Best Books of 2016: Top Ten (Plus Two!)

So ... I'm a little embarrassed to even post this now. It's March 1. I have never been so late with my "best of" list before. I don't even have an excuse; I just kept procrastinating!

I cannot even tell you how much I've agonized over this list. I finally decided on ten fiction and two bonus nonfiction books, but I'm sure I've forgotten something wonderful! (Also note that I read these books in 2016—some were published in previous years.)

Fiction

10. The Martian by Andy Weir (my review)

If you've seen The Martian but haven't read the book, do yourself a favor and pick yourself up a copy right now. (Just be aware that there's quite a bit of strong language.) The movie is good; the book is way better.

9. I'll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones (my review)

I wish all YA romance looked like this. It's incredibly romantic, it deals with serious problems, and it never becomes inappropriate for teenagers. It's not overtly Christian (though it certainly advocates Christian morals), so I think it would appeal to teens across the board.

8. The Name I Call Myself by Beth Moran (my review)

In my review, I called The Name I Called Myself "chick lit at its best." It's funny, romantic, and engaging, all while dealing with serious topics. 

7. The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson (my review)

If there wasn't a rule about having multiple books by one author on my "best of" list, Dickerson's The Beautiful Pretender would also have made an appearance. (Yes, I know that I created the rules, but I still want to stick with them!) The Silent Songbird is loosely based on The Little Mermaid. I didn't know that when I read it, though ... I just knew I was reading a really enjoyable medieval romance!

6. Together at the Table by Hillary Manton Lodge (my review)

This third and final novel in the Two Blue Doors series is, in my opinion, the best. It turned out to be nothing like I expected but so rich and rewarding. And it also contains amazing recipes, one of which I very successfully adapted to be gluten and dairy free.

5. Intermission by Serena Chase (my review)

Intermission is the type of YA romance I would gladly give to any girl I know. It's very romantic without being sensual, and it has a strong focus on following Christ, even what that's difficult. Plus, it takes place in the world of musical theater!

4. Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin (my review)

Is it any surprise that a Sarah Sundin novel ended up on this list? It's only happened each year since I started making these lists :-) Anchor in the Storm is Arch and Lillian's story, and it's so sweet and romantic ... while also featuring danger and mystery. If you like WWII fiction, you can't do better than a Sarah Sundin novel.

3. The Thirteenth Chance by Amy Matayo (my review)

Featuring one of the quirkiest heroines I can remember and a bad boy baseball player (the type of guy I'd usually root against) The Thirteenth Chance is a delight from beginning to end. It's romantic comedy at its best. I read it before I went crazy for the Cubs and Pitch—when I thought baseball was the most boring sport on the planet—imagine how much more I'd love it if I read it again now! 

2. Her One and Only by Becky Wade (my review)

Her One and Only is the final book in Becky Wade's Porter Family series, and it's my second favorite of them all ... because it would be pretty difficult to unseat Meant to Be Mine as my favorite Wade novel. Her One and Only differs from the other Porter Family books in that it's romantic suspense, and it's suspense done well. It's a fabulous conclusion to the series!

1. Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart (my review)

When this book arrived on my doorstep last summer, I never would have imagined it would make my top ten, let alone be my favorite book of the year! Yet, here we are. Like a River from Its Course is so thought-provoking, so engaging, and—though it's set during World War II—so timely. It's not an easy read, but it's an important one.

Nonfiction

She Reads Truth by Raechel Myers & Amanda Bible Williams (my review)

I filled this book with highlighting, underlining, and notes ... and I virtually never write in my books! She Reads Truth is so thought-provoking and timely, and it's applicable to all Christian women.

Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs (my review)

I loved this book for two reasons. 1.) I'm convinced that Annie and I were the same person in high school, and 2.) The practice of finding lovely is so beneficial! My sisters and I went to Annie's Looking for Lovely weekend in Nashville in July, and it was so fun to experience some of the places Annie talks about in the book!

There you have it...my incredibly belated list! Have you read any of these books? What did you think? I'd love to know!

See my lists from 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”