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December 11, 2019

These are the 11 novels I have most recommended to friends, family, and anyone else who has crossed my path this year (my personal metric for "favorite").

What was your favorite novel of 2019? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook.





All City by Alex DiFrancesco

Alex DiFrancesco's novel All City is a gem of speculative fiction, a book that deftly explores the near future while examining current issues like gender, climate change, and income inequality.





Bunny by Mona Awad

Inventive and wildly entertaining, Mona Awad's Bunny is a stunning novel.





Family of Origin by CJ Hauser

CJ Hauser's novel Family of Origin is hilarious, moving, and astonishingly original.





Lanny by Max Porter

Inventively told in prose and poetry, Max Porter's novel Lanny is a fable for our time.





On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

My favorite novel of the year. Lyrical and heartbreaking, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a book that begs to be read several times to fully appreciate its beauty.





Permission by Saskia Vogel

Saskia Vogel's novel Permission is a nuanced and provocative debut.





Symphony No. 3 by Chris Eaton

Chris Eaton's Symphony No. 3 is one of the year's finest novels, symphonic in structure and spectacular on a sentence level.





The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung

Catherine Chung's novel The Tenth Muse is timely, poignant, and captivating.





The Volunteer by Salvatore Scibona

Salvatore Scibona's brilliant novel The Volunteer is both moving and epic.





We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Maurice Carlos Ruffin's impressive novel We Cast a Shadow is a bold, timely, and important debut.





Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

Steph Cha's novel Your House Will Pay is ambitious and suspenseful, an unforgettable literary thriller.



also at Largehearted Boy:

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2018

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2017

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2016

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2015

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2014

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2013

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2012

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2011

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2010

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2009

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2008

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2007

other lists at Largehearted Boy

Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)

Book Notes (authors create playlists for their book)

Note Books (musicians discuss literature)

guest book reviews

musician/author interviews



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