The 17 Best Books I've Read in the Past Year (Happy 17th Birthday to Me!)

       ♬ You are the Dancing Queen,
       Young and sweet, only seventeen. ♬
       Happy birthday to me! I love birthdays because they're a time to celebrate yourself and celebrate life in general. So, I thought I would celebrate this year's big day with you guys, my lovely readers. I wouldn't be here today without you guys; thank you! Now, let the celebration begin as I share the top 17 books that I've read in the last year.* Click the purple titles to check out my full reviews.

*The titles included dates—those are the dates that I read the books, and not the release date. :)

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​WINTER (MAY 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       I started off this past year with the conclusion of The Lunar Chronicles, which is one of my all-time favorite series. There's no review for this guy since it was the last book in a series, BUT you can check out my review for the first book, Cinder, if you haven't read any of these books yet. They're science fiction books set in a futuristic society that is capable of creating cyborgs and colonizing the moon, but there's something for everyone in them. Each book has so many layers and is a fairy tale retelling, but also has lots of romance, laugh-out-loud moments, and wicked fast action. 

Cinder Review

WIRES AND NERVE (JUNE 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       I just couldn't leave out the graphic novel companion series to the Lunar Chronicles. It just so happens that I devoured it right after I finished Winter and it may or may not have left me in a post series reading slump (that's how much I loved this series). These graphic novels were so good because the star of the show was Iko, who I LOVED in the original series. Her humor and lovable personality were what made this book. 

​CLOCKWORK ANGEL (JUNE 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       This past summer I decided to (mostly) catch up on all the Shadowhunter novels, and they were all SO AMAZING. It was so hard to pick just one to feature in this post, but I decided on The Infernal Devices since I read all three of those books in a month. Getting to transport myself to Victorian England and getting to take the Shadowhunter realm with me made for a spectacular story. Now that I've finished both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, this

summer I can dedicate my time to reading The Dark Artifices.
       I reviewed all three TID books, so be sure to check them all out!

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Princess

NIMONA (JUNE 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       Nimona is the first real graphic novel that I've read (not counting Wires and Nerve since its a companion to a series), and it was AMAZING. If you didn't know already, I love art and design as well as reading and literature, so seeing those things combine into an action-packed, laugh-out-loud, heart-warming story. The characters were dynamic, and their interactions throughout the story were what made it great. This book made me want to read more graphic novels in the future!

​LOVE AND FIRST SIGHT (JULY 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​      I LOVE Josh Sundquist, so when I found out that he was coming out with a novel, I jumped at the chance to read it. His debut memoir, We Should Hang Out Sometime, is my all-time favorite nonfiction novel, and this fictional story was just as good. His sense of humor is similar to my own, which adds a lot of personal enjoyment for me. There's something about the way he tells a story that just clicks with me, and that's something I'm always looking for in a book.

WONDER (JULY 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       I picked up this book in the summer so I could watch the movie, and I am so glad that I did. This book had everything: it made me laugh, it made me cry, and it had a superb message. I finished it one afternoon because I couldn't put it down. It's great for all ages, but it would be a great read for any middle schoolers in your life. The story will have a lasting impression on all who read it and will make you want a friend like Auggie.

​AMY AND ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR (JULY 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       Summer road trip books are my favorite stories to read over vacation. They give off those chill summer vibes and subdue my summer wanderlust for a little while. I love traveling, so seeing that dream mirrored into a contemporary YA novel was so fulfilling. Not only were the settings great, but Morgan Matson is also my favorite romance author because of her remarkable ability to write characters and their interactions.

EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE (SEPTEMBER 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       This book is what I like to call a "bucket list" book. A character is told to complete a list of actions outside of their comfort zone by someone who has disappeared or has died (See: Since You've Been Gone, by Morgan Matson). These stories are always a ton of fun and make for a great summer read. I think that seeing characters do these things outside of their comfort zone gives me some satisfaction because a lot of the tasks they do are things that I would love to try. 

​SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY (SEPTEMBER 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       I <3 Anna Kendrick, so naturally, I had to give her book a read, and I am so glad I did. She goes into detail on what it's like to live as a child actor, an up-and-coming star in Hollywood, and as a big-time celebrity. (Spoiler alert: it isn't as glamorous as it sounds.) Her writing style is just as funny as her personality. The story she told was both entertaining and eye-opening at the same time.

​WARCROSS (SEPTEMBER 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       If you weren't already aware, video game and virtual reality books are my favorite genre, hands down. Combine the beloved topic with Marie Lu's writing is sure to equal an out of this world novel. My expectations were majorly high for this book, but even those were surpassed. (It also hit the cover jackpot, so it has everything going for it.)

​CARAVAL (OCTOBER 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       Craving a magically dark world with twists and turns around every corner? Good news: you've come to the right place. Caraval's world and the characters that live in it are unique and complex beyond imagination. Everything introduced into the story has a purpose and has multiple layers, which made for some plot twists that blew my mind.

GREGORY AND THE GRIMBOCKLE (NOVEMBER 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★☆​
​       One of the few middle-grade books I read this year was my first review copy of a book, which Gregory's author sent to me to read. I'm so glad Melanie did, because I ended up loving the story, and sharing it at Christmas with my younger cousin. It was such a cute story that is very comparable to The BFG and is excellent for all the kiddos in your life (and the adults too, of course).

​THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE (DECEMBER 2017)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       Every year around during winter break, I pick out a holiday-themed book, and Holly Chase did not disappoint. Cynthia Hand takes A Christmas Carol and retells it brilliantly. Told through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old Scrooge ghost, we as the readers discover the true meaning of Christmas.

THE CHAOS OF STANDING STILL (JANUARY 2018)

My Rating: ★★★★☆​
​       This story was another festive book, this time centered around New Year's. Ryn is stuck in the Denver International Airport due to a record-breaking blizzard on New Year's Eve. Throughout the night, she encounters some wacky characters, all while trying to cope with losing her best friend in a car accident exactly one year ago. Even though the focus of the book is pretty dark, the overall story is filled with funny dialogue and exciting side plots (Dever Airport conspiracy theories, anyone?).

​ENDGAME (JANUARY 2018)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       Endgame has a chance to go down in history as the most intelligent novel I have ever read. It sat on my TBR pile for about three years, and I wish I would've picked it up sooner. The game that the thirteen players are involved in is the core of the plot, but countless subplots weave together to form this massive storyline that would be almost impossible to recreate.

THE FANGIRL’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (FEBUARY 2018)

My Rating: ★★★★☆​
​       As a proud fangirl, I couldn't leave this book off my list. Attention: calling all geek girls—this one is for you. Sam Maggs covers everything from cons to cosplay to fandoms and everything in between. If you're a newbie to the fan community, or you've been here since the dark ages, I can assure you that you will learn something nerdy or find a new fandom to indulge in by reading this fabulous handbook.

I’ll Give You the Sun (Febuary 2018)

My Rating: ★★★★★​
​       I'll Give You the Sun gets the award for my newest favorite with its art background and great LGBT storyline. This story is told in dual perspectives of twins, but each twin is telling their story three years apart. Not only are the siblings' stories similar in the different times, but Jandy Nelson interweaves information and characters through each of their lives in a very sophisticated way.

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       Whew, that was quite a list. Thank you for celebrating with me, and I hope you've found some great books to read in the future!

Your birthday girl,
Ashton

'Seventeen, eh!' said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred.
'Six years to the day we met, Harry, d’yeh remember it?'
'Vaguely,' said Harry, grinning up at him. 'Didn’t you smash down the front door, give Dudley a pig’s tail, and tell me I was a wizard?'
'I forge’ the details,' Hagrid chortled.

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows