Tuesday 15 December 2015

Top Ten Tuesday | Best Books of 2015


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!


This week's theme is 'Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2015', and considering how wonderful this past reading year has been I had a lot of books to choose from. There were a few graphic novels I loved this year too, but to make things a little easier for myself I decided to leave them out and just talk about traditional novels instead.

I've put these in the order I read them because I couldn't possibly rank them, although there are one or two that have made it onto my all-time favourite books list!



Burial Rites by Hannah Kent: This is the very first book I read this year, and it started a year of fantastic reading for me. It's a brilliant read for the winter months, so now is a perfect time to pick it up! It'll break your heart, but it's beautifully written.

My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland: This book made my list because it took me by surprise. I expected to like it - it sounded fun, and I loved the cover - but I flew through it and just loved it. It's such a great urban fantasy read!

Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Another one that took me completely by surprise and wrung me out so it could collect all of my emotions in a little tin bucket. This is my favourite book of 2015. There. I said it. It's also a book that I'm desperate for more people to read, because other than my friend Natalie @ A Sea Change I haven't seen any other bloggers talking about it and it's so good. Please read it!

How To Be a Heroine by Samantha Ellis: I was really disappointed when this memoir ended. I just really enjoyed it, and if you're a fan of literary heroines I think you'd like it a lot, too. I know some people aren't keen on non-fiction, but I can promise you that this is a truly excellent memoir.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Yup. I finally read To Kill a Mockingbird this year and I loved it. It's such a shame that Harper Lee never wrote anything else. (Yes, I know there's Go Set a Watchman, but don't let publishers trick you - it's not a sequel, it's basically a manuscript of what To Kill a Mockingbird might have been if her editor hadn't told her to write more about Scout's childhood.) In Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Elizabeth Gilbert talks a little bit about Harper Lee, and how the huge success that was To Kill a Mockingbird made Harper Lee afraid to write anything else because it could never be as good. I wish people didn't ask authors - or anyone in any sort of field - how they're going to 'top' their biggest success. You can't top your biggest success, that's why it's your biggest success, and I hope writers who do well continue to write for their own enjoyment like J.K. Rowling has done.


The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison: Another book that is one of the very best I've read this year. It's perfection. I've been wary of high fantasy for a couple of years, I found myself struggling to get into it as easily as I used to, but this I adored. I fell into this world and I was genuinely gutted when it was over. Maia is definitely my favourite character of the year.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters: I bloody loved The Little Stranger, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I read that final page. If you like ghost stories, particularly ghost stories set in old houses, you'll like this.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: Definitely the best YA book I've read this year, and another one that took me completely by surprise. I knew people were rating it highly but, and I mean this with the greatest respect, I see a lot of readers on Goodreads rate every YA book they read 5 stars, so I was expecting this to be, well, like every other YA book out there. Boy was I wrong. It's so funny and realistic and just a genuinely good book. Loved it!

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton: Like Burial Rites, The Miniaturist is another gorgeous historical fiction debut. I loved it a lot, and I can't wait for Burton's next novel, The Muse.

Winter by Marissa Meyer: I couldn't not have this book on my list. It's not my favourite book in The Lunar Chronicles - that's probably Cress - but it did bring to an end one of my favourite series, so I had to include it!

Which books made your list this week?

20 comments:

  1. Simon Vs nearly made my list this week too, just because it was just such an awesome surprised but it was outranked. Great list, happy readings :)

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  2. Burial Rites is in my ereader and I hope to get to it in the new year. It's nice to see To Kill a Mockingbird on your list. It is a favorite of mine as well.

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  3. I read the Miniaturist too. I didn't like it quite as much as you did, but it was still a good read. I haven't read any of the others on your list, but I have the Lunar Chronicles on my TBR list.

    Here's my Top Ten Tuesday

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  4. Can't wait to read Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda!
    Great List!

    My TTT! :D

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  5. I loved Burial Rites, and I read TKAM this year too! (It would have gone on my top 10 list, but I excluded re-reads -- oh well.) I love Sarah Waters, and really need to read The Paying Guests. I think I need to check out The Goblin Emperor -- sounds great!

    Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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  6. I haven't read any of these, but there are quite a few that are on my TBR list!

    My TTT.

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  7. I'm glad to see To Kill a Mockingbird made your list! I read it in high school and really enjoyed it, but I think it would be hard to read it for the first time this year with all the hype around it and the newest release. I really need to reread it soon. I loved Simon too! I've seen him on a lot of lists. Of course Waters is still on my TBR; I'll get to her someday! Great List!
    Thanks for stopping by the The Local Muse

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  8. Wonderful list Jess^^ I still need to read Winter but it's going to be my very next read! I can't wait to compare notes with you on it, especially since Cress is currently my favorite of the series too :) The Goblin Emperor and The Miniaturist are both on my tbr shelf, so hopefully I'll get to them soon!

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  9. Ah, there are so many awesome books on your list. I adored To Kill A Mockingbird, I'm glad that you enjoyed it too.

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  10. I really enjoyed reading To Kill A Mockingbird!! I look forward to reading Go Set A Watchman as well.

    Here's a link to my Top Ten Tuesday post for this week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-best-books-i.html

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  11. I very much want to read How to be a Heroine! So glad to hear you enjoyed it :) My TTT

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  12. Awesome list! I want to read the minaturist. It looks amazing. Here is my TTT http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2015/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-ya-novels-i.html?m=0

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  13. It's funny, I have Winter on my list for basically the same reason! (Though my fav is still Cinder).
    How to be A Heroine sounds really interesting, I will definitely have to check it out. Same for "The Little Stranger," as I am always in search of a good ghost story. Lovely list :)

    My TTT: http://rlhendrian.blogspot.com/2015/12/ttt-top-10-books-i-read-in-2015.html

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  14. I am actually a bit scared to read Winter! I love that series to death, and I really don't want to bid farewell to the characters!

    Here's my list

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  15. I know I am in the minority here, but Winter really did not live up to my expectations! I enjoyed Cress and Fairest so much more!

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    1. I am in the minority with you. Winter was just not as good to me as it was for others. Cress made it to my Top 10 list though!

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  16. I'm so glad you loved TKAM! I'm tempted to read GSAW just because, but I also feel really iffy about it because of the whole scandal surrounding its release. So for now I'm not buying it.

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  17. I have seen Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens featured on so many lists. Guess I should get it.

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  18. White Trash Zombie sounds like a lot of fun. :)

    Check out my TTT and my current giveaway.

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  19. "Burial Rites" has been on my to-read list forever! Maybe I'll follow your lead and make it my first read of 2016! :)

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