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Finding New Favorites in 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic/top ten list and invite everyone to share their own answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so it makes perfect sense that I'd love this feature!

So, I've been on a reading streak this year and have somehow already read 81 books. I know, it's a little bit insane that I've devoured so many books. Typically, I'd have hit some sort of a slump by now. I can't believe I haven't gotten even a little burned out on books this year. However, it made it almost impossible to choose just 10 books for this list! I still can't be believe that I (kind of) did it.

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year


Top 5 Standalones

1. I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe
"Rosetta became one of my all-time favorite characters by the time I closed the book. I could imagine all the real, flesh-and-blood women like her who risked it all. And it's the biggest compliment I can give this book to tell you that it made the past come alive for me. This book is exactly why I love historical fiction. I can't recommend I Shall Be Near to You enough!" | My Thoughts
2. A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller
I love historical fiction, but I don't feel like I've read much of it in the young adult genre. So, I was really excited when A Mad, Wicked Folly got on my radar. I absolutely loved how the suffragette movement was depicted through an unconventional, sassy heroine like Victoria Darling. The research that went into this book was evident, as was the passion for this story and its characters! | Review to Come
3. Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
"In Open Road Summer, Emery Lord has written a story about loyalty, love and loss... and all the complicated things in between. This book has so much heart, and you don't want to miss it! I was enchanted by the characters and their stories, and I can't wait for more readers to discover this talented author in her incredible debut." | My Thoughts
4. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
"I closed this book with a huge grin on my face, and I immediately wanted to read it again. I haven't re-read it yet, but I totally will before the end of the year. The Sea of Tranquility is emotional, romantic, heartbreaking, infuriating, hilarious, amazing, intense and just downright wonderful. Adjective overload? Maybe. But it's totally deserving!" | My Thoughts
5. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
"Well, this book completely surprised me. I loved the way it was written: flipping between flashbacks telling Ben and Elsie's story and Elsie's present-day life without Ben. Reid's writing really made me fall in love with the characters and connect emotionally to the story. This is one of my more recent favorite adult fiction favorites, and I'm looking forward to more from Reid in the future." | My Thoughts 
Honorable Mentions: Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen and Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Top 5 Books in a Series

1. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutowski
"I almost didn't write a review for The Winner's Curse because it's already gotten so much buzz, and I'm not sure if I can even do it justice. But I do want to put my two cents in and tell you something very important: for me, this book absolutely surpassed all of my expectations for it." | My Thoughts
2. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
"The series is consistent overall: world-building and plot take second stage to characters, writing and emotion. To be completely honest, there isn't a huge change or shift in the final book when it comes to those aspects of the books. Ignite Me picks up right where Unravel Me (or Fracture Me) leaves off and ends in a way that remains true to the story Mafi started telling in the first place. It might not be the story everyone wanted, but I think it's a story worth reading and a discussion worth having." | My Thoughts
3. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
I pre-ordered Dark Triumph before it released, but I always intended to re-read Grave Mercy before diving in. Somehow, before I knew it, an entire year had passed. I finally got my head on straight and read Sybella's story. While the tone is much darker than the first book, I only fell more in love with this series in these pages. Sybella is a fierce, richly drawn character, and I loved seeing her meet her match and find healing from her past. | Review to Come
4. The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
I'm almost surprised that a group of novellas is making my list of top ten books I've read so far this year, but I'm learning to never doubt Sarah J. Maas. With a deft hand, she portrays the events before Throne of Glass and shows how Celaena became the skilled, fierce woman that readers have come to know and love. Each story shows you an aspect of Celaena's past that has led to her present and will likely influence her future. | Review to Come
5. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
"With evocative writing, a richly imagined world and epic characters, there's so much to fall in love with in these pages. Seriously, I can't even do Taylor's writing justice - it's so gorgeous! Be prepared to lose yourself in this world and fall head over heels in love with these characters as the battle between good and evil divides friends and foes." | My Thoughts 
Honorable Mentions: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons, To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

12 comments

  1. So . . . I haven't read any of these - but I want to! Many of them are on my own TBR pile, so thanks for letting me know they're pretty awesome :)

    My TTT!

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  2. So many fabulous books! I think I would like to read every single one of these eventually :)

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  3. A Mad Wicked Folly sounds really interesting. I really like historical fiction as well. I'll have to add it to my to-read list!
    Shaina, @Crazy4Fiction
    www.crazy4fiction.com

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  4. A MAD, WICKED FOLLY almost made my list, but IGNITE ME, OPEN ROAD SUMMER, and DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE did. I really need to read THE ASSASSIN'S BLADE already, because I love that series. And I am LOVING the spine of I SHALL BE NEAR YOU.

    Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf

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  5. Look at all those gorgeous books! The Sea of Tranquility is a favorite of mine as well. Normally I'm not one to love an angsty book, but the emotions are so real, the writing so good, and the boy so swoony that I couldn't help but fall in love. Also, YAY for Dark Triumph! Mortal Heart is even better. ;)

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  6. I'm thrilled to see a bunch of my favorite novels in your pile for this week's TTT! I loved Open Road Summer just as much as you did, for the friendship and the feels and the romance. I loved Dark Triumph, because Sybella is a kick-ass girl and Beast is a kick-ass boy and together, they, well, they kick ass! I also really, really love The Assassin's Blade, because, hello, I'm a Throne of Glass/Sarah J. Maas fangirl!

    Also, I just started Daughter of Smoke and Bone this past weekend. I'm loving the beautiful writing, the setting(s) and the characters! Curious to see where it goes from the point I'm at. Also, I promise, Ignite Me and A Mad Wicked Folly will definitely get read... soon. Ish.

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  7. Thanks to this post I have found a bunch of new books to add to my TBR pile! :) I actually haven't read any of these and since we seem to have similar taste, I'm excited to get to some of these books. I'm especially looking forward to reading The Sea of Tranquility and The Assassin's Blade. That last one I already have on hold at the library!

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  8. A Mad Wicked Folly and The Winner's Curse made my list too! I freaking love A Mad Wicked Folly. The history, the suffragette movement, and Will!! OMG WILL! I am so in love with him.

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  9. Your picture of physical books is so pretty! I wish I could do the same, but the vast majority of the books I read are either ebooks or borrowed from my library. I'm also currently out of shelf space- but it looks so nice to have your books lined up like that!
    I've only read 2 of the books you list here - clearly I need to look into these other ones you've named! I'm definitely interested in continuing with LaFevers' and Mafi's series, starting Maas' series, and reading Open Road Summer and I Shall Be Near to You! :)

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  10. I love this list Hannah! Open Road Summer is actually the only one of these that I have read (it's also on my top ten of 2014 list), but I own I Shall Be Near to You and A Mad, Wicked Folly, both of which I'm very excited to read. I can always count on you for introducing me to new books, and I was completely unfamiliar with Forever, Interrupted until I read this post. How did I not know about this book? It sounds so much like a ME book! It's going on my TBR list immediately! :)

    Oh oh oh, and I see that you're reading One Plus One right now. I can't wait to hear what you think! It's on my top ten of 2014 list-- I actually loved it more than Me Before You (even though they're such different books and there's really no comparison). Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

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  11. YAY lined up all nice and preeeeeetty. Gosh, so many that I love there too! Open Road Summer, Dark Triumph, The Sea of Tranquility EEEEE! Lovely choices!

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