The Best Books I Read in 2017

It's that wonderful time of year -- time to look back at all the books I read in 2017 and think about which ones I loved, which ones stuck with me, which ones lost their luster over time, and come up with this list of favorites!

Really, it was not a fabulous reading year for me. The first half of the year I read a lot of disappointing new releases, and books I was sure I'd love that ended up being just so-so -- including more 2-star reviews than ever (and to me, 2 stars means I hated it; 1 star is DNF). Things finally picked up the past couple months when I read some highly recommended 2017 releases -- so in 2018, I'm going to do things a little differently and let other readers be the new-release guinea pigs for a couple months. I'll be focusing mostly on backlist in January and February, at least, and then I'll see which 2018 books held up to the hype.

One positive note about my reading year is that I read broadly across the genres. I got in more non-fiction and graphic novels than ever before, I continued to nurture my growing love of sci-fi and fantasy, and of course there were plenty of the usual suspects: literary fiction, historical fiction, mystery. I even tried a straight-up romance novel!

So which books stole my heart this year? I selected 12 that I loved initially and whose impression remained with me throughout the year. Some of these books were fun reads, but many had a real impact on me. I come away from my 2017 reading year with new perspectives on LGBT and race issues, among other things.

Here's my list, in no particular order other than the 5-star best-of-the-best (a meager three this year) followed with a slew of 4.5-star reads. I'd love to know which books will go down as your 2017 favorites!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Wayfarers #1
First published in 2014
Genre: science fiction
My review

Why I loved it: This book was such a delight to read and it put a smile on my face every time I picked it up. It's set in a far-off future with intergalactic travel and features the multi-species crew of the Wayfarer, a wormhole-drilling ship. I can't wait to read the second book in the series!

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
The Ancestor #1
First published in 2017
Genre: fantasy
My review

Why I loved it: I could not. put. it. down. I was totally absorbed in this fantasy novel set in an semi-apocalyptic future and I adored Nona, the main character. Plus I loved how the school where she trains and hones her powers was ever-so-slightly reminiscent of Hogwarts.

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
Shades of Magic #3
First published in 2017
Genre: fantasy

Why I loved it: The whole of this fantasy series has been a joy to read. It's about four parallel-universe Londons, each with varying degrees of magic. The characters, plot, and worldbuilding are all fabulous, and I'm sad it's over!

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
First published in 2017
Genre: literary fiction, historical fiction

Why I loved it: One of the reasons I enjoy reading is to gain new perspectives, and this book put me firmly in shoes very different from my own: Cyril Avery's. The book follows Cyril from birth to death in a very-Catholic Ireland as he grapples with his identity as a gay man. The writing was beautiful, and there was no way I could avoid falling in love with Cyril as I journeyed with him over the hills and valleys of his life.

The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo
First published in 2017
Genre: historical fiction
My review

Why I loved it: This is a very well-researched WWII novel that satisfied my desire to read about both theaters of war -- Europe and the Pacific -- as it followed the wartime experiences of two best friends who become Army nurses. It was intense and sad, but I highly recommend it to any historical fiction fan.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
First published in 2017
Genre: literary fiction

Why I loved it: Oh, Eleanor. She's quite possibly the world's most socially awkward human being, but boy does she grow on you. You'll be cheering her on as she conquers her (rather surprising!) demons. I went in thinking this was fluffy women's fiction, but my expectations were quickly turned on their head!

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
First published in 2017
Genre: literary fiction
My review

Why I loved it: I try to be open-minded, but I've always been a little baffled about how a young child could know with certainty that he or she is, at heart, the opposite gender. This novel, about a transgender 5-year-old and how her family handles the situation, was written by the mother of a transgender child, and it gave me some new perspective on the issue. Too, I absolutely loved this adorable, slightly dysfunctional family!

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
First published in 2013
Genre: non-fiction
My review

Why I loved it: While the title proclaims that this book dissects the summer of 1927, it's really a fabulously informative and entertaining history lesson about the '20s as a whole. I learned SO MUCH and it never once felt boring. Bryson has such a talent for writing absorbing, educational non-fiction!

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
First published in 2017
Genre: historical fiction
My review

Why I loved it: I'm a huge fan of dual narratives, and this one was unique in that it dealt with both WWI and WWII. Too, with dual narratives I'm usually a little more into one story than the other, but I was completely engrossed by the tales of both flawed, determined, brilliant protagonists!

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
First published in 2016
Genre: literary fiction
My review

Why I loved it: This book packed such a punch! It was intense, it was controversial, it was dark and disturbing -- and it made me feel so many things, which, to me, is a sign of great storytelling.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
First published in 2017
Genre: young adult

Why I loved it: After many disappointments, I typically avoid YA, but I finally gave into the hype last fall and picked up this novel about the police shooting of a black teenager. And, I'm thrilled to say, it far exceeded my expectations. It's an important, timely, and eye-opening read (that managed to feel fairly neutral) that gave me a peek at what it's like to be black in America.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Lady Julia Grey #1
First published in 2007
Genre: historical mystery
My review

Why I loved it: Oh my gosh, I absolutely tore through this book. The 19th-century London atmosphere positively oozed through the pages, and I was totally wrapped up in the mystery. It usually takes me ages to continue series, but I almost immediately read book 2!

2018 Book Releases I'm Eagerly Awaiting

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is about books we're looking forward to in 2018. Below I've listed nearly all the upcoming releases that've caught my eye, and while I know I won't get to all of them, I'm sure going to try! Are you excited for any of the same ones I am? What books are you eagerly anticipating in the coming months?

The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson
January 2

From Goodreads: Forget the old days. Forget summer. Forget warmth. Forget anything that doesn’t help you survive. Lynn McBride has learned much since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and the relentless spread of disease. As memories of her old life haunt her, she has been forced to forge ahead in the snow-covered Canadian Yukon, learning how to hunt and trap to survive. But her fragile existence is about to be shattered. Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community -- most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who sets in motion a chain of events that will force Lynn to fulfill a destiny she never imagined.

My thoughts: This reminds me vaguely of another post-apocalyptic thriller that I loved, The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis, and I'm super intrigued! I've got an advance-read copy and I'm excited to get to it -- especially since I'm totally craving some cold-weather settings!

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
January 9

From Goodreads: If you were told the date of your death, how would it shape your present? It's 1969 in New York City's Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children -- four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness -- sneak out to hear their fortunes. Their prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in '80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11, hoping to control fate; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality.

My thoughts: The premise totally caught my attention and I'm looking forward to seeing how the Gold family handles this knowledge -- and whether it becomes a blessing or a curse.

The English Wife by Lauren Willig
January 9

From Goodreads: From Lauren Willig comes this scandalous New York Gilded Age novel full of family secrets, affairs, and even murder. Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil live a charmed life...But then Bayard is found dead with a knife in his chest on the night of their Twelfth Night Ball, Annabelle goes missing, presumed drowned, and the papers go mad. Bay’s sister, Janie, forms an unlikely alliance with a reporter to uncover the truth, convinced that Bay would never have killed his wife, that it must be a third party, but the more she learns about her brother and his wife, the more everything she thought she knew about them starts to unravel.

My thoughts: It's been a while since I've read anything by Lauren Willig, but I'm planning to check out her new gothic mystery! The early reviews have been mixed so I'm not expecting to be blown away, but I'm hoping for an absorbing, easy read.

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
January 16

From Goodreads: Five women. One question. What is a woman for? In this ferociously imaginative novel, abortion is once again illegal in America, in-vitro fertilization is banned, and the Personhood Amendment grants rights of life, liberty, and property to every embryo. In a small Oregon fishing town, five very different women navigate these new barriers alongside age-old questions surrounding motherhood, identity, and freedom.

My thoughts: I immediately added this to my to-read list when I first came across it months ago! Early reviews are positive, and I have very high hopes for this timely novel.

Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict
January 16

From Goodreads: In the industrial 1860s at the dawn of the Carnegie empire, Irish immigrant Clara Kelly finds herself in desperate circumstances. Looking for a way out, she seeks employment as a lady's maid in the home of the prominent businessman Andrew Carnegie. Soon, the bond between Clara and her employer deepens into love. But when Clara goes missing, Carnegie's search for her unearths secrets and revelations that lay the foundation for his lasting legacy. With captivating insight and stunning heart, Carnegie's Maid tells the story of one lost woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist.

My thoughts: I enjoyed Benedict's previous drawn-from-fact book, The Other Einstein, and this one sounds like it'll bring to light another little-know woman.

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
January 25

From Goodreads: One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr. Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on… and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost. Where will their ambitions lead? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess?

My thoughts: This sounds ever so slightly reminiscent of this year's The Essex Serpent, which I found to be a slight disappointment, but I'm intrigued enough by the plot to check it out.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
February 6

From Goodreads: Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.

My thoughts: This sounds like one of those books that, once picked up, is impossible to put down.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
February 6

From Amazon: Alaska, 1974. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture.

My thoughts: I've only read one Kristin Hannah book before and I didn't like it -- and I still need to read the ubiquitous The Nightingale -- but I'm willing to give this one a chance because ALASKA! I'm just a wee little bit obsessed with books set in places like Alaska and Antarctica so obviously this went on my to-read list!

Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers by Sara Ackerman
February 13

From Goodreads: It’s 1944, combat in the Pacific is intensifying, and Violet Iverson and her daughter, Ella, are piecing their lives back together one year after her husband vanished. Violet enjoys the camaraderie of her friends as they open a pie stand for the soldiers training on the island for a secret mission. But even these women face their own wartime challenges as prejudice against the island Japanese pits neighbor against neighbor. And then there’s the matter of Sergeant Stone, a brash marine who comes to Violet’s aid when the women are accused of spying. She struggles with her feelings of guilt but can’t deny the burning attraction -- or her fear of losing another man when Stone ships out for Iwo Jima. Set amid the tropical beauty of Hawaii, Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers offers a fresh perspective on World War II as it presents timeless depictions of female friendship, the bond between a mother and her child, and the enduring power of love even in the darkest times.

My thoughts: It's always fun to read books set in places you've lived or visited, so this WWII book set in Hawaii, where we currently live -- with a gorgeous cover and a catchy title -- immediately went on my to-read list. I love WWII books, so I've got high hopes for this one!

All the Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church
March 6

From Goodreads: A powerful novel about a gutsy showgirl who tries to conquer her past amongst the glamour of 1960s Las Vegas--and finds unexpected fortune, friendship, and love.

My thoughts: I happily awarded 5 stars to Church's debut, The Atomic Weight of Love, so there was no question I'd read whatever she wrote next!

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
March 27

From Goodreads: In an enthralling new feat of historical suspense, Ariel Lawhon unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's 50-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess, a beloved daughter and revered icon, or is she an imposter, the thief of another woman's legacy?

My thoughts: Reading books set in Russia is a new interest of mine, and I really don't know a whole lot about the Romanovs. I came across this novel on a list of anticipated historical fiction for 2018 and look forward to learning a thing or two.

Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
May 1

From Goodreads: The bestselling author of The Paris Wife returns to the subject of Ernest Hemingway in a novel about his passionate, stormy marriage to Martha Gellhorn -- a fiercely independent, ambitious young woman who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the twentieth century. In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in devastating conflict. She also finds herself unexpectedly -- and uncontrollably -- falling in love with Hemingway, a man already on his way to becoming a legend. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, For Whom the Bell Tolls, they are no longer equals, and Martha must make a choice: surrender to the confining demands of being a famous man's wife or risk losing Ernest by forging a path as her own woman and writer. It is a dilemma that will force her to break his heart, and her own.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed both The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun, and I was excited to see McLain has a new book coming out in a few months!

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
September 2018

From Goodreads: A brilliantly original high concept murder mystery from a fantastic new talent: Gosford Park meets Inception, by way of Agatha Christie "Somebody’s going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won’t appear to be a murder and so the murderer won’t be caught. Rectify that injustice and I’ll show you the way out." It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed. But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden -- one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party -- can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot. The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath...

My thoughts: This doesn't come out in the U.S. for months (though the UK release is in February) and it's already got tons of hype! The premise sounds really interesting and the reviews have been fabulous.

A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn
Veronica Speedwell #3
January 16

My thoughts: Possibly my favorite ongoing series! If you like historical mysteries and spunky female protagonists, I highly recommend getting acquainted with Veronica Speedwell, butterfly enthusiast and amateur sleuth.

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown
Red Rising #4
January 16

My thoughts: The first book in this sci-fi series set on Mars, Red Rising, is probably my most-recommended book. And everyone I've suggested it to has liked it. I *hangs head* have still not read book 3, Morning Star, but I WILL -- and then I'll avoid the excruciating wait for the next book!

Still Me by Jojo Moyes
Me Before You #3
January 30

My thoughts: I didn't really think Me Before You needed any sequels, and while After You was ok it was nowhere near as good as the original. But I like Lou and I enjoy Jojo Moyes' writing, so I'll give her next adventure (in New York!) a try.

Force of Nature by Jane Harper
Aaron Falk #2
February 6

My thoughts: The Dry -- possibly the most-hyped mystery of 2017 -- was the best recently released book in the genre I'd read in a while. And I especially enjoyed that the series is set in Australia! I'm looking forward to rejoining Detective Falk for a new mystery.

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence
The Ancestor #2
April 3

My thoughts: The first book in this fantasy series, Red Sister, was one of my top reads in 2017. If you like fantasy, READ IT!

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
Wayfarers #3
July 24

My thoughts: I recently read and looooved the fun and engrossing sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and I'm going to read the second Wayfarers book, A Closed and Common Orbit, in the next couple months. Then I'll be all ready for book 3!

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
Winternight Trilogy #3
August 14

My thoughts: I enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale and I just finished the second book, The Girl in the Tower. It took me some time to get into it, partly, I think, because it'd been over a year since I read the first book. So I'm glad to see the series conclusion is only 8 months away rather than a whole year!

The Book Releases I'm Most Looking Forward To Oct. to Dec. 2017

It's so hard to believe we're already halfway done with the final quarter of the year; 2017 has positively flown by for me. I feel like it was just Christmas, and here we are less than two months away from Christmas all over again! All this is to say, I intended to publish this post back toward the beginning of October, before all these books were released, but oh well: better late than never, right?!

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty: Doughty's first book, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," about her time working in the funeral industry, was fascinating and morbid and has stuck with me more than most books do. It was really thought-provoking -- why are we as a society so distanced from death? what do I want to happen to my body after I die? -- and I'm excited to read her new book, which takes the topic even further.

Origin by Dan Brown: I've already blazed through this newest Robert Langdon installment! It was a typical Dan Brown book, but I'll tell ya -- I could not put it down!

American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West by Nate Blakeslee: I'm trying to read more non-fiction and this one, which tells the story of a particular wolf in Yellowstone, sounds really interesting!

Strange Weather by Joe Hill: I've read most of Joe Hills books, and the ones I haven't I'll get to eventually. I don't often read short fiction, but I'm planning to try this compilation, which includes four horror novellas.

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King: Ok, so this technically came out at the tail-end of September, but we might as well include the whole King family here (in case you didn't know, Joe Hill is Stephen King's son too). This book is super-long, but the plot (about a disease/curse/thingie that only affects women) has me totally intrigued!

The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan: I'm in a total fantasy mood right now and the premise of this one, the first in a new series, sounds really good! It's pretty complex, but it has to do with some badass magical women fighting off a "superstitious patriarchy...bent on world domination."

Artemis by Andy Weir: I loved "The Martian" and I've been looking forward to Weir's second novel since the day it was announced! I'm excited that it's more of a traditional sci-fi story -- it's set on the moon -- and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

The Revolution of Marina M. by Janet Fitch: I'm having a moment where I'm really interested in books set in Russia, and this chunkster promises to a captivating epic historical fiction story.

City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty: This is the first book in a new fantasy series set in 1700s Cairo that features a spunky-sounding protagonist and a djinn. I'm not quite sure if it's supposed to be adult or YA (I usually avoid YA) but I'm definitely going to give it a try!

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden: I enjoyed "The Bear and the Nightingale," a historical fantasy derived from Russian folktales, and I'm excited to dive into book 2!

2017 Releases I REALLY Want To Read By The End of the Year

I've read quite a few new releases in 2017 and, unfortunately, a good chunk up them wound of being disappointments. Despite that, there are several more 2017 books that I really want to make an effort to read before the year comes to a close (and preferably before the Goodreads Choice Awards -- I love voting for those!), though there's no way I'll get to them all.

I only included books published before October on my list because I'm putting together a different post featuring October-December releases I'm excited about. Have you read any of these books? Some, like "The Hate U Give," were ubiquitous this year, while others, like "Home Fire," were a little less hyped. I'm looking forward to all of them -- fingers crossed for some 5-star reads in the bunch!

10 Novels That Feature Smart Women

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is a freebie of sorts -- 10 characters who X. I had initially planned to list characters who like science, but that morphed into a list of smart female characters -- many of whom happen to be good at science. Math and science were not my favorite subjects in school (not surprisingly, given that I have a book blog and work at a library, I always gravitated toward English and history) but I'm in awe of people who are very good at those things, so that's mostly the kind of "smart" that's here on my list.

I threw this post together rather hastily and I'm sure I've left some brilliant fictional ladies off my list, but I can say I've read and enjoyed all of these books. Do you have any recommendations for me that feature smart women?

1. The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church: This beautiful book is about an ornithologist whose career aspirations are wrecked when she follows her husband to Los Alamos, New Mexico, for his work on the atom bomb.

2. To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey: One of my favorite books last year, "To the Bright Edge" is an epistolary novel set in the late 1800s about a man on an Alaskan expedition and his wife, who stays behind in Washington state and has adventures of her own.

3. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King: Oxford student Mary Russell is at least as smart as her mentor, Sherlock Holmes.

4. A Discovery of Witches: Before she gets wrapped up in a world of witches, vampires and daemons, Diana is a brilliant academic.

5. My Last Continent by Midge Raymond: Scientist Deb spends several months each year in Antarctica studying penguins.

6. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Nuevel: Protagonist Rose is a physicist at the top of her field in this first installment of a series about ancient aliens.

7. The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict: Was Albert Einstein's wife just as smart as he was? In her based-in-fact novel, Benedict asserts that Mileva was a genius mathematician in her own right.

8. A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn: Good ol' Veronica Speedwell is a naturalist as well as an amateur sleuth. (I kept my phone by me the whole time I was reading this so I could Google all the butterflies mentioned!)

9. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Claire is a nurse, and later a doctor, and she manages to use her medical knowledge to her benefit many times over in 1700s Scotland.

10. Circling the Sun by Paula McLain: Beryl Markham, the protagonist of this based-in-fact novel, was a fascinating woman wholly ahead of her time -- and she was also the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

Bonus: Non-Fiction

11. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren: Hope is a brilliant scientist who studies botany, among other things, and I thoroughly enjoyed her memoir!

12. American Eclipse: The Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World" by David Baron: I'm reading this book right now and one of the main characters is Maria Mitchell, the first professional female astronomer is the U.S. (and also a professor at Vassar).

My Fall 2017 To-Read List

It's nearly the official first day of autumn! This will be my second fall back in Hawaii, and man, do I ever miss my favorite season! Please enjoy crisp air, crunchy leaves, stunningly colorful foliage, apple cider, sweaters and sitting by the fireplace for me! We'll have one more fall to spend in Hawaii after this one, and while there will definitely be things I miss about living here, I'm crossing my fingers that we head someplace with seasons!

I really cannot believe it's nearly October (my favorite month of the year, by the way). Time has just flown, and now we only have a few months left to cram as many books as we can into 2017! As I've said, it's been a kinda mediocre reading year for me, and I'd love to finish it off on a high note. So tell me, what's the single best book you've read so far this year? And your favorite 2017 release?

I've got a pretty ambitious fall to-read list, and I know I won't get to all of these books. I didn't even read half the books I talked about in my summer to-read post. But I'm gonna give it my best shot -- and hopefully some of these will blow me away! What are you excited to read this fall? (I'm linking up with The Broke and the Bookish to share my list for Top Ten Tuesday.)

1. Quiet Until the Thaw by Alexandra Fuller: This novel has to do with the Sioux Nation, and it sounds a little intense. It also has very mixed reviews, so we shall see! It has the least priority among my current library books, and I won't be totally heartbroken if I have to return it unread.

2. Himself by Jess Kidd: "Himself" is a mystery set in Ireland and I've been looking forward to it for months! My library finally got it in and I'm so excited to dive in. I love books set in Ireland.

3. The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne: I've pretty much given up on the thriller genre, but I'm going to give this one a try. It seems to have tinges of one of my favorite 2016 books, "The Wolf Road" by Beth Lewis.

4. American Eclipse: A Nations's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron: I meant to read this non-fiction book around the time of the eclipse, which has come and gone. Oops.

5. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan: I stumbled across this book while browsing online and the cover caught my eye, then I saw it has really good reviews!

6. Artemis by Andy Weir: The second book by the author of "The Martian," which I loved, and it's set on the moon! I can't wait for this one!

7. From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty: I loved the morbid and educational and thoughtful "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," Doughty's memoir about working in the funeral industry. Her second book sounds just as interesting!

8. Strange Weather by Joe Hill: I've read all but one of Joe Hill's books and, though I don't normally like short stories, I'm going to give Hill's a shot!

9. Origin by Dan Brown: For some reason, book bloggers seem to look down on poor Dan Brown, but I enjoy his Robert Langdon page-turners!

10. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz: This seems like the perfect book for October!

11. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: I really liked "Maybe in Another Life" and I want to read all of Taylor Jenkins Reid's work! This is her newest release and has to do with a classic film actress -- different from her other stuff, but I'm intrigued.

12. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie: That cover totally sucked me in! The plot sounds good too, so I asked my boss at work to order it for the library.

13. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman: This is a 2017 release everyone seems to love, so of course I have to jump on the bandwagon!

14. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie: This is a carryover from my summer to-read list. Another book that should be a perfect fall read, and then I can go see the movie.

15. The Blinds by Adam Sternbergh: This book has a hideous cover and a kinda weird-sounding plot, but I saw several people raving about it online so I decided I want to give it a shot.

15 Intriguing September 2017 Book Releases

It's almost fall -- a great time for new books each year! Often when I put together these monthly lists not many of the books are on my absolutely-positively-must-read list, but several of these are! I will most definitely be reading "The Salt Line," "Little Fires Everywhere," "Origin," "Dear Fahrenheit 451," "The Last Castle" and "Sleeping Beauties" and I would love to get to all the others too!

What September releases are you looking forward to?

(All blurbs adapted from Goodreads.)

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward: Ward gives us an epochal story, a journey through Mississippi's past and present that is both an intimate portrait of a family and an epic tale of hope and struggle. Jojo and his toddler sister, Kayla, live with their grandparents, Mam and Pop, and the occasional presence of their drug-addicted mother, Leonie, on a farm on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Leonie is simultaneously tormented and comforted by visions of her dead brother, which only come to her when she's high; Mam is dying of cancer; and quiet, steady Pop tries to run the household and teach Jojo how to be a man. When the white father of Leonie's children is released from prison, she packs her kids and a friend into her car and sets out across the state for Parchman farm, the Mississippi State Penitentiary, on a journey rife with danger and promise. "Sing, Unburied, Sing" grapples with the ugly truths at the heart of the American story and the power, and limitations, of the bonds of family.

The World of Tomorrow by Brendan Matthews: June 1939. Francis Dempsey and his shell-shocked brother Michael are on an ocean liner from Ireland bound for their brother Martin's home in New York City, having stolen a small fortune from the IRA. During the week that follows, the lives of these three brothers collide spectacularly with big-band jazz musicians, a talented but fragile heiress, a Jewish street photographer facing a return to Nazi-occupied Prague, a vengeful mob boss, and the ghosts of their own family's revolutionary past. From the smoky jazz joints of Harlem to the Plaza Hotel, from the garrets of artists in the Bowery to the shadowy warehouses of mobsters in Hell's Kitchen, Brendan Mathews brings prewar New York to vivid, pulsing life, while the sweeping and intricate storytelling of this remarkable debut reveals an America that blithely hoped it could avoid another catastrophic war and focus instead on the promise of the World's Fair: a peaceful, prosperous World of Tomorrow.  

The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones: In an unspecified future, the United States' borders have receded behind a salt line--a ring of scorched earth that protects its citizens from deadly disease-carrying ticks. Those within the zone live safe, if limited, lives in a society controlled by a common fear. Few have any reason to venture out of zone, except for the adrenaline junkies who pay a fortune to tour what's left of nature. Those among the latest expedition include a popstar and his girlfriend, Edie; the tech giant Wes; and Marta; a seemingly simple housewife. Once out of zone, the group find themselves at the mercy of deadly ticks -- and at the center of a murderous plot. They become captives in Ruby City, a community made up of outer-zone survivors determined to protect their hardscrabble existence. As alliances and friendships shift amongst the hostages, Edie, Wes, and Marta must decide how far they are willing to go to get to the right side of the salt line.

Sourdough by Robin Sloan: Lois Clary is a software engineer at General Dexterity, a San Francisco robotics company with world-changing ambitions. She codes all day and collapses at night, her human contact limited to the two brothers who run the neighborhood hole-in-the-wall from which she orders dinner every evening. Then, disaster! Visa issues. The brothers close up shop, and fast. But they have one last delivery for Lois: their culture, the sourdough starter used to bake their bread. She must keep it alive, they tell her—feed it daily, play it music, and learn to bake with it. Lois is no baker, but she could use a roommate, even if it is a needy colony of microorganisms. Soon, not only is she eating her own homemade bread, she’s providing loaves daily to the General Dexterity cafeteria. The company chef urges her to take her product to the farmer’s market, and a whole new world opens up. When Lois comes before the jury that decides who sells what at Bay Area markets, she encounters a close-knit club with no appetite for new members. But then, an alternative emerges: a secret market that aims to fuse food and technology. But who are these people, exactly?

We Were Strangers Once by Betsy Carter: For readers of "The Nightingale" and "Brooklyn," an exquisitely moving novel about friendship, love, and redemption in a circle of immigrants who flee Europe for 1930s-era New York City. On the eve of World War II Egon Schneider--a gallant and successful Jewish doctor, son of two world-famous naturalists--escapes Germany to an uncertain future across the sea. Settling into the unfamiliar rhythms of upper Manhattan, he finds solace among a tight-knit group of fellow immigrants, tenacious men and women drawn together as much by their differences as by their memories of the world they left behind. They each suffer degradations and triumphs large and small. But their spirits remain unbroken, and when their little community is faced with an existential threat, these strangers rise up together in hopes of creating a permanent home.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford: A powerful novel, inspired by a true story, about a boy whose life is transformed at Seattle's epic 1909 World's Fair. For twelve-year-old Ernest Young, a charity student at a boarding school, the chance to go to the World's Fair feels like a gift. But only once he's there does he discover that he is the one who is actually the prize. The half-Chinese orphan is astounded to learn he will be raffled off -- a healthy boy "to a good home." The winning ticket belongs to the flamboyant madam of a high-class brothel, famous for educating her girls. There, Ernest becomes the new houseboy and befriends Maisie, the madam's precocious daughter, and a bold scullery maid named Fahn. Their friendship and affection form the first real family Ernest has ever known -- and against all odds, this new sporting life gives him the sense of home he's always desired. But as the grande dame succumbs to an occupational hazard and their world of finery begins to crumble, all three must grapple with hope, ambition, and first love. Fifty years later, in the shadow of Seattle's second World's Fair, Ernest struggles to help his ailing wife reconcile who she once was with who she wanted to be, while trying to keep family secrets hidden from their grown-up daughters.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned -- from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren -- an enigmatic artist and single mother -- who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community. When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town -- and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides. Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia's past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs.

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz: "Autonomous" features a rakish female pharmaceutical pirate named Jack who traverses the world in her own submarine. A notorious anti-patent scientist who has styled herself as a Robin Hood heroine fighting to bring cheap drugs to the poor, Jack’s latest drug is leaving a trail of lethal overdoses across what used to be North America -- a drug that compels people to become addicted to their work. On Jack’s trail are an unlikely pair: an emotionally shut-down military agent and his partner, Paladin, a young military robot, who fall in love against all expectations. Autonomous alternates between the activities of Jack and her co-conspirators, and Joe and Paladin, as they all race to stop a bizarre drug epidemic that is tearing apart lives, causing trains to crash, and flooding New York City.

The Man From the Train by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James: Using unprecedented, dramatically compelling sleuthing techniques, legendary statistician and baseball writer Bill James applies his analytical acumen to crack an unsolved century-old mystery surrounding one of the deadliest serial killers in American history. Riveting and immersive, with writing as sharp as the cold side of an axe, "The Man from the Train" paints a vivid, psychologically perceptive portrait of America at the dawn of the twentieth century, when crime was regarded as a local problem, and opportunistic private detectives exploited a dysfunctional judicial system. James shows how these cultural factors enabled such an unspeakable series of crimes to occur, and his groundbreaking approach to true crime will convince skeptics, amaze aficionados, and change the way we view criminal history.

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King: In this spectacular father-son collaboration, Stephen King and Owen King tell the highest of high-stakes stories: what might happen if women disappeared from the world of men? In a future so real and near it might be now, something happens when women go to sleep; they become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. If they are awakened, if the gauze wrapping their bodies is disturbed or violated, the women become feral and spectacularly violent; and while they sleep they go to another place. The men of our world are abandoned, left to their increasingly primal devices. One woman, however, the mysterious Evie, is immune to the blessing or curse of the sleeping disease. Is Evie a medical anomaly to be studied, or is she a demon who must be slain?

Queens of the Conquest: England’s Medieval Queens by Alison Weir: The story of England’s medieval queens is vivid and stirring, packed with tragedy, high drama and even comedy. It is a chronicle of love, murder, war and betrayal, filled with passion, intrigue and sorrow, peopled by a cast of heroines, villains, stateswomen and lovers. In the first volume of this epic new series, Alison Weir strips away centuries of romantic mythology and prejudice to reveal the lives of England’s queens in the century after the Norman Conquest. Much more than a series of individual biographies, "Queens of the Conquest" is a seamless tale of interconnected lives and a rich portrait of English history in a time of flux. In Alison Weir’s hands these five extraordinary women reclaim their rightful roles at the centre of English history.

Hanna Who Fell From the Sky by Christopher Meades: Hanna has never been outside her secluded community of Clearhaven. She has never questioned why her father has four wives or why she has fourteen brothers and sisters. And in only one week, on her eighteenth birthday, Hanna will follow tradition and become the fifth wife of a man more than twice her age. But just days before the wedding, Hanna meets Daniel, an enigmatic stranger who challenges her to question her fate and to follow her own will. Then her mother tells her a secret -- one that could grant Hanna the freedom she's known only in her dreams. As her world unravels around her, Hanna must decide whether she was really meant for something greater than the claustrophobic world of Clearhaven. But can she abandon her beloved younger sister and the only home she's ever known? Or is there another option -- one too fantastical to believe?

Dear Fahrenheit 451: A Librarian's Love Letters and Break-Up Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence: Librarians spend their lives weeding -- not weeds but books! Books that have reached the end of their shelf life, both literally and figuratively. They remove the books that patrons no longer check out. And they put back the books they treasure. Annie Spence, who has a decade of experience as a Midwestern librarian, does this not only at her Michigan library but also at home, for her neighbors, at cocktail parties -- everywhere. In "Dear Fahrenheit 451," she addresses those books directly. We read her love letters to "The Goldfinch" and "Matilda," as well as her snarky break-ups with "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Dear John." Her notes to "The Virgin Suicides" and "The Time Traveler’s Wife" feel like classics, sure to strike a powerful chord with readers. Through the lens of the books in her life, Annie comments on everything from women’s psychology to gay culture to health to poverty to childhood aspirations.

The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan: From the author of "The Girls of Atomic City" comes the fascinating true story behind the magnificent Gilded Age mansion Biltmore -- the largest, grandest residence ever built in the United States. The story of Biltmore spans World Wars, the Jazz Age, the Depression, and generations of the famous Vanderbilt family, and features a captivating cast of real-life characters including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe, Teddy Roosevelt, John Singer Sargent, James Whistler, Henry James, and Edith Wharton. The Last Castle is the unique American story of how the largest house in America flourished, faltered, and ultimately endured to this day.

An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard: In New York City, magic controls everything. But the power of magic is fading. No one knows what is happening, except for Sydney -- a new, rare magician with incredible power that has been unmatched in decades, and she may be the only person who is able to stop the darkness that is weakening the magic. But Sydney doesn’t want to help the system, she wants to destroy it. Sydney comes from the House of Shadows, which controls the magic with the help of sacrifices from magicians.