sounds amazing thanks for sharing!
It looks like you had a great reading year!
Yes, it’s a good one – I love mysteries! And I had a great reading year, thanks!
-Lauren
I give out 5 stars super sparingly so I didn’t have anywhere near your 21. 🙂 But Red, White & Royal Blue was one I really enjoyed this year. So much love for Alex + Henry!
Keep This To Yourself is on my list already from you!
ooh yay, I loved it!
I don’t think I’ve read a single one of these. Great job on reading so many.
2019 was a sad reading year for me. I didn’t really read anything other than fluff to keep me busy while I waited in doctors offices and such. UGH! I really need to branch out and read other things. You always inspire with your book lists. Cheers to a book filled 2020
Any reading is still good! 🙂
Spellbound sounds like an intriguing read 🙂 Good job reading so many this year!!
I loved Spellbound too! I very nearly included it in my top ten list (which I haven’t posted yet), but there were just so many other great books that it just missed the cut. And I loved Saga Vol. 9, even if I’m still not over what happened. Glad you found so many 5 star reads!!!
Yay! I still need to finish Saga. And thanks for sharing these- I see several new mysteries to check out. 🙂
I haven’t read any of these, but I’m gonna have to add several of these to my list! Some Choose Darkness and Spellbound sound interesting!
Those are both really awesome reads!
Red, White and Royal Blue was one I wish I’d got to. Guess I forgot to put that on my Top 10 list earlier this week! Great books!
Always looking for good titles to read! Thanks for offering up so new ones! I’m interested in checking out the YA one: Keep This to Yourself– I love mysteries!
It’s so good!
151 books is absolutely phenomenal Lauren, well done! That’s amazing that you’ve been able to narrow it down because I know you’ve had a long list of brilliant reads this year. Dreamland Burning! I was trying to think of what the name of that book was, I knew the focus was on race riots. Thanks for the reminder. Red, White and Royal Blue is a book I was desperate to get to this year but unfortunately just ran out of time. Such incredible reads this year Lauren, can’t wait for your 2020 recommendations!
Thanks, Kelly! It was a great reading year, but I definitely have a long list of books I meant to read and need to get to! lol
I love seeing everyone’s best of lists but it makes my wish list grow so much. I haven’t read any of those on your list but want to read Red, White, and Royal Blue soon. Happy New Year!
Oh gosh, I’m always adding new books to my wish list because of other bloggers!
I haven’t read any of these! I definitely want to check out Red, White, and Royal Blue though! Congrats on reading so many books this year!
I absolutely loved Dreamland Burning. And Red, White and Royal Blue was great too!
Ooo I think I have Red, White and Blue… my daughter grabbed it, but I hope to read it. Great list! Happy New Year!
Red, White and Royal Blue was a favorite of mine this year too.
Dude 21 five-stars is AWESOME! That is how my year was- I think I added 5 or 6 new all-time favorites which is just unheard of! So happy you had a great reading year too! I need to get to Dreamland Burning ASAP, and I love the sound of Keep This To Yourself! And I agree about Saga always delivering!
Yay for a great reading year! And yes, you must read Keep This to Yourself and Dreamland Burning.
Spellbound and Charlie Donlea’s books are calling to me at first glance! Such a cool list, Lauren! There are more than a couple here i need to take a better look at.
Ooh yes, and do let me know if you read any of them!
Oh some interesting things there!
I have had Deposing Nathan on my list since you shared it first here. It looks sad, but really good!
Happy New Year!
It’s definitely one of those books with sad moments, but completely worth reading!
I think I read 16 books this year, I need to look on Goodreads to confirm that. Wow! You read A LOT, that is so awesome!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I’m kind of a book nerd, but 16 is awesome!
Dreamland Burning was so good!
Right? I’m so glad I read it!
I’m so amazed by how many books people read. Way to go! Red White & Royal Blue is on my tbr list!
I loved Red White and Royal Blue and am pretty sure I gave five stars to most of the Cut & Run and spinoff books. Great list. I see a few that I still want to read.
Wow, that is a lot of books, nice job!! I haven’t read any of these except for Dreamland Burning, which was excellent. I love reading these best of lists! 🙂
Wow, looks like you had a pretty good reading year, with all these 5 stars. 😀 I’ve heard really good things about Red, White, and Royal Blue and want to check it out at some point!
Red, White, & Royal Blue has been on like half of the TTT blogs I’ve visited so far today. I think that’s pretty cool.
My TTT.
[…] just way over what I thought I’d get, so I’m really happy. I even did a post about my Favorite Books of 2019. I’m currently in the middle of The Fever King by Victoria Lee, so that’s technically […]
I haven’t read these books. Some of my favorite books that I read in 2019 were The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Wicked King by Holly Black, and Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb.
Wow, that’s a good number of 5-star books! And a good way to narrow down your selection of favorites to share, because it’s near impossible to make selections when there are 100+ books on your list (I learned in my first year of reading more than 100…). I really enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue as well, and Dreamland Burning in 2018. Definitely going to check out Keep This to Yourself – I love a YA mystery!
I started reading Saga this year – I think I’m up to No.5 or so? I was really taken aback by how much I loved it and I’m looking forward to reading the rest!
It’s such a great series – I need more now!!!
Terrific list! I really love Saga, and can’t wait for more. I also really liked Red White & Royal Blue. Wishing you a great 2020!
I need to read Red, White, and Royal Blue. Seeing it on so many lists this week has me even more intrigued. Happy New Year!
I need to get my hands on Saga. I have a feeling I’ll love it. Red, White & Royal Blue is one I’m going to read so I can see what the hype is about.
I always end up having to do the same thing and just focus on the five star reads. There were so many this year for me and it looks like you had a great year as well. Happy New Year!
These are new to me. I am still sitting here with my mouth open that you read 159 books. Just crazy. Well done, my friend.
151 books!! What a great year!
Happy Reading in 2020. 🙂
I keep seeing SO many good things about Red, White, and Royal Blue. But I keep forgetting to see if my library has a copy, oops. Maybe now that I’m online and thinking about it I will, haha.
I only just heard of Keep This to Yourself when I did a wrap up of all the gay #ownvoices YA books published in 2019! It sounds like something I’d really enjoy so I’m definitely going to give it a go.
I’m glad you had so many favourites in 2019! 2019 was pretty subpar for me, and I really hope I find some new favourites in 2020. Fingers crossed!
I hope you have a better reading year, and yes, I highly recommend Red, White, and Royal Blue and Keep This to Yourself!
Red White and Royal Blue is one of my favorite 2019 reads as well! And you’re right, I’m not sure why it’s marketed as Young Adult when it’s Adult. I should really try Saga!
I read 17 five star books but I wouldn’t consider them all to be favorites. I ended up putting a few four star reads as my favorite. Despite the flaws, I still loved them. I haven’t read any on your list. My top favorite would have to be he Haunting of Hill House. Do you still have some books to go in the Saga series?