This year has been the best reading year of my life. I have read so many amazing books in 2017 that it was very difficult to narrow it down! It seems like I have favourites from a multitude of genres which has been incredible. I have really diversified my reading and I hope to improve even more on this in 2018. Lets just jump right in to my favourite books of 2017. By the way I am going to talk about them in the order that I read them.
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
This book is hauntingly beautiful. I read it at the beginning of the year and I still think of it often. It is slow paced, atmospheric and character driven. That is my idea of the perfect novel. The mystery kept me guessing, and I found myself totally engrossed in the story.
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
I was not expecting this book to have such a sense of humour. I truly adored learning about Victoria and how she still possessed a child like innocence despite being Queen. I think that this is a great book for anyone who wants to dip their toe in historical fiction.
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
I felt the same way about this book as I did about The Wonder. It was so atmospheric and I was invested in the outcome. I found myself wanting to scream at the injustice. At the end of the novel I was not sure if I was crying tears of sadness or anger. That was a first for me.
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
I never thought I would read Fight Club but I saw a booktuber who I respect raving about it so I decided to pick it up. This book blew my mind. One of the best endings that I have ever read. I am so happy that I never saw the movie because I do not think the book would have had as great of an impact if I had.
Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
This is the one book on my list that I wish more people would read. It is a character driven story with an air of mystery. I appreciated the fact that all of the characters are flawed, and that books are important to the story.
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
I am so happy that I read this book! It is the book that made me fall in love with Science Fiction! I adored the second book, Waking Gods, just as much. The story is so unique and who isn’t intrigued by giant robots?
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evelyn Hugo has become one of my favourite characters. She is flawed, she knows it, and she does not apologizes for it. It felt like I was reading about the life of a real celebrity.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I am sure this book will be on a lot of people’s favourites lists so I won’t ramble too much! It is so relevant and important. Definitely a must read for everyone.
The Gentleman’s Guide of Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
This book has so much character, action, and humour. I enjoyed every single second of it. Monty is sarcastic and ridiculous and I just plain adore him!
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
I have raved about this book so many times since I read it. This is my favourite YA book of all time. The story is beautiful and the characters all have a special place in my heart.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Ahh this book! It is just so charming! I adore Ove and his grumpiness! I was not expecting this book to be so charming and heartwarming. I had a huge grin on my face the whole time I was reading it.
Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
I was so happy that the story inside is just as beautiful as the cover. This is the book that made me realize that I enjoy magical realism when it is done right.
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
This book was so sweet! I loved the three main characters and reading about how their relationships changed over time. There was so much wonderful character development. I appreciated the focus on family.
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill
This books is beautiful, atmospheric, and heart breaking. There is something about it that reminds me of Moulin Rouge. I was completely invested in the two main characters and I could feel their pain as well as their happiness. Heather O’Neill is a genius and I want to read everything that she writes.
Honourable Mentions: Stalking Jack the Ripper, The Murder of the Orient Express, Rules of Magic, Homegoing.
I had so many wonderful books to choose from this year! I feel like my favourites are a good mix of genres- from YA to adult, Science Fiction to contemporary!
What were your favourite books of the year?
So many great reads! I also loved Burial Rites and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. THUG is at the top of my 2018 TBR list too. Happy 2018 reading!
Thank you Jessie! Same to you!
akjdf;ladjfalfjakf I’ll Give You the Sun <3 I love that book and I am so happy Kristin that you have it on your list <3 :3 The Hate You Give keeps popping up 🙁 I am cannot relate T_T haha I know it is a good book though! A Man Called Ove <3 I like your list a lot! and Also the Fight Club! :3
I’ll Give You the Sun is amazing. I could gush about it all day long!
That is exactly why I came for! jk haha I don’t know! that book melt me so bad! and it has so many quotes <3
I loved Gentleman’s Guide so much.It’s one of my favorites of 2017 too.Percy and Monty are relationship goals and I have heard so many good things about Far from the Tree and Sleeping Giants.They are both on my TBR.Great list!
Percy and Monty are adorable! I hope you enjoyed Far From the Tree and Sleeping Giants as much as I did!
Great list. I am really interested in “The Wonder” and in “The Lonely Hearts Hotel” now. Do you now there are upcoming movies “A Man Called Ove” with Tom Hanks and “Burial Rites” with Jennifer Lawrence?
My favourite reads from 2017 have got to be “The Goldfinch” and “The Handmaid’s Tale”. I know these books are not from 2017, but they were unputdownable for me.
I knew about A Man Called Ove but not Burial Rites! That is exciting! I have not read either of those books but they are high on my list. I own The Handmaid’s Tale just need to read it!
Awesome post! I will have to give some of these a read.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy them!
Me to. I have a lot of books on my TBR for next year it is crazy!
That is a good mix of books. Which booktuber was it that was talking about Fight Club? I’m always looking for new ones to follow.
That’s a good question! If I remember the specific YouTuber I will let you know!
I really loved Seven Husbands – TJR has become a new favorite author for me! I liked the understated Swimming Lessons as well. I’m hoping to get to Gentleman’s Guide next year!
I want to read more of TJR’s books! Swimming Lessons is definitely understated and it’s great!
What a great list!! I started reading The Gentleman’s Guide (just need to find time to finish it!), but I haven’t read any of the others. A bunch of them look really good though! I did read Room by Emma Donoghue, and I think I would really enjoy her other books!
I adored room but I think The Wonder was even better. I think you would enjoy it!
Ohhh I might have to read The Lonely Hearts Hotel now… it sounds fantastic! Great list, Kristin!
Thank you! Ah I hope you read it! It’s so good!
SO glad that “A man called Ove” made your list.
If I had to choose one favourite book of the year I think that one would be it!
I was considering getting Victoria with the TV tie-in (because I ADORE Jenna Coleman) as well! I am really glad to hear you liked it 😀
Great list in total!
It is such a fun read! I love Victoria! She is so charming!
Great list! I loved The Gentleman’s guide to Vice and Virtue! I haven’t read the Sleeping Giants yet but I have It on my tbr list. I can’t wait to read Wild Beauty! I’ve been hearing great things about it.
I highly recommend Sleeping Giants and Wild Beauty! They are so unique!!
Excited to read The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue!
Ah it is so good! I am excited for you to read it!
Me too! I have heard great things!
This is such a great list!! I love so many of the books on here, I just kept getting more and more excited as I read down your list. What a great reading year!!
Thank you! Definitely one of my best reading years!
I loved The Hate U Give, but I definitely think I am going to check out Victoria sometime soon. Great list!
Thank you! Victoria is so good!
What a great list! I STILL haven’t read The Hate U Give, but I’m definitely planning to get to it in 2018. I’ve heard such great things about The Lonely Hearts Hotel that it’s definitely on my list as well. Loved both Burial Rites and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue!
Thank you! The Lonely Hearts Hotel is fantastic, as is The Hate U Give!
Yes, the ending of Fight Club is so good!!!
Loved it!
I loved Evelyn so much too! I loved how flawed she was, and I loved that she wasn’t ashamed of it. Such a great book.
So surprised by how much I love that book!
Great list! I loved The Hate U Give and I’ve read and adored my first Frederik Backman a few weeks ago : Beartown. One of my bests of 2017!
I am definitely reading that book in 2018! Can’t wait!
Awesome list!! I love the sound Gentleman’s Guide, A Man Called Ove, Wild Beauty and Lonely Hearts Club. I’ve wanted to read Fight Club for years (although I watched the movie long before I knew it even was a book, so spoilt the twist that way *sigh*)
I hope you get a chance to read them and love them as much as I do! I don’t think Fight Club would have been the same if I knew the ending going in to it!
Thank you! Fair enough!
The Hate U Give and I’ll Give You the Sun are two of my favorite books as well, so I’m so glad to see them on here. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post! <3
Aw thanks Zoe! Reading those two books is definitely among the highlights on my year!
Excellent list! I have been debating about giving Victoria a try or not. I’ve watched the first episode of the show and really enjoyed it. Actually, I’m now trying to figure out why I didn’t finish watching the first season. I might have stopped watching so I could read the book first. I don’t know.
The book is amazing. I actually prefer it over the show so I would recommend reading the book first!
Okay, good to know, and you totally sold me on buying the book. Honestly though, it’s usually pretty easy to sell me on a book, lol.
Haha so true! I am easier swayed as well. My TBR shelf is out of hand!
I weeded out my TBR list on Goodreads, getting it down from like 820 books to just over 400. I have a feeling it’s going to get bigger again.
Well done! I have tried to do that but I got overwhelmed.
I took it 30 books at a time so it didn’t seem as overwhelming. But I understand how daunting it is to go through the list and decide what stays and what goes.