So far this year I have read 24 books out of my goal of 30. I think it's safe to say that I'll accomplish my goal, but if I'm glad about anything this year, it's that I've made the time to read and I've enjoyed it so much. I thought now that we're mid way through the year I'd give a 6 month update about what my favourite books have been. To start with, I track everything I've read on my goodreads account, so send me a friend request if you'd like. I will also give the odd 'review' of some books I feel I have something to say about and you can see what I rate the books out of 5 too.
My Top 5 Favourite Books I've Read This Year: (subject to change) - I also won't spoil anything that happens in these books in case you want to read them and you haven't yet!
5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: This book tackles ideas about euthanasia and as I've seen from some reviews on goodreads, I would agree this is not particularly a romance novel as you might like to think it is. It had me thinking about euthanasia dilemmas and such but apart from that, the characters were enjoyable and I liked how they were witty and kind of refreshing in a way from a typical romance novel. This was addicting to read and, yes, if I remember it now, I was reading this while on holiday and all I wanted to do was read this. This is apparently becoming a movie (I was unaware while reading it) so read it now if you're one of those people who like reading books before movie adaptions!
4. Trouble by Non Pratt: This book was just one of those books that was just easy and enjoyable to read, for me. I don't know, I just feel like this book is something I really enjoyed but not for really any main reason. I feel like it was really nicely written and was quite realistic in a sense, looking at British teenage life and flicking between the perspectives of Aaron and Hannah. I feel like I quite enjoy it when books change perspective chapter by chapter, it's just a bit more interesting. I also didn't feel like I preferred reading from one person's perspective compared to the other so it was a good reading experience. There's something I loved about this book so that's why it's in my Top 5.
3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: This book is only number three for probably one main reason, when I first read this I didn't like the ending (that's not spoiling anything). When reading the book, I completely fell in love with it, so the ending wasn't all that I thought it would be. However, Fangirl is something that I'm so glad I read. If I could forget reading it and read it again for the first time, I think I would. Fangirl was really addicting to read and I think I just became immersed in the lives of the characters (the irony). It was quite a long read too but I felt like I wanted to savour it and I enjoyed it immensely.
2. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson: This was quite different from anything I'd read before, I'd never read anything on the topic of transgender. I absolutely loved the fact this book was tacking an issue rarely talked about. I felt an emotional connection to the characters and felt like I was understanding something I knew not much about before. Of course, this isn't to say this book represents every transgender person. I'm pretty sure if I can cry reading a book then it's a good book.
1. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: I think this remains at the top of my list because I felt like the characters were so unique, special and vivid in my mind. I don't know, there was just something about them, especially Finch who I adored greatly in the book, and who I had such an emotional connection to. He is vivid, exciting, crazy and most importantly not boring. I know some people didn't think this book was AMAZING, but I don't know if it was just timing or something, but something's telling me this has to be placed at number one. I may have had an emotional time.
Honourable mentions:
The Humans: Unlike anything I've read before, this enlightened me and it was a hilarious book!
Three Amazing Things About You: This gave me the warm fuzzies and sometimes I'm a sucker for this type of book.
Finding Audrey: Finishing this quite recently, I'll mention it here because it was funny, sweet and a good all rounder, I think.
Enjoy your day and I'll see you soon for another blog post! x
My Top 5 Favourite Books I've Read This Year: (subject to change) - I also won't spoil anything that happens in these books in case you want to read them and you haven't yet!
5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: This book tackles ideas about euthanasia and as I've seen from some reviews on goodreads, I would agree this is not particularly a romance novel as you might like to think it is. It had me thinking about euthanasia dilemmas and such but apart from that, the characters were enjoyable and I liked how they were witty and kind of refreshing in a way from a typical romance novel. This was addicting to read and, yes, if I remember it now, I was reading this while on holiday and all I wanted to do was read this. This is apparently becoming a movie (I was unaware while reading it) so read it now if you're one of those people who like reading books before movie adaptions!
4. Trouble by Non Pratt: This book was just one of those books that was just easy and enjoyable to read, for me. I don't know, I just feel like this book is something I really enjoyed but not for really any main reason. I feel like it was really nicely written and was quite realistic in a sense, looking at British teenage life and flicking between the perspectives of Aaron and Hannah. I feel like I quite enjoy it when books change perspective chapter by chapter, it's just a bit more interesting. I also didn't feel like I preferred reading from one person's perspective compared to the other so it was a good reading experience. There's something I loved about this book so that's why it's in my Top 5.
3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: This book is only number three for probably one main reason, when I first read this I didn't like the ending (that's not spoiling anything). When reading the book, I completely fell in love with it, so the ending wasn't all that I thought it would be. However, Fangirl is something that I'm so glad I read. If I could forget reading it and read it again for the first time, I think I would. Fangirl was really addicting to read and I think I just became immersed in the lives of the characters (the irony). It was quite a long read too but I felt like I wanted to savour it and I enjoyed it immensely.
2. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson: This was quite different from anything I'd read before, I'd never read anything on the topic of transgender. I absolutely loved the fact this book was tacking an issue rarely talked about. I felt an emotional connection to the characters and felt like I was understanding something I knew not much about before. Of course, this isn't to say this book represents every transgender person. I'm pretty sure if I can cry reading a book then it's a good book.
1. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: I think this remains at the top of my list because I felt like the characters were so unique, special and vivid in my mind. I don't know, there was just something about them, especially Finch who I adored greatly in the book, and who I had such an emotional connection to. He is vivid, exciting, crazy and most importantly not boring. I know some people didn't think this book was AMAZING, but I don't know if it was just timing or something, but something's telling me this has to be placed at number one. I may have had an emotional time.
Honourable mentions:
The Humans: Unlike anything I've read before, this enlightened me and it was a hilarious book!
Three Amazing Things About You: This gave me the warm fuzzies and sometimes I'm a sucker for this type of book.
Finding Audrey: Finishing this quite recently, I'll mention it here because it was funny, sweet and a good all rounder, I think.
Enjoy your day and I'll see you soon for another blog post! x