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Peg Cheng

Author + Blogger + Teacher

January 6, 2020 By Peg Cheng

Books I Read in 2019 (with my Top 10)

I read 33 books in 2019.

I read less books this year, but enjoyed way more of what I read. I’m getting better at choosing books for myself and I’ve also been getting great recommendations from people who have similar interests.

I’ve listed the books in the order in which I read them. As I did in 2018, I picked the Top 10 Books that I especially enjoyed. These books are in bold and I highly recommend them. But, I have to tell you, it was hard to narrow it down to ten because I enjoyed so many of these books!

  1. Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson & Megan Lloyd *
  2. Make Trouble by John Waters *
  3. Diana, Herself by Martha Beck
  4. Dodging Energy Vampires by Christiane Northrop
  5. How to Write for Animation by Jeffery Scott
  6. It’s Not Your Money by Tosha Silver
  7. Dead is Better by Jo Perry
  8. 3 Word Rebellion by Michelle A. Mazur
  9. Dead is Best by Jo Perry
  10. Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver *
  11. The Warrior Ethos by Steven Pressfield
  12. How to be Everything by Emilie Wapnick
  13. Keep Going by Austin Kleon
  14. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
  15. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
  16. Old Souls by Brian McDonald and Les McClaine
  17. I.M. by Issac Mizrahi
  18. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling *
  19. Snakeskin Shamisen by Naomi Hirahara
  20. Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart
  21. Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson
  22. The INFJ Revolution by Lauren Sapala
  23. Brunhilda’s Backwards Day by Shawna J.C. Tenney
  24. Wee Sister Strange by Holly Grant & K.G. Campbell
  25. SKULLS! by Blair Thornburgh & Scott Campbell
  26. Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey & Júlia Sardà
  27. Arthur’s Halloween by Marc Brown
  28. Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween by Mélanie Watt
  29. Mouse and Mole: A Perfect Halloween by Wong Herbert Yee
  30. How to Make Friends with a Ghost by Rebecca Green
  31. Thirst by Heather “Anish” Anderson
  32. The Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith
  33. Tru & Nelle: A Christmas Tale by G. Neri
  34. Ever Faithful to his Lead by Kathleen Pooler

* = I’ve read this book before

Looking back, if I could only read three books from this list, I’d choose Dodging Energy Vampires by Christiane Northrop, How to be Everything by Emilie Wapnick, and The INFJ Revolution by Lauren Sapala. These books had a profoundly positive effect on me. They’re helping me to live a healthier, more energized life by teaching me how to let go of the people, thoughts, and things that have been draining me and dragging me under. I am so grateful to Christiane, Emilie, and Lauren. I highly recommend all of them and I know I’ll be reading these books again.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out my favorite fiction books for the year. They were the excellent mystery Dead is Best by Jo Perry, the gripping graphic novel Old Souls by Brian McDonald and Les McClaine, and the terrific mystery Snakeskin Shamisen by Naomi Hirahara. I highly recommend them all.

Hope this list gives you good ideas for books to read in 2020. And if you’ve read any of these already, please let me know what you thought of them in the comments box.

Happy New Year and happy reading!

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a novel that asks, can enemies become friends? She is currently writing a book about how to retire as a millionaire even if you make a modest income. Peg is also the creator of Fear & Writing, a workshop for procrastinating writers from all walks of life.

Photo by Annie Spratt.

Filed Under: Reading Recs

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What people are saying…

Lizz Zitron, College Professor

The Contenders is the middle grade novel you’ve been waiting for: diverse characters who are funny and real. Eunice and her friends and family feel so real–they are flawed, kind, complex, a little mean at times, and just wanting to find their place in the world. Highly recommended for every middle school collection.

Jas Hothi, Author + Entrepreneur

I’ve done my fair share of personal finance reading and, well, Rebel Millionaire is probably the single best thing I’ve read. Why? So effortlessly simple and effective. As I’m about to turn 31, this is just the nudge I needed to start saving and investing for my future. Thank you, Peg, and Plaid Frog Press!

Laila Atallah, Career Coach

What I love so much about your writing is how personal it is. It gives me permission to accept and love my own humanity, while also giving really helpful tips and mindset shifts, and next steps too.

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