Somehow it’s New Year’s Eve already, and the year 2019 is coming to an end. So it’s only fitting that this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic asks us to list our 10 favorite books of the year. I’ve had a really good reading year overall, so it was hard for me to narrow down my list! But here, in the order in which I read them, are my 10 favorite books of 2019:
1. McKelle George, Speak Easy, Speak Love — I loved this 1920s-era retelling of Much Ado about Nothing. It was the first book I read in 2019, and it just might be my number-one book of the year!
2. Meagan Spooner, Hunted — I never thought I’d love a Beauty and the Beast retelling as much as Robin McKinley’s Beauty, but this one comes pretty darn close!
3. AJ Pearce, Dear Mrs. Bird — This poignant World War II novel hit the same sweet spot as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, for me. I believe Pearce has a sequel planned, and I’m dying to read it!
4. Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine — I liked this book more than I was expecting to; its portrayal of loneliness is moving and sad, but the ending still manages to be uplifting.
5. Lucy Parker, The Austen Playbook — I adore Parker’s contemporary romances set in London’s theater world. This one involves a grumpy hero and an Austen-themed murder mystery TV show, so what’s not to love?
6. Mary Balogh, The Notorious Rake — I’m not really a fan of the “reformed rake” trope, but the hero of this book totally sold me on it. He’s awful at the beginning, but he truly does grow and change throughout the book — and he’s able to repair many relationships in his life, not just the one between him and the heroine.
7. Beth O’Leary, The Flatshare — It seems that romantic comedies are making a comeback (yay!), and this one is so well written and charming! I look forward to O’Leary’s next book, which is coming out sometime in 2020.
8. Ann Patchett, Bel Canto — This was my first Patchett novel, but it probably won’t be my last. A hostage situation turns into something quite different as guards and prisoners come together through the power of music.
9. Margaret Rogerson, Sorcery of Thorns — Just when I was getting sick of YA fantasy novels, this one came along and reminded me of how creative, intriguing, and fun they can be! I loved the witty banter, the slow-burn romance, and the world of the novel, in which books of magic can literally come alive.
10. Alix E. Harrow, The Ten Thousand Doors of January — Some books are written so well that you sink into them immediately and fall under their spell. This was one of those books, for me — it just felt like magic. If you don’t mind a slower-paced, more character-driven novel, you should definitely give this one a try.
Happy New Year, everyone, and may you read only wonderful books in 2020! 🙂
You Book Me All Night Long 
Ooo! I’ve heard amazing things about “Speak Easy, Speak Love” from two of my blogging friends. Own it, but never did read it. Maybe that will change in 2020! I’ve seen ‘Sorcery’ on another’s list, and YES! Glad to see “The Flateshare” here! Bought this one this year but haven’t read it. Yet. (And I agree; the romcom needs to continue on this trend.) Glad you had some great reads in 2019. 🙂
I enjoyed Speak Easy, Speak Love so much more than I was expecting to! Not to add to the hype, but read it if you get the chance! 🙂 And I think you have a lot of fun ahead of you with The Flatshare!
Elenor Oliphant is sitting on my shelf! I need to read that one soon. And I’ve heard so many great things about Flatshare. Great list!
My TTT
Eleanor Oliphant was such a pleasant surprise for me — I hope you enjoy it too!
Very nice. Wishing you a 2020 filled with wonderful reads!
Eleanor Oliphant also made it to my list too. I thought it was such a special book! Have a great last day of the year and I wish you an amazing 2020 full of great books.
My TTT.
I really need to read The Ten Thousand Doors of January sometime.
My TTT.
Hallo, Hallo,… following through TTT,
I decided to deviate from the topic as I was inspired by a fellow book blogger to compose a similar topic of enquiry wherein I disclosed my top favourite #newtomeauthors for 2019!
From your list… here are the stories I am most eager to either read or hear on audiobook myself:
* Dear Mrs Bird – I actually had this checked out at one point from my library via audio and for whichever reason at the time I borrowed it, I lost the hours to hear it! 😦 Oyy. I’ve heard good things about this one and if you visit me you’ll see I *love!* reading HistFic throughout the year and highlighted a few of my favourite reads from 2019 – I have a feeling this one is going to inch closer to my #nextreads in 2020 than my long list of my main TBR!
* Elinor Oliphant was actually my own purchase request for the audio at my local library which was accepted a year or so ago and guess who has yet to listen to it? Very sad. I know its tragic if you think hard on it. I have several purchase requests who have been found by my fellow patrons long before I have had the pleasure of hearing or reading them. I’m hoping to amend this throughout 2020!
* Sorcery of Thorns is one I have dearly wanted to either read or listen too!
Great list! We seem to read similar genres and authors! How lovely!?
I loved Eleanor Oliphant, and I enjoyed Ten Thousand Doors more than I expected to! It’s a creative, smart fantasy that was a lot of fun. I’ve read two books by Patchett and loved both of them, so Bel Canto is next on my list. Thanks for the recommendations and happy New Year!
Great list! I also liked Eleanor Oliphant more than I thought I would.
The Flatshare sounds fun! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.