Here are my top reads of 2017. They aren’t necessarily books that were released in 2017, but of all the books I did read in 2017, these were my top picks.
7.) Whisper and the Roars by K Webster (Erotic Dark Romance)
Sometimes while scrolling through social media, a book will just appear that makes you want to click on it. I don’t remember where I saw this book, or why the person posted it, but what I do remember is reading the description.
***THIS STANDALONE IS BEST ENJOYED WHEN YOU DON’T READ ANY REVIEWS OR SPOILERS BEFORE READING. GOING IN BLIND IS BEST. TRUST ME.***
I couldn’t resist. For some reason that description taunted me.
I had to read it. So I did.
Whispers and the Roars is a strange story to say the least. Like the blurb on the back says, it is best going into the story blind. I pride myself in catching twists, and I did catch this one but it was a doozy. This story is not for everyone. It contains strong sexual elements which may be upsetting to some. But if you like surprising, and at times, confusing stories that come together satisfactorily in the end, give this one a go.
6.) Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas (YA Mystery/Thriller)
This book was marketed as a ‘YA Girl on the Train/Gone Girl’. So I’m a little surprised I bought it as both of those books, while compelling, were also rather frustrating for me to read. The same could be said about this book. But in retrospect, I think the frustration is what keeps them stuck in my mind for so long. I mull over them once I’m done, feeling duped by any hidden information, but also wanting to know if I missed anything.
Dangerous Girls is about a group of friends who on on holiday. The opening of the book starts with a transcript of a 911 call and the murder of one of the girls. We then go on to find out that the narrator has been accused of the murder. The chapters go between before and after as the details are gradually revealed.
I’ve read a few books that follow similar lines and this was the best.
5.) Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (Erotic Romance)
I came across HIM because it was by an author responsible for one of my favourite reads this year (No.2 on this list.) The fact that I had seen many authors gushing over the book helped too. Even though I had not read a M/M erotic romance before, and even though I have very little interest in hockey, I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so real, I felt like I had to have meet them.
If you want a sexy and sweet (and hot!!!), sporty romance, this is it.
4.) Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (Contemporary Literary Fiction)
Everything I never told you was Amazon’s No.1 Book for 2014 but I bought it for the cover. There was something so lonely about the woman in the water. Something I could relate to. Not that I am lonely. Far from it. But that feeling of loneliness, not the bad feeling, the feeling of being able to breath, the feeling of peace and calm, that was this book.
“Before that she hadn’t realized how fragile happiness was, how if you were careless, you could knock it over and shatter it.”
It is a story about family.
It is a story of secrets and longing.
It is beautiful and you should read it.
3.) Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil (Mystery/Thriller)
One of the things I wanted to do in 2017 was read more bestsellers. Often, I will avoid bestsellers because I find, after much hype, I am left disappointed. I’m not sure if this is the fault of the story, or if it is because of the expectations I had before reading it.
Silent Child was a best seller in 2017. And it deserves it.
It is about a missing child who returns ten years later, refusing to speak, leaving the people around him to figure out the mystery of what happened to him.
2.) The Royals by Erin Watt (YA Romance)
There was a bit of controversy over this series as it was marketed to the YA audience but many believe, due to it’s sexual nature, it shouldn’t have been. Erin Watt is a pseudonym for two erotic romance writers who got together and wrote the series. I did not know this when I started reading, and yes, I was a little surprised at some of the graphic descriptions, but it ended up being one of my favourite reads. It was sexy and fun and turbulent and filled with teenage drama. And due to the main girl hooking up with not one, but two of the brothers, it is a series I would say is most similar to my Thornton Brothers books.
From the covers, I was expecting something more along the lines of the Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. It’s not. It’s nothing like it.
Paper Princess follows Ella Harper who is left to look out herself after the death of her mother. In walks Callum Royal, her new guardian who plucks her from her life and deposits her into his own. His rich and wealthy life with four handsome and cocky sons. The following books introduce the point of view of the boys as well.
I read the whole series in a matter of days.
1.) Red Water & Beyond the Break by Kristen Mae (Dark Erotica Suspense Thriller)
Wow. This book was not what I was expecting, and for that, I adored it. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I could not stop reading.
And the ending!! Perfect.
Immediately after finishing this book, I went on to read her short story (which you get for free when you sign up to her newsletter) and again, I was left so surprised, I wanted to squeal with delight despite the dark nature of the story.
I love it when a books surprises me.
I love it when they don’t go where you expect them to.
Love it.
And after reading the short story, I went and bought her other book. This book was not like Red Water and I think I may have enjoyed it even more. Although ending and where she went with the story wasn’t quite as unexpected as with Red Water, it was the characters that got to me.
I still think of them sometimes.
So, of course, I was thrilled when I found out that a second books is in the works . . . In the meantime, I will be constantly checking for the pre–order to come out.
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So there you have it. My top reads of 2017.
If you’ve read any of these books, I’d love to know what you thought, or if you’ve got any recommendations, I’ll put them on my ‘to read’ list and see if they make my top reads of 2018.
Sabre Rose 