Today I’m sharing my favourite books read in 2016 (regardless of publication date). You can look back at my lists for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
As I’ve said before, this list is obviously subjective, and is not necessarily a list of the ‘best’ books that I read this year but it’s a list of books that, looking back over what I read in 2016, stayed with me or made an impression, or that were the most fun or intense or exciting to read.
These are in no particular order:
1 Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
I am such a Gilmore Girls fan and I was beyond excited for this book! Lauren Graham’s voice really comes through in her writing and it was such a fun book to read.
2 Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo
This duology is one of my favourite series, and I was so excited to read this book. It was fun and a little heartbreaking and exciting and super satisfying.
3 The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
This was such a good, gut-wrenching book. It’s dark and violent and so so good. It’s one that has definitely stuck with me.
4 Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink
I love Welcome to Night Vale and this book was so much fun to read.
5 Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
I know I only gave this 3.5 stars, but I liked the premise of this book so much and have found myself thinking about it again and again in the months since I’ve read it. This was a great mind-bendy thriller.
6 Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) by William Ritter
I love this series so much! I think this is the best book in the series so far and I can’t wait to read the next one!
7 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8) by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany
I read this book in one sitting on its release date, and got to go to a release party at my bookstore and as someone who was late to the Harry Potter fandom, that was all new and very fun for me.
8 The Creeper Man by Dawn Kurtagich
This was my favourite YA horror book in a long time! It was genuinely creepy and unsettling at times, well-written, made use of different formats such as journal entries, and was very satisfying in the end.
9 All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
I love mysteries and thrillers and this was a very good one! The format was cool too (the story is told backwards) and I’m really looking forward to reading more of Megan Miranda’s books!
10 A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain
Another good mystery, combined with historical fiction and time travel (although the time travel is not a huge part of the story! Don’t be put off if you don’t like sci fi – it’s really more of a historical fiction murder mystery!!). I recently learned that there’s a second book coming out and I’m excited to read it!
11 The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Another fun YA contemporary from Morgan Matson, and my new favourite book of hers!
12 The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) by Maggie Stiefvater
A fantastic end to my favourite series!
13 Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down and wish I had a copy for my own bookshelf.
14 Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw
Such a fun book about fandom and relationships, including friendship. Loved it!
15 A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic #2) by V.E. (Victoria) Schwab
One of my favourite authors and one of my favourite series! This was so great, and I’m eagerly waiting for the next book in the trilogy!
It was not easy to put this list together – I had initially wanted to make a top ten list but I read too many good books this year! Have you read any of these? What were your favourite reads of 2016?