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Can it be that 2017 is already almost half over? Whether we like it or not, time keeps on marching along. Sometimes the passing of time is met with groans, like when our kids grow up too fast or a much anticipated vacation comes to an end. Other times, we can appreciate the movement of time for the new opportunities it brings. The constant arrival of new books is one of the things I like most about the passage of time. Today I’m joining The Broke and the Bookish for a Top Ten Tuesday glimpse into the books I’ve most liked so far this year. It will be fun to see how many are able to stave off the onslaught of books in the coming months to make it onto my year-end “Best Books of 2017” list.
The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker
Random House (1/31/17) – 384 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
A strong female friendship, profound and life-altering
Women making it in a traditionally male career
Story spanning more than 20-years, from college onward
Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan
Bloomsbury USA (5/9/17) – 384 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
Complete blurring of the line between fact and fiction
Is the author creative or crazy?
You can’t stop thinking about this book
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Atria Books (4/25/17) – 432 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
A hockey story about the entire community surrounding the game
The love and loyalty of best friends
A young man’s willingness to do what’s right
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Pamela Dorman Books (May 9, 2017) – 336 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
Eleanor, a wonderfully original character who’s difficult not to love
The moving metamorphosis of Eleanor
Friendships in many different forms
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Riverhead Books (3/7/17) – 240 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
Magical realism that works
The evolution of a young couple’s relationship in trying times
A look into the common plight of many refugees
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Macmillan (4/11/17) – 368 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
A book that deserves the comparison to The Secret History
The cast of characters prone to speaking in lines from Shakespeare
A mystery as much about why as about who
Marlena by Julie Buntin
Henry Holt and Co. (4/4/17) – 288 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
A coming-of-age story told with the perspective of 20 years hence
Classic tale of an innocent girl following one more experienced
Gorgeous writing, hauntingly authentic
Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett
Tin House Books (3/7/17) – 338 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
A feel good book about losing your mother
Elvis, the 12-year old narrator you’ll fall in love with
A quirky cast of characters who care about each other
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
Viking (2/14/17) – 416 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
World War II story based on the author’s own family
Short chapters highlighting alternating family members
Horrors of WWII, but also a triumphant side
White Fur by Jardine Libaire
Hogarth (5/30/17) – 320 pages
(Full Review)
Highlights:
Simply stunning writing
An unexpected twist on the rich boy/poor girl story
The grit of Manhattan in the 1980’s
Disclaimer: There are Amazon Associate links contained in this post.
Great list! Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and White Fur are two titles I hope to read soon.
Not surprising we have some overlap! We do have a couple differences, though! I tried The Animators a second time and just couldn’t get into it…which surprises me b/c you and Tara both loved it. And I couldn’t finish Marlena.
But, am trying to decide whether to just buy Eleanor Oliphant rather than waiting for my library hold (I’m WAY down the list). I’m thinking it could be a possible vacation treat…leaving on Thu for vacation.
Eleanor would make for a fun vacation read. Hope you have a great time!
If we were villains… I have seen that around and to be honest I didn’t think I’d like at first but I think Ive changed my mind! Also I want to read Marlena!
I really think you would like If We Were Villains a lot.
Now I’m stalking my library holds for Beartown and If We Were Villians. I need my holds to start moving so I can request more! Such a good list.
Thanks, Amanda. I hope the library starts cooperating!
Great list! After reading Rabbit Cake – I wish I could jump through the pages and give Elvis a big hug. I’m so glad it ended happily!
Thanks, Julie. Rabbit Cake and Eleanor have been my two biggest surprises this year. Both were so much more than I expected.
Loved “We Were the Lucky Ones.” That’s the one we definitely intersect on!
Fab list! I haven’t read any of these but quite a few are on my wishlist and I just won a copy of If We Were Villains in a Goodreads giveaway (yay!) so I’m looking forward to that one.
If We Were Villains was a wonderful surprise. So much more than I had expected.
I keep hearing about The Animators and have finally put it on my TBR list. This is a great list of books!
Thanks, Kim. I thought The Animators was a fantastic debut.
Bear Town and White Fur seem to be on a lot of people’s lists. Glad to see we have one in common with We Were the Lucky Ones!
I want to get to If We Were Villains. But I have read Exit West, Bear Town, and just finished & reviewed White Fur. I liked that one too. Nice list!