Top Ten Tuesday – Best of 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This was EXTREMELY hard to narrow down to 5, however, I also did Top New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014 which all could have also been included in this list. But my list of 5 are from a broad spectrum of genres: Adult Contemporary, YA Contemporary, Horror, Mystery and Non-Fiction/Memoir. There are plenty more I could have added but these all managed to stand out above the rest.

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes {My Review}
I think back on this one and remember this read vividly because of how much fun it was. Hilarious and emotional, One Plus One is easily the best Jojo Moyes book I’ve read; even better than Me Before You!

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield {My Review}
The fact that I had this one gathering dust on my shelves for far too long pains me now that I’ve finally read it. This book was incredible. Incredibly well-written and completely captivating. I can’t wait to read more of this authors works.

Bird Box by Josh Malerman {My Review3}
This was one of the best horror/psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s an intense and unsettling read that manages to really get under your skin. I really got into horror novels this year and this one definitely topped the list.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie {My Review}
I finally took the plunge and read my first Agatha Christie book. I picked an amazing point to start because this book was so damn exciting. I haven’t picked up anything else of hers yet but she’s definitely on my list now!

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson {My Review}
Oh my gosh. This book. The most insanely hilarious book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Or at least listening to. Jenny Lawson is a spectacular narrator and makes her story even more hilarious than in print… if that is even possible.

Wow, 2014 was such a great reading year! I finished four bingos (three courtesy of the lovely ladies at Great Imaginations, and one that Bonnie and I made up on the fly). I joined FTLOW as a co-blogger, which I am as nervous about as I write this as I was when I gave my introduction. I destroyed my reading goal of 100 books, and I read a lot of great things along the way.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
It is official. I declare this my favorite book read in 2014. Reason One: It was read to me by Wil Wheaton. Reason Two: It is precisely my level of nerdy (which is pretty darn high on the geektrometer scale, see Reason One). Reason Three: It’s like Tron and War Games made sweet, sweet love (See Reason Two – I am a nerd).

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Hands down, this is the best zombie book I’ve ever read.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
A breath of fresh air. Life was completely unexpected and is a fabulous audio for a long trip!

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
Kinsella has long been one of my favorites for light and fluffy, entertaining reads. This book definitely delivered those things, plus lots of laughs.

What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey
Full disclosure: I’m a huge Oprah fan. But I am also a firm believer that some books come into your life at the precise moment you need them. This is that book for me. It offered words of strength and knowledge, kindness and love. One great big hug from O herself.