Hello, there bookworms. 2016 has finally bid us goodbye. A new year means new reading experience; a new world to explore and new authors to discover. But before moving along with all new things, I decided to have a look back at the books that I have read for the past year.
I read a total of 60 books, which is my Goodreads goal, for this year! I feel like I have been too ambitious with this goal. I have been on a number of slumps this year but I managed to get back on reading. However, I barely made it and at some point reading feels like a chore and not how it used to be. Because of that, I am not quite satisfied with how my reading year turns out because I didn’t read for fun. In addition to that are the tons of DNF book for this year. I always tried my best to give a book a chance but some of it just didn’t quite sit with me so I decided to stop.
But even if I have this sentiment, I have read a couple of good books and discovered new authors that I am not well aware of their existence until now. I also participated in a 2016 Reading Challenge. So before listing down my favorite book/s and author/s for 2016, I’ll do a quick wrap-up on my reading challenge first.
2016 Reading Challenge (source: modernmrsdarcy.com)
✔️ a book published this year – Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
✔️ a book you can finish in a day – The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
✔️ a book you’ve been meaning to read – A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
❌ a book recommended by your local librarian or bookseller
❌ a book you should have read in school
❌ a book chosen for you by your BFF
✔️ a book published before you were born – Animal Farm by George Orwell
✔️ a book that was banned at some point – Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
✔️ a book you previously abandoned- Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
✔️ a book you own but have never read – The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness
✔️ a book that intimidates you – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
✔️ a book you’ve read at least once – Charmed and Dangerous by Lisi Harrison
Out of 12 challenges, I managed to complete 9 of it. I still take it as a victory for my reading challenge, though.
And now for the honorary books. I decided to do this wrap-up like twirlingpages (on Instagram and YouTube) whereas she chooses books from different categories although I removed and added some awards to fit with the books that I want to talk about for this wrap-up.
BEST DEBUT NOVEL
The T
housandth Floor by Katharine McGee, this book was considered as a sci-fi book yet for me it is more than that. I have never read a book that I care about the characters as much as this book. The plot is promising but I cannot say that the plot is perfect. And it is not well-loved as much as I wanted it to be. However, the characters have grown on me and I always think of what would happen next after finishing this book which is a good thing for a debut novel and the first book in a trilogy.
BEST SERIES/TRILOGY/DUOLOGY FINALE
The Crown by Kiera Cass, I still have a love and hate relationship with The Selection Series and I have to admit that I am one of those people who raised an eyebrow when they turn the trilogy into a series. However, I think Kiera Cass revived herself in this book. I personally see the twist and turn of this book as rational compared to her other books. Yes, I felt that it was rushed in the end but in a good way, unlike The One. I almost throw that book out of my window. Plus, even though Eadelyn’s story is only two books, you can see the character development.
BEST SEQUEL
I have 
to admit that I am not a fan of the first book although I enjoyed reading it. But the second book, The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, makes me swoon for this series. I love the political aspect of this story and that sealed the deal for me. And the romance, I did not see that coming but I’m already shipping them! I just loved the development of the main character and also the idea that he is not a superhuman who can beat all the enemies. He is human and he has his ups and downs.
FAVORITE AUTHOR
Ms. Sarah Morgan. I don’t know how to express how much I love this author. It makes me sad to think that she is one of those underrated authors for Adult Contemporary. I loved every book that she wrote and I already read 6 of her books. It’s not just the cheesy romance or the bed scenes. Somehow, her story feels right. She is very good at incorporating the value of family and friendship in her every story. Each protagonist in her books has a special place in my heart because they are very relatable. I could replace every award above with all of her books, to be honest.
FAVORITE READS OF 2016
Th
eir Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, the finale for the Starbound Trilogy keeps me at the edge of my seat. I’ve been meaning to see how Amie and Meagan would wrap-up a trilogy with a different protagonist in every book but they did not disappoint. They have done it so well and it makes me crave for more about the world that they created through the pages of their book. I love every bit of it, especially the part when all the characters from the previous books met the main characters in this book. It’s just epic.
I can’t wrap things up in 2016 without including a Sarah Morgan book. Sunset in Central Park is the book that introduces me to Ms. Sarah Morgan. At first, I think I fell in love with this book because the protagonist is a bookworm. But as the story goes on, her values and the things that she believes in may not be happening to me but I felt every emotion, and I understand every principle that she believes in after building the wall around herself and her heart. There are aspects of friendship, life, family, love but most importantly is knowing who you really are.
That’s all for my 2016 Wrap-up! I’ll be posting my New Year’s Resolution soon and my December wrap-up. I hope you’re having a great day.
Till next time,
Maria ❤
A Daughter of Parchment and Paper 