My Favorite Books of 2019

It's the end of a decade, and 2020 is right around the corner!

Every December, I post about my favorite books of the year -- you can see my favorite reads of 2016, 2017, and 2018 here, here, and here. As usual, some of the categories are the same as in previous years, but I've switched a couple out.

To be clear, not all of these books are 2019 releases -- they're just books that I happen to have read this year.

(These are all the books I rated 5 stars this year. Some of them didn't make it onto this list because I couldn't shoehorn them into a category, but I still love them all, Precioussss.)

Let's get to it!

Favorite summer read

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho.

I did the Reading Rush challenge around the end of July, and Wicked Fox was one of the books I picked for it (I actually read it on my birthday!). I loved the cute romance between Miyoung and Jihoon, and I enjoyed reading about a fantasy creature I've never encountered before. The book also contains a lot of info about Korean culture, which I found super interesting!

Favorite contemporary novel

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.

I don't usually read mystery/thriller type books, but I stayed up till 2 a.m. reading this one, and I have no regrets! It’s pitched as The Breakfast Club with murder, and that's probably what first attracted me to it -- I don't hate The Breakfast Club per se, but I've always found it quite overrated. I hoped this would be an improvement, and honestly, it was -- not only was there a murder mystery, but we got the character development we deserved!

Favorite sequel

Legendary by Stephanie Garber.

Legendary was another of my Reading Rush books, and I had no trouble tearing through it in a single day. I'd liked Caraval well enough, but this book elevated things to a whole new level -- I loved Tella's voice, and I straight-up adored the concept of the Fates and the Deck of Destiny. I haven't read many sequels where the story was better than the first book, but Legendary smashed that trend for me!

Favorite new series

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.

I'm an absolute sucker for the Illuminae Files, so when I found out that Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman were teaming up for another series, I had to get my hands on it. Aurora Rising is packed with all the witty banter, humor, and feels that I expected from these authors, and I can't wait to read Aurora Burning next year!

Favorite FEELS

Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

I said in my caption earlier that I couldn't shoehorn all my five-starred books into a category, but I totally shoehorned Heartless into a new category because it ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and put it back with a lemon-tart-scented kiss. This book solidified Marissa Meyer as my favorite author, and confirmed to me that nobody can write villain stories like she can (her Lunar Chronicles novella about the evil queen, Fairest, made my favorites list last year, too)!

Heartless was very nearly my favorite book of the year, but that honor goes to ...

FAVORITE OVERALL

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich.

I'd had this book on my TBR since before it came out, and I finally got around to reading it in March of this year. I tore through it in less than a day! Before reading The Love Interest, I thought it would mostly be about poking fun at the love triangle trope, but it's less about that as it is about exploring the concepts of love, freedom, and friendship -- and somehow, that makes it even better.

So, those were my favorite reads of 2019. I hope I'll read many more great ones next year! But I won't know till I get there, cause ... I don't have 2020 vision.

(Hey, I only have one more day in all of human history to make that joke. Give me a break :P)

What were your favorite reads of 2019? Share in the comments!