Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
As difficult as it can be, I still love putting together "favorites" lists. There's just something satisfying about seeing your book darlings all lined up together. :) And I'm so happy to say that I believe this is my most diverse list yet in terms of genres! I believe a lot of that can be credited to recommendations from friends. (Thank you, #BookBesties! ← Awesome hashtag by Rissi.)
Sadly, there are a lot of new releases I still need to read, but maybe they'll make it onto next year's list! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy browsing some of the books I loved reading this year - and I hope you'll share some of your favorites, too!
P.S. Be sure to check out the main link-up for this week's Top Ten Tuesday at The Broke and the Bookish.
This one snuck up on me! You know those stories you just want to hug because they're so endearing? This was one of those for me. I enjoyed the sisters' growth and adventures immensely. You can read my full review of this Great Depression-era epistolary novella HERE.
It's probably blasphemy not to put this book in the #1 slot. ;) Technically, this wasn't a first-time read for me... I read it once before, back in high school when I most definitely did not appreciate this book as I ought to have. Is it too shameful to admit that I think a lot of it went over my head back then? But I'm so, so grateful that the release of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman (which I haven't read) prompted me to pick up this book again. I read it on the way to Disneyland this past summer, and I found myself completely caught up in the story and moved by the portrayals of humanity. So much has been written about this novel, in much more eloquent words than what I can convey in a short list post, but I'll just say that I finally understand why this book is so highly acclaimed and beloved.
Sadly, there are a lot of new releases I still need to read, but maybe they'll make it onto next year's list! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy browsing some of the books I loved reading this year - and I hope you'll share some of your favorites, too!
P.S. Be sure to check out the main link-up for this week's Top Ten Tuesday at The Broke and the Bookish.
#10 Tie: The Enchanted Books
Both of these books were vying for a place on the list, so I couldn't resist putting them together! I mean, Five Enchanted Roses and One Enchanted Christmas? They were destined to share the limelight. ;) Five Enchanted Roses is a collection of Beauty & the Beast novellas, and One Enchanted Christmas is a contemporary romance novella. Each of these books is incredibly creative and a lot of fun to read. You can read my review of Five Enchanted Roses HERE. And as for One Enchanted Christmas, which I finished reading the other day, I'll just say that I love Melissa's writing, I relished the adorable romance, and I appreciated the lesson about learning to trust God's work in the lives of our loved ones. All great reads!
#9 Ain't We Got Fun by Emily Chapman & Emily Ann Putzke
#8 Rook by Sharon Cameron
Sharon Cameron is the author of another series that made my favorites lists in 2012 and 2013 (The Dark Unwinding and A Spark Unseen). So it was a given that I would pick up Rook - which is a different sort of read, but man, did it hold my attention! It's a futuristic world in which history repeats itself. Quite violent, but very engrossing and thought-provoking, with an intriguing little romance, too. You can read my review HERE.
#7 The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst
I had the privilege of hearing Lysa speak on the topic of marketing, and I was really impressed by her wisdom and heart. I ended up going out and buying The Best Yes and the Made to Crave Devotional. Both are excellent and encouraging nonfiction reads. Lots of great food for thought!
#6 Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
Definitely my favorite of Becky Wade's contemporary romances! I loved the unique premise and personalities in this delightful story of second chances. You can read my full review HERE.
#5 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
I've long been a devoted fan of the Disney version of Tuck Everlasting, but this was the year I finally read the book - which I greatly enjoyed! There's something incredibly thoughtful and charming about both versions of the story. You can read my thoughts (and some great quotes) HERE.
#4 Winter by Marissa Meyer
Oh goodness...how long we waited for this book!! And it was every bit as satisfying as it should be. I might have to reread the series to determine whether this one or Scarlet comes out the winner of my utmost affections, but let's just say I was quite happy with this EPIC (and I do mean EPIC) conclusion to this futuristic fairy-tale series. Might I add that Winter and Jacin completely stole my heart??
#3 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Some of my very favorites of favorites this year were books I read entirely on the recommendation of Twitter friends. (Special thanks to @rachkmc, @Katherine_Reay, and @flowersquiet, especially!) This book was one I read after reading my top favorite of the year, and it was recommended as another amazing epistolary novel. I was not disappointed in the least. I truly savored this read over dinners at Shari's - its cast of characters and the island of Guernsey claimed my heart.
#2 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
It's probably blasphemy not to put this book in the #1 slot. ;) Technically, this wasn't a first-time read for me... I read it once before, back in high school when I most definitely did not appreciate this book as I ought to have. Is it too shameful to admit that I think a lot of it went over my head back then? But I'm so, so grateful that the release of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman (which I haven't read) prompted me to pick up this book again. I read it on the way to Disneyland this past summer, and I found myself completely caught up in the story and moved by the portrayals of humanity. So much has been written about this novel, in much more eloquent words than what I can convey in a short list post, but I'll just say that I finally understand why this book is so highly acclaimed and beloved.
#1 Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
So much joy and laughter and charm and innocence and wisdom is packed into this fictional collection of letters. It's a read-in-one-sitting story that captured my heart - twice already this year. I found my lovely edition at a used book store and had to pick it up after the recommendation of those wonderful Twitter friends. ♥ I read it the first time at a friend's house, and the second time at a lighthouse bed and breakfast. I imagine this story will continue to warm my heart in days to come.
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Honorable Mention
A Cliché Christmas by Nicole Deese
This poor book fell through the cracks, as I read it after I announced my favorites of 2014, but before 2015 officially began. I have to mention it now, though, because I marked it as a favorite back then and found it to be a delightful Christmas romance. I'm thinking a re-read might be in order at some point. :)
Other 5-Star Reads from 2015:
- One Among Men by Connie Almony
- Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar
- Seeing Through Stones by Rajdeep Paulus
- A Woodland Miracle by Ruth Reid
- My Fairly Dangerous Godmother by Janette Rallison
- Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
- Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson
- Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin
- The Gifting by Katie Ganshert
For more bookish fun, check out my Goodreads stats and my Shelfari shelves!
Which books stole your heart this year?
