There are so many great books out there, so I compiled a list of my favorite books I read last year. Read on to see the top 10 books of 2019.
Last year was a pretty decent reading year for me (though I’m planning on reading MUCH more this year)!
Of the 38 books I read this past year, 25 were fiction and 13 were nonfiction. One of my biggest reading goals was to read more fiction than nonfiction (I LOVE nonfiction, but I sometimes forget to read 100% for fun and not to learn something), so that was HUGE for me!
I narrowed those 38 books down to my top 10 books of 2019–six fiction and four nonfiction.
Fiction
Four out of the six fiction books on my list are middle grade novels (novels written for children), but don’t let that deter you! I’m a huge fan of middle grade literature and believe that some of the best books in the world are those written for children. If you’ve never given middle grade a try, trust me…you’re missing out!
The list is also half historical fiction, which isn’t usually my top genre, so that was interesting and fun to take note of!
Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen
I absolutely love when historical fiction books take an event in history I know little about and share it with me in a fun, engaging way. This middle grade novel covers the Russian-enforced ban on Lithuanian books, religion, and language, and one brave young girl’s journey to try to save her culture. I devoured this book!
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
This one shocked me! I read it because it was one of the pick’s for Everyday Reading’s book club last year. I had about zero interest in reading it and almost decided to skip it. But I’m so glad I didn’t! I was hooked from the very beginning! It’s the first in a series, and now I hope to get to the others someday. It’s another middle grade, and is basically a prequel to Peter Pan. It was so much fun to read!
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
I’m not going to lie, this one was really hard to read–not because it wasn’t well written (it was!), but because the content is disturbing. It’s based off of true events I never knew happened, and that makes it all the harder to read. But this adult historical fiction is AMAZING. Seriously so so so so good!
A Monster Like Me by Wendy S. Swore
This middle grade novel is about a young girl with a facial deformity who is obsessed with her Big Book of Monsters–in part because she thinks she is one. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, watching this girl learn to accept herself and let new people into her life.
Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor
I’m used to reading a lot of books about World War II, so reading this World War I novel was new and refreshing. It’s told in the form of letters, mostly from a soldier to a friend back home, which was a fun format, especially for the time period and content. It’s romantic and interesting and you won’t be able to put it down!
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
This middle grade novel follows a twelve-year girl who is obsessed with medical conditions and counting by the number 7. After the sudden death of both her parents, she has to learn how to cope without the only family she had and figure out how to find and accept a new one. This book is brilliantly written!
Nonfiction
Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating a Space Where Everyone Belongs by Heather Avis
Wow, you guys! This book was seriously eye opening. If I’m being totally honest, there were parts of it that were a little uncomfortable to read because it forced me take a good hard look at my efforts at inclusion. And I think that’s what made it so great. It forced me to get uncomfortable, and change or growth or whatever you want to call it requires that we be a little bit uncomfortable. Read this book! It will make you want to love all people, include all people, and just be more aware of those around you and what they might need.
More Than Enough: How One Family Cultivated A More Abundant Life Through A Year of Practical Minimalism by Miranda Anderson
In this book, Miranda Anderson shares her family’s journey of a year of no spending (or rather, only buying consumable goods) and everything they learned from it. I can’t imagine! Reading it really helped me look at my spending habits and the why behind them and made me want to be more intentional with how I spend my time and money and the things I bring into our home. Even if you never plan on doing a no spend challenge, this book is a great read!
How to Be A Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute by K.J. Dell’Antonia
I loved this book! It was positive & relatable. It gave practical advice. The tips were pretty open ended. Instead of saying, “This is how you need to do things,” it gave various examples of how to apply information to different situations. I loved how adaptable it was! And it was an extra FUN nonfiction read!
The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids by Sarah Mackenzie
This book gave some awesome advice and insight into how to make reading a bigger part of your family culture and why it’s so important. I think this is a must-read for every parent!
Top Books of 2019
Although I read thirty-eight books, most of which I liked, those were my top books of 2019! What have been some of your favorite recent reads?
For more info on reading and books, check out these posts:
- Top 10 Favorite Books of All Time
- 7 Ways to Read More Books
- Online Book Club
- How to Learn to Like Reading
- Best Places to Get Books for Cheap
Britney is a wife and mom with a passion for helping other women see the good inside of them. She loves podcasts, polka dots, and dancing around the kitchen with her family.