My Top 10 FICTION Books of the Year (So Far)!
Contemporaries, classics, middle grade, translated, romance - you'll find several genres represented in my 10 fiction favorites of the year so far!
As I mentioned last week in my Top 10 Nonfiction Of The Year (So Far) list, I knew I was having a pretty excellent reading year - I just didn’t realize how excellent until I sat down to put these lists of mid-year favorites together! Narrowing my top reads down to 10 at this point has proven quite challenging.
Challenging, but very fun.
And I’m so intrigued to see which of these will still remain when my end-of-the-year top 10 lists roll around!
As of this writing, I have read 57 books (both fiction + nonfiction); today I’m sharing my 10 favorite fiction picks so far. Interestingly, I’ve read three of these in June - so I haven’t even featured them in a monthly wrap-up yet. Maybe recency bias has something to do with it, but one of the three made me sob, another one sent me down a research rabbit hole for days, and the third was an almost-20-hour audiobook that had me walking extra miles just to keep listening - all signs of impactful books for me.
Here they are, in no particular order. Like with my nonfiction list, I’ll keep my comments brief and link to the corresponding monthly wrap-ups if you’d like more of my thoughts on any of them. (Except for the three June ones, which I’ll be wrapping up next week!)
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
I’ve discovered that a big (perhaps the biggest?) contributor to a novel becoming a favorite for me is how it makes me feel. I look at the cover of this one and I am instantly reminded how touching, heartwarming, thoughtful, witty, and just overall lovely I found it. I loved Clover’s growth and personal transformation throughout the story, too. A beautiful book. (February wrap-up)
North And South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Note to myself: Read more classics! I don’t frequently pick them up but almost every time I do, they end up becoming favorites. I now intend to read all of Gaskell’s works - Wives and Daughters made my top 10 list the year I read it, too. Any 20-hour audiobook that keeps me enthralled the entire time (27 hours in the case of Wives and Daughters!) points to an author I want to read more. (Forthcoming June wrap-up)
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Reynolds’ ability to write a powerhouse of a story in relatively few words will never cease to amaze me. I’ve read many books that take place over a weekend or even a 24-hour period, but framing this entire story around one young man’s ride down an elevator, and what he experiences at each stop along the way - just incredible. Months later, I still think about the ending of this one. (February wrap-up)
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Perhaps the most plot-driven book on this list, once I started I could not put this down. I felt completely drawn in to aspects that, in the hands of a less-skilled writer, wouldn’t have gripped me quite so much. Everything from the wild ambition, to the dramatic relationships, to the continuous raising of the bar on their dreams, to the view of a sport (ice dancing) I know very little about - it was a wild ride. (May wrap-up)
Stoner by John Williams
I’ve tried describing this modern classic to a few people and it sounds so unremarkable - which is somehow its great strength. The story follows the life of William Stoner, an average man living a regular life in the middle of America, with nothing showy or outstanding or surprising about him. Yet I closed this book with tears in my eyes, gratitude for humanity, and renewed appreciation for everyone quietly doing our best. (Forthcoming June wrap-up)
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
I’ve seen mixed reviews on this one by Jimenez fans, but I loved it. She has a gift for writing difficult and touching storylines right alongside witty banter and light-hearted romance, and the blend really works for me. I also truly appreciate her sense of humor; some of the marketing lines the main character in this one came up with for her job totally cracked me up. (May wrap-up)
The Housekeeper And The Professor by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder
An unexpectedly poignant story about a young single mother who works as a housekeeper for a math professor, and the unique relationship they - along with her young son - develop along the way. At the start of this book I didn’t know if it was for me or if I would even finish it; by the end, I was sobbing. Also a new contender for most beautiful cover of the year. (Forthcoming June wrap-up)
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
I believe this is the only middle grade book I’ve read this year and it has certainly made an impact on me. Several months after reading, I can still vividly picture in my mind the new home the characters created as they escaped enslavement, and the incredible resourcefulness, courage, and belief it all required. This book also confirmed for me how much I love the ‘found family’ aspect in stories. (March wrap-up)
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
I’ve written in the past how romance has never really been my preferred genre, but in the last year or two I’ve discovered a few writers who are changing that for me - Monaghan being one of them. I love the character growth, mutual respect, healthy communication, and ‘realness’ in her stories and have rated all of them quite highly. I’m hoping to get to her most recent release sometime this summer. (March wrap-up)
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
I wasn’t planning to read this, but when my neighborhood book club selected it, I decided to give it a go. I am so glad I did! A compelling, page-turning story which also touched on some thought-provoking topics. I still think about the questions around forgiveness - who needs to forgive, how late is too late, how to move forward with or without forgiveness - when I recall some of the plot lines from this book. (February wrap-up)
Be sure to let me know in the comments which of these books you’ve read, which ones you’d like to read, and what you consider your favorite book(s) so far this year. Here’s to more great reading in the months to come!
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Related articles you might enjoy:
My Top 10 NONFICTION Books Of The Year (So Far)!
Mid-Year Book Check-In: 10 Questions To Ask Yourself
Your Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide
My Top 10 Fiction Books Of The Year (2024)
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Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, and self-proclaimed book nerd, is a certified coach who helps achievers work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals. Feel free to share your questions, comments, or topic/book suggestions below or via email to readingandpurpose (at) gmail (dot) com.
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I listened to Gaskell's "Cranford" on audio for Victober a few years ago. I reminded me that I'd watched "Wives and Daughters" and "North and South" on PBS with my grandmother 40+ years ago. I promptly bought Delphi's complete collection of Gaskell's works. So. Good. I listened to "The Housekeeper and the Professor" in 2023. Solid 5 stars for me, as well. And I just put a hold on "Stoner" based on your recommendation. You've had some good reading this year! I've also completed 57 books this year (but a lot were small poetry collections). My 5 star reads this year have included “How to Stay invisible” by Rudd, “The Murmur of Bees” by Segovia, “The Lincoln Highway” by Towles, “The Heart's Invisible Furies” by Boyne and “Foster” by Keegan.
Thanks for your recap and recommendations. My last three June reads have been two stars. 🤨. I shouldn’t have even finished them. I also enjoyed Summer Romance for the same reasons and Say You Will Remember Me. My favorite reads this year have been Frozen River, Broken Country, James, Great Big Beautiful Life, The Story She Left Behind and Marble Hall Murders.