I was going to chicken out and list this top five in no particular order, but instead, I've decided to be brave and list this from 1-5 in order of preference. What do you think of my picks?
*All links lead to my reviews of the books, so feel free to check those out.
I've only included books here that were released in 2010, but I'm recommending that everybody read If I Stay by Gayle Forman and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, two books I read, and loved this year, but which didn't have 2010 releases.
Now onto the TOP 5!
1. I'm guessing that a lot of you are not surprised by my number 1 book of the year - especially if you follow me on Twitter, where I gush about this book all the time. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting was my favourite book of the year, for sure. I couldn't get enough of this book, and I can't wait to read more!!
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.
2. There are so many angel-themed books around right now, but this year, Angel by L. A. Weatherly stood out for me. This one has a romance to die for and a great storyline to boot. It's not released in the US until May 2011, but y'all are in for a treat when you read this one!
In a world where angels are beyond redemption, Alex thinks he's found one that might deserve mercy. Alex is a ruthless assassin - of angels. Forget everything you've heard about them before. Angels are not benign celestial creatures, but fierce stalkers whose irresistible force allows them to feed off humans, draining them of their vitality until there is barely anything left. As far as Alex is concerned, the only good angel is a dead angel...until he meets Willow. She may look like a normal teenager but Willow is no ordinary girl. Half-angel, half-human, Willow may hold the key to defeating the evil angels. But as the hunter and the hunted embark on an epic and dangerous journey and Willow learns the dark and terrifying secrets of her past, Alex finds himself drawn to Willow...with devastating consequences. Eoin Colfer reinvented the fairy, Stephenie Meyer reinvented the vampire, L.A. Weatherly reinvents the angel! This is a heart-pounding, knuckle-whitening, paranormal romance action-adventure for fans of the "Twilight" series. This is the first in a devastating new trilogy.
3. Beautiful Malice is one of those books that contains just about everything you'll need for a great read. This was one of my favourite reads of the year, and I can't wait to read more from Rebecca James. This is a great psychological thriller with toxic friendships and some truly chilling moments!
Who is Katherine Patterson? It is a question she hopes no one can answer. To erase her past, Katherine has moved to a new city, enrolled in a new school, and even changed her name. She’s done the next best thing to disappearing altogether. Now, wary and alone, she seeks nothing more than anonymity. What she finds instead is the last thing she expected: a friend.
Even more unlikely, Katherine’s new friend is the most popular and magnetic girl in school. Extroverted, gorgeous, flirtatious, and unpredictable, she is everything that Katherine is not and doesn’t want to be: the center of attention. Yet Alice’s enthusiasm is infectious, her candor sometimes unsettling, and Katherine, in spite of her guarded caution, finds herself drawn into Alice’s private circle.
But Alice has secrets, too—darker than anyone can begin to imagine. And when she lets her guard down at last, Katherine discovers the darkest of them all. For there will be no escaping the past for Katherine Patterson—only a descent into a trap far more sinister . . . and infinitely more seductive.
4. I have to include a little historical fiction on my list, and Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly was a book that truly captivated me. This book has major crossover appeal, and I truly think that just about anyone will be impressed by the storyline and the strength of writing here. Even if you don't know one thing about the French Revolution, read this, and you'll soon want to find out more!
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
5. I love to read about themes of rebirth, reincarnation and soulmates, and this book contains all of these elements. It's an epic romantic tale and it was a great surprise to me because I picked up the book not really expecting anything much from it. My name is Memory by Ann Brashares makes the list just ahead of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller - another book I read this year which dealt with the same themes of reincarnation and soulmates. Both books are well worth checking out!
From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, inspired, magical book-a love story that lasts more than a lifetime.
Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short.
Interwoven through Sophia and Daniel's unfolding present day relationship are glimpses of their expansive history together. From 552 Asia Minor to 1918 England and 1972 Virginia, the two souls share a long and sometimes torturous path of seeking each other time and time again. But just when young Sophia (now "Lucy" in the present) finally begins to awaken to the secret of their shared past, to understand the true reason for the strength of their attraction, the mysterious force that has always torn them apart reappears. Ultimately, they must come to understand what stands in the way of their love if they are ever to spend a lifetime together.
A magical, suspenseful, heartbreaking story of true love, My Name is Memory proves the power and endurance of a union that was meant to be.
To be in with a chance to win an ARC of Angel by L.A Weatherly, just fill in the form below:
One entry per person.
Competition is International and open until January 7th 2011.
Winner will be contacted by email and asked to provide me with a mailing address. The winner will have one week to respond to my email before a new winner is picked.
*Please note - cover of ARC is different from finished copy.
COMPETITION CLOSED! WINNER ANNOUNCED SOON!