Lucky Thirteen - The "Best of" Edition for 2017.

It's that time -- to look back on my favorite books of the past year. At the beginning of 2017, I set my goal on the site, Goodreads, to read 80 books this year. It was a good (!) year, and I surpassed the goal, ultimately reading 114 books. If you follow this link, you can take a look at all the books I read in 2017 and my ratings. Note that not all books were published in 2017, of course, they just happened to be books I picked up over the year. In fact, because some of them were Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs), they won't be published until 2018.

You can find reviews of any of these via my Goodreads site, or simply follow the link in each entry to the in-depth review in this blog. Happy reading in 2018 and beyond!!

So, in no particular order, my top thirteen favorite books read in 2017...

*1. NOW IS EVERYTHING, by Amy Giles - Sometimes a book comes along and takes me by surprise (in a wonderful way) and that was the case with Amy Giles' absolutely breathtaking NOW IS EVERYTHING. Seriously, this was one of my favorite books I read this year. Even if you don't typically read YA, you should pick up this amazing, powerful, and heartbreaking book. Giles tells the story of teenage Hadley and her wealthy family, who look perfect from the outside. But inside, it's a different tale. Hadley's father works at breaking her down on a daily basis--belittling her, monitoring her whereabouts and food intake, and much worse. Hadley endures it though, as long as it keeps his focus and abuse off her wonderful, spirited ten-year-old sister, Lila. She finds even more reason to power on when she meets Charlie Simmons, and begins secretly dating him. But then, there's a plane crash, and Hadley is the only survivor. What happened that day and why can't Hadley talk about it? Told in a "then" and "now" format from Hadley's point of view, this is a wonderful slow build novel that sucks you into its suspenseful format. I stayed up late to finish the second half because I was so drawn to Hadley and Lila - rarely have I felt so strongly for characters in a novel in such a long time! I could rave about this book for ages (and do so in the review at my blog). Simply put: read it, you won't regret it.

*2. THE DARK LAKE, by Sarah Bailey - Every once and a while, you read a book and then realize it's from a debut author and your mind is blown! That's the case with Sarah Bailey's THE DARK LAKE from Grand Central Publishing. This intriguing and compelling mystery centers on the death of popular yet mysterious teacher Rosalind Ryan, whose body is found floating in a lake. Detective Gemma Woodstock and her partner Felix are called to investigate. Gemma knew Rosalind from school and the case--and the novel--intersect impeccably between Gemma's past and present. Gemma's a great narrator, the story itself is wonderful, and best of all, I had *no idea* who killed Rosalind or where everything was going to go. I found myself genuinely shocked by several of the novel's twists and turns.

*3. ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE, by Gail Honeyman - Much ado has been made about Honeyman's debut novel and finally... a book that lives up to the hype! I'm so glad I finally picked this one up. Honeyman captures Eleanor's voice perfectly--and she's just this amazing combination of heartbreaking, tough, and tender. A lonely woman formed by her traumatic childhood, her life changes when she meets a fellow co-worker and they save a man who falls on the street. Watching Eleanor discover the world around her is truly magical. The entire book is mesmerizing and beautiful. Indeed, ultimately, this is a lovely book, with beautiful well-written characters. Eleanor's tale will stay with me for a long time.

*4. SYCAMORE, by Bryn Chancellor - This is a magical book: the story of Jess unfolds in snatches and snippets of the novel's characters. Each chapter is told by a different inhabitant of Sycamore. There's a sweet tenderness to this book that I cannot truly describe. It really touched me. It's not always an easy read, or a happy one, but it's a lovely book in many ways. It's wonderfully written, surprisingly suspenseful, and a heartbreaking but amazing journey.

*5. AFTER THE FALL, by Julie Cohen - I adored this lovely novel chronicling the lives of Jo; her teen daughter, Lydia; and Jo's former mother-in-law, Honor. After Honor takes a fall in her home, she comes to live with Jo, and the lives of all three women change drastically. It's just a beautiful, poignant book, which captures its characters and draws you into their lives perfectly.

*6. THE DRY, by Jane Harper - I had been hearing about THE DRY since before its release and wasn't sure it would live up to the hype, but I was wrong. This was an incredibly well-written, interesting, and intricately plotted novel that just flowed effortlessly. Aaron Falk is an investigator for the federal police in Melbourne. There, he follows money trails left by criminals. And while he may live a rather solitary life, at least he's also left behind his childhood home of Kiewarra, where the locals literally ran him and his father out of town. But all that changes when Aaron finds out that his best friend in Kiewarra, Luke Hadler, is dead. The story at its core is a dark one, and the town of Kiewarra is a sad and depressing place: the townspeople find it easy to believe Luke killed his family because everyone is down on their luck. You know when an author just captures her characters' voices perfectly? That was this book for me. I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing the entire time, which isn't easy to do. I was completely captivated by the story and frantically turning the pages to find out what had happened--both in the present and the past.The novel truly hooked me from the very beginning and never let me go.

*7. THE WIDOW'S HOUSE, by Carol Goodman - You know how sometimes you start a novel and immediately know, from the first page, that you'll enjoy it? THE WIDOW'S HOUSE was that way for me. It sucked me in immediately and kept me interested throughout. Jess and Clare Martin decide to move back to the Hudson River area and take on duties as caretakers at Riven House, the home of their former college professor, Monty. And as they settle in, Clare begins to hear a baby crying at night and see shadowy figures around the pond of Monty's property. The book is filled with complicated characters, starting with Clare. You start to realize she's the ultimate unreliable narrator, but are never able to tell exactly how much. You find yourself working and guessing with Clare as she unravels local history and the events unfolding at Riven House. There are parts of this book that are incredibly spooky, and it's quite well-done. I loved that I was frantically flipping the pages, constantly second guessing everything and wondering what was happening. There are some great twists that shock you, even as you're still trying to figure things out in you're head (much like Clare). This novel will leave you guessing. It's crazy and confusing, but fascinating and incredibly hard to put down. It's completely enjoyable and stays with you after you've finished it, going over various plot points.

*8. THE ROANOKE GIRLS, by Amy Engel - This is quite the novel! Lane Roanoke is just a teenager when her mother commits suicide, and Lane is sent to live with her grandparents in Kansas. When Lane arrives in Kansas, she quickly befriends her cousin, Allegra, and is amazed by the kindness of her grandfather, but she also realizes not everything is as it seems. Eleven years later, after Lane has fled the farm (and left her family there behind), Lane receives a call from her grandfather: Allegra is missing. Reluctantly Lane returns to a place she vowed she'd never see again to search for her cousin, whom she has always felt bad about leaving behind. I was immediately captivated by this novel and read it in less than 24 hours. It's not some "feel good" novel, but it's amazingly well-written and just spellbinding. It starts off with a bombshell and then hooks you from there with the dark story of the twisted Roanoke family.

*9. THE WRONG SIDE OF GOODBYE, by Michael Connelly - Picking up a Harry Bosch book is always like coming home again, and this one was no exception. It's well-done, featuring dual cases, and Bosch is just such a wonderful character - I really enjoyed it. (And I recommend the entire series!)

*10. THE NOWHERE GIRLS, by Amy Reed - One of the most powerful and timely books I've read this year, Amy Reed's THE NOWHERE GIRLS centers on three female teens, Grace, Rosina, and Erin, who form an unlikely union and create a secret group to protest the horrible culture at their school. It's this culture that condones actions such as rape and sexual assault and allowed for another girl, Lucy, to be shunned after accusing several popular boys of rape. This novel is well-written and encapsulates the struggle felt by teens and young women in dealing with sexual assault, rape, and violence against women. Its strength comes from its characters (I defy you not to fall for these three girls) and its brutal honesty. It can be a bit slow-moving at times, but it's a powerful read and there's something about it that will leave you with hope, despite the horrors covered, and that's so important right now.

*11. THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK, by Kristen Lepionka - This is a just a great book. It's easy to read and funny, albeit dark and sad at times. The mystery plot draws you in immediately and keeps you guessing. Definitely recommend this one to mystery and thriller fans alike. (I'm so excited that Roxane Weary is coming back in a second book!)

*12. THE BLACKBIRD SEASON, by Kate Moretti - I'm a sucker for a good, character-driven thriller and Kate Moretti's latest delivers! It's just another day in Mt. Oanoke when the birds start to fall: hundreds of starlings dropping from the sky. And that's just the beginning. A reporter in town to cover the bird story sees beloved high school teacher and baseball coach Nate Winters embracing a student, Lucia. Suddenly Nate is under investigation for having an affair with her and, then, Lucia disappears, and things get even worse for Nate. His wife, Alecia, doesn't know what to believe, nor does their friend Bridget. This is a wonderful, complicated novel that's both a character-driven study and intriguing mystery. Do we believe that Nate's an affable guy or a serial cheater? Moretti is a wonderful writer and this novel is realistic and compelling.

*13. THE GOOD DAUGHTER, by Karin Slaugher - Karin Slaughter's latest mystery--while dark and graphic at times--is a spell-binding novel that will keep you reading and guessing until the final pages. The story of two sisters who witnessed a brutal assault as teens, the book comes out swinging and never stops. A mystery at its core, it also covers the topics of race, social class, and how society deals with mass tragedy. The characters are detailed and fascinating, the plot is intricate and constantly changing, and there are some truly beautiful moments along the way.

Smile when I call your name: ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple, albeit lonely, life. Up in the morning, head to work, and heads down at the office (with a solo break for lunch and the crossword). She spends her evenings and weekends alone--typically with a book, the TV, and a lot vodka. Every Wednesday evening, she speaks on the phone with her mother (Mummy)-- always a painful conversation as her mother is judgemental and exacting. Then one day, Eleanor and Raymond, the slightly oafish IT guy from her office, save the elderly Sammy, who has fallen on the sidewalk. The act turns out to change Eleanor's life--bringing her into Sammy's life and that of his boisterous family--and involving her more with Raymond, as well. Suddenly, it's almost as if Eleanor and Raymond are friends and Eleanor isn't completely lonely anymore. But can her friendship with Raymond erase the sadness in her life?

This book, oh this book. Wow, what a journey. I'm so very glad I finally picked it up. Where do I even begin? First of all, Honeyman captures the voice of Eleanor perfectly. I was honestly a bit surprised when I started this one. I'd been expecting a slightly quirky character (a la the lead in THE ROSIE PROJECT), but there's far more depth and darkness to Eleanor (and her tale) than I imagined. It took me a little longer to get into the story, but once I was: wow. You can visualize Eleanor and her supporting cast so clearly. Raymond comes across effortlessly too. The plot is striking-- an amazing combination of heartbreaking and tender. My heart truly broke for dear Eleanor at times.

I was intrigued by the fact that there's no real huge story, per se, to this novel--it's just Eleanor finding her way in the world. As mentioned, Eleanor and Raymond assist Sammy, and this jolts Eleanor out of her life built around routine and sameness. Forced to come out of her shell, she suddenly sees some things in a new light--her appearance, her job, her friendships (or lack thereof), her apartment, and more. The way Honeyman presents the world--through Eleanor's eyes--is uncanny. I cannot describe how well she captures her diction and how aghast Eleanor is sometimes by the world around her (dirty books from the library, people who waste her time with conversation, the food people eat and how they eat, etc.).

At the same time, you realize how much Eleanor is formed by her childhood, or lack thereof, and it's just... striking. How Honeyman gets this all across in words is amazing. The unexpected darkness and sadness that comes across in the novel and the added layer of suspense she casts as we ponder Eleanor's tragic childhood: it's chilling. The entire book is mesmerizing and beautiful.

That's not to say the book isn't funny or enjoyable, too. Eleanor is her own person, and she's witty and true to her self, for sure. You will find yourself rooting for her personality quirks (of which there are many) and all. If Eleanor's attempts to understand the world don't tug at your heartstrings, I'm not sure anything will (and I'm pretty tough nut to crack when reading, mind you). I was worried that perhaps the moral would be that Eleanor would have to change herself to find happiness, but no, I don't think that was Honeyman's ultimate intent, even if Eleanor does make some "improvements" along the way. (I won't say more for risk of spoilers.) Also, I loved Raymond, as well; his mother; Glen (!!!!); and so many other parts of the story that made me smile. Seriously, even with its sad parts, this book just makes you happy.

Ultimately, this is lovely book, with beautiful, well-written characters. The tale of Eleanor Oliphant will stay with me for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally decided to read this book. Honeyman is an excellent writer, her depiction of Eleanor is gorgeous and heart-rendering and the few flaws I found with this were so minor, as I was left just awed by the end. One of my favorites so far this year. 4.5 stars.

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