It’s that time of the year where book awards are falling from the sky and crushing us all, making us choose our favorite reads even though the year isn’t quite over yet. Cruel, isn’t it?
Before heading into it all, I want to take a moment to talk about awards and diversity. The Goodreads Choice Awards started a couple weeks ago, but please, know that they’re not the only alternative. SO many incredible book bloggers have cooked up incredible awards that are way more inclusive than these ones, so many bloggers I admire so, very much and encourage you to support.
One of my favorite book bloggers, Shealea @ Shut Up Shealea wrote a very important blog post on that awards topic that I urge you to read and shared some wonderful alternatives created by incredible book bloggers that you need to check out:
- Kal’s Bookish Reader’s Choice Awards, allowing you to nominate the best reads of 2019,
- Anna & Charlotte’s alternative choice awards, dedicated to LGBTQIAP+ books,
- Michelle’s Awards dedicated to young adult books released by authors of color.
Once again, I strongly recommend reading Shealea’s wonderful post if you can.
Now that’s all out there and, since apparently I like to torture myself, I thought I’d talk about some books I’ve read and enjoyed and would definitely recommend you all to pick up and obsess with me afterwards. Even though 2019 is not over, I’m not going to be reading a whole lot of 2019 releases in the end of the year, because my backlist TBR is screaming at me to get more attention and…. for once, I’m trying to listen.
Today, I’ll be taking the Book Shimmy Awards prompts, created by Epic Reads, because I thought these prompts were quite fun, to share some of my favorite 2019 reads. So let’s get on with it!
✨ My Best of YA Books Released in 2019
? Best of Shelf : We Set The Dark On Fire, Tehlor Kay Mejia
The award given to the overall best book of the year.
Why I love it ? Guess who’s obsessed with a book? IT IS ME AND WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE OKAY. Reading this book reminded me of falling in love with my favorite reads when I was 16 and there’s nothing, nothing like this feeling. I LOVE THIS BOOK VERY MUCH READ IT OKAY PLEASE THANK YOU.
? read my full review
? Cover Lust : I Wanna Be Where You Are, Kristina Forest
The award given to the YA book with the most gorgeous cover design
Why I love it ? There’s this trend going on lately with illustrated book covers that I adore. I Wanna Be Where You Are is one of my favorites, that work of art representing the main character is stunning. Also this is an incredible read okay read it please?!
? read my full review
? All by My Shelf : Our Year of Maybe, Rachel Lynn Solomon
The award for the best standalone novel
Why I love it ? There were two books I wanted to go with on this one, but…. I’m picking up Our Year of Maybe. I adore this book with all of my heart, the writing, the characters, the complex friendship, everything about it made me cry and it’s the kind of book I want to write okay. READ IT PLEASE.
? read my full review
?????? We Need Diverse Books : Going Off Script, Jen Wilde
The award given to the best YA book of 2019 that explores diverse experiences
Why I love it ? Jen Wilde writes some of my favorite books EVER and diverse and inclusive stories we ALL need, honestly. Going Off-Script is a 2019 release I LOVED so very much, with a wonderfully queer cast and a tv show setting and ahhh I LOVE THIS.
? read my full review
? Heartstopper : The Quiet At The End of the World, Lauren James
The award for the book that had the biggest plot twist that made you gasp
Why I love it ? Lauren James masters plot twists. I never, ever see them coming and I gasp so so damn loud every single time. The Quiet At The End of the World was such a good, unique read and THAT TWIST.
? read my full review
? Reality Bites : The Fever King, Victoria Lee
The award for the best sci-fi or fantasy novel
Why I love it ? This book was REALLY REALLY REALLY good okay, I didn’t expect to love it this much, but somehow.. I was addicted and grew so attached to the characters I am very terrified to read the sequel because I don’t want anything to happen and ahh. Emotional attachment means I adored this book.
? read my full review
? Ship It : You’d Be Mine, Erin Hahn
The award given to the swooniest, cutest, or best YA romance of the year
Why I love it ? One of my favorite debuts of the year, that’s for sure. I adored the story as a whole, and the romance between Annie and Clay was so, so well done, just as well and it’s a book I love love love very much.
? read my full review
? Mental Health Matters : You Asked For Perfect, Laura Silverman
The award for the best book that shines a light on mental health
Why I recommend it ? I cried and I feel like that’s all you need to know. Honestly, Laura Silverman writes some of my ultimate favorite books and she hit the nail just right with that one, striving for perfection and mountains of anxiety that made me anxious while reading and 200% relatable. I love this book.
? read my full review
? Under The Radar : Small Town Hearts, Lillie Vale
The award for the most underrated or quiet YA book of the year
Why I love it ? EVERYONE needs to read Small Town Hearts because it’s soft and warm and wonderfully good with a great main characters, a swoony romance, complex friendships, sandcastles and cakes and what more do you waant?
? read my full review
? Here and Now : Don’t Date Rosa Santos, Nina Moreno
The award given to the best contemporary novel
Why I love it ? It’s everything I adore in my books and more. Rosa Santos is a little gem, really, with a wonderful main character I related to and loved, a lot of family, a sweet romance blooming, questions about the future and life and the sea and more and Rosa Santos, you have my heart.
? World Series Champ : American Royals, Katharine McGee
The award for your favorite new, ongoing, or concluding series in 2019
Why I love it ? Okay so I have a soft spot for over the top drama kind of books and royalty and there’s something about American Royals that made me just overall obsessed okay, so…. I just can’t wait to know what happens next.
? read my full review
?♀️ Squad Goals : The Black Veins, Ashia Monet
The award given to the best group cast
Why I love them ? Now this is what I call a squad. I LOVED this debut very very much and the cast of characters made me love it even more. They’re all unique and have different dynamics with one another and it’s such a fun, diverse cast and a found family I love so very much.
? read my full review
? Retelling: If I’m Being Honest, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
The award for the best YA retelling published this year
Why I love it ? No one’s surprised when I’m talking about Austin & Emily’s books. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE OKAY and If I’m Being Honest is one of my favorite books ever. The story, the incredible main character, the romance and character growth were wonderful and everything was so great about this book okay.
? read my full review
?️♀️ Blast From The Past: Dangerous Alliance, Jennieke Cohen
The award given to the best historical fiction book published this year
Why I love it ? Now this is one of the rares historical young adult books I’ve read…. because I don’t read a whole damn lot of them. That being said, I had so much fun with this one, it was entertaining and I’d definitely recommend it, it releases early December!
? Most Anticipated: Time Of Our Lives, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
The award for the book you’re most excited to read in 2020
Why I want to read it ? I guess no one’s surprised here, I’ve been screaming about this book since the dawn of time, oops. I just need it more than air okay.
? add to goodreads
❤️ Pagemaster: Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
The award given to your favorite YA author to publish a novel in 2019
Why I love them ? ……….. I feel like there should be an awkward silence here because I’ve mentioned them and their books three times in the last minute. Oops. I don’t know I just love them OKAY.
Did you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them? Do you want to read them?
What are some of your favorite 2019 releases? Any you’re still dying to read? I’d love to know your recommendations in comments!
? A side note and completely out of topic here, but important:
I am celebrating my 5TH YEAR of book blogging in late November, a.k.a soon! To celebrate, I thought about doing a Q&A so…. if you have any question you’d love to ask me, about book blogging, reading, writing, traveling, life, anything, feel free to! You can do so by answering to this tweet , sending me a message -dm, email- or by commenting your questions below, just as well. You have until the 22nd to send me your questions and I’d LOVE to hear from you, friends. x
Twitter ☂️ Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin ‘☂️ Support the blog
Sofii @ A Book. A Thought. says
I still need to read We Set The Dark On Fire!! (shame on me ?) but I hope to do it soon, sounds SO good and I’ve really heard only incredible things about it. Amazing Post, honey, as always ❤️❤️
Marie says
AHH YES you should it’s such an incredible read <3
Thank you so, so much <3 <3
Jeimy @ ANovelidea says
Such an amazing post, Marie! Congrats on 5 years!!!! *Parties* ???
I shouldn’t be adding some of these to my tbr….but one more won’t hurt right? ?
Marie says
Thank you so much! Ahahha nooo it won’t hurt at all 😀
allisawhite says
There are SO many good books on this list! I think my favorite of the books you picked was Don’t Date Rosa Santos! It was amazing ?
Marie says
Ah I’m so happy you love this one as well! It deserves so much love, I adore it <3
Ash Ronnel says
Ahhh! *runs of to check all of these out* These books all sound AMAZING and I surprisingly haven’t read most of them! ? One of my fave 2019 releases has got to be 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons.
And oh my goodness, that is so cool about your 5th year of book blogging! ? here are some questions:
• What inspired you to start blogging?
• Describe your aesthetic in 5 phrases or words
• #teampancakes or #teamwaffles?
Thanks so much for this lovely post ?
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much for your sweet comment! I really hope you’ll get to read all of these, they’re amazing! 😀 I don’t know 100 days of sunlight, I have to check it out 😀
Thank you so much for your wonderful questions, I can’t wait to answer to them all! 😀
Beware Of The Reader says
Our Year of Maybe is one that I plan/hope to read!!!!
Marie says
AH YES YES THIS MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST. I can’t wait to hear what you think! 😀
evelynreads1 says
Ooh I loved reading this! Great post!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Marie says
Thank you so, so much!! 🙂
Carol says
Thanks for these great recs! I look forward to checking them out! Congrats on your upcoming Blogiversary!
Marie says
Thank you so, so much, Carol! 😀
Macey @ Brine and Books says
I’m never on top of the latest releases! I do recognise a few titles here, and they’ve been on my TBR ever since I read your reviews of them 😉
Marie says
It’s too hard to be, there are way too many books haha 🙂 I hope you’ll get to read some of these and will love them 😀
Lauren Becker says
Fun post! I haven’t read any of these but I DO want to check out The Fever King and You Asked for Perfect.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Marie says
Thank you, Lauren! I hope you’ll get to read them 😀
kozbisa says
You are one of the few bloggers I follow, who reads a lot of contemporaries. Yeah! So, I have actually read most of the books on your list. I adore the cover of IWBWYA, because it captured Chloe’s spirit and the feel of the book so well. OYoM had me feeling way too many feels. It was amazing! Tragic (for me), but amazing. Yes! Annie and Clay were stupendous together, and I simply adored You’d Be Mine. I have enjoyed all Silverman’s books, and YAFP was another great one. I actually felt like I was spinning out with Ariel. Small Town Hearts was another winner. I loved the romance and baking, but I also liked the way the author handled a toxic friendship. Loved Rosa, inhaled American Royals (can’t wait for more), and read and loved both of Wibberly/Siegemund-Broka’s books. Great list. So much contemporary love.
Marie says
YAY! I’m so happy to hear this, contemporaries forever, it’s always, always my favorite genre <3 I'm so happy you loved most of these as well!
I agree about everything you said, yes!! And I loved that Small Town Hearts talked about toxic friendships, we need to tackle these topics more often, too 🙂
Thank you!! <3 <3
Jamie @BubblyBooks says
Awesome list! Such a fun tag.. might have to steal it ;)) I need to read American Royals (love katherine McGee) and The Fever King ASAP! Amazing post marie!
Marie says
Thank you so much!! I hope you’ll love these books 😀
Jaymi at OrangeCountyReaders says
Fantastic post Marie! Love the idea of more inclusivity in awards.
Marie says
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Aj @ Read All The Things! says
It’s too early for me to think about my 2019 favorites. I still have so much reading to do! Since I mostly focus on the backlist, I’ve only read 2 books that were published this year. I haven’t gotten to any books on your list yet.
Marie says
Oh it’s too early for me to think about ALL the 2019 favorite reads, for me, as well! It’s not too early to just focus on 2019 releases though, since I’m not planning on reading any more 2019 releases this year (well, never say never, but… not too likely haha).
I hope you’ll be able to read some of these and will love them 😀
tasya @ the literary huntress says
Lovely picks, Marie! I’ve been getting really left behind with recent releases so I don’t know most of the books in this list, but I do love If I’m Being Honest and it’s one of my favorite reads this year too!
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much!! I’m so happy you loved If I’m Being Honest, it’s such an amazing read 😀
Melina Elisa says
would you believe me if I already had all but one book on my tbr list? The funniest part is that you have recommended each and every one of them! I haven’t gotten around to them, but only because I’m trying to read all the books i currently own. I’m doing pretty well considering I’ve read over 70 books this year. Great list of books, and I can’t wait to tell you about them as I start to get through them xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Marie says
Ahh this makes me so, so very happy! <3 <3 I'm so proud of how much you've read this year, that's incredible <3 I hope you'll get to read some of these soon and will love them 🙂
Raven @ Dreamy Addictions says
This is a great list! I enjoyed Don’t date Rosa Santos! I haven’t read If I’m being honest but it’s on my TBR list. I hope I’ll get to it soon.
Marie says
Thank you so, so much, Raven! I hope you’ll love If I’m Being Honest 😀
Mel says
OMG I loved I wanna be where you are so freaking much it’s definitely one of my top reads this year. This list reminded me of all the books on my 2019 tbr that I still have to read. I keep meaning to pick up we set the dark on fire again but it keeps slipping by somehow. I’m also really happy you liked Going Off Script! I’ve been nervous to read it because I have been worried that I won’t like it as much as The Brightsiders, so seeing it on your list is great 🙂
Marie says
Ahhh I’m so happy to hear this! I feel like this book deserves way more praise, it’s wonderful <3
I hope you'll get to read both we set the dark on fire and going off script, they're so, SO great! I can't wait to hear what you think of them 🙂 thank you!! 🙂
Sophie @ Me and Ink says
When all the book awards came out I realised how few new releases I have read. I mean it has been my best year ever for new releases but still I was surprised at how little I had read but I’m so glad to hear about all the books you loved!!
Whenever I see Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka’s books I always think of you ? I really need to check out their books ASAP!!
You Asked for Perfect is one I really want to get to as I think I will love it. Probably not by the end of this year but maybe the start of next year ??
I also would love to read We Set The Dark On Fire as it sounds amazing. Plus the cover is so cool ? I’m also super excited for The Fever King so I’m glad you liked all of these books!! ?
Marie says
There are just way too many books, it’s so hard to know what to read and it’s even harder to be able to read them all haha 🙂
AH THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY!! ? I hope you’ll get to read their work sometime soon, they’re AMAZING! ?
Thank you so much!! <3
Catarina @ Pages & Plots says
I haven’t read a single book on this list, but now my TBR is way bigger so thank you ?
Marie says
?? this makes me so happy, I really hope you’ll enjoy these 😀
Elizabeth says
Oh, I loved Going Off Script! It was so cute and featured my favorite thing in the world, television writing. I also really liked We Set the Dark on Fire, I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
Marie says
Ahhhh I’m so happy you loved it, too, it’s such a great read 😀 and I can’t wait to read the we set the dark on fire sequel either, it will be amazing ahhhh.
Thank you!! <3 <3
Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense says
Yay for Don’t Date Rosa Santos! Still my favorite read of the year and one I continually push on others. Hope you 2020 is full of more amazing books!
Marie says
So happy you agree with this one, I loved it so, so much! 😀 Let’s hope so 😀
Marta @ the book mermaid says
I’m not sure if I wanna give this a lot of thought, at least for now, because I’m not ready to accept the end of the year! 😛 BUT it’s really clear that I don’t usually read a lot of new releases (I’m awful at keeping up with them). From your list, I’ve only read American Royals (THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND WOULD GIVE MY LIFE TO) and Don’t Date Rosa Santos (that was lovely, but not what I was expecting, tbh). I do have Going Off-Script on my TBR, so I’ll definitely try to read it as soon as possible!! I’m really glad you liked it, and I trust your opinion, so I have my fingers crossed! ^^
Marie says
ahahah I get that, time really flies too quickly!
Ohh I hope you’ll like Going Off Script, it was such a fun, entertaining read, I really loved it 🙂 I hope you will too 😀
Marta @ the book mermaid says
I liked it a lot!! <3
Caro @ bookcheshirecat says
I love how you formatted this post!! ? I was definitely taking some notes for recommendations, as there are a lot of 2019 releases that I haven’t read yet 🙂 But I loved Going Off Script so much as well, Jen Wilde always writes the best diverse contemporary books ? I’m a bit sad that it didn’t make it into the Goodreads Choice Awards at all ?
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much, Caro! I hope you’ll get to read some of these books someday 🙂 and ME TOO! I think it deserves nominations and awards and all the love, it’s such a great read <3
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer says
I haven’t read one of these! ? I have been out of the loop with contemporary reads this year. Now I feel like I have a most excellent list to check out. I recognize many of these as being favorites of other bloggers I enjoy. I really missed out! ? thanks for the comprehensive list Marie! ♥️
Marie says
Ahh, thank you, Dani! I’m just so happy this list can help you, hopefully, find some new favorite contemporaries! <3 <3
Kat Impossible says
It’s sad how out of touch I am with YA books these days, but this is still an awesome list! Just based on the covers, I’d definitely pick some of those up 😉
Marie says
AH YES PLEASE DO! I’m here if you need recommendations!! 😀
Kat Impossible says
You’ll be the first I’ll come to 😉
Mel says
I know I’ve already told you this but I just have to reiterate how much I also love I WANNA BE WHERE YOU ARE. It made my best of 2019 list as well and omg, just so good. I need her to come out with a new book ASAP.
Marie says
ah yes well feel free to, this book needs ALL THE LOVE. I can’t wait to read her new book in 2020 !!! 😀
Kal @ Reader Voracious says
Thank you so much for linking to the Reader’s Choice Awards, and I loved reading your fave books of the year. I 10000% agree with you on The Fever King… and I wish I had known about Dangerous Alliance before it came out so I could have nabbed an arc of it. I’m in the mood for historical fiction, so I’ll be grabbing it once I go to my indie again!
Marie says
Of course, thank you for creating these incredible awards and for all of your hard work for these <3
I hope you'll love Dangerous Alliance, it's such a good read 😀
Brooke Lorren says
I love the cover of I Wanna Be Where You Are. I haven’t read any of these yet! Eeep! Several of them I’d like to, but there’s never enough time to read them all! Maybe I’ll get to some of them next year.
Marie says
Ahh yes, me too, so much! 😀
I hope you’ll be able to get to some of these next year, they’re so good 🙂
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
Wow! I’ve only read one of these: You’d Be Mine. I really enjoyed it too!!
Marie says
I’m so happy you did, it was such a good read 😀
Kelly | Another Book in the Wall says
This is such an awesome post, Marie!! SO many wonderful books here! <3 I cannot wait to read all the ones here that I haven't had a chance to pick up yet! Don't date Rosa Santos is the cutest book ever, and I love what I've read of If I'm Being Honest so far! I really need to get to Small Town hearts soon, since that has been one of my most anticipated reads of the past year! <3
Marie says
Ahh thank you! I hope you’ll LOVE If I’m Being Honest once you finish reading it, it’s one of my favorites. and Small Town Hearts is such a great contemporary read ahhh, I love it <3