Lynnie's Favorite Books of 2014

So, here we are with another year of reading behind us and lots of great books (and probably some stinkers) ahead in 2015.  I read a mere 50 books in 2014- with three that I couldn't bear to finish- and am happy to report that the majority of the books I read were books I enjoyed (3 stars or higher on Goodreads).  It was a good year to be a reader.  More than a fifth of the books I read last year got 4 or 5 star reviews- not too shabby! 

My favorites were easy to pick though and without further ado, here they are (in no particular order):

ME BEFORE YOU by JoJo Moyes- it looks like a chick book but don't be fooled by the cover. I loved this book and all the characters in it (even the ones you weren't supposed to love). They touched my heart and I found myself thinking about them, even after the book ended. The story of who they were- before and after they came together was really just... wonderful. It's a book about family, trust, love, and being true to yourself, even when you are afraid of who that might be. 

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J.FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin- I adored this quirky story about a finicky bookseller, his charming bookstore and the folks of Alice Island. This book can get a bit snobbish at times, I admit, filled with literary references which you will love or hate (I loved them), but the characters will steal your heart. While this is a book about a bookstore, it's also a book about family, friendship, and the messiness of life & love. 

BIG LITTLE LIES by Liane Moriarty- great fun from beginning to end! I don't usually enjoy a "whodunnit" but this one was irresistible. This book has drama, conflict, secrets, betrayal, & yet there's also humor, camaraderie, true friendship- everything you expect in Primary School! The personality of Moriarty's characters jump off the page at you making you want to learn more and more about them with each turn of the page. 

THE FIFTH WAVE and THE INFINITE SEA by Rick Yancey- (soon to be a movie- read the book first!). I read both books in this series in 2014 and admit to enjoying the sequel more than the original book, though both were page-turners from beginning to end.  If you like an action-filled YA series, this is the one to read now. Aliens, teenagers, bad guys- OH MY!

REBOOT & REBEL by Amy Tintera- a very interesting YA series; a virus infects people so that they "reboot" after they die and become super-soldiers. Trust me, it works, and it's awesome! The fast pace of the story kept me wanting to know more and the characters are absolutely wonderful. I really enjoyed the interplay between them- the bad guys were bad, the good guys were great and the action was nonstop. 

Honorable Mention:

ATTACHMENTS by Rainbow Rowell-  I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to.  The characters are so wonderful- you just want to spend more time with them. There were several times I laughed out loud reading this book. What a great summer read- one of my friends called it a "confection" of a book and she was right- it's a real treat. (less)

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green- It's tough to consider John Green an honorable mention because I love his writing so much, but I read this book at an odd time.  That said, it's touching, tragic and beautiful- you know where this book is going, just now how it's going to get there. It is, after all, a book about kids with cancer- but Hazel and Augustus (and Isaac) are really wonderful characters, which is why the book affects so many people the way it does. Green gives his characters dignity and hope in a hopeless situation.

Happy 2015!  Many happy reading adventures ahead!