The 21 Best Books of 2019
Wow. How did another year fly by so quickly? This year, Kirsten and I altered the way we rated our books. We decided that a book has to be an amazing example of the genre, unputdownable, and well-written.
So, while Kirsten and I read many books this year that we enjoyed, this list of 5-star reads is a pretty exclusive group. We love Historical Fiction so we were not surprised that these made up the majority of our best books of 2019 list.
Kirsten and I were surprised that there were only two thrillers on this list. We were also surprised by the number of books we read in December that HAD to be put on this list. What were your favorites this year? Is there a book you read that you think we should add to our list?
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Best Books of 2019: Thrillers
Whisper Network
Author: Chandler Baker
Year: 2019
Genre: Fiction
More info: July 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Sloane, Ardie, Grace, and Rosalita have worked at Truviv, Inc. for years. The sudden death of Truviv’s CEO means their boss, Ames, will likely take over the entire company. Each of the women has a different relationship with Ames, who has always been surrounded by whispers about how he treats women. Those whispers have been ignored, swept under the rug, and hidden away by those in charge.
But the world has changed, and women are watching this promotion differently. This time, when they find out Ames is making an inappropriate move on a colleague, they aren’t willing to let it go. This time, they’ve decided enough is enough.
Why Kirsten loves it
This contemporary fiction pick is a perfect read for anyone who feels unseen and unheard. It felt so timely.
Find this book in: Books About Women in the Workplace / The Best Books of 2019
This Book is Perfect For: Exciting Ideas and Themes for an Office Book Club
The Doll Factory
Author: Elizabeth Macneal
Year: 2019
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 International bestseller and The New York Times Editor’s Choice
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This historical fiction novel about art is part mystery, part love story, and part thriller. MacNeal’s debut takes place in Victorian England during the time of The Great Exhibition.
Iris dreams of learning to paint like a true artist, while she tolls away with her twin sister in a doll shop. Silas is a curiosity collector who can’t seem to get Iris out of his head after their chance meeting, and Albie is the rag-a-muffin street urchin I wanted to take home.
Why Kirsten loves it
Their stories weave together in a slow burn until the blood-pumping, heart-racing conclusion.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2019 / Best Books with Stalkers / Books Becoming Movies or TV Series in 2024 / Intriguing Novels About Art and Artists
Best Books of 2019: Fiction
The Dutch House
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: October 2019 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Ann Patchett has done it again with this tale of sibling devotion that is a testament to the love that holds a family together. Danny and Maeve are victims of an abandoned mother and father who all but ignores them. Danny narrates the story of their lives as it ties into The Dutch House – a storied mansion their father purchased in Elkins Park. The home that is both a blessing and a curse, symbolizes how the mistakes parents make can impact children for a lifetime.
Why Kirsten loves it
I couldn’t put this story down. I did a mix of reading and listening, but ultimately I got swept into Tom Hank’s incredible narration. I was so fully drawn into the story that the world seemed to fall away.
Find this book in: Best Audiobooks / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Family Sagas / Fall Books / Best Books of 2019
Plot
This contemporary fiction story revolves around four families as they work to get their children into the new public charter school for gifted children in their wealthy Colorado neighborhood. There are lots of family secrets to unravel and drama galore, but there is a message at the heart of this book.
How much of our wishes and lives are we pushing on our children? Is being the very best what they should be striving for?
Why Kirsten loves it
I found myself contemplating my children and how I’m raising them. Isn’t that the best part of a good book? When the story hits so close to home it leaves you contemplating your life, your children, and your purpose in the world. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s highly entertaining and, quite frankly, a must-read for the parents.
Find this book in: Books About Mothers / Books Set in High School / Contemporary Fiction Novels / Best Books of 2019
Three Women
Author: Lisa Taddeo
Year: 2019
Genre: nonfiction
More info: Debut #1 New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a nonfiction book about three women and their sexual and emotional lives. Taddeo drove around the country to connect with the three women from this book: Sloane, Maggie, and Lina. This book was utterly enthralling. I had heard mixed reviews of this book going into it but I think I figured out where the love/hate comes from. This book has a lot of graphic sex in the form of statutory rape, affairs, and swinging partners.
Trigger Warnings
Graphic Sex
Why Kirsten loves it
The scenes are graphic but not designed to titillate the reader like a 50 Shades book…but rather to explain why the women felt the way they did. Why they felt power, love, or understanding in the sexual encounters. So it feels very voyeuristic on some level because it’s so deeply personal. As I said, I thought it was outstanding but I can so easily see how it is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Find this book in: The Best Books of 2019
The Editor
Author: Steven Rowley
Year: 2019
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Guncle
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
At its heart, this is a book about James Smale and his amazing and complicated relationship with his mother. When James finally sells his book and goes to meet his editor, it is none other than Jackie O.
She forces him to look into himself and answer the questions that he didn’t know to ask. This is one of those books that will stay with you.
Why Jackie loves it
I absolutely adored this book. Rowley is amazing at writing about complex relationships. The emotions are so clear and raw, that they jump from the page while the story builds quietly. This is such a great book club book because there is so much to discuss.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Books About Books / The Best Books of 2019
Best Books of 2019: Historical Fiction
This Tender Land
Author: William Kent Krueger
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is the story of four orphan children who find themselves traveling in a canoe down the Mississippi from Minnesota in 1932. Odie O’Banion is forced to flee the Lincoln School with his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a girl named Emmy. The school is a place where Indigenous children are sent after being forcefully separated from their parents.
We follow the four children during one summer and the result is a spectacular novel about families, love, and bonds that connect us all.
Trigger Warnings
Child abuse
Why Jackie loves it
The summary of this book does not do justice to the words within the pages. Read it. Love it. And then email me so we can talk about it. If you have not read this book, it is a perfect book for book clubs. This is one of the rare books that comes along that fills in all the nooks and crannies in my heart.
Find this book in: The Best Books of 2019 / Ultimate List of Best Historical Fiction Books
White Bird
Author: R. J. Palacio
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction Graphic Novel
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 9+
Plot
White Bird is a story about Grandmère set in the Wonder universe. It tells the story of her young childhood as a young Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France and how someone she once bullied saved her during WWII. Grandmère tells Julian the story over the course of Palacio’s debut graphic novel in a way that is so moving.
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism
Why Jackie loves it
This graphic novel came my way through my local bookstore and it was a beautiful surprise for me. I loved Wonder. The story was told beautifully and with compassion. I wondered if I would be disappointed with how a story about the holocaust would translate into a graphic novel and whether the story could be told with an equal amount of compassion. Happily, I was not disappointed at all. It is so poignant and powerful with a message of kindness that is so relevant today.
Find this book in: Full Cast Audiobooks / WWII Books for Kids / Books with Color in the Title / Best Books for 13-year-olds
The Great Believers
Author: Rebecca Makkai
Year:
Genre:
More info: Pulitzer Prize Finalist
National Book Award Finalist
ALA Carnegie Medal Winner
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Yale Tishman is the development director of an art gallery that is about to bring in an extraordinary collection of art from the 1920s. He has just lost his friend Nico to AIDS and is losing friends all around him. Fast forward to 2015 when Nico’s little sister is in Paris searching for her daughter who disappeared with a cult three years earlier. This book intertwines two stories in the 80s and present day. The juxtaposition of the two time periods in this story is captivating.
Trigger Warnings
Cults, AIDS epidemic
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of those rare books that really has it all. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize as well as the National Book Award and definitely lives up to its hype. This is a beautifully written and poignant book about the AIDS epidemic in Chicago in the 1980s and its aftermath 30 years later. I cannot say enough about this book – it’s one of the best books of 2019!
Find this book in: Books Set in the 80s / Books About Cults / Best Books of 2019
The Great Pretenders
Author: Laura Kalpakian
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
What a ride!!! I was expecting a light-hearted story about the glamorous world of 1950s Hollywood with Cary Grant, Ginger and Fred, Rock Hudson, and the like. I got them, but this old Hollywood book had meat on its bones. Roxanne is a granddaughter of a movie studio head but she decides to strike out on her own as a Hollywood agent. Upset with her grandfather’s callous treatment of his loyal writers with former communist ties, she begins representing blacklisted writers under pseudonyms.
As if this plotline wasn’t compelling enough, she then begins a deep, meaningful romance with a young black journalist covering the emerging civil rights movement. The author brought to light so many issues of the time in such a thoughtful way.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I had never considered how the shifting politics of the time would affect the film industry. The glamour of Hollywood was present and the book was overflowing with old movie references, but it was the love and personal growth at the heart of this story that I found most compelling.
Why Jackie loves it
I read this for my real-life book club and I loved it. So did everyone else! Check out our Old Hollywood book club to see pictures from the night!
Find this book in: Old Hollywood Books / Books Like the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo / Best Books of 2019
If You Want to Make God Laugh
Author: Bianca Marais
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of If You Want to Make God Laugh
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Bianca Marais’s sophomore novel is a brilliant work of literary fiction that has left me in its wake weeks after I finished it. This story examines difficult topics with such love and sensitivity. From AIDS and poverty to racism and homophobia, this isn’t a book that you can skim over parts.
Every word has its place but, it is written so poetically that I found myself trying to remember the words of wisdom within the pages. This is the story of three women in post-Apartheid South Africa. Zodwa is a seventeen-year-old who lives in poverty with a secret. Ruth is a wealthy socialite and Delilah, a former nun. When Ruth and Delilah find a baby, everything in their lives changes.
Why Jackie loves it
Thank you so much for my copy of this book!!! If I could give more than 5 stars I would. I laughed and cried with the characters in this book whose stories captivated me from the first page. It’s one of the best books of 2019.
Why Kirsten loves it
Marais is a brilliant writer who tells a story in a brilliant way.
Find this book in: Books About Sisters and Bonds of Sisterhood / The 21 Best Books of 2019
Daisy Jones & The Six
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: March 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The book is laid out like a VH1 Behind the Music style interview. It’s laid out in chronological order about the making of the band Daisy Jones & the Six, but the story is told in interview style from a dozen sources.
It’s a story about the music scene of the 1970s in Hollywood when the band The Six meets Daisy Jones and together they rocket to superstardom! Among the drama of touring, there is also a forbidden love story or two, and plenty of crazy parties!
It’s truly the perfect mix of historical fiction, romance, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Why Kirsten loves it
This book needs to be listened to, not read. The audio version has a different narrator for each character and the performances are stupendous. I was overcome with emotion numerous times while I was listening.
Why Jackie loves it
This celebrity fiction story about the rise and fall of one of the hottest bands of the 70s was so utterly fabulous – it’s pure sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll in all the best ways.
Find this book in: Books Like Daisy Jones & The Six / Taylor Jenkins Reid Books in Order / Books Set in the 70s / Full Cast Audiobooks / Ultimate Beach Reads 2020
The Age of Light
Author: Whitney Scharer
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info:
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
This historical fiction novel is about real-life photographer and model, Lee Miller. I had never heard of Miller prior to this book, though I was familiar with her lover, Man Ray.
Why Kirsten loves it
Lee Miller made some life choices that I can’t say I agree with, but I found her to be a strong, feminist woman ahead of her time. This book is a five-star read, but be warned – there are some erotic scenes in the novel.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction / Best Books of 2019 / Jazz Age Novels / Art Novels
Island of Sea Women
Author: Lisa See
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This historical fiction tells the story of a friendship between two women on the Korean Island of Jeju. There, women work as a diving collective to provide for their families while men look after the children. It was interesting to read a story where some gender norms are reversed and others, like feeding women and children last, were still perpetuated.
Beyond the incredible history of this small island is the story of a remarkable friendship between Mi-ja and Young-sook over the decades.
Why Jackie loves it
Lisa See has done it again with this remarkable story. I was captivated from the first page, as I am with anything See writes.
Find this book in: Best Books 2019 / Family Saga Books / Friendship Books / Best Beach Reads of all Time
Tidelands
Author: Philippa Gregory
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: #1 Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
Philippa Gregory is back with a new non-royal series, this one is actually a book about poverty in Renaissance England. Tidelands is set in 1648 in the midst of the English civil war. The king has been overthrown and the country is in turmoil, but in the marshlands of the South, the villagers are worried about survival.
Alinor is a healer whose services are both respected and feared. She carefully toes the line between a wise woman and a witch as she struggles to feed her family. One fateful night she decides to help a catholic priest to safety without realizing the danger this secret would bring to her family.
Trigger Warnings
Abortion
Why Kirsten loves it
Philippa Gregory’s books are epic and this one is a perfect book for fall. It had everything I needed to whisk me away to another time and place.
Find this book in: The Best Books of 2019 / Best Family Sagas / The Best Fall Books
Best Books of 2019: Non-Fiction
Terrain: Ideas and Inspiration for Decorating the Home and Garden
Author: Greg Lehmkuhl and Caroline Lees
Year: 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Initially divided into seasons, the book digs further into certain areas and provides in-depth guidance to help you create the design aesthetic of Terrain in your own home.
In the Spring section, I found myself particularly drawn to the planters section as I’ve been trying to tackle that project for my home entryway. There was an easy-to-understand guide to choosing the perfect container followed by plant suggestions, and step-by-step instructions for how to create your ideal planter.
Similar instructions are found for wreaths, flower arranging, and Christmas decorating.
Why Kirsten loves it
This book is just so full of inspiration that I flip through it constantly. If you love to give books as presents or you want to inspire yourself to create a welcoming, nature-filled home – then you need this best book of 2019 pick!
Find this book in: The 21 Best Books of 2019
Best Books of 2019: Science Fiction/ Fantasy
The Starless Sea
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Year: 2019
Genre: Fantasy
More info: National Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
How to describe this book that is an ode to storytelling…..it’s a love story to books, a fantasy within a love story within a fairy tale. Zachary finds a hidden book in the library stacks filled with romantic love stories – including one from his own life! Soon he’s transported to a magical world in search of answers.
Why Jackie loves it
To say that I was excited about Erin Morgenstern‘s new book might be the understatement of the year. The writing is beautiful- Erin’s signature style of vivid imagery left me completely captivated. I truly loved every minute of this book. It was pointless to predict the story. So, I let it take me away with the lyrical prose.
Find this book in: Books Like The Night Circus / Full Cast Audiobooks / Magical Realism Books / Books About Librarians
Ninth House
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Year: 2019
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Alex Stern #1
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Alex Stearn is the sole survivor of a horrible homicide. While recovering in the hospital, she is offered a chance to attend Yale on a full scholarship. She finds the Secret Societies of Yale, each practicing a unique type of magic.
Trigger Warnings
Sexual Assault
Why Jackie loves it
There are so many things about this urban fantasy book that I love. It is filled with magic, unlike anything you have ever read before. It has fantasy, secret societies, magic, and mystery. I could not put it down.
Find this book in: Urban Fantasy / Books Set in College / Books About Secret Society / Magic School Books / Adult Books similar to Harry Potter / Best Books of 2019 / Best Adult Fantasy Novels / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing
Plot
This 5-star read is making our best books of 2019 list for sure. When people start to become ill with False Memory Syndrome, nobody knows who will get it or how.
Barry is a cop who sees the devastating effect of FMS on the people who contract it. Helen is a scientist who studies memory. Barry and Helen come together to find answers and stop everyone’s past from becoming one distorted memory.
Why Jackie loves it
Blake Crouch is so smart, this book made me think about concepts I had never considered. If you like sci-fi, this is an absolute must-read. If you have never read Sci-fi, this is a perfect book to read first.
Find this book in: Best Sci-Fi Books / Time Loop Books / Best Books of 2019 / Books Set in New York / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
Best Books of 2019: Magical Realism
Nothing to See Here by
Author: Kevin Wilson
Year: 2019
Genre: Magical Realism
More info: November 2019 Read by Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range:16+
Plot
This magical realism book is about a woman who becomes a nanny for two children who start on fire when they get mad. There is wonderful humor in this book that is centered around strong and beautiful relationships. I cannot recommend this family drama story highly enough.
Why Jackie loves it
There is so much that I love about this family drama novel. It is such a feel-good book that is more than what it seems. It is well-written and funny and made our top books of 2019 list.
Find this book in: Best Family Drama Books/ Best Adult Fantasy Novels / Magical Realism Books/2024 Read with Jenna Book Club List / Adult Fantasy Novels
The World That We Knew
Author: Alice Hoffman
Year: 2019
Genre: Magical realism
More info: Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal
Age Range: 16+
Plot
During WWII, in Germany, Hanni Kohn knows that she must do something to save her 12-year-old daughter from the Nazis. In desperation, she seeks out someone who can make a Golem take her daughter to safety.
Instead of the Rabbi, his daughter Ettie helps Hanni and creates a golden named Ava. The lives of the three women are forever intertwined. This beautiful story is about love, life, and friendship. It was simultaneously uplifting and heartbreaking.
Why Jackie loves it
The subject of WWII is an extremely difficult topic especially when it involves the lives of children. This book spoke to me as a person but also as a Jewish mother. It asks the question of what a mother would give and do to save her children. Hoffman was able to take this subject and give it a small magical twist. In doing so, she turns the unimaginable into a fantastical story of resilience.
Find this book in: Alice Hoffman Books in Order / Best Books about WWII / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
Expert Tip
How do Kirsten and I narrow down our picks for the best of the year? With great difficulty! There are a number of criteria that we talk about when choosing the best books of the year. This includes
- The plot: is this something new or a great plot that we have seen before?
- The writing: is this a book in which the writing is powerful, smart, and clearly above par?
- The characters: are the characters rich, multifaceted, and original or are they fun and predictable?
A book can be fun and predictable while still being a great read. Kirsten and I love books like this. However, you may not find them in our best books of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best books of 2019?
The books on this list are the best books of 2019. They are well-written, unputdownable, and are unlike anything else that Kirsten or I have read. It is hard to narrow down the list but, the top 5 of 2019 are (in no particular order):
1. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
3. The Dutch House by Anne Patchett
4. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
5. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Related Content
Epilogue:
Did you read any of our picks for the best books of 2019? What were your favorite books this year?
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