This year I read 75,712 pages across 284 books, which is a ton of reading and reviewing (and I still have a few more reviews I want to get in before the end of the year). With that being said, I have a lot of favs in multiple categories because picking just one of anything is impossible, so I’m going to break my favs into 2 posts as I don’t want all the images to overload anyone’s browsers.
The biggest category for favs is YA and that’s because last year I promised myself that I would read more books of my own choosing that didn’t come from review requests. I found some amazing new authors and books from authors I love this year, so let’s see my favs!
Contemporary Romance
We Believed in Mermaids, Barbara O’Neal
Purchase on Amazon for $3.99, it’s enrolled in KU.
I recently found Barbara O’Neal and I’m quickly devouring her books. This one was so special, it was emotional and heartwarming. Read my review here.
Before I Go, Colleen Oakley
Purchase on Amazon for $12.99
I received an ARC of You Were There Too in December and loved it so much, I grabbed this one from Libby. They’re both such wonderful books and I’m definitely going to start another of hers soon. Read my review here.
Ten Hours, Melissa Toppen
Purchase on Amazon for $3.99
Tears, so many tears, this one was amazing. Toppen is a new to me author and I loved this one so much, it’s so well written. Read my review here.
Fantasy-Romance
The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix. E. Harrow
Purchase on Amazon for $9.99
I received this one from BOTM-YA, and this was a magical read. I wrote on my review that “All of the characters we meet are fantastically rich and multi-dimensional”. This book is amazing and I love the special touches added to the doors. Read my review here.
Paranormal Romance
The Fiercest Star, Julia DeBarrioz
Purchase on Amazon for $3.99, it’s enrolled in KU
This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone. Dakota is a fierce main heroine that I have a bit of a crush on. Julia DeBarrioz is an author you don’t want to miss out on. Fun fact, she draws her own covers, isn’t it wonderful? Read my review here.
Romantic Suspense
Every Minute I Love You, Kailee Reese Samuels
Purchase on Amazon for $5.99, it’s enrolled in KU.
Kailee has created an entire world, and each book takes place in that world to some degree. While you can read her books as standalones, there is more of a complete picture when you read them all. She’s such a fantastic lyrical author and a wonderful person as well. Read my review here.
Romantic Comedy
Emma Stacey, Broadbent
Purchase on Amazon for $3.24, it’s enrolled in KU.
I regularly review for Stacey and this is one of my favs of hers. Emma is hysterical and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Stacey’s books are funny and swoony and she writes across multiple genres. Read my review here.
The Runaround, Sylvie Stewart
Purchase on Amazon for $4.99, it’s enrolled in KU
I’ve once said Sylvie is the queen of romantic comedy, and that still holds true. Reading her books you know you are going to laugh and swoon and this was just one of the books she published this year that I loved. (Game Changer was a great one too!) Read my review here.
The Extra, Megan Walker and Janci Patterson
Purchase on Amazon for free!
This one came to me as a review request from Janci, and I loved it from the start! I’m slowly working my way through the series. This is such a fun read with great characters from a great writing duo, a series that can be read as standalones and together. Read my review here.
Sci-Fi
Recursion, Blake Crouch
Purchase on Amazon for $11.99
I don’t read a lot of sci-fi because it’s a category I just don’t love, but this one intrigued me from the start. Crouch has added multiple concepts to create an incredibly in-depth storyline. I do recommend readers be aware they are going to be introduced to a lot of scientific concepts and that’s not for everyone. Read my review here.
Fantasy
The Unfettered Child, Michael C. Sahd
Purchase on Amazon for $2.99, it’s enrolled in KU
This was another one that came to me as a request and I readily agreed to read it because my niece shares the name of the main character. This was such a pleasant surprise. Sahd added multiple magical elements with a bit of lore as well. He kindly sent me a signed paperback which I treasure. Read my review here.
Humorous Fiction
The Floating Feldmans, Elyssa Friedland
Purchase on Amazon for $9.99
This was such a fantastically dysfunctional family, they were completely relatable. Friedland has me in stitches with some of the things the characters said. The characters, whether I liked them or not, were wonderful! Such a fun read, read my review here.
Women’s Fiction
The Book Charmer, Karen Hawkins
Purchase on Amazon for $9.99
This book was full of whimsy, there were quirky characters and magical books. And when I received this in the mail, I had no idea this was the start of a series (but can completely be read on its own, which I love). This was heartwarming and a great start to the series. Read my review here.
Historical Fiction
Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate
Purchase on Amazon for $12.99
Outside of YA, Historical Fiction is my most favorite genre. This was a beautiful piece of historical fiction, Wingate wrote wonderful characters in a heartbreaking setting based on The Children’s Home that was known for stealing children to adopt out for money. I can’t recommend this book enough. Read my review here.
Religion/Spirituality
Almost Home, Valerie Fraser Luesse
Purchase on Amazon for $6.87, it’s enrolled in KU.
This was a multi-layered story that takes place at the end of the Great Depression. There were wonderful characters who all came together as tenants, but formed strong bonds. There was a mystery element going on as well. This one had some historical fiction elements but isn’t labeled as such on Amazon. This was such a sweet and engaging book, read my review here.
I’m going to end part 1 here, as this has gotten rather long and as I said previous, I don’t want to slow down browsers. This is about half of my favs so I will be back tomorrow with some YA, Biography, and Thriller/Suspense picks.
Have you read any of these? Which ones and did you love it as much as I did?
Rae's Reading Lounge 