The Best of 2019 – Em’s List
I’m not going to call my reading year a disappointment. It wasn’t. I liked a lot of books. Unfortunately, many anticipated big releases were disappointing, and I returned to old favorites when I was underwhelmed by my TBR. Some of those titles were just as good as I remembered; quite a few weren’t. Anyway, after this brief diversion, I was inspired me to read a few new-to-me authors, and I’m happily recommending three of them to you. Beth O’Leary, Adriana Herrera and Gregory Ashe, wrote some of my favorite books in 2019, and all make appearances on my Best of 2019 list.
A Beastly Kind of Earl by Mia Vincy
Like almost everyone else in Romancelandia, I loved the Ms. Vincy’s debut, A Wicked Kind of Husband. A marriage of convenience between opposites, it was funny and steamy and wonderful in all the best ways, but a year of disappointments in historical romance had me lowering my expectations for the second Longhope Abbey novel. Isn’t that sad? And in the case of A Beastly Kind of Earl, it was also completely unnecessary. If anything, it’s BETTER than the first book. Once again the author introduces us to two opposites who absolutely belong together and just don’t know it. He’s grumpy and anti-social and damaged; she’s lovely and sweet and mischievous… and ruined. In a delightfully clever twist of fate, they find themselves in a fake marriage. She knows it’s fake; he knows it’s fake. But he knows she doesn’t know he knows. Have I lost you? You better read it for yourself then! The principal characters are a lovely, likeable pair you can’t help but root for; the dialogue is charming and witty (and very funny, too); there’s lots of steamy sexual tension, and the storytelling – from start to finish – is clever and captivating. I loved it. A lot.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long
In this smart, sexy romance, Julie Anne Long capably tackles difficult and tricky subject matter, while charming readers with a sublimely romantic love story. After the death of her husband, Delilah, Countess of Derring, is left at the mercy of his numerous creditors. When a visit to his solicitor’s office goes from bad to worse – they’re interrupted by her husband’s former mistress, Angelique Breedlove – Delilah vows to rise above her circumstances, anyway. She finds herself in the same dockside pub as Ms. Breedlove later that day, and despite her initial animosity, the women agree to go into business together and open a boarding house in the building left to Delilah by her husband. When Captain Tristan Hardy arrives at The Grand Palace on the Thames, Delilah assumes he’s looking for lodgings, but in reality, he’s on the hunt for a notorious smuggler, and if he has to seduce the beautiful widow of the Earl of Derring to get his man (or woman?)…he’s willing to do it. I enjoyed everything about this book.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Dreamers series by Adriana Herrera
It’s hard to pick a favorite in the Dreamers series (they’re all terrific); the series as a whole makes my best of 2019. Dreamers follows four Afro-Latinx best friends who grew up in the South Bronx: food truck owner and chef, Ernesto Vasquez (Nesto), social worker Camilo Santiago Briggs (Milo), professor and activist Patrice Denis, and (still to come) physical therapist, Juan Pablo (Juan Pa) Campos. 
Each novel features a sexy and romantic relationship – and the often rocky road to happily ever after. But what unifies the series – and makes it better than almost everything else I’ve read this year – is Herrera’s thought provoking portrayal of the immigrant experience in America. Nesto, Camilo and Patrice fight for their American Dream – and it’s a difficult, painful journey. The author unflinchingly tackles racism, prejudice, privilege, poverty, abuse, wealth disparity… and that’s just with Nesto, Camilo, Patrice, and Juan Pa! Their love interests bring a host of struggles to the relationships, too. Sexy, funny, thought-provoking, challenging, romantic and uplifting, Dreamers is marvelous on many levels. If I have to pick a favorite, I’d give a slight nod to American Love Story, but only because I think the series improved from book to book.
Buy the series: Amazon
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Everyone who reads my reviews know I have a weak spot for hockey romances. I read a lot of them! But in March, when Heated Rivalry started popping up everywhere on my GoodReads feed, I resisted it. I DNF’d the first book in the series, and was convinced the second book couldn’t be any better. And then Caz gave it a B+ in her review. So I read it. Twice! In this enemies to lovers story, NHL superstar Shane Hollander falls hard for his sworn enemy, cocky and irreverent Ilya Rozanov. Opposites and bitter rivals, Shane and Ilya can’t resist their attraction to each other. After a teenage locker room kiss gives way to a clandestine affair, they spend nearly a decade pretending they’re merely fuck buddies who meet in secret whenever they’re in the same town. We know better! Heated Rivalry time jumps between passionate encounters as both men reluctantly come to realize they can’t live without each other. Sexy, hot, funny and sweet, Heated Rivalry is a game changer in sexy sports romance.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
From the first book to the last, I was hooked on Ms. Ryan’s Hoops series. In Hook Shot, we revisit significant secondary characters introduced in Long Shot: Kenan Ross, a divorced single dad and teammate/friend of Augustus West, and Lotus DuPree, cousin and best friend of Iris (Augustus’s wife). Kenan has wanted Lotus from the moment they first met, but he’s never been able to convince her to give him a chance. When Lotus’s boss asks him to be the spokesperson for his new sportswear brand, Kenan is thrilled. Lotus isn’t. Kenan, to his credit, doesn’t push. But he’s got game – on and off the court – and before long, Lotus is hooked on him, on them, and on love, and so is he. Hook Shot doesn’t pander to its heavy subject matter – sexual assault, suicide, divorce – and this unflinching ode to the power of loving and being loved, is one of my favorite books of the year.
Buy it at: Amazon
The Flatshare, Beth O’Leary
In my October DIK review, I mentioned that The Flatshare wasn’t even on my radar when it came out in May, and that I was surprised the novel isn’t more popular (it gave me all the same feels The Hating Game did). I loved its clever premise – strangers share a flat, but because of their work schedules they’re never in it at the same time – and fall in love over the notes they leave behind for each other. Although the epistolary romance is a delight, once the two finally meet (after a prolonged slow burn), the book hits its stride. The principal characters are lovely and relatable, and their romance is swoony and sexy; their notes and conversations are silly and funny and perfect, there are wonderful, fully developed standout secondary characters – and there’s a villain, too. The Flatshare is a magical blend of delightful, charming, swoony and smart, and it’s absolutely one of those books you can’t wait to tell your friends about. A brilliant début from a talented new contemporary author.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Work for It byTalia Hibbert
Opposites attract in Talia Hibbert’s first foray into queer romance. Olumide Olusegun-Keynes (Olu) is struggling, and hides himself away in his London apartment. Lonely, angry and sad, he plots his escape – picking a small elderflower farm in Fernley as a temporary hiding place. Griffin Everett grew up in Fernley, ostracized for his size (he’s very big) and odd mother. When Work for It begins, he’s the town hermit, hiding himself away when he isn’t managing the local elderflower farm, concocting delicious cordial recipes, and wishing things were different. When Olu and Griffin meet, it’s lust at first sight… until a confused and scared Olu viciously pushes Griffin away. Hibbert slowly – tenderly – forces them to face each other and their fears… and along the way, they fall in love. Juxtaposing love and lust with depression and loneliness, Hibbert masterfully guides her couple to a hard earned happily ever after. Olu and Griffin work hard for it, and we reap the rewards of their efforts in this poignant and moving love story.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Hazard and Somerset: Off Duty (Hazard and Somerset), Gregory Ashe
Friends, I fell in love with Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset in 2019. After Caz kept recommending the series, I finally picked up the first book, Pretty, Pretty Boys, and I never looked back. Or up – until I finished the series. Hazard and Somerset first met as teenagers. Somerset was Wahredua’s golden boy; Hazard its gay whipping boy. When they’re reunited – as partners for the Wahredua police department, Hazard is horrified, and Somerset… well, he’s optimistic? His hopeful outlook doesn’t last long. Over the course of six brilliant novels, the pair solve difficult cases linked to a bigger overarching plot, and slowly (torturously, really) fall for each other. I loved them and this series. Off Duty features three short stories that take place within the time frame of the original series, and a collection of six smile-inducing vignettes of a coupled up Hazard and Somerset post-Criminal Past. It’s the cherry (cherries?) on top of this sublime series. All the best aspects of Mr. Ashe’s writing are shown to great effect – the snark, the tension, the teasing, terrific storytelling – and I just wanted more, more, more. Ashe is, hands down, my favorite author of 2019, and while I also loved his Borealis Investigations 2019 releases, Hazard and Somerset own my heart.
Buy it at: Amazon
Addendum: I just finished the first book in the newest series featuring Hazard and Somerset, The Rational Faculty, and it’s tremendous. My favorite pair are together as a couple, but no longer working together for the Wahredua PD. Their relationship is intense, their challenges are significant, and people are still behaving badly – murderously – in their small town. It will be hard for Mr. Ashe to top this brilliant kick-off to the new series, but I believe in him! And them!
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
I originally intended to review The Affair of the Mysterious Letter when it came out in June, but shortly before it was released, I took a three month sabbatical from reviewing and put the book aside. I ended up listening to the audio version instead, and I’m so glad I did. Nicholas Boulton’s performance is outstanding, and he brings the principal characters and this story to life. Funny and weird, clever and charming, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter is a totally bonkers and completely wonderful homage to Sherlock Holmes with Miss Shaharazad Haas – a pansexual, drug addicted sorceress with questionable morals – as Holmes. Watson is Captain John Wyndham, a gay, transsexual man raised by repressed and religious parents, who’s recently returned after five years fighting a war in another universe. These two pair up after John responds to an ad for a roommate and finds himself living with Shaharazad at 221b Martyrs Walk. When Miss Haas agrees to help a former lover identify the person blackmailing her, Wyndham is drawn into the investigation, too. If it sounds confusing, it is. But it’s also marvelous, and Boulton’s narration is sublime. His characterization of the prim, easily scandalized, darling Wyndham is an absolute revelation. Wonderful and wacky, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter is a five star DIK.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Gilded Cage by K.J. Charles
Gilded Cage picks up months after Any Old Diamonds; Jerry is deeply in love and committed to Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes, and Templeton is frustrated, pissed-off, and resentful. He decides to attempt a heist on his own – ignoring Jerry’s warning that the whole thing is a set-up. By the end of the night, he finds himself on the run, wanted for a double murder. Templeton turns for help to the only person he thinks might be able to find the true killer: detective Susan Lazarus. Susan and Templeton have a complicated history, but once Templeton seeks Susan’s help, it isn’t long before they discover their acrimonious relationship is the result of a Big Misunderstanding. Once the truth is out, a second chance love affair quickly follows. But both Susan and Templeton are struggling to find their place in the world – to break free from the gilded cage their lives have become – and the baggage they carry from their past is challenging to overcome. Meanwhile, they’re trying to find a killer, too. Everything about this story is clever, smart and highly entertaining, and just when you think K.J. Charles can’t get any better, the author proves you wrong. Good stuff.
I enjoyed “The Affair of the Mysterious Letter” and “Gilded Cage.” Several of the other books above sounded interesting to me. I’ll have to see if the more mainstream ones are in the library. I have a couple of the books in the “Dreamers” series. I’ll have to move them up in my TBR pile. :) Nice list!
Em, the intro to your list had me nervous! But I’ve read quite a few of these and thoroughly enjoyed them, yes, loved them; and what I haven’t read is on my tbr, and I’m expecting good things. So absolutely, great list! Yay!
But I just finished Thrown Off The Ice by Taylor Fitzpatrick (thanks to your recent review) and see in the comments there that its 2018 publication date prevents it from appearing in any Top Ten list for this year. Given that so much of my best reading in the first few months of any year comes from these lists, I just had to bring it up here. As Em clearly states in her review, it isn’t going to be for everyone. But what a reading experience it is! And that is from someone who thought the Flatshare was clearly going to be my favorite romance of the year . . .
2019 has shaped up to be a really good reading year for me, and I’m looking forward to combing through all the Top Ten lists for more great stuff I somehow managed to miss during the year!
It’s for this reason that I keep two favorite lists: one for books published and read in the current year and one for books published in prior years but only read in the current year. I’m actually saving THROWN OFF THE ICE for 2020 because I have a feeling it will make my favorites list and right now I don’t want to have to remove something from my Prior Year Favorites right now. Lol
Yeah, I’m not sure I’m that organized, although it’d be a great way to get beyond a list of only 10 titles. So good for you!
Like you, I thoroughly enjoyed Heated Rivalry. Loved the same scene’s in it you’ve remarked on elsewhere. So pretty sure you will be emtionally gobsmacked by Thrown Off the Ice.
We generally keep our “Best of” lists to books published that year, but we’re also working on a list of “favourite books read in 2019 that came out earlier”, so watch this space!
So glad to hear this! Sometimes, it takes a little while for something spectacular to take hold/get reviewer’s attention and/or for us to have time to read/focus on it. Not that we should open the floodgates on stuff that has already had its time in the limelight. But for those few missed gems, it seems only fair for both authors and readers to find a way to highlight them.
Yep! We call those “Best belated reads” and I’m in charge of that column. It’s my favorite column I do and I always look forward to reader responses. Unburying treasures is a great thrill.
For a lot of 2019 I was feeling a little like Em in that the books I most anticipated were fairly mediocre reads for me, including books by my favorite authors. I”m finding that waiting until December is important for favorites lists because as usual a few of. my favorites are releasing wonderful novels right now. And, this for me was a surprising year with so many debut authors producing stellar first books.
I’ve definitely had a better second half of the year. Although there is one big release coming up (that I’m reviewing) and I’m pretty sure I didn’t like it as much as the rest of the entire world. We’ll see.
ooh, intriguing. I think from Goodreads I might know what it is, but I’ll stay tuned.
I included it in the Best, Not Published in 2019. It’s special and deserves some extra kudos.
I LOVE BEST OF LISTS. I GET SO MANY GOOD RECS.
Ugh. You guys at AAR don’t seem to care if my TBR list ever gets any smaller. *Sigh* “Lady Derring Takes a Lover” is now on my list. And I hope you’re happy. (*happy wink*)
I am. Do it.
Herrera’s Dreamers series is so, so amazing. My heart seriously pitter-patters any time I see the author’s name or one of the books mentioned. They’re funny, sexy, smart, and they tell stories that aren’t often told in romance, or anywhere else for that matter. I’m chomping at the bit for the next one (which doesn’t come out until March), but also sad because it’ll be the last in this series. I want more time with these people!
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE LAST BOOK. But then it will be over. And I’ll be sad too. I hope more of our readers find this series. It’s excellent.
All excellent choices, Em!
The Flatshare is one of my top picks for 2019 too, and I rave about this book to everyone I know. Falling in love via post-it notes is handled so well, and the differences in the characters’ writing styles reveal so much about their unique personalities. I hope The Flatshare continues to gather fans, and I greatly anticipate O’Leary’s next book in the spring.
Both Mia Vincy’s A Beastly Kind of Earl and Julie Anne Long’s first book in her new Palace of Rogue series are among my favorites of the year. I think I might actually like the female friendship in Lady Derring Takes a Lover as much if not more than the romance, as it’s refreshing to see two women ditch their rivalry over a man and choose friendship instead.
Alexis Hall’s The Affair of the Mysterious Letter has been on my tbr list for a while. I was pretty much sold on reading this book anyway because it’s another Sherlock Holmes interpretation, but word of mouth and great reviews have convinced me it’s a must-read.
I haven’t yet read any of the others, but they sound great.
As usual Blackjack, you beat me to the punch on both The Flatshare and Lady Derring Takes A Lover. Well said!
I think if you can listen to the Hall it 100% enhances the ‘experience’ that is this book – but if you don’t like that format, oh well! It’s crazy and wonderful and wacky. I giggled in my car listening to it. I’m sure I missed a lot of the clever details tucked away by Hall. I think it might be one of my favorite audio books ever though.
I had a good sense that we had similar favorites this year based on our GR feeds!
I’m a visual reader and so I’ll be reading Alexis Hall’s book rather than listening to it. It will be my first read of his fictional writings, but I have read non-fiction from him and find his prose to be quite elegant and sophisticated. I’m already imagining that I’ll be reading The Affair of the Mysterious Letter somewhere quiet where I can focus carefully. I’m happy to see this book on someone’s final list of best books.
I would also recommend Hall’s FOR REAL, a beautifully written m/m bdsm romance with an age gap where, surprisingly, the much younger man is the dom and the older man the sub. Very emotional. It was one of my favorite reads of last year, but I think it was published at least a year before that.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I second this recommendation! Pansies is still my favorite though!
I’ve read “Glitterland” and “Waiting for the Flood.” A friend on the Goodreads Backlot Gay Book Forum, Jax, especially recommended the audio version of “Glitterland.” I’m much more of a visual person than auditory, but I listened to a bit of the audio. It sounded like the narrator did a good job with that one. I found the e-book quite entertaining anyway. Alexis Hall said he drew on his “inner pretentious git” for inspiration for the character Ash Winters.
I loved, loved, loved HEATED RIVALRY, my absolute favorite book of the year—unless I read something amazing by December 31. I’ve reread it multiple times since my first read and each time I notice something new and subtle about the way Reid handles the storyline and the time shifts—for example, Ilya’s increasing proficiency in English. He starts out with a very basic English vocabulary; gradually over the course of ten years, his English becomes more sophisticated and allows him to express complex thoughts in his non-native language (and there’s a lovely scene where Ilya is in Russia for his father’s funeral, talking to Shane on the phone and struggling with how to express himself and Shane tells him just go ahead and speak in Russian—which Shane doesn’t speak, but he knows Ilya has to get things out in his native language). I also liked the Reid’s first book, GAME CHANGER, more than you did—although I think it’s less a romance (although there is one) and more one man’s journey to self-acceptance and coming out.
It was so good, on so many levels! Funny. Sexy. Tender. Sad. Sweet. And just awesome. I loved it, too!
I did go back to Game Changer and I liked it bettter…but not as much as this one. (I’ve also read the newest in the series & I’m curious how our reviewer will grade it.)