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My Favorite Books of 2017

It's that time of year again... 


It's officially that time of year when we narrow the books we've read during the year down to our Ten Most Favorite. But does anyone really enjoying choosing only ten? 

I don't. 

It's stressful, and I have too much empathy to exclude a significant book simply because I've reached my limit of allowed favorites. 

So, for the sake of my mental welfare and because I don't want an enjoyable book to feel left out, here are some of my Favorite Books of 2017--in no particular order:


Okay, I wasn't completely honest. There is a book I loved most during the last twelve months. 

Another lie. There's TWO! 

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is not in a genre I usually read, but I'm an idiot for waiting so long to pick this RomCom up. A little-known fact is that Sally wrote Twilight Fan Fiction before she ever penned The Hating Game, and she was one of my favorite FF authors. So, that makes me a double idiot for not reading her publishing debut the second it hit bookstands. 

You will love The Hating Game for its humor, its banter, its routine, and for its sizzling love story. The Hating Game is also my Favorite Audiobook of 2017.

My second (or first) Favorite Book of 2017 is God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo. God-Shaped Hole was published seven hundred years ago, so I'm a triple idiot for not devouring this epic novel sooner. Tiffanie has a rare talent for writing a story that absolutely embeds itself in your soul. There are few books I consider my most favorite ever, but God-Shaped Hole is definitely one of them. 

As cliche as this may sound, God-Shaped Hole will change the way you read other books. It'll make you want to be like Trixie, and it'll have you searching for Jacob Grace in everyone.  God-Shaped Hole is also My Favorite Audiobook of 2017. 


44 Chapters about 4 Men was one of the best books I read in 2016, and it introduced me to BB Easton, who's become one of my most cherished friends. 

She is not on this list twice because she's my bestie; BB is on this list twice because she can tell a motherfucking story, unlike anything I've experienced. 

Another little-known fact is that since reading 44 Chapters about 4 Men, I hold the coveted title of The First Person Who Gets to Read BB's Books Before They're Published. (Also not a reason why she's on this list twice.) 

BB writes vivid characters and vibrant settings. The nostalgia she induces is enough to make anyone pull out that box of old pictures and relive their teenage years, bad haircuts and regretful decisions and all. 

SKIN and SPEED are on my list of Favorite Books of 2017 because they're phenomenal. And because of Knight, who am I kidding. 


Oh, look. Tiffanie DeBartolo is on my list twice, too. 

For the sake of being transparent, I need to be honest and admit I haven't even finished reading this one. The paperback is currently sitting on the nightstand, waiting for me to get to bed to read the next chapter. 

Yes, you read that right. I haven't finished reading How to Kill a Rockstar, and it's on my list as Favorite Reads of 2017. This author is that good. She's so good that any of her future unwritten books are also on this list. 


I love myself. Therefore I'm on my own list of Favorite Reads of 2017. 

Just kidding. 

No, I'm not. 

#Selflove

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover is a given favorite. This is the second year in a row Colleen has made my favorites list. It Ends With Us was one of the most impactful novels I read in 2016, and Without Merit may hold that spot this year, too. 

Without Merit has a Jandy Nelson "The Sky is Everywhere" kind of vibe. It was brave and endearing at the same time. 

The Opportunist was my introduction to the world of Tarryn Fisher. Since I read the first book in the Love Me With Lies series, I've now read almost everything Tarryn's published and forced her to be my friend. She follows me on Instagram, so we're like, official. 

The Opportunist was an original story with just enough crazy to remain sweet. If you live under a rock and haven't read a Fisher novel, start here. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow is my favorite book in the HP series, and it's one of my Favorite Reads of 2017.  It goes without saying that I'm a four-times idiot for not reading these books before now, but better late than never. Do they need an explanation as to why they're my favorite? Since completing the series I've gotten a Horcrux tattoo, and Christmas literally threw up Harry Potter all over my house. 

But my HP Christmas is the next blog post. 

I listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks twice this year, and I know they'll remain on repeat for the rest of my life. 

The First Time She Drowned is a book I downloaded on Audible because it's narrated by Jorjeana Marie, who is my very favorite narrator. I'll listen to anything sh's attached to, and I am SO glad she lead me to this book. The plot isn't necessarily original, but my god, the characterization Kerry Kletter executed in this tale is top notch. 

I love books about dysfunctional, quirky families, and The First Time She Drowned delivers that. But it also gave me so much more. Each character has dimension and heart, both good and terrible, and how alive they are is how this book captured the title as one of my Favorite Reads of 2017. 

IT by Stephen King was a force to be reckoned with this year because of the remake of the movie, and because of the timeless awesomeness. This was my first horror book and my first King novel. Something I didn't expect was to be genuinely frightened by reading the book because I've seen the original movie dozens of times; I was wrong. 

There's a reason why Stephen King is one of the most successful authors of all time, and now I know. 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson came into my life when I needed it the most. There's something about being cursed at in a concerned manner that warms my heart. This book is straight to the point, and that's my favorite part about it. When I'm in need of a quick reminder that life isn't fair, but I'm still a badass, I can quickly find my favorite excerpts and face the day with confidence. 

If you're looking to improve your quality of life without the sappy "eat, pray, love" bullshit, this is the book for you. 

Little Big Lies is on this list because I watched the first episode on HBO earlier this year and couldn't stand the anticipation, so I read the book in a day and a half to quench my curiosity.  I admire anyone who can weave multiple characters and storylines together to make a cohesive and relatable tale, and Liane Moriarty did that and more with Little Big Lies. She takes her place beside Gillian Flynn as one of my favorite authors. 

Honorable Mentions: 

From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
Crossing Swords by Mixie Edwards 
Misbehaved by Charleigh Rose 
The Breakdown by B.A. Paris