My Top 8 Books of Last Year

So as you may have read from my 2020 goals blog post, last year I had a goal of reading 45 books....which although didn't happen, I did hit 21 and thought out of those 21 I wanted to share with you a couple of my top books I read. I was going to do 5....and then turns out there were so many I enjoyed I had to do minimum 8. 

1. Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

I think this book kicked up an absolute storm with readers everywhere. The #1 International Bestseller & New York Times Bestseller, this book tells the harrowing story of a young jewish man whose job it is to tattoo arrivals in Auschwitz. It's a beautifully written story of him falling in love with a woman and their heartbreaking journey. This is a book I urge everyone to read. 

2. Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce 

This book follows a young girl who during the blitz in London finds herself taking a job as an agony aunt for a newspaper. The story is moving and brilliant, with my only complaint being that the book just wasn't long enough. I fell in love with the character Emmy who decides to take the advice column into her own hands after being told by her boss to follow a long list of rules. An extremely charming read! 

3. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult 

I hadn't read a Jodi Picoult book in a long time, and after my flatmate had read it for a book club and said they loved the book I knew I'd enjoy it too. The story follows a nurse who is accused of killing a new born baby whose parents are white supremacists. The book is fraught with tackling so many storylines and themes and I think this book was written brilliantly. 

4. What Would the Spice Girls Do by Lauren Bravo

A bit of a different style, this was a book given to my flatmate who absolutely loved it and said it was one of her favourite books that year, so I too gave it a read and obsessed doesn't even cover it. This book covers not just the spice girls as a revolution to popular culture, but popular culture, girl bands, mass merchandising and the naughties all in one. It was like someone had gone into my millenial 90's baby brain and put all my thoughts down on paper. A definite read not just if you're into spice girls but popular culture/band fandom generally!

5. Educated by Tara Westover 

Tara Westover's memoir Educated is a book that stuck with me this year. Tara's upbringing in a survivalist Mormon family, brings forth a story of a struggle to want education and abandon her life. Her childhood is fraught with dealing with hers and others isolation, abuse and mental illness. It's a tough read but opens your mind to a whole other world and childhood. 

6. Unnatural Causes Richard Shepherd 

We all were obsessed with Adam Kay's This is Going to Hurt but Unnatural Causes to me was absolutely triumphant. A memoir written by Pathologist Richard Shepherd, the book follows some of the most tragic, saddening and disturbing cases he's had to work on. From 911 to serial killers to the Marchioness disaster. As long as you're not squeamish, it's an incredibly fascinating book. 

7. One Day by David Nicholls

Oh god, absolutely loved this book. Talk about a shock moment when 'that' thing happens in the book. Emma and Dexter are best friends. And in love. Or at least they love each other.They are always passing ships in the night, one wants one, whilst the other one doesn't, never at the same time. I became so invested in these two characters, they both were so well written I could imagine them so clearly. I would read this book 10 more times. I only recently found out there was a movie, so once my flatmate finishes it, we will absolutely be watching, because otherwise, major spoiler. 

8. Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

What I thought started out as a chic-lit turned out to completely turn me inside out. A romantic novel based on Georgina who bumps into an old college flame who doesn't recognize her. A witty and hilarious novel, Georgina tries to get to grips over Lucas not remembering her, even though he had made a massive impact on her in 6th form. What surprised me was the dark twist where the book took me which I wasn't expecting. It hit a whole new place and gave the characters a whole new dimension to them.

What were some of your top books of 2019?! Book must reads always needed!