The 21 Best Books of 2019

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker

July 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

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.

This contemporary fiction pick is perfect for our list of books similar to Lessons in Chemistry and is also on our list of best books for book clubs.

The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal

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.

Their stories weave together in a slow burn until the blood-pumping, heart-racing conclusion. This stalker book made our list of the best books of 2019.

Only One Life by Ashley Farley

When I picked up this book, I hoped for a little time to read but what I found was a gem of a book that I read in one sitting.  This family drama is perfect for a vacation read or reading during extended family time. 

Kicked out of her family for marrying a man “beneath her”, Julia’s world is shattered on the night her child is born.  She has nowhere to turn so she must return home. 

As Julia tried to pick up the pieces of her life, she begins to uncover the story of her mother’s life as well.  This book was easy to get into and hard to put down. It’s a best book of 2019 for sure!

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

October 2019 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

Ann Patchett has done it again with this tale of sibling devotion. Danny and Maeve are victims of an abandoned mother and father who all but ignores them.

Danny narrates the coming-of-age story of their lives as it ties into The Dutch House – a storied mansion that their father purchased in Elkins Park. This home is the blessing and curse of their lives.

The sign of their father’s success and what ultimately breaks up their family. The siblings gather together on Thanksgiving in this emotional and complex family saga book that is a perfect fall book. It is on our best of 2019 list for sure.

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

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? I found myself contemplating my own 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 that it leaves you contemplating your life, your children, and your purpose in the world. I can’t recommend this book about motherhood enough. It’s highly entertaining and, quite frankly, a must-read for the parents.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

This book was utterly enthralling. I had heard mixed reviews of this book going into it but I think I figure 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.

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. 

The Editor by Steven Rowley

I absolutely adored this book.  Rowley is amazing at writing about complex relationships.  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.  The emotions are so clear and raw, 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. It’s on our list of books about publishing too.

White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J Palacio

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. 

I loved this book.  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

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

Wow.  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.  It is a beautifully written, powerful, and poignant book about the AIDS epidemic in Chicago in the 1980s and its aftermath 30 years later. 

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 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.  I cannot say enough about this book – it’s one of the best books of 2019!

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

It is rare that a book comes along that fills in all the nooks and crannies in my heart and this book did just that. 

It is the story of four orphan children who find themselves traveling in a canoe down the Mississippi.  The summary of this book does not do justice to the words within the pages. This is one of our best books of 2019.

The Great Pretenders by Laura Kalpakian

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.

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. This story made our best books of 2019 list.

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais

Bianca Marais’s sophomore novel is a brilliant work of literary fiction that has left me in its wake weeks after I finished it. Thank you so much for my copy of this book!!! 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. 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.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

March 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

This best book of 2019 pick needs to be listened to, not read. Seriously, I think this might be one of the best audiobooks of all time.

I expect it to sweep the Audies this year for sure because full cast audiobooks can really take the story to the next level. The book is laid out in chronological order about the making of a band in the 70s, but the story is told in interview style from a dozen sources.

The audio version has a different narrator for each character and the performances the actors give are stupendous. I was overcome with emotion numerous times while I was listening.

This celebrity fiction story about the rise and fall of one of the hottest bands was so utterly fabulous – it’s pure sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll in all the best ways. This is one of the novels about music that isn’t for the faint of heart and is a feel-good book you will not want to miss.

The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer

This historical fiction novel is about real-life photographer and model,  Lee Miller. I had never heard about Miller prior to this book, though I was familiar with her lover – Man Ray.

Why We Loved it: She 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 / Best Book Club Books

Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

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 I Loved 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

Terrain: Ideas and Inspiration for Decorating the Home and Garden by Greg Lehmkuhl and Caroline Lees

This book is just so full of inspiration that I flip through it constantly. 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. 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!

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

To say that I was excited about Erin Morgenstern‘s new book might be the understatement of the year.  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.

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 by Leigh Bardugo

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. 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.

This book about secret societies is definitely at the top of my list and it is perfect for fans of dark academia. If you are a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo, this is her first adult book and we could not help compiling a list of books just like it. It is also perfect if you are looking for books like The Da Vinci Code.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

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.  Blake Crouch is so smart- this book really made me think.  If you like sci-fi, this is an absolute must-read.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Who else loves book recs from indie booksellers? I was so happy to get a recommendation for this book from Main Point Books. They promised that it is well-written, funny, and a perfect “feel good” book. ⁣I was not disappointed at all.  I loved this book so much, that it made our list of best books for 2019!

The story 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.  It is such a well-written and wonderful book I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman

During WWII, in Germany, Hanni Kohn knows that she must do something to save her daughter from the Nazis  In desperation, she seeks out someone who can make a Golem take her daughter to safety. 

Instead of the Rabbi, it is his daughter Ettie who helps and creates Ava. The life of the three women is forever intertwined. This beautiful story about love, life, and friendship is more than I could have hoped for.

I love Alice Hoffman books and for me, this was her best book yet.  Every time I read a book, it becomes my new favorite. If you love fantasies and are looking for historical fiction, this pick from fantasy books for adults is an amazing book. The fact that it is also a book about WWII makes it that much better!