Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Top Ten Best Books Of 2016





For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This week's topic: Top Ten Best Books Of 2016 (you choose -- best books overall of what you read regardless of pub date, of a particular genre, 2016 debuts, 2016 releases, etc)

Julia's Picks:
1. The Martian by Andy Weir - I really liked this book and was glad I read it before I saw the movie. I liked the book more, just a bit because the movie was amazing as well, but the book just captured more of his "Oh no. I am stuck on Mars" point of view. 

2. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith - Ah, the Cormoran Strike series. I really love this, and this one was slightly different than the other two since it focused on a case that directly affected Strike and Robin. JK Rowling really writes some engaging stuff in this series. 

3. Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare - I didn't read a lot of romance novels this year, but I read a lot of Tessa Dare. I think this one was my favorite I read. Her books are always so funny and heartwarming. The best kind of novel. I can just devour them. 

Jamie's Picks:
4. Salt To the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: Ruta's books have all been amazing to me but I think this was her best yet. If you love historical fiction, check this one out!

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: this book is a early 2017 release but I read it this year and OH MY GOD...it is amazing and super important. Truly. I love Starr and her family has been added to my fave fictional families list. I can't wait til this book gets the world talking because there is SO much to talk about!

6. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid: all of her books have been favorites for me and I was so excited for this one and wowwowow one of the most visceral responses I had all year reading.


7. Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn: I randomly grabbed this book at the library in March and hadn't heard anything about it except knew people liked Sharon Shinn but I always heard people talk about her other books. This book is one I will reread next year for sure. It made me so truly happy and just charmed the pants right off me. The best part is my friend Gillian read it after I reviewed it and then she raved about it and this amazing chain reaction happened and others fell in love with it as much as we did and it was one of those moments that reminded me how important it is to still rave about the backlist books you read and love because there are so many people who might also find their new fave book that went under the radar!

Jana's Pick:
8. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas: I'm sure this comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me! I loved this book even more than ACOTAR!! I love Rhys and the Night Court and the swooooons!

Lauren's Picks:
9. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood - I know I'm at Atwood fan girl, but her latest novel blew me away yet again. Her prose is perfectly worded without the clutter of excess details that have seemed to drag on for me this year. She knows how to take an otherworldly society and topple it over with grace. This is easily one of my all time favorite Atwood novels, be it is definitely my favorite read of 2016. 


10. The Fold by Peter Clines - Science fiction, a little fantasy, and all the amazingness wanted all wrapped up with a bow. This was an amazing science fiction novel for 2016 that I honestly just may have to pick up again in 2017!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree




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This week's topic: Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

Jamie's Picks:


1.  Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham: I have loved Lauren Graham since Gilmore Girls aired and then loved her in Parenthood so I am IN NEED of this book something fierce. Preferably would be nice if Santa could at least have it signed by her and also maybe like include a coffee date so Lauren and I can become bffs??

2. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: I've heard amazing things about this YA fantasy and want to see what the hype is all about!

3. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne: I had this on my TBR when I saw it in a publisher catalog but then I forgot about it until EVERYONE started talking about it and saying it was the best ever so YEAH I need it.

4. Summer Skin by Kirsty Eager: This isn't sold in the US and I love Kirsty Eager so maybe Santa could pick this one up when he's in Australia and bring it to me!

5. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta: I love Melina Marchetta's books soooooo much. They are my faves and this one came out this year and I've yet to snag it! 

Julia's Picks:

6. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles: Most of these are going to be off NPRs Book Conceirge 2016. This one sounds super interesting because it's about a guy who gets sentanced to house arrest in a hotel in Russia. It's right up my alley.

7. A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet: Sounds like romance meets fantasy to me. Mythology and world building? Sign me up.

8. The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman: I am just going to quote the reviewer for NPR, Margaret H. Willison, for why: "if you're equally excited to read about well-bred young ladies slaying demons and the tiny jugs they carried underneath their gowns in case they needed to relieve themselves while awaiting a royal audience, look no further. This is the book for you."

9. Some sort of cookbook by a chef I suppose: I just started to get into cooking, and I am not the greatest at it. I think I need to get a book and just try and keep practicing. Maybe Santa will bring one that doesn't include me setting the smoke alarm off three times in one night...

10. The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin: Because I think at this point it would take Santa magic for me to ever read this book...

What books would you like Santa to bring you?






Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Top Ten Books We're Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017


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This week's topic is... Top Ten Books We're Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017


Lauren's Picks













Lori's Picks
New Joan Didion, enough said. Coming in March.


This looks like a fun collection of short stories that can especially speak to women in their late 20s, early 30s. But I'm sure the appeal will be broader. An Internet buddy was raving about this ARC, so I pre-ordered without much thought. Coming out early January.

Jana's Picks


It sounds like an amazing debut, and is inspired by Russian fairytales!


New Kasie West!! I loved her last book, P.S. I Love You. 


A Phantom of the Opera retelling! I've been wanting this for years!



A fantasy "set along the waterways of a magical world". That's ALL I NEEDED.

Which books are you excited to read next year?

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Top New-To-Us Authors We Read For The First Time In 2016


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Top Ten New-To-Us Authors We Read For The First Time In 2016

Bridget's Pick:
Jeff Vandermeer! He wrote the Area X trilogy. I've only read the first two (I really need to go back and finish!) but the prose is stunning. Very different from what I would normally expect from sci-fi. It's beautiful and ethereal and a little dense but definitely worth it. 

Daisy's Picks:


Lyndsay Faye: I LOVED Jane Steele! The writing style was amazing and I can't wait to read more from this author!


Garth Nix: I cannot believe that it took me this long to finally pick up one of Garth Nix's books, but Sabriel was SO GOOD! I'm definitely continuing this series in 2017!

Jamie's Picks:

Sarah Fine: I read The Imposter Queen this year and it was definitely one of my favorite fantasy books of this year! I can't wait to go through her backlist.

Jeff Zentner: His debut novel, The Serpent King, just really blew me away. One of those feelings like "this could be a potential ALL TIME fave author" if all his books do this to me. 

Claire Legrand: GUYS you must read Some Kind of Happiness. I rarely read MG books but this book made her one of my fave new-to-me authors of this year!



Kimberly's Pick:
Steven Rowley: I read Lily and the Octopus this year and... It was an incredible experience. I reviewed it on the blog this summer. 


Julia's Pick:
Kelly Bowen: I read Duke of My Heart on a whim earlier this year when I was trying to be better about getting into reading again. I have been leery with trying new historical romance authors because I have been put off by so many, but I actually quite enjoyed it. So I read the second one, and like that too. Now I have got the third one on my radar... 


What are your favorite authors this year? 

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Help Kimberly meet her Goodreads goal!

Okay fellow book lovers. I need your help. I need to read 16 books before the end of the year. I'm SEVEN books behind schedule!! How did that even happen? Okay, so I hit several reading slumps this year, that's how it happened. It's been a weird year.


What are some of your favorite quick reads? Novellas? Graphic novels? Tell me all about them!  Help me reach my goal of 100 books this year!


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