With only a few days left of the year, it's time to look back and see which books have stood out. I've read 80 books this year so it took me a while to decided the ten best ones. The stories are all very different and unique (from different genres too) but somehow, they have all managed to stay with me during this eventful year. Here's my selection, in no particular order:
The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman
What a well crafted and magical story this is. It left me completely in awe, as it's like nothing I had read before. Rowan Coleman makes you believe that the impossible is possible and takes you in a journey like no other.
The Song of Tomorrow by Alice Peterson
Since discovering Alice Peterson a few years ago, I've fallen in love with every single book she has written. Her stories always make me cry but somehow, she always manages to make feel better about life. And A Song for Tomorrow is no different in this sense, an unforgettable heart-breaking and uplifting story, but it's also so much more. I'd might even say that A Song for Tomorrow is Alice Peterson at her best.
The Last Piece of My Heart by Paige Toon
When I first discovered Paige Toon a few years ago, I was completely captivated by her love stories and she soon became one of my favorite authors. But in her last few books she has reached a new level, her stories are always something special, full of heart, with incredible settings and complex characters that feel absolutely real. And The Last Piece of My Heart is the perfect example of this.
Lost for Words by Stephanie Butland
This story is a book lover's dream, with endless references to all our favorite books, charming and really interesting characters and the perfect setting, a bookshop full of rarities, surprises and secrets.
The Place We Met by Isabelle Broom
Isabelle Broom is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is a truly special and magical story, with a stunning setting, really interesting characters and lots of surprises in store for them and us.
Coming Home to the Comfort Food Café by Debbie Johnson
There's nothing I didn't love in this story. Although this is the third book in the Comfort Food Café series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Catching up with the old characters was a treat but getting to know the new characters was even better. I hadn't read a story that had left me with such a great feeling of joy and a such a warm heart in a long while. I think this is Debbie Johnson's best yet.
I Heart Forever by Lindsey Kelk
I hadn't realised how much I had missed Angela, Jenny and the gang until I was back with them. This is a real treat for I Heart fans, it's exactly what we were wishing for: laughs, tears, love, weddings, fights, mistakes, challenges and so much more.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
What a book, what a story, what a main character! Unbelievably good and definitely a firm contender to book of the decade. A fantastic story with a well-thought plot and with complex and engaging characters that handles an important and current topic.
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
On first sight, the plot for this story is not really complex, two girls trying to gather clues about a famous disappearance. But everything that happens around it, the characters, their conversations, their interactions, their struggles, their inner worlds... is what makes this book so special. It's definitely different from John Green's previous books but so so good. I am sure this book will touch many readers.
Margot & Me by Juno Dawson
A story about coming out of age in two very different times but that reminds us about all the good and important things in life. A beautiful novel that will move many hearts.
