Between reading books for LitPick, for fellow indie authors, and just for fun, I was quick to finish my Goodreads challenge early this year. But that didn’t stop me from continuing to read throughout 2019. Some weeks, I was pouring through three or more books at a time. When I’m not working or writing, I’m reading. As a result, I got to read a lot of good books from a wide spectrum of authors and genres this year. Here are my top 10 books read in 2019.
The Shadow Avenue Series – The Hidden House and The Hollow Boy
Author: Vivi DuBois
Year Published: 2016
Genres: YA, paranormal
Summary: Lionel has lived alone on Shadow Avenue ever since his father died of cancer. As a result, his mom uses her job as a flight attendant to stay away. While digging in his garden, he accidentally breaks a protective spell around his house, making him susceptible to the dangers that surround him on Shadow Avenue. It also introduces him to his neighbors, an unusual family who lives across the street.
Forming a close friendship with the family puts him in danger of the sinister paranormal threats that surround them. But he’s willing to do anything to protect the makeshift family that he’s been craving and has finally found.
Why It’s Great: This book series blends classic horror creatures with a modern teen world. The characters are likeable and well-rounded, and the plot is compelling and well-paced. DuBois seamlessly transitions between character and plot development, injecting humor, drama, and action at just the right times. The dialogue is believable, and the story itself is full of heart.
Even more rare is the fact that its sequel is equally as good as the original. This series shows you what a YA book can be when done right. But it’s not just good for its often dismissed genres; it’s just a good series period. You can read my full review of the first book in the Shadow Avenue series, The Hidden House, here.
The Institute
Author: Stephen King
Year Published: 2019
Genres: paranormal, fiction, thriller
Summary: A gifted 12-year-old named Luke is kidnapped in the middle of the night by a secret institution which conducts mysterious experiments on he and the other gifted children they have abducted. The experiments are meant to draw out their supernatural abilities which are then used against enemies of the U.S. Fearing for their lives, Luke and his new friends devise a plan to escape the Institute and expose it to the public in order to free the imprisoned children, assuming that anyone on the outside will believe them.
Why It’s Great: Here’s a spoiler that I was hoping for but didn’t happen: that King’s Firestarter, Charlie McGee, would burst in, save the kids, and burn The Institute to the ground. It would have been a fitting mini-sequel to one of King’s greatest stories and a way to interconnect the two worlds the way he is prone to do. But while that didn’t happen, the events of the book were still compelling enough to keep me reading into the night.
With so many potential twists and turns and such innocent lives at stake, the tension building and strong characterization kept the pages turning to see what path King would take. His decisions were pretty straightforward but in a good way. It reminded me of the King stories of the 70’s, simple yet effective and one that refused to cater to the reader while still entertaining and captivating them. You can read my full review of The Institute here!
Buy a copy of The Institute here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Abalone
Author: J.G. MacLeod
Year Published: 2019
Genres: YA, romance/abuse survivor story
Summary: Liz is a senior in high school when she’s asked to tutor bad boy James. After learning his story, the shy and studious Liz starts to sympathize with James, and the two begin an intense, impulsive, and ultimately violent relationship. Her desire to be with James trumps her dreams of going to college, the life she knew with her friends and withdrawn father, and even her own self-worth as James grows more abusive and controlling after a family incident persuades Liz to quit school and run away together.
Why It’s Great: You have to be a glutton for punishment to read this book. Every chapter has you screaming, “Are you serious?” to Liz inside your head as she continues to put up with James’ erratic behavior. However, there is merit to this story in how it slowly unfolds their relationship from an innocent teenage romance to a potentially deadly living situation. It’s easy to see how Liz is able to forgive James over and over again, how easy it is to fall for his manipulative behavior, and how James’ own personal shame plays into Liz’s ongoing decision to stay and support him. I think every teen girl should read this book so that they can look for signs of abuse early in their own relationships and understand the nuances and complications that they present both physically and emotionally.
Far Away
Author: Lisa Graff
Year Published: 2019
Genre: middle grade, coming of age story
Summary: C.J. lives with her Aunt Nic, a psychic medium who travels from town to town giving readings and relaying message from the dead to their loved ones. C.J. loves to receive messages from her deceased mother via Aunt Nic’s abilities. So, she’s devastated when on her birthday, Aunt Nic announces that she is sending her away to boarding school while she works to get a TV show featuring her psychic abilities off the ground. In an effort to maintain the life she has, C.J. embarks on a journey that reveals the truth about her mother, her aunt, and life as she knows it.
Why It’s Great: I requested this book from LitPick earlier this year because it was a middle grade story with a paranormal twist. I’m a sucker for stories about talking to the dead, and the first half of this book felt like an episode of Long Island Medium, in a good way. I was a little disappointed when the story seemed to be less paranormal than it appeared on the surface, but in doing so, it opened into a deeper tale about trust, family, and growing up. You can read my full review of Far Away on LitPick here!
Buy a copy of Far Away here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Cody and the Fountain of Happiness
Author: Tricia Springstubb
Year Published: 2015
Genre: Middle grade, summer story
Summary: Cody is a young, precocious girl who is thrilled to have the run of the neighborhood during her summer vacation after her summer camp closes unexpectedly. While roaming the streets, she meets a young boy named Spencer who is staying with his grandma, Cody’s neighbor. Together, they annoy Cody’s older brother Wyatt, drive their babysitter and Wyatt’s crush, Payton, crazy, and chase Spencer’s grandma’s cat who has a tendency to get loose.
Why It’s Great: I love real stories about real kids, and this book does everything right to present a real life group of kids who live in a typical suburban neighborhood and have adventures in their own backyard. It’s the kind of book that I set out to write when I published my third novel, and it’s the kind of book that I hope kids will enjoy, identify with, and want to read more just like it. You can read my full review of Cody and the Fountain of Happiness here!
Buy a copy of Cody and the Fountain of Happiness here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Flight of a Starling
Author: Lisa Heathfield
Year Published: 2019
Genre: YA, romance
Summary: Rita and Lo are two sisters whose family performs in a traveling circus. Their parents are prejudiced against anyone who is not a part of their circus, referring to them as “flatties.” But when Lo meets a flattie named Dean, she begins to contemplate if she wants to tour the country forever as a trapeze artist or stay with Dean. Only Rita is aware of their romance. Their secret, along with Lo’s pending decision, begins to tear the once close sisters apart.
Why It’s Great: YA romance can easily become melodramatic. But the melodramatic circumstances around these characters make it acceptable. I requested it to read because I was intrigued by the setting and wanted to immerse myself in circus life. Instead, I got a modern telling of Romeo and Juliet with an equally devastating ending.
You can read my full review of Flight of a Starling here!
Buy a copy of Flight of a Starling here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
When We Were Brave
Author: Karl M. Jay
Year Published: 2019
Genres: adult fiction, holocaust story
Summary: When We Were Brave follows multiple stories of characters caught up in various situations throughout World War II from 1943 on. One is a young Jewish boy and his mother attempting to flee Amsterdam before they are caught by the Nazis. Another is a traitor SS soldier attempting to provide the U.S. with crucial information about Hitler’s concentration camps so that they can take them down and liberate the prisoners inside. A third is about a German family in Pennsylvania who face the destruction of their milling business, reputation, and freedom as hatred against those of German heritage infiltrate their adopted homeland. Each story presents a thorough and unique perspective of the holocaust and the horrors and prejudice that occurred on all ends throughout these dark times.
Why It’s Great: No matter how many holocaust stories you read, watch, or hear about in your lifetime, there is always something new to draw from this horrific time period. A situation so infuriating, hopeless, and realistic is compelling in its own devastating way. After a minor slow start, each character’s journey becomes more and more engaging as you root for each of them to hang on as time passes by at an agonizing pace. The reader of these stories always has the advantage of knowing when the horrors of World War II will end for its victims. But the suspense remains in whether their luck, stamina, and human spirit can hold out long enough to survive this historic slaughter and oppression.
Buy a copy of When We Were Brave here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Olive and the Backstage Ghost
Author: Michelle Schusterman
Year Published: 2017
Genres: middle grade, paranormal
Summary: When Olive chokes in her audition for theater camp, she immediately runs away from her mortification and the constant disappointment found in her famous mother’s eyes. This escape leads her to a rundown playhouse populated by ghosts and other outcasts. These spectral outcasts take Olive under their wing and make her the star of their show. But there’s more going on than Olive realizes, and it’s up to her to figure it out before she joins her costars in the afterlife.
Why It’s Great: For a middle grade story, there are some very dark elements running through this story, such as verbal abuse, suicide, and self-esteem issues. I like how this story unapologeticaly explores these dark elements and how it kicks into high gear at the end with life-threatening stakes and an action-packed conclusion. You can read my full review of Olive and the Backstage Ghost here!
Buy a copy of Olive and the Backstage Ghost here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Becoming
Year Published: 2018
Genres: adult, memoir
Summary: Former first lady Michelle Obama tells her life story of growing up poor in Chicago, earning her law degree, and meeting her husband who would go on to become the future president of the United States, uprooting their family’s life as they knew it in order to make a difference in the world.
Why It’s Great: I’m not a political person, but I do love a good memoir. This book was getting so much buzz that I wanted to see if it was worth the read. It was. Obama is a gifted writer who knows when to dive deep and when to cut the fat from her life story. Everything from her childhood to her present day life is impactful and interesting. Her anecdotes are at times humorous and other times heart breaking. This book is candid, detailed, and well-plotted, making it the perfect fix for my memoir addiction.
Buy a copy of Becoming here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon
Author: Charmayne Hafen
Year Published: 2018
Genres: YA, fantasy
Summary: After her mother’s disappearance, Princess Wren is locked within the confines of her castle at her father’s orders. Her only friend is Aleric, the son of the castle cook, who teaches her how to swordfight. When he becomes of age, Aleric is recruited into Wren’s father’s army, and she is left alone again.
Determined to see the outside world and prove herself useful as a swordfighter, Wren escapes her prison. She enters a sword fighting competition in the land of her father’s enemy. While out and about, she faces several dangerous situations. But she also gains a sense of self and loyal friends who also seek freedom and family.
Why It’s Great: I’m not a big fantasy reader, especially medieval fantasy. But this book was right up my alley. A sword fighting princess mixed with an easy to follow plot, well-paced action, and likable characters made helped to break my prejudice towards this genre. So, I was able to delve into this world of princesses, dragons, and a longing for physical and psychological freedom.
You can read my full review of Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon here!
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The Institute sounds interesting but then again King is an amazing writer. Also, wanted to reach Michelle Obama’s book but haven’t gotten to it yet. Def need to check those two out! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for reading! Yes, of the bestseller collection of books I read this year, those two were definitely the best.
Great list! I’m still agonizing over many mine! 😂
I know. It’s a tough call to choose just a finite number to showcase.
Great list, I’m always in the lookout for my next favourite book. Thanks 😊
Thanks! Hope you were able to add some titles to your TBR list.
There are some awesome sounding books here – and some gorgeous covers. I’ve seen ‘Becoming’ around a lot recently and it’s definitely one I want to read. Some of these sound like so much fun – and others more chilling. Great list – I’d never be able to chose.
I haven’t been reading well for some time now and was just thinking of where to start. I’m going to start with Stephen Kings. Thanks for sharing these.
Great list! I just finished Mrs. Obama’s book and I just have to say…. I love her even more!
Me too. That first lady can write.