I’ve read a fair number of books so far this year, surpassing the 50-book goal that I set nearly every year. It’s a goal that I didn’t reach last year, which makes me revel in the feeling that I at least accomplished one of the goals I set for 2019.
But enough of that – let’s get to my favourite books I read so far this year.
Becoming by Michelle Obama was one of the first books I read this year and my first ever audiobook. Getting to hear Michelle speak about her life, her past, her passions and joys made this book even more special. It was one of the best-selling books last year and one that I highly recommend you pick up if you haven’t already, especially on audiobook.
Nalini Singh is arguably one of the most well-known romance authors in the world, and I finally started diving into her HUGE backlist catalogue this year. My favourite of all the contemporary romance novels I read so was Rock Wedding. I’m a sucker for second chance romances and this novel completely fit the bill as this divorced couple finds their way back into each other’s lives and hearts.
As inaccurate and fantastical of movies like The Mummy or Tomb Raider are, it’s one of my all-time favourite movie genres. They combine my love of action-adventure with a dose of history and archaeology and a kickass female character. For The Dukes Eyes Only by Lenora Bell combines all of those elements plus a bit of international espionage and a whole lot of romance between the two main characters who’s rivalry is well is as well known as their childhood friendship.
All You Can Never Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung was a book that had been on my radar since it debuted. It’s Nicole Chung’s memoir of her search for her birth family and what the search reveals covering issues of identity, culture, family, and transracial adoptions in the US. The book that flips between Chung detailing her past and her search for her birth family that included two older sisters she never knew she had. The book is not only beautifully written but will leave you pondering questions of where you come from.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is another book that had been on my radar since it debuted, to be fair, the book was actually on my radar before it was even published. I adored this book. It’s a triumph in so many ways, not only in terms of representation of diversity in the romance genre but also representation of an author of colour in the genre.
Duchess By Design by Maya Rodale is another romance novel that I absolutely adored this year and a good part of that is because the heroine of the novel wanted pockets in her dresses. Not only was it exquisitely plotted but also expertly crafted in terms of character and character development.
I first read Ocean Vuong’s debut poetry collection a few years ago. It was a haunting piece of literacy that stuck with me well after I finished the collection. His first fiction novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous debuted this year and quickly captured my heart and mind in a matter of a few pages. Ocean is a poet and a storyteller and it shows in the prose on each and every page of this novel. If I had to recommend you pick up one book from this whole list of books, it’s this book. Read it! It’s not the easiest of reads but it gives light and focuses on people who are rarely the focus in the literary world.
Well, that’s it for the list my favourite books I’ve read so far this year. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and what books will come my way. I’m still going through my giant backlist of books that I have waiting on my TBR as well as a whole load of new books debuting in the next few months.
What are some the favourite books you’ve read so far this year? What new books are you looking forward to in the last few months of 2019? Let me know.
Thanks for reading!
A Work in Progress 