Beth has given you her list and so I am here giving you mine. As with last year, I’m going to give you my top faves and my most dislikeds. I feel it is important to remember when celebrating the end of something that there were terrible parts, too.

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I read this book on my phone in two days. I loved it. I loved Cath, I loved Wren. I loved Reagan. I loved Levi. I loved Cath and Wren’s father. I loved the little bits of fan fiction that got mixed in. No, I haven’t yet gotten to Carry On but I am looking forward to it.

2. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Raise your hand if you are surprised Maggie Stiefvater is on this list! You there! In that back! You should probably read the blog more often! This is the second in the 4-book Raven cycle. There was some much needed character development in this book, which just made me love the raven boys even more. I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out in 2016!

3. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

I will definitely be reading more of Okorafor’s books in the future. This was such a neat world that she created, full of things that were beautiful and tragic. Onye, the main character, is such a badass and the supporting characters were interesting and thoughtful and lovely.

4. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

The second of Rainbow Rowell’s book on my list, it was adorable and touching. Set in a pre-2000 newspaper in Omaha, Nebraska, this novel is full of wonderful characters, awkward situations and really touching moments.

5. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

I really enjoyed Beauty Queens because Bray created a funny and ridiculous situation into which she put a bunch of interesting characters. This novel is like Lord of the Flies if it were only beauty queens on the island and if the island was actually a secret base for a company trading with a country that is under sanctions. It was interesting, funny and fun.

6. Revolution by Russell Brand

Russell Brand talks about love, spirit, the planet, and what we could all be doing to make the world a better place. That’s a terrible description because it was a really enjoyable book. Brand is his usual self (which I find funny) and he presents on a wide range of topics that were interesting and thought provoking.

7. What if? by Randall Munroe

Randall Munroe is a smart guy and he’s also hilarious. I love the concept of this book. He takes a hypothetical (often ridiculous) question and answers it with everything he knows about science (which is a lot). Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a mole of moles? Well, stop wondering and read this book.

8. Fledgling by Octavia Butler

Best vampire book ever. Social commentary, interesting characters, beautiful writing. Perfect.

9. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

We read an award winner before it was an award winner! I loved Marie Laure and Werner and their families. This was such a beautiful book.

10. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK! This book, this book, this book. I finished this book and immediately re-read The Bone Season and then came back and read this one again. (Stuff like this is why I’m perilously close to not finishing this year’s book challenge.) Paige is one of my favorite heroines. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s determined and she’s a good person trying to do good in the world. This is a spectacular book.

And, now that we’ve seen the Top, here are the bottom:

1. The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte

I can see what she was trying to do with this book but it was so poorly edited and full of unanalyzed views and positions that I couldn’t get behind it. To quote past-Kate, ” It was like reading someone’s notes or inferring a deeper meaning from a series of pinterest posts.” Ugh. It was awful.

2. Blood and Absinthe by Chloe Hart

There was nothing good about this book. Also, it made me so angry because of how it didn’t seem to know what consent is at all.

3. Adultery by Paulo Coehlo

I am Bill Nye and this book is every woman who thinks the universe is sending them messages.

That, right there, is better than this book.
4. Dark Guardian by Christine Feehan

I actually had to break out the Nopetopus for this review, that’s how much I disliked this book.

5. Live it! by Jairek Robbins

This is the book that has convinced me that next year’s This Month in Reality needs to be about something other than self help. So, good job, Jairek Robbins?