At the end of 2014, I set myself a goal of reading 40 books over the next 12 months, to mark the year that I would be turning 40. I ended up reading 48 books in my 2015 Reading Challenge, and these are my 10 favourite books of 2015.
The list in the order that I read the books, because I found it really hard to put them in an order of preference. I actually found it quite hard to narrow this list down to just 10, because I’ve read so many amazing books over the last 12 months. I’ve excluded re-reads from this selection, because otherwise old favourites like The Catcher in the Rye and Jane Eyre would be in there automatically!
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
This was one of the first books I read, way back in January, and I’m still intrigued by this story of a young woman who marries a rich trader. His wedding gift to her is a miniature replica of their house, which is to be furnished by a local miniaturist. But the family is hiding all sorts of secrets, and this book is full of suspense and drama.
Buy The Miniaturist on Amazon*
The Ship by Antonia Honeywell
In February, it took me less than 24 hours to read Antonia Honeywell’s debut novel. It’s a dystopian novel, which is one of my absolute favourite genres of fiction. Set in London, The Ship describes a near-future scenario where only those who keep up their government registration exist officially, and food is in scarce supply. 16 year old Lalla is taken to live on a ship, owned and stocked by her father with enough supplies for 500 hand-picked people. But as the reality of life on the ship becomes apparent to Lalla, it raises more questions than are answered. I loved this novel, and I’m sure I’ll be re-reading it many times in the future.
Buy The Ship on Amazon*
Ebola 76 by Amir Tag Elsir
I read this book in April, and it was very different to any of the other books I had read at that point. It’s a fictitious recount of the real-life Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. A textile worker is infected with the virus while visiting Kinshasa, and unknowingly carries it back home where he starts an epidemic. The serious subject matter brings with it some gruesome detail, as you would expect. But the dark humour and colourful characterisation makes this book a very entertaining read.
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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This is a book that had sat on my Kindle since last year, but kept on being bumped further down my reading list. But so many people started recommending it to me, that I read it in July and absolutely loved it. The Book Thief is Liesel, a young girl who moves to live with foster parents in Nazi Germany when her parents are sent to a concentration camp. As the war progresses, life becomes harder for Liesel and those around her. The story is narrated by Death, who we are told will visit the Book Thief three times – even though I knew this, I was still caught out by the final visit. I loved this book so much, and I cried so much at the end of it. It’s an amazing story, and definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.
Buy The Book Thief on Amazon*
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
While I was on holiday in the summer, I read this book which is Amy E. Reichert’s debut novel. It’s been described as ‘You’ve Got Mail’ meets ‘How to Eat a Cupcake’, and I really enjoyed reading it. It’s a romantic comedy which revolves around the fantastic food available in Milwaukee. Food and romantic comedy normally make for the kind of novel that I love to read on holiday, and this one definitely hit the mark. If you are looking for a quick, fun read then this one comes highly recommended.
Buy The Coincidence of Coconut Cake on Amazon*
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
This is another novel that I read while on my summer holiday. It took me two attempts to get past the very vivid and upsetting description of a fatal car accident at the start of the novel. Once I managed that, I found that I Let You Go is a taut thriller that kept me hooked right til the end. It’s the story of Jenna Gray, whose life falls apart after the car accident at the start of the book. She runs away to start a new life, but of course the past catches up with her. This book is full of twists and turns, and kept me hooked right up to the very end.
Buy I Let you Go on Amazon*
Berlin Coffee Shop by Gerlis Zillgens
One of the best things about my 2015 Reading Challenge has been the sheer variety of books that I’ve read. From a taut thriller like ‘I Let You Go’ to a frothy, fun read with characters that are over the top and larger than life – think ‘Sex and the City’ or ‘Friends’. Sandra runs a business as a seeker, finding things that people are looking for. She sets her best male friend up with the most beautiful woman in Berlin, before realising that she has feelings for him herself. Has she left it too late to find her own happiness? I read this book in September, just after reading one of the very few books that I didn’t enjoy this year. It is great fun, a book which put the smile back on my face and would make an excellent summer holiday read.
Buy Berlin Coffee Shop on Amazon*
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
The books I’ve read this year have come from a variety of sources. Some are books that I’ve seen recommended online, some were sent to me to review and some, like this one, were gifts. Mark bought this book for me in September, as he thought it looked like one I would enjoy – he’s very good at picking out books for me. It’s a novel about a neuroscientist who discovers she has early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She’s in the prime of her life, and the diagnosis shakes both Alice and her husband. This book could be uncomfortable reading if you have friends or relatives with Alzheimer’s Disease, but it was a novel that I just could not put down.
Buy Still Alice on Amazon*
She’s Not There by PJ Parrish
This tense thriller rounded off a busy month of reading in September, and kept me turning the pages throughout. It’s the story of Amelia, who wakes up in hospital with amnesia and a sense that she has to get away from her husband. She runs away from a past she can’t remember, but her husband hires a private investigator and things get even more dangerous for Amelia. I really enjoyed this novel, which is actually written by two sisters. I loved the way that pieces of the story are slowly drip-fed to the reader, as Amelia’s amnesia gradually lifts. It kept me reading late into the night, always the sign of a good read!
Buy She’s Not There on Amazon*
The Martian by Andy Weir
I went to see The Martian at the start of October, and later in October I followed it up by reading the novel that the film is based upon. It’s the story of an astronaut who is left behind on Mars when the rest of his crew assume he is dead. He fights to stay alive while NASA battles to find a way to bring him home. I had enjoyed the film so much that I was a bit worried that the book might be a let down. But the film actually sticks very closely to the novel, and I really enjoyed this book every bit as much as the film.
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Those are my favourite reads from 2015. Check back next week for my final thoughts on this year’s Reading Challenge, and to find out what Reading Challenge I’ll be setting myself for 2016.
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