** NO SPOILERS are in this post, but I’d be happy to talk about the specifics via private message!**
Reading has always been one of my favorite activities. There are very few things that are better to me than curling up with a good book (the ebook vs physical book is a debate for another time), a blanket, and a cup of tea. When I was younger, I devoured books. They were an escape from everyday life and a way to experience new and fascinating things that I would never be able to do in real life. Books allow you to travel the world, experience magic, meet important people from the past, and provide you with critical skills that you might not otherwise get a chance to have.
I can’t really remember how, why, or when it happened but reading took a back burner for me. I went MONTHS without picking up a book. I couldn’t tell you the last book I read prior to this year. No wonder I felt dead inside LOL.
Fortunately, I put a stop to that earlier this year. I started making time for myself to read, mostly before bed. I used to mindlessly scroll through social media, not even really thinking about it. It took no mental effort, and I didn’t find it enjoyable. It was just something to do. So, I replaced that time with reading.
At the time, I was also trying to limit my spending, so I couldn’t just go out and buy a bunch of books. I went to the local library and got a library card. The problem with that is that I’m one of the laziest people and Seattle is a crowded place. I didn’t think I’d want to brave the traffic and crowds frequently enough to make it worthwhile. That is until I came across the Overdrive app.
I now know there are many other library apps, but Overdrive works perfectly for me. Basically, it’s a free app that you link your library card to and you’re able to rent ebooks that the library has available. You might have to wait a little while for some of the more well known and popular books, but you’ll be able to find a ton of books without having to leave your home. Score! I highly recommend that you try it out if you’re looking to increase your reading habit.
Anyway, after I downloaded Overdrive, I started reading like crazy. I have the Kindle app on my phone (where you can have the ebooks delivered), so even if my boyfriend is sleeping, I’m still able to read in bed. Typically I spend at least an hour before bed reading and it’s made a whole world of difference for me.
I wanted to share a few of my favorite reads from 2019. They’re not all newly released, but they were new to me and I enjoyed them immensely. Forgive me for being vague, but I’m trying to make this post spoiler-free (I will be posting more in-depth reviews later). I’ll also be including links for you to get the books and check out the synopsis! In no particular order, minus saving my absolute favorite for last, my top 5 favorite books of 2019 are:
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: To be honest, I was skeptical of this book. I’m in a couple of reading groups on Facebook and was seeing this book pop up ALL OF THE TIME. It was kind of annoying. But I figured I’d check it out since people seemed to love it so much. I was pleasantly surprised. It was well written and the story kept me intrigued throughout. I haven’t really been to the South, but the descriptions in the book brought the setting to life. The characters are believable and there is a nice plot twist at the end. There was one tiny thing that bothered me at the end, but since I promised this post wouldn’t contain spoilers, I won’t say.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: What can I say, I’m a sucker for this period in time. While I know that a lot of the events of the Trojan War are questionable, I still love learning about them. I particularly enjoyed this one because when we think of Achilles, we mainly think of his part in the Trojan war, not what led up to that or the relationships he may have had. It was nice to read about his relationship with Patroclus prior to the war, his mother, and the why behind his actions. Of course, it is fiction, but it’s an interesting take and it draws you into that world quickly.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: I’m not sure exactly how I came across this series, but to start off, the cover really caught my eye and sucked me right in. I had to wait a little while for this one on Overdrive, but it was well worth the wait as this turned out to be my favorite series of 2019… maybe ever *minus Harry Potter which will always have the top spot in my heart*. I will say the fact that it was a YA book threw me off and I’m not sure I entirely agree with it being considered YA… it gets kind of sexy at times (although not as descriptive as the later books). For as much as I adore this series, it did take me a couple of chapters before I was fully invested. But once I was, I could not put it down. I’ve always been a sucker for stories about the Fae, but these books take the cake.
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas: This is book #3 in this series and I absolutely loved it. Instead of waiting to get it on Overdrive, I bought it before I even finished book #2. I actually ended up staying home from work to read this bad boy (shh that’s a secret). The character development was phenomenal and the story is just fantastic. There is a part where I actually started sobbing… yea… you could say I was invested in the characters and what happened to them.
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: There is a reason this book made my list of favorite books in 2019! This is book #2 in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I don’t think that saying that I devoured this book does justice to what actually happened. I bought this book immediately after finishing book #1 and jumped right in. Honestly, I would’ve read this book in 1 sitting if I hadn’t have had to go to work… and if I’m being fair I kind of did anyway. I read the first few chapters the first night and when I got home from work the next day, I read until I finished. Again, I wouldn’t classify this series as YA for the simple reason that it gets… steamy, to put it mildly. I adore all of the characters and immensely enjoyed seeing their progression. The ending is the absolute perfect cliff-hanger you could ask for. It’s got a little bit of devastation, but there’s also the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll say more when I post my review, but I could go on and on about this book.
Well, there you have it! I read a lot of great books this year, but these were my favorite books of 2019.
Have you read any on the list? What were your favorite books of 2019?
