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Friday 30 December 2016

My Top 10 Books of 2016 & Giveaway (CLOSED)

As we've come to the end of the year, it's the perfect time to do a round-up of all the books I've read and enjoyed during 2016. According to my reading challenge stats on Goodreads, I've read the grand total of 51 books this year, though I'm hoping to make it to 52 before the year is out! As ever, it's been an eclectic mix, ranging from children's to romance to thrillers to non-fiction, but I've managed to come up with a shortlist comprised of my top ten books of the year.

Note: These are all books I've read in 2016, not necessarily books that were published during the last year.

Top 10, Lists, 2016, Books, Tamar, Mal Peet, Summer Days and Summer Nights, Stephanie Perkins, Rebel of the Sands, Alwyn Hamilton, The Writing Greyhound, Lorna Holland

Tamar by Mal Peet

One of my favourite books of all time, Tamar was technically a reread but I still think it counts as the last time I read it was way back in 2005! It's a tale of love and lies, deception and subterfuge, told partly in the present and partly in Nazi-occupied Holland during World War Two.

Summer Days and Summer Nights, edited by Stephanie Perkins

This is a Young Adult short story anthology, featuring stories written by some of the best voices in YA fiction at the moment. All the stories in Summer Days and Summer Nights centre around the theme of love, yet all are vastly different. There are some real gems in this collection.

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Another YA novel (anyone noticing a theme, here?) Rebel of the Sands is an action-packed fantasy Western romance. It's done phenomenally well, earning debut author Alwyn Hamilton a plethora of awards and accolades since its release earlier in the year.

Top 10, Lists, Books, 2016, Solarversia, Toby Downton, Streets of Sin, Notting Hill, Fiona Rule, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, Phaedra Patrick, The Writing Greyhound, Lorna Holland

Solarversia by Toby Downton

Who says indie authors can't write great books? Solarversia is a sci-fi story with an absolutely incredible concept which I simply adored. It's superbly detailed and expertly written, making it more than worthy of a place in my top ten.

Streets of Sin: A Dark Biography of Notting Hill by Fiona Rule

Topping the list for non-fiction this year is Fiona Rule's fantastic biography of Notting Hill. It's a fascinating insight into the area's history and some of the most infamous crimes and skulduggery committed in the neighbourhood.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

A heartbreakingly touching read, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is fiction at its finest. It tells the tale of an elderly man who discovers a charm bracelet owned by his late wife, and how his endeavour to discover the meaning behind the charms leads him on a journey of discovery not just about his wife, but about himself too. Sweet yet poignant, this is another excellent debut.

Top 10, Lists, Books, 2016, The Beach Hut, Cassandra Parkin, How Not to Disappear, Clare Furniss, Thin Air, Michelle Paver, The Writing Greyhound, Lorna Holland

The Beach Hut by Cassandra Parkin

The Beach Hut is a contemporary fiction novel about love, loss, family and nostalgia. We have several different narrators, but the real skill here is how the narrator's lives are all pulled together. Packed with touching moments and plenty of laughs, this is definitely an enjoyable read.

How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss

Another book focusing on love, family, loss and memories (this seems to be an overarching theme of my reading diet this year) How Not to Disappear tells the story of teenage Hattie and elderly Gloria. Brilliantly done, the book manages to overcome the limitations of Young Adult fiction and appeal to a much wider audience.

Thin Air by Michelle Paver

I'm a big fan of Michelle Paver, but Thin Air is her first book written for adults that I've read. It's a chilling supernatural tale, building to the climax with incredible suspense. Highly engaging and expertly written, this book only serves to further cement Michelle Paver as one of my favourite authors.

Five on Brexit Island by Bruno Vincent

Last but not least, let's add some lighthearted humour into the mix with the inclusion of Five on Brexit Island. I was (and still am) a massive fan of Enid Blyton's original Famous Five books, so I have to admit I was a little wary of reading the 'Famous Five for Grown-Ups' spoof series. However, I've now read three of them, and this one is by far my favourite. It updates the work while paying homage to the original series, and of course, providing lots of laughs along the way!

Honourable Mentions

As it's not really fair to compare them, I've also made a shortlist of my top three children's books from the last year. These were:
  • Katy by Jacqueline Wilson
  • The Secret Cat (Tiger Days #1) by Sarah Lean
  • Tinsel Town (Zak & Jen's Astronomical Adventures) by Natalie Page and Chris Rivers Nuttall
There were also a few books that I loved but just narrowly missed out on making it into the shortlist. I do, however, believe that these still deserve an honourable mention, so here they are:
  • Beneath the Surface by Heidi Perks
  • Valentina by S.E. Lynes
  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
  • The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison
As I loved these books so much, I've decided to run a giveaway to share these stories with you. To enter for your chance to win a book of your choice from my top ten, please enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions:
1. Giveaway closes on 8th January 2017 at 11.59pm (GMT).
2. The prize consists of a copy of one of the books from my top ten shortlist above, as chosen by the winner.
3. The prize will be posted to the winner by me directly from Amazon.
4. This giveaway is open to residents of the UK aged 18 and over.
5. The winner will be randomly generated once the giveaway has ended.
6. The winner will be informed by email once the giveaway has ended.
7. The winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize. If the winner has not responded by this time, another winner will be announced.

Did your favourite make the list? What were your top reads of 2016? Let me know in the comments below!

156 comments:

  1. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

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  2. It would have to be The Beach Hut by Cassandra Parkin as I so loved Lily's House that it made my shortlist this year

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    1. Lily's House is on my wishlist! I'm really looking forward to reading more of Cassandra's books :)

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  3. The Beach Hut sounds a great read for a lazy weekend :)

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  4. Thin Air by Michelle Paver

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  5. I would love to read Streets Of Sin. I am all the way in York so far from where the book is based but it sounds very interesting. I need a new read, i'm a bit lost at the moment bookwise which makes me saaad x

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    1. Aww I hope things pick up bookishly for you again soon Laura! Best of luck x

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  6. Five on Brexit Island by Bruno Vincent sounds a great humourous read. CHERYL HADFIELD

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  7. How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss

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  8. Solarversia by Toby Downton as it is based in the UK and is a sci fi book I have yet to read!

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    1. It's definitely worth a read Catherine, especially if you're a big sci-fi fan!

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  9. great books. i would love The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick.This looks like an excellent read x

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  10. I would choose The Beach Hut by Cassandra Parkin

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  11. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

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  12. Thin Air by Michelle Paver, I love a good suspense book

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  13. Five on Brexit Island by Bruno Vincent - Like you I loved reading the famous five books and right now need a little homour in my reading.

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    1. The Famous Five for Grown-Ups books really are great for a quick, fun read x

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  14. I like the sound of Rebel of the Sands so I'd probably choose that one :)

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  15. These all sound fab, some appeal to me more, I must say I am most looking forward to reading The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick, it sounds like a great concept.

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  16. I'd choose Thin Air; I love a spooky read.

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  17. I would chose 'Streets of Sin: A Dark Biography of Notting Hill by Fiona Rule'

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  18. How Not to Disappear, I think. :)

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  19. I would pick Thin Air by Michelle Paver :-)

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  20. Streets of Sin. It sounds right up my street!

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  21. how not to disappear sounds like a great book that both i and my teenage daughter could read.

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  22. Solarversia by Toby Downton

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  23. Streets of Sin sounds interesting

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  24. Looking forward to finally reading Thin Air by Michelle Paver

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  25. Five on Brexit Island by Bruno Vincent ~ Love to win this. Enjoying your blog.

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  26. I would choose How not to disappear :)

    Jenna

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  27. The Beach Hut by Cassandra Parkin

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  28. Summer Days and Summer Nights, looks like a good book for my daughter.

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    1. I'm sure your daughter will love it :) Best of luck Joanne!

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  29. How not to disappear, sounds amazing

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  30. How not to disappear by Claire Furniss - I really want to read this book, since i adored her debut year of the rat :) Thanks for the giveaway

    www.whisperingwords747.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. I really must get round to reading Year of the Rat! Good luck x

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  31. How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss

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  32. Probably Rebel of the Sands because I've been hearing great things.

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  33. The Beach Hut.

    Rachel Craig

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  34. The Beach Hut, it's on my list to read.

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  35. I'd choose Rebel of the Sands.....it looks interesting from the cover.

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  36. Streets of Sin sounds really fascinating!

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  37. Streets of Sin: A Dark Biography of Notting Hill

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  38. I would choose How not to disappear - sounds good!

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  39. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper sounds like a great read

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  40. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
    Sounds like my kind of read

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  41. How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss

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  42. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

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  43. I like the sound of Thin Air

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  44. Thin Air by Michelle Paver sounds like a good read

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  45. Tamar as it is partly set in Nazi occupied Holland which I have been reading about recently (Windmills of War)

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  46. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick - leanne w

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  47. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, it sounds good

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  48. Tamar by Mal Peet sounds like a good read

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  49. How not to disappear by claire Furniss -id read and pass to my neice

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  50. The Beach Hut sounds like a good read xx

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  51. I'd pick Thin Air by Michelle Paver, though any would be great.

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  52. The Beach Hut, like our family holidays to Skegness!

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    1. It brought back lots of family holiday memories for me too James!

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  53. Either Streets of Sin or Thin Air. I need a gripping read just now but nothing too sad.

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    1. Well Thin Air is certainly gripping! Best of luck x

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  54. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick sounds really good. Thank you for the chance.

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  55. Solarversia for me . I love sci-fi books!

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  56. How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss

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  57. I would love to read Thin Air by Michelle Paver

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  58. a dark biography of notting hill

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  59. That is an awesome top 10 list of books - a couple I haven't read and will add to my To Read list on GoodReads!

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    1. Thank you Charlene :) I hope you enjoy them, they're all fantastic books!

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  60. Whoops forgot to mention I would love to win Solarversia

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