I always wait until the last possible minute to compile my best-of lists because I’m always holding out hope that I’ll read something truly amazing, possibly on the last day of the year. I’ve still got a handful of books that I hope to complete before the clock strikes midnight but these are the ten I came up with for now. I picked these a little differently this time. Instead of filtering for the highest-rated I chose instead to scroll through my full list and pick the ones that caused immediate remembrance of their brilliance. It’s kind of interesting how a few of these didn’t garner the highest of ratings after completion but still left a major impression on me. In no particular order…
One Day in December by Josie Silver
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
Phoenix Falling (Wildlands #5) by Laura Bickle
Like Lions (Bull Mountain #2) by Brian Panowich
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
Recursion by Blake Crouch
Small Spaces (Small Spaces #1) by Katherine Arden
Evil Has A Name: The Untold Story of the Golden State Killer Investigation by Paul Holes
It’s Okay to Laugh: (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort
What are your favorite reads of the year?
Love this list, Bonnie! I had the same thing happen with my Best of the Decade list, I chose books that I had a strong emotional reaction to and then realized they weren’t all 5 star reviews. So weird! Happy New Year’s 😁
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…Best Books of the Decade: 2010 – 2019
It’s funny how that works out. Sometimes it makes me go back and give them 5 stars just for that alone.
Bonnie recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Best of 2019
It was the year of Blake Crouch for us both! I cannot wait for the new Josie Silver to come out for us to buddy read again 🙂
It was! We’ll have to read more of his soon. I’m even more excited for the second Josie Silver. Parallel life stuff reminds me of my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Bonnie recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Best of 2019
I really need to read Small Spaces sometime.
My TTT.
Lydia recently posted…A True Selfless Act Always Sparks Another: A Review of Klaus
I don’t tend to read a whole lot of Middle Grade, but that one was really pretty special.
Bonnie recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Best of 2019
I had to laugh when I saw In Cold Blood on your list! When I read it last year (and it made my best of 2018 list), I think I mentioned being the only person in the world who hadn’t read it… and you fessed up and said you hadn’t either 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it. What took us so long?!
Kate @ booksaremyfavouriteandbest recently posted…I’m waiting for… 2020 edition
I have no idea! I feel that way about most older books I end up reading and loving. Better late than never I suppose. 🙂
Bonnie recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Best of 2019
Recursion was amazing. I really do need to get to We Sold Our Souls before his new book comes out!
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies recently posted…Happy New Year!
In Cold Blood is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it in high school and still have vivid memories of it.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Wrap-Up: December 2019
I loved One Day in December too. And I just picked up Recursion on Kindle. Hopefully I can get to it soon!
Happy New Year! My TTT
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday/Bookending Winter: My Top Reads From the 2010s
That’s really interesting. Sometimes the 4 stars wind up making a bigger impact than the 5s. Every year I say I’m going to read In Cold Blood and then I don’t. Maybe this year? 🙂
Jennifer | Book Den recently posted…Upcoming 2020 New Releases in Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Thrillers