This is the first fiction series I've been able to lose myself in for years. There's so much value in that. If you want a mystery and an entertaining read that will have you rooting for characters, go for it. Makes for excellent water cooler talk too. As I started the most recent book this month, I felt like I was settling in with old friends. It's just comforting to me...like, "Oh Rose, here we go again..." when a new adventure starts (I use the term "adventure" loosely).
#2 The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones
I mentioned this book back in March. I really REALLY enjoyed it. It's part time-travel, part historical fiction. I can't believe it hasn't gotten more attention; it was just published in 2015. I would whole-heartedly recommend it.
#3 Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I adored this. It's what I would refer to as "intelligent chick-lit", with character-depth and layers built in. Honestly, I may just have liked it so much because it has two endings and I didn't have to worry or wonder either way. It must have been really nice satisfying for TJR to wrap things up in two different scenarios.
#4 The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
This captures a spot on the list because it's been the first WWII book I've enjoyed this year. I've quit many because they're such an investment and it can be a chore to not confuse one book with another. It starts slow but by hour five of this almost-20-hour audiobook, I was completely invested.
This is a super shallow list and, on some level, I'm okay with that. There were like 15 Rose Gardner books so that took a lot of my
Since I'm drawing a line of demarcation here in 4 days, I've read 70 books this year. Which is, honestly, about 20 more than I thought I'd read.
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But, I've been thinking lately about what books I've read in the last few years that have really stuck with me. Aside from just recommending those ^ from this year, here's a few more if you're looking to kickstart a reading habit in January...
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
This book was just fascinating. It was like nothing I've ever read, but I adored it.
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
I can't even with this book. I CAN'T EVEN. I'm glad Kristen convinced me to try it and I'm glad others, like Jana, feel the same way I did because seriously...try it. I started rattling off books to my friend, when she asked for recommendations a few weeks ago, and then I said, Wait, never mind. The Sea of Tranquility. Just that. Go with that. Forget everything else I've said.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
I originally rated this as a C because there was something about it. I liked it. Didn't love it. But then the more I thought about it (and I'm still thinking about it over a year later), the more I realized how well it's written and how masterfully it's crafted together. It's just...fascinating. If you like historical fiction at all, go for this one. I feel like I almost want to compare it to Kate Morton, but it's kind of on its own level.
Side note: I didn't love A God in Ruins, the companion novel, because I wanted answers. You will get no answers from either of these books.
What was YOUR best book of the year?
What the #1 book you almost always recommend to others?
Linking up with Jana and Steph!
