I read so many books in 2019 (375 of them to be exact!) that I couldn’t narrow my favourite books down any further than my Top 40. Yesterday I posted the first part of my countdown of favourite books read 2019 and today I’m so happy to share the Top 20. This list is counted down from 20 to my number 1 book of the year!!
Click on the book’s title if you’d like to know more or to read my review! 🙂
Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver
This was a really intense read, one that invaded my dreams and haunted me as I was reading it but it’s such a unique novel and one that has stayed with me that it absolutely had to be in my Top 20 books of the year!
I read this book earlier in the year and I still remember it really clearly, it’s such a brilliant novel and features characters with disabilities in such a real way. I hope more people pick this book up in 2020, I recommend it!
Louis and Louise by Julie Cohen
This is such a good novel that begins with a baby being born and what follows are alternating chapters where in one timeline the baby was born male, and in the other born female. We see how things are different for them and I found it fascinating and such a good read.
Baxter’s Requiem by Matthew Crow
This is a gorgeous novel following a teenage boy who isn’t sure where he’s going in life and an older man who wants to make peace with his past. It’s such a beautiful novel and one that I still find myself thinking about.
Song of the Robin & Reunion by R. V. Biggs
This is a slight cheat as I’ve put both of R.V. Biggs novels here but they are the first two in a series so I’m allowing myself the cheat! I’ve never been able to put into words what these books meant to me – it was one of those serendipitous happenings where a book found me at the exact right time and I just adored it.
The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North
I read a lot of thrillers and because of that I usually see what’s going on early on but this book blew my mind! I got so engrossed in the story and I had no idea how it was going to end. It’s a brilliant psychological thriller and I highly recommend it!
This is a great crime mystery novel but it’s also a book that really made me think about the way we view female murder victims, and how often they get lost in the story of who killed them. This book really made a mark on me and it’s one I keep thinking about.
I loved this book, it’s such an engrossing story following various characters in the aftermath of an explosion. It has so much depth and is a really affecting story.
Death and Other Happy Endings by Melanie Cantor
This is a gorgeous, life-affirming novel and one that I know I will re-read at some point.
This is another gorgeous novel that I really connected with. It made me tearful at times but mostly it made me smile and left me feeling all of the feels!
The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood by Susan Elliot Wright
I read this book in one sitting as I just got so wrapped up in the story of Cornelia. It’s beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking but I absolutely recommend it.
I read this book earlier in the year but it’s really stayed fresh in my mind. It’s such a good thriller but it’s also such a good exploration of how society treats women who aren’t perfect. I loved this one and can’t wait to read whatever Harriet Tyce writes next!
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This was one of the most hyped books of this year and I’m so pleased to say that it absolutely lived up to the hype for me!
The Blue Bench by Paul Marriner
This is such a stunning and moving book, I loved every single minute that I spent reading it. I’ve since bought the audio book and am thinking of re-reading it in that format in 2020.
The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone by Felicity McLean
I devoured this book whilst sitting in the garden in the sunshine this summer and I got completely lost in this novel. It still haunts me, it’s such an incredible read.
The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby
I read this book earlier this year and it’s really stayed with me. I often think about Cora Burns and wonder about her, and that’s the mark of a wonderful novel for me.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
I love The Handmaid’s Tale so had been eagerly anticipating this follow-up ever since it was announced. As soon as my pre-order arrived I started reading and I got completely lost in the pages. I loved this book, it was everything I hoped it would be.
A Modern Family by Helga Flatland
This had to be high on this list because it’s such a brilliant and incisive look at sibling relationships and it really did make me think. The book is really well-written and has stayed with me ever since I finished reading it.
And I simply couldn’t pick between the following two for the number 1 spot so my joint favourite books read in 2019 are:
Call Me Star Girl by Louise Beech
I adore Louise’s writing and always look forward to a new book from her. This one was a bit different but I loved it. This book haunted my dreams, it really got under my skin and I still find myself thinking about it. If you haven’t read this one already then I highly recommend you put it at the top of your 2020 reading list!
Ideal Angels by Robert Welbourn
I read this book early on in 2019 and I’ve kept thinking about it ever since. It’s a book that felt different to other things I read this year and it’s one that I’ll never forget. This is a dark read at times but it’s still one that I recommend. It’s a stunning book!
RatherTooFondofBooks 
Your rec for Louis and Louise got to me, I’ve put this on my TBR! I’ve heard many good things about Miracle Creek as well.
Both of these books are brilliant, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Louis and Louise is such an excellent read but also makes you think, it’s so good!
Fabulous choices Hayley!
Thank you 🙂
Oooh miracle creek is still pending for me…
I loved Miracle Creek! I thought I’d enjoy it but I didn’t expect to have it stay with me as much as it has. I hope you enjoy it as much when you get to it.
I havta read it this year
Thank you for a fabulous list – and Louis and Louise is one that has gone on my TBR, too… I really love the sound of this one:). Happy New Year, Hayley!
Louis and Louise is such a good read, I hope you get to read it this year and that you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you! Happy New Year to you too 🙂
You have some excellent choices here, Hayley. There are three or four of them that I’ve been wanting to read, myself, and your post is a good reminder that I should. Wishing you all the best for the new year and always!
Thank you so much! Happy New Year to you too 🙂
Very happy that a few of these are on my 2020 reading list, I’m very much looking forward to Call Me Star Girl and Nothing Important Happened Today.
Great list and I hope your 2020 reads are just as good
Thank you 🙂 I hope you love those books as much as I did. x
Very interesting choices. I loved Daisy Jones –the others I haven’t read…yet. lol I always add too many books to my tbr after these posts so we’ll what else I read!
Daisy Jones was such a good read! I hope you enjoy the books you read in 2020!
Many thanks for including The Blue Bench here Hayley, it’s lovely to be in such amazing company. Happy New Year!
My pleasure! Your book continues to stay in my mind ever since I finished reading it so it absolutely had to be in my top books of the year. Happy new year to you too!
Fabulous list! totally agree about Baxter’s Requiem and Daisy Jones!! Both wonderful books!!
Thank you so much! 🙂 Both those books are brilliant, aren’t they? I still keep thinking about them and it’s a while now since I read them.
I’ve only read Daisy Jones from your list, which I loved. There are some really interesting books on it, including the Will Carver which is cropping up in many year end lists. Best wishes for 2020.
Daisy Jones was such a great read, I loved it too. The Will Carver is a difficult read but it’s such a powerful, thought-provoking book that it couldn’t not be in my best books list. Best wishes to you too! 🙂
I loved The Testaments…and I see several books on your list that I want to read. Thanks for sharing.
I loved it too, it was everything I hoped it would be! Thank you 🙂
Such a fantastic list! And many books you’ve shared are now on my wish list for the new year! Now to find time to read them. LOL
Thank you so much! Haha, yes we all need more hours in the day for reading! 🙂
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A fabulous list and I wish you much joyful (and scary, but in a good way!) reading for 2020!
Thank you so much! 🙂 Happy New Year to you.
I love seeing DJ & the Six on here! It’s my favorite book of 2019.
It’s such a fab read, isn’t it? I already want to re-read it! 🙂
Me, too!
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Call Me Star Girl was one of my absolute favorites last year! And I loved Daisy Jones as well. Seeing your list made me realize just how behind I am with my TBR though. xD
It’s such a fabulous novel, isn’t it? I still keep thinking about it. All the top books of the year lists have made my TBR grown even bigger, so many books I haven’t managed to read yet! x
Same here! It’s going to be hard deciding which of the titles to pick up first… 😉 xx
So hard to pick what to read first, my wish list got so long as I read all the best of 2019 posts. 🙂 x