Last year was a massive reading year as you can tell by my 2019 reading list post. I decided to review my top 10 books of 2019 (no spoilers). I chose 5 fiction and 5 non-fiction, in order of when I read them. Hopefully, you’ll see something that sparks your interest.

1. Able – Dylan Alcott 

This was the very first book I read this year and I have to say it was absolutely awesome! Not only is Dylan Alcott’s determination and success an inspiration to people in my community, but his stories are hilariously entertaining, and I love that you get to see the learning curves that he experienced through having a disability. He was of course for me, very relatable.

(see previous post – here)

2. Fight like a girl – Clementine Ford

The second book I read this year, Changed. My. Life. this book was the gateway to my now obsession with feminist literature. Clementine Ford has become one of my heroes because of her ability to be unapologetically herself and express the thoughts and feelings that many of us girls have felt in our life. I had so many epiphanies during the reading of this book and I actually sent her a message online to thank her (I have no idea if she got it). I also read her follow up book; Boys will be boys, right after. It was just as brilliant.

3. Eleanor oliphant is completely fine – Gail Honeyman

This story was so funny and moving. The main character in this book really opens your eyes up to a new way of viewing the world and her story will make you laugh and cry. I actually did not see the ending coming so for me it was a real plot twist. But then again, I’m a pretty gullible person.

4. Say hello – Carly Findlay

Carly Findlay is as you know, another one of my heroes. Her book which was part memoir and part manifesto, taught me so much that I hadn’t already known. I even wrote a post about it. I have to say that if I ever write a similar book about my life, I can only hope that it will be filled with as many great stories and wise insights as this book.

(see previous post – here)

5. City of girls – Elizabeth Gilbert

I remember back in 2018 when this book was being advertised and I couldn’t wait for it to come out. just the front cover grabbed my attention. Of course, when I found out it was by the same author as Eat, Pray, Love, I just had to get it. However, for those of you who were not a fan of Eat, Pray, Love, let me assure you this book is in fact far different. a historical roman set during the second world war, it’s about a young girl who gets shipped off to work at her Aunt’s theatre company, meets some quirky characters and goes on adventures around New York city. It’s also an epic love story, what more could you want!

6. The night circus – Erin Morgenstern

The only words I have to describle this book is a great story! Honestly the way it was written, all the characters and scenery. It was just magical. I alternated between the hard copy and the audio book, but the later was an experience in itself. Would highly recommend this book to anyone.

7. How to be a woman – Caitlin Moran

Funny, funny, funny, and relatable af! This book will have you laughing out loud at all the stupid things us women have to go through.

8. Turtles all the way down – John Green

This book got a lot of hype in the book community. I figured, another John Green book, another cute YA romance. But this book actually exceeded my expectations by a lot. I don’t know much about the mental illness that the main character had in this book (of which the story was based around) but I do know what it’s like to have a mental illness of another kind and I confidentially say that I approve of the author’s representation of mental illness in this book. It was accurate and relatable in some ways. I like that it wasn’t glorified and that the story wasn’t so much focused of the romance side of the story, as it was on other relationships in the character’s life like friendship and family.

9. Eggshell skull – Bri Lee

The courage and strength it would have taken to write a book like this is phenomenal. Bri Lee really painted a grim picture but it was a book that needed to be written and now needs to be read by all. She really struck a chord in me and I couldn’t put the book down. When I finally did, I sat stunned for a moment. Read this book. Hear these stories. That’s all I can say. It might make you mad, it might make you sad. But I hope that like me, it’ll also make you want to change things.

10. The last days of the Romanov dancers – Kerri Turner

For a debut novel, this was quite impressive. It had everything I liked, historical time period, ballerinas and tragic romance. I definitely cried when I read this book but I found it so beautiful at the same time. Love, love, loved it.