I normally post this at the end of December but am terribly behind with my blog posts at the moment. I had a lovely 10 day Christmas cruise holiday which meant I had very little time in the lead up to Christmas and then almost as soon as I arrived home I was stuck down by the dreaded Norovirus. There had been an outbreak on the ship and unfortunately both my OH and I were very unlucky and managed to succumb! I didn’t even want to think about blogging for many days but as a result, am now playing catch up with my blog posts.
Very belated Happy New Year wishes to everyone. As ever, 2016 was a wonderful bookish year although life got in the way rather a lot which meant that I haven’t been able to read and review so many of the books I’ve been sent. However, I will get round to them, I promise. I do appreciate authors entrusting their book babies to me for review and after struggling for much of this year for various personal reasons with reading and reviewing, I aim to have a better structure in place for 2017. One of the things I wanted to do in 2016 but didn’t quite manage it was to read more of my own purchased books. I am so fortunate to receive lots of lovely #bookpost from publishers and authors but I also buy loads of books too. I have always given priority to review books over my own purchases but I want that to change. I have so many kindle books, hardbacks and paperbacks that I’ve bought that just don’t receive any attention so one of my bookish resolutions this year is to read more of my own books.
Enough of my rambling, now on to the real reason for this post. As ever it is almost impossible to decide which books to include. I’ve based my list on some of those which I have given 5* ratings which to me have all been rather special, (…..and I haven’t included all my 5* reads this year) but there are so many excellent 4* reads as well and its just a shame that I can’t include them all. So, in no particular order (I don’t even want to think about which would be my favourite of favourites!!), here they are:
(please click on the title to see my review)
Behind Closed Doors – B A Paris
This Must Be The Place – Maggie O’Farrell
The Mountain in My Shoe – Louise Beech
Song of the Sea Maid – Rebecca Mascull
Before I Let You In – Jenny Blackhurst
Outside Looking In – Michael Wood
A Suitable Lie – Michael Malone
Even now looking at my bookcases, I can see so many other books that came into the house during 2016 that I haven’t yet had a chance to get to which I am sure would have been on this list. However this is now another year and they may appear on my 2017 list!
To finish off, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported my blog in every way – whether by review requests and bookpost, or by reading and sharing my reviews. When I set up my blog just over 3 years ago it was the best thing I ever did and though I occasionally feel a little overwhelmed when I look at my toppling book piles, I haven’t regretted it for a moment.
Happy 2017 everyone
xx
Thanks so much, Karen! I’m thrilled to have made your top 10.
It was a pleasure Rebecca. I can’t wait to get into ‘The Wild Air’ x
Glad you’re feeling better after the norovirus! How awful for you!
What a fabulous list of favourite books, you’ve compiled. I’m currently reading The Mountain In My Shoe and absolutely loving it. Have a wonderful 2017 x
Thank you Barbara, there are so many wonderful books out there, it gets harder each year! I can’t wait to hear what you think about The Mountain. You have a fabulous 2017 too xx
Happy New Year to you too- good to see Liz Nugent making your Top Ten ?
Thanks Cleo – Liz Nugent has been in my Top 10 before (2014 with Unravelling Oliver) – she’s a regular!! 🙂
HNY Karen, glad you’re feeling better. I’ve got several on my tbr yet to read so good to know you rate them highly.
Thanks so much Jill. I do hope you enjoy them as much as I did. x
How do I subscribe to your blog and all the fun posts? I love your theme btw, so classy, neat and appealing.
Thanks very much, very kind of you. There is a subscribe by email button on my sidebar or you can follow via the WordPress Reader 🙂