The first six months: my favourite books of 2019. So far.

Saturday, June 29, 2019 Permalink

I tend to write one of these posts most years but never get around to do the second six months, rather bypassing the semi-finals and going straight to the grand final: aka – My favourite books of the year. It probably means there are a lot of books I’ve read between July and December I do not acknowledge sufficiently but then again no one ever said life was fair.

Anyhoo… the first six months of 2019 have flown by and despite my apathy and newfound love of Netflix I’m on track for my (reduced) annual reading target (63 / 120).

So, without further ado, these are my favourite books of 2019 – so far, in reading / release order (with the link to my review in the title):

The Truth and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris
This book was a huge surprise. The writing is stunning and the story is bitterly beautiful. It’s been compared to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Cactus.

The Truth and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris

Gone by Midnight by Candice Fox
The third in the Crimson Lake series and my favourite so far. I adored everything about this book in which we rejoin private investigators Ted and Amanda in Far North Queensland. Fox writes exactly how I’d like to write. Or think.

Gone By Midnight by Candice Fox

Louis and Louise by Julie Cohen
This is the second of Cohen’s books to blow me away and I love cleverness of this book that takes a ‘sliding doors’ approach to the birth of a child. In one timeline the child is raised a boy (Louis) and, in the alternate universe, Louise is raised female. Well written, sad and a tad confronting.

Louis and Louise by Julie Cohen

The Lost Girls by Jennifer Spence
I read this soon after Louis and Louise and it also features the whole ‘Sliding Doors’ scenario albeit with the bonus knife set of time travel. It’s a bit of a mind f*ck but again really really clever and confronting in reminding us of the potential impact of decisions we make and what we’d do differently if we knew the outcome in advance.

The Lost Girls by Jennifer Spence

Sadie by Courtney Summers
Another clever plot about a young woman (Sadie) seeking vengeance for her younger sister’s death. Much of the book is delivered via a transcript of a podcast about Sadie’s disappearance (while on her journey for revenge). It unfolds in multiple timeframes and we don’t really know how far apart they are. Summers crafts this in a way that leaves readers hanging again and again. But in a good way.

Sadie by Courtney Summers

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
This book is about flatmates who – for most of the book – never meet. Yet again it’s clever and we’re given wonderfully quirky characters who are magnificently written.

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

Allegra in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel
I love books written from a child’s point of view. If it’s done well and their voice resonates I’m smitten which was the case here, of a young girl torn between warring grandmothers in a broken family.

Allegra in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel

 

The Nancys by RWR McDonald
Speaking of books featuring child narrators, this debut novel also blew me away and I couldn’t have loved our lead character, Tippy Chan more. Here Tippy coerces her visiting uncle and his boyfriend into joining her club (named after Nancy Drew) to solve a local murder.

The Nancys by RWR McDonald

And there you have it. There are others I’ve given 4 – 4.5 stars to but these have been the books that have stayed with me the most. Normally I’m good at narrowing my lists down to just a few, but I struggled a little here. I suspect the second half of 2019 will be no different, as I’ve already read one (not out until July, so not making this list) which will surely be a contender.

What have I missed? What have been your favourite new releases this year?

** Belatedly linking up with Kimberly from Caffeinated Book Reviewer for her Sunday Post for the first time in yonks! **

30 Comments
  • Rebecca Bowyer
    June 29, 2019

    I LOVED the Grace Atherton book.

    • Debbish
      June 30, 2019

      Yes, feels like a lifetime ago but it had that great combo of excellent writing, characters and interesting plot! #trifecta

  • shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
    June 29, 2019

    Several of these are on my TBR, I did really enjoy The Lost Girls, hadn’t heard of Louis/Louise though

    • Debbish
      June 30, 2019

      I didn’t know what to expect from Louis and Louise and had been worried it’d be a bit preachy or something but it wasn’t at all like that. And was really clever. I’ve read a couple of books since that have done something slightly similar (in terms of the divergent storylines).

      Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard (YA fiction – something I rarely read) and The Woman in Darkness by Charlie Donlea also almost made it onto the list, not sure if you’ve read either of those!

  • Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
    June 30, 2019

    I haven’t read any of your favorites, but I do own Sadie. And one of these days, I’m going to read the book, too!
    Have a wonderful week ahead, Deb!

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      I’d seen Sadie on some US bloggers’ lists Lexxie so it convinced me to give it a go. I think it bordered on YA Fiction which I don’t read much.

  • Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
    June 30, 2019

    The Lost Girls looks interesting! And I need to read The Flatshare!
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      Everyone seems to be loving The Flatshare!

  • Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
    June 30, 2019

    I’ve added your favorites to my Amazon list, though none of them are currently available at my library. It seems like it has been some time since I’ve stopped in here, but I’m not sure why. I’ve taken over the moderation of the Sunday Salon, and I’d welcome you adding your link there, too.

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      Will do Deb. I took a step back from blog reading when I restarted full-time work about 18mths ago as I just found it too time-consuming. It meant I stopped joining those linkups as obviously a key part is reading and commenting on others’ posts. It occurs to me I could easily dip in every now and then and check out what everyone is up to. I was happy to see familiar sites there as sometimes people in the blogging world disappear and you wonder what’s happened to them!

  • Nicci (@SunnyBuzzyBlogs)
    June 30, 2019

    All new books to me!

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      All new releases Nicci. I tend to only get time to read what I’m sent by publishers – which of course means I miss out on some. THere are a couple of Australian publishers I don’t often receive listings from, though I do try to remember to check out NetGalley every so often AND if I see others reviewing something fabulous I’ll try to track it down.

  • Greg
    July 1, 2019

    Hey Deborah! I feel like I haven’t been here to visit in AGES! Nice to see you on the Sunday Post this week. I hope you’ve been well. 🙂

    Gone By Midnight looks like something I’d enjoy- love that mysterious looking cover. Gonna add that one since I like trying Aussie authors too. And The Lost Girls- I like time travel and what-if type stories, so ditto there.

    Have a fabulous week!

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      The Crimson Lake series is a good one Greg and I think it’s available in the US. This is the third. I really like Candice’s writing – very dry/droll and she always offers up interesting characters. (Though usually the ‘goodie’ is slightly sociopathic!)

  • Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer
    July 1, 2019

    I loved Sadie, and all of your books appeal to me. It is so freakin’ nice to see your face!

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      I think I possibly saw you talk about Sadie which lead me to read it as I might not have otherwise thought it was my kind of book….

  • Lorna
    July 1, 2019

    Found you on Kimberly’s blog. I own Sadie but thought it was going to have a bad ending so I haven’t read it yet. The older I get, the more I need a HEA. Interesting post!

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      Ummm yes well…. it offers closure. I’ll say that!

  • Marti (Bookish Treats)
    July 1, 2019

    Uh I really want to read Sadie! I bought it a couple of weeks ago and I am really looking forward to it. Have a great week!

    • Debbish
      July 1, 2019

      I was definitely surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

  • *Flora*
    July 1, 2019

    I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned but I can relate to time flying past.
    Hope you have a great week and enjoy your reads.
    Flora
    Here’s my Sunday Post

  • Laurel-Rain Snow
    July 3, 2019

    Your books look tempting. I did try Sadie, but for some reason, I didn’t connect with it.

    Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2019

      I can understand that Sadie might be hard to get into – it’s format is quite different and it took me a while to realise things weren’t happening when I thought they were!

  • Jessica at Booked J
    July 3, 2019

    Sadie is SO good. Also, The Lost Girls is definitely intriguing and I obviously need to get to that next.

    • Debbish
      July 3, 2019

      So many good books so far this year!!!

  • Jennifer Jones
    July 3, 2019

    The only book I’ve read on your list is Gone before midnight. I really enjoyed the Crimson Lake Series. I came here via Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond.

    • Debbish
      July 4, 2019

      I love the Crimson Lake series and can’t wait for the next!

  • Sanch @ Sanch Writes
    July 6, 2019

    I haven’t read any of these! I feel like I might need to rectify the situation soon. I did buy Flatshare because I heard a lot of good things about it. Shall read it soon.

    • Debbish
      July 6, 2019

      I really enjoyed it Sanch. I hope you do as well!

I'd love to hear your thoughts