I know it’s not quite the end of the year yet, but my reading pace drastically slows in December with the craziness of the holidays. (I do reserve the right to add more books to this list if I can fit one or two more great reads in before December 31!) Somehow 2017 is nearly over, and I’m celebrating the arrival of 2018 with my favorite books of 2017…part 2. (If you missed part 1, check it out here: Favorite Books of 2017…So Far.)
A reminder on the rules of this particular list:
- Not all of these came out in 2017. Some came out a while ago and I am just behind on my TBR pile! *Shame*
- Books are listed in alphabetical order and not ranked order. Choosing favorites of the favorites is too hard!
- None of these are books I have edited, since obviously I love my babies the most.
- And finally, these are all YA novels because, well, I’m a YA editor. (And Peter Pan. Who needs grown-up books? Okay, maybe grown-ups.)
Here we go!
Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
A fantasy based on the city of Gomorrah in traveling circus form? With a girl who creates real life illusions to be her friends and family? And a villain who is killing them off even though they aren’t supposed to be real? UM, SIGN ME UP. This book is dark and twisty and so very unique. I highly recommend to anyone looking to read something fresh and different in the YA fantasy world. (Also, who else is pumped for Amanda’s upcoming Ace of Shades?!?!)
The Girl From Everywhere / The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig
I do realize I’m counting two books as one here, but that’s okay because this is a fantastic duology. I was a little late getting around to The Girl from Everywhere because I felt time-traveled out, but Heidi Heilig does an incredible job of twisting time-travel tropes on their heads and creating a world that feels both familiar and magical. I instantly connected with her characters and loved the lush, beautiful settings (real or imagined) for both these books. She also has a new book coming in 2018! *happy dance*
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
I devoured this book in four sittings (or technically two sittings and two treadmillings because a girl’s gotta exercise). I’ll say this up front: Hanneke is a complex character. She’s not the type of heroine who always makes the right choice or who is unerringly brave and selfless. She’s the type of heroine who feels real, whose struggles and emotional conflicts are the same ones many of us would have if we were in her shoes. This is a artfully woven mystery, a haunting depiction of WWII, and a true coming of age story.
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Not gonna lie…I was skeptical about this one. It’s ToG but not with my favorite ToG characters, and spinoff novels haven’t always been my cup of tea. (I was also having A Feast for Crows flashbacks.) But I should never have doubted the flawless SJM, because once again, she delivered. New worlds, new characters, new story lines…I had to sequester myself for a full weekend to read this beauty uninterrupted. AND THE REVEAL ABOUT ONE OF THE CHARACTERS FROM ToG!!! AAAAHHHH!!!
You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Mitali Perkins is a master of the family narrative, and the women you meet in this novel are a testament to her skill of developing nuanced, multifaceted characters who refuse to be put in a box. This was the type of book where I laughed, cried, and learned, all while enjoying a beautiful story. I also think You Bring the Distant Near might be the most gorgeous book title in all of existence and would be willing to fight you if you disagree.
As of 12/7/17, those are the 2017 favorites! I’ll be sure to let y’all (y’all? I’m not southern) know if I add more. One can never have too many book recommendations! (Says the girl who owns 5 very precariously full bookshelves and hoards the rest of her treasure trove in her childhood home where there are even more shelves. Thanks, parents!)
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