It’s the end to a wonderful year which also means it’s time to reminisce on all the amazing reads of 2019! 😍 As of today, I’ve finished 87 books (though I’m hoping to squeeze in at least one more), and narrowing them down to my top 10 favorites was truly a struggle beyond struggles. Luckily, I’ve managed to pick my favorite 2019 releases that made this year of reading spectacular and a few honorable mentions which are either backlist or upcoming releases. ✨
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
I finished this story earlier this year in March, but I am still blown away by how amazing it was. If you haven’t had the chance to pick it up yet, this book needs to be on your TBR for 2020, and if you’re a fan of audiobooks, this is a book that should definitely be read via audiobook. The raps are 🔥 F I R E 🔥, and the narration flows so seamlessly. On the Come Up is a story of using your voice and fighting for your dreams even when the odds are stacked against you.
Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
Somewhere Only We Know is definitely my favorite Maurene Goo book, and I just adored all the ~vibes~ of this story from the Hong Kong setting to the K-Pop references to the developing romance. 🎵 It naturally incorporates so many defining aspects of Asian culture while also exploring the darker side of the K-Pop industry. As much as it’s a story of breaking away from others’ expectations, it’s also a story of finding yourself. I’m also super partial to the book because it was my first ever author signing and book launch party. 🥰
You Asked For Perfect by Laura Silverman
Ariel Stone is probably one of the most relatable main characters I have ever read, and I wanted to protect this precious cinnamon roll with all my heart. You Asked For Perfect follows Ariel Stone, a high school senior who constantly pushes himself to be the best, all-around college applicant. ✏️ Throughout the story, we follow his growth, understanding, and eventually acceptance of his success and capabilities. As a college student myself, I related a lot to his self-placed pressure on academics, and when I was going through my finals week, it was the perfect companion to read.
Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale
Mouth-watering food descriptions? Small seaside town setting? Heart-warming romance? 🌊☀️ Small Town Hearts is a book that reflects on thoughtful messages like finding yourself and your passion and the necessity of higher education and whether it’s for everyone. I feel like this was an underrated story for this year, but I adored it so much. This book is easy to love—it fills your heart with warm nostalgia and sweet memories of summer, friendship, and love.
If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Am I on brand™? Yes(!!) Emily and Austin are two of my favorite authors ever, and I love their writing so so much. 💖🌴 They’re contemporary writing royalty, and can we just take a second to appreciate how gorgeous their book covers are? They have a knack for writing complex main characters and swoony (& adorkable) love interests, and it makes me even more excited for their third book coming out in 2020.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
With the Fire on High was a touching story of family and perseverance, enticing me with delicious food and embracing me with the warmth of motherly love. 🔥 I wasn’t originally planning on reading this book, but after reading Shealea’s touching review and hearing Fadwa rave about it on Twitter, it immediately sparked my interest. I’m so glad that I gave it the chance because the audiobook easily became one of my favorites for the year!
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Alex and Henry will go down in history as one of my favorite romances, and this book made me feel all the feels. It was cute, dramatic, heartwarming, sad, funny, and everything in between. ❤️💙 It brought back a lot of emotions from the 2016 Presidential Election, but you can best bet that I was 100% cheering for Claremont 2020 in this book. I promise you that if you pick up this book you won’t be able to put it down because Alex and Henry will melt your heart.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
I honestly LOVED this #OwnVoices Asian fantasy, and I promise you that the story itself is as gorgeous and beautifully crafted as its illustrative cover. This book reminds me why I love reading fantasies—everything about it was entertaining, whimsically artistic, and magical. ✨🧵 Elizabeth Lim had me captivated in the first page by the intricate worldbuilding and personable characters and left me speechless with her final words.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
I recently picked up this book after reading so many raving reviews, and I love all the characters so much(!!) Margaret Rogerson’s lyrical writing and vivid world-building paint an imaginary world that intertwines closely with a historical setting of our own. From the first page, I was captivated by the alluring plot and characters, and I never wanted the pages to end. 🗡
Honorable Mentions 🌟
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) This is definitely a book I would not have picked up if it weren’t for Book Twitter and the blogging community, but I am so glad that I did because it blew me away. 💚 One of my friends explained that the best way to read this book is to not know anything before diving in, and that was such great advice because I was constantly wow-ed by how fantastic and complex the characters and plot were. In a way, this book feels both simultaneously life-changing and other-worldly.
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett (2018) This book does the childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope so so well, and I was rooting for the romance the entire time. 💫 This book is so sweet and cute, and it hits you in all the feels in the right way. I personally think that this is a great read during the summertime since a major plot point revolves around a camping trip. Jenn Bennett has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary-writing authors, and this book has to be my favorite out of everything she’s written.
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (2020). This book easily became an instant favorite because it has all the cute fluffiness of enemies-to-lovers, fun family relationships, delicious food descriptions, and classic high school drama. 🥪🍰 I’m already planning on rereading this book again once it’s released because the main characters, Pepper and Jack (i know…SO CUTE RIGHT??) are my faves!! I’m also seriously hoping a copy of the famous grilled cheese and monster cake recipes are included in the final book so I can try making them for myself!
Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen (2020). I’ve fangirled about this book so so much, but it’s honestly because I love it with my entire heart. 💖🥺The Taiwanese-rep, the heart-wrenching love triangle, and the super fun and exciting plot make this story easily one of my favorites of all-time! Loveboat, Taipei follows the story of Ever Wong at an educational summer academy in Taipei notoriously known as Loveboat for its lack of adult supervision, beginning a summer filled with friendship, romance, and adventure.
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Read By Tiffany 
I see a few of my faves on this list. Especially, On The Come Up and Loveboat, Taipei ❤️❤️❤️
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Yes!! I’m so so glad that you love these, especially Loveboat, Taipei because that one holds a special place in my heart 🥰
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Fantastic list! I loved “If I’m Being Honest” and “Red, White & Royal Blue” so much!! I really want to read “With the Fire on High” and “Sorcery of Thorns”! I have them both so I’ve added them to my 2020 TBR!
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Right?? They were such amazing reads of the year. I can’t wait for you to read the others!! Definitely will be checking out your reviews 😍
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Awe shucks ! ❤
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Such a great list of books! I am going to have to look into Loveboat and Tweet Cute when they come out in 2020, you totally sold them for me!
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Yes!! Please please please read them 😍 I truly love them both with all my heart so I can’t wait for you to read it!!
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I see some of my faves here! (looking at you RWRB and StD)
I REALLY need to pick up more contemporary and you bet I’ll be referring to this list when I do! I especially want to read You Asked for Perfect bc I feel like I’d relate to! (I’m worried about college applications though I’m not in senior year, I want straight A’s haha)
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YES!!! I love that you adored them, and I’m always here to listen to you fangirl 🥰
I think you’ll be able to relate a lot to You Asked For Perfect in this case!! It’s definitely a great read. 💖
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HAHA thank you for listening to me squee in your DMs ❤
Ooh I'm going to bump it even higher on my TBR (so many books are competing for space on my TBR it's getting ridiculous haha)
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Red White and Royal Blue is definitely one of my faves of this year, and I also loved On the Come Up and Spin the Dawn SO MUCH. A few of these are also on my tbr, such as Small Town Hearts and Sorcery of Thorns, so knowing that you loved them so much makes me really excited! 😀 Hope you have a wonderful new year, and happy 2020!!
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Yes!! They were just so amazing so I’m excited that you enjoyed them too. 😍 I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on STH and SOT!! Happy New Year, Margaret 💖
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Out of these I’ve only read On The Come Up which was INCREDIBLE. I absolutely adored it. I definitely want to reread it (and The Hate U Give for the 4th time) this year because both of them are so so good.
Other than that though, all of the contemporaries you mentioned are on my tbr. I especially want to get to With The Fire on High, Small Town Hearts and You Asked For Perfect. They all sound so good and have had such good reviews!
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I know!! OMG I can’t believe you’ve read THUG for 4x (not that I would blame you because it’s so amazing) The movie made me cry so hard 😭 I can’t wait for you to read the other contemporaries!! They’re super heartwarming but also really deep?? beyond just being feel good. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on them!!
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I haven’t seen the film yet😬 I 100% need to though!!
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I also read and enjoyed Somewhere Only We Know. I’ve heard great things about If I’m Being Honest; Loveboat, Taipei; and Sorcery of Thorns. I hope to read them this year!
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Ahh you definitely should, Crystal!! They’re super amazing, and I would 10/10 recommend. 😍I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
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87 books?? That is so impressive! I unfortunately haven’t read any of the books on this list, but they’re all books I hope to read in the new year– especially Red White & Royal Blue and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I’ve heard so many positive things about. Happy new year Tiffany!! 🙂
claire @ clairefy
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Aww thank you!! I’m super excited to see you blogging again Claire, and I can’t wait for you to read so many amazing books. 😍 Happy New Year!!
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Great list! I like the sound of somewhere only we know, small town hearts, if I’m being honest and with the fire on high. especially keen to read red white and royal blue and sorcery of thorns as well!! Evelyn Hugo was an excellent book too!
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Yes!! These are super cute contemporaries I would highly recommend 😍I hope that you got amazing reads finished this year~!
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Great list! Red, White, & Royal Blue and Tweet Cute are two of my 2020 must-reads so I’m so glad you loved them. Happy New Year!
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You’re going to love them so so much!! They were so amazing, and I can’t wait for you to read them 🥰
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Ahh saw so many of my faves on this list! Glad you had such a good reading year! Hope 2020 is just as good 🙂
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Aww thank you!! I’m glad that we had so many similar favorites 😍Happy Reading in 2020!!
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I’m almost surprised that TATBILB isn’t on this list, but On the Come Up, Somewhere Only We Know, Spin the Dawn, With the Fire on High, Sorcery of Thorns and Loveboat is 😍😍😍😍. I haven’t read Tweet Cute, or Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo yet? I’m guessing I probably should.
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Haha I know!! It probably would have been a Honorable Mention, but I figured many people knew it was one of my favorites 🙈 You’ll love Tweet Cute, and Evelyn Hugo was a little different but still super good. 😍
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Congrats on 87 books that’s so amazing!! I loved On The Come Up, Red White and Royal Blue, Sorcery of Thorns, and Small Town Hearts so much ❤ and owieasjdfkoiawjsdfk after reading your posts and seeing your tweets I'm DYING to read Tweet Cute and ESPECIALLy Loveboat Taipei oiwaejklsdf can they be out already pls? I hope you have a happy new year, Tiffany ❤ ❤
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Thank you!! I’m so glad that we read so many books this year, and 2020 is going to be even more amazing 😍 I can’t wait for you to read Tweet Cute and Loveboat!! I hope you have a lovely new year too 💖
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Love your honourable mention 🙂 I very much enjoyed Evelyn Hugo as well. Kept postponing it a lot because it’s not the sort of book i usually read, but i was quite taken with it, and even though i read it a month ago, i’m still thinking about it ❤
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Thank you!! I felt the same way about Evelyn Hugo 🥰 I was definitely very hesitant initially since it’s not the typical book I would pick up, but it really surprised me in a good way. 💖
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This is an amazing list! I’ve either read and enjoyed or having these books on my TBR right now, so I was exciting to see you loved them all. 😍Happy new year, and I hope you have a wonderful reading year!
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Yes!! I love that we have such similar tastes, and I can’t wait for you to read them all 😍
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I loved reading all about your favorite books of the year! 🥰 I loved Sorcery of Thorns and On the Come up as well, both were amazing books by authors I’d enjoyed before and that didn’t let me down 💕 I’ve also just finished Tweet Cute (you got me all excited for it) and it was adorable 😊
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Ooo I haven’t read other books Margaret Rogerson written before so maybe I should check those out! and WHOOOO Tweet Cute is just such a great read 😍 I’m prepared to reread it soon!!
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If I’m Being Honest is one of my best reads this year too! I love Tweet Cute, it’s just super cute too. It was exactly what I need to close 2019! ❤
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right?? i already want to reread it because i loved it so much and it had a great happy ending 😍
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The only book from your list that I have read is On The Come Up (I really liked it but I wish I had known about the audiobook before eheh I’d do it just for the rap parts). I have lots of other books from your list in mind to read now in 2020 😛
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Yes!! On the Come Up was such a great book, and Angie Thomas always writes amazing books that are so meaningful. 😍
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Aahhh I love this list of books, Tiffany! I see so many of my own faves, including You Asked for Perfect (too relatable and too good 😭💕), Small Town Hearts (so heartwarming), Red, White & Royal Blue (wow I really love this book with all of my heart and it’s definitely one of my faves of all time ❤️💙 Alex & Henry deserve the WORLD), and Evelyn Hugo (I really want to reread that this year, actually)!! I’m so glad you read so many wonderful books in 2019, and I hope your 2020 will also be filled with great books and happiness 💓
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Ahhhh Dezzy!!! 💖💖💖 I’m so glad that we both loved such similar books because THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT YEAR!! and I adored all these releases so so much. I can’t wait to read all the amazing books in 2020!!
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Well this featured me saying ‘I need to read this book’ many times because there are so many books here that I need to read!!
I definitely want to read both of Angie Thomas’s books and I’m so excited to get to them as I’ve hear nothing but good things. Plus I think this touches on a really important, powerful message. I would love it if my library had the audiobook!!
You Asked for Perfect is one I want to read really soon as it sounds so perfect!! I love the title and think it already reflects academic pressure so well so I can imagine how good the book will be!!
I also excited for Small Town Hearts and Starry Eyes!!
I absolutely loved Evelyn Hugo too, I probably wouldn’t have read it without the book community so I’m thankful as it felt so real. I loved it!!
I hope you find many other great reads in 2020 Tiffany!! Wonderful post!! ❤
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Ahhh I love that!! I’m so glad that you found so many exciting reads through my post, and you’re going to love them all so much 😍
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Of these I’ve only read On The Come Up but I need to read RW&RB and Evelyn Hugo, I’ve heard a lot about both; would also love to read Loveboat, Taipei and Tweet Cute if I get the chance!
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You’re going to love RWRB and EH so much!! They really surprised me by being such great reads, and Loveboat and Tweet Cute are going to be amazing reads to start off the year 😍
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Ooh I haven’t really read any of these except RW&RB and Loveboat Taipei but almost all of the others are on my TBR 😍
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Yay!! I’m excited for when you get the chance to read them 😍
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Ahh Tiffany, this list brings me so much joy! I love how I see a lot of my favorites on here! Starry Eyes, Spin the Dawn, With the Fire on High, and If I’m Being Honest are all incredible! I really want to get to Loveboat Taipei and Tweet Cute soon! I think those mood boards which you made for the former have propelled my excitement for reading that book even more! Haha.
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Awww yay I’m glad!! This year was really filled with so many amazing books. We were really blessed!! ✨
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