13 women share the one book they couldn't put down in 2019.

Nothing beats a good book recommendation.

Be it fiction or non, books have the ability to transform you to a whole new place, making them perfect for a brief relief from real life.

But they can also be hard to choose from.

That’s why we spoke to 13 women who shared with us the best book they read this year. Here’s what they had to say.

Boys Swallows Universe

Why you should read it: "I used to be an avid reader and would read anything but now, I refuse to give just anything my time. Boy Swallows Universe literally blew my mind. It's smart, creative and really brings the world of make believe and reality to life in a way that makes you feel. I have already recommended it to everyone I know and gifted my copy for someone else to enjoy."

Billion Dollar Whale

Why you should read it: "This book needs to be read to be believed. Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday boat was THIS GUY's boat, bought thanks to stolen money from the Malaysian government. The journalists who have followed the story have done an incredible investigative job, telling the story from all angles, and the investigation is still unfolding as we speak. It makes you question governments, financial institutions and the entire entertainment industry (WTF Miranda Kerr.) I read it in two days!"

The Lost Man

Why you should read it: "Jane Harper's books are always great. She has a way of capturing rural Australia that makes you feel like you are there in the bush with her. I've adored all of Harper's three novels. But The Lost Man is by far my favourite. It's a fantastic book. And one I consumed in a day."

The Silent Patient

Why you should read it: "It's a really suspenseful, thriller with a killer twist. I devoured it in one sitting."

Small Acts of Disappearance

Why you should read it: "Warning: this book comes with a massive trigger warning around disordered eating, but Wright's writing is so sensitive, visceral and illuminating, while being captivating and really easy to read. Small Acts of Disappearance is partly about Wright's personal struggle with her eating disorder, but it also explores her relationship with hunger and control in all forms. You can probably get through the book in a night, and that's partly because you literally won't be able to put it down."M

Man's Search for Meaning

Why you should read it: "This book is constantly at the top of 'must read books before you die' lists and after years of having the book sit on my bookshelf I finally got to it, and now I'm questioning why I didn't read it sooner. Even if you're not a self-help book person, this is worth a read. Dr Frankl recounts his personal experience of being a Jewish prisoner in multiple Nazi concentration camps while weaving in his own studies in human psychology and resilience. Also his determination and optimism is infectious. Very few books have the power to change the way you think about how you want to go through life, and this is one of them."

The Break

Why you should read it: "This is on many 'best books' lists, but it's too good not to share again. I love everything by Marian Keyes, but something about The Break has just stuck with me. It follows a woman whose husband has told her he wants a six month break from their marriage. Not a divorce. Just a break. They share children, making his decision even more heart-wrenching. The characterisation of the protagonist is brilliant, and although it was a long read, I never wanted it to end - a rare feeling."

Becoming

Why you should read it: "This is Michelle Obama's autobiography and it absolutely lives up to the hype. It will make you audibly laugh and sob before you even get halfway through. It's so personal and so inspiring - a must read!"

The Goldfinch

Why you should read it: "It took me six years to finish The Goldfinch. And that's not because it's an almost 800-page epic spanning multiple decades. It's because I was afraid of commitment. Once I finally sat down and sunk in, I read it in two weeks. Night after night I found myself lost in Donna Tartt's lush prose. She paints a beautiful portrait of loss, isolation and forgiveness that had me weeping with its poignancy. I wish I could check in on the characters now, they're that hard to let go. And with the movie coming out in mere weeks, it's the perfect time to take on this masterpiece."

The Pisces

Why you should read it: "I'll admit I was judging a book by its cover when I bought The Pisces by Melissa Broder. The art was so gorgeous, I had to give it a go. But when I delved in, I found it to be one of the most original books I've ever read. Lucy is living in Venice Beach when she falls in love with a merman and has a sexual awakening at 38. It sounds bizarre and it completely is - though mythical creatures aside, Lucy's journey from distraught, depressed millennial to a woman in touch with her passion for life gave me a serious dose of realism."

Eat, Drink, Run

Why you should read it: "I am huge fan of Bryony Gordon's columns and books as she's always so funny, honest and endearing. Eat, Drink Run is a hilarious and inspirational memoir about how Bryony ran a marathon despite not being a runner, how she overcame many obstacles - including battling with her mental health - and still managed to spend quite a lot of time in the pub! It made me laugh and cry - and kind of made me want to go for a run."

Educated

Why you should read it: "I loved Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover. She's an American woman who grew up in a very religious Morman family who were prepping for the End of Days. Her father doesn't trust the Government so they avoid things like school and hospitals. I've always loved books/shows about extreme religions, lifestyles and cults so this appealed to me from the start. Think Big Love meets Alaskan Bush People meets Waco. It's written as a series of short stories about chapters in her life so it's really easy to read in short bursts - great for travel and commuting. Her life couldn't be more different from mine so it's an excellent escape from the day to day."

The Word is Murder

Why you should read it: "The Word is Murder is a unique and clever thriller. Written in the first person, it stars a fictional version of the author himself as the Sherlock Holmes, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Far from your average detective novel."

Do you have any books you've absolutely loved this year? Let us know in the comments section below! 

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