If there is one activity that I prioritize over many others, it’s reading. I read for at least 30 minutes before bed every night as part of my sleep routine, but it’s also something I’ve loved doing since I was a kid. In 2019, I used Good Reads to help me keep track of what I wanted to read, what I had read, and my reading goal for the year… and I surpassed my goal! Since I’m always asked for book recommendations on Instagram, I thought now is the perfect time to share everything I read in 2019… especially if you’re lucky enough to be taking some time off during the holidays.
Everything I Read in 2019 + My Book Recommendations for What You Should Read Next
Devotion by Dani Shapiro
Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Piccoult — it’s probably unfair to call this one ‘read’ because I absolutely hated it and could not finish it! It felt so much slower and less engrossing that usual Piccoult reads. I had to put it down.
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
The Forgotten Hours by Katrin Schumann
The White Album by Joan Didion
There There by Tommy Orange
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber — I didn’t love this one either because of the author’s tone.
Transcription by Kate Atkinson — I read this one in literally 2 days… it was so addictive and totally one of my favorite historical fiction books of 2019. I highly recommend this one if you love that genre!
Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams — This book makes for a great beach read. It’s slightly predictable, but I enjoyed it anyways.
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
Lost Boy by Brent W. Jeffs — I’m pretty much fascinated with any book or documentary about Mormonism, if you can’t tell. This was heartbreaking, but also very, very powerful.
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
My Lobotomy by Howard Dully
I Am I Am I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell
Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay by Maura Kirshenbaum — I read this when we were in a rough spot in our relationship at the suggestion of my coach. I gained a lot of clarity from it and highly recommend it to anyone who feels unsteady within their relationship.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin — I could not put this one down at ALL! Highly recommend.
The Third Plate by Dan Barber
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty — This was another quick read that captured my full attention. It was juicy, sarcastic, and enjoyable.
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman — I really, really enjoyed this book, as sad as it made me. Unexpectedly, I identified with the main character in some regards and really enjoyed how the plot unfolds.
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller — I read this as soon as I got out of the hospital and it helped me contemplate ways to slow down and remove stress from my life. I will say, the book discusses prayer a lot and I’m not religious. In my head, I swapped in ‘meditation’ or ‘mindfulness’ instead and the book felt just as powerful.
In Praise of Slowness by Carl Honore
American Royals by Katharine McGee — Super juicy and addictive fiction. Perfect if you need a quick read that feels like a mental vacation.
Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple — I really enjoyed this book, too, and can’t wait to see how it’s translated into a movie. Also, I really loved all the Seattle references… they were so spot on.
And Now We Have Everything by Meaghan O’Connell — Holy crap… this book really helped me gain some clarity in my internal debate of whether I want to have kids or not.
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
What I was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams — OMG, I had to wait forever to get this true story account from the library and it was soooo worth it. If you were fascinated by the story of Anna Delvey, do yourself a favor and read this book. It’s BANANAS.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See — If you’re looking for a novel with a great story that provides a glimpse into another culture entirely, I suggest this one. I really loved learning more about the customs of minority ethnic groups in China and the story itself was so good.
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert — I’m still in the middle of this one, but figured it should make the list since I’ll probably finish it this week!
To make it easier for you to pick up these books, I made a section in my Amazon Shop — click here for the full list.
So that’s my list of everything I read in 2019… all 38 of them! My goal for the year was 34, so it looks like I need to set a higher goal for next year. I’m thinking 40…
Did you read any of the same books? I’d love to know what your top book recommendations were this year so I can add it to my ‘want to read’ list for 2020! Leave a comment and let me know.
