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If you are looking for some new books to read, today’s post is for you. I’m sharing my best books of 2017 with Steph and Jana’s Show Us Your Books linkup. I’m always looking for book recommendations and I can’t wait to add tons of books to my goodreads “want to read” list after checking out everyone’s posts! According to Goodreads, I read 89 books this year, but I may get in one more read before the 31st. These are my five star reads of the year. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order. If you’re a regular reader of my monthly book reviews, you know that my favorite genre is suspense/thrillers. However, I’m not sure I’ve ever read a 5 star book in this genre. I don’t give many 5 star ratings. The books that I give 5 stars to have to make me think, make me feel, and/or make me cry. I have less than 10 books here, that I consider my best books of 2017.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman – I think readers either love or hate this book. I am definitely a lover. This was the first Backman book I read. I had heard others rave about it but was hesitant since it’s about hockey. I’m not a huge hockey fan and didn’t think I’d love a book about it. But it’s so much more than hockey. Backman is a great storyteller. The only other book I’ve read of his so far is A Man Called Ove, which I enjoyed. I plan to read more of his books next year.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone – This was one of the last books that I read this month. While it has a similar story line to The Hate U Give (see below), it was still a well-written, emotional and powerful read. Authors tend to write about relevant topics, and it is sad to see that the shootings of unarmed black teenagers has become a norm.
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner – This is a YA book that was an emotional, all the feels, read. It touches upon the importance of not texting and driving but is so much more.
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult – Picoult has been and continues to be one of my favorite authors. Her books tackle controversial issues and are told through the different points of view of multiple characters. This is the first of two of her books that made my best of 2017 list. This book is about a young girl with Osteogenisis Imperfecta (OI) a defect that causes her to have brittle bones and the lengths that her family will go to to protect her.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – Although this is a YA book, it is a powerful and relevant read on race. Like Dear Martin, this is another book where an unarmed black youth is shot by a police officer.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – We listened to this book on audio over the summer when we were traveling. Not much to say about this one since almost everyone has probably read it.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling – We did it! We finally finished the Harry Potter series this summer. I don’t know what took me so long to finish the series, but I’m glad that I was able to read this last book with my son. Rowling is a master storyteller and this was such a great series!
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I think I have read all of TJR’s books now and this one has been my favorite.
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult – Another book that focuses on race and racism in America. This is a powerful and thought-provoking read.
What was your favorite book of the year?
Thanks for the reviews. I loved Small Great Things, so I will put Handle with Care on my to be read list for 2018. Happy Holidays!
Yes, I love Jodi Picoult and almost all her books are great!
What a great list!! I just listened to the HP series for the first time this year. So good. I really enjoyed THUG, One True Loves and Goodbye Days. Bear Town is one I want to get to next year. I had a lot of favorites but A Milion Junes might be my number one.
Oh yes, the HP books on audio are so good! Jim Dale does such a great job. I will have to check out A Million Junes. I’ve never heard of it!
Beartown is at the top of my list too! Ove is the only other book of his that I’ve read too, but I’m hoping to read more by Backman this year.
Yes, reading more of Backman is on my reading list this year!
I loved Beartown and The Hate U Give too.
I’ve been listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks in the car with my kids. When we finished 7 we started over again with 1!
The HP audio books are so good! We listened to a couple of the later books this past summer when we were traveling.
I did not like Bear Town, but I loved A Man Called Ove by the same author. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors and Small Great Things was in my top eight for 2017. Happy New Year!
Picoult is one of my favorite authors as well. I liked A Man Called Ove, but not as much as Beartown. I have to read more of his books next year!
The last one has been on my bookshelf for over a year.
Happy to see The Hate U Give on here too!
Yes The Hate U Give was a great read. You may like Dear Martin since it’s very similar.
Small Great Things made my list as well. I have not read Hate U Give but it’s on my TBR. Next year – for sure! The Harry Potter series is top-notch and such a great ride. I love that you were able to enjoy it with your kids. Beartown is on my TBR and gets so much love. I’m going to read it but want to wait a bit because my expectations are super high.
I hope you get to Beartown. People seem to either love it or hate it. I think you’ll enjoy The Hate U Give.
Jodi Picoult is ALWAYS amazing!
Agree! She’s one of my favorite authors.
I have been waiting for Small Great Things for a long time!! I can’t wait to see how that reads!
It’s a great read. Hope you get it soon!
Oh, One True Loves… What a great book! One of my favorites of 2017! And Beartown! Another great one!
I’m definitely going to have to check out The Hate You Give. I’ve seen it on several blogs and am gathering that it’s a sign.
Happy Holidays!
Yes, definitely check The Hate U Give out. It’s a good one!
SGT is a phenomenal book and I love it on your list with THUG and Dear Martin (which I’m going to need to read)
Dear Martin was very similar to The Hate U Give, so hopefully you’ll enjoy it!
I think I’ve only read one Picoult.
One True Loves was good! I didn’t love Beartown but I’m going to give Britt-Marie a try.
Picoult is one of my favorite authors and I’ve read all her books and own almost all of them! I need to read Britt-Marie next year.
Ooh, yes, I definitely agree with Beartown being on a best of 2017 list. And you also hit some of the others that I ran out of room for on my top 10 list… didn’t fit The Hate U Give or Small Great Things onto it, but I thought both were excellent as well!
Glad you enjoyed Beartown. People seem to either love or hate it!
Beartown made my list also! And several of these are on the TBR!
Beartown was a really great book. It *almost* made my list. Haven’t read any others by Backman yet but maybe in 2018. I have have also never read anything by Jodi Piccoult but I’ve heard good things about her so I might have to start with your recommendation!
Ooh I haven’t heard of Dear Martin, but I will have to check it out since The Hate was one of my favorites as well. I read Handle With Care several years ago and it’s one that I remember really loving as well. Jodi Picoult is so good. Small Great Things was an excellent read.
Dear Martin is very similar to The Hate U Give. Hope you check it out and enjoy it!
oh my gosh, i read handle with care like 5 years ago and it still gives me cold chills thinking about it, especially the ending. i don’t think i have ever cried so much. i think one true loves is my favourite TJR book… tied with Evelyn Hugo. But I just loved One True Loves.
Yes, the ending of Handle with Care!! I agree, One True Loves is my favorite TJR read.
I need to read The Hate U Give and Dear Martin! I really love the 6th Harry Potter book. 🙂
-Lauren
The Hate U Give and Dear Martin have very similar story lines but are very powerful reads. I’m so happy that I finally finished the HP series!
I am currently reading One True Loves. It is the first TJR book I’ve read. I LOVED Small Great Things it made my top 10 list. DH and I are going to read Beartown this month.
Hope you enjoy One True Loves! It seems people either love or hate Beartown. Hope you like it!
Yay for finishing the Harry Potter series!! Man, I just love those books SO much. I’m jealous of people who get to read them for the first time 🙂
I am definitely going to pick up The Hate U Give next year!!
I can’t believe it took me so long to finish the HP series! I’m so glad that I got to enjoy it with my son though, who is now the biggest HP fan!
Goodbye Days sounds like a really interesting read, and one that people should read. I’m so terrible about texting while driving, and I know that I need to cut it out because of how dangerous it can be. And we’re definitely on the same page with Beartown and One True Loves! I have Evelyn Hugo on my list for Erin’s challenge, and I can’t wait to read it because I can’t wait to add another TJR book to my list!
Hope you enjoy Evelyn Hugo. It’s very different from her other books.
I got The Hate U Give (twice!) from the library without time to read it. I must make it happen in 2018. I have heard similar things about Dear Martin. I want to read both, and Beartown this year. I read OTL by TJR, but didn’t LOVE it. I did enjoy it though. 🙂 XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Oh no, third time’s a charm! Hope you get to read The Hate U Give soon!