Well, 2016. That was a…year. But one in which I managed to read quite a few good books for the first time. (I think I read or re-read over 150 books again this year). I even took pics of a few. This year I think I read more contemporary romance, less historical romance and probably more non fiction in the form of art books but I don’t always remember to track my non fiction. Still listening to audiobooks though they largely continue to be re-listens (aka books I’ve read).
So in keeping with my tradition for the last cough-splutter-something years, here’s a list of some of my faves.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (well, really the whole series which I glommed in about four days). Great YA urban fantasy.
Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire. This is a lovely novella about what happens to the children who get sucked into fantasy adventures/worlds when they come back. Many feels. There’s another in this series coming in 2017 so hurray! PS Seanan’s Toby Daye UF series is another fave.
On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. Not sure how I hadn’t read this already but great Australian YA.
Kings Rising by CS Pacat – a great finish to her Captive Prince trilogy.
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold. If you read this blog, it’s not news that I love Bujold and the Vorkosigan series. This latest installment was surprising and charming. The audio version is probably my fave audiobook of the year. I also really enjoyed her two Penric novellas set in her Five Gods world.
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson continues to be one of my fave UF heroines.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maass. Gotta love book 2 in a series that takes things in an unexpected direction. Looking forward to the next one.
The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston – UF that is kind of bonkers but also kind of cracktastic.
Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen – Loving this new series by Sarina who is one of my fave contemporary romance writers. All three True North books have been great.
I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes – If I’m not reading SFF or romance, I tend to read crime of some form. Though I have a feeling I’ve read less this year than last maybe. This was a really good thriller.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Really good YA SF in a epistolary/found record/graphic novel meets novel format that was both very good and kind of mind breaking from a ‘how the heck did they plan/plot/design this’ viewpoint.
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn – I’ve been a Raybourn fan since Silent in the Grave. Her particular brand of historical mystery with wit and a dash of romance is just fab.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Late to the Moriarty party but read a few while I was spending a week in bed post ankle surgery and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews – Remains my fave UF series. Also really like their Innkeeper series.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – I really like SF of the space opera variety and this is a fun, warm and thoroughly enjoyable one. Need to read Book 2.
Managed by Kristen Callihan – Another author I glommed this year. Her Game On series is also awesome but I think that Managed, which is book 2 of her VIP series is my fave so far.
The Trespasser by Tana French – another great instalment in her Dublin Murder Squad series.
Festive Deception by D.B. Tait – really enjoying this Aussie set crime series and this Christmas novella has bonus cool older ex spy lady.
Beard Science by Penny Reid – this series is just fun. Never thought I’d enjoy a bearded romance hero named Cletus but I did.
Dirty by Kylie Scott – which kicked off her new Dive Bar series and didn’t disappoint.
So there you have it. There were plenty of other great books I read this year but twenty is a long enough list to be going on with. Sometime next month when I get back into the swing of this blogging thing I’ll do a books I’m looking forward to in the first bit of 2017 to kick us into another year of good reading.
If you’d like to check out what I picked as faves in previous years, here’s the lists:
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.
Maybe you’ll find a new fave for yourself somewhere in there. If not, tell me one of your favorites you’ve read this year and I can add it to the never ending TBR list.