(I don't have any good book pictures - so instead here is one of Tokyo which was my favourite trip of 2016!)
Favourite Books of 2016!
I didn't get nearly as much reading done this year as I had hoped. If any of you follow me on Goodreads, you’ll see I only managed 76 out of my 150 reading goal. Maybe I can push this number to 80 before the year is over, but I can honestly say I really enjoyed most of the books I picked up. However, these books below —in no particular order—were my favourites!
Red Winter by Annette Maria
Set in Japan, this book read very much like a manga. Forbidden love, innocent girl and handsome demons, dry humour and plenty of action. The next book is released in early January and I cant wait.
The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis
Without doubt the most delicious read of the year! With a spunky heroine, plenty of humour and mouth-watering descriptions of chocolate I devoured this book within half a day!
Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard
Probably the first time a contemporary story has made my list! But I loved the links of friends in this book, and the writing was so relatable to my inner teen. Sara Barnard is an author who captures EXACTLY what its like to be a teenager.
The School for Good and Evil
Magic, humour and a whole new spin on happily ever afters - the characters in this book are simply fabulous!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
For this one I have no words… just please give me the next book asap!
The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison
I adored this book - Talking cats, crazy killers and an ancient curse! This story is perfect for fans of InkHeart or anyone who likes seeing characters brought to life.
A World of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
This book was pure magic. Weaving a compelling story about the Bronte Children, this story is a really beautiful piece of writing!
The Otherlife by Julia Gray
Borderline contemporary - Borderline magical, this was a really strange read that I found myself swept up in. Norse Gods, a potential murder… and boys stuck studying for their exams, it is a book that you will remember for a long time.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
This book was breathtaking and shared a huge piece of history that I knew nothing about. With a cast of realistic characters, each with their own heartbreaking tale, this was one of the most heart-wrenching books I read this year.
And that’s it! I also just realised that most of these books were new authors for me too— yay to me for branching out! Now tell me, what were your best reads this year?
:)
Amazing list, glad you enjoyed these books! I haven't read any of them *sigh* but I hope to soon :) Have a lovely Christmas and New Year!
ReplyDeleteBack at you - hope you get plenty of books and lots of time to read them!
DeleteACOMAF is the only one on your list that I've read (a couple of others are on my TBR list), and I TOTALLY agree!! God, I loved that book. <3
ReplyDeleteACOMAF was addictive - I can't wait for the next book in May. I'm sure it will be explosive!
DeleteI really enjoyed ACOMAF too! Very much looking forward to the next book. I've not read The Otherlife, but it sounds very intriguing from your description! Good luck with your reading goal :).
ReplyDeleteThe Otherlife was one of my favourite reads this year - and one I felt didn't get nearly enough attention. The writing is just very unique and it walks such a perfect line between magic and reality. Its beautiful!
DeleteSalt to the Sea was SO GOOD! I just want to scream at everyone in the world to go read this book because it was just that amazing. ACOMAF was wonderful as well... if you can call a book like that wonderful. I'm really excited for ACOWAR, but at the same time it's like, oh no, everything's going to go wrong, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteSalt to the Sea broke my heart - such an emotional read. And yes I'm really exited for ACOWAR but I think you're right, all hell is about to break loose!
Delete76 books?? Me and my 38 books I read this year feel very intimidated. I actually tried reading the Court of Mist and Fury books but I just never seem to enjoy Sarah J Maas' writing style. Glad you liked it though! Salt to the Sea has been on my TBR list for the longest time!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, no need to be intimated. What that really translates too is that apparently I have too much free time... or I'm reading when I should be doing a million other things... Like trying to write a book of my own lol. But I hope you enjoy Salt to the Sea, its a really epic read that you won't soon forget!
DeleteI absolutely loved Salt to the Sea and ACOMAF so I am so glad to see them on your list. :) Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous choices! <3
ReplyDeleteThanks Zoe - glad you enjoyed these books too! I can't wait to see what next year will bring!
DeleteGreat list! ACOMAF is definitely on my favorites of 2016 list as well. And most of the others are still on my TBR, like Beautiful Broken Things, The School For Good And Evil and Salt To The Sea. And thanks to your review I just added Red Winter to my TBR as well :)
ReplyDeleteahh, sorry for making your TBR pile even bigger... but Red winter is such a great read! But all these books were fabulous - hope you get to them next year!
DeleteI love seeing A Court of Mist and Fury on your favorites list! I haven't posted my favorites yet but ACOMAF will surely be near the top of the list. And I agree... we need ACOWAR now. May seems so far away!
ReplyDeleteTanya @ Girl Plus Books
Hopefully May will roll around quickly - but at least there are lost of amazing new releases coming out between them. It'll also give me some time to catch up on my backlist...
DeleteThe only one of these I've read is The School for Good and Evil and I really liked it too! I read the second book, but I still need to read the third one. A bunch of these are on my reading list!
ReplyDelete~Sara
Sincerely, Sara
I loved the school for good and Evil! But like you I also need to read the third one... very curious to see what will happen next!
DeleteI haven't read most of these yet, but have nearly all of them on my TBR so I'm thrilled to see you've rated them all so highly!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to read some of them this year - I loved all these books so much!
DeleteOooh great list! I need to read SO many of these! Definitely Salt to the Sea, ACOMAF, and Beautiful Broken Things! My favorites for this year... ah, I have so many, but a few are The Serpent King, Scythe, Three Dark Crowns, and The Girl From Everywhere- but that is a short list hahha.
ReplyDeleteAll your choices are on my TBR list - with the exception of three dark crowns which I literally just finished. I really wish I had more reading time - so many great books that I want to begin!
DeleteI haven't read any of these but Red Winter sounds like a great read - I might try to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely recommend it - aside from a slightly slow beginning it was delicious!
DeleteI think that you read quite a few books, actually! I really need to read Salt to the Sea. I have heard so many wonderful things about it and I have a feeling that I will really enjoy it. I hope that 2017 has just as many amazing books for you! <3
ReplyDeleteSalt to the Sea broke my heart - and I actually spend hours afterward researching the ship and the true story behind it. I would recommend keeping a box of tissues near by!
DeleteBeautiful Broken Things was on my list last year too, it's just SO GOOD. Awesome list.
ReplyDeleteSharing the love! Beautiful Broken Things surprised me so much. Did I mention how much I usually hate contemporary reads? Yet this one really wowed me!
DeleteI've been meaning to read ACOMAF and Red Winter for a while now..Need to get down to it considering I'm hearing great stuff about both the books!
ReplyDeleteYou really should! I loved them both so much, but different reasons. ACOMAF was just so dramatic - I almost wish I hadn't read it as quickly as I did. I will be sure to savour the next book more!
DeleteAh Japan! Nice pic- would love to visit there someday. I like your list- The School for Good and Evil is on my list, and I didn't know about that Michelle Harrison book although I've read most of her other ones.
ReplyDeleteJapan is amazing - I've been twice now and it remains my favourite country! And you really should read The other Alice - Its the first Michelle Harrison book I've ever read but it has certainly convinced me to read the rest of her books :) Such a good story!
DeleteACOMAF was AMAZING! Beautiful Broken Things is one that I really want to get to next year, it sounds so good :) And don't worry about your goal, it's more important to read lots of good books instead of just lots of books in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog :)
I agree - a few good books are way better than lots of bad ones! And I seemed to have had quite a few four/five star reads this year :) And I hope you enjoy Beautiful Broken Things as much as I did, it was a really emotional read
DeleteWhat an interesting selection of books! I loved Beautiful Broken Things too. :-)
ReplyDeleteLooking at it, it is quite a diverse collection isn't it? Normally I just read fantasy with a few historical/romance thrown in. Nice to see that I branched out a little this year :) Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI really meant to get to A Court of Mist and Fury this year, but didn't quite make it. I wasn't as huge of a fan of Worlds of Ink and Shadow. I'd never heard of The Otherlife, but that cover is awesome! Great choices!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I finished "The Otherlife" that I court on the pattern on the front is a wolf - my eyes are so bad, I thought it was just a pretty pattern!
DeleteWow, there are some new books on here to me and there are a couple I've been meaning't to read and just haven't. I keep seeing people rave about A Court of Mist and Fury but I'm still hesitant to go in. I think I'll just have to commit. Good to see a contemporary on here, though, I've heard good things about Beautiful Broken Things so I'm definitely going to have to move it up my TBR.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry that you've not read as much as you'd planned this year. That's how it goes, at least you've enjoyed most of what you've read. That's more than some can say.
I hope you enjoy ACOMAF - I do think you should plunge ahead and read - you'll never know if you don't try :) And I was lucky I think, since nearly all the books I read were at least four star reads :)
DeleteThe first book on the list sounds awesome! I've been meaning to read Japanese inspired books or books set in Japan or really any books with Japanese but hadn't really made the effort to do so �� also yes to ACOMAF and I just bought Salt to the Sea, can't wait to read it after hearing so many rave reviews <3
ReplyDeleteOoh, if you like Japanese inspire books I can certainly recommend a few - I love Japan lol. But Zoe marriotts name of the blade trilogy is a fave, and I really enjoyed the INK trilogy by Amanda Sun too :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like the only reader on the planet who hasn't read a novel by Sarah J. Maas. But I'd REALLY like to - and since I own several of her books, I've no excuse! At some point I simply must read them. 2017 shall be the year... or so I tell myself. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland.
Sarah J Mass is a star of fantasy writing :) I hope you enjoy her books when you get to them!
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