Need a Good Read? Here are 13 Books I've enjoyed This Year
Let’s talk about one of my favorite things…books! Today I wanted to share 13 books that I’ve read and enjoyed this year. There’s fiction and nonfiction on this list, old and new, critically-acclaimed and light-hearted. The common theme…I couldn’t put them down. So if you’re in need of a good book, read on for all of my favorites from the year (so far!). psst: let’s just consider this my 2019 holiday gift guide for adults. Books are my favorite gifts to give and receive!
Our master bedroom at the Farmhouse
Reading can be a tough hobby when you have young kids. For a few years there, I wasn’t reading much at all. But then a friend turned me onto our local library’s audio book loan program. Does your library have something similar? It’s been huge for me!
I check out books from the Washington Anytime Library collection and then listen to them through the OverDrive app on my phone…for free! And listen is exactly what I do when folding laundry, doing the dishes, painting cabinets, hiking, editing photos, before bed, or any other time I’m alone and can squeeze it in. I still read a paper or kindle book occasionally, but audio books are my main source of literature these days.
In no particular order, here are 13 books that I’ve enjoyed this year:
1 // Educated, Tara Westover - goodness, this book is SO good! Even better than I had heard. It’s about Westover’s unique upbringing in the Mormon church in rural Idaho and it completely blew me away. It’s a rare nonfiction on this list but it’s the book I’ve probably recommended the most.
2 // Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens - I loved this book! It took me a couple tries to get into it, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a beautiful story about an intelligent girl who grows up alone in the marshes. My sister listened to the audio version and didn’t like it as much, so I recommend the paper copy.
3 // Daisy Jones and the Six, Taylor Jenkins Rein - the fictional story of an iconic 1970’s band during their rise to fame and subsequent breakup. This story follows beautiful Daisy Jones, the other six band members, managers, wives, and more characters so it really comes alive in the audio version. I flew through this one!
4 // Station Eleven - apocalyptic novels aren’t my usual read, but I was hooked on this one by the end of the first page (or whatever the audio equivalent is). The writing is amazing - the book was nominated for the national book award - but it was the intertwining story that kept me glued to the book. It’s captivating and incredibly unique.
5 // Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert - an uplifting read for creatives, hobbyists, or those wanting to move into a creative field. I love Gilbert’s writing and her advice.
6 // Girl Underwater, Claire Kells - it’s hard to say why this book captured my imagination the way it did, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s follows the survivors of a plane crash, both collegiate swimmers, and the shattered lives they left behind. This is definitely a book I’ve thought about over and over again.
7 // Commonwealth, Ann Patchett - A beautifully-told story of 2 families brought together on one fateful day. This book spans generations and is everything good about American fiction.
8 // The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger - the story of a time traveler and his eventual wife as they navigate through time. I’m a sucker for a good, heart-wrenching love story and this was definitely that! It’s just as beautiful as the movie.
9 // Beartown, Fredrik Backman - I have to admit, this tale of a small town with a big dream isn’t my usual type of read. It’s gritty and dark, but it’s also beautifully written and full of really interesting characters. I couldn’t stop listening.
10 // The Help, Kathryn Stockett - this popular book is decades old now, but this is my first time reading git. Not only is the story good - it’s about a young, white author writing about black maids’ experiences in the South - but it’s one of the best audio productions I’ve ever listened to. It’s read by many of the actresses and so, so good!
11 // An American Marriage, Tayari Jones - a beautiful and tragic tale of a marriage that I could not stop listening to. I don’t know how to describe the plot without giving too much away, but suffice it to say that the tale is beautifully written, gripping, and one I won’t soon forget.
12 // Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate - this historical fiction captured my imagination from the first page. It follows a family of poor, river kids who are kidnapped and adopted into rich families. It’s an amazing, tragic story that was hard to put down!
13 // City of Girls, Elizabeth Gilbert - What to say about City of Girls? I listened to it in 2 days. It’s epic and beautiful and fun and haunting. It follows a young, sheltered girl who moves to New York City and finds the life she was always meant to live. I love Gilbert’s writing and I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
What are you reading right now? Any suggestions?