It’s that time of year again when I compile my list of favourite reads of the year. As those of you that follow my blog know, I enjoy a variety of genres and categories of books and I have tried to group my list of the best ones I have read this year. Note that buy links are on the title for Amazon UK and the author for Amazon US.

In no particular order (that’s waaaaay too difficult)…

 

Children’s

The Goblin Princess: Smoky the Dragon Baby by Jenny O’Connor and Kate Willis-Crowley is a lovely story of friendship and unruly pets. (My review)

Zac and Jen’s Astronomical Adventures: The Petal Planet by Natalie Page and Chris Rivers Nuttall is rhyming adventure loveliness all tied up in a beautiful friendship. (My review)

 

Adventure

Nameless and Clanless, both by Jennifer Jenkins were rip-roaring fantasy adventures with some much heart and plot, and I couldn’t put them down. I can’t wait for the next one, either. (My reviews)

The Black Orchid by Celine Jeanjean was a steampunk adventure with action, a feisty heroine, a dash of romance, and a lot of fun. (My review)

 

Non-fiction

Just one in my non-fiction reads this year, but what a book Euro 2016 by Lloyd Pettiford and Ronan Fitzsimons was! Part history of the Euros, part analysis, the writing had me laughing all the way through the summer. And no, it’s not past its sell-by date as, if you ignore the small section on predictions, this is more about the Euros and the teams and less about Euro 2016. A must for any football fan. (My Review)

 

Crime

I know Your Secret by Graham Smith was clever and fast-paced and everything crime should be. I loved his short stories and I loved this novel. (My review)

Deadly Harvest by Michael Stanley was warped and twisted and brilliant. The setting, too, added to the mix in a way that made this very special book even greater. (My review)

 

Romance

A lot of great romance this year, and Caught Inside by Jamie Deacon was young adult brilliance – fast-paced, insightful, and heart-warming all at once. (My review)

A Stranger’s House by Clare Chase had me laughing, crying, hiding behind my fingers, and wanting to cuddle our protagonist. And that’s not counting the romance… (My review)

Boomerang by Noelle August really struck a note with me in its realistic depiction of post-university life – two graduates competing for a position find that fighting and foreplay are sometimes the same thing. (My review)

The Little French Guesthouse by Helen Pollard was more a heart-warming story of friendship and finding oneself than a romance, but it was delightful: from the depictions of French expat life to its (eventually) strong protagonist. (My review)

And last, but definitely not least, Play With Me by Anna Katmore depicted angst, highschool, and the lengths that young and naive teenagers will go to to ensnare their crush’s affections with such brutal realism that I couldn’t help but love it, even while I was despairing at the immaturity on show. (My review)

 

So these are my picks for the year. What were yours?