It’s that time of year again; these are the books that I liked best this year. This is my very subjective, very personal list. I loved a lot of books this year; I mostly read romances and romcoms, and those books tend to keep me happy. But to be honest, I forget a lot of them as soon as I’ve moved on to the next. So the ones that stay with me are the ones that end up on my annual list. I’ve read about 300 books this year, so had plenty to choose from. And I’m limiting myself to a top ten list again this year!
I hope you find this list useful and interesting!
THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah: There are so many important themes here, from war to racism to alcoholism and other addictions, and family discordance, and reading groups will have much to discuss. While it was gut-wrenching at times, it is also poignant, provocative, and too important to be ignored. This is the kind of book that makes me glad I have this platform so I can encourage people to read it. I hope you love it as much as I do.
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THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan: This highly anticipated novel from J. Courtney Sullivan was worth the wait. Our protagonist, Jane, is a Harvard archivist who is also an alcoholic, like her mother and sister. After getting blackout drunk at a work event, she finds her job in jeopardy, as well as her marriage, making this the perfect time to escape from all her troubles. She heads up to Maine to settle her mother’s estate, which is complicated by the fact that her mother was a hoarder.
Research is at the heart of this novel that spans generations, Colonialism, Native American history, spiritualism, the Shakers, and so much more in a beautifully written, expansive novel sure to appeal to book groups. I loved it.
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THE WAITING by Michael Connelly: Let me start by saying this: Michael Connelly has never phoned it in, or slacked in any way. Every one of his books is carefully researched and written with the sort of sensibility we expect from Connelly, yet he never panders. If you haven’t read Connelly, you are in for a treat. If you have, this book is everything you would expect; totally engrossing and fast-paced, with twists and red herrings laid out much like the freeways in Los Angeles with its extensive network of interconnected highways, until the supremely satisfying ending.
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THE HUSBANDS by Holly Gramazio: Cue the Twilight Zone music…Lauren meets her husband Michael for the first time when she gets home late one night. He’s there, in her apartment. Except she’s not married. Never been married. And not surprisingly, she freaks out a bit. Lauren experiences a couple of hundred husbands before the realization hits that she needs to end this endless parade somehow. The ending was unexpected yet not, but this book is really about the journey.
This is a book that begs discussion for a lot of reasons, so if your book group is in need of something different, something hopeful instead of depressing (as I find most discussion books,) this is a great option. This compelling read had the most unusual premise and was completely thought provoking; highly recommend!
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SEVEN SUMMER WEEKENDS by Jane L. Rosen: I have read and loved every one of Rosen’s books and I am happy to say that this one is stellar. After a misdirected comment about her boss goes viral, Addison gets fired instead of the promotion she was seeking. Feeling somewhat lost, her aunt’s final gift, her beach house on Fire Island, is just what she needs.
While she hadn’t seen her aunt since the Big Terrible Thing happened when she was a young child, she does remember her. But she really gets to know her deceased aunt when she moves to the island for the summer. Staying at the beach house changes Addison’s life in many ways, and I loved seeing her growth. The Fire Island of Rosen’s books is idyllic, but the relationships are fraught, making for a compelling read. I loved it.
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WHAT’S NEXT: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service, by Melissa Fitzgerald & Mary McCormack: The West Wing is one of my favorite TV shows, and I constantly rewatch it. I know it is pure fantasy, but I love the fantasy and want to live in the Aaron Sorkin-created world where politicians work hard to make life better for their constituents. This book is for fans of the show. I am a diehard “Wingnut” and proud of it.
If you love the show, you will love this book. If you don’t understand the popularity of the show – now celebrating its 25th anniversary! – then this book will make it clear why it is still popular so many years later. The West Wing was in the infancy of what is now thought of as prestige television; the cast was perfect, the writing incomparable, and the storylines interesting and engaging. The West Wing introduced the “walk and talk,” now a fairly common way of filming. Even the music by W. G. Snuffy Walden was unforgettable. What’s Next is a must-read for any fan of the show. I loved it.
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LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins: What a compelling read! I started reading it Sunday morning and finished it Sunday evening – and I hated turning that last page. There are some heartwrenching scenes here, and I found myself crying a few times, but to her credit, Higgins doesn’t really write tearjerkers; there is a lot of humor and sweetness here as well. Higgins has become one of my favorite authors – her books remind me of Elin Hilderbrand, somewhat of Jodi Picoult, and this book in particular, of Colleen Hoover, but with slightly older protagonists. To be a tad more succinct – I loved it and could not put it down!
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NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG by Julie Soto: I had no idea what a “Reylo-inspired grumpy-sunshine romance” was but it turns Reylo is “a nickname for the romantic relationship between Star Wars characters Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley.)” Apparently, there is a ton of fanfiction about them, including this book. Despite having seen the film, I would have never known about this relationship. This is a romance set in the world of professional classical musicians, and I found that world fascinating. I loved it.
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THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren: This writing duo’s hit another home run here. A marriage of convenience with an unusual twist – Liam and Anna get married so they can live in subsidized campus housing, and it works out great. They barely see one another, and when their two-year lease is up, they go their separate ways. Liam gives Anna some legal documents and she signs them without even looking at them, assuming they are divorce papers. But they are not. And it turns out he needs to be married for financial reasons.
This is a sizzling romance with a lot of laughs and heart – I loved it! Christina Lauren never disappoints, and this may be their best book yet. Don’t miss it.
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ALWAYS REMEMBER by Mary Balogh: This was such an interesting twist on the Regency romance. Our heroine, Lady Jennifer, comes from a well-to-do family high up in society. She suffered an illness in childhood that left one of her legs and one of her feet deformed. She is unable to walk unassisted and uses a wheelchair. Ben is a fixer – he likes nothing better than solving a tricky problem. He speaks with Lady Jennifer, and a friendship is formed. He is strongly attracted to her, and she to him, but his lack of title makes him ineligible for marriage to a lady. I really enjoyed this story, and I’m sure the research was impeccable. The story moves quickly, and I couldn’t help but get caught up in this romance. I was so sorry to turn that last page!
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Limiting myself to a specific number of favorites in any given year is not easy. These are my top ten for the year, but there were several other books I felt were worthy of a mention.
Honorable Mentions
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