Another year, another top ten list. At some point, I’m sure I’ll get sick of making the year out of books, but not yet! If anyone witnessed the process, they’d probably have questions, though.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s just get into it. We all have actually important things to be doing, after all. As usual, this top ten list is composed of books that I read this year, regardless of their publication year. Okay, onward!

10. The Crossover

Kwame Alexander; middle grade novel in verse

A wonderful, engaging coming-of-age story about family, love, and basketball. The themes and characters are strong, and the writing is spectacular. Accessible without being too simplistic, succinct yet still impactful. It’s simply brilliant.

9. Lunar New Year Love Story

Gene Luen Yang; young adult graphic novel romance

This graphic novel combines fantastical elements with a contemporary teen romance in such a clever way. The family dynamics are nuanced, the love story is super cute, and the art style is beautiful. I love that this also focuses on the protagonist’s personal journey, and not just on romance.

8. Triple Sec

TJ Alexander; contemporary romance

This adult romance, while quite spicy, is absolutely gorgeous in its depiction of the complexity and beauty of love. The story is funny and sweet and touching, and I adored the characters and how they grew over the course of the book. A lovely book!

7. The Tainted Cup

Robert Jackson Bennett; fantasy/mystery

An excellent opener to a new series! The setting is intriguing and expansive, the mystery is compelling, and the main characters’ dynamic is great. It was a satisfying story while also leaving me eager for more when the next book comes out.

6. A Burning in the Bones

Scott Reintgen; young adult fantasy

The conclusion to this trilogy did not disappoint! Everything from the previous two books feels like they’ve been building to this one: a heartpounding adventure that never really lets up, even though it’s from three separate perspectives. A spectacular finale!

5. Past Present Future

Rachel Lynn Solomon; contemporary young adult romance

This somewhat unexpected followup to an excellent standalone absolutely blew me away. A thoughtful examination of long distance relationships, starting college, and grappling with mental illness culminates in a truly beautiful story.

4. Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Rick Riordan; middle grade fantasy

Will the Percyverse books ever NOT delight me? Probably not. This latest installment is hilarious, filled with shenanigans but also amazing character moments. The star trio will forever have my heart, and I reveled in seeing them working as a team again. I think I’d do anything for them.

3. A Sorceress Comes to Call

T. Kingfisher; historical fantasy

An eerie yet whimsical story, I loved how this book blended folklore and high tension with banter and stellar character development. Some of Kingfisher’s signature motifs are present, and her skillful writing shines. For a slightly creepy fantasy novel, this book makes me so happy.

2. The Pairing

Casey McQuiston; contemporary romance

Speaking of making me happy, I can always count on McQuiston to deliver fabulous work. This spicy second chance romance features incredible characters, vivid settings, and palpable emotions. It’s an indulgent yet grounded tale, and I savored every page.

1. The Wayfarers series

Becky Chambers; science fiction

Yes, I’m cheating a little, because first place goes to four books. But they swept me away, and I refuse to choose between them; they’re all phenomenal. Eclectic characters in an immersive intergalactic setting, with stories that argue for kindness and understanding above all else. This series is like a quieter, contemplative Firefly for marginalized people, and I love it SO MUCH.

And that’s all she read!

So I read 149 books this year! Of those, 40 were audiobooks, which I think is a new record for me. As ever, I read a lot of fantasy, as well as a decent amount of mystery and romance. Plus, I think I had a good mix of adult, young adult, and middle grade.

Honorable mentions include: The Murder of Mr. Ma, The Resurrectionist, The Black Flamingo, Lady Macbeth, Dreadful, The Spellshop, and Lola. Maybe I should have done a top 20… oh well, too late. And I would have grown weary of trying not to repeat adjectives for that long.

Best of all, I FINALLY started the Stormlight Archive! I’m in the midst of The Way of Kings right now, which would have been my 150th book of the year, if I’d had time to finish it. I’ve read a least a normal book’s amount of pages in it, though, so shouldn’t that count?

Of course, even with all this, there are still so many books I didn’t have time to read. A few such regrets include: James by Percival Everett, Ordinary Monsters by J. M. Miro, The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (regarding the latter, I’ve owned the ARC for a truly embarrassing amount of time). Hopefully I’ll get around to them in 2025!

Thanks for reading! Happy new year!