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We asked the bibliophiles of the Buzzfeed Community to tell us about the best books of 2019 so far. Here are their literary recommendations!
1. Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias In A World Designed For Men by Caroline Criado Perez explores the many ways in which the world is designed against women.
"This is an extremely important book to read and, no, it is not just for women. If you care about your mother, sister, wife, girlfriend or daughter, you will pick this up and be rightly outraged."
2. Red, White, and Royal Blue follows the love story between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the American president, and Henry, the Prince of Wales.
"Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston."
3. If you loved Frankenstein, try Monsters by Sharon Dogar. The novel follows the complicated relationship between Mary Shelley (the author of Frankenstein and the mother of science fiction) as she navigates her relationships with her lover, Percy Shelley, and her step-sister Jane.
"As a Mary Shelley fan, I loved learning about her, her family, and the journeys she went on. I'm also always happy to find a book that explores polyamorous relationships (especially real-life historical ones!) as something that's a big and sometimes complicated part of your life."
4. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo has been described as The Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones.
5. Popular comedian Sara Pascoe explores hot topics such as the stigmatization of sex workers and the politics of splitting the bill in her second bestselling book, Sex Power Money.
"Sara Pascoe’s Sex Power Money is a perfect mix of funny and interesting. It really made me think about things like gender, dating, and sex with a slightly different spin and caused some fab conversations with friends!"
6. Daisy Jones and The Six is a tantalizing page-turner perfect for fans of films like Almost Famous or A Star Is Born.
"I loved Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid! It's told through an interview with a band (Daisy Jones and The Six) as they look back on their time together in the late '60s and '70s. It's probably not for everyone and I know the hype has been huge, but I loved it so much I've already read it twice. "
7. Set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys follows two star-crossed lovers in Madrid.
8. The latest edition in the popular alternative history series Noughts and Crosses, Malorie Blackman's Crossfire will keep you on your toes.
"It's an amazing sequel to the Noughts and Crosses series and up to date with today’s generation. Each book tackles an issue she feels passionately in, and something that is relevant in today’s culture. In Crossfire, she tackles race relations, politics, and divisions in society."
9. The Flatshare is a Sunday Times bestseller about two roommates who have never met eachother-despite sleeping in the same bed. It's a fun light read, perfect for rom-com enthusiasts.
"The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary is such a fab read."
10. Simon Thomas's heartbreaking memoir, Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief One Day At A Time, follows Thomas navigating life after unspeakable tragedy.
"An absolutely incredible and moving story. I’m not usually a person who reads this kind of book, but I read the whole thing in two days. I’m also not one for crying over books but this one brought me to tears on many occasions. It puts so much into perspective - especially telling people that you love them at every opportunity - because life can be taken away too quickly."
11. You won't be able to go to sleep after reading Ruth Ware's psychological thriller, The Turn of The Key.
"Turn Of The Key by Ruth Ware. It was full of suspense with really believable characters – I didn’t want to finish it!"
12. The Unnamed by Holly Campbell is a supernatural mystery with compelling characters.
"Good for anyone after a dark and twisted tale with sweet characters."
Price: £10.00 paperback.
13. Capturing the Devil is a fictional account of an aspiring forensic pathologist, Audrey Rose, and her attempts to capture the White City Devil (an unfortunately non-fictional serial killer) at the 1893 World Fair.
"One of my favourites from this year was Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco. The fourth and final book in her stunning Stalking Jack the Ripper series. An alternate historical fiction full of adventure, romance, and swoon-worthy love interest."
14. Top Marks For Murder by Robin Stevens is the eigth installment in the popular childrens series, A Murder Most Unladylike, and critics are saying it's the best mystery yet.
"Not only is it a good mystery, it's big on female empowerment! Definitely recommend!"
15. Finally, The Testaments, the hotly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, soared above everybody's very high expectations.
"I feel like I have waited years for this sequel, even before I knew it would exist I was waiting for it to be written. It’s a masterpiece. "
"Rare occasion where a sequel actually lives up to (if not outdoes) the original. Particularly poignant read in light of everything happening in the States around climate change and abortion laws this year."
Me, after buying all these books.
Note: submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
