2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge
2026 52 Club Reading Challenge
2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge
2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge
2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge
Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)
2026 Countdown Reading Challenge
Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo
2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge
2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)
2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge
European Reading Challenge 2026
2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)
2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge
The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge
The Life Skills Reading Challenge
Showing posts with label Lisa Wingate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lisa Wingate. Show all posts
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Wingate's Newest Engaging and Moving
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a first-year English teacher, 27-year-old Benedetta "Bennie" Silva knows she pretty much has to take what she can get in terms of job placement. Still, she doesn't quite know how she's going to manage her first assignment at an all-black junior/senior high school in little Augustine, Louisiana. The kids, most of whom are impoverished and jaded, are just as skeptical of her as she is of them. In a desperate effort to engage them, she begins researching the history of a nearby plantation called Goswood Grove. When she discovers an incredible story about three young women who set out on a remarkable journey, Benny becomes obsessed with the tale, especially when she finds a connection between it and one of her students.
Over one hundred years earlier, in the days of Reconstruction, a trio of teens from Augustine hie off for Texas. Hannah is a freed slave searching for her mother and siblings, all of whom were sold off when she was only six. Lavinia is the spoiled daughter of Goswood Grove's master, who disappeared without a trace, leaving his plantation and family destitute. A mulatto, Juneau is Lavinia's Creole half-sister, who goes along reluctantly to keep Lavinia from getting into too much trouble. Along the way, the unlikely road trip companions will deal with perils of every kind. Can they learn to rely on each other? Will each of them find what they're looking for? Will any of them?
The Book of Lost Friends, Lisa Wingate's newest, has been criticized for being slow and lacking depth. While I can understand these complaints, I actually really liked the novel. It introduced me to a piece of Reconstruction era history that I'd never heard of—"Lost Friends" advertisements that helped families torn apart by slavery find each other again. Not only did I find this aspect of the novel fascinating, but I also enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Lavinia, and Juneau. Their journey to Texas and into their own pasts had enough drama and intrigue to keep me reading. All in all, I found The Book of Lost Friends to be engaging, interesting, moving, and thought-provoking. I loved it.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Book of Lost Friends from the generous folks at Ballantine Books (a division of Penguin Random House) via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Loved But Not Reviewed. Yet.
According to my mom, I taught myself to read before starting kindergarten and just never stopped. I've read thousands of books throughout my life; since I didn't create my blog until 2006, that means there are tons of titles that would work for today's Top Ten Tuesday topic: Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Reviewed. Could my aging memory come up with enough to make a decent list? Yeah, right! I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday (actually, I can't remember at all—did I even eat breakfast yesterday?). Thankfully, I am, as always, months behind on writing reviews for this year's reads, so I'm just going to chat about ten books I've read in 2020 that I loved but haven't reviewed. Yet.
You've probably got lots of books you loved but haven't reviewed, too, so why don't you join in the TTT fun? All you have to do is click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, scan a few quick instructions, make your own list, then spend some happy hours spreading the love across the book blogosphere. It's a great way to check in on favorite blogs, discover new ones, and of course, find awesome reading recs to add to the ole TBR mountain chain. It's a good time, I promise!
Top Ten Books I've Loved This Year But Haven't Reviewed Yet
1. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren—This enemies-to-lovers romance about a wedding reception that goes awry, leaving the best man and the maid of honor to take the newlyweds' honeymoon vacation, is just plain fun.
2. Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart—Based on the real-life experiences of a "lady cop" and her crime-fighting sisters in early 20th Century America, this mystery is the first in a series featuring the indomitable Constance Kopp. It's interesting and compelling.
3. The Split by Sharon Bolton—I love suspenseful stories set in remote places and Bolton's newest definitely fits the bill. It's a novel with a deceptively simple premise—a woman who has fled to remote South Georgia for an extended research trip is being pursued by an ex-con. Why? Will he find her? Like all of Bolton's mysteries, this one is taut, tense, and twisty. The Split might be my favorite of all her books.
4. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate—This dual-timeline novel combines adventure, mystery, and history to create an intriguing tale that I very much enjoyed.
5. Beyond the Horizon by Lois Lowry—It might be a thin volume, but this memoir-in-verse that recounts the author's experiences as a young girl in Hawaii during World War II, packs a big punch. I found it profoundly moving, but in a way that snuck up on me, if that makes any sense.
6. Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain—This impactful novel is about a new social worker from a privileged background who begins her career in rural North Carolina during the turbulent 1960's. Her life and outlook are both changed when she meets a young girl who's carrying all the burdens of keeping her desperately impoverished family afloat.
7. The Imperfects by Amy Meyerson—It's hard to describe this Knives Out-ish novel, but it's an on-point exploration of what can happen when an estranged family unexpectedly inherits an exorbitant amount of wealth—and secrets.
8. Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams—True, there's nothing super original about this YA novel in which the members of a sheltered religious cult have to face the alarming effects of a terrifying pandemic, but it tells a thoughtful story that kept me engrossed. It asks some important questions about faith, blind obedience, family, etc. I also like that it features a character with Type 1 diabetes (in a cult that eschews medicine, no less). You don't see my disease featured in a lot of books, so I was glad for this important representation.
9. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks—I enjoyed this middle-grade novel about a girl who intercepts a letter from the father she's never met, who's in prison for murder. She starts a secret correspondence with him that leads her to make some important discoveries about herself and her family. Despite its heavy-ish content, this is an upbeat, enjoyable book.
10. The Line Between by Tosca Lee—This YA novel is similar to Agnes at the End of the World and I liked it for a lot of the same reasons. It tells an exciting story, but it also offers up a lot of lots of food for thought on faith, works, and religion. For a doomsday novel, it's surprisingly clean and upbeat.
There you have it, ten books I enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reviewing yet. What do you think? Have you read any of them? Do any of them sound like reads you would enjoy? What books have you loved but not reviewed yet? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: Curbside Checkout, Here I Come!
It's Tuesday again. I think. I don't know about you, but these days, my Tuesdays don't look much different from my Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays! Nothing much has changed here except I've read a few more books, cross-stitched for a few (okay, a lot more than a few) more hours, and watched more episodes of The Middle. I did have a Zoom meeting for my church "job" this morning, so that added some excitement to my day. Other than that, it's the same ole, same ole around here. I'm not complaining—we're all healthy and staying (more or less) sane at my house. An extended member of our family died last week of COVID-19 after several weeks in the hospital, so that was a sobering reminder of why we're all sheltering in place. Please keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy!
On a lighter note, it's time for Top Ten Tuesday. If you're not familiar with this fun meme, you really should be. Head on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the info. Today's topic is Top Ten Book Titles That Would Make Great Band Names. I love music as much as the next person, but I'm just not feeling this one today. Instead, I'm going to give you a glimpse into my obsession with organizing my main Goodreads TBR list. Because I reached the limit of how many books you can have in a bookshelf (5000, if you're curious), I had to make separate lists for non-fiction and children's books. EDIT: I'm so sorry if I freaked anyone out with my unintentional lie about Goodreads bookshelf limits! What I meant to say was that if you go over 5000 on a single bookshelf, Goodreads will no longer let you put those books in want-to-read order (at least I can't figure out how). Since ordering my books is my favorite part of GR list-making, I keep my lists under 5000. Does that make more sense? So, today I'm focusing on the books on my adult fiction "bookshelf," listing the entries in want-to-read order. I'm going to briefly mention the titles I've talked about recently or repeatedly and spend more time on those I haven't highlighted yet.
Here we go with Top Ten Books on My Goodreads Adult Fiction TBR List:
1. The Sea of Lost Girls by Carol Goodman—I already talked about this book here. I've also lamented the fact that a copy of it is being held hostage at my county library, gathering dust on the "Holds" shelf. Well, good news! I just learned that the library will start curbside checkout tomorrow. I'm stoked. I've been wanting to read this book ever since I heard about it, so yay! I will liberate my on-hold book as soon as I can tomorrow morning.
2. The Girl From Widow Hills by Megan Miranda (available June 20, 2020)—I enjoy Miranda's thrillers and this one sounds as intriguing as her others. It involves a woman who achieved celebrity status as a child when she miraculously survived a near-drowning. As the 20th anniversary of the event approaches, the girl—now a woman living under a different name—starts experiencing strange symptoms that link her disturbing past to her threatened present. Can't wait!
3. All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White—I highlighted this title here.
4. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle—talked about it here
5. The Cutting Place by Jane Casey—Maeve Kerrigan is one of my favorite fictional police detectives. In Casey's newest, the 9th installment in the series, Maeve is sent to investigate the death of a young female journalist who was killed while working on a story about an elite gentleman's club. I'm in for anything Maeve!
6. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate—I've talked about this one before. I'm in the middle of the novel right now and I'm really enjoying it.
7. The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan—I'm not sure what's going on with the U.S. publication of this book. It came out in Australia in February but is not available for a reasonable price anywhere else as far as I can tell (there is a $40.87 copy listed on Amazon and a $30.36 one on BookDepository). Presumably, the hang-ups are because of COVID-19. Hopefully, The Good Turn will be more widely available soon.
This is the third installment in the DI Cormac Reilly series, which I enjoy. The story begins with the suspected kidnapping of a young girl. Short-staffed and hindered by red tape, Cormac and his partner make a horrible mistake in the case, which leaves the former suspended and the latter banished to a small town where he discovers some odd findings in a murder case that has supposedly been solved ...
8. Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen—An Atlantic City boardwalk psychic starts having strange visions that she thinks are related to two recent murders. When she launches her own investigation into the killings, she puts herself right in a killer's path ...
9. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter (available October 20, 2020)—I enjoy Carpenter's immersive thrillers and her newest sounds just as intriguing as her other books. This one revolves around Eve Candler, a woman who has kept her grandmother's secrets for years. No one else knows that the revered evangelist and faith healer was a complete fraud and a con artist to boot. When an even bigger secret about her grandmother surfaces, Eve risks everything to find out the truth.
10. Before Familiar Woods by Ian Pisarcik—I love the big lies in small towns trope, so naturally, I find the premise of this book appealing. It has to do with the murders of two boys and the subsequent disappearances of their fathers. It's left to one mother to figure out what is happening in her not-so-quaint little town.
There you go, the top ten books on my adult fiction Goodreads TBR shelf. Have you read any of them? What are the most tantalizing titles on your TBR list? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
TTT: Spring Has Sprung on Mt. TBR, Part Two
I don't know about your Spring, but mine isn't going quite the way I thought it would! I had no idea my kids' Spring Break would be extended by a month or that I would be standing in line at the grocery store this morning with half the city just to buy laundry detergent or that all my local libraries would be closed for the duration. Wow, what a time we're living in! Despite the fact that I'm a Type 1 diabetic, I'm really not all that worried about the coronavirus—I have a year's supply of food in my house (my church's leadership has been preaching emergency preparedness for decades), plenty of toilet paper (I'm a Costco regular), a cabinet full of Bath & Body Works hand soap (I can't resist a sale), a couple month's worth of insulin (T1D strong!), and a *few* books on my shelves to keep me entertained. I'll be fine. I'm a bit of a hermit anyway, so I got this. I hope you are healthy and calm amid all this chaos. If you need a distraction from reality, there's nothing like a book to take you away from it all!
If you're not familiar with Top Ten Tuesday, you really should be. It's my favorite weekly bookish meme. Playing along is super easy and it's a great way to get acquainted in our fabulous book blogging community. All you have to do is head on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few quick instructions, create your own list, then spend some happy hours checking out everyone else's posts. It's a good time, I promise.
Today's topic is Top Ten Books on My Spring 2020 TBR. You may recall that I got a jump on this topic last week, listing ten of the books I want to read this Spring. I even read three of them last week. Go, me! Today, I'm giving you the second half of the list, in no particular order.
Spring Has Sprung On Mt. TBR, Part Two:
1. Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman—This is a bit of a cheat since I actually just finished this book. It may seem weird to read a dystopian novel while we're sorta living in one, but I enjoyed this novel about a drought in California reaching epically awful proportions. The story is fast-paced, engrossing, and thought-provoking. It's an interesting time to be asking yourself the kinds of questions that come up in this book: How will I act/react when faced with a devastating crisis? Am I in it for myself or do I care more about helping others? How far would I go to protect my family? How prepared am I for a natural disaster/pandemic/local or global crisis?
2. The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray—I was supposed to read this novel last week for a blog tour, but I'm a *little* behind. The story concerns a family whose matriarch and patriarch are arrested, plunging them from a respected couple into a reviled one. As the rest of the family grapples with the shocking development, they have to ask themselves what really happened. Is the revered couple guilty or innocent?
3. The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison—I'm not sure why dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels are so appealing to me right now, but this one sounds super intriguing. It's about a midwife who has to find her place in a world that has changed irrevocably as the result of a pandemic that has decimated the world's population. Maybe a little too real?
4. Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn—On a lighter note, this warm-hearted romance featuring a calligrapher with an uncanny ability to read signs others can't see sounds like fun.
5. All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White—I enjoyed The Glass Ocean, which was penned by this trio, so I'm excited to check out their newest joint venture. This triple-timeline historical looks intriguing.
6. The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey—A YA romance set in a bookstore? Yes, please!
7. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman—I couldn't find a detailed plot summary for this book, but it gets good reviews and I've heard high praise, so I'm going to check it out.
8. Big in Japan: Accidental Sumo by Jennifer Griffith—I was looking for a book set in Japan to read for the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge, and this contemporary YA sounds fun. It's about an overweight teenager who finds the kind of fame and popularity overseas that he's never had in Texas. Naturally, all the attention is not all it's cracked up to be ...
9. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (available April 7, 2020)—I'm really not into bloodsuckers, but when a novel is described as "Steel Magnolias meets Dracula," I don't know how anyone can resist! Looks like a super fun read.
10. The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (available April 7, 2020)—I enjoyed Wingate's Before We Were Yours, so I'm excited to read another novel by her. Her newest concerns a trio of young women who journey across a tumultuous country in 1875 and the modern-day teacher who discovers their unforgettable story. I'm in, for sure!
There you go, ten books I'd like to read this Spring. What are you reading? Have you read any of my picks? What did you think? I'd truly love to know. Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
TTT: I've Been So Good This Year, Santa Came Early!
If you've never played along with TTT before, you really should. It's a fun weekly event that helps book bloggers spread the love across our fabulous online community. I love dropping in on favorite blogs, discovering new ones, and, of course, adding great-sounding reading recommendations to my TBR
Here we go with the Top Ten Books Santa Already Put Under My Tree (metaphorically speaking—they're actually on my festive red book cart):
*I should mention that I brought this haul home from my favorite local indie, Changing Hands Bookstore. One of my favorite things about the place is that they offer their customers a yearly birthday discount. They also let you trade in your old books in exchange for a generous store credit. Since I have a December birthday, I made a trip to Changing Hands the other day. I traded in some books and used both store credit and my birthday discount to get a whole stack of goodies. If you live near me or are just visiting the Phoenix area, you should definitely visit one of their two locations. I prefer the Tempe store (it's funky, fun, and has a lovely staff), but the Phoenix one is a treat as well.*
1. The Line Between by Tosca Lee—In this post-apocalyptic novel, an eradicated disease reemerges from the melting permafrost in Alaska, causing its victims to go insane. An escapee from a doomsday cult finds herself trying to navigate her way in a strange, new world while also learning the disturbing truth about the emergent virus. Post-apocalypse + cults? Count me in.
2. The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell—I haven't read anything by this author, but this historical novel, about a woman who defies convention to stand up for the rights of miners in turn-of-the-century Michigan, sounds intriguing.
3. The Life and Death Parade by Eliza Wass—I realized after buying this book that it has pretty ho-hum ratings on book sites. Oh well. It sounds interesting. The novel concerns a boy who visited a psychic who told him he had no future. Now, he's dead. His girlfriend vows to find out what really happened to him.
4. My Bookstore by Ronald Rice—This gem was in the clearance section for super cheap, so I snatched it up. It's a collection of essays by authors like John Grisham, Fannie Flagg, Ann Patchett, Carrie Ryan, etc. talking about their favorite bookstores. Sounds fun!
5. A Noël Killing by M.L. Longworth—After talking about holiday books I wanted to read in last week's TTT, I was immediately drawn to a display table full of just that. I bought several titles I mentioned in that post, plus this one. It's actually the 8th book in a mystery series set in France. Maybe I'll be able to read the first seven before next Christmas.
6. Before and After by Lisa Wingate—If you've read Before We Were Yours, Wingate's based-on-a-true novel about the horrifying Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, you might be interested in this one. It's a collection of real-life experiences from people who lived at the orphanage. Sounds fascinating.
7. The Black Hour by Lori Rader-Day—I've enjoyed several novels by Rader-Day. This one, about a college professor who's disabled after being shot by a student trying to come to grips with what happened to her and the graduate student who's obsessed with the event, sounds compelling.
8. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny—I'm a rabid Penny fan, but I'm purposely reading her Armand Gamache series slowly so I can savor it. This is the 11th installment and I'm sure I'll love it just as much as I have all the others.
I picked up these two at Deseret Book a few weeks ago:
9. This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick—I enjoy pioneer novels and this one, about a woman's journey across the Oregon Trail, sounds like a good one.
10. Wildly Optimistic by Al Fox Carraway—Carraway, a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who calls herself "The Tattooed Mormon" is a popular speaker, writer, and online personality. Her books are fun and inspiring. I'm excited for this one, her newest.
There you have it, ten books "Santa" already delivered. Have you read any of them? What did you think? Have you been so good this year that Santa's already gifted you some fun books? What intriguing titles are you hoping to find under the Christmas tree this year? I'd truly love to know. Leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, January 02, 2018
Top Ten Tuesday: Best New-to-Me Author Discoveries in 2017
In evaluating my reading year, I realized that I actually read a lot of new-to-me authors in 2017, so today's Top Ten Tuesday topic should be a breeze. Picking my ten favorites will be the tough part. While I contemplate that question, why don't you click on over to The Broke and the Bookish and join in the TTT fun? All you have to do is read a few simple instructions, make your own list, and start hopping around to different blogs. The book blogosphere is full of a variety of fun sites. It's always exciting to discover new ones and revisit old favorites. Trust me, you want in on the action!
Okay, here we go with the Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2017:
1. Megan Miranda—I read three books by Miranda this year, so she definitely needs to be on this list. I enjoy her twisty mystery/thrillers. I have Fragments of the Lost out from the library right now and plan to read others by her this year.
2. Anna Lee Huber—Lark introduced me to this author's Lady Darby mystery series. I read the first two books last year and plan to read at least that many more this year.
3. A.J. Jacobs—Like many members of my church, I'm a *little* obsessed with family history. While at RootsTech a few years ago, I heard A.J. Jacobs speak about his goal to organize a global family reunion by researching his roots and inviting all his "cousins" to New York City for a giant get together. He's a charming and funny speaker, so I have been anxious to read It's All Relative, the book he wrote about this project. It was such an enjoyable read that I want to read more from Jacobs. I didn't get to his Drop Dead Healthy before I had to return it to the library a couple weeks ago, but I'm going to start with that one.
4. Ashley Weaver—The Amory Ames mystery series is another discovery I made this year. I read the first two books in 2017 and plan to continue with the series in 2018. I've been trying to read cleaner, less gruesome mysteries lately and these fit the bill nicely.
5. John Marsden—This Australian author is best known for Tomorrow, When the War Began, his YA dystopian series about a group of teens who are hiking in the outback when their town is invaded by an army from a distant country. The books follow the kids in their efforts to figure out what's going on and fight back against a powerful enemy. I read the first three books in the series last year and plan to finish the last four this year.
6. Jenny Colgan—I read The Bookshop on the Corner by Scottish author Jenny Colgan back in May and really enjoyed it. I'm definitely planning to read more of her books this year.
7. Hugh Howey—I've only read one book by Howey, but I really enjoyed Wool, the first book in his SILO trilogy. I'm planning to read the next two this year.
8. Emily Bain Murphy—One of my favorite books of the year, The Disappearances, is this author's debut. I don't know what Murphy has in the works, but I'm excited to read it!
9. Anne Corlett—I forgot all about The Space Between Stars when I was making my "Best of 2017" lists, but I loved this debut novel. I'll definitely be watching for more from this author.
10. Lisa Wingate—I enjoyed Before We Were Yours, Wingate's newest novel (2016), last year. I need to look for more of her books in the new year.
Who did you discover this year? I'd really like to know as I'm always on the lookout for new authors to love. Leave me a comment and I'll happily return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Top Ten Tuesday: My (Even-Though-It's-Not-Over-Yet-I'm-Still-Playing-Along) 2017 Reading Favorites
Even though the year isn't *quite* over yet—thank goodness, since I've still got 50 books to read to reach my goal of 200!—I'm going to play along today and talk about the best reads I enjoyed in 2017. In the "Books Read in 2017" section at the bottom of my blog, you can see that I starred 22 books as favorites, so I'll have to narrow it down to my 10 most favorite. Before we get to that, though, I want to mention two things:
(1) I'm hosting a fun giveaway that hasn't received a lot of entries yet. This means your chances of winning a copy of Celebrate Every Season with Six Sisters' Stuff are really, really good! Thick and glossy, this cookbook retails for $22.99. It's full of yummy recipes, easy crafts, and fun ideas for every season of the year. Whether you want this for yourself or for Christmas giving, you have to enter to win. Take a look at this post for more details. Good luck!
(2) Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme. It's a great way to discover new blogs, give some love to those you already visit, and, of course, add some intriguing new reads to Ole Mount TBR. To join in, all you have to do is click on over to The Broke and the Bookish, read a few guidelines, make your own list, then have a good time hopping around the book blogosphere. If you want to add some pizzazz to your Tuesday, TTT is the ticket.
Okay, here we go with my Top Ten Favorite Books of 2017:
1. The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny—I adore the Chief Inspector Gamache series, so it's not surprising that both installments I read this year made it to my favorites list. All the books are excellent. This one, eighth in the series, is an especially intriguing "locked room" mystery set in a remote monastery that does not allow visits by outsiders. Until a monk turns up dead. Gamache and his right-hand man are called in to find the killer.
2. How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny—This mystery, ninth in the series, revolves around a dead woman who—Gamache is surprised to discover—is not just any old lady, but a celebrity with a very, very interesting history. As he investigates her murder, Gamache also has to deal with personal and professional turmoil, all of which make this novel difficult to put down.
3. The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron—This was the first book I read in 2017 and boy, did it start my reading year off right! This YA novel is unique and intriguing. The less you know about it going in, the better. Trust me, though, it's worth the read.
4. The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry—I read this one, an even more unique YA novel, because it was nominated for a Whitney Award. It ended up winning in the YA General category and also being selected as a Michael L. Printz Honor title, neither of which surprised me at all. It's a lovely historical that's interesting, exciting, and well-written.
5. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate—Adoption stories always reel me in, and this one was no exception. The novel tells a heartbreaking story based on the real-life antics of Georgia Tann, a money-hungry woman who basically sold babies for her own profit and gain during the 1930s and 40s. Ultimately hopeful, it makes for an engrossing read.
6. Worth the Wrestle by Sheri Dew—I loved this inspirational book about wrestling with your questions and doubts. Dew writes in an uplifting, engaging way that just speaks right to my soul. This is a life-changing book, which I absolutely adored.
7. You May Already Be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis—I enjoyed this quirky MG novel set in a locale (Provo, Utah) with which I'm very familiar. It's about a young girl living in a trailer park who dreams of winning the lottery and making a better life for herself, her mother, and her younger sister. It's a sweet read about appreciating what you have—even, maybe especially, when it seems like you don't have much at all.
8. Wool by Hugh Howey—This dystopian chunkster may look intimidating, but it's actually very readable. The world it introduces is complex and fascinating. I loved immersing myself in this one.
9. Lemons by Melissa Savage—This MG novel is as bright and enjoyable as it sounds. It stars two Bigfoot hunters who make a startling discovery right in their own backyard!
10. My Bonny Light Horseman by L.A. Meyer—I've long been a fan of the irresistible Jacqueline "Jacky" Faber. Her adventures never fail to make me smile. Since her creator passed away suddenly in 2014, I am reading the series slowly, savoring each book, knowing there will be no more. This one, sixth in the series, is just as delightful as all the rest.
There you go, my Top Ten. You can see the other 12 books I enjoyed most this year by scrolling to the bottom of my blog and checking out the titles on my "Books Read in 2017" list that have asterisks. So, what do you think of my list? Have you read any of these? What were the best books you read this year? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
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2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
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