At the very end of last year, I got really into reading. I was traveling so much that I needed different ways to pass time while on a 15 hour flight to Bali or driving the 7 hour trek back and forth to Nashville. So I picked up a couple books to listen to while driving or reading while flying and once I started, I just couldn’t stop.
I’ve always loved reading but it’s something that I don’t prioritize. Since I left off in such a good place at the end of last year, I want to make sure I continue reading in 2019.
The first couple of books on the list below are ones that I read in 2018 and absolutely loved. Educated is a stunning memoir about a woman’s experience growing up in a extreme fundamentalist family and her fight to get an education. She’s around my age so I found it fascinating that someone could be the same age as me and have such a different upbringing.
Another favorite that I read last year was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It’s a novel with a quirky main character who you just can’t help but love as you figure out what made her so unique. I also read The Girls in the Garden last year and it’s a really quick read with lots of plot twists.
I’m working on The Cowboy and His Elephant and Beneath a Scarlet Sky right now but the rest of the books on the list are the ones I want to read this year. These were all recommended to me by my aunt or members of my book club or friends. So if you’re wanting to read more in 2019, then try one of these recommended books.
19 Books to Read in 2019:
- Educated by Tara Westover
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
- The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell
- The Cowboy and His Elephant: The Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Malcolm MacPherson
- Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
- The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- A Painted House by John Grisham
- The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
- Glass Houses by Louise Penny
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
- The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
- The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
- Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
- The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
- The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- The Snow Gypsy by Lindsay Jayne Ashford
Did you read any good books in 2018? If so, comment them below so if by some miracle I make it through all of these, I can add them to the list.
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Laura All Day Long 
Of Mess and Moxie was by far my favorite book in 2018!
Ohhh I’ll add it to my list!
I am about to read Educated. I am also going to read “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” by Lisa Terkeurst.
Educated is so good! I hope you like it as much as I did. And I’ll definitely check out that one! Sounds interesting!
Laura! I am going to add these books to my list! After you read #11, you need to read, “The Sun Does Shine” by Anthony Ray Hinton. It’s a true story of one of Bryan Stevenson’s clients and the BEST book I read in 2018. Every girl needs to read, “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. I have more great books to read if you need more ideas!!
I will definitely add that one to my list. Aunt Susan recommended that one so I will have to tell her about it too! Redeeming Love is one of my favorites books and what made me look into Francine Rivers other books. You would love her other book And the Shofar Blew if you haven’t read it yet! Next time you’re here we’ll have to talk books. 🙂