Top Ten Books of 2016

Hi everyone!

The end of the 2016 is quickly approaching and we thought it was about time to tell you our Top 10 Favourite Books of 2016. These will be full of the Top 10 Books we each have personally enjoyed, which means not everyone would have enjoyed them. These books aren't in any particular order and do not consist of rereads. Anyways, let's get right into it.

Frangi's Picks

1. Did I mention I love you #1: The DIMILY Trilogy by Estelle Maskame

I absolutedly adored this book! A coming-of-age comtemporary novel with romance and a LOT of drama, this novel is relatable for all you introverted book nerds out there.

2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer 1#: The Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin
 This series was definitely out of spectrum to what I would normally read. Mystery, drama and romance, the first installment in the Mara Dyer trilogy gave me chills and thrills. A unique story for any of you looking for something different.

3. The Evolution of Mara Dyer 2#: The Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin
The second installment in the Mara Dyer trilogy didn't fail to impress me. Hodkin continues to create a magical yet modern world for YA readers everywhere. The story starts from where it left off in the first installment and runs smoothly and kept me on the balls of my feet till the very end.

4. The Retribution of Mara Dyer 3#:  The Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin
The final book in the trilogy was probably my least favourite but still kept me hooked on the story. I wasn't sussed on the ending but it wasn't the worst as far as series endings go. All in all, the series is a great read for all you YA fans out there that want a unique and mysterious series to start on.


5. The Fifth Wave 1#: The Fifth wave series by Rick Yancy
The Fifth Wave is a romantic, sci-fi novel and the first book in the Fifth Wave trilogy. I usually don't read sci-fi novels but this novel was definitely a head turner. It gave me a totally different perspective on science fiction and thats why it's a favourite of mine for 2016.

6. The Heir #4: The Selection series by Kiera Cass
Taking after her mother's place as queen had never roused Eadlyn. The Heir centres around Eadlyn's journey in the Selection process that her parents once went through. Similar to the previous installments centred around her mother, America Singer, The Heir portrays many of the similar antics her mother went through with laughs, romance and more. The first novel in this spin-off series was a huge success.


7. Unspoken 3#: Shadow Falls, After Dark by C.C. Hunter
I used to swear that this was my favourite YA series when I was 14. Although I've moved on from my obsession with fantasy novels, I was still moved by the final installment in the Shadow falls series and it's definitely a favourite for 2016.

8. Little Sister by Aimee Said
Little Sister by Aimee Said is a coming-of-age story that's great for anyone who's looking for a good read. A contemporary novel centred around a damsel in distress and all the antics in her life, this book has relatable factors for all teens out there including me! It hooked me in right from the beginning and I was able to finish it in one sitting. An unarguable favourite for 2016!

9. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
I've always been a bit of a romantic so this book hit all the soft spots for me. The book centres around three different stories written by three amazing authors. With twists and surprises, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and how smoothly the authors linked the stories together in the end. I definitely recommend this for all you festive romantics out there.

10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
I just had to include this one! I'm pretty late to the Harry Potter series but boy, do I regret that! I read it earlier this year and was finally able to understand what the hype was all about. This one is a definite necessity for all you book junkies out there!

Ananassa's Picks

1. In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
In the Shadow of Blackbirds was a paranormal book full of mystery. Set during the Influenza Epidemic, it would not normally be a book that I would personally pick up on my own. I was delightedly surprised by this book and really enjoyed myself while I was reading it. I felt captivated in the setting and this book was definitely a page-turner.

2. Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes by Rick Riordin
Rick Riordan is one of my all time favourite authors and after reading the Percy Jackson series and Heroes of Olympus series, when I heard he was making a companion novel at the beginning of the year I immediately picked it up. The book is just well thought out and I found it extremely entertaining while educating myself on the Greek Gods. I absolutely loved it ever since the beginning of the year and up until the end of this year.

3. The Infernal Devices #1: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices are one of my all time favourite series and this book was amazing and instantly made me fall in love with this series. It was such a great start to the series and one of my favourite books of this year. 

4. The Infernal Devices #2: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Prince was an unexpectedly amazing sequel. Of course, I had high hopes for this book, but I always find the second book to be the worst in trilogies, but personally I found this book amazing. It was way better than the first book and I absolutely love it. 

5. The Infernal Devices #3: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
I marathoned this whole series at the beginning of the year and the book that really stood out to me was once again the third and final book. The last book was action packed and full entertainment for me. I would definitely say that this was my favourite book in the series and this series just keeps getting better as the books go on. 

6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Eleanor & Park I can safely say at the moment is my favourite book written by Rainbow Rowell. The romance and characters involved are so unique, as well as very different to the types of people you would usually find in the Young Adult genre. I found this novel adorable and definitely recommend it to anyone who would like a quick read or some cutesy romance.

7. Between the Lines #2: Off the Page by Jodi Picoult
Without reading the first novel in this duology, I instantly enjoyed Off the Page by Jodi Picoult. The concept to me was very unique and portrayed very nicely. It was such a quick read in my opinion and a page turner.

8. Anna and the French Kiss #1: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Normally, I don't find myself reaching for those romance novels, but in this case, I am so glad I did. I had heard so much about Stephanie Perkins and how amazing this series was, that I eventually picked it up and had such an amazing time reading it. This novel is definitely a page-turner and also deals with a lot of different concepts, like fitting in and friendship. I definitely recommend this novel for everyone out there, it is a quick read and so enjoyable.

9. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
I loved Finding Audrey because of the topic that it dealt with and the way it was portrayed. The book dealt with many typical issues in a person's everyday life and I really enjoyed reading it overall. 
10. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl was such a quick and enjoyable read, full of humour and friendship. It was definitely a hyped book, so I was skeptical about going into it and reading it, but I was not disappointed. 

Thicker than Water by Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review

Thicker than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

Pages: 338

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: December, 29th 2015

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Source: Allen and Unwin Young Ambassador Program 

Format: Paperback

On his own.

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.

Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years. 

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her best friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers.

Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

“I’m here because you make me feel like I have something to offer the world, instead of being someone who needs to be sheltered away”

Thicker than Water by Brigid Kemmerer tells the story of Thomas Bellweather, an eighteen-year-old boy who loses his mother in an abrupt murder case, and Charlotte Rooker, a girl who is sick of being seen as a helpless young woman by her family. Thomas faces an unexpected turn in his life when the whole town accuses him of his mother’s murder and has no one to believe him except Charlotte, a girl he befriends at his mother’s funeral. Charlotte takes interest in Thomas straight away and is keen to help him, although she holds her own suspicions in him, herself, just like the rest of the town. Together, they go on a journey to uncover the truth behind the murder of his mother and discover things they never thought were possible.

I held high expectations for this book from the beginning. The very first page of the novel is captivating and is able to bring the reader into Thomas’s world straight away. The book carries on with a dual POV which gives the reader an insight on both sides of the story. Kemmerer should be applauded for her ability to differentiate between the male/female POVs and her way in developing both the characters in the novel in a way that leaves the reader pleased in the end.  

In addition, Thicker than Water features multiple genres including paranormal and romantic content along with its jam-packed mystery. The chemistry that takes place between Charlotte and Thomas is entertaining as it is frustrating. Both of them display obvious signs of affection although both are too busy with their own life issues to continue forward with it until they both begin to rely on each other in the end. However, Brigid Kemmerer is able to start connecting the dots in the story and somehow creates a massive, unexpected twist that keeps the reader guessing and slows them down to picture the story in their mind themselves. Truth be told, I was racing to get to the end just to find out who the killer was and BAM! I felt like I ran into a wall with this one but in the end, everything fell into place.

Although I was thoroughly pleased with how the novel ended, It still felt like there was gap in the book that was yet to be filled. The plotline picked up a bit too fast and it felt more like a run-of-the-mill read that barely stood out amongst others. Harmoniously, the author manages to please the reader in the end with a ravishing finish to the novel that keeps you asking for more!

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good paranormal mystery read that keeps them on the balls of their feet. This story is especially great for those of you out there who love a great plot twist with a sweet ending on the side. Hopefully, there will be a sequel that is just as captivating, out soon.

The Illuminae Files #1: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Book Review

The Illuminae Files #1: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Pages: 602

Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Publication Date: November the 1st, 2015
Genre: Young-adult fiction, Sci-Fi
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback

One moment, Kady Grant and Ezra Mason have nothing bigger to worry about than each other. Specifically, avoiding each other in the wake of their messy break-up. In the next second, their entire world falls apart.

The year is 2375 and one of the mega-corporations that control much of deep space has just fired the opening salvo in an intergalactic war, destroying Kady and Ezra's planet. Forced to flee on a small fleet of crippled rescue ships alongside thousands of other refugees, the fear of enemy warships chasing them down is at first all-consuming but soon becomes the least of their worries. A deadly plague is ravaging the refugees on the ships; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be an enemy; and High Command is refusing to acknowledge that there may be a serious problem. As Kady plunges into a tangled web of data in search of the truth, she realises that Ezra is possibly the only person who can help her save the refugees before it's too late.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is a sci-fi, young adult novel that followed two characters in the year 2375, who have been forced to flee their country and go aboard a ship in space. Their life changes dramatically and throughout the novel, we see them experiencing life on the ship and the hardships that they encounter as well as many scenes involving action. Firstly, I would like to tell everyone that Illuminae is one of the best sci-fi books that I have ever read. I know that I did not enjoy Amie Kaufman's other novel, which was These Broken Stars, but I decided to give this one a go and I am so glad that I did. 

I didn't overly enjoy it, but I would say that it was very close to 5 stars for me. To be completely honest, I feel that the reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is because I found there were some occasions in which I felt myself getting bored, but I find that with many sci-fi novels. I definitely think that for those who like sci-fi this book is definitely for you because I enjoyed it and I do not like sci-fi. Everything in this book was absolutely intense and it started at a very early stage of the novel. Ideas and concepts were portrayed so uniquely and unlike anything that I have ever read. Amie and Jay have done an amazing job at writing this book and everything flowed so nicely. The writing was absolutely gorgeous to read and the way everything was put together, from the pictures to the messages was something that I will definitely remember from this book. It was so creatively put together and I loved the different methods that both authors used in the book.

Ezra Mason is probably one of the funniest characters I have ever found in a book. His sense of humour allowed people around him to feel a little more at ease in intense situations and I loved the emotions he used such as 'D:', those just got me so bad. I found myself laughing at many occasions throughout the book and I absolutely enjoyed the humour he portrayed. He does it in the weirdest ways and I think that is one of the best things about him. As well as that, I love how sweet Ezra is as a character. Many times throughout this book, I saw how sweet Ezra was, especially to Kady. I never really expected him to be the sweet kind, but he is hopelessly romantic and absolutely sweet.  

“I'm trying to make you smile." 

So Kady. Kady is an absolutely admirable woman and a character that I absolutely loved. I admired how sneaky and awesome she was, especially how she pretended to be dumb in order to make sure that others did not know she was smart. I envied her brains and how she knew so much about computers, but that was the thing that really made the story. I loved how brave she was and also the love she had for Ezra. She is an amazing character and I just loved her!

Before I wrap up this review, I would just like to take a moment to admire this beautifully laid out book with this wonderful cover. I don't think I would have even tried reading this book if it weren't for the cover and that just goes to show how much a cover affects whether a person will read the book.  I definitely recommend this for everyone, because I found it difficult to give this book a try and I enjoyed it, not being a big fan for sci-fi. So if you live sci-fi, this is probably the book for you!

There was so much going in this book and it was great! When Kady thought that Ezra died, there was a part of me that knew it wouldn't happen, but I still believed it. 

Throughout the whole entire book, I was just amazed by Kady. It is unreal how smart she is and how she came up with all these different plans. 

I'm sorry but the Artificial Intelligence is in love Kady? Is this meant to show that everyone has emotions even if they are robots? I was honestly so mind blown by that, but it was a great touch. In the next book, we will find out about all of this and if there is a message behind it.

Welcome to My Little Reading Nook!

Welcome to My Little Reading Nook! Run by Frangi Citruslimon and Ananassa Fragaria, two teenage girls who love to read. This blog will be mainly full of bookish and fandom related posts, but occassionally covering other interests. 

Frangi Citruslimon and Ananassa Fragaria are our blog names and blog posts will alternate between both of us, including labels to let you know who is posting. Posts will go up mainly every Tuesday and Thursday, with other posts scattered throughout the week.

Welcome to our blog and we hope you enjoy our content over here on My Little Reading Nook! :)