Looking back on this year, one of the things I am most proud of is the fact that I finally got back into reading. I’ve always loved reading – I read everything from YA novels to cheesy chicklit to historical fiction. However, as I entered the real world, I started to neglect my reading time. This year, I challenged myself to the PopSugar 2017 Reading Challenge as a way to get back into reading. However, it kind of spiraled out of control; I ended up reading a ton but didn’t necessarily follow the prompts. And I’m okay with that!
My goal for 2017 was to read 40 books. I was behind schedule until our honeymoon, but time by the pool reading totally reinvigorated my love for reading and it took off after that. I ended 2017 with 47 books read! The photo above shows a bunch of books I didn’t read so don’t expect to find them in the list below; however, I did make sure it included my Kindle and my phone, as that’s where most of the books I did read actually reside! The things you do for a blog post photo…
All 47 Books I Read in 2017
The books I read in 2017 are categorized by genre, and ranked within each genre with my favorite book at the top. I chose not to write about each book because that would turn this post into its own novel; however, where I do have reviews, I have linked them. Scroll all the way down to find out my 5 favorite books of 2017 and why I loved them so much!
Contemporary Fiction
- Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah ★★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng ★★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak ★★★★
- Commonwealth by Ann Patchett ★★★★
- The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison ★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- Life and Other Near Death Experiences by Camille Pagan ★★★★
- The Paris Effect by K.S.R. Burns ★★★
- Crimes Against a Book Club by Kathy Cooperman ★★★
- Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star ★★★
Historical Fiction
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer ★★★★★
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein ★★★★★
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ★★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jami Ford ★★★★★
- Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford ★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen ★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman ★★★★
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
- Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine ★★★★★
- The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison ★★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel ★★★★★
- I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll ★★★★★
- The Child by Fiona Barton ★★★★★
- Into the Water by Paula Hawkins ★★★★
- The Lying Game by Ruth Ware ★★★★
- Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil ★★★★
- Bonfire by Krysten Ritter ★★★★
- The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson ★★★★
- I Found You by Lisa Jewell ★★★★
- The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney ★★★★
- Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll ★★★★
- The Night Visitor by Lucy Atkins ★★★★
- The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti ★★★
- The Good Widow by Liz Fenton ★★★
- The Good Girl by Mary Kubica ★★★
Romance
- The Law of Attraction by N.M. Silber ★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- The Royal Treatment by Melanie Summers ★★★★
- P.S. from Paris by Marc Levy ★★★★
- One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill by Mandy Baggot ★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- The Royal Wedding by Melanie Summers ★★★
Non-Fiction/Auto-Biography
- Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann ★★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- Forty Autumns: A Family’s Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner ★★★★★
- Marriages are Made in Bond Street by Penrose Halson ★★★★ READ MY REVIEW
- Twirling Naked in the Streets and No One Noticed: Growing Up With Undiagnosed Autism by Jeannie Davide-Rivera ★★★★
- Pancakes in Paris: Living the American Dream in France by Craig Carlson ★★★★
- The Cozy Life: Rediscover the Joy of the Simple Things through the Danish Concept of Hygge by Pia Edberg ★★★
Series: Crazy Rich Asians
I made this its own category since I read the entire series this year. Crazy Rich Asians is basically Gossip Girl for adults, so if you’re looking for a light-hearted, but addictive read, I highly recommend it! XOXO
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan ★★★★
- China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan ★★★★
- Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan ★★★★★
My Top 5 Reads of 2017
5. Forty Autumns
By now you’ve probably realized that I love reading about World War II and its aftermath. Forty Autumns explores how the tension in Germany, and the creation of the Berlin Wall, affected a normal family. It’s an absolutely beautiful story that highlights the contrast between living on the West side vs. the East side of the Berlin Wall. I remember coming across this on Kindle Daily Deals and telling my sister-in-law, who lived in Germany at the time, that she needed to read it. I’m so happy that I did, too!
4. Stillhouse Lake
I owe my 2017 obsession with psychological thrillers and suspense novels to Stillhouse Lake. I absolutely devoured the novel, rooting for the characters all the way through. The sequel, Killman Creek was just released and I’ll be diving into that one soon. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
3. Winter Garden
Kristin Hannah is an absolutely brilliant author. Her stories are so beautifully written and contain so much emotion that I’m usually left with tears streaming down my face. There’s something so special about a book that can do that to you, and Winter Garden is a prime example. It’s a great story about family, and it will definitely turn you on to the rest of Kristin Hannah’s novels.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon
True crime is not a normal genre for me, which is why I think I was so impressed with Killers of the Flower Moon. The story follows the mysterious murders of the Osage clan, who lived on oil rich land. It also toys with the creation of the FBI – and how one man’s desire to solve the Osage murders led to how the FBI currently operates today. It reads like a suspense novel, so if you normally stay away from the non-fiction genre, don’t cast this book aside!
1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Finally, my hands down favorite book of 2017 – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I love this time period and this type of story line and I just loved this book so much. Honestly, I don’t really know what to say other than READ IT! At the time of reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I had no idea it was slated to become a movie in 2018, but it is and it is starring Lily James, who will be absolutely brilliant in the role. So read it, then see the movie. You can thank me later!
You probably noticed in this post that I don’t really rate books less than three stars. The reason for that is that I research every book I read. I actually hate starting a book that I can’t finish, so I try to get a feel for the book before I read it. That way, I don’t waste time or money.
In 2018, my goal is to read 60 books – 50 from the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge & Advanced List, and 10 bonus ones (for when the opportunity arises!). I am also planning to review more books in 2018 and post monthly reading recaps, instead of a mega list like this at the end of the year. Please provide feedback on whether you find my reviews useful, or what you’d like to see in them!
What was your favorite book in 2017?
Leave a comment below!
