Big Book Review of 2019!

Oh, books, how I love thee, let me count the ways!  I’ve paused from blogging regularly (because #twotoddlers), but I thought I’d update my blog for at least my Big Book Review of 2019.  I’m listing all the books I read this year, with my ratings.  I chose a favorite book each month (in bold in the list below), and then I’m rounding out this post with my ultimate favorites of the year!

My favorite posts to read online are book recommendations from other readers.  If you’re a reader too, or have a New Year’s resolution to read more, I hope this list comes in handy to give you some ideas of great books for the coming year!  Here we go…

January 2019

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson - 4.5 stars

Tattered by Devney Perry - 4 stars

One Day in December by Josie Silver - 4.5 stars

Verity by Colleen Hoover- 4.75 stars

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck – 3 stars

February 2019

See Me by Nicholas Sparks - 4.5 stars

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh - 5 stars

When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger - 4 stars

Seriously I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres - 2 stars

March 2019

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner - 5 stars

Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin - 3 stars

Maybe Now by Colleen Hoover – 4 stars

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones – 4 stars

April 2019

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain - 5 stars

Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline - 5 stars

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 5 stars

May 2019

The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson- 3.5 stars

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hildebrand – 4 stars

The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth – 4 stars

June 2019

California Girls by Susan Mallery - 3.5 stars

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis – 3 stars

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - 4.75 stars

July 2019

The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews – 5 stars

All Rise for Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor – 4 stars

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing - 4 stars

Maid by Stephanie Land – 3 stars 

Life Will Be the Death of Me… and You by Chelsea Handler – 4 stars

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand – 4 stars

August 2019

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe - 2 stars

Don’t Go by Lisa Scottoline - 4 stars

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah - 4 stars

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center – 4 stars

Make or Break by Catherine Bennetto – 4 stars

September 2019

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis - 3.75 stars

Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center – 4 stars

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer - 4.5 stars

The Oysterville Sewing Club by Susan Wiggs - 4 stars

October 2019

House Rules by Jodi Picoult - 2 stars

American Royals by Katherine McGee - 3.5 stars

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – 4 stars

Your Perfect Year by Charlotte Lucas  – 3 stars

November 2019

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center - 3.5 stars

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway– 4 stars

December 2019

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber - 3.5 stars

Beautiful by Christina Lauren – 3 stars

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - 4 stars

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak – 4 stars

A Royal Christmas by Rachel Hauck – 2 stars

This Christmas by Jane Green - 3 stars

What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - 4 stars

That was my complete list of 50 books from 2019!  Now I’m naming my personal Top 3 books of the year...

2019 Favorite Books 

#3:  Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

This is a story of a girl swept away by the perfect new romance – the kind that makes you have heart eyes.  Suddenly though, Mr. Perfect disappears, and she just knows something has happened.  Readers find out she was right, as characters develop, and the plot thickens all the while you’re just longing for them to be reunited.  This was my first 5-star read of 2019.  I loved all the unexpected turns.  I even dropped the kindle with my mouth gaping at one point.  This book got me hooked after the first few chapters.

#2:  Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

This was so good but I can’t discuss much without spoiling it!  It’s a novel centered around the love of a mother for her unborn child.  Her effort to save her and the things she goes through to do so, will take your breath away.  To quote the Goodreads review, “Diane Chamberlain pushes the boundaries of faith and science to deliver a novel that you will never forget.”  I so agree!

#1:  As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

I honestly knew as I was reading this book, that it might be my top pick of 2019.  After 50 books this year, I was right!  This was a beautifully written, compelling story set in the time of the Spanish Flu.  Amidst the tragedy, the story of the family and what they endure crushed me while at the same time, moved my heart in a way that was unforgettable.  I was still wiping away the tears long after I read the final page.

To give you more favorite choices, I had a little help from my friends!  My besties, Monica and Megahn, are in a book club with me and I asked them to pick their favorite book club choice of 2019.  Here are those too…

Book Club Picks of 2019

From Megahn:  Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

From Monica:  Tattered by Devney Perry

That’s it, folks.  Another year of reading, escaping to other worlds, and meeting new characters!

Oh, and by the way:

For the complete list of everything I read in 2017, click here.

Find out which books I named my absolute favorites of 2017 here.

For my Big Book Review of 2018 including my favorites from that year, click here.

Wishing everyone Happy Reading in 2020!