Book favoritism: Looking back on 2017

I love the ticking over of a new year as a chance to reflect and plan. Looking back on 2017, I have had a great reading journey. This is reflected in my high average rating of books: 3.9 according to Goodreads! Not bad at all! I revisited some of my favourite authors (Sharon Bolton, Jane Casey, Ruth Ware, Michael Robotham, Mary Kubica and Jane Harper to name a few) and discovered quite a lot of new ones I will keep looking out for.

Some of my all-time favourites last year were discovered through the supportive bookish communities on Goodreads and Instagram – thank you to all who pointed me in the direction of some fantastic reads! I love interacting with other readers on social media, and spend way too much time online browsing. Despite this, I still managed to surpass my 2017 reading challenge by 23 books, with 123 read in total.

It is never easy to choose favourites, but there were a few books that stood out from the rest, and I cannot help myself but sing their praise here. And perhaps you will find your next favourite read amongst the list!

 Favourite book (male author): The Scandal (or “Beartown”) by Fredrik Backman

 Favourite book (female author): You Be Mother by Meg Mason

 Favourite book in a series: Force of Nature by Jane Harper

 Favourite debut novel: 99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter

 Favourite dystopian novel: Bird Box by Josh Malerman

 Favourite historical novel: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Laneby Lisa See

 Favourite psychological thriller: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

  Favourite Scandinavian noir: Dark Pines by Will Dean; and Watching You by Arne Dahl

 Favourite family drama: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

 Favourite first book in a new series (can’t wait to read the next one): The Child Finder by Rene’s Denfeld

 Best bookclub book: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

 Most interesting / unusual protagonist general fiction: EleanorOliphant is completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

 Most interesting / unusual protagonist mystery / suspense: Eyes Like Mine by Sheena Kamal

 Best audiobook (and one I still can’t get out of my head): OurEndless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller

 Most anticipated read that lived up to all expectations: Dead Woman Walking by Sharon Bolton

 Most creative narration / format: The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter (which contained a book within a book)

 Favourite from my older TBR pile: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

I also established my bookstagram account early in 2017, and have been having great fun with my bookish photos, featuring nature at its best in the beautiful Great Southern region. I hate to admit this, but at times the idea for a bookstagram image was a great motivator to get me out hiking in winter. So I also have to include my personal favourite bookstagram photo in this post – which contains my favourite book cover of 2017 – doesn’t that eye look so creepy!

Reflecting on my reading goals for 2018 – to be honest, I don’t have much of a plan, preferring to be taken on a surprise journey. Some of my all-time favourite books have come out of left field, surprising me by appearing just as I needed them most. The only thing I want to try is to expand my armchair travel map by a few more countries – but I will explain this in another post. For now, I am loving the clean slate 2018 is presenting. Inviting new and wonderful books into my life, and welcoming suggestions.

Thank you for being part of my reading journey!