#AMonthofFaves 2019: Popular Books Worth The Hype

All this month, I’m joining Girlxoxo and Traveling with T for their annual #AMonthofFaves blog event – a fun way to recap the year that was. They have a schedule of topics planned out for 14 days and while I don’t plan to have a post for each topic, I do plan on having a post for several of them. To see the entire list, visit #AMonthofFaves 2019 [Blog Event] Announcement. Today’s topic is the first for the month: Popular Books Worth The Hype (And/Or Not Worth The Hype).

For me, popular books worth the hype that I read this year were five:

• The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
• Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
• Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
• Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
• The Library Book by Susan Orlean

None were published this year as I usually am at least a year behind, if not more, in reading popular books. Born To Run and Born A Crime were published in 2016; Hunger was published in 2017; The Library Book and 7 1/2 Deaths were published in 2018. The one I had on my shelf the longest was Born To Run, one I had gotten in a Christmas blogger gift exchange a few years ago. After reading it, I’m wondering why it took me so long to read it.

Each in its own way exceeded my expectations:

• The 7 1/2 Deaths was more than just a mystery. It also was a mixture of science fiction, which I really, really want to like, but usually don’t. As a teen, I loved science fiction, especially Isaac Asimov.
• Born A Crime was not your typical memoir from a comedian. By the end, I was in tears.
• Born To Run wasn’t just about the music, but was about much more than that, including depression. Yes, admittedly, it did help to be a fan, but I was impressed with his writing, which I shouldn’t have been surprised after hearing his songwriting, but still was.
• Hunger: I didn’t think I’d like it based on trying to read one of her other books and not liking it. However, this one was different and her incredible honesty at telling her story won me over.
• The Library Book: Based on what I had read from others about the book, I thought it was going to be more true crime, which I am not a fan of either, but it wasn’t just that and delved into the history of libraries, especially in L.A

How about you? Whether or not you’re participating in A Month of Faves or not, what popular books did you read this year that were worth the hype and/or those that weren’t worth the hype?