Top 16 Books of 2016

I think I usually keep this list down to a smaller number, but this year, I just couldn't be bothered. My reading year was, overall, really good. I didn't rate anything under a 2-star level this year! That's crazy! There were a lot of books that I disliked last year (you can find that post here), but this year, I find myself being more meh and less "get this out of my sight." Under the cut, find some stats and, obviously, my 16 favorite reads of the year (including some cheats because I have read some really good series this year, guys).

Top 16 of 2016:

16. The Fireman by Joe Hill

I adored Hill's NOS4A2 when I read it, so I couldn't wait to pick up his newest offering. Needless to say, it blew me away. Offering a horrific look at humanity in a time of a pandemic, The Fireman provided chills, yes, but left me feeling so much more. REVIEW

15. The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

The first two books in this diverse fantasy series really impressed me. I picked these up off of the recommendations of a couple of reviewers that I really trust and, wow, I do not regret it. While I enjoyed the first book as a whole slightly more, the second book took chances and really advanced the overall plot in ways that I wouldn't have guessed. REVIEW | REVIEW

14. Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

I read a few books this year that deal with rape and rape culture. This is the one that impacted me the most. I go into more detail in my full review, but, said simply: Johnston tackles issues such as abortion, sexuality, and, of course, rape culture in ways that are fresh and welcome to me as a reader. Also, that cover is gorgeous and one of my favorites. REVIEW

13. Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta 

This is a really great book that hits on a lot of my favorite things: sexuality, family, growing up, and culture. Okparanta's inclusion of Nigerian songs and stories really added to her writing and I adored Igeoma as a character. If you are looking for an #ownvoices book, definitely pick this one up. REVIEW

12. I See You by Clare Mackintosh 
The first thriller on this list is one that I still think about. I seriously cannot get those last several pages out of my head! You think you know what is going on, but Mackintosh is about to blow your mind. REVIEW

11. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

This book got so much praise over the year and it was well-deserved. I did have minor qualms with it - I wish we had got to spend more time with certain characters, mainly - but, overall, it is beautifully written and is so full of life and love and family. REVIEW


10. And I Darken by Kiersten White

A really incredible start to a new fantasy series that I cannot wait for more of. This book is all-at-once brutal and soft, and it includes a love triangle that I actually don't mind! REVIEW

09. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Another thriller because I was really into them this year. While there was one small plot point that I didn't really care about, the rest of this book was utterly captivating. Like with the aforementioned I See You, the twists and turns that Slaughter provides are blindsiding. REVIEW

08. The Girl in 6E by A.R. Torre
I blew through and loved this series so, technically, this could be a place for all three books but, honestly, only the first one has really stuck with me to this point. Erotic and thrilling and impossible to put down, I absolutely need more books like this in the future. REVIEW

07. Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
The sequel to last year's beloved Illuminae definitely kept up to pace. I loved this new group of characters and this format is still AMAZING. The illustrations provided by Marie Lu only added to the unique book that Kristoff and Kaufman have created. Plus, the return of AIDAN? So sweet. REVIEW

06. Cam Girl and the Collected Works of Elliot Wake
Summer was kind of the season of Elliot Wake for me. Formerly known as Leah Raeder, Wake's books are (similarly to The Girl in 6E) erotic, beautifully written, and full of thrills. They are also unapologetically queer. While Cam Girl was the first one I read and remains my favorite, his others - Unteachable, Black Iris, and the newest, Bad Boy, all have something incredibly to offer. REVIEW

05. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
This is the most surprising rating that I gave out all year. I receieved this book in an Uppercase subscription box and, if it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. This is a diverse contemporary story, with a dual narration interjected by chapters that focus on hair, minor characters, and other things. I loved this book. REVIEW

04. Wolf by Wolf and Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
This duology is so good. An alternate history, Graudin crafts the story of Yael, a skin-shifter who is out to kill Hitler. While I looked Wolf by Wolf slightly more, the two books work perfectly together to create an interesting and exciting series. REVIEW | REVIEW



03. The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

The final book in the Young Elites trilogy was everything I ever wanted. Marie Lu went there, you guys. She went there. Heartbreaking and beautiful and thrilling, this conclusion killed me, along with one of my favorite characters. REVIEW

02. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
The companion novel to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, this book gripped me from start to finish. While I enjoyed its predecessor, I ultimately loved this one so much more. The characters that are focused on are awesome and Chambers' writing is lovely. REVIEW

01. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Is anyone surprised? The second book of this Grishaverse duology delivered just as much as Six of Crows. The characters remain incredible, the world rich, and the plot full of surprises. REVIEW