Skip to main content

My Books of the Year 2015

Welcome to Tishylou's Books of the Year 2015!


Well, can you believe it's that time of year again?? Christmas is fast approaching and with it, another New Year! I can't quite believe how quickly time has flown by...

I've read some absolutely amazing books these past 12 months, though sadly haven't been able to blog about them nearly as much as I would have liked.

I've decided to do things a little differently this year. I have chosen my favourite books in a few categories and then I will list my Top Reads of the Year in no particular order, then tell you my Book of the Year. I have also decided to include Audiobooks as this is something I have begun listening to and reviewing. So without further adieu.....

NEW AUTHOR DISCOVERY - There are two authors who I have found this year and am totally hooked on both of their works now.

Jenny Hale (Bookouture) - I kind of randomly picked Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses from my Kindle Christmas list. I was hooked from the first chapter. What a magical storyteller! Jenny has such a knack for describing her settings and making you feel completely ensconced in the story. I then read her other 2 festive titles (Coming Home for Christmas and A Christmas to Remember) and fell even more in love with this author!

Amanda Prowse (Head of Zeus) - Will You Remember Me kept popping up on my radar and for some reason, I picked it one day. I pretty much started sobbing from the word go. It wasn't all doom and gloom, it was beautiful, heart wrenching, sad, sweet, funny but most of all, it was real. It made me thing, it made me feel and it made me want to devour every word Amanda has written.

MOST ANTICIPATED SERIES -  This is the series I am most looking forward to reading.

The Book Lovers by Victoria Connelly. I don't know what to say really, about this series. How can you not love a series with this title? Mind you, in my eyes, Victoria can do no wrong anyways, so it's bound to be great. Having read the first book, I can't wait for more! Great characters in a fabulous setting and lots of book talk!!

FAVOURITE FESTIVE BOOK - I have read several Christmas books so far (and loved them all!) but one in particular stuck with me and will be read time and time again.

Every Time A Bell Rings by Carmel Harrington. There was something so magical about this book. Based on It's A Wonderful Life, this is a haunting, beautiful, hope filled story of Belle and Jim and the troubled childhoods they both wish they could move past. If you read one Christmas book, make it this one!

FAVOURITE YA BOOK - There were so many awesome books for teens this year, it was so hard to choose one!

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella - I chose this book because I really connected with the main character, Audrey. She has severe anxiety issues and is socially awkward. If I had read this book when I was 15, the world would have much so much more sense. Even now, as a 38 year old, Audrey was someone I identified with. I understood her struggles, her fears. She is real and I wanted to protect her. Highly recommend this to anyone who suffers from anxiety or any teen who just doesn't feel like they belong.

FAVOURITE (AND MOST ANTICIPATED!) SEQUEL - There was one book I have been waiting for (feels like ages!) and it finally arrived on my kindle in August. I did a happy dance!

Sole Sisters by Brooklyn James - Continuing the story of the LeBeau sisters, this book is told from the point of view of Kat (KitKat). It's raw, emotional, funny, intense and pretty sexy. I loved it and still want more from these girls (and Miah!). A perfect sequel in my opinion.

FAVOURITE DEBUT - There were many debut novels out this year and some were absolutely brilliant!

Five Go Glamping by Liz Tipping - This book was laugh out loud funny, sweet, quirky and just so, so fun! It intrigued me at first because of the idea of Glamping (and me living on a bus) but I was quickly laughing along to the antics of Fiona and her friends. Refreshing and different, this is a brilliant first novel from a lovely lady!

FAVOURITE AUDIOBOOKS - I have chose 2 very different stories here but both were fantastic!

The Secret of You by Victoria Connelly (read by Jan Cramer). This was just lovely and charming. I particularly loved the character of Meg!

Revival by Stephen King (read by David Morse). This was the first Stephen King book I listened to and it drew me straight back into the world of this genius! Creepy, intriguing and captivating!

And here we are, my Top Reads of 2015

 
Summer Secrets by Jane Green
A Parcel for Anna Browne by Miranda Dickinson
Saving Grace by Jane Green
What Milo Say by Virginia MacGregor
Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Café by Milly Johnson
The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson
 
 
and my BOOK OF THE YEAR 2015 is.....

 

THE GIRLS BY LISA JEWELL

 
There are reviews of all my Top Reads on my blog if you want to know why I chose them...
 

Thanks for joining me for my end of year wrap up! Thanks for all the amazing books and for all the support this past year. You're all amazing! I hope you have the very best Christmas ever!!
 











Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blog Tour Stop with Review - The Missing Girls by Carol Wyer

  Welcome to my stop on the Blog blitz for the fabulous third Instalment in the DI Robyn Carter series! What They Say: One girl found dead. Another girl gone... Long shadows danced on the tin walls. Inside the trunk lay Carrie Miller, wrapped in plastic, arms folded across her ribcage, lips sealed tight forever... When a girl’s body is found at a Midlands storage unit, it is too decomposed for Detective Robyn Carter to read the signs left by the killer. No one knows the woman in blue who rented the unit; her hire van can’t be traced. But as the leads run dry another body is uncovered. This time the killer’s distinctive mark is plain to see, and matching scratches on the first victim’s skeleton make Robyn suspect she’s searching for a serial-killer.  As Robyn closes in on the killer’s shocking hunting ground, another girl goes missing, and this time it’s someone close to her own heart.  Robyn can’t lose another loved one. Can she find the sickest individual she has ever faced,
1 comment
Read more

My Review of Another Love by Amanda Prowse

Description ; "In the early years, she was happy. Romilly had worked hard for her stunning, modern house in one of Bristol's most fashionable suburbs. She adored her gorgeous, gap-toothed daughter and her kind and handsome husband. Sure, life was sometimes exhausting - but nothing that a large glass of wine at the end of the day couldn't fix. But then, as deep-buried insecurities surfaced, everything started to unravel. A glass of wine became a bottle; one bottle became two. Once, Romilly's family were everything to her. Now, after years of hiding the drinking, she must finally admit that she has found another love..." What I Say: I hadn't planned on posting my review of Another Love by Amanda Prowse yet as the book isn't out until (I believe) 16th January. However, I posted a brief review on Goodreads and Amanda has been sharing it on other social media so I thought she wouldn't mind. Another Love is a stunning, emotionally intense story of a wo
Post a Comment
Read more

2015 in Review

I actually can't believe we're at the end of another year. 2015 has been full of highs and lows, happiness and sadness. There have been some amazing moments and times I wish I could erase, but at the end of the day, these moments are what make me Me. I have reconnected with one of my best friends this year. We have known each other since I moved here but we kind of drifted apart for a couple of years. But this year, she's been through a lot of changes and they have brought her back to my life and I couldn't be happier. She's my fellow book worm, junk food/crap tv loving Lady and I'm so glad she's back! YOLO bus has evolved more and has become a lovely, cosy home for us. There's still work to do (floor and windows mainly) but I love it and the possibilities it has opened up for us. We are far more relaxed and settled now and have much more freedom to spend time doing the things we love. 2015 has also brought me some of the best books I have ever rea
Post a Comment
Read more