Hello everyone,
This month marks five years since I started book blogging! In January 2018 after I had set myself a Goodreads Challenge for the first time, I decided to repurpose my existing miscellaneous blog and focus primarily on books – which was the right decision for so many reasons.
In that time I have read over 250 books – more than I could have expected, discovered several genres that I had no idea I would love, and made a lot of really good friends.
There will be more posts to come, but I am starting with the ultimate list – the top 10 books I have read in the last five years. If narrowing down the list at the end of each year is tricky, then this is even harder!
The chances are you will have seen me gush about these books many times before, but I will not miss the opportunity to do so again here. Without further ado, here is the list in no particular order.
Mrs England by Stacey Halls
This book is beautifully written, full of atmosphere and mystery with intriguing characters. It had me asking all sorts of questions from start to finish, and I could hardly wait to find out what happened next. What made it so special was how I connected with it and the personal story behind the main character, alongside such a compelling plot.
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
We have since had the two sequels and a (magnificent) mini prequel, but the first book in this series will always be my favourite. For me, this was just the perfect Young Adult thriller. It was absorbing from the first page to last; a brilliant mystery that brought twists, tension, and amazing characters. I fell in love with it and cannot praise it enough.
The Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
I honestly did not want this book to end. It was magnificent, from the quality of the storytelling to the amazing cast of characters. Imagination was there in abundance and the detail second to none. Everything about it was so unbelievably captivating.
How To Be Brave by Louise Beech
This was supremely powerful, fantastical, and above all, beautifully written. It was good to begin with, but then just got better and better, and I was totally swept away by the extraordinary beauty of the story.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This is one of the best books I have ever read, without a shadow of a doubt. It made me feel the fullest range of emotions, such was the extent to which I was immersed in the story of Kya. It contained a gripping mystery, poignant themes, and a spellbinding celebration of nature. A masterpiece. Last year’s film adaptation was not too bad either.
The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This was a brilliantly written book, and a splendid portrayal of the much hinted at romance between Achilles and Patroclus during the Trojan War. I loved almost everything about it and was totally immersed, with the writing just getting better and better as the story went on.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
An absolute all-time favourite. While in essence a Romeo and Juliet retelling, it has a little bit of everything including a brilliant 1920s Shanghai setting. It is thrilling, intense, amazingly written with great characters. Just about everything I love in a book, Chloe Gong seems to deliver it.
With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
I loved everything about this book. It is a lovely story of self-discovery that put a smile on my face. Emoni was an amazing protagonist and had such an authentic voice. After reading this, Elizabeth Acevedo confirmed her status as one of my absolute favourite authors, young adult or otherwise.
The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
I have never read another book quite like this one. From the sheer uniqueness of the concept to the near faultless execution of an exceptionally complex, labyrinthine plot, this was a truly extraordinary book. One of my favourite standalone books.
Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
The most recent book on this list! Pretty much everything about it was just magnificent, from the beautiful, vivid writing to the captivating world-building. The plot was so often thrilling with some really intense moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and also contained a fascinating romance. Meanwhile, the main character Xingyin is one of my all-time favourite protagonists. This book blew me away.
Let’s Chat
What do you think of my list? Are these some of your favourite books? Let me know in the comments!
Also, feel free to ask me questions, as I am planning a Q&A post in February!
Happy reading :)
Stephen Reads Books 