2016 has been both a good and bad year for reading. There are many things that happened for me this year, including the fact that I got back into bookstagram and started a blog, which I am forever grateful for! However, there are not many books that have particularly stuck out, and not many that I have even read in the first place. I think I ended up reading 49 or 50 books because I lost count near the end of December.
This top 10 was hard for me to choose, not because of the profusion of books that I thought deserved a spot on the list, but because of the absence of extremely good books that stuck out to me. I did, however, end up with a list of 10 books that were particularly amazing, and I think the deciding factor for me was that each one of these books had made me shed a tear. Some because of the beautiful writing, some because of the amazing characters, or some because of the world and story that so beautifully stuck out to me. Lets get started!
1.A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Mass
A Court of Mist and Fury takes the cake and leads the chart because (!!!) it’s just absolutely. spectacularly. amazing. I mean, have you read this book? (If you haven’t – do yourself a favor and read it now!!) The relationship between the inner circle is so dynamic and lovely to see unfold, including the ever-growing and changing relationship between Rhysand (!!!) and Feyre. The story building and immaculate world building in this book shows so much change from the first book in the series, accompanied by the brilliant and beautiful writing making for an amazing read. The last eighth of the book had me crying the whole way through.
2. I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN by Jandy Nelson
Another book that really stuck out to me this year was I’ll Give You The Sun. I fell in love with Nelson’s writing as soon as I read the first few pages. It creates such a vivid but imaginative feeling that I absolutely love. The story was also amazingly written, with the changing time periods and characters, I just could not put it down. Nearing the end of the book when the loose ends were being tied up and the climax was really hitting I literally could not stop crying, it was just that amazing.
3. LADY MIDNIGHT by Cassandra Clare
Of course this book had to make it onto my top ten list. It’s Lady freaking Midnight we’re talking about here. I loved loved loved this book, and I have a review for it written here. Check it out if you want to know more about why I am in love with this book!
4. THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han
This book (or series-I binged them all at the same time) was excellent. The characters and relationships between them were beautifully written, and the entire “vibe” of the book was so fun and summer-y, that it was a perfect kind of contemporary read! These books honestly had me crying weeping towards the end.
5. WHEN WE COLLIDED by Emery Lord
Ok, this book is absolutely beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time. Vivian is so… Vivian and wonderful to read about. I love how the entire family works together with the help of Vivian and a few others. Everything tied together extremely well, that it would seem a little bow on top would be necessary.
6. HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Mass
THIS BOOK. This Book!! Ok, done fangirling now. I picked up this series again this year, and got through Queen of Shadows before the year ended. However, Heir of Fire was really the one that stuck out to me! It was so, so, so, so good and the relationship between Rowan and Aelin was beautiful and watching it grow was one of my favorite parts of the book.
7. THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING by Morgan Matson
Morgan Matson is one of my favorite contemporary authors, so there’s no surprise that her 2016 release, The Unexpected Everything made it onto my list. This book was everything I could have asked for in a contemporary. It was funny and lighthearted while still touching on harder topics. The only reason this book is lower on my list than expected is because I feel like some aspects of the book were unattainable and unrealistic, which really takes away from the feeling of relatable contemporary book.
8. THE TELLING by Alexandra Sirowy
I recently read this book because I felt like I was reading too many books based on bookstagram recommendations or books and new releases that I felt pressured that I HAD to read. I decided to scope out barnes and nobles and pick out a book based on something that I would personally love. I decided on The Telling, a murder mystery supernatural-esque book. It definitely lived up to its expectations and I fell in love with the story immediately.
9. THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Stiefvater
Coming in at 9 on my list is The Dream Thieves. With all the hype around this series coming to an end, I decided to pick up the second book in the series – The Dream Theives. This book made me fall in love with the world all over again, cabeswater, blue, gansey (!!!), and everything else that makes this world perfect!
10. ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes
Finally coming in at number 10 on my list is Me Before You. This book was beautifully written, and of course the story and characters were to die for. This book was actually my first new adult book, and I absolutely loved it! However, the only thing I didn’t like about the book was that it was so, so, so, so sad. I’m more of a sucker for happy couples and fairytale endings.
my life with books 