This year I managed to read 129 books. This is partly because I read a lot of graphic novels and shorter texts like short stories and plays. Because of this I’ve decided to split my favourite books into four categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Graphic Novels and YA. I just want to point out that I don’t YA fiction in a different category to my fiction because I think it’s ‘lesser’ or anything. In fact it’s because I wanted to highlight it more as I love reading YA and thought it would be interesting to have it’s own category. The graphic novels are a mix of fiction and graphic memoirs (easier to just say graphic novels overall). Also the books are in no particular order when it comes to favouritism, it was hard enough to pick 5 books for each category, let alone put them in order!
Top 5 Fiction Books 2016
1. All We Shall Know by Donal Ryan. Ok, I know I just said there’s no particular order but this might be my favourite. It’s hard to call! Ryan just writes so beautifully and poetically and not to the determinent to the plot which was great too. Review
2. The Muse by Jessie Burton. Last year The Miniaturist got an honourable mention. I loved The Muse though, Burton is another effortless writer and with lots of little twists and turns you’ll be guessing all the details down to the end. Review
3. The Trespasser by Tana French. All hail Queen Tana! I met here at the Irish Book Awards and was excited to chat to her for a few minutes. The Trespasser is book 6 in the Dublin Murder Squad and follows tough cookie Antoinette Conway. I love how French gets the tone of each character right and how to book has you on tenterhooks waiting to see how everything plays out. Review
4. The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney. Winner of the 2016 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, McInerney shows us several characters on the grittier side of life in Cork, linking together the likes of a big career criminal and his mother, 15 year old drug seller and his abusive alcoholic father, a nosy do gooder, and a drug addicted prostitute. Grim and gritty with a side of humour. Review
5. A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. I loved this book set on a spaceship. There’s some action but in between I loved hearing about the life on board the spaceship and all the different alien species. It was heartwarming and fun and I also enjoyed A Closed and Common Orbit, set in the same world with some of the minor characters from the first book. Review
Honourable mentions to Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent, The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon, Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik, Poison City by Paul Crilley and the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
Top 5 Non-Fiction Books 2016
1. Grunt by Mary Roach. I adore Mary Roach books and this one we get to hear the science behind the army and war. Review
2. Animal by Sara Pascoe. I read a lot of feminist non-fiction this year and this was probably my favourite. It’s not perfect and lacks intersectionality (something Sara is aware of and addresses) but it made me laugh out loud and got me thinking. Review
3. Forensics by Val McDermid. Fascinating insight to the different fields of study in forensics, without being too heavy and highlights postitives and negetives of each study. Review
4. Mandela: An Audio History by Desmond Tutu. This is short, just over an hour long but packed full of information, interviews and news clips. Almost brought me to tears on the train while listening to it. Review
5. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell. The author moves to Denmark for a year and spends that time researching what makes the country the happiest place in the world, while trying to navigate the new culture and language. Review
Top YA Books 2016
1. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson. David has a secret to tell his family: that he’s actually a girl. Leo is new in school and wants to stay hidden. Together they help each other deal with friends, family, bullies and being oneself. Review
2. When We Collided by Emery Lord. Vivi is a whirlwind that arrives in town one summer and instantly falls for Jonah and his family. Jonah and Vivi are polar opposites but he helps her with her bipolar condition and she helps him with his grief of losing his father. Review
3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Another one set on a spaceship, this follows Kady and Erza, a couple who have just split up the day a big corporation attacks their planet. They end up on different escape ships and this book is a series of documents, interviews, diary entries and IMs as the two try to work out what’s happening in their lives. Review
4. One by Sarah Crossan. Told in free verse form, One is the story of conjoined twins Tippy and Grace who go to school for the first time when they turn 16. Beautiful and unique. Review
5. The Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. Gritty and determined Amani enters a shooting competition dressed as a boy so she can win money and leave town. I loved the western vibe of this book as well as the magical realism elements. Review
Top Graphic Novels 2016
1. Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson. 5 kick ass girls at a summer camp who get into all sorts of mysteries and fun. Love the characters and their friendships together. Review
2. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton. Part historical humour, part modern day observations, this book had me chuckling outloud several times. Review
3. Ms Marvel by G Willow Wilson. Kamala Khan, an ordinary Muslim schoolgirl in New Jersey, suddenly has superpowers and must learn to balance all aspects of her life. Cameo of a well known Marvel character in Volume 2 had me squealing! Review
4. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. 3 different stories that eventually come together (which I LOVED) and deals with racism and acceptance. Review
5. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Fantastic space opera that is full of violence, bad language and sex. I read the first 5 volumes back to back! Review
Honourable mentions Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan, Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol and Blankets by Craig Thompson.
And that’s my 2016 books! If you’ve read any of the books above or have any questions please leave a comment below
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