2016 has come to an end and it’s always fun to look back and check what we’ve accomplished. I set up my goal for 50 books, which for me was a lot, and I did it! Of course, not all the books were favorites, so I wanted to share with you the ones that I truly loved here.
It was hard, but I narrowed them down as much as I could and divided them into two categories: Novels and Others. They are in no particular order and I only put the first book of the series because I’m lazy (sorry). Let’s check them out!
NOVELS
NIGHT FILM BY MARISHA PESSL
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
A book that kept me glued to the page, made me second guess plot twist after plot twist, and that crafted an incredible and creepy atmosphere unlike any other. It deals with a reporter following the suicide of an elusive and mysterious filmmaker’s daughter.
POISON STUDY BY MARIA V. SNYDER
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
An action-packed story featuring great distinct characters, interesting world-building, and a nice romance (which I don’t say lightly). It’s the start of a very popular series and it follows an ex-prisioner who becomes the food taster for the Commander. She must learn all about poisons and face constant dangers.
YOU BY CAROLINE KEPNES
Genre: Psychological Thriller
I loved its incredibly creepy narration and its deeply flawed characters. Joe narrates the book in the second person dedicated to the girl he is stalking. Despite Joe being an awful human being, the book messes with you and makes you like him. What more can you ask from a psychological thriller other than to mess with your head?
THE RAVEN CYCLE BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
The books that I first read when I started blogging. The hype was real for me with these ones. Despite having a weak plot, a final book that I didn’t like, and other problematic stuff in between, the characters shined through and I loved them. If you want to read character-driven novels about a Welsh king, future tellers, a magic forest, and a ghost (among many other magical things), pick this series up.
THE ENGELSFORS TRILOGY BY MATS STRANDBERG & SARA B. ELFGREN
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
This trilogy also won me with its characters. They grow so much and they are all so complex! Also, the plot was great. The books deal with a group of very different teenage witches that discover their powers and have to come together to beat evil down. I love how it all comes together little by little with each book.
THE OTHER EINSTEIN BY MARIE BENEDICT
Genre: Historical Fiction
A book that introduced me to an amazing historical figure: Mileva Marić. She was one of the first few women that studied a science in Switzerland. Oh, and she was also Albert Einstein’s first wife. This book asks the questions: What if Mileva was the one behind the theories? How did she struggle as a woman of science back then? It poses thought-provoking questions, as historical fiction tends to do.
Also, I did an author interview for the blog tour and you can check it out here.
OTHERS
A GUIDE TO BEING BORN BY RAMONA AUSUBEL
Genre: Short stories, Magical Realism
These stories are bizarre, unique, and I think I read them at the perfect time. My family was going through something tough and I connected with this book from page one. It’s divided in four parts: Birth, Gestation, Conception, and Love. Each story is so different, I can’t even begin to explain this collection. It features a story where people grow arms when they fall in love and another one where a guy has drawers in his chest when he becomes jealous of his pregnant wife. Wonderfully weird.
SALT BY NAYYIRAH WAHEED
Genre: Poetry
One of the first poetry collections I fell in love with. I think its description makes it justice:
Salt is a journey through warmth and sharpness. This collection of poetry explores the realities of multiple identities, language, diasporic life & pain, the self, community, healing, celebration, and love.
MILK AND HONEY BY RUPI KAUR
Genre: Poetry
Another beautiful collection. It’s heartbreakingly honest and one that I can’t wait to reread. It is divided in four chapters: hurting, loving, breaking, and healing. It’s perfect to pick up when you are feeling down and maybe want to cry or when you want to feel better and need some kind words.
THE UNIVERSE OF US BY LANG LEAV
Genre: Poetry
Simple and honest and dedicated to love and loss. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity. Sometimes the shortest sentences can mean more than the longest novels.
NIMONA BY NOELLE STEVENSON
Genre: Graphic novel
The cutest characters, illustrations, and plot ever. I was so sad when I finished because I never wanted it to end. There’s a shape-shifting main character, a knight, and a villain with beautiful and complicated relationships and a backdrop of magic, science, and a medieval world with technology.
THE BEAUTY BY ALIYA WHITELEY
Genre: Novella, Science Fiction
A world with no women. A community of men sit at night to hear stories about how they were. Mushrooms start growing in women’s graves. Are you intrigued? This novella’s writing is exquisite, the themes of gender roles, sexuality, power, and so many more are presented in the most unique ways. If you like weird though-provoking reads, please read this one and let’s discuss it.
Chapter Adventures 
You is amazing ❤ I also liked Night Film ^^Happy new year!
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Right? I’m glad you also liked those books! Now I’m really considering reading the sequel for You, because I’ve heard nice things along with bad ones and I’m curious. Thank you, and happy new year to you too!
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It’s awesome that Poison Study is here! I’m glad you enjoyed it enough to call it a favorite. I hope you continue with the series this year 😊
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Yess! I have book 2 reserved for a special date this month 🙂
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Yay! I hope you love it 😀
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Thank you ❤ I'm very excited!
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I also really enjoyed Night Film, and it’s one of my favorite reads of the year. The Other Einstein sounds quite intriguing too, and I am definitely adding it to my to-read list. Great list!
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I’m glad you also enjoyed Night Film! It was a very unique mystery and I can’t wait to read more from that author. Yaay, I hope you enjoy it, although it’s a bittersweet read. Thank you ❤
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I also loved You by Caroline Kepnes! I need to read Hidden Bodies soon. I couldn’t believe how much I liked Joe’s character and how fascinating I thought he was lol, it defiantly messes with your mind!
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Right?! It makes you feel bad to like him, but that’s how it shows the writing is great. I would love to hear your thoughts on Hidden Bodies. Everyone says different things and I’m still not sure if I’ll read it, but I think I might.
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I enjoyed both You and Nimona in 2016 too. I should read Hidden Bodies but my copy is underneath my TBR pile somewhere!!
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I’m glad you enjoyed them, too. They were both so awesome. I’m still considering if I should read Hidden Bodies because I’ve read mixed reviews, but with each passing day I get more curious about it. I might have to give it a go this year if I get it. I hope you find your hidden copy 😛
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I kept hearing about Poison Study awhile back and I’d completely forgotten about it until now, it sounds super like my sort of thing. I’ve added a lot of these to my TBR (just as I’m trying to reduce it down, damn, haha).
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It was everywhere a few years back. Now you’ll probably hear about the last one of the series, because it’s coming out this year! I hope you love it 😀 I’m happy I got your TBR longer, these are worth it haha 😉
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These look awesome! I haven’t heard of any of these books except for one or two, can’t wait to make my TBR list longer!
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I’m always happy to introduce people to books, so yaay! 😀
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Night Film is on my to read asap pile. I’ve heard so many great things. And also You is another book that I’ve been wanting to pick up for the longest time but never gotten around to but definitely will soon.
Milk and Honey made an appearance on my list too. I absolutely loved it. Great List you got here 😀
Chlo xxx
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You have GOT to read those two books, they are fantastic. I’m happy to hear we share Milk and Honey as favorites! It’s a beautiful poetry collection. Thank you 😀
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I hadn’t read most books on this list buuuut I loved The Raven Cycle as well! ❤ I binge read the whole series on September and I can't wait to read Maggie's other books 😀 I've also heard a lot of good things about Poison Study and Nimona! Graphic novel was never my thing but who knows, I might give it a shot sometimes haha and so glad to see you found a lot of new favorite this year! Hope 2017 will be just as awesome, if not more 🙂
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Thank you! I also binge read the series haha, it was so good to have all the books already published. Poison Study is like a classic fantasy young adult, it’s fun and fast-paced so I think most people will like it. And Nimona is the cutest. I think it’s a great graphic novel to start getting into that genre more 🙂
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Yesssss. NIGHT FILM!!!! I love that book so, so much. Also yes at The Raven Boys, You, Nimona and milk and honey!!! A Guide to Being Born is on my TBR and I’m really excited to (eventually, ha!) get to it.
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Yess, those books are all so good. I was surprised to see how many favorites I got this year! I’m always a little scared/excited to recommend A Guide to Being Born because it’s pretty weird, but it just means a lot to me and I hope you love it as much as I did (when you eventually get to it haha).
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I’m glad to see The Raven Boys on this list, I love this book so, so much. I was so scared of the hype, but I’m glad it lived up to it 🙂 Also, I heard a lot about Nimona, and even if I am not much into graphic novels, I really want to try this one 🙂 I hope you’ll read tons of great books this year as well! 🙂
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I was also scared of The Raven Boys because of the hype but I’m so glad I gave it a try ❤ I’m glad I’m not the only one haha Have you read all four books in the series? Do you have a favourite character?
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Not yet, I only read the first two books for now, but I’m hoping to finish it soon 🙂 Ohh it’s so hard to choose, I’m growing very fond of Ronan right now, but my heart has such a special place for Ronan… What about you ?
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I’m on book 2 but I also want to finish it soon. Maybe 2017? We’ll see.
I like them all, it’s so haaaard. I liked Gansey and Noah from the beginning, and Ronan has grown in me, so (I’m going to chose 2, sorry not sorry) Gansey and Ronan.
Just found your blog, btw 😉
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I was also a little afraid of it when I read the blurb of the Raven Boys because it felt like a romance, which I’m not fond of, but it was so much more! Nimona is adorable and perfect to get you into graphic novels, I hope you try it out. Thank you! ❤
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Sooooo happy to see Poison Study in there! I’ve also read it in 2016 and loved it ❤❤ It’s unusual to see it on blogs, probably because it came out like 10 years ago, but still, so goood!
Apart from that I’ve only read The Raven Boys from your list, and it was a nice surprise. Those characters are so unique and lovely ❤
I have yet to read Nimona (I’ve read Lumberjanes though) but I’m so excited. This one also has a great set of characters it seems.
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Yaaay!! Poison Study love 😀 Have you read any others from the series? I’m reading the second one later this month. Did you know the last book comes out this year?! It’s like a super long series now, although I think it was originally a trilogy. The Raven Boys definitely had awesome characters, very unique. And Nimona is just so cute. You have to read it. Maybe the characters don’t get as developed as the ones in Lumberjanes do because it’s only one graphic novel and not a series, but they are still awesome.
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I loved it ❤ I haven't, unfortunately 😦 A reading slump hit me and now I'm afraid. Is it the last one? That's sad. I knew there were more trilogies to the "series", but I thought they were from different characters, are they not? They are in the same world but the characters are not the same. I hope you enjoy the second book ❤
Well, sometimes with longer series they tend to get comfortable with the characters, so I don't mind Nimona being a standalone. Have you read Lumberjanes then?
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Sorry about your slump! 😦
I read the first line of the blurb of the last book and it mentioned the same characters from the first (and it was a bit spoilery, so I stoppped reading). Maybe it ends with them but the other ones were with secondary characters or completely new characters. I’m not quite sure and I don’t want to risk more spoilers, so I’ve not looked into to it 😛
I haven’t read Lumberjanes, but I really want to. I keep seeing the covers around Goodreads and 😍
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I haven’t look much into it for the exact same reasons, but they might be doing what you said, it seems reasonable. I doubt all the books are about them, that would be too much. Each trilogy has different main characters but then, as the series progresses, the books connect.
I’ll certainly be reading your review whenever you write it 😉
What happens to you with Lumberjanes is what happens to me with Nimona. I hope you like them if you do ❤
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That sounds right. I’m sure it’s like that! Thank you. I’ll review it when I do get to read it 😀
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