Best Books of 2019

December 12, 2019 Annual "Best Books" Lists 8

Best Books of 2019

 

Wow, 2019, you really threw me a curve ball. Back in March when I read Daisy Jones & the Six, I said it was highly unlikely any other book could come close to it…and I was 99% sure it had locked up my #1 Book of 2019 slot. 

Then, Morgan at Avid Reader Press sent me The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11. It wrecked me in the best possible way and is a book I think every single American absolutely needs to read. And, on top of being super important, it’s a riveting read. So, much to my surprise, Daisy Jones & the Six was knocked off its pedestal.

Also, 5 debuts are on this list (45%)…which is a great year for debuts!

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Best Debuts of 2019

December 10, 2019 Annual "Best Books" Lists 7

Best Debuts of 2019

 

I’ve always felt strongly about reading debuts…I love to support these authors and I’ve traditionally had great luck with the debuts I’ve read.

This year, I’ve read a ton of debuts (32 so far, 38% of my total reading) and judging from my current draft of my Best Books of 2019 list (I’ll post this on Thursday), they were a fantastic bunch!

Finally, I normally have about eight debuts that make it onto this list every year and, this year, I have eleven! Plus, there were two more that almost made the cut, but didn’t.

This post contains affiliate links (plus: here’s your Amazon Smile-specific affiliate link), through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

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What I’m Reading Now (12/9/19)

December 9, 2019 It's Monday! What are you reading? 7

 

I feel like I didn’t read at all last week because I finished two books very early in the week and then floundered around with a couple DNF’s before finally finding my groove again on Friday…only to be waylaid by a weekend with little downtime. 

I usually read mostly backlist in December, but I’ve been picking the wrong backlist books and not much has been working for me. But, I have been thrilled with the 2020 releases I’ve been mixing in with the backlist duds! Read more »

The Best Nonfiction Audiobooks I Listened to in 2019 (Second Half)

December 5, 2019 Annual "Best Books" Lists 8

 

Today, I’m sharing the best nonfiction audiobooks I’ve listened to in the second half of 2019. But, I also wanted to share my overall favorite nonfiction audiobooks I listened to in 2019…

Favorite Audiobooks of 2019

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff (guest on podcast Ep. 38). I read this book in hardcover and it’s one of my favorites of 2019. I haven’t actually listened to the audiobook yet, but I’ve heard it’s amazing and am planning to listen to it in 2020.

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Eight 2019 Books That Deserved the Hype…and Five That Didn’t

December 3, 2019 Book Lists 20

2019 books that deserved the hype

 

It’s hard to define what makes a book “hyped.” Does this mean a book was nominated for or won awards? Was being breathlessly chattered about on #bookstagram? Was getting big marketing dollars or a huge advance from its publisher? Was on many “most anticipated books of X” lists? Had glowing early reviews? Based on an author’s previous work? Everyone in your real life was reading and loving it?

The one thing all my 2019 “deserved the hype” books have in common is “tons of #bookstagram and/or regular reader buzz” and that makes me happy. I think this the best source for book recommendations and blows away award winners and “Best of” lists from elite publications for me.

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Book of the Month December 2019 Selections: What Book Should You Choose?

November 27, 2019 Book Recommendations 7

Book of the Month December 2019

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, but I’m also a paying customer.

 

Welcome to my monthly feature “Book of the Month Selections: What Book Should You Choose?”! Every month, I provide commentary on the books that are chosen as that month’s Book of the Month selections that will hopefully help you choose your pick, and tell you which book(s) I’m going to choose. AND, I provide you with the most up to date version of my Ultimate Guide to the Book of the Month Judges with free, downloadable template (below).

I’ve already read and loved one of this month’s picks and am excited about a second one!

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, but I’m also a paying customer.

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Podcast Episode 40: Byrd Leavell (Literary Agent at United Talent Agency)

November 27, 2019 Podcast 2

Byrd Leavell
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In Episode 40, Byrd Leavell (Talent Agent at United Talent Agency) talks about the business of publishing, the truth behind publisher marketing dollars, and shares holiday book recommendations for husbands / dads / sons / boyfriends.

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2019 Nonfiction Reviews (Nonfiction November) #nonficnov

November 26, 2019 Blogger Events 7

2019 Nonfiction Reviews

 

Another Nonfiction November (hosted by Katie at Doing Dewey, Rennie at What’s Nonfiction?, Julie at Julz Reads, and Leann at Shelf Aware and me) is in the books! And, it was an awesome one. I read/listened to five books (all the books on my TBR list plus an extra) and I really liked all of them! And, my favorite book of Nonfiction November was She Saidby Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey!

I also did a better job this year of not burning out on nonfiction halfway through the month by working in a novel or two to break things up. I think this needs to be my strategy moving forward.

This post contains affiliate links (plus: here’s your Amazon Smile-specific affiliate link), through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

 

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