There’s something special about looking back at the books that shaped a season of your life. The stories that stayed with you, the characters you still think about, and the conversations that linger long after the final page. That’s one of the reasons I love putting together this annual list of the best books from our book club, A Novel Sisterhood.
Another year has flown by, and it’s time for our roundup of the best books we read in 2019. Our group has officially been together since 2001, which honestly feels hard to believe. Eighteen years of friendship, laughter, heartfelt conversations, snacks, wine, and stacks of books piled on coffee tables. Not bad for a group that originally just gathered because we loved to read.
This year was a little slower for us. Life pulled everyone in different directions, so we only gathered six times, and we only had the full group of ten together once. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that true book lovers never really stop reading. Books continue to comfort us, inspire us, challenge our perspectives, and sometimes even help us make sense of life itself.
One of the best things about being part of a book club is discovering stories you may have never picked up on your own. Historical fiction, memoirs, emotional family dramas, thought-provoking literary fiction—we always end up with a wonderfully unexpected mix. And somehow, those books often lead to the most meaningful discussions.
If you’d like to learn more about our group, you can read last year’s post as well. Then grab a cozy blanket, add a few titles to your reading list, and enjoy this look back at the books that filled our shelves in 2019.
So, without further ado, here is the list of our best books of 2019.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This by far was the favorite. Everyone loved it and put it on their list. It is a story about an iconic 1970’s rock group and their beautiful lead singer. The story reveals why the band broke up at the height of their popularity. When you read this, you can’t believe it’s fiction. I kept wondering what band they were talking about!
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
This is a novel based on actual events. It tells the story of the competition between Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla to electrify America. It was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Devil in The White City by Erik Larson
This book was actually written in 2003 but was presented at one of our meetings this year. This book tells the story of the architect behind the 1893 World’s Fair and a doctor who built his “Worlds Fair Hotel” to lure in victims and then murder them. It has won many awards.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
In this non-fiction book, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who finds herself going to a therapist. She reveals the commonalities among her patients and all of us. On her website, she describes the book like this, “a boldly revealing portrait of what it means to be human, and a disarmingly funny and illuminating account of our own mysterious lives and our power to transform them.” It is currently being developed into a television series. (This is next on my list to read!)
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
I had never heard of this book, but as I was reading the reviews and summary on it, it sounds so good! It is a romantic comedy about the story of the handsome First Son and his relationship with the Prince of Wales. It is Casey’s debut novel and has gotten rave reviews. (This will be after I finish Maybe You Should Talk to Someone)
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
I wasn’t sure about this book, but I really enjoyed it! It has a cast of strong women figuring out how to make the most of their lives through lots of trials. If you have any interest in the craft breweries, there is just enough information about the industry wrapped into it. Also, fun since I’m from Minnesota!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Wow, two books by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This one is about an aging and reclusive Hollywood star who opens up about her glamorous and scandalous life. It’s a story about Evelyn and the reporter she chose to write her biography, and a walk through Hollywood in the 60’s and 70’s.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
A WWII book about a Jewish man, Lale, who was put to work as a tattooist in Auschwitz, a concentration camp. He falls in love with a woman, Gia, who is waiting to be branded with her serial number. Because of Lale’s position, he is provided a little protection, and he extends it to Gia. It is a story of love, survival, and hope in an impossible place. This book was written in 2018 and has been on the bestseller list for a long time.
The Gown by Jennifer Robson
This is a story of the woman who embroidered the wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth in 1947. 70 years later, Heather finds pieces of the gown among her grandmother’s possessions and searches to find the connection to the women who embroidered the gown. The book goes back and forth between the two time periods. It is a historical fiction piece on love and friendship.
Five Presidents by Clint Hill
I find this choice interesting, but the person who recommended it is a librarian, so I appreciate her suggestions. In a review by “The Insatiable Reader”, this is how she describes this book.
“Hill is a former Secret Service agent and his latest book, Five Presidents, is about his time spent serving and protecting Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford… The most interesting parts of the book, though, in my opinion, were not the Kennedy assassination or the Watergate scandal. It was the anecdotes about the presidents… After reading Five Presidents I have a new appreciation for the work that Secret Service agents do. They do a job that most of us rarely think about and they put their lives on the line every single day.”
This might be a good Christmas present for someone!
Modern Love Edited by Daniel Jones
50 true and extraordinary tales of desire, deceit, and devotion. This book was originally published in 2007 and has been recently revised and updated. Amazon describes it as, “A collection of the fifty most revealing, funny, stirring essays from the New York Times’s popular ‘Modern Love’ column. Editor Daniel Jones has arranged these tales to capture the ebb and flow of relationships, from seeking love and tying the knot to having children and finding love that endures.” The first season of a TV series was released on Amazon Prime in October.
Summer of 69 by Elin Hilderbrand
This book is described as historical fiction, but then that means I must be “historical” because I was alive in ’69. I was only 3, but still!
Seriously, though, this book is the story of a family that normally vacations in Nantucket every summer, but just like what’s going on in the world, this summer is different. The Vietnam War, the man on the moon, the Kennedy scandal, and racism intertwine with the Levin family’s life. I truly enjoyed the characters and historical references.
So, there you have it. Twelve of the best books of 2019 by The Novel Sisterhood. I’m sure you can find something that will pique your interest.
Do you have other books to add? My list of to-read books is getting very long! I love it!
“Let’s be reasonable and add an eighth day to the week that is devoted exclusively to reading.” – Lena Dunham
