Favorite Books From the Past Year

I recently realized that I regularly update you all on what I’m reading but rarely share my thoughts when I’m finished. To fix that issue, I put together a list of favorite books that I’d recommend from the past year. Some are new releases and some are just new to me, but they’re all books I would love to read again.

In no particular order and with a mix of fiction and nonfiction, here are my recent favorite books!

Favorite Books:

A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman

This tale of a grumpy old man and his interactions with his neighbors is incredibly touching and heart-warming. Ove will stay with you for a long time after you close the book.

The Little Prince
by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

I don’t know how I missed this one growing up, but it’s just as delightful to read as an adult. It’s obviously short since it’s a kid’s book, but the illustrations and the story are sweet and strangely haunting.

The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss

Jay basically forced me to read this one and I’m now extremely grateful : ) It’s the first in a fantasy trilogy about a young man who goes to school to learn magic. It’s not Harry Potter (and I generally hate comparisons to that series), but the world and the characters drew me in in exactly the same way. I wanted to jump in the story and interact with them.

The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah

A story about two sisters living in France during the German occupation in WWII. Hannah writes about their individual struggles and how they each decided to fight back against the Germans. I found the descriptions of daily life under the German rule fascinating and heart-breaking. 

What Alice Forgot
by Liane Moriarty 

I generally enjoy Liane Moriarty’s novels, but this one in particular felt realistic to me. It offers a unique perspective about how relationships can deteriorate over time without either individual realizing what’s happening. It felt like a cautionary tale, but ends on a hopeful note.

Garlic and Sapphires
by Ruth Reichl

I’m just starting to delve into the world of memoirs and this book was a terrific first step. Ruth is a former restaurant critic for the NY Times. In this memoir she tells delicious stories about her restaurant visits and her approach to tasting and judging her meals. It felt like a behind the scenes peak into both the newspaper and restaurants worlds.

Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline

I actually bought this book brand new after reading it (I enjoyed it that much)! It’s a dystopian-type novel about a teenager who lives in America. However, our civilization has turned to a virtual reality world to avoid facing the country’s actual problems. The creator of the world left an Easter Egg Hunt within that awarded his entire fortune to the winter. This novel is fast-paced, thrilling, and exciting all the way to the end.

On Writing
by Stephen King

Another memoir that I couldn’t put down. Stephen King combines memories and writing tips in this book and creates a masterpiece. My favorite parts were the stories about his inspiration for various novels and the practical tips that can be implemented in everyday writing.

Anne of Green Gables
by L. M. Montgomery

To be honest, I may have read Anne of Green Gables when I was a child, but I just can’t remember! So, I finally decided to read it again. I’ve always been a Little House on the Prairie fan, so I was a bit skeptical of Anne, but she thoroughly won me over. She inserted a dose of pure joy and love of life into my day every time I read a few pages. What more can you ask from a book?

What books have you read in the past year that you would recommend to your friends?

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