We made it, you guys!!! The very last days of 2019 are here!!! While we still have a couple more weeks of decking the halls and maybe reading a few more books by the fire (should you actually choose to read instead of indulge in Hallmark holiday movies—a COSMIC dilemma)—I wanted to share my list of faves from the year sooner than later. Juuuuust in case you are scrambling for last-minute stocking stuffers or itching to start your to-read stack for 2020!
Before I jump in, I wanted to mention my two December reads so far…
The first is Bird by Bird, by the one and only Anne Lamott. Full disclosure, my older brother (also a writer) gave me this book as a Christmas gift FIVE YEARS AGO. Five years. You read that correctly. Since then, I started it, fell in love… then rinsed and repeated that several more times over the last half a decade. For all kinds of reasons and yet no real reason at all, I just kept pushing it to the side. Why, oh, why, did I wait?!This book is the True Holy Grail for any and every writer. Anne’s disarming honesty and incisive insights into the craft are second to nothing I’ve ever read. My pens and highlighter could not keep up. She covers everything from Characters and Dialogue to Plot and Publication and Jealousy, with the pitch-perfect voice of a brilliant, wacky aunt you always find a way to sit by at Christmas dinner, just to pick her brain and feel a little closer to heaven, if only for the precious moment in her contagious shine. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It’s probably one of my new favorites of all time. I know I’ll go back to it over and over and over again.
The next is One Day in December by Josie Silver, and FRIENDS, what an absolute treat!!! I’m not finished yet, but I can’t stop listening to the audiobook (filled with plenty of British accents) and can already tell you with confidence that the characters are delightful, and the storyline is a dream! When Reese Witherspoon picked it for her book club last December, I filed it away in my brain as a future holiday must-read, which it has totally proved to be. Our girl Laurie spots the man of her dreams one—you guessed it—day in December, from inside a frosted bus window. She becomes obsessed with tracking him down, only to finally meet him, at last—as her best friend’s dreamy new boyfriend. UGH. Ensuing delicious drama and sweetness and all of it! If a Christmas rom-com sounds like a nice companion for finishing off your holiday lists and checking them once or twice, pop in your ear buds to the tune of this whimsical, funny, charming, delicious novel! (Note: A bit racy here and there with some language!)
And now… DRUMROLL… pa-rum-pum-pum-pum… MY TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2019!!!!For the first time ever, I reviewed every single book that I read for the entirety of a year. I learned a lot from this experience. For instance, I know now that reviewing books takes a whole lot of thought, and work, and also that I very much do not like putting negative reviews out into the universe. I also know that it reminds me a little of high school English class, all the summarizing and excavating for meaning. But in a really good way. I loved high school English. (Shocker!) I learned that I really and deeply enjoy sharing my book recommendations. But mostly, above anything else, this year I learned what I truly do and don’t love about the particular little bound worlds to which I give a piece of my heart and a considerable amount of my time.
I learned that I love when a book moves me to tears or cracks me up—and that the ultimate for me is when it does both. I love when a book hypnotizes me with its writing style. I love when a book keeps me on the edge of my seat, or up way, way past my bedtime. I love when a book meets me right where I am in a time of spiritual growth, or struggle, or wholeheartedly seeking the Lord through a certain tension or topic. I love when a book transports me to another time or lifestyle or character type that I never otherwise would’ve experienced. I love when a book teaches me something new about someone or something real. I love when a book, in turn, teaches me something new about me. Every single one of these books did some or all of these things!
This is a diverse list, as is my book taste, but these were my genuine favorites. For holiday shopping purposes, I included a suggestion for the person in your life who might really love each one. The book images below link back to the blog post where you can find my full review, rather than to Amazon as usual in my monthly reviews. In those posts, you’ll find the images linked to Amazon.
Lastly, in some cases, I did not originally give a book five stars—while others I ranked higher along the way, even though they didn’t make the cut here. This is interesting even to me, and also a lesson in what makes a book truly great for me. Weeks or months later—does it hold up? Am I still thinking about its theme, its people, its words? These right here are the books I haven’t stopped thinking about. These are the books that stayed with me. These are the books that—even if I originally knocked off some stardust—over time have become closer to impeccable in my eyes. These are the books I will gift. These are the ones I will cherish.
All of these books were published in 2019! I opted for just new releases here. Huge honorable mention to Big Magic and Bird by Bird for quite actually changing my writing life! And to the novel Castle of Water for being so exquisite and unforgettable.
I can’t thank you guys enough for following along this year! It truly means so much to me, and I hope you picked up some recommendations along the way that touched your heart the way they touched mine. I’m currently making my own stack for 2020, so pretty please send me all of your recommendations!
HERE YOU GO, READER LOVES!!! In no particular order. We’ll call this year a 10-way tie.
I hope you enjoy!!!!
1. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone—For the introspective, deep-feeling friend who loves the Enneagram and true stories. I’ll never forget this book, written by a therapist about her various clients’ lives as she navigates her own break-up. The characters still cross my mind on occasion, and I’m still gawking over what a great feat it was for the author to pull off this project so well.
2. The Giver of Stars—For the mom, sister, cousin or bestie who adores historical fiction, true love and strong tales of female friendship. This book feels timeless to me and also showcases a whole new dimension of JoJo Moyes’ talent. I love that it’s based on historical events. I love that it moved my heart. This book is just so very wonderful.
3. Inside Out—For anyone in your life who loves a good celebrity memoir. This is one of the best (the best???) celebrity memoirs I’ve ever read. I loved it even more than This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Phillips, which I super-loved last year. It’s amazing and captivating and surprising. Well. Done. Demi. Well done.
4. My Lovely Wife—For the one who loves creepy, contemporary, can’t-put-down thrillers. GAH this book is so great! It’s fast and fun and fantastically disturbing. Not for the faint of heart. Would make a great gift or vacay read for both men and women!
5. No Exit—One more for your twisted friends who gravitate to the dark side (please tell them I love them and get them). This book is so action-packed and wintery and fast-moving and still has me squeamish over the mere thought of passing a rest stop at night! It would be so perfect to pack on a snowy vacation. That is, if you have the guts! Muaha!
6. You Are The Girl for the Job—For your girlfriend with big dreams, big faith and a really big heart. This book shook up my heart, mind and soul. Thank you, Jess Connolly, THANK YOU for the spirit-breathed truth and pump-it-up soul talk I needed right in a funk!
7. Things You Save in a Fire—For the gal who loves rom-coms with emotional punch.This tale of a female firefighter is the romance I keep on talking about. It’s so very touching and witty and wise and I can’t recommend it enough!!!
8. Here, Now—For the spiritual friend who has a complicated relationship with social media and seeks a more present life.Pretty sure this is all of us, so yep, we should all pass this book out like candy! I haven’t looked at my phone the same since I finished it. It is so very powerful. I love, respect and cherish this one and its much-needed message.
9. Daisy Jones & The Six—For the coolest friend you have. You know the one. She/he loves rock and roll. Has a deep soul. Never fails on putting together the most stylish outfits, with a slight edge, without ever looking contrived. Now. OK. I am none of these things and I WAS OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. But it’s gritty for real. Stunning for certain. But goooood. I also continue to think about this one for its format. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, and for this, I can’t help but continue to mention it.
10. The Dutch House—For your literary friend who knows a writer’s writer when she reads one. This was my first Ann Patchett and it will not be my last. The sibling story is moving and mesmerizing. I’m still picturing the actual Dutch House and hoping it might come to life in a movie one day. The whole thing really swept me away.
American Royals. Wild Game. The Unhoneymooners.
Can I have a top 13?! Let’s call these winter break bonus suggestions. Check them out for your lovers of Gossip Girl, Glass Castle and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, respectively.
Merry Christmas to every one of you!!!!!
Thank you again for reading my words!!!!
