Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme brought to you by the folks over at The Broke and the Bookish (the button also belongs to them). This week’s theme is the Top Ten Books I Read In 2014.
I have listed my favorite reads of the year below, in no particular order. I kept this limited to books I rated 4.5 or 5 stars and there are only 8 of those for this year.
1. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier– I LOVED this book. Sorcha is one of my favorite characters of all time. This book made me feel like I did when I read as a kid– completely, totally lost in another world. I would never have discovered it if not for blogging, so THANK YOU bloggers for your Juliet Marillier fangirling.
2. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty– This book was smart and entertaining and struck a perfect balance between funny and serious. I bought a copy for my mom, I loved it so much.
3. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith– Cormoran Strike is such an interesting character and so is his sidekick, Robin. I loved getting caught up in a mystery with many suspects and an ending I couldn’t guess.
4. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith– I liked this even more than the first book in the series. The crime was a little more grisly, which was interesting, but mostly I liked seeing the character development in Strike and Robin. Watching their professional relationship grow was my favorite part of the whole book. Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
5. Unsticky by Sarra Manning– Well, this might be cheating because I originally read this book in 2013 and reread it again in 2014. But it was one of the best books I read (again) this year. It’s a smart romance between two really messed up people who are better together than they are apart. The reread sent me on a major book hangover.
6. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz– I loved the setting in this book and the parents and it was just a super hopeful and beautiful coming of age story. I give it props for diversity. (A book set in the desert! With Mexican-American characters! And there is some LGBT stuff in there, too!)
7. After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid– This book caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect to like the story of a married couple taking a one-year hiatus from one another as much as I did. The family relationships in this one were so well-depicted. And I loved the exploration of the different meanings of love and marriage.
8. The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson– This series got better as it went on and the finale was great. I loved seeing Queen Elisa grow up and prove herself in this book. A great ending to a great series!
What were your favorite books this year?
Don't Take My Books Away 
I really liked “The cuckoos calling” … nice list! 🙂 🙂
I haven’t read any of the books on your list this week!! I’ll have to check them out. Here’s my TTT for this this week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2014/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-i-read-in.html
I discovered Sarra Manning this year and I just want to read all her books! Unsticky has been on my radar, but just haven’t picked it up yet. I also really want to read Daughter of the Forest. I read one of her other books and adored it so I need to add more of hers to my “read” list! And hooray for loving The Bitter Kingdom! It was one of my FAVORITE series and was such a perfect wrap up to it!
Sarra Manning is great stuff… I have liked everything I’ve read by her. And I think you’ll like Daughter of the Forest… hope you get to it soon!
I so badly want to read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, it looks so good! 🙂
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
My TTT Post!
It’s a really beautiful book- I hope you get a chance to read it!
I cannot count the number of times someone has tried to talk to me when I’ve been reading a Juliet Marillier book and I’ve just looked at them, still in a dream-like state, and said, “What?”
My TTT
Yes! Exactly! Love it!
Really Loved the Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm. I’ve been meaning to check out Big Little Lies. Here is my TTT list: http://www.readinginthetardis.com/top-ten-books-i-read-in-2014/
What a great list! I have been really curious about both of J.K. Rowling’s books but super nervous about trying something different of hers. It’s nice to see you have both of them on your top ten list and that you enjoyed them. I might have to check them out!
Here is mine 🙂
http://busybrunettesbookshelf.blogspot.com
They are quite good… I’m also reading The Casual Vacancy right now, which is different, but man, this lady can write.
BIG LITTLE LIES is on my list as well. It was so funny, but also thoughtful and spot-on. I loved it. Glad you did, too.
Happy TTT (on Wednesday — I’m a little late to the party)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes, Big Little Lies struck such a great balance between serious and funny… Moriarty just nails it.
Oh!! Some of these are on my 2015 TBR list!! Daughter of the Forest, Big Little Lies, After I Do, Bitter Kingdom are happening! 😀
They are SO good! I hope you enjoy when you get to them!
I hadn’t even heard of “Daughter of the Forest” and I’ve seen in on several of these list now. My TBR list is already too long but it just got added:)
I’ve got half your top 10 on my “need to read this yesterday” pile.
Oh, I think you’ll really like Daughter of the Forest, especially with your recent fantasy kick! It’s been a really long time since I’ve been immersed in a book like that. Plenty of books I couldn’t put down, but not too many that I get totally lost in.