Top Ten Books I Read in 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

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These books are in no particular order. I only posted one book per author to avoid being repetitive, so there are some books that would be on this list but aren’t.

1. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn #3)

book 3

I loved the entire Mistborn trilogy, but I have to hand it to the last book for tying everything together and finishing the series on an incredibly high note.

2. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

This book redefined historical fiction for me. I literally cannot describe a moment in my life when I have gone from zero-to-sobbing to quickly as when I read this book (if you’ve read it, you know what scene I’m taking about).

3. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (Raven Cycle #3)

I love the Raven Cycle so much, and this book just added to the series’ amazingness. Stiefvater’s command of character portrayal is ridiculous.

4. Unbound by Victoria Schwab (The Archived #2)

This book managed to take my least favorite plot tropes (protagonist going insane, Big Bad coming back from “dead,” and protagonist being charged w/ murder) and make them into a book I loved. Major props to Schwab.

4. Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

I always love books that renew my faith in the Chicklit genre. This book blew my (low) expectations to smithereens, delivering an emotionally-raw story of teenage mistakes.

5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

I have no idea what I was getting into when my mom suggested I read this book, but it was incredible. Mary’s story was emotionally powerful in a way I never used to think historical fiction could be. Also, now that I’m taking AP European History, I really know a specific part of Henry VIII’s life–so that’s a bonus.

6. The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (I can’t choose a specific book)

These books are addictive. I love Stephanie and her messed up life. The series is hilarious and thought-provoking in equal measures. The romance is dramatic and ever-changing without being annoying.

7. More Than This by Patrick Ness

Though this book is slow throughout, I could never put it down. Looking back on it, it is one of the most though-provoking and lasting books I read this year. Ness’s subtle writing created a plainspoken book that challenges some of society’s fundamental beliefs.

8. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (book 1)

book 1

I loved this entire series. It is adorable Chicklit done with incredible skill. If you need a cute romance story in your life, read these books.

9. Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers (His Fair Assassin #1)

Romance? Check. Awesome assassin heroines? Check. Me in love? Check.

10. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

I’m a huge Rachel Hawkins fan. Everything about this book worked for me, playing off my love for slightly ridiculous plots and awkwardly cute romance.