While I didn’t read as many as usual because of an out-of-state move and working in an office full-time, it was still a standout year for reading.
Seems I leaned heavily into lighter romcoms. These were books I read this year, not necessarily published this year. Here’s my Top 12 in no particular order.
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What were your favorites for 2022? Happy New Year!
Another great year of new releases in all categories.
Rather than break my top reads into categories, I am sharing my Top 15 of the year. I’m sharing these in no particular order, just my absolute favorites.
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Please share your favorites of the year. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
At least the books in 2020 were great! 😉
This year I added the category of romcom because I definitely appreciated the lighter reads, especially in a year of…doom.
Click through any of the covers for more details or to purchase. (I am an Amazon affiliate and may make a small commission.)
Please share your favorites of the year. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Fiction
Mystery/Thriller
Historical Fiction
Romance/Romantic Comedy
Nonfiction
It seems as though every year the caliber of writing only gets better. The storylines, more gripping. I am separating my favorites into categories. This way, if you’re looking for a specific type of book or want to give a gift, it’s easier to sort through the choices. I wish I had time to read everything, but these are my favorites from what I did read.
You can click directly on the book images to get to their Amazon page.
Which of these have you read this year and loved? What are your favorites not on this list? Please leave me a comment. Happy 2019!
This summer’s list is a bit longer than normal as it’s been an amazing year of incredible reads. Here are my most recommended for your 2018 summer!
The Husband Hour by Jamie Brenner
Taking place on the Jersey shore, Brenner seamlessly tackles many tough subjects ranging from grief to CTE to deployment to guilt. You will easily lose yourself in this story.
Boardwalk Summer by Meredith Jaeger
A story of the 1940s entwined with one of today, Jaeger knows how to grip her audience from the very first page. I loved the scenes from Hollywood and the sweet underlying love story.
Best Friends Forever by Margot Hunt
Just when you think you know how this one will play out, Hunt pulls the seat out from under you. Read my full review here.
The Awkward Path to Getting Lucky by Summer Heacock
I laughed out loud at the situations these friends found themselves in. Between chaos at their bakery and their attempts at love, this relatable debut is one not to be missed. Read my full review here.
Slider by Pete Hautman
Yes, this is a middle grade novel but adults will find the undertones of the importance of family endearing while the kids will think the antics of competitive eating are hilarious. A great story for the whole family.
Eden by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg
A multigenerational book that alternates between past and present, this engrossing debut will have you hoping the author is at work on a new novel. Read my full review here.
Say Nothing by Brad Parks
I am all for a breakneck thriller that has me turning the pages and this one delivers. Full of surprises, Parks masters the tension to make this storyline plausible and fun.
Class Mom by Laurie Gelman
Now that school has ended for the summer, you will appreciate the snark in Gelman’s debut even more. Read my full review here.
What have you packed in your beach bag this summer? Please share your favorites. This post contains affiliate links.
Oh, this book has my heart. What a compelling, emotional journey I just returned from.
Lexie receives a call at 2:00 am that nobody is prepared to hear. Her sister, Annie, who she hasn’t spoken to in years, is in trouble. Lexie rushes to her aid and finds her living in a dirty trailer, addicted to drugs, and pregnant. Having always rescued Annie in times of trouble, Lexie makes it s point to make sure Annie gets help again. But with the law working against her, it isn’t as easy this time.
I loved how addiction, while a main focus, wasn’t the only issue brought up in this novel. Rimmer also confronts abuse, religious sects, death, legal battles, learning to be an adult before you’re ready, and the struggles of balancing it all. There are so many subjects to foster a great book discussion here, so if your book club is looking for new fiction, this would be a perfect choice.
If you’re a fan of heartbreaking, yet heartwarming fiction and enjoyed books such as Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Still Alice by Lisa Genova, and Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, this is one you’ll definitely want to get your hands on. And I guarantee it will quickly become a favorite
Be prepared to shed some tears. For me, the cry was a cleansing, and I felt better after having finished it. Hug your sisters and your brothers and your mothers and your fathers and your children a little tighter today. And then tell them they need to read this book.
I received an advanced copy from Little Bird Publicity and the publisher.
About the author:
I write contemporary women’s fiction. My novels, Me Without You, The Secret Daughter, When I Lost You and A Mother’s Confession have been published by Bookouture.
You can find some more information about me at www.kellyrimmer.com.
Thanks to Little Bird Publicity, I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader. Enter on the Rafflecopter.
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Not since Moloka’i have I been transported to Hawaii through a book. The setting and descriptions were vivid and breathtaking. Never having been there myself, I imagined I was on the beach as I was reading. I loved the authentic language and settings and was definitely surprised by the amount of rain!
Sara Ackerman’s debut has something in it for everyone: a mystery, WWII history, romance, and unforgettable characters. Violet is a schoolteacher who is reeling at the disappearance of her husband, the school principal. Her daughter, Ella, hasn’t been the same since he’s been gone. When Violet’s roommate, Jean, finds out her brother Zach is training for a secret mission along with other Marines, the women learn that friendship will get them through this trying time together.
Even though this tale takes place during the 1940s, many of its themes still ring true today. Given the current events we’ve been faced with, I still need to hear “love is love,” and I was thrilled to come across it in the book. Bits of this story, especially Violet’s infatuation, reminded me of Letters from Home by Kristina McMorris. If you want an endearing story with a sprinkle of sugar, be sure to pick this book up.
I have to say one of my favorite characters was Roscoe. I’d really love to learn the true story behind his appearance that the author mentions in her note at the end. I promise you he is one surprise you’ve never come across before in fiction.
My thanks to the author in exchange for an honest review.
About the author: Born and raised in Hawaii, Sara studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. When she’s not writing or practicing acupuncture, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean.
Thanks to the author, I have one SIGNED copy to give away to a lucky reader. U.S. only, please. Enter on the Rafflecopter.
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It has been such an amazing year for books that I decided to do a little something different this year. Instead of my short list, I am separating my favorites into categories. This way, if you’re looking for a specific type of book or want to give a gift, it’s easier to sort through the choices. I wish I had time to read everything, but these are my favorites from what I did read.
You can click directly on the book images to get to their Amazon page.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these if you read them and your favorites of 2017. Leave me a comment. Here’s to a healthy 2018 filled with loads of good reading!
This book grips you with its first sentence and never lets go: “My father proposed to my mother at gunpoint when she was nineteen, and knowing that she was already pregnant with a dead man’s child, she accepted.”
As the book continues, we are on Elspeth’s journey with her, as she comes to terms with her mother’s death and all the family secrets that are ready to bubble to the surface. She most eagerly is trying to figure out her mother’s connection to the Seekers, a cult-like religion that is reminiscent of Scientology.
This novel does not let you off easy. We are dealing with rape, murder, betrayal, and family dysfunction in such a way you will be extremely thankful for your own mother. In fact, it’s easy to think this could be a memoir in the way the timeline is handled and how real these characters act.
Sorell writes beautifully, but it’s not a case where you will get bogged down in the language. It’s a fast read, and you’ll want to race through to reach its conclusion.
Sign me up for any future books from Sorell. I know the prose will be fluid and the story convincing, if it is anything like her debut. My thanks to Goldberg McDuffie and Prospect Park Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
About the author: Born in South Africa and raised in Canada, Gina Sorell now resides in Toronto, and lives in a world of words. Some of those words are: writer, namer, creative director, artist, daughter, sister, wife and mother.
After two decades as a working actor of stage and screen in NYC, LA, and Toronto, Gina decided to return to her first love–writing, and graduated with distinction from UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. Gina likes to balance out the long solitary hours of novel writing, with her work as a Creative Director of Eat My Words, a SF based branding firm, where she collaborates all day long with innovators and entrepreneurs whose identity she establishes with only one word, their name.
Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader. U.S. only, please. Enter on the Rafflecopter.
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A lot of best of summer lists have books that release throughout the summer. I want you to have access to these great reads NOW, so without further ado, here is my list for the best beach reads of 2017.
Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale
This one has it all: heartbreak, romance, mystery, and even several beach scenes. When you turn the last page and are disappointed it’s over: the sequel releases July 4! You can preorder it here. Both books are currently available on Kindle for less than $5!
Nine Women, One Dress by Jane Rosen
I blew through this book in less than 48 hours. It’s a cute and quick read that features a unique cast of characters all with a relation to that little black dress. You can read my full review here.
The Wedding Sisters by Jamie Brenner
I feel like weddings in books make the perfect summer read. Everyone can remember having or attending a quintessential summer wedding. This book has that times 3! 3 weddings of 3 sisters or 3 sisters sharing 1 wedding? Either way, this one keeps dropping secrets until the end.
The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard
We can’t get through summer without a psychological thriller to keep you turning the pages eager to find out what happens. This one reminded me of a horrible car crash where you just can’t turn away. Not everything in this idyllic neighborhood is as it seems. Some disturbing characters lead to deadly consequences.
The Assistants by Camille Perri
Super excited to find out a movie is in the works for this one! Imagine Thelma & Louise as office assistants in today’s world and you have this romp of a novel. Anyone who has ever dealt with office politics will appreciate the humor of this debut.
Forks, Knives, and Spoons by Leah DeCesare
Aside from a throwback to the ’80s, this book made me reminisce about my college days. The lovable characters navigating relationships both in school and the real world made this a hard to put down debut. You can read my full review here.
The Regulars by Georgia Clark
If you enjoy a little magical realism thrown into a story, I hope you will give this book a try. It is a smart and modern age fairy tale for Generation X and Generation Y. You can read my full review here.
I would love to hear what you thought of these books and what others are on your summer reading list! This post contains affiliate links.
