This year was an interesting year of reading. Going back through the 100+ books this year took me down memory lane. There were a lot of books I liked this year, but it was much easier to narrow down the books to be under ten because the books that I liked a lot, I REALLY liked.
I read a lot more memoirs this year than last. Biographies and histories as well, and I liked them all. Way too many to include in the list. Otherwise I might as well have made a Top Memoirs/Biographies of 2019 list. LOL. If anyone is interested in that though, let me know and I'll whip up a list.
But below, find my top favorite books of all genres that I read or listened to in 2019.
10) Etched in Sand: A True Story of Five Siblings Who Survived an Unspeakable Childhood on Long Island by Regina CalcaterraReleased: November 5, 2013
Read from: 10/7/2019 - 10/10/2019
Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.29 stars
The title tells it all, really. The author is the middle child, who ends up having to help raise, and then literally save her younger siblings from danger. It outlines the faults and difficulties of the foster system, but how if you really want something you can obtain it. Regina comes out on top in the end, but her fight to get there is deplorable.
Find my full review on Goodreads.
9) Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz
Released: August 7, 2012Read from: 9/18/2019 - 10/6/2019
Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.94 stars
This title tell it all too. Julia Child's life was truly remarkable. She was so much more than just a famous chef. Forward thinking, well traveled, a life than spanned incredibly different decades... She did it all. For those that enjoy learning about people in American history, this is a great book for you. Even if you know nothing about Julia Child prior.
Find my full review on Goodreads.
8) Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Released: September 27, 2016Read from: 8/15/2019 - 8/17/19
Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.9 stars
If you're a Mindy Kaling fan, or just like listening to people who are funny, this is the book for you. I liked it much better than her first book, and I actually listened to this one before the first one. This isn't the type of book by a famous person where you learn all about their past, but more about their personal, and in her case, hilarious views on things in life.
Find my full review on Goodreads.
7) This Will Only Hurt A Little by Busy Phillips
Released: October 22, 2019
Read from: 12/16/19-12/19/19
Format: Audiobook (Scribd)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.93 stars
Now this is the type of memoir where you're going to learn all about the author's lives growing up and how they came to be who they are today. You'll learn that Busy Phillips did a lot more than you probably realized, and she's certainly been through a lot too. I really liked this book a lot. It felt unfair to give it 4.5 stars instead of 5, even though it didn't quite reach the point of my usual 5 star rating, because the author was just so honest about everything in her life, that many people can relate to and may feel alone or ashamed about.
Find my full review on the original blog post!
6) The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan
Released: February 23, 2016Read from: 8/20/2019 - 8/24/19
Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.23 stars
This book blew me away to be honest. I didn't expect to learn so much about what it was like to be a cacao farmer/slave in Africa. This book tells you hoe dangerous it is via the story of two brothers who are fiercely loyal to each other, and a kidnapped "wildcat" girl who doesn't belong. It's amazing. You need to read it.
Find my full review on Goodreads.
5) The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
Released: May 29, 2018
Read from: 10/28/2019 - 11/3/2019
Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.81 stars
My favorite book by this author yet. I wrote a rather long Goodreads review, so definitely check that out. This book wasn't so much a thriller, but a couple mysteries all into one. It all begins when the main characters decides to trick an entire family and accept the fortune left behind by their dead family member, full on knowing she was contacted by the lawyers by mistake. This isn't her family, but she really needs the money. From there, of course, things go haywire. The family finds out, inevitably, but it turns out she's not just some random person mistakenly identified because she happens to have the same name of the deceased's family member.
4) All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
Released: June 26, 2018
Read from: 7/1/2019 - 7/4/2019
Format: Audiobook (Overdrive)My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.87 stars
This book was SO close to getting 5 stars! I really really loved it. It was my first book by this author, so now I'm excited for more! This story looks at family relationships, and the battle to do what's right for your family, while at the same time what is morally right. One girl gets caught up in drama when an embarrassing, slightly revealing photo of her is spread around the school. The culprit has a lot to lose in life if they are caught. The father will stop at nothing to make sure his child's opportunities are not taken away. They are seniors in high school and have so much more life left to live. The father of the girl will stop at nothing to make sure justice is served. The one remaining family in this scenario is caught in between. How can the problem be solved, with everyone else coming out okay in the end?
Find my full review on Goodreads.
3) Weetamoo: Heart of the Pocassets, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 1653 by Patricia Clark SmithReleased: August 27, 2001
Read from: 6/1/2019 - 6/2/2019
Format: Print (Library)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.64 stars
I loved this book because it gave me basically my first ever insight into King Phillips War. Weetamoo was an important Native American leader at the time of this war; one of the bloodiest battles in American history. This book gives an insight into what it may have been like for her as a child, before all that started. And has an excellent historical section at the end that tells you about this very important time in history. It's meant for a younger audience so it's not heavy at all. Just extremely interesting.
Find my full review on Goodreads.
2) Becoming by Michelle ObamaReleased: November 13, 2018
Read from: 5/26/2019 - 6/5/2019
Format: Audiobook (Scribd)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.58 stars
This book may be one of the highest rated books on Goodreads and for good reason. I loved basically every second of listening to this audiobook, narrated by Michelle Obama. We learn about her early life, becoming a lawyer, meeting Barack Obama, and life with her family in the white house and I loved not only learning about them as people, but learning about the things they did in the white house that I didn't even realize were brought about because of them. Definitely highly recommend.
Find my full review on Goodreads.
1) Out East:Memoir of a Montauk Summer by John GlynnReleased: May 14, 2019
Read from: 3/14/2019 - 3/23/2019
Format: Print (Owned)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Rating: 3.83 stars
I loved this book because it was fun, but also serious. I read it in March when I was craving the summer, and I loved the images that played out in my mind because of the stories John Glynn told of his summer. He made the people and the places come alive, and I really connected. This is why this book is at the top of my list for 2019.
Find my full review here, on this blog!
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