My Year in Books 2016

2016 books read

Over the past few years I’ve started using Goodreads more and making reading goals for myself to try to complete. I made it my goal to read 25 books in 2016. In 2015, I finished a whopping 20 and figured I could read 5 more. Well, that seemed to be a little bit harder for me to accomplish this time around! I ended up finishing 2016 having read a total of 17 books and 5,310 pages. Not too shabby, but obviously I was a little discouraged I didn’t reach my goal. I’m trying again to read 25 books in 2017, and so far at 6 days into the new year, I’ve read 2! I always read a lot over winter break (typically because Ryan and I do a lot of beach travel and I loveeee to read on the beach!) so this year was no exception.

Anyway, you guys seem to like my book posts so I figured I’d share the books I read in 2016 and what I thought about them! Feel free to let me know what YOU read lately and what you’re loving! I’m also trying to make it my goal to read the Harry Potter series in 2017 (I’ve only read the first 3.5 books) and also read some classics. I’m tired of taking those dumb Buzzfeed quizzes (“You Definitely Have a 4.0 in College if You’ve Read All of these Books”) and getting a result like, “Nice try, but you’re not very well read! Try something with substance”. SO if any of you have a suggestion of a classic you love and think I wouldn’t stab myself in the eye while reading, let me know!

1. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

4 stars. I read this book back in January while in Cancun, it was a quick read for me and super quirky! I loved it and want to read the second book sometime this year. It was especially interesting to me because the main character is thought to be a man with Asperger’s.

2, 3, 4. Never Never (Parts 1-3) by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

3.5 stars. Read my review.

5. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

3 stars. I thought this book was good, I finished it in about a day, but it was definitely hyped up too much. I have yet to see the movie but I still would like to!

6. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

3 stars. I had to read this book for a psychology class and I thought it was really interesting! It was definitely a book I’m glad I read, it gave me a lot of insight to take into the field of speech-language pathology.

7. You by Caroline Kepnes

YOU by caroline kepnes

5 stars. I was absolutely obsessed with this book. It was definitely one of my top books of 2016! YOU is unlike any book I ever read before and I mean that in the best way. If you’re looking for something out-of-the-box that might make you slightly uncomfortable, I highly recommend this book!

8. Landline by Rainbow Rowell

3 stars. Read my review.

9. Swear on this Life by Renee Carlino

4 stars. Read my review.

10. Still Alice by Lisa Genova

lisa genova still alice cover

5 stars. Read my review.

11. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5 stars. This book is my favorite of 2016. I have nothing more to say except read it! (You can read my previous review here)

12. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

it ends with us

5 stars. I also thoroughly enjoyed this book! One of my top picks of 2016 as well. Read my review.

13. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

the book thief

5 stars. I’m embarrassed I hadn’t read this book sooner. I loved it, and though it was a long one, it was well worth the read. If you haven’t read this one yet, you need to. It takes place during the Holocaust, and the narrator is Death which makes the book super unique. Even though this is technically a children’s book, I recommend that everyone read it! It had me in tears multiple times. Such a great read.

14. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Left Neglected

3 stars. Left Neglected is written by the same author as Still Alice and while I loved Still Alice, I didn’t feel the same way about this one. I couldn’t connect with the character, she wasn’t very likable so that make it hard for me to love the book! It was still interesting to learn about left neglect so I’d still recommend the book to anyone who is interested in learning more about that!

15. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

the light between oceans

4 stars. I read this book because I was interested in the movie that was coming out but wanted to read the book first! My Nana had an extra copy from her book club that she let me have which was perfect. I really liked this book, I’m usually not into stories that take place in different time periods but I was totally fine with the 1920’s setting. It allowed the events that took place in the book to happen more naturally! There were some parts that were a little unbelievable, but I took it all with a grain of salt. I would definitely recommend this book!

16. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

4 stars. I thought MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE was really interesting! There were two alternate stories being told within one book which I thought would be confusing but it really wasn’t! There were so many things that happened that I found myself gasping out loud about. I thought the ending was perfect and it left me questioning my own life!

17. The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

2 stars.  I was kind of disappointed in this book. Maybe it was because it was about middle aged women and I couldn’t relate, or maybe it was just not that great. Who knows. I just know I wasn’t super into it. All of the characters seemed whiny and the time travel thing was really corny. I finished it because I got too invested and needed to know the ending, but otherwise I would’ve DNF’d it. I’d stay away from this one, unfortunately.

There ya have it! The 17 books I read last year. Which ones do you want to add to your TBR? Be sure to add me on Goodreads to get more updates on what I’m currently reading!

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24 Comments

  1. Leona
    January 7, 2017 / 5:03 pm

    I also read Girl on the Train in a day, haven’t seen the movie yet, but am interested in doing so!

  2. January 7, 2017 / 11:25 pm

    I’ll have to read some of these books this year. I’ve read one so far, but I want to read at least a couple times a week this year so I can finish a couple books a month. I love psychological thrillers, like Gillian Flynn’s novels, so I’m looking for those kinds of books.

  3. January 8, 2017 / 9:16 am

    I almost picked up You when I found it in a bargain bin at the bookstore but I talked myself out of it by saying it’d just freak myself out, but if you think it’s that good then I’ll have to go back and see if it’s still there!

  4. January 9, 2017 / 1:17 pm

    The amount of books you’ve read this year is impressive! I am pinning this for the next time I need a good read 🙂

  5. January 9, 2017 / 2:44 pm

    I read approximately 0 books in 2016, so you go girl! I’ve heard rave reviews about The Girl on the Train, so it’s really interesting that you only gave it three stars. Since I want to get back into reading this year, I’m putting it on my list!

    Hannah | the swirl

  6. January 9, 2017 / 4:45 pm

    I LOVE finding new books to read and you gave me a bunch! I have also had Book Thief on my to-read list forever.. I guess I better just get to it. 🙂 I just finished Pretty Girls and it is the most messed up book I have ever read, but I could NOT put it down. So many twists and turns!

  7. mckenna bleu
    January 9, 2017 / 4:54 pm

    I’ll have to read some of the books you liked! Thanks for sharing!

  8. January 9, 2017 / 9:00 pm

    One of my goals this year is to read more books so all of these are going on my list to check out!

  9. Sydney Power
    January 9, 2017 / 10:32 pm

    Some of these look like books I would love, I can never stop reading, I use my kindle everyday and I can’t go without it.

  10. Katie Runyan
    January 10, 2017 / 2:04 am

    Thank you for the recommendations! I’ve heard great things about “You” and “The Light Between Oceans”.

  11. January 10, 2017 / 2:57 am

    oooh, I have so many of these books on my ‘to be read’ list and this post has just motivated me to get onto reading them!

    Alysha | bookishandbright.com

  12. January 10, 2017 / 9:46 am

    I really want to make an effort to read mroe this year! Love all of your recommendations and will def check these out!

    xoxo,

    Amy | Pastel N Pink

  13. mQs
    January 10, 2017 / 11:06 am

    This post honestly could not have had much better timing. I just finished a book and am in search of a new read

  14. Elly Leavitt
    January 10, 2017 / 11:10 am

    I watched the Book Thief and loved it, I def need to read the book! Also I had no idea that the movie Still Alice was based on a book haha… that is added to my reading list for sure x

  15. January 10, 2017 / 6:50 pm

    You read a ton of books! My goal this year is to read 1 book a month. I am bookmarking this for when I need some inspiration.

  16. Michelle mink
    January 11, 2017 / 9:02 pm

    Aw I love the Book Thief. I have been wanting to read Girl on the Train so I’ll have to make that one of my goals for 2017.

  17. January 12, 2017 / 6:13 pm

    This is SUCH a creative way to wrap up 2016 Kayla, I love it! I’m saving these so that I can read them in 2017 🙂
    xoxo
    Ashley

  18. January 14, 2017 / 10:37 am

    I really want to read It Ends With Us! That’s been on my list for a while! I read The Book Thief in high school and absolutely hated it the first time I read it, but ended up re-reading it to actually appreciate it, definitely glad I did!

  19. January 16, 2017 / 6:59 pm

    I’ve been reading a lot more lately but instead of fiction it’s been self help and biographical. I did just order some fiction book I’m excited about.

  20. Hannah Madison
    January 21, 2017 / 2:09 pm

    I love a good book round up 🙂 Thanks for your suggestions 🙂

    XO,

    Hannah from HMS Jewels

    http://www.hmsjewels.com

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