Tis the season for the annual book awards! In honor of the end of 2016 (good riddance), I am going to be counting down the top 16 books I read this year. All the excerpts are taken from GoodReads, and books that are part of a series have the excerpts of the first book included. This year was an amazing year for me books-wise, so it was incredibly difficult to rank these books. They were all truly stunning and amazing books. It took me forever to come up with this ranking, and I'm still not entirely happy with the order because I really couldn't decide! I loved all of them and there are so many more I loved that didn't make it onto the list. Without further ado, let's put up our dukes and get down to it!
16. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
"Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is. Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living."
I picked up this book because of the buzz the movie (which I still haven't seen) was getting, and I loved it. There's definitely some TFIOS vibes, so be prepared to cry. I also haven't picked up the sequel to this, and I'm not sure I ever will. I loved this ending too much to ruin it!
15. The Martian by Andy Weir
"After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive. And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, Mark won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark's not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills—and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength–he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth. As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive. But Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet."
My entire family read this book and we all loved it! I flew through it because it's so fast-paced and absolutely hilarious. The movie was also excellent.
14. Rook by Sharon Cameron
"History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal? Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she. As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse."
I had never heard of this book until a friend recommended it to me. I loved this book because of its unique take on a dystopia, its roots in French history and myth, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. I got to see Sharon Cameron speak at a book festival, which really inspired me to pick up more of her books. I'm very excited to read her most recent one, The Forgetting.
13. A Million Worlds with You by Claudia Gray
"Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him. Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected."
This thrilling finale to an epic trilogy did not disappoint. Unlike many trilogies, I was completely satisfied with the ending and felt like everything was pulled together nicely without being dragged out or leaving too many questions unanswered. As a science nerd, this series was right up my alley.
12. The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan
"Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . ."
It's no surprise that The Hammer of Thor made it onto this list.This book made some huge leaps for representation and for that alone it should be #1. However, I did not love the plot of the second book as much as I loved the first one. It was still absolutely amazing and I'm so pumped for the third book. Riordan does not disappoint.
11. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
"In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. Until now. Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever."
I am currently rereading this book before the second one comes out, and it is just as enthralling the second time. I love time travel and all the historical elements it brings to the story, and Alexandra Bracken really embraces this. The romance and characters are amazing and the story is just gorgeous.
10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
"Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed."
I'm really late to the bandwagon with this book, but my god does it deserve the hype it gets. It's one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read and so funny! This book is honestly so important, and the movie is a masterpiece.
9. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
"Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so."
I was immersed in these books for a solid month as I marathoned this trilogy. I've already made two friends read it, and they loved it as much as I did. I wouldn't go into this book knowing much, just dive in head first.
8. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
"Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their difference, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. "
This book hit me so hard. I loved reading it from the point of view of the 'sidekick' essentially. I loved Patroclus so much and he breaks my heart into tiny pieces. The character development happens so gradually and over such a long time that when I finished it, I was shocked at how far we've come. The writing is just beautifully tragic and so compelling. This book was a very emotional ride for me to the point where it's hard to put it into words. Please just read this book.
7. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
"Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them. Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?"
This might be my favorite Shadowhunter book yet. I love Emma and the Blackthorn children so much. I have so many thoughts and theories for the next one that I'm not sure I can wait until May!
6. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
"After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her ... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead ... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined."
This is the fifth installment of the Throne of Glass series and definitely my favorite one so far. SJM is a devastating master of fantasy and you will fall in love with her characters.
5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
"When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever."
The second book of the ACOTAR series was 10x times better than the first one, and the first one was incredible. The new characters of ACOMAF are so lovable as a group, and the story just really takes off in this book. SJM tackles some dark themes of PTSD and abusive relationships in this book AND SHE DOES IT SO WELL. The love story is amazing and I rooted for it all the way.
4. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
"Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes
Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first."
I freaking loved Six of Crows and this one was just as amazing. The finale was spectacular and the characters' arcs were done so well. I love this crew so much and I'm so sad to see them go. This book is a great one to go into knowing nothing, so just pick up the first one if you want a wild ride.
3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
"The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again."
I'm not going to go too in-depth with my thoughts here because I just did a review for this book, BUT OH MY GOD. This book was an experience for me. I just sat down for essentially 3 straight days and read Illuminae and Gemina back to back because they were so amazing and epic and thrilling.
2. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
"When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition."
Well that's a very disappointing summary that in no way does justice to how incredible this book is. This book may be about beauty queens, but it's mostly about the bond of friendship between girls and navigating society as a girl. In a way, it's also a coming of age story and a romantic contemporary, but also there's badass fighting??? I've said before that this book should be required reading for girls because it's so feminist-y and empowering. There's no one main character, so you really become attached to all of the girls and their stories. Through each girl, Libba Bray takes on a different topic like sexuality, transgender rights, body positivity, racism, and so much more! This book is so important!!!
1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz.
"Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be."
This book might be my favorite book of all time. If Song of Achilles hit me in my heart, then this one hit me in my soul. It's really hard for me to describe how important to me this book has become. I felt like I could see into Ari's head and heart and really understand him. I loved Ari and Dante and I felt so close to Ari by the end of the book. The writing is just beautiful to where every other page I would stumble upon on a line that would leave me speechless. The book tackles really dark themes in such a beautiful way that it is honestly a masterpiece.
***
This was a really good reflection on my year of reading, which was one of the best ones I've had. I read so many amazing books this year that it's almost surreal to see some of my favorite books of all time in one place and one year. I hope this list has inspired you to pick up one of these incredible books. I'm so excited to see what amazing reads 2017 has in store. Happy new year!!!
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