I Read 25 Books in 2019!
I’m really proud of this number. I haven’t read more books in a single year since I’ve been in college (let’s not discuss how long ago that was). I had a 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge of 44 that I miserably failed, but I still feel really good about how much I read and I finished the year strong. By the end of the year I had really renewed my reading habits and felt energized and motivated to read again. And I’m still reading strong with two books already completed for 2020!
2019 Book Statistics
Books Read by Month
Books Read by Genre
Non-Fiction vs. Fiction Books
Looking Back at My 2019 Reading
- Audiobooks – I rediscovered audio books in 2019, and it really helped me to read more, and more frequently. I listened to five audiobooks in 2019, and two already this year in 2020. I have the audiobooks I check out from my library right on my phone and can listen to them when I’m driving, exercising, walking, and cleaning. It really makes these tasks more enjoyable and helps me accomplish my reading goals!
- BookTube – I discovered the existence of BookTube in December 2019, and quickly fell into a black hole of bookish content since then, and still haven’t gotten out. A few of my favorite channels at the moment: booksandlala, emmabooks, Hailey in Bookland, paperbackdreams, PeruseProject, and readbyzoe.
- Multiple Book Method – Of course I’ve heard of reading multiple books before, and have done it myself in the past, (really we all have in school) but I hadn’t done it for a very long time. I heard about it being a method for getting more reading done, tried it, and now I always have simultaneous books going at once.
- Fiction vs Non-Fiction Books – Relating to the multiple book method above, I like to read a fiction and a non-fiction book together. This way I can switch back and forth between them when one becomes a bit slow, or I temporarily loose interest. It’s also really nice to relieve any heavy non-fiction with my fiction book at the end of the day. One book for study, one to relax with.
- Getting Social – With BookTube I also discovered the world of 24-hour reading challenges, read-a-thons, online book clubs, depth years, and no-buy years. I’m very excited to explore these further in 2020!
- Goodreads – I discovered Goodreads in January of 2019, created my profile, and started tracking my books, ratings, and reviews. Where had this been all my life?! I can’t believe I didn’t hear about Goodreads sooner, but I’m so glad that I did. It has opened up a whole world of books, book progress, book friends, book reviews, book series information, book groups, and so, so much more. I truly love it.
- Learned all the Acronyms – ARC, DNF, HC, MC, OOP, PB, POV, RTC, TBB, TBR, and YA
- Public Libraries – I’ve fallen in love with the public and county library systems all over again! Not only are our libraries stocked with all the newest releases, but with OverDrive through my library card I have access to 1000s of ebooks and audiobooks as well. This really bulked up my reading options this year. If you haven’t checked out your local library system, I would highly recommend it. Mine even have classes, events, equipment rooms, and tons of movies to check out.
- Recommendations – I started sharing books with people in real life – and it’s amazing! I never really talk about the books I’m reading, but when it became a larger focus nearer the end of the year it came up during conversation and I’m so glad it did. I started sharing books and book recommendations with friends and it has really enriched my life.
Top 5 of 2019
This list was very easy to create as these five books really stood out to me. I cannot WAIT for the third book in the Cassidy Blake Series, Bridge of Souls, from Victoria Schwab, scheduled to release September 2020. I also think that my fascination with the Moon as a subject matter won’t end with 2019, and will be carried into the new decade.
1. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
2. Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
3. To Drink Coffee with a Ghost by Amanda Lovelace
4. Lunar Abundance by Ezzie Spencer
5. Moonology by Yasmin Boland
4.5 to 5.0 Star Reviews of 2019
I only had three very highly rated books out of the twenty-five that I read (about 8%):
1. 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
4.8Overall Score
2. To Drink Coffee with a Ghost by Amanda Lovelace
4.8Overall Score
3. Vegan Cheese by Jules Aron
4.9Overall Score
Books Read in January
Author: Mel Robbins
Publisher: Mel Robbins Productions Inc.
How to enrich your life and destroy doubt in 5 seconds. Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends and mentors who have pushed you to be better than…
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Author: K.C. Archer
Publisher: Simon Schuster
An entrancing new series starring a funny, impulsive, and sometimes self-congratulatory young woman who discovers she has psychic abilities—and then must decide whether she will use her skills for good…
Read MoreBooks Read in March
Author: Jeanne Ryan
Publisher: Dial Books
ARE YOU PLAYING THE GAME OR IS THE GAME PLAYING YOU? Vee doesn't know if she has the guts to play NERVE, an anonymous online game of dares. But whoever's…
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Author: Jules Aron
Publisher: Countryman Press
Don't be intimidated by the idea of making cheese?vegan cheese is simple and straightforward, with clean, basic ingredients. Green-lifestyle expert Jules Aron shares the tricks of the trade for making…
Read MoreBooks Read in May
Author: Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Publisher: RHCP Digital
One stormy summer night, Olive and her best friend, Rose, begin to lose things. It starts with simple items like hair clips and jewellery, but soon it’s clear that Rose…
Read MoreBooks Read in June
Author: Harmony Nice
Publisher: Seal Press
Witchcraft and Wicca for a modern world, from YouTube vlogger and Instagram sensation Harmony Nice Welcome to Generation "Hex"--an era where young Americans know that witchcraft isn't about devil worship…
Read MoreBooks Read in July
Author: Reese Witherspoon
Publisher: Touchstone
Academy award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm. Reese…
Read MoreBooks Read in September
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic
Cassidy Blake's parents are The Inspecters, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one. When…
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Author: Skye Alexander
Publisher: Adams Media
Unlock your highest potential, achieve your deepest desires, and delve into the world of witchcraft. Looking for an enchanting love potion? Want to create your own sacred space and promote…
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Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game comes Ruth Ware's highly anticipated fourth novel.…
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Author: Jill Murphy
Publisher: Puffin Books
Riding a broomstick is no easy matter! Mildred Hubble is the worst witch at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches - she's always getting her spells wrong. But she manages to…
Read MoreBooks Read in October
Author: Donna Lynch
Publisher: Raw Dog Screaming press
Choking Back the Devil by Donna Lynch is an invocation, an ancient invitation that summons the darkness within and channels those lonely spirits looking for a host. It's a collection…
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Author: Amanda Lovelace
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
"You cannot have a funeral for your mother without also having a funeral for yourself." This book poses the ever-lingering question: What happens when someone dies before they're able to redeem…
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Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic
Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual. She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass's parents are filming their…
Read MoreBooks Read in November
Author: Ezzie Spencer
Publisher: Running Press Adult
Lunar Abundance is a beautiful and practical guide for today's women on cultivating peace, purpose, and abundance in both their personal and professional lives, guided by the phases of the…
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Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Scholastic
It's the summer before her sixteenth birthday, and Sabrina Spellman knows her world is about to change. She's always studied magic and spells with her aunts, Hilda and Zelda. But…
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Author: Margery Williams Bianco
Publisher: Avon
Nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it. Like the Skin Horse,…
Read MoreBooks Read in December
Author: Dani Bryant
Publisher: Sterling Ethos
In the popular “Little Bit of” series: a fresh, accessible introduction to the practice of using pendulums. With every swing of the pendulum, you can develop your spiritual energy. Dani…
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Author: Meik Wiking
Publisher: Penguin Life
Denmark is often said to be the happiest country in the world. That's down to one thing: hygge. 'Hygge has been translated as everything from the art of creating intimacy…
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Author: Edith Tarcov
Publisher: Cartwheel
Hello Reader! Level 3 This humorous retelling of the classic fairy tale about the princess who kisses a frog and gets a prince is illustrated by the late Caldecott Medal-winning…
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Author: Yasmin Boland
Publisher: Hay House UK
Did you know the cycles of the moon have a huge effect on our health, our mood, our relationships, and our work? By understanding these phases, we can work with…
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Authors: David Levithan, Rachel Cohn
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
“I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” So begins the latest whirlwind romance…
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Authors: David Levithan, Rachel Cohn
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Dash and Lily have had a tough year since they first fell in love among the shelves of their favorite bookstore. Lily’s beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his…
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Author: Robin Robertson
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Vegan pantry staples plus enticing recipes in which to use them This is the ultimate DIY pantry book, doing double duty with recipes for vegan staples, plus ideas on how…
Read MoreTop Pick of 2019?
Drumroll……MOONOLOGY!!
Author: Yasmin Boland
Publisher: Hay House UK
Did you know the cycles of the moon have a huge effect on our health, our mood, our relationships, and our work? By understanding these phases, we can work with…
Read More4.1Overall Score
While this isn’t my most highly rated book, I feel like it’s the one I have the most emotional connection with and that has most affected my daily life.
2019 Year in Books Conclusions?
I really enjoyed just about everything that I read in 2019, and I’m so glad that I’ve restarted my reading habits. How many books did you read in 2019 and which was your favorite?
