Monday 4 January 2016

Top 15 of 2015



Guys, it's here, the list I know you've all been holding your breath for; my top 15 of 2015. After reading 257 books in 2015 one would think that this list be near impossible to narrow down to just 15. But surprisingly it wasn't that hard(well it was but I managed to do it). I read a lot of fantastic books, but I have some very clear favourites of them. Of course there's some that had to be cut, but that's why I do quarterly favourites posts, I want to showcase all my top reads throughout the year.
Let's just get into this. We'll start with some honorable mentions and than onto the countdown.

Honorable Mentions



15. Wicked by Jennifer L Armentrout

Well it's not a best of list without my drug of choice. Wicked is exactly that, wicked. It has JLA's signature humour and snappy writing. Of course the banter and swoon is at a 100%. I love Ivy's kick ass and sassy personality. Ren is super hot. And Tink. Tink is Tink. Although I wasn't surprised by the twist, I still loved the take on the fae world.

14. Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
This book was so adorable and hot. You may have noticed I'm getting more into M/M romance and I have to say that this one is my favourite. It has hockey(Toronto hockey even), best friends falling for each other, cuteness, swoon, very LGBT positive, and just a great story.

13. The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
The Last Time We Say Goodbye hits its readers right where it counts. I think Hand did a superb job of realistically portraying Lex's struggles with her brothers suicide. As well as the effects of Tyler's(Lex's brothers) depression and possibly misdiagnosed mental illness. The Last Time We Say Goodbye is an absolute beautiful story about loss and the struggles to over come it well trying to move forward in life. It's about learning that letting go doesn't mean forgetting and that it's alright to continue living your life.


12. The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
All it took was reading Emery Lord's debut, Open Road Summer last year to know that she was only going to write amazing books. The Start of Me and You is one of those happy medium YA contemps; not all fluff and not all dark. Paige goes through a great story arc where she finds herself after a tragic accident. 


11. Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
Challenger Deep is strong and honest portrayal of mental illness. I was able to see how someone like, Caden starts to spiral downward. How his mind is blurring the lines between reality and make believe. This is a hard book to read, but very powerful and one that should be read. Challenger Deep is very unique and vivid in the narrative. Very clever.

10. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
Ah, what a wonderfully fantastic book. It just felt so effortlessly written. The relationship was perfection. And the characters, just so much personality. Also a very sex positive book, which is hard to find in YA.


9. Addicted & Calloway Sisters series by Krista & Becca Ritchie
The twin goddesses. I devoured the Addicted series this year. So I really can't just pick a book from that series to say is the absolute best. I always say I'm a character driven reader and the Ritchie twins have given me my dream books with these six characters. Everything is so real and consuming. The series is truly addicting. I chose Fuel the Fire to showcase because it is my favourite of the series and Rose and Connor are everything.


8. Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven

It's impossible to not think of these as one book. The angst really pulled me in, but Cassie and Ethan's story and love kept me needing to turn every page. The love, attraction, heart break; it's all very real feeling and hit me hard in the feels.

7. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

This is the most beautiful book. The writing and the story is stunning. I am so in love and cannot wait to see what happens to Shahrzad.

6. The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian surprised me like hell. I thought it was going to be dull. Which is not even close to the case. It;s one the funniest and smartest books I've read. Mark Watney has the best sense of humor. And even with all the science I never was once lost. It was always explained without being dumb downed.

5. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Cool. Awesome. Unique, Thrilling. Funny. Kick ass heroine. All the things.

4. Winter by Marissa Meyer

Best series ender. Ever. The Lunar Chronicles is just all around amazing series. But Winter is just that much more because of all the amazing characters that come together. 

3. I'll Meet You There and Something Real by Heather Demetrios

If any author flew into my life and showed me how books are to be written in 2015, it's Heather Demetrios. Both I'll Meet You There and Something Real offer so much story, emotion and fantastic characters(and book boyfriends). I'm still not over them.

2. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

My bae. I read this book three times this year. Simon and Blue but the biggest smile on my face. And I just feel all wonderful and lovely and craving Oreos every time I read or think about this book.

1. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

2015, the year of the Simons. Carry On is just life. A few months later and I'm still thinking about how bloody brilliant this book is. Rowell's take on the "chosen one"trope is on point. Add in my absolute devotion to Simon and Baz and there is no way Carry On wasn't going to get the number one spot.

What's your guys favourite books from 2015?

Happy reading!

Brittany


9 comments:

  1. I think this should be the year I actually read Jennifer L. Armentrout. I've been talking about it forever but it definitely needs to happen. Now I just need to figure out where to start! I want to read more Rainbow Rowell, and try Colleen Hoover and read The Lunar Chronicles and ... Yeah I need to get reading! Great list! I think almost all of these are on my TBR and it's probably your fault :)

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    1. I'll take full responsibility for putting all those authors on your TBR. :)
      I think with Armentrout you should start with Don't Look Book. It's right up your alley. Plus it's a stand alone.
      I would also recommend starting with Attachments for Rowell. You'll love it.

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  2. Great picks!!! I have read a few of these myself and really loved them. I really disliked Heather Demetrios's Exquisite Captive, but took a chance on I'll Meet You There and Something Real and I really loved both. Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda was good, but I didn't absolutely love it as much as others seemed to. I don't know why though. I haven't read Carry On because I didn't enjoy Fangirl. I'm not sure if I should try it, but the Simon and Baz parts of the book were the ones I always skipped. Hmmmm... I don't know haha. I just finished Illuminae and I am soooooooo excited for the next book. YES!!! THE MARTIAN IS ONE OF MY NEW FAVOURITE BOOKS OF EVER. FUNNIEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME!!! Some of the others are on my TBR and I definitely need to get to them in 2016.

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    1. Demetrios's is one of my stand out authors from this year. I really liked Exquisite Captive, but it's not anywhere in the vicinity of I'll Meet You There and Something Real. Both are perfection.
      Well of course I'm going to say you should read Carry On. But hear me out; yes I love Fangirl and the Simon and Baz parts. Carry On is so much more. It's Rowell writing the last book in the Simon Snow series(so it is not Cath's fan fiction). And she takes the chosen one trope and spins it on its head. HP is life, but I've always said that Rowling took the easy way out in DH. And Simon and Baz are life.

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  3. Loved seeing your top picks of the year! I love several of these, too. Wicked didn't make my top of the year but I still enjoyed it so much. Ren was swoony and Tink was the star of the show. LOL I literally laughed out loud at several of Tink's lines. Can't wait for the next book! I love how you call Krista and Becca the twin goddesses. LOL Awesome. I just finished Addicted After All last week so Fuel the Fire will be the next one I pick up. Looking forward to more Coballaway goodness. It totally squeezed my heart to see I'll Meet You There. That book was like a punch to the heart. Made a huge impact on me and I haven't even written a review yet because I know I can't do it justice. Here's to reading more great books in 2016! :)

    Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

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    1. Tink is the star. Which is probably something we should keep on the down low since he's kind of obnoxious. Lol
      They are goddesses! God, look at what they write? Beautiful. Fuel the Fire is just everything. What Connor and Rose go through. I cannot wait to see your tears. HAHAHA
      I'll Meet You There was one of my first reads of 2015 and it stuck with me all the way through. It is emotional and impactful. And I NEED a sequel!

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    2. You're making me so nervous for Fuel the Fire.
      And a sequel for I'll Meet You There would be So Very Good!

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  4. I'm slowly reading November 9 on audio just now, so I'm excited that it got an honorable mention! I NEED TO GET THE START OF ME AND YOU! I don't even own it!! I need to make it a priority to buy a copy this year. A sex positive book? I need to read Anatomical. Winter and Simon <33333333

    I forgot all about reading Wicked last year actually. WHEN IS THE SEQUEL COMING OUT? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING FOR IT!

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    1. OH, you'll have to let me know what you think of November 9 when you finish it! A big step up from Confess and Never Never.
      I CANNOT believe you don't own it. Ah! Get it ASAP! Actually the paperback has an awesome cover, so maybe pre-order that?
      You know what? Wicked actually came out the end of 2014. Like what? Torn doesn't even have a release date or any info. :(

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