This was
brutal. I had such a hard time putting this together, and I don't even know if it's accurate. I'm pretty sure this is the Top Ten Tuesday topic I dread all year because
it's so hard. I just need to put a bunch of the books I read this year in a Hunger Games arena and let them determine the winner. Because ahhh, this was stressful! But here's the deal: this list has no rules. I didn't limit it in any way and
anything I read this year is game. These are
the best books I read in 2014 (as of this post's date). Also, these books really aren't in any particular order, except for the last book--that's my number one.
The Dream-Like Novel
This novel from Printz winner Nick Lake published late last year and totally fell under the radar. Hopefully people will pick it up next year after reading his latest novel
There Will Be Lies, because this book, though it has its issues, had something about it. I tend to call it a YA
Captain Phillips, but it has this sort of dreamy quality to it. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Adorkable Middle Grade
I read a couple Middle Grade novels this year and really liked them all. But
How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied made the list because it is perfectly adorkable and just so much fun. This outran everyone's radar when it really shouldn't have. [
Goodreads | Review]
The One with Chimpanzees
Like
Endangered,
Threatened follows the tale of some young person and at least one great ape in some wonderful yet heartbreaking way. This time, Schrefer writes about a boy who's basically living in the jungle with chimpanzees. So, a
Tarzan/Jane Goodall mash-up. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Adult Thriller
I read this for book club and was the only one who liked it, for some reason. (Though really, I loved it.) I became so invested in this story that I thought would bore me, and haven't read the next installment in the series because I don't have time and I'm pissed about MY SHIP. Stupid ship. Stupid book. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Excellent Debut
Emery Lord has one of the best debuts of the year. As a debut, it's stellar. As a contemporary, book about friendship, and book with romance? It's also stellar. Basically, it's stellar. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Finale(ish) of the Year
Of all the series finales I read this year,
The One is the best. (Though, in a sense, it's not a finale, woohoo!) It kept to the story well, MY SHIP SUCCEEDED, and I was pretty satisfied with how it ended. Things (mostly) went my way. Rachel likes it when things go her way. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Flawless Thriller
OH MY GOOOSH. How are these books so good?!
The Naturals was amazing and pretty much flawless. And so it's sequel. Seriously, this series needs to be read by everyone and needs to have at least a million books in it because it's sooo goooooooood. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Badass and Painful Fantasy
Pfft. Like a Sarah J. Maas book wasn't going to make my best of the year list. This series is bae. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Hardy Novel
Stupid quote that I thought was going to be about something else stupid quote stupid book stupid beautiful wonderful sad horrible book. [
Goodreads | Review]
The Best Book of the Year
When I read
The Impossible Knife of Memory at the beginning of the year, I almost didn't. This is not the kind of book I usually read. And at the time, I had no idea that this would end up being my number one book of 2014. But when I look at all the books I read this year, I just have this
feeling that this is the top of the crop. The voice and writing are
spectacular, and this is just one damn good piece of literature. [
Goodreads | Review]
What are your favorite books of the year?
I loved The Impossible Knife of Memory! So good!
ReplyDeleteLoved Heir of Fire! I need to read Code Name Verity! But I feel like I'm saving it for a special occasion because I know I'm going to love it.
ReplyDeleteLove the new blog look!
I haven't read any of the books you've mentioned in your post. I'll have to check them out! Here is a link to my TTT list for the week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2014/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-i-read-in.html
ReplyDeleteYou have convinced me to make The Impossible Knife of Memory my next read... followed by Code Name Verity because I've read so many good (sad) things about it!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Impossible Knife of Memory too. I'm currently reading Heir of Fire, so I'm happy to see it on your list! :-) It looks like you've had a great reading year! My TTT
ReplyDeleteThe One is the only book on the list I've read but a lot of the others sound really interesting. My TTT
ReplyDeleteFirst, I LOVE THE NEW DESIGN!! I really want to read The Impossible Knife of Memory soon, especially if it's your #1 overall!! Big honor!! Great list, Rachel!!
ReplyDeleteCode Name Verity was just brilliant. Great list, I'm looking forward to How To Outrun a Crocodile and The Impossible Knife of Memory. :)
ReplyDeleteI seriously cannot believe I haven't read the Naturals books yet. As much as I love profiling and the FBI, I'm ashamed of myself. I'm buying these and they're going to be my first reads of the new year!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've heard amazing things about Emery Lord! :)
When I read the words "The Hardy Novel" I teared up a bit, so thanks for that...
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
I have heard great things about In the Woods, but have not read it. I read the Kiera Cass series, but it wasn't my favorite. Looks like you read some great books.
ReplyDeleteGah, I still need to read Emery Lord's Open Road Summer! And oh, Code Name Verity. That one made my list as well. So sad and beautiful and heartbreaking and wonderful. THE HARDY NOVEL. <3
ReplyDeleteHolly @ The Fox's Hideaway
Lol "This series is bae". But really...it's true haha. I really, really wish I'd read In the Woods at a different point. I picked it up when I was stressed out and needed just a good, solid mystery. Any other day and I would have loved the ambiguity and the focus on the characters almost more than the mystery....but instead it made me cranky. I might pick up the next one though (under the understanding that I definitely shouldn't read this if I want things wrapped up in a pretty bow)
ReplyDeleteMost of these are on my TBR! But, yes, Killer Instinct is the best and that series just needs to go on forever and ever!
ReplyDeleteI love Heir of Fire and Open Road Summer! Actually I saw Sarah J Maas in Cincinnati a few months ago and Emery Lord was with her. Emery's so cool, I just had to read her book! Turns out I loved it! I can't wait for The Start of Me and You and A Court of Thorns and Roses to be released next year!
ReplyDelete