New Favorite Authors of 2019 | Ft. Books I’m planning to read in 2020!

When I just started this blog, I didn’t even know that it was possible to read books from so many different authors. My reading mentality back then only allowed me to buy and read books from my favorite authors, or re-read all the books I already owned.

I remember how much I loved going to book shops when I was a teenager, browsing through all the new releases, reading the blurb on the back, and then putting the books down just to go and choose something from the author I was already familiar with. 

Back then I also read a lot of crime series that could have 20-30-50! books in the series and you basically could start reading from any point and still understand everything that was happening. 

I still own dozens of crime series, especially many pocket-size editions. 😀 

My “diverse” reading when it comes to authors started with the discovery of Booktube, and later on with NetGalley. ARCs are a great way to read more debuts and find amazing new authors! 

Today I’m joining Top Ten Tuesday meme – Bookish Discoveries I made in 2019, and sharing with you the list of authors I discovered in 2019 and already bought some more books by them to read this year!

NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS | 2019

My plan was to start with the Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson in 2019, but I chose an easier route and picked up his Reckoners trilogy instead – (1) it’s much shorter and (2) it’s YA sci-fi and therefore looked less intimidating. 

But I already own all books in the Mistborn trilogy and need to read them in 2020 (…just like all the other books on my shelves…)

After seeing how much Emily @ Books with Emily Fox loved the Ancestors trilogy, I knew I had to give it a try as well, but didn’t want to commit to yet another fantasy series without reading something else from this author, just to see if his writing style was a yay or nay for me. 

Luckily, I was approved for two of his ARCs last year – «One Word Kill» and «Limited Wish», the two new books in his Sci-Fi YA trilogy (I’m seeing a pattern here…) that I loved! Now I can’t wait to start «Red Sister» and also highly anticipating his new book «The Girl and the Stars». 

Ruta Sepetys was by far one of the biggest surprised of 2019! Her latest release «The Fountains of Silence» was probably my favorite book of 2019, and I immediately bought her other books – «Between Shades of Gray» and «Salt to the Sea». I already know that I will love them just as much (if not more) and need to finally pick them up! 

«Scythe» was the book I was the most curious about – the premise created by Neal Schusterman is so unique and interesting, of course I ended up absolutely loving it, and will be reading «Thunderhead» and «The Toll» as soon as possible. 

I’m not so sure about Neal Shusterman’s other series though… I feel like the feedback on his other novels is not as good, so I might stick with the Arc of Scythe for now and keep a close eye on his future books. 

Okay… technically, I discovered John Gwynne’s books in 2018 with the ARC of his newest trilogy – «A Time of Dread», and while I loved the new installment I wasn’t swept away by his writing and story-telling until reading the 2nd book – «A Time of Blood» last year!

The third and final book comes out in April, and I will definitely read all other John Gwynne’s books. 

I recently got myself a copy of «The Song of Achilles» by Madeline Miller so I can continue falling in love with her beautiful writing.

«Circe» was the most enticing and charming book I read in 2019 (even though it took me a while to finish it), and I hope Madeline Miller continues writing these epic novels inspired by mythology and history. I always want to classify «Circe» as Historical Fiction… am I the only one to believe that Greek Gods actually existed?

Sally Rooney is the only author on this list that I’m still not sure about. Did I actually like «Normal People»? It was a very difficult book to read because of how raw the lives of main characters were described. Do I really want to subject myself to yet another emotionally “raw” book? I already bought the «Conversations with Friends» so I guess the answer is yes? 😀 

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There were many more new-to-me authors in 2019 whose works I absolutely loved, and added their other books to my TBR. Hopefully, 2020 will be just as great with many exciting bookish discoveries! 

Who was your new favorite author in 2019? Have you read any of these books?
Let me know in the comments below! 

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