Top 5 Fave Books of 2019

Last updated on 11 January 2021

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Time to share my Top 5 fave books of 2019!

I love looking back on my reading year and remembering a) what I read in general and b) all the books I really loved and more likely than not given five stars to. Ever since 2013, I’ve been doing this wee roundup, and it’s such a joy to put together each January.

It’s interesting looking back on my favourites, and while some years there’s a mix of genres, of Young Adult and Adult, of writing styles, voices, and other-worldly settings, some years it’s like this year; all Young Adult stories, two of which are set in our world, the other three set in another. One is a historical YA, two are murder mysteries, three are set in fantasy lands, four are parts of a series, and five are written by women.

In 2019 I managed to read a really good number of books, and many of them were a 4.5 to a 5-star rating for me. Note that these books aren’t necessarily ones that were released in 2019, but just ones that I read in 2019.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
on 2015-05-05
Goodreads

"Feyre is a huntress. She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to capture its prey. But, like all mortals, she fears what lingers mercilessly beyond the forest. And she will learn that taking the life of a magical creature comes at a high price...
Imprisoned in an enchanted court in her enemy's kingdom, Feyre is free to roam but forbidden to escape. Her captor's body bears the scars of fighting, and his face is always masked - but his piercing stare draws her ever closer. As Feyre's feeling for Tamlin begin to burn through every warning she's been told about his kind, an ancient, wicked shadow grows.
Feyre must find a way to break a spell, or lose her heart forever." - Goodreads

Unfortunately I didn't write a review for this! But just take my word for it; it's good!

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Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
on 2019-03-01
Goodreads

"Four Dead Queens had everything a good Young Adult Fantasy book should have: action, mystery, interesting and well rounded characters (my English teacher would be so proud of me for using the term ‘well rounded’), a beautiful and intricate world which had been thought out on so many levels, and even that little bit of romance to keep the feels alive and well."

Read the full review here.

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King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
on 2019-01-29
Goodreads

Nikolai was one of my favourite characters in the Shadow and Bone series, and Nina was a favourite in Six of Crows. As well as having two story lines following these faves, there were so many characters that were pulled from the other stories which was a joy to read.

The plot was a great combination of Nikolai and Zoya looking for a way to rid the King of the Darkling’s grip on him, as well as political alliances with the other countries near Ravka, the need for Nikolai to find himself a wife and produce an heir for Ravka, the mystery of the Apparat who is still up to no good, and then a of sneaky science and engineering happening under-the-radar.

Read the full review here.

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The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
on 2018-10-02
Pages: 450
Goodreads

Much like the first in this series, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, I found myself absolutely loving this book. While TGGtVaV followed Henry ‘Monty’ Montague as the main character, as he and his sister Felicity, and his best friend Percy adventure around Europe, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy follows Felicity as she tries to find her way in the world of medicine, dominated by men.

As the title suggests, not only is this a story about Felicity trying to get into the medicine scene in England, but it’s a tale of travelling abroad, discovering that role models and those who have inspired you throughout your life are not quite the good people you thought they were, making friends, sailing the seas with pirates, and learning how to get out of sticky situations.

Read the full review here.

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Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
on 2018-12-04
Goodreads

There was nothing about this book that I didn’t enjoy. The whole concept of a school in the mountains for kids who have great talents and passions (everything from writing to film making to science to sport) was brilliant, and the characters that filled the school were just as interesting. Stevie’s house mates – Ellie, David, Nate, Janelle and Hayes – were all very unique in personality and their talents, and the side characters who didn’t share a house with them definitely added to the exciting flavour of the school.

Read the full review here.

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A few shout outs

Because it’s really really difficult to pick just five books, so here’s a few more than I gave really high stars to (4 or 5). You can see all the books I’ve read this past year on Goodreads.

• The Anger of Angels, by Sherryl Jordan
• The Wicked King, by Holly Black
• Step Sister, by Jennifer Donnolly
• The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V. Snyder
• The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
• Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
• Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
• Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

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Check out my top 5 fave books from previous years:

• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013

What were your favourite reads of 2019?