Here are my TOP 10 books I read this year! (listed in no particular order)
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – A lonely, elderly woman named Tova takes pride in working as a custodian for the local aquarium after the death of her husband and disappearance of her son over three decades ago. As she begins to have strange encounters with Marcellus, the incredibly intelligent giant Pacific octopus, they build an unlikely friendship. Marcellus makes it his mission to help Tova discover the truths of her son’s disappearance before he dies. Told in multiple POVs – including Marcellus’!
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry – A couple finally get a child of their own through fostering/adoption after an abused, mysterious child is brought to the hospital where they work. When the girl, Janie, begins to act violently behind closed doors, the parents must ask themselves: is Janie just a product of her trauma or someone truly malevolent? (warning: very disturbing)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell – Switching between Vanessa’s present and past, readers face the dynamic repercussions of grooming in a teacher-student relationship. (warning: potential triggers)
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei – Written by Star Trek‘s George Takei, this graphic novel tells the true story of his family’s imprisonment in the Japanese internment camps during WWII and the resilience of Japanese Americans.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel – This post-apocalyptic novel follows a group of travelling actors as they navigate the country after a pandemic ravishes civilization. Told in multiple POVs, readers encounter complex human relationships before – and in the midst – and trauma and tragedy.
True Biz by Sara Novic – Written in multiple POVs, this novel tracks the challenges of a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf. This book includes snippets of history about the Deaf Community and American Sign Language (ASL), as well as instructional images for ASL relevant to the story.
Honor by Thrity Umrigar – A female Indian-American journalist, Smita, returns to India to cover the story of a Hindu woman brutally burned and tortured by men in her village for marrying a Muslim man. She must grapple with the realities of tradition, religion, and culture while she deals with her own matters of love.
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak – A recovering addict becomes a nanny to a boy that is being influenced by someone…or something… to draw disturbing images. Can she figure out what is happening before it’s too late? (This book includes illustrations that the nanny sees.)
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister – A mother witnesses her son commit a murder and travels back in time to uncover the truths behind what led him to this point. She must ask herself: Is it right to stop something bad from happening if she can?
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner – This is a memoir about the author living through – and escaping – the LeBaron Mormon Fundamentalist Church (polygamist cult) in Mexico. This one reads well over audio. (warning: disturbing abuse)
Also, the second half of my year was not well-reported on my blog; so, I am breaking down my reading by month from June-December. Previous months’ reading are logged on earlier monthly wrap ups on my blog.
June Books
- Honor by Thrity Umrigar (literary fiction)
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle (feminist/LGBTQ+ / memoir)
- Holding Her Breath by Elmear Ryan (contemporary literature)
- True Biz by Sara Novic (literary fiction)
- Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes (memoir)
July Books
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry (contemporary romance)
- The Perfect Other by Kyleigh Leddy (memoir)
August Books
- The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel by Renee Nault (graphic novel / literary fiction)
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho (non-fiction)
- Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (memoir)
September Books
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (contemporary fiction)
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (scifi / dystopian fiction)
- They Called Us Enemy by George Takei (graphic novel / memoir)
October Books
- Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (horror / novella / historical / scifi)
- My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix (YA / paranormal)
November Books
- Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (mystery / suspense)
- My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (literary fiction)
- If You Ask Me by Betty White (humor / memoir)
- Layla by Colleen Hoover (paranormal romance)
- Putin’s Russia: The Rise of a Dictator by Darryl Cunningham (graphic novel / non-fiction)
December Books
- The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry (psychological thriller)
- White Horse by Erika T. Wurth (paranormal / mystery)
- Licking Her Christmas Cookies by Alina Jacobs (holiday romance)
- Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak (paranormal / mystery / horror)
- Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell (horror / mystery)
| 2-2.5 Stars | 3 – 3.5 Stars | 4 – 4.5 Stars | 5 Stars |
| Licking Her Christmas Cookies (blame my book club for this pick) | Untamed | Book Lovers | Remarkably Bright Creatures |
| Holding Her Breath | True Biz | They Called Us Enemy | |
| My Perfect Other | Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases | My Dark Vanessa | |
| My Best Friend’s Exorcism | The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel | ||
| If You Ask Me | Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man | ||
| Crying in H Mart (3.5) | Wrong Place Wrong Time | ||
| Ring Shout (3.5) | Layla | ||
| Putin’s Russia: The Rise of a Dictator | |||
| Stolen Tongues | |||
| Honor (4.5) | |||
| Station Eleven (4.5) | |||
| Hidden Pictures (4.5) | |||
| The Perfect Child (4.5) |
Archetypes & Anecdotes 
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