I’m breaking up favorite books of the year up again like I did last year (2015 releases, debuts, backlist & books that should have gotten more attention) because I really enjoyed how that worked out last year!
So far this month I’ve already shared my 2015 releases and my favorite 2015 debuts so be sure to check that out! Today I want to talk about all the pre-2015 books I read this year! So I’m defining BACKLIST, for this purpose, as anything that was published pre-2015. It’s important to me as a reader/blogger to not forget about older stuff…plus I always miss SO many things.
So here are my 7 favorite backlist books I read this year:
The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta (2008) : This book are DEFINITELY in my top 5 of books I’ve read this year. This fantasy trilogy is amazing and I’m soooo glad I finally read it considering all her contemporary YAs are my fave books of all time. Binging this series was the best thing I did this year probably. I mean, I named my dog after one of the main characters soooo hopefully that indicates this series importance to me??? SERIOUSLY AMAZING. I have never loved fictional characters as much as I love these. SO MANY EMOTIONS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS SERIES. (my thoughts on the whole series)
Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield (2013 in the USA): This one was by an Australian author I’ve heard great things about and hadn’t read yet! I REALLY enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read more from Vikki Wakefield. (my thoughts on Friday Never Leaving)
God Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo (2002): This book had come highly recommended for YEARS from some friends who I trust and I finally got to it and WOWOWOWOW. It’s an adult fiction book and NO it is not religious…despite what the title may lead you to think. (my thoughts on God-Shaped Hole)
Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen (2008): I binged a bunch of Sarah Dessen books this year and I just ADORED this one. I listened to it on audio and actually didn’t hate my commute because I was listening to this. Loved the romance, loved the sister story!
Prisoner of Night & Fog by Anne Blankman (2014): If you love historical fiction, definitely get this one on your TBR. It was set in Nazi Germany in the 1930’s as Hitler was rising to power and the main character is a family friend of Hitler aka Uncle Dolph. Could not put it down! (my thoughts on Prisoner of Night & Fog)
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas (2007): Finally read my first Lisa Kleypas! A friend put it so well: this book is part women’s fiction, part romance novel. That is so apt. This book honestly blew me away and I will admit I had been judging it based on the name. It’s a wonderful story and I cannot wait to continue on with the series. (my thoughts on Sugar Daddy)
The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey (2014): This one blew me away. If you like literary type books and also science fiction and zombies…you need this one. It was a book club pick and it had been on my TBR but I hadn’t been in a particular rush to read it…but WOW. The ending. (my thoughts)
Tell me which backlist books you read and LOVED this year! I’m always wanting to make sure I don’t skip excellent books from years past!
Rabiah says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Prisoner of Night and Fog. So intense! The second book is also great 😀 I really need to read more of Melina Marchetta’s books because her writing is amazing. So many awesome books here–looks like you’ve had a good year 🙂 Happy reading in the new year to come!
Jamie says
I REALLY need to get to the second book! Super excited for her new book coming out next year too! and omg YES READ MORE MARCHETTA IN 2016. I’m giving you that as a new year’s resolution!!
Emmah says
Finnikin Of The Rock is on my TBR for 2016! 🙂
Jamie says
YASS GOOD LIFE CHOICE
Lynn says
Great list! I haven’t read any of these books yet however, I’ve got a few of them on my TBR, like the Lumatere Chronicles, Prisoner of Night and Fog and the girl with all the gifts.
Jamie says
You have some great reading ahead of you!!
Rebecca says
I love, love Lumatere Chronicles! I recommend to everyone!
Jamie says
It’s so freaking amazing!
Morgan @ Gone with the Words says
You’ve made me curious about Sugar Daddy if I’m not supposed to judge the title! Lock & Key as well, I haven’t read any Sarah Dessen actually… the Lumatere series is on my list of books to read in 2016, I’m very excited about it! You make them sound so amazing! And I’m not a huge 1930s/WW2 fan but I do love historical fiction… awesome list Jamie, love how you split up your fave books for the year.
nikki @bookpunks says
Erika (my co-blogger) LOVED the Finnikin books. I really need to get on them already. Also: I think you just put The Girl With All the Gifts back on my to-read list. I was on the fence about it for a while. Happy New Year!
Lianne @ eclectictales.com says
Great list! Glad to hear you enjoyed Lisa Kleypas’ contemporary novel; I’ve only read her historical romances thus far but for some reason I’ve been hesitant to check out her contemporary titles because I heard mixed reviews about them.
Emma @ Miss Print says
I have heard so many people raving about Prisoner of Night and Fog but I admit I’m wary of it–I might have reached my WWII book saturation point for the time being too.
I finally read Froi of the Exiles this year–I’d been putting it off because of worries about what it would have in store but also because it’s just so darn heavy. Happy to have it read and hoping to have Quintana be one of my first books read in 2016. Then I think I might have officially read every Marchetta book available in the US right now which would make me pretty happy 🙂
Alexa S. says
The Lumatere Chronicles! Sugar Daddy! Prisoner of Night and Fog! I love that these titles all made your list, Jamie, as I enjoyed reading them as well <3 (You need to continue reading the Kleypas series.)
Heather @ Beyond the Aisle says
I adored The Girl with All the Gifts, and luckily had been able to avoid spoilers so the big reveal was a punch to the gut!
Monica says
So many books that I want to get to! I did try and read Prisoner of Night and Fog earlier this year on audio and just didn’t mesh with the narrator, and I have been meaning to give it a reread ever since.
Also I have constantly heard good things about The Girl with all the Gifts and Finnikin so I really want to read those in 2016 as well!
-Monica @ Tomes Project
Melissa @ Writer Grrl Reads says
I need to climb on board the Lumatere Chronicles train. Like, yesterday.
Samantha says
The Girl With All The Gifts is one of my favorites. I read it when it was on every to read list in 2014 and it really lived up to the hype.
This year I finally got back into The Song of Fire and Ice series and so glad I did. It took a lot of convincing to pick up a 1,000 page book while caring for an infant. I also finally got around to The Stupidest Angel. Don’t want to leave any spoilers but it was hilarious and unexpected.
Emily @ Ink, Inc. says
I’ve heard The Girl with All the Gifts is amazing! Wow, but the Lumatere Chronicles look good, I love the covers and the titles. And I enjoyed reading your little spiel about them, it’s actually so lovely to read somebody’s fangirling three sentences on books that are really important to them. It reminds me of the power of books in our lives.
Jamie says
YES TGWATG is sooo good! I recently had an IRL friend read it and she loved it too! AND YASSSSSS LUMATERE CHRONICLES YOU MUST YOU MUST.