I Read 25 Books in 2019!
I’m really proud of this number. I haven’t read more books in a single year since I’ve been in college (let’s not discuss how long ago that was). I had a 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge of 44 that I miserably failed, but I still feel really good about how much I read and I finished the year strong. By the end of the year I had really renewed my reading habits and felt energized and motivated to read again. And I’m still reading strong with two books already completed for 2020!
2019 Book Statistics
Books Read by Month
Books Read by Genre
Non-Fiction vs. Fiction Books
Looking Back at My 2019 Reading
- Audiobooks – I rediscovered audio books in 2019, and it really helped me to read more, and more frequently. I listened to five audiobooks in 2019, and two already this year in 2020. I have the audiobooks I check out from my library right on my phone and can listen to them when I’m driving, exercising, walking, and cleaning. It really makes these tasks more enjoyable and helps me accomplish my reading goals!
- BookTube – I discovered the existence of BookTube in December 2019, and quickly fell into a black hole of bookish content since then, and still haven’t gotten out. A few of my favorite channels at the moment: booksandlala, emmabooks, Hailey in Bookland, paperbackdreams, PeruseProject, and readbyzoe.
- Multiple Book Method – Of course I’ve heard of reading multiple books before, and have done it myself in the past, (really we all have in school) but I hadn’t done it for a very long time. I heard about it being a method for getting more reading done, tried it, and now I always have simultaneous books going at once.
- Fiction vs Non-Fiction Books – Relating to the multiple book method above, I like to read a fiction and a non-fiction book together. This way I can switch back and forth between them when one becomes a bit slow, or I temporarily loose interest. It’s also really nice to relieve any heavy non-fiction with my fiction book at the end of the day. One book for study, one to relax with.
- Getting Social – With BookTube I also discovered the world of 24-hour reading challenges, read-a-thons, online book clubs, depth years, and no-buy years. I’m very excited to explore these further in 2020!
- Goodreads – I discovered Goodreads in January of 2019, created my profile, and started tracking my books, ratings, and reviews. Where had this been all my life?! I can’t believe I didn’t hear about Goodreads sooner, but I’m so glad that I did. It has opened up a whole world of books, book progress, book friends, book reviews, book series information, book groups, and so, so much more. I truly love it.
- Learned all the Acronyms – ARC, DNF, HC, MC, OOP, PB, POV, RTC, TBB, TBR, and YA
- Public Libraries – I’ve fallen in love with the public and county library systems all over again! Not only are our libraries stocked with all the newest releases, but with OverDrive through my library card I have access to 1000s of ebooks and audiobooks as well. This really bulked up my reading options this year. If you haven’t checked out your local library system, I would highly recommend it. Mine even have classes, events, equipment rooms, and tons of movies to check out.
- Recommendations – I started sharing books with people in real life – and it’s amazing! I never really talk about the books I’m reading, but when it became a larger focus nearer the end of the year it came up during conversation and I’m so glad it did. I started sharing books and book recommendations with friends and it has really enriched my life.
Top 5 of 2019
This list was very easy to create as these five books really stood out to me. I cannot WAIT for the third book in the Cassidy Blake Series, Bridge of Souls, from Victoria Schwab, scheduled to release September 2020. I also think that my fascination with the Moon as a subject matter won’t end with 2019, and will be carried into the new decade.
1. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
2. Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
3. To Drink Coffee with a Ghost by Amanda Lovelace
4. Lunar Abundance by Ezzie Spencer
5. Moonology by Yasmin Boland
4.5 to 5.0 Star Reviews of 2019
I only had three very highly rated books out of the twenty-five that I read (about 8%):
1. 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
[rcno-score-box id=2675]
2. To Drink Coffee with a Ghost by Amanda Lovelace
[rcno-score-box id=2631]
3. Vegan Cheese by Jules Aron
[rcno-score-box id=2682]
Books Read in January
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2675′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2671′]
Books Read in March
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2678′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2682′]
Books Read in May
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2686′]
Books Read in June
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2691′]
Books Read in July
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2695′]
Books Read in September
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2655′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2638′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2634′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2698′]
Books Read in October
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2628′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2631′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2624′]
Books Read in November
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2649′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2652′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2646′]
Books Read in December
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2600′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2690′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2603′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2641′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2621′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2618′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2613′]
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2610′]
Top Pick of 2019?
Drumroll……MOONOLOGY!!
[rcno-book-listing ids=’2621′]
[rcno-score-box id=2621]
While this isn’t my most highly rated book, I feel like it’s the one I have the most emotional connection with and that has most affected my daily life.
2019 Year in Books Conclusions?
I really enjoyed just about everything that I read in 2019, and I’m so glad that I’ve restarted my reading habits. How many books did you read in 2019 and which was your favorite?
