I really hit a stride with reading this year, which was a nice change from the demanding college life where my books would sit sad and neglected on the makeshift shelves of my apartment. There have been so many titles I've read this year that are worth talking about, whether they were new releases or something I'd been meaning to read for a while. Here are just a few that have left a lasting impression on me for my 2015 reads.
Number One:
The Black Hour
Author: Lori Rader-Day
By chance, I sat at the same table as Lori Rader-Day at the closing banquet of the Midwest Writer's Workshop this July. I had heard about her debut novel in one of the intensive sessions, and upon expressing interest in reading it, Lori pulled out a copy, signed it, and sent it home with me. I didn't know what to expect, as I'm not normally a mystery reader, but I was completely roped in right away. The characters were just so alive and I cared about them in a way that's often rare. The intricacy of the story was so engaging and I felt like I was a part of the world she created. The ending was so rewarding because I didn't see it coming. Seriously, this book needs to be everywhere.
Number Two:
A Thousand Pieces of You
Author: Claudia Gray
I read this when I was still working at the book store, and I seriously ran to every one of my coworkers and demanded that they read this book. The concept itself was so fascinating and original I couldn't stop talking about it. And also, THAT COVER. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Oh, Lord. I love a main character that I can relate to, and I feel like Marguerite and I would be good friends. She has a vulnerability about her that compliments her strength as a girl thrown into extraordinary circumstances. And then there's the mind-blowing take on the classic YA love triangle, which I love. The romance, while not the absolute main focus of the plot, is just SO GOOD. The whole book is just filled with lovely imagery and compelling storytelling. I am dying for the sequel, which arrives this fall.
Number Three:
The World To Come
Author: Dara Horn
I bought this book because I love a good whimsical plot with interwoven story lines, and this seemed promising. OH. MY. GOSH. Dara Horn knows her craft. Her writing is absolute poetry, with every sentence its own work of art. It dove deep into trials of family and the very concept of being alive. There was drama and heartbreak and just the right amount of fantastical elements. This was truly unlike anything I had ever read. It's one of those books that when you reach that final page, it feels like a privilege to have taken part in the characters' lives.
Number Four:
Broken Monsters
Author: Lauren Beukes
When I started this book, I expected a gritty mystery reminiscent of True Detective or Silence of the Lambs. Let me tell you, it was all of that and so much more. It was eerie and chilling and it took turns to places I never expected. While murder and intrigue are abound, it also challenged the reader to reflect on how the media gives life to the act of killing. We get to see this story develop from numerous perspectives, including the eyes of a detective, a blogger seeking fame, and the serial killer himself. Beukes writes with a ferocity that demands to be paid attention to, and I could not put it down, even when it terrified me.
And Lastly, Number Five:
The Ask and the Answer
Author: Patrick Ness
I am IN LOVE. Everything about this book reminds me why I read. This is the second entry in the Chaos Walking Trilogy, and it is incredible. These characters are so real and dimensional that I feel their pain as if it is my own. Ness creates tension and throws us twists and complications that made me want to throw the book across the room and clutch it to my chest at the same time. The romance in this book is so subtle, yet so effective, as it is based in a beautiful, endearing friendship. The world building is so well done and the ending nearly killed me with its cliffhanger. Luckily, the entire trilogy has been out for a few years now, so I don't have to endure the torturous wait for an entire year.
So there you have it. I have read so many amazing books so far this year, and it's hard to only write about five. I highly recommend each one of them, and we'll see what else I discover before the year is over.
Also, I'm only on page 20 of I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, but I have a feeling it's going to lead to tears. Prepare all the hugs.
