momentary escape– 2019 book recommendations

The talk of the town– or rather, of the whole world.
We can't get away from it.
The news about coronavirus is as pervasive as the disease, and I believe we shouldn't try to stay away from it.

The more informed we are, the more we can keep ourselves and others safe. However, I also believe that keeping our mental health on the upswing will sometimes require us to step back from the bombardment of unbelievable news we keep hearing. And reading on every news site. And scrolling through on social media. And discussing with everyone we know, whether they're in-person 6 feet away or on the phone 600 miles away.

We all need a little balance, tranquility, and unplugging if we can manage it during this time. That's why I want to write about something so simple yet so powerful, so transformative, and so important to me and to many of you. I'm here to write about reading— to share my small stories about the big stories that have changed me.


In 2019, I read 19 books... plus 1.
That was the most novels I've ever read in a year's time. 
But I know not every adult is like me, finishing a novel in a few days and enthusiastically launching into conversation with anyone who read the same book. Lots of people simply get bored of long-form reading, or it's been years since they've been hooked on a novel that spurred them to continue reading regularly.

I'm fortunate to be part of 3 book clubs, which significantly helped me read more last year. (Shoutout to my Wine Down & Read girls group, Gphi alumni group, & TL/hg group!). I love discussing with my friends in a book club setting, but this is the first time I'll publicly post my opinions on books I've read. 

I've always wanted to be a novelist, so I might as well take this time as a small step to getting better at reading, reflecting & reviewing. 

Whether you're a total book worm, a movie-only fanatic, or somewhere in-between, I hope you'll take away something helpful or inspiring about one of these beautiful stories on the list.

Scroll through my list of 20 titles from last year, and then check out my next post to read my very short reviews so you can read less of my words and more of these authors' great stories.

If you particularly loved (or hated) a specific title on this list, reach out to me to chat about it! If you're just getting back on the "read for fun" train, I hope you add one of these to your list.

My 2019 Books of the Year

1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

 2. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (audiobook)

 3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

 4. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

 5. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

 6. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

 7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson

 8. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

 9. Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee

 10. Less by Andrew Sean Greer

11. I'll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

12. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

13. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

14. Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig

15. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

16. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

(my only repeat author of the year because my sister got me hooked)

17. Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda

18. The Ship of Bridges by Jojo Moyes

19. Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

20. 300 Days of Sun by Deborah Lawrenson

Thank you for reading my post. My thoughts, opinions & statements are completely my own & do not reflect on my company or associated organizations.