My first book was The Murderer's Son by Joy Ellis. I read the audiobook version narrated by Richard Armiatge (so, in fact, he read it to me, lol). I chose it because of a game I was playing at BookLikes. One of the tasks we had to complete was to put five book titles in a dish and draw one out. The one you drew was to be the first book you read in 2019. I really, really enjoyed it!

Oh, that's a fun game to start the year!

...I have no idea what it's about but the choice of narrator intrigues me. :D

That sounds like a good game. (or even an idea for square for our bingo for next year!)

Oooh Richard reading anything is good.

I listened to that at the end of last year. I'm currently listening to Heads You Win.

What a fun game!

I haven't had time to review it but the first book I finished was A Cajun Christmas Killing, a cozy murder mystery set near New Orleans (read for the Popsugar challenge and maybe or may not be used for this one). It was a solid mystery, a new to me series (and I think it was book 3 or 4 in the series). I enjoyed it though I don't think I will go and read the ones before it because it was in this book the amateur sleuth makes peace with the local police and works with them instead of against them (and that is a semi-firm 'no' for me when it comes to amateur sleuths). I would be interested in reading more.

Only since book bingo have i heard of the cozy mystery genre and it turns out I've been reading them all my life and didn't know that's what they were called.

My first book was Becoming by Michelle Obama. I listened to the audiobook, read by her. (I love listening to autobiographies read by the author - it feels like they're telling their story to you directly.) It was really interesting learning about her life and her feelings about being around/in politics. I really miss having the Obamas in the white house.

I used it for the One-Word Title square.

I have this one on my short list for this square, too!

I want to read it, and now I want to listen to it! :D

This is on my 'must read' list. I heard some extracts from the audio book late last year.

I'm in the UK and I miss them too. :(

This is on my To Read pile. I never think about audiobooks but i'd love to hear her read it.

I read The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megal Mulally and Nick Offerman. It was on the library's new book shelf and I like both actors. It was interesting to read their family histories and how much these two enjoy one another's company.

They seem like such a fun couple!

Mine was "In Nomine" by Giacometti and Ravenne (in French). I chose this one because it was one of the books I received for Christmas and it was a very short read. So it was an easy read to get in the rhythm and start the year!

Yeah that's howI started. Something easy and quick to get into it!

My first book this year was Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. It was the book club selection that met this Wednesday, so it had to get read. :D I actually got it last year in April and started it, but I found it very easy to put down, and then I had to back up multiple chapters to remember where I was.

I think it's a fantastic book for what it represents, but I don't think it deserves the hype it got. I'll probably read the next one when I see it on the library shelf but I don't intend to seek it out.

I used it for the Diverse Reads square.

I've been intending to read this book, but it's low on my list right now.

My first book this year was Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. I really enjoyed it and it was a quick read to start the year! Love Neil Gaiman's style and even though this isn't his usual style it was still a really good read. Felt like he was telling the stories in the oral tradition rather than writing them down.

I plan on reading this for the Popsugar challenge this year. He's one of my favorite writers.

My first book was The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde. I do various FutureLearn courses and this was on the reading list for an upcoming course. It's short and enjoyable.

I haven't read that one yet. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm..not exactly sure which book I finished first this year. I've been reading a bunch to the minions and manga reads quick, but my best guess is that the first book book I read this year was The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan. I've seen the movies and heard about the books ages ago so this was a fun read.
I've actually finished the series and overall it was pretty good. I'm starting the second one that's set in the same universe. I'm stoked and hope it'll be good. I love when series crossover and universe's continue on. <3

I enjoyed the Percy Jackson books myself.

My first book of 2019 is The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being, by Alice Roberts, which is a popular science book about evolution. It's interesting, but I do occasionally keep getting a bit lost - I think Roberts occasionally gets so far through a clear description of something, and then suddenly jumps ahead and assumes the reader has knowledge that isn't necessarily obvious, and it feels like she's missed something out of the middle of the explanation. It's a shame because otherwise she's a very good popular science writer.

The main reason why this is my first book of the year is that it was borrowed from a friend, so I want to read it and give it back sooner rather than later.

That looked an interesting book but I skipped it as I was worried she might leave me behind. Seems I was right.

I wish I could say my first book of the year was something fascinating or special, but it was a Harlequin Romance, Business Arrangement Bride , that I bought off the book sale table at a local church's rummage sale. Not that I am dissing romance, because I love the genre, but this one was a typical tropey romance about a businessman who hires a woman to help him with his social skills so he can find a wife, but of course they fall in love instead.

We all have "guilty pleasures" like that ;-) And it's great to start with an easy read!