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The Best Nonfiction Books to Read in 2019

Ready to escape reality with a true story?

best nonfiction books 2019
Dey Street Books + Skyhorse + Gallery Books

There's something about reading a book based on a true story that's so much more exciting — whether it's a memoir, a biography, or the history of Hollywood's iconic Chateau Monmart (because yes, that book is on this list!). Here are a few picks to get you started in 2019.

Pegasus Books
1 of 20
'Queen of the World: Elizabeth II: Sovereign and Stateswoman'
Robert Hardman
$35.00
$19.24 (45% off)

Release date: Out now!

Fascinated by Queen Elizabeth and desperately want to know more about her? Same. Good thing this book has us covered when it comes to the longest reigning British monarch.

Scribner
2 of 20
'Hollywood's Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A.'
Lili Anolik
$26.00
$16.59 (36% off)

Release date: Out now!

It's the Eve Babitz story you've been looking for — a true page-turner about an icon of Los Angeles' 1960s art scene that'll satisfy  your thirst for glitz, glam, and drama

Penguin Press
3 of 20
'The Truths We Hold: An American Journey'
Kamala Harris
$30.00
$21.49 (28% off)

Release date: Out now! 

Senator Kamala Harris' memoir is incredible, tracing her journey from childhood to becoming a prosecutor and fostering her passion for justice. No matter where you fall politically, there's no denying that Kamala's story is worth the read.  

Gallery Books
4 of 20
'Code Name: Lise: The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy'
Larry Loftis
$27.00
$14.49 (46% off)

Release date: Out now!

Meet Odette Sansom, a British WWII spy in occupied France who fell for her commanding officer. After completing their mission, they were captured and sent to a concentration camp — yet their love endured. Their story will too, thanks to this book.

Dey Street Books
5 of 20
'We're Going to Need More Wine'
Gabrielle Union
$16.99
$13.58 (20% off)

Release date: Out now!

This isn't just a regular memoir — this is a collection of super powerful essays about everything from fame to feminism. As anyone who's read her work before knows, Gabrielle Union's writing is funny, emotional, witty, and deeply thought-provoking. 

Hachette
6 of 20
Dressing on the Side (and Other Diet Myths Debunked)
Jaclyn London
$26.00
$11.99 (54% off)

Release date: Out now!

Real-world, practical tips on how how to eat well, fuel yourself, and not get sucked into trendy, unproven food fads. This book, written by the Nutrition Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, is funny, wise, and motivating — and will never make you feel bad.

Penguin Books
7 of 20
'Feel Free: Essays'
Zadie Smith
$18.00
$12.19 (32% off)

Release date: Out now!

Even if literary journalism isn't usually your thing, Zadie Smith is an absolute genius and poring over her writing is a dream. So yes, you should 100% add her new book of essays to your 2019 reading list.

Amazon Publishing
8 of 20
'Challenge Accepted!: 253 Steps to Becoming an Anti-It Girl'
Celeste Barber
$24.95
$14.95 (40% off)

Release date: Out now!

Do you follow comedian Celeste Barber on Instagram? If you don't, stop everything and remedy the situation. In case the celeb blurbs didn't tip you off, Celeste is hysterical and this memoir/advice book will definitely make you laugh

Amazon
9 of 20
'Joy Enough: A Memoir'
Sarah McColl amazon.com
$21.95
$13.41 (39% off)

Release date: Out now!

As her mom is dying of cancer and her own marriage is failing, author Sarah McColl moves in with her mom to hold onto their memories together and revisit her mom's zany, beautiful life. Just a reminder: Call your mom.

Amazon
10 of 20
'Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder'
Reshma Saujani amazon.com
$25.00
$18.37 (27% off)

Release date: Out now!

Consider this new book from Reshma Saujani, author of Girls Who Code, your newest dose of girl power. You'll want to devour this inspiring memoir about giving up the pursuit of perfection, then give it to your daughter, your nieces, girls you see on the subway — you get the idea.

Little, Brown and Company
11 of 20
'The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America'
Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman
$28.00
$19.39 (31% off)

Release date: Out now! 

The Good Immigrant gives 26 immigrant writers a platform to speak about their personal experience. It's a timely and important read, filled with gorgeous writing. 

St. Martin's Essentials
12 of 20
'Crystals: A Guide to Using the Crystal Compass for Energy, Healing, and Reclaiming Your Power'
Aisha Amarfio
$9.99

Release date: Out now! 

Fact: Crystals are extremely trendy right now. But they're more than just pretty decorations for your windowsill, and the time has come to learn more about the sparkly rocks in your collection.

Seal Press
13 of 20
'Louisa on the Front Lines: Louisa May Alcott in the Civil War'
Samantha Seiple
$27.00
$17.99 (33% off)

Release date: Out now! 

If you're obsessed with Little Women, you're going to love this book about the author, Louisa May Alcott, and her time as a Civil War nurse. Turns out, it had a huge influence on her most famous novel. 

Hanover Square Press
14 of 20
'The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick'
Mallory O'Meara
$26.99
$8.10 (70% off)

Release date: Out now! 

Milicent Patrick was one of the few early female Disney animators. But even more amazingly, she created the Creature from the Black Lagoon — only to have her legacy lost thanks to a male colleague stealing the credit for it. Until now, that is.  

Skyhorse
15 of 20
'Becoming Boston Strong: One Woman's Race to Run and Conquer the World's Greatest Marathon'
Amy Roe
$22.99
$12.48 (46% off)

Release date: Out now!

An inspiring story of author Amy Roe's journey from a non-runner to qualifier and runner of the Boston Marathon. Let's just say it'll motivate you to lace up your sneaks. 

Amazon
16 of 20
'Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir'
Ruth Reichl amazon.com
$27.00
$16.99 (37% off)

Release date: Out now!

This delicious memoir from Ruth Reichl, one of America's best-known food critics and the former editor-in-chief of Gourmet, is a peek into the glamorous, high-stakes world of magazine publishing. Bonus: It includes recipes, so you can cook up a little something of your own. 

Doubleday
17 of 20
'The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont'
Shawn Levy
$28.95
$21.31 (26% off)

Release date: Out now!

If the Chateau Marmont's walls could talk, they'd certainly have a lot to say. This book is as close as we're going to get to learning the iconic hotel's celebrity secrets. A must-read for lovers of Old Hollywood drama. 

Catapult
18 of 20
'Rough Magic: Riding the World's Loneliest Horse Race'
Lara Prior-Palmer amazon.com
$25.00
$17.88 (28% off)

Release date: out now!

First-time author Prior-Palmer transforms from hopeless 19-year-old underdog into surprising champion of the grueling 2013 Mongol Derby in this heart-thumping account of her attempt to win a 1,000-kilometer horse race across the Mongolian countryside. Prior-Palmer, an English woman who had been working as an au pair in Austria, decided to enter the 10-day contest on a lark, unprepared for the competition that reveals itself to be as much an existential journey as it is a sports event. If you're looking for a shot of inspiration, this is it. 

St. Martin's Press
19 of 20
'Naturally Tan: A Memoir'
Tan France
$27.99
$11.29 (60% off)

Release date: May 14, 2019

Love Netflix's Queer Eye? Obsessed with its stylist Tan France? Want to know more about his fascinating background growing up in England and then finding the love of his life? Buy! This! Book! 

Forge Books
20 of 20
'Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide'
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
$24.99
$17.90 (28% off)

Release date: May 28, 2019

If you're just as obsessed with the My Favorite Murder podcast as the rest of America, you're going to want to read the joint memoir from its hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark — which happens to have the best title ever

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