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 'Best Books You've Read In 2017 So Far', and while I feel like I'm having a more positive reading year, and more positive year all-round, than last year, I'm still not reading as much as I'd like to be and I haven't read many amazing, blow-my-socks-off books which is a little sad considering it's June. I can't believe it's June.
I have read some books I've really enjoyed, though, and this is the best of the bunch so far - I'm hoping the latter half of the year is even better! So, without further ado, here are my topten eight books of 2017 so far...
The Good Immigrant ed. by Nikesh Shukla: This is such an important book given our current political climate and the kind of book I want to throw at every person I meet. If you haven't read this yet then you must, especially if you're British or currently living in the UK. Check out my review here.
The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg: A lesbian retelling of The Thousand and One Nights is everything I didn't know I wanted until I came across it in this charming graphic novel. I loved it.
The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark: Quite possibly one of the most disturbing books I've ever read, it left me feeling the same way I felt the first time I read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and I loved it. It's not a new favourite, a book has to be pretty special to be a new favourite, but it is deliciously dark and short enough to be devoured in one sitting, which I think is what it deserves.
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin: This is one of those really unexpected books; I wasn't planning to read it, I hadn't even heard of it at the beginning of this year, but I was on the lookout for some high fantasy and my lovely friend Natalie @ A Sea Change recommended Jemisin's work to me. I picked up a copy of The Fifth Season after seeing how many brilliant reviews it had on Goodreads and I loved it. It's so fresh and new compared to the other high fantasy I've read and I had such fun reading it.
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: I was determined to read some of Adichie's fiction this year, so I decided to dive into her short story collection and I really, really enjoyed it. There weren't really any stories I didn't like and even now, with the book nowhere near me, I find myself able to remember a lot of them. I can't wait to read her novels. Check out my review here.
Final Girls by Riley Sager: I don't read thrillers often but I tend to enjoy them when I do, and this one, which plays on the horror trope of the 'final girl', was so much fun to read; I read it in two sittings because I couldn't put it down. It's being released next month, I believe, so make sure you pick up a copy! Check out my review here.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli: My favourite book of the year so far, which really surprised me. I loved Albertalli's debut, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (reviewed here), but with this book Albertalli has become my favourite YA author. I wasn't sure I'd be able to love this book as much as I loved her debut and I'm always nervous when a book is marketed as having a fat protagonist - so often the plot will revolve around them losing weight or they won't really be fat - but I read this in one sitting, I didn't move at all, and I adored it. This book and Signal to Noise are the only books I've read in recent years that have reminded me of what it was like to be a teenager, and have spoken to the experiences I had in a very personal way. I loved it. Check out my review here.
Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: I haven't been this surprised by a debut novel, in all the best ways, since I read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I was really hoping to enjoy Stay With Me and I ended up loving it; it's such a well-crafted and cleverly plotted story and I can't wait to see what Adébáyọ̀ writes next! Check out my review here.
Which books made your list this week?
I have read some books I've really enjoyed, though, and this is the best of the bunch so far - I'm hoping the latter half of the year is even better! So, without further ado, here are my top
The Good Immigrant ed. by Nikesh Shukla: This is such an important book given our current political climate and the kind of book I want to throw at every person I meet. If you haven't read this yet then you must, especially if you're British or currently living in the UK. Check out my review here.
The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg: A lesbian retelling of The Thousand and One Nights is everything I didn't know I wanted until I came across it in this charming graphic novel. I loved it.
The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark: Quite possibly one of the most disturbing books I've ever read, it left me feeling the same way I felt the first time I read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and I loved it. It's not a new favourite, a book has to be pretty special to be a new favourite, but it is deliciously dark and short enough to be devoured in one sitting, which I think is what it deserves.
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin: This is one of those really unexpected books; I wasn't planning to read it, I hadn't even heard of it at the beginning of this year, but I was on the lookout for some high fantasy and my lovely friend Natalie @ A Sea Change recommended Jemisin's work to me. I picked up a copy of The Fifth Season after seeing how many brilliant reviews it had on Goodreads and I loved it. It's so fresh and new compared to the other high fantasy I've read and I had such fun reading it.
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: I was determined to read some of Adichie's fiction this year, so I decided to dive into her short story collection and I really, really enjoyed it. There weren't really any stories I didn't like and even now, with the book nowhere near me, I find myself able to remember a lot of them. I can't wait to read her novels. Check out my review here.
Final Girls by Riley Sager: I don't read thrillers often but I tend to enjoy them when I do, and this one, which plays on the horror trope of the 'final girl', was so much fun to read; I read it in two sittings because I couldn't put it down. It's being released next month, I believe, so make sure you pick up a copy! Check out my review here.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli: My favourite book of the year so far, which really surprised me. I loved Albertalli's debut, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (reviewed here), but with this book Albertalli has become my favourite YA author. I wasn't sure I'd be able to love this book as much as I loved her debut and I'm always nervous when a book is marketed as having a fat protagonist - so often the plot will revolve around them losing weight or they won't really be fat - but I read this in one sitting, I didn't move at all, and I adored it. This book and Signal to Noise are the only books I've read in recent years that have reminded me of what it was like to be a teenager, and have spoken to the experiences I had in a very personal way. I loved it. Check out my review here.
Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: I haven't been this surprised by a debut novel, in all the best ways, since I read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I was really hoping to enjoy Stay With Me and I ended up loving it; it's such a well-crafted and cleverly plotted story and I can't wait to see what Adébáyọ̀ writes next! Check out my review here.
Which books made your list this week?
One Hundred Nights of Hero looks fantastic. How did I miss this? Look at the cover! My TTT is here - https://bookmurmuration.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/top-ten-tuesday-27-06-2017/ I've listed Middle Grade novels, then made a separate list reflecting on my time in the blogging community so far.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it so I definitely recommend checking it out! =)
DeleteI've been nervous about reading The Upside of Unrequited because I loved Simon vs. so much, but this has reassured me. I'm also excited about Final Girls: I only heard of it a couple of days ago, but it looks so gripping!
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT, if you'd like to visit!
I found Final Girls to be so unputdownable and I really do recommend reading Upside! I loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I wasn't expecting to love Upside as much but, perhaps because it spoke to me on a more personal level than Simon did, I absolutely adored it. Albertalli writes the teenage experience so well, I think she's fantastic. =)
DeleteI think I'm going to have to look up The Driver's Seat! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteOoh I really want to read The 5th Season! I've heard such good things about it....and won't lie, I'm SO in love with the cover. Also Becky Albertalli's books are SO GOOD AND WONDERFUL. I still prefer Simon Vs, but I loooved Unrequited a lot too. *flails happily*
ReplyDeleteYou definitely need to read The Fifth Season, it's SO good!
DeleteI'm the same way with thrillers. I always say I don't really read the genre but I always end up not being able to put them down when I do! So I'm glad to hear to liked Final Girls, I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ^_^
DeleteLoved Final Girls, made my list as well. I really want to read Stay With Me, just waiting for a copy to land in my hands.
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT List
*high five* Great minds think alike! I hope you enjoy Stay With Me. =)
DeleteI haven't read any of these, but your excitement is contagious. I'm going to have to look some of them up! Here is our TTT.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I hope you enjoy any that you check out! ^_^
DeleteI'm always looking to read more books by foreign authors AND I never read short stories so suffice it to say, The Thing Around Your Neck was just added to my to-red list :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Hooray, I hope you enjoy it! =)
DeleteIt seems a lot of people haven't read many blow-me-away type books this year. I wonder if out expectations just get higher the longer we blog?
ReplyDeleteI think that's a very real possibility! I'm also not reading as much as I'd like to be because adulthood keeps getting in the way, so the less I read the less chance I have of reading lots of amazing books. So much to read, so little time...
DeleteI can't believe I haven't read any of these yet! So many of them are on my TBR! I have to change that asap! Really glad you liked Stay With Me and the Fifth Season, I've been thinking about getting them last week, but I should probably wait till next month because I've bought so many books already in June :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I feel you there - I accidentally got 3 new books on my kindle today. Oops. I hope you enjoy Stay With Me and The Fifth Season when you get to them!
DeleteI've been wanting to pick up another Spark after reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie this year. Perhaps I'll go with The Driver's Seat next! The Upside of Unrequited is on hold at the library for me so I'm glad to see you loved it just as much as Simon! Still need to read Adichie! I need to get to her this year. Great List!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mallory! I read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie first, too, and I definitely enjoyed The Driver's Seat more so I recommend checking it out. It's so short and so disturbing that it really lends itself to being read in one sitting, too. =)
DeleteI have a hold on The Upside of Unrequited at my library, so I'm glad you enjoyed it. Makes me more eager for it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it! ^_^
DeleteAlways pleased to see The Upside of Unrequited on a favourite list! Becky is amazing!
ReplyDeleteShe's fantastic, I love her. ^_^
DeleteI haven't read any of those, although I've read a few other books by Adichie that I've enjoyed. I hope you manage to find some books that blow your socks off in the last six months of the year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen! ^_^
DeleteI have an early copy of Final Girls, so I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/top-ten-tuesday-113/
Oo, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! =)
DeleteYay for The Upside of Unrequited love! I want to read those Adichie short stories too. I've read two of her novels, but no shorter works yet.
ReplyDeleteI really want to start reading Adichie's novels this year, but I definitely recommend her short stories - I loved them. ^_^
DeleteThe One Hundred Nights of Hero sounds so exciting! Thanks for sharing that one, adding it to Goodreads! Will need to read Muriel Spark at some point in the future. And The Upside of Unrequited! It's probably going to be on lots of peoples' lists as I go through my Feedly subs. :P It takes a special book to latch on to you for one single sitting and only let you go once you've read that last page. How special! Great list. <3
ReplyDeleteCass @ Words on Paper
Thank you! Yes, I definitely recommend The One Hundred Nights of Hero and The Upside of Unrequited, and Muriel Spark's a brilliant author if you're in the mood for a modern classic. =)
DeleteI need to actually add One Hundred Nights of Hero to my wishlist -- it sounds like it's right up my street!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it!
DeleteAll of these books sound amazing! The events in Britain have made me more aware of politics, so I might have a look at The Good Immigrant. :) The One Hundred Nights of Hero sounds amazing! I've been looking for a new graphic novel to read, so I'll definitely give that one a go! I've heard a lot of positive things about Becky Albertelli's novels, I'll check them out. ^.^
ReplyDelete