Hello all, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy holidays! Today I get to unveil one of my favorite posts of the year: my totally definitive Best Books of 2016! Read on to find out what I absolutely loved this year, and you could win one of my favorites!
Mostly YA Lit’s Best Books of 2016
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. I don’t often have a #1 book of the year, but this year The Serpent King is it. This YA about three best friends living in a super religious town will break your heart so hard. Incredibly, perfectly voiced. Read it now.
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Sometimes, you get hit in the feels with a book like this in December. A romance so quirky, adorable, and incredibly weird that you have to put it in your top 12. If you’re a contemporary romance reader who’s not scared of sexytimes, please pick up this amazing, hate-to-love office romance and squee with me.
- The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson. A summery romance full of complex friendships, book fandom, and awesome dogs. The perfect thing to sink into any time you need a smile – and we need quite a few this year. Also, it’s a YA book that reminds you how swoony a romance can be even after the characters get together, which I think is kinda rare.
- When We Collided by Emery Lord. Even though it’s not my personal fave Emery book, When We Collided is an incredibly intimate look at mental health issues and grief that held my heart so tightly during reading. Yes, it will make you sob, but it also has bittersweet scenes that will make you believe in love, family, and personal strength.
- This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills. Mills has made it to my auto-buy authors list with This Adventure Ends. A book about friends, a quest, and fanfiction, it’s a near perfect contemporary. Rich with characterization, slow-burn romance, and a refusal to allow for disengaged teenagers.
- The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater. I don’t usually read spec fic, but even I cannot deny the brilliance of this lushly written magical series. The Raven King is the perfect example of a great YA book – something that breathes coming-of-age, sophisticated language, and unpredictable but perfectly executed moments.
- If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo. A contemporary romance with gorgeous characterization about a transgender girl starting at a new school. Whether it’s the pitch-perfect voices or the compassion it has for all of its characters, their beliefs and friendships, this debut delicately shows you a trans experience without feeling like an issues book.
- The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt. This was one of the first books I read in 2016 and it’s stayed with me throughout the year. With characters that pop off the page, A to Z has steamy romance, great female friendship, baseball, family issues and more. For fans of Stephanie Perkins.
- Steadfast by Sarina Bowen. In the last two years, I’ve read almost all of Sarina’s catalogue, but this one is extra special. A vividly described romance between a former drug addict and a girl who is dealing with severe emotional abuse, Steadfast is dark, but it’s also brilliantly and sensitively written. These are people who are atoning for their mistakes, living with the worst parts of themselves, and trying to accept love in the meantime.
- Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Kaufman and Kristoff managed to pull off the near impossible with Gemina: they provided a worthy sequel to Illuminae. No, it’s not as good as Illuminae, but I think the romance is better. And anyone who is able to create an ending like that one deserves to be on this list.
- Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick. Very rarely does a book make me laugh out loud several times. The fact that Scrappy Little Nobody does so while making me fist pump for feminism makes it a perfect addition to this list.
- Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston. Sometimes you come across a book with such an unusual take on a topic that it sticks with you. BEARS!! was that book for me. Instead of going into the experience of rape and the rage of it, E.K. Johnston chooses to show what you, your friends and family should do if you are sexually abused. A hopeful book that strengthened my belief in survivors, not victims.
What books are on your top 10 – err, 12 – this year? Leave a comment and I’ll stop by! And hit the Rafflecopter for a chance to win any of these books. Open internationally.
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish to highlight a top ten list related to book blogging, and to get to know fellow book bloggers.
Oh the Serpent King looks good! I just added that to my TBR for 2017. Still working on my Top Ten-ish books.
I absolutely MUST read Emery’s and Morgan’s respective 2016 releases! Guess they’ll be musts in 2017. 🙂 🙂 🙂
YES YES YES, The Serpent King was my #1 best book of the year too! I did a 2016 wrap up post (besides this TTT), and The Serpent King completely overshadowed everything else haha. It really was just SO good, I was amazed by how much it stood out to me, since I read it in early January.
Also, for the giveaway, I’d want to win Gemina because I’ve been dying to read it but I just haven’t had the chance yet!
Oh yes for Emery Lord. It wasn’t my favourite of her books but I was still so impressed!
I’m not sure… I want to read The Serpent King, This Adventure Ends, If I Was Your Girl, and The Distance from A to Z, but I think This Adventure Ends wins. 🙂
I’d like to win Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, because I’ve read Illuminae and am dying to read the sequel!!! :]
Thanks so much for the giveaway! <3
This was an easy choice as I would like Gemina. The visual layout of Illuminae was so interesting that I am anticipating the same for the sequel and best read in print, not an ebook due to it.
My best read was Gemina,I think is better than Illuminae.Hannah is so funny meanwhile Kady is a little annoying.I didn’t see coming all the plot twist.It was more complicated,the illustations are amazing (thanks to Marie Lu) and the format is once again genius.
Stalking with my email,thanks for the chance
You know, I’m actually in the mood for something new and different, so I’d love to try Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston.
Clicked the post comment early by accident. I wanted to say I’m really curious about most of the books on your list. I’ve heard of some of them, but a few are new to me. I can’t wait to read them. Thanks for the chance 😀
The book I would love to read the most is Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston.as I am one of those survivors.
Sarina Bowen is an auto for me so Steadfast. The Raven King is a great book. I loved the Raven Cycle series and have it. Maggie’s books are already on my shelves since my daughters and I all like them. We watched Twilight this weekend and once again I am amazed at Anna Kendrick. Such a small part but she really stood out. I really like her acting and would read this book.
For me it would be When We Collided 🙂
The Hating Game is on the top of my reading list for next year! It looks so good!!
Last year, almost everything I read was romance and this year I branched out a bit (yay!). But I also miss the witty banter and love-to-hate relationships. I’ve heard good things about The Hating Game, so that’s on my reading list for next year.
I’d love to win Gemina because its been the top on my want list since its come out! Thanks for the chance!
So glad you enjoyed these books!
I think I’d either choose Gemina or If I Was Your Girl! Thank you for doing this 🙂
could you use Wordery as Book depository do not ship to my place 😛
I want 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11 because I really want to read all of these 😀
I would like to win The Raven King because I love Maggie Stiefvater’s writing and I love The Raven Boys series!! Thanks for the giveaway!! ?
I think I’d most like to win The Hating Game by Sally Thorne because it sounds just like my kind of romance!
I would love to read The Raven King by Maggie Stievater! Thank you
I’d love to win “Exit, Pursued by a Bear.” The title is awesome and the story sounds really compelling. I’ve wanted to read it since it came out.
Thanks for the chance! 🙂
I’d love to get This Adventure Ends or The Distance From A to Z. I’ve heard such wonderful things about both books and have been meaning to read them.
I’m really curious about The Serpent King 🙂
I would love If I Was Your Girl.
It sounds like a really good read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Well, there are 4 that are on my TBR: The Hating Game, The Unexpected Everything, This Adventure Ends, and Exit, Pursued by a Bear. I want to read these, because I have heard great things about all of these books
If I was Your Girl sound genuinely original and heart stealing
The Raven King!! because I haven’t had a chance to read it yet and I so want to know what happens!! Love the story and the characters!!
I would love to win The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson, I have heard so many good things about this one, and I haven’t had a chance to pick up any Morgan Matson yet.
I’d LOVE When We Collided, becuase I’ve heard it portrays anxiety beautifully!
Ooh, so many awesome choices. I also LOVED The Serpent King and Gemina. I enjoyed The Raven King, The Hating Game, The Unexpected Everything, and If I Was Your Girl, too! Scrappy Little Nobody is at the top of my TBR– just downloaded the audiobook.
I would love to win This Adventure Ends, because I’ve had my eye on it for quite a while! Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
The Hating Game! I have heard so many good things about it!
if I was your girl sounds AMAZING and I’ve been dying to read it all year
Good list!!! The ones I’ve read, I’ve loved as well. I’d love to win The Hating Game bc I definitely need a hard copy of it as well. 🙂
I’d like Gemina. I read Illuminae and really enjoyed it. Thanks for the giveaway!
Amazing list. At the top of my list would be Lady Midnight and Court of Mist and Fury. They were so good!
Loved the Hating Game and The Unexpected Everything. I just raff Illuminae and need to read Gemina now! Great list!
I’d love The Serpent King!
The Raven King!!! I’ve never been disappointed by anything Maggie Stiefvater and cannot wait to enjoy this one, too <3
Great top 10 list.. so much variety 🙂 I’m definitely intrigued for The Hating Game!
I’d love to win If I Was Your Girl or Steadfast. Both books have POVs I’d love to read from – the first from a trans person and the other about a drug addict. Just about every book I’ve read with a person struggling with addiction has been compelling and given me more insight into the problem many people have. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I want to win The Raven King because I haven’t read it yet and I have heard so many good things about it. I love your top ten list and many of your top ten are also my ten except for the ones I haven’t read yet.
I woul love The Raven King. Just because the cover looks amazing! 🙂
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Great list and because I trust your judgment..cant wait to read The Serpent King!
So many great books and many that were on my TBR for the year, that I didn’t get round to. I’d LOVE Exit, Pursued by a Bear. It sounds amazing, I’ve heard great things and the cover is simply stunning. Thanks for the giveaway and happy 2017! Hope you discover just as many great books this year!
Great List! I would have to pick The Hating Game because everyone is telling me to read it!
Thanks for the chance to win! I would probably choose When We Collided because I’ve heard amazing things about Emery Lord but have yet to read her.
I would LOVE to win Scrappy Little Nobody..I don’t know why I haven’t read it yet!!
I think I would pick The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner so that after I was done, my son could read it too.
I’ve read and loved a few of the books on your list, so I would probably go with either The Unexpected Everything (read all Morgan Matson’s books besides this one) or The Serpent King (intrigued with it and also everybody read, loved and recommended it).
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo. We rarely get to see trans characters as protagonists so I’m definitely interested!
I would like to read the Unexpected Everything, gotta love a book with awesome dogs!
I’d love to win The Unexpected Everything because I’ve loved Morgan Matson’s other books, they’re always full of friendship and emotion. The Hating Game also appeals to me since it’s sounds like rom-com in book form, and it’s been awhile since I’ve found a good one of those.
I’d have to say THE HATING GAME because I have heard all the buzz about that!
I wanted to read all of those books, but never got around to it!! 🙁 Gemina, Anna Kndrick’s book and Exit, Pursued by a Bear are my top 3 picks for my TBR. My top 3 books from 2016 were: Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
A huge thank you for making your giveaway international! This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills is a book that I would love to own. It sounds so good and the cover is stunning.
I would love to get a copy of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne! I love a good hate-to-love story and this one is totally it. Thank you for the giveaway 😀
I would love to read the Hating game because the title is interesting 🙂
Τhank you!
Great list
this is amazing, thanks for the chance.
Great website and insightful review of GEMINA, Tiff! I agree with much of what you said. I’d love to win SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY. I have it on hold at the library but it’ll take a year to finally be available. LOL. Anna Kendrick is awesome; I’m in the mood for some laughs. Please check out my article on Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s visit to Colorado at http://www.KatValdezWriter.wordpress.com/blog Thanks!
I want to read Scrappy Little Nobody. Why? Because I want to read how she went from a nobody to a somebody . . . a star in film and on stage…and a houshold name.
I didn’t make a top ten or top twelve, but I did really, really enjoy the Prisoners of Peace series right at the end of the year.
OH and If I Was Your Girl I think because it’s on my to-read list for this year, but almost any of them I’d be cool with 🙂
Happy New Year! It’s super hard to decide between Scrappy Little Nobody and The Hating Game. I’ve heard great things about both, but I might be leaning more towards THG because of the cute swoony romance. I like to say I enjoy memoirs… and I typically do, but they are not always what I gravitate to first. Then again, I love Anna Kendrick. So hard to choose! Thank you for the giveaway. 🙂
I read a bunch of these this year & so good! If I was to win, I would like When we Collided! Cheers!
To be completely honest, I haven’t had the time to think about my best books of 2016. But I know something: Gemina is somewhere on that top 10 😀 What a book, my God! I LOVED IT!
The year ended and I couldn’t get to read The Unexpected Everything, by Morgan Matson, so if I won, I’d definitely pick that one! I’ve read many people raving about it <3 Plus, it's Summer in my country, and I could use a summery read at the moment ^^ Thanks for the giveaway, Tiff!!!
I would love to read/win This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills because your book summary made my heart happy!
I’d love to win either This Adventure Ends (Emma Mills) or The Unexpected Everything (Morgan Matson), as I’ve heard so many good things about the two of them, and both have been in my TBR for quite some time. Thanks for the giveaway!!!!!
I’d love to win Gemina! Illuminae was unique and I haven’t had my hands on the second book yet.
Thank you for the giveaway!