I know it’s quite late on into 2020 already, but I still wanted to share my top books for 2019 – just in case you’re already looking for more reading material!
These are in no particular order, though my 4 honourable mentions at the end didn’t quite make it into the top 5.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
I can’t tell you much about this book without spoiling it, so I won’t. I’ll just say: I think this is one of my favourite Christie’s so far, and I’ve read some good ones!
You by Caroline Kepnes
This book rose to fame with the Netflix series of the same name. I actually love both the series and the book (though I haven’t seen series 2/read book 2 yet, so no spoilers please!). Writing a book in second person is really hard to sustain, and really hard to read, but Kepnes seems to do it with ease. I read this book on my phone, and just lay on the sofa and swiped through it one night… eerily like Tinder. Joe, are you watching?!
She Must be Mad by Charly Cox
This debut poetry collection was stunningly beautiful. I read it home on a train one day, and just sobbed. I think that every young person suffering with mental illness should read this poetry collection. Right after reading it, I started writing some myself, and it’s so damn therapeutic, too.
*Should You Ask Me by Marianne Kavanagh
Set after WWII in a little town, this book mashes the past and present beautifully. William, a broken soldier, is interviewing a woman who says that she knows the two recently discovered bodies, though they are 50 years old, and she’s ready to come clean. I’m not sure why this book stayed with me for so long, but it just really has.
A Single Thread by Tracey Chevalier
This book takes place after WWII, again, in Winchester – my home city. I actually got a chance to meet Tracey after reading this and even told her that it felt like coming home. She evokes Winchester so vividly, and I just want to go home and walk around the cathedral! Not only that, but the story is really thrilling too.
Honourable Mentions
- The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle – I recently did a book review of this one, and I loved it.
- The Places I’ve Cried in Public by Holly Bourne – important, brilliant reading for all ages about abusive relationships and what love really is.
- Top Marks for Murder by Robin Stevens – this series truly has my heart.
- Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian – everyone should read this book!
So those were my top books of 2019 – what are some of yours?
*Some of these books were sent to me for free by the publisher. All thoughts are my own.
Sprinkled With Words 
I haven’t read any of these books. Though I did read a couple Agatha Christie books last year. My favorite read from 2019 is Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston!
Oh I’ve heard of that book! But I’ve never picked it up! I love Agatha Christie 🙂
It was so good. I totally recommend it!
Oo I definitely agree with your picks of Goodnight Mister Tom & You. I wasn’t as keen on Roger Ackroyd though – I’ve read better Christie novels than that, haha.
Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to read Goodnight Mister Tom! Aha, what’s your favourite Christie novel? I’d love to get stuck into it!
Either And Then There Were None or Murder On The Orient Express.
I’ve not read tonnes of Christie stuff yet – though enough to know I prefer Poirot to Marple and the darker the murder mystery, the better!
Oh I loved Murder on the Orient Express! And Then There Were None and Death on the NIle are my next reads I think. I definitely prefer Poirot too!
Death on the Nile will probably be my next Christie read too, I’ve heard good things.
Me too! And the film is coming out later this year I believe!