Best Books of 2019 for AdultsLike this list

38 items

• An American Summer

  Love and Death in Chicago

  Kotlowitz, Alex,

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  Two recommendations! Well written. Empathetically documented. Kotlowitz (There are No Children Here – also recommended) interviewed all manner of folk (victims and their families and friends, perpetrators, teachers, social workers…) about violent…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Animal Beauty

  on the Evolution of Biological Aesthetics

  Nüsslein-Volhard, C. (Christiane),

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  Incredible watercolor illustrations and exploration of how aesthetics function in the animal world. - Dale

• The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

  Waxman, Abbi,

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  Book nerds will feel strong kinship with the engaging, introverted Nina Hill, who loves books, trivia, and staying home. My hero! - Tracy

• The Bride Test

  Hoang, Helen,

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  A steamy and emotional romance featuring a main character who is on the autism spectrum, from the best-selling author of The Kiss Quotient. - Anita

• Bringing Down the Duke

  Dunmore, Evie,

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  Lest you think historical romance is always set in the Regency ballrooms of Mayfair, Dunmore's debut is here to prove you wrong -- set in 1870s Oxford and focusing on the women's suffrage movement, reading this felt like a breath of fresh air. (And…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Catch and Kill

  Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

  Farrow, Ronan, 1987-

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  A stark and compelling view into how powerful figures hid wrongdoings up to and through the #MeToo era. - Megan

• Curious Toys

  Hand, Elizabeth,

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  Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand has the vibe of Devil in the White City, as it blends real events and characters (Riverview Amusement Park, Chicago, ca. 1915, Charlie Chaplin, Henry Darger) with the fictional search for a serial killer of young…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Daisy Jones & the Six

  Reid, Taylor Jenkins,

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  Three recommendations! This is one of those books so clever in its conceit and so assured in its execution that you just spend the time you’re reading marveling at the skill of the author. It’s the story of a fictional ‘70s rock band, told in the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Deep

  Solomon, Rivers,

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  I would strongly recommend this novella to those who are interested in exploring themes of generational trauma and racial justice from a new perspective. The writing is beautiful and thoughtful, at times almost ethereal. - Maia

• Digital Minimalism

  Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

  Newport, Cal,

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  My new hymn book. I was headed in this direction already, but I took much more away from it than, "use optional technology less." It's really about living a more intentional life on a larger scale... in a very digestible way. I knocked a star off…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Elements of Fiction

  Mosley, Walter,

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  This is not a guidebook but a reflection and passing on of hard-learned wisdom. I appreciated his original takes on common themes, straightforward language, and his illustrative examples, which helped me understand those themes more deeply than I…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Evvie Drake Starts Over

  Holmes, Linda (Radio talk show host),

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  Recently widowed, Evvie's small-town Maine neighbors want to help her move on, but Evvie's got a secret. Can her tenant help her live again? Charming! Delightful! Sweet! Utterly appealing! - Tracy

• Flamebringer

  White, Elle Katharine, 1991-

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  White sure knows how to pull on all the heartstrings. This is a great conclusion to the series, and the last fourth of the book was breakneck, heartstopping action. I do recommend reading the series in order, so start with Heartstone! - Maia

• Get a Life, Chloe Brown

  Hibbert, Talia

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  This is a cute romance novel about a relationship between Chloe, who is struggling to maintain her independence in the face of her fibromyalgia, and Red, her neighbor who initially seems to have a grudge against her. This novel manages to touch on…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• How to Be An Antiracist

  Kendi, Ibram X.,

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  An utterly compelling and insightful examination of how racism intersects with culture, history, and self, and how we can all work to create a more just and equitable society. - Megan

• The Huntress

  Quinn, Kate,

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  The market for WWII fiction is veeeery crowded, but this one is still worth reading; it's set post-war, following a group of intrepid Nazi hunters as they search for the former mistress of an SS officer -- known to them only as The Huntress -- who…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Like to Watch

  Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution

  Nussbaum, Emily, 1966-

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  Even if you're not already familiar with Nussbaum's work as a critic for The New Yorker, ​you'll be able to enjoy her deep-dive into television history and popular culture. - Megan

• In the Dream House

  a Memoir

  Machado, Carmen Maria,

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  This is a recently released memoir from Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties. The memoir centers around Machado’s relationship with an emotionally abusive woman, whom she often visited in a house she calls “The Dream House.”…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Kid Gloves

  Nine Months of Careful Chaos

  Knisley, Lucy

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  This graphic novel memoir chronicles ~2 years of the author's journey to becoming pregnant, pregnancy, harrowing childbirth, and new motherhood. Lots of interesting/frustrating/scary medical info incorporated in a really accessible way. Might be too…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• LaGuardia

  Okorafor, Nnedi,

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  This is an allegory about fear and prejudice, but it is not a hopeless story. It is full of love and life and growth. I highly recommend this to fans of futuristic scifi, afrofuturism, and those interested in a new way to explore issues of…Read moreRead more of this annotation