Best of the Best: 2015 to 2023
Welcome to another seasonal “Best Of” list featuring my best reads of the year from 2015-2023.
Inspired by Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog, I’ve put together my own “Best of the Best” list which I’ll add to each year.
Each year I’ve been blogging, I’ve put together a most memorable reads of the year list. Now, inspired by Davida, here are my top NINE reads of the last NINE years. I’ve only been blogging for six and a half years, but I started keeping records eight years ago, so I’m including all eight years. I’m also linking to my year-end blog posts so that you can see the honorable mentions if you’re curious. It’s excruciating to pick the best of the best and I’ve excluded many favorite reads. However, these are the books I still think about years after I’ve read them and will probably want to reread at some point.
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
2015:
(Preblogging) The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
(reviewed the first year I started blogging)
2016:
(Preblogging) Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (not reviewed on the blog)
2017:
(I didn’t choose a favorite this year because I chose to use categories.) Looking back at the list now, I will have to choose Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman as my favorite of the year (not reviewed on blog). See my complete list for the year here: 2017 Really Recommendable Reads
2018:
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
See my complete list for the year here: Most Memorable Reads of 2018
2019:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
See my complete list for the year here: Most Memorable Reads of 2019
2020:
The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
See my complete list for the year here: Most Memorable Reads of 2020
2021:
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
See my complete list for the year here: Most Memorable Reads of 2021
2022:
The Girl From Guernica by Karen Robards
See my complete list for the year here: Most Memorable Reads of 2022.
2023:
Go as a River by Shelley Read
See my complete list for the year here: Most Memorable Reads of 2023
Ranked in Order:
Ok….this isn’t my favorite thing to do but Davida has set the bar high, so I’ll give this daunting task a try! All of these are on my lifetime favorites list and I have vivid memories of reading each one. I have awarded each of these books five stars, so they could all be #1. Tomorrow I might arrange them differently.
#9
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
#8
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
#7
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
#6
Go as a River by Shelley Read
#5
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
#4
The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
#3
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
#2
The Girl From Guernica by Karen Robards
#1
A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
(The book with the most emotional, heartfelt, and poignant ending.)
QOTD:
If you ranked your books over the past few years, which would be your #1 read?
Do you keep a list of favorites from year to year?
Do we share a favorite?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
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~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
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I don’t know why, but having to choose a top read from each year seems very intense! It looks like there are a lot of good books there, though!
It’s fairly intense to choose a top read! Some years are more difficult than others.
I couldn’t possibly choose an all time favourite. I’d struggle to even pick one for each year! 😄
It’s difficult! #bookproblems
Sorry to make your work so hard, but… you can always change your lineup next year when you have another Best of the Best post! I’ve done it in the past. My post will go up next week on Wednesday!
I’ll remember to edit my post with your new link! 🙌
I need to check out Homegoing someday! It has been on my radar for far too long. Nice list, Carol! 🙂
It’s a memorable and challenging read! I hope you enjoy it!
This had to be difficult to do! But, I can see how it would really help you identify the things that made a really great reading experience for you. I do try to put together a favorites list from the year. I like how you use the words “memorable reads” for your top reads of the year. I think this is a truer reflection of stand-out reads.
I can remember these reads like it was yesterday! Whereas sometimes, I read a book and can’t remember it 1 week later to write a review! Some books become part of you and live in your heart forever!
Wow, I am impressed that you could do this Carol. I am also impressed to see that I have also read and loved 7 of these books. The other two, Girl with Louding Voice, the Homegoing, are on my TBR and I really need to get to them.
I’m thrilled to hear we love the same books! 🙌📚😍
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