Now that the weight of 2019 has been lifted, we can now take a breath and think about all of the amazing things we're going to conquer in 2020. There is a reason why, back in the days, they called them "the roaring 20's" right? I feel like we got this.
2019 hasn't been a really good reading year. I've read AMAZING books, sure, but I wasn't feeling like reading most of the time and obviously failed my Goodreads challenge.
I don't know what happened to me, but this year really was a bad year overall.
Yes, I did actually managed to do great things, if I look at the bigger picture they are all blurry but if I look at them individually, I'm quite proud of myself.
But we're not here for this today, are we? As I was saying, it was a bad reading year but the books I did manage to read were absolutely brilliant. Well, most of them, anyway.
The Secret History
Started this book at the end of 2018, I wasn't really feeling it. If anything, I think 2018 was even worse than 2019 was. But I hate unfinished things.
So last summer I picked it up again and read the whole thing.
Was it easy? Nope. Not even one bit. But was it worth it? Oh, boy. It was.
One of the best books I've read in years!
I know some people have issues with Tartt's writing style - it's so full of descriptions, sometimes it can get a little bit boring - but I loved it.
Dark Academia is my favourite thing, so whenever I come across those books I just can't help myself.
This one was full of greek references, really dark moods, mysteries, blood, friendships, a bit of everything and it was the most glorious thing I've ever read.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found
If there is one thing I love as much as Dark Academia, is Magical Realism.
I started reading about it only this year, but it slowly became my favourite genre. I don't like fantasy - Harry Potter aside - but I do like that tiny bit of magic in the real world so I found out about this book when I was looking for Book Club picks and loved it from the first page.
It's so eerie and feels like something from another world.
It starts the morning after a party where people start to lose things, random things. And then something else happens. A spellbook is found and with it the chance to get everything they lost, back.
But magic always comes with a price and sometimes lost things aren't meant to be found.
It has a deeper meaning, if you read in between the lines, it's dark and reads like poetry. Absolutely magical.
The Graces
People tend to have mixed feelings about this book, but knowing myself, I really needed a witchy book to get in the mood and this one was it.
Some people compare it to The Secret History and I do see why but also, it's so far from it.
Set in a coastal town, the story follows River as she becomes obsessed with the Graces, a family everyone thinks is made of witches. That is why River wants to get close to them. And when she does, she feels so part of something that she starts losing control over what's real and what it's not.
All families have secrets.
Maybe the Graces are not so different, after all.
This book was so good! I read it in one sitting, I even forgot to eat! The writing style is so alluring, it makes you want to be part of the Graces and discover their secrets.
After all, who wouldn't love to be a witch?
Solitaire
The first Alice Oseman's book I've read was Radio Silence and since then I've always wanted to read all her books.
Alice writes so brilliantly, her view on her generation is so on point and clever and even if her books usually deal with heavier topics - like anxiety, self-harm, suicide - you keep reading them because they are absolutely beautiful. And real.
What I love the most is how she explores the "social media" aspect we are all so used to, so in her books, you will find podcasts, chats, blogs, and all the new platforms we use to entertain ourselves.
In this book you will find how, the power of a secret blog, could get people in trouble and form life-long friendships.
Also, her books are so cleverly linked to each other but you don't have to read them in order - or at all - to enjoy just one.
Normal People
I have a feeling everyone - and their dogs! - have read this book but it was so good and genuine I couldn't leave it off this list.
Normal People follows Marianne and Connell as they live in a small town in Ireland. They couldn't be more polar opposites but somehow, something changes between them.
It's a story about love and friendship and sex. How people can get hurt in multiple ways and how, no matter how hurt you are, how broken, the desire to love - and be loved - is always there.
It was so simple and brilliantly written that at some points throughout the book I felt like I was reading my own story written by someone else.
It's relatable and honest and raw.
I especially loved how it didn't shy away from talking about sex and how good and normal it can be between two people in love.
The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
This summer, my mum and I, fell into the thriller rabbit hole and wanted to watch all the best ones our tv provided.
When we found out there was going to be a tv adaptation of this best-selling novel, we were sold.
I managed to find a used copy for 5 quid - what a bargain! - but little did I know it was going to be a 700 pages journey.
I was so in for the ride!
And it was so beautiful! It follows the successful young novelist, Marcus Goldman, as he tries to solve the case of a teenage girl who disappeared 33 years ago before her body was found in Quebert's garden. Marcus will try to find the truth about what happened, doing everything he could to get his friend out of trouble while trying to write his next best-selling novel.
The Devouring Gray
And lastly, like the cherry on top, The Devouring Gray.
I was lucky enough to read this book before it was out and it was so so good! Read the whole thing in two days and tempted to start it all over again!
I haven't read anything quite like it since I finished The Raven Cycle - and if you know how much I loved those books then you can have an idea of how good this one was for me.
Set in a small town, where secrets hide in the shadows, four founding families are tied to each other by magical powers, dark secrets and a beast that's lurking in the woods.
Full of complex characters, creepy atmosphere, teen angst and crazy plot twists, definitely one of the best reads of the year, for sure.
I can't wait to keep reading about these characters I grew so fond of in the next book, coming this spring!
Keep your eyes peeled!
What a year 2019 has been!
Full of crap but also nice moments. I'm thankful for all the books I got to read and the ones I got sent from Publishers.
I can't believe how lucky I am that I get to read books before everyone else and to have made these kinds of connections and friendships through books.
Life truly is unbelievable, sometimes.