2019 BOOKS IN REVIEW! | Mix & Match Mama

Okay, I’m editing this post! I already had it typed out when I published my post yesterday, and now, I’m hopping back on to say THANK YOU! Oh my word! You made me cry! (And I don’t cry!) I was really just trying to give you a little update, but you all overwhelmed me with your kind words, prayers, love, support and encouragement. I have no other words than “thank you”. You have blessed me more than you will ever know.

Now, back to my VERY favorite post of the year 😉 .

Friends, this is MY VERY FAVORITE POST OF THE ENTIRE YEAR!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeks! I cannot believe it’s finally here!

Whew.

Deep breaths, Shay.

Okay.

I need to calm down and focus.

Today is not only my DECEMBER BOOK REVIEW (where I’ll review the three books I’ve read so far this month), but it’s my 2019 BOOKS IN REVIEW post where I’ll rehash some of my faves, most memorable books from 2019 and then name my TOP 3 BOOKS OF THE YEAR!

Let’s recap just a bit before we start. Every single time I pick up a book, I think “will this one be one of my favorites” and am always amazed at the end of the year which ones were.

Here is a list of all of my other FAVORITE BOOKS of the year:
2014
#1: What Remains by Carol Radziwill
2015
#1: Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist
#2: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
2016
#1: Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn Dingman
#2: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
#3: A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
2017
#1: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
#2: Unstuffed by Ruth Soukup
#3: The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
2018
#1: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
#2: Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge
#3: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

If you’re looking for a great book to read, I CANNOT recommend these books enough. Each and every one of them is simply fantastic and I could re-read all of them again and again.

Now, before we start recapping the 54 books I read in 2019, let’s take a look at the three I finished this December All three of these books came from recommendations YOU gave me in my October and November book reviews and all three were FANTASTIC! You ladies always know what I should read!!! I loved each of them starting with…

…Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. I absolutely loved this witty, engaging, heartwarming, unexpected, funny, sincere, clever and delightful memoir by therapist Lori Gottlieb. I didn’t want it to end. In this self-deprecating and honest book, Gottlieb (a therapist) finds herself in therapy and her story comes to life as she talks about the experience of being the patient verses being the one on the other couch in such a laugh out loud, funny way. One chapter will be about herself as the patient and then the next chapter will be about herself and one of her patients. She keeps the memoir moving as she toggles back and forth between these two types of relationships. To be honest, I laughed out loud too many times to count, but I teared up twice as she and two of her patients sort through life. I thought the added douse of fertility issues and motherhood chapters she weaved in the book were fantastic too. I want to be her friend. I want to be her patient. I want to be the first person to read her next book (gee, I hope she writes another one!). I think this book is suitable for everyone…whether you’ve been to therapy or not. It’s more about relationships, vulnerabilities and why we are the way we are (and the pain that sometimes causes that). I really considered this one to be my THIRD FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR. In the end it’s not, but that’s how much I enjoyed it.

The second book I read this month was We Met in December. Awe. So good. Where do I begin? This is the perfect British chick-lit book about a girl who moves into a great big house in London with other flatmates only to discover she has a crush on one of them…in December, of course! This book was very similar to One Day in December (which I read this time last year) as it’s not Christmas-y, so I absolutely think you can read it any time this next year. It begins and ends during the holiday season, but the majority of the book is about these people as they go through the year. I loved all of the British references, I loved the whole cast of characters, I felt for the main character, I liked the many layers, I loved how it was so easy to read, and I was happy every time I picked it up and then set it down. This was just a delight to read. Upbeat, charming, adorable.

I will always remember that I read A Woman is No Man. In fact, it probably should be my third favorite book of the year. I loved this book that much, but most importantly, this book spoke to me and left a lasting impression on me. If you want to read a book…I MEAN, REALLY READ A BOOK in 2020 that will make you think, that will open your eyes, that will stick with you for a long time, read this one. This is a fictional story about three Palestinian women living in Brooklyn…and it’s deep, it’s messy, it’s horrific, it’s sad, it is probably really relatable to many women here in the US, and I’m still reeling from some of it. The book goes back and forth between two different time periods as three Palestinian women make a life in Brooklyn. This book is about secrets, shame, depression, violence, abuse, motherhood, sisterhood, hope, education, survival…all of it. I was very moved by this one and hope many of you pick it up to read. I even went a little nuts after I finished this book and started reading more about the author and her story…and it was really hard for me to pick up another book as I knew it wouldn’t be the same experience for me as this one was. Experience. That’s a good word. This book was an experience. Loved it. Read it. I’m so happy I ended 2019 on it.

So, that’s what I read in December. Here is the complete list of the 54 books I read this year…

2019 Reads…
(Just click on the month to read my review.)

January
One Day in December by Josie Silver
The Spy and The Traitor by Ben Macintyre
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson
The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

February
The Tattooist of Auschwitzby Heather Morris
It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst
In Pieces by Sally Field
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

March
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
The Accidental Beauty Queenby Teri Wilson
Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Vertical Marriage by Dave and Ann Wilson
I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

April
How Hard Can It Be? by Allison Pearson
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
It’s Always the Husband by Michele Campbell
Maidby Stephanie Land

May
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

June
My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

July
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer
Make or Break by Catherine Benetto
The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

August
Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
You’ve been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman
The Other Womanby Sandie Jones
Three Womenby Lisa Taddeo

September
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

October
American Royals by Katherine McGee
Becomingby Michelle Obama
Inside Out by Demi Moore
What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderband
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

November
Let it Snowby Nancy Thayer
Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

December
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb
We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

So, out of the bunch? Which ones did I love the most? Let’s recap a bit before I get to that…

This year might have been my biggest year of highs and lows in the reading department. I read some really amazing books (A Woman is No Man!) and some horrible books (I’m talking to YOU, Verity!). My two favorite books of the year were EASY for me to pick. From the minute I put them down after the last page, I knew “they were the ones”, but that third place spot was harder for me. I read several that could have easily been my third favorite book of the year. I know this is going to look excessive, but I truly considered all of these for third place and therefore, want you to consider them too!

Here we go…

A Woman is No Man: Yes, read it. Today.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: The best memoir I’ve read all year!

The Spy and The Traitor: I remember where I was when I read one part of this true story that made me physically shake uncontrollably. I was so nervous about what was happening in the book that I was reading and shaking. I loved this one so much that Andrew read it too this year. Fantastic!

The Mother-in-Law: I adore all Sally Hepworth books, but this one right here, I didn’t see coming. Brilliant.

Summer of ’69: Awe! My favorite author, Elin Hilderbrand, almost made it into my TOP THREE (something that’s never happened before!). I was weary of this one at first as I typically don’t like books set outside of present day, but I loved this one!! Loved it!

Night Road: I have thought about this novel so many times since I put it down. Even though it’s a work of fiction, I have put myself in many of the characters’ positions since reading it. What would I do? How would I act? How would I handle that? This one has long since stuck with me.

American Royals: This absolutely would have been my third favorite book of the year had it had one more chapter. Or maybe three more? I loved this story! I thought it was clever, original and just plain FUN! The end is abrupt because…apparently, there is a sequel, so that’s what kicked it out of the third spot for me, but if you’re just looking for some great chick-lit, here you go!

Ask Again, Yes: This one has stuck with me too. I was a little hesitant to dive into this one because it seemed heavier than I normally like, but friends, I loved it. This story was gripping and raw, and I’m so happy you encouraged me to try it.

So, those are my runners up for third place this year. You should go ahead and read them ALL!

Now, are you ready to see which three books made my faves?!

Without further ado, MY THIRD FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019 IS…

…DAISY JONES & THE SIX!

Eeeeeeeks! I loved this one!!!! Now, we all know I love author Taylor Jenkins Reid (her book One True Loves was my very favorite book of 2017!), but this novel right here was nothing short of an experience! Between the quirky and original way it was written (interview style, not like an actual novel) to the way the author included original lyrics to music in the story, I found it BRILLIANT! I thought the characters were interesting, complicated, original, funny, serious, real…all of it. It took me a hot minute to get the tempo of reading this (because it does not read like any other book), but once I did, I was sucked in. Part of what makes one of my books “a top three” is how often I recommend it to family/friends/readers and this one right here, I’ve recommended a hundred times. You can read my original review HERE from May, but friends, this is a wild ride with Daisy Jones and The Six that you don’t want to miss!

Okay, this next book immediately jumped to the top of my list and never one time wavered this year.

My SECOND FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019 is…

…THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ.

Without any doubts.

Everyone should read this book.

You can read my full review HERE of this book from February, but friends, I cannot say enough things about this true story. I loved this book so much and talked about it so often that Andrew read this one too in 2019. This is a terrible story but filled with so much hope and perseverance. This story is a true testament to what humans are capable of…both good and evil. I cannot imagine you reading this and not walking away at least a little changed. It was the kind of story that you felt honored to read. Love, love, love.

Whew! How do I follow that? WITH MY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019!

The minute I finished this one, it flew to the top of the list and never one time budged.

MY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019 is…

…THE THINGS WE CANNOT SAY!!

Oh my gosh! Where do I even begin?! I loved this novel so much!! It was the most unexpected book I read all year, and I adored it!!! You can read my full review HERE, but this fictional story toggles back and forth between WWII and present day…and they’re both equally fantastic. This story is tragic and beautiful, it’s raw, it’s complex, it’s amazing, it’s surprising, it’s about hope, moving on, letting go, finding out why, accepting the past AND accepting the present…it’s just phenomenal. When one of your very favorite authors (I’m talking to you, Sally Hepworth!) tells you to read a book YOU READ THE BOOK and because of that recommendation I read and loved this book the most in 2019. I hope you all read The Things We Cannot Say!

That’s it! That’s a wrap up and review of all of the books I read this year! I would venture to say that 85% of them came as recommendations from YOU, so thank you so much!!!

Now, I’m getting my list together of books to read the rest of this month and into January, so here’s what I want to know…WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ IN 2019? That’s going to hopefully help me find my favorite book of 2020.

Thank you for reading with me this year! Thank you for always making these posts so much fun!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything! I will see you back here tomorrow for our last What’s Up Wednesday of 2019! xo

To see the complete list of books I read in 2015 (all 63 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2016 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2017 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2018 (all 61 of them), click here.

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