10 from the Past 10

10 from the Past 10

• May 29, 2019

I've always loved participating in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, but hadn't checked the topics in a while. When I saw a few posts with yesterday's prompt, I had to join in – even though I'm a day late. This week's prompt is "Favorite Books Released in the Last Ten Years," and I had so much fun narrowing it down. It's supposed to be a list of 10 books, but you're getting two bonus picks (one from 2008 and one from 2019) because I couldn't stop myself. I chose books based on their publication year, not the year I read it, and didn't repeat authors. It's not quite my ten favorite books from the past ten years, but it's pretty close. The book title will take you to my review!

THE WINTER ROSE BY JENNIFER DONNELLY

Read in 2018 | I'm 98% sure that I first read this book in college (almost ten years ago), but it was before Goodreads so I don't remember the year. Regardless, I just re-read it last year and am obsessed! This whole trilogy is amazing, but this one is my personal favorite. I just love Sid and India + this storyline so much!

CATCHING FIRE BY SUZANNE COLLINS

Read in 2011 | Ahhh, The Hunger Games. I created my blog at the very end of 2011, and I still remember putting this whole series on my "Best of" list. And then re-reading all three a few months later! This one is favorite book and movie of the trilogy, but they're all epic. Don't get me started on my love for this series because I'll totally spiral. 

THE PIPER'S SON BY MELINA MARCHETTA

Read in 2012 | Here's the deal: every single Melina Marchetta book could make this list. I can't even choose my favorite from her, so I went with this one because it was published in a year that worked best for my list. I just recently re-read this book, and it's just as emotional and brilliant as I remember. I love these characters so much!

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE BY LAINI TAYLOR

Read in 2012 | This book almost didn't make the cut because #competition, but Kelly talked some sense into me. I didn't read a ton of fantasy before I started blogging, and now it's one of my favorite genres. This book should have been too weird for me, but Taylor's lyrical writing won me over and then the story emotionally wrecked me. 

THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J. MAAS

Read in 2013 | Of all the books in the series, this is probably my least favorite. But I needed to fit Sarah on my list somehow, and this is the year she worked best. Plus, it is the beginning of a series that I'm legit so obsessed with, so it still counts overall. (Heir of Fire, released in 2014, is my personal favorite in the series.)

THE CUCKOO'S CALLING BY ROBERT GALBRAITH

Read in 2017 | At the time I was reading it, I wouldn't have guessed that I'd pick it for this kind of list. But the more I read from the series, the more invested I became. And I wanted at least one mystery represented here! The most recent release, Lethal White, is the best of the four – but this book is a close second favorite. 

AFTER I DO BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID

Read in 2014 | I've loved all of Reid's books, with one exception, but this is easily my favorite. I connect so deeply to the story, the characters, and the message at its heart. It's one of those books that I frequently crosses my mind, and I just can't even explain why I love it as much as I do. I love when I feel so personally connected to a book!

HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS BY KATHERINE CENTER

Read in 2015 | I never expected this little gem of a book to come to mean as much to me as it does. I've read it numerous times, and it never gets old. It inspired me to make it a habit to find the good in every day, and I feel like that's changed me as a person. I have pushed this book on so many people,  including a few reluctant readers. 

WHO'S THAT GIRL? BY MHAIRI MCFARLANE

Read in 2016 | If you've been reading my blog for a bit, you probably know McFarlane had to make an appearance on this list. I can't tell you how many British contemporaries I've read in the hopes I'll "find another Mhairi." But alas, no one can compare! She's in a league all her own, and this has been my favorite release so far.

BEARTOWN BY FREDRIK BACKMAN

Read in 2018 | I dragged my feet on reading this because I just don't care about sports, especially hockey. But I'm so glad that I'd loved Backman's previous books and had that to motivate me because this is his best yet. I couldn't put it down and can't recommend it enough! It tackles serious topics, but it does so with such sensitivity and insight.

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING BY DELIA OWENS

Read in 2018 | This book didn't even sound good to me when I read the summary, but I am so glad I ignored my instincts and took a chance on it anyway. I adored everything about this book, and I could see this being the kind of timeless read that remains beloved through the decades. Time will tell, but I know it's true for me personally.

LOVELY WAR BY JULIE BERRY

Read in 2019 | Do you ever love a book so much that you can't even bring yourself to review it or push it on other readers? That's where I'm at with this one. I want everyone to read it, but I also want to keep it solely for myself. I know there's seven months left in the year, but I fully expect this to be at the very top of my 2019 favorites list.

What books from the past 10 years would make your list?