We are officially halfway through 2015, which feels very strange! But this week’s Top Ten Tuesday asks us to reflect back on the first half of the year and list our 10 favorite reads so far. I’ve read a lot of good books this year, but there are a few that definitely stand out! So, without further ado, here are my 10 favorite books of the year so far (not counting re-reads):

1. Naomi Novik, Uprooted — This is, without a doubt, my favorite read of 2015 so far! It’s everything I want my epic fantasy to be: great characters, a compelling plot, magical writing..honestly, I felt like this book was written just for me! My review is here.

2. Mary Doria Russell, Epitaph — Despite my general lack of interest in Westerns, I really enjoyed this sequel/companion novel to Doc, which describes the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral and examines its growth into an American legend. My review is here.

3. Jandy Nelson, I’ll Give You the Sun — I wasn’t expecting to love this one as much as I did! But I was blown away by the writing style, and I ended up really enjoying this story of love (both romantic and fraternal) and redemption. My review is here.

4. Genevieve Valentine, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club — This retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” is set in the jazz clubs and speakeasies of New York in the Roaring Twenties. If the premise appeals to you, you’ll love this one! My review is here.

5. Ellie Marney, Every Breath — The tagline on the U.S. hardcover edition of this book says, “What if Sherlock Holmes was the boy next door?” And that’s really all you need to know, isn’t it? 🙂 My review is here.

6. Heather Demetrios, I’ll Meet You There — Another teen romance that I unexpectedly loved! This one is about an ambitious young woman trying to leave her tiny town behind, and a Marine who comes home from Afghanistan missing a leg. The book doesn’t shy away from darkness with these issues, but the overall message is one of hope. My review is here.

7. Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost — This novel, a sequel to Garden Spells, isn’t my favorite of Sarah Addison Allen’s books. But it’s still a lovely, light, magic-infused novel that was a pleasure to read. My review is here.

8. Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud — I have a soft spot for historical mysteries, especially those set during the Regency era, and this one is well-written and feels very authentic. The mystery was perfectly fine, but the real enjoyment for me was the period atmosphere. My review is here.

9. E.C. Bentley, Trent’s Last Case — This vintage mystery is an oldie but a goodie. Fans of the Golden Age will like this book but still be surprised by a few twists in the plot! My review is here.

10. Annie Barrows, The Truth According to Us — This novel, set in a small town in West Virginia during the Great Depression, is an excellent family saga about decades-old secrets, as well as a sensitive portrayal of a young girl’s coming-of-age. My review is here.

What are your favorite reads of the year so far? Are there any books you just want to shove into everyone’s hands? What should I add to my TBR list?

I was surprised to discover that this week marks the five-year anniversary of the Top Ten Tuesday meme! In honor of the occasion, this week’s topic is your 10 favorite Top Ten Tuesday topics so far. It was hard for me to pick just 10, and I have to give honorable mention to the seasonal TBRs, the best-of-the-year lists, and the most anticipated new releases of a given year or season. But here are 10 topics that I really enjoyed thinking about and compiling lists for, in no particular order:

1. Top Ten Favorite Authors in [Historical Fiction] Genre — There’s nothing I love more than discovering a new author, so I was happy for the opportunity to recommend some of my favorite authors in a beloved genre, in hopes of giving that thrill of discovery to someone else!

2. Top Ten Books to Get You in the Halloween Spirit — Although I’m too much of a chicken to read horror books, for some reason I still try to read seasonally appropriate things around Halloween. I love the annual Halloween TTT because it yields such a huge variety of recommendations! There’s almost always some great suggestions that even a scaredy-cat like me will enjoy!

3. Top Ten Words/Topics that Will Make Me Pick up a Book — This was one of my very favorite lists to compile, because it really made me think about what makes me tick as a reader. From spies to epistolary novels to slow-burning romance, I now know what to look for as I scan the bookstore (or my own shelves) for my next great read!

4. Top Ten Best/Worst Book-to-Movie Adaptations — I had tons of fun making this list, mostly because I felt compelled to share movie trailers for each of the films I selected. I picked five “best” and five “worst” adaptations, and I had a lot of fun reliving some of my favorite cinematic memories — not to mention ranting about some of my least favorite ones! 🙂

5. Top Ten Book Turnoffs You Encounter While Reading — As a corollary to #3, this list was helpful in thinking about what I should avoid in selecting books! It also helps to know what things trigger a knee-jerk reaction in me, so that I can include a caveat in any negative reviews; what bothers me may not bother another reader.

6. Top Ten Favorite Movies or TV Shows — I loved this topic so much, I couldn’t resist doing two separate lists, one for movies and one for TV! What can I say? I’m a binge-watcher at heart. 🙂

7. Top Ten Things You Like/Dislike about Romances in Books — As is well documented by now, I’m a sucker for a good love story, so it only makes sense that I would love this topic too!

8. Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes — Although I don’t keep a log of my favorite book quotes or anything like that, I do tend to remember sentences or passages that jump out at me. I think the list I made three years ago is still pretty accurate!

9. Top Ten Books that Came Recommended — This topic is great because so many of the books I’ve read and loved have been recommended by bookish friends and fellow bloggers! I’m so grateful to the online bookish community for giving me countless hours of joy in the form of great book recs!

10. Top Ten Favorite Love Stories — See #7. 🙂

Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish for such a fun, popular, and thought-provoking meme! If you’re a fellow participant, what were some of your favorite topics?

The seasonal TBR lists are some of my favorite Top Ten Tuesday topics. I love seeing what other people are reading! And normally it’s easy for me to come up with 10 books I’m planning to read within the next few months, since I tend to schedule my reading pretty far in advance. This year, though, I’ve been taking a less structured approach to reading, so I couldn’t come up with 10 strong contenders for my summer TBR list! Still, I did manage to decide on the following eight possibilities, in no particular order:

1. Kate Bolick, Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own — I don’t read much nonfiction, but I’m intrigued by this book, which is supposed to be “a revelatory and slyly erudite look at the pleasures and possibilities of remaining single.”

2. Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility — This year I’m rereading all six of Austen’s major novels, and it’s been years since I’ve read S&S, so I’m really looking forward to revisiting it!

3. John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps — Since I started doing the Vintage Mystery Challenge a few years ago, I’m always on the lookout for interesting mysteries and thrillers published before 1960. This one fits the bill (published in 1915!), it’s short, and Hitchcock made it into a movie, so why not?

4. Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower — I can’t WAIT for this book to come out in August! I’m dying to read Jane’s story, which will hopefully be the best Pink Carnation book of all!

5. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, How My Summer Went Up in Flames — My OTSP secret sister gave me this book, which looks like an adorable summer read! I’m in a bit of a reading slump lately, so it’ll be nice to rejuvenate with some brain candy!

6. Deanna Raybourn, A Spear of Summer Grass — I’ve had this book for years and somehow never got around to reading it. But I really liked the first few Lady Julia Grey novels, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one too!

7. Mary Stewart, The Gabriel Hounds — I love Mary Stewart’s novels of romantic suspense, and this is one I haven’t read yet. It’s set in and around Damascus, which should be really interesting to read about!

8. Jean Webster, Dear Enemy — I LOVED Daddy-Long-Legs when I read it a few years ago, and this is the sequel, featuring Judy’s good friend Sallie.

What books are you desperate to read this summer? Which books should I add to my list?

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means beach season is here! And this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is on point, asking for 10 of our favorite beach reads. Here are some of my recommendations for books that should be in your beach bag this summer:

1. Morgan Matson, Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour — I love books about road trips! This one has a bunch of awesome playlists, some photos of the various places described in the book, and a lovely romance between the titular characters.

2. Rainbow Rowell, Attachments — Obviously I am a huge Rainbow Rowell fan, along with the rest of the Internet. But I still think Attachments deserves more love! It’s a totally charming novel about a guy who falls in love with a girl through reading her emails (which is not creepy because it’s his job; he does email surveillance for the newspaper where she works).

3. M.M. Kaye, Death in Zanzibar — The basic plot of this one is: Girl travels to exotic location, becomes embroiled in murder and espionage, and falls in love. If that premise appeals to you, read this book!

4. Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile — You can’t go wrong with Agatha Christie, but this is one of my favorites by her. It’s a murder mystery set on a luxury cruise down the Nile, and there are subplots and intrigues and red herrings aplenty!

5. Nick Hornby, Funny Girl — I’m cheating a bit by putting this one on my list, since I am actually still reading it now. But it’s a very entertaining novel, set in the 1960s, about a girl who wants to be a TV comedienne and her lucky break as the star of a BBC sitcom. It’s a bit different from Hornby’s other novels (though I can’t quite put my finger on why), but it’s still funny and not too heavy, and I’m enjoying it a lot so far!

6. Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl — My guess is that if you haven’t read this book already, you’re not going to read it at all. But I just thought I’d mention that it’s a perfect beach book, in my opinion. It’s compulsively readable and very fast-paced, and it can definitely be devoured in an afternoon. Just don’t take it on a honeymoon vacation — it doesn’t exactly paint the rosiest picture of married life!

7. Rhys Bowen, Her Royal Spyness — If you’re into historical fiction but don’t want to think too hard about it, this series is the perfect choice! The main character is a young woman who’s distantly related to the British royal family, but she’s also broke, so she earns money by doing discreet investigative work for the queen. Implausible, yes, but also lots of fun!

8. Sophie Kinsella, I’ve Got Your Number — I’ve read a few of Kinsella’s books, including the first in her popular Shopaholic series, but this novel is her best work, for my money. Poppy’s phone gets stolen, and she finds Sam’s phone in a garbage can. When she starts using the phone, Sam tracks her down, and the two strike up an unconventional correspondence.

9. Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races — I’m sneaking this book onto the list because it’s one of my very favorite books of all time! But it IS set on a beach, so I figure it fits the topic. 🙂

10. Maria Semple, Where’d You Go, Bernadette — I was reluctant to read this book at first, but it turned out to be a lot warmer and funnier than I expected! There’s also a short trip to Antarctica in it, which should be a nice antidote to the summer heat!

So, what are some of your favorite beach/plane/vacation reads? What books should I add to my beach tote this summer?

Now that spring is finally (FINALLY!) in sight, it’s appropriate that this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is the spring TBR list. This year I’m trying not to schedule my reading too far in advance…but I’m failing a little bit with that goal. 🙂 Between library holds, new releases, and the few reading projects I’m still doing, I have a full plate this spring! Here are some of the books I’m planning to read:

1. Nick Hornby, Funny Girl — I’m a huge fan of Nick Hornby’s, so I was thrilled to see that he just came out with another book! This one is set in the television world of 1960s Britain, which sounds intriguing!

2. Rachel Hartman, Shadow Scale — I recently read and enjoyed Seraphina, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on this sequel.

3. Juliet Marillier, Dreamer’s Pool — Juliet Marillier is one of my favorite authors, and this is the first book in her Blackthorn & Grim series.

4. Anne Cleeland, Murder in Thrall — Saw this one at Barnes & Noble and then discovered that my library has it, so I figured I’d give it a shot! It appears to be a mystery set in contemporary England with a romantic element.

5. Elizabeth Wein, Black Thorn, White Raven — This one has been on my TBR list for ages, and it’s finally coming out at the end of March! Can’t wait!!!

6. Jane Austen, Mansfield Park — I’m doing a year-long read of Austen’s novels with some folks from LibraryThing, and MP is slated for March/April. It’s been years since I read the book, so I’ll be interested to see how it strikes me this time around!

7. Intisar Khanani, Thorn — This retelling of “The Goose Girl” looks very interesting. I’m a sucker for a good fairy tale!

8. P.J. Brackston, Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints — Speaking of fairy tales. 🙂 The synopsis of this reminded me of Jasper Fforde’s Nursery Crime series, and that can only be a good thing!

9. Katie Van Ark, The Boy Next Door — I received this book as a gift from my #OTSPSecretSister last month, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. But ever since “The Cutting Edge,” I’ve been a big fan of love stories featuring figure skaters!

10. Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) — I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while, but I’ve been saving it for the 24-hour read-a-thon in April. (Yeah, I’m planning my reads a month in advance, so what?) I read Tina Fey’s Bossypants during a previous read-a-thon and found that it was a refreshing break in the midst of all the fiction I was reading.

So that’s my list, although it’s certainly subject to change! What are you planning to read this spring?

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday asks us to list our all-time favorite books from the past three years. I love this topic, but I found it unexpectedly difficult to create my list. I’ve had the same list of all-time, desert-island favorite books since my teens, probably, and it’s very rare that I’ll add a new book to that pantheon. I have a theory that we all tend to latch onto books the hardest in our early teens, and those books become our all-time favorites for life. I first read Pride and Prejudice at age 12, for example, and I will always love it the most, no matter what other amazing books come into my life. So I must admit, not all of the books on this list are all-time, desert-island favorites; but they are all books I really enjoyed and will undoubtedly read again (if I haven’t already!). Here they are, in the order in which I read them:

2012

1. Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races — Absolutely my favorite book of 2012, and maybe one of my favorite books of all time! The wild, strange setting of Thisby enchanted me, and I loved the slow-burning romance between protagonists Sean and Puck. My review is here.

2. Elizabeth Wein, Code Name Verity — My other favorite book of 2012. It’s either tied with The Scorpio Races or a very, very, very close second. It’s a wonderful WWII adventure story, as well as a portrait of the close relationship between two best friends. It’s also told in a unique and interesting way that packs a huge emotional punch. My review is here.

3. Josephine Tey, Brat Farrar — Books set in English country houses are my not-so-guilty pleasure, and this novel has a wonderful setup. The protagonist is a con man pretending to be the long-lost son of the family, but he soon finds himself changing in response to their kindness. My review is here.

4. Rainbow Rowell, Attachments — This book is a delightful romantic comedy with old-fashioned flair. The love story is given a unique twist in that the hero falls in love with the heroine through reading her email conversations with her best friend, even though he’s never met her in person. My review is here.

2013

5. Mary Doria Russell, Doc — This book is not only a great Western (and I don’t really care about Westerns) but a great work of historical fiction. I felt transported to Dodge City in the late 19th century, and it was one heck of an interesting ride! My review is here.

6. Kate Ross, Whom the Gods Love — Honestly, why aren’t ALL novels about Regency dandies who also solve murder mysteries? I mean, seriously. My review is here.

2014

7. Chris Wooding, Retribution Falls — I was very pleasantly surprised by this sci-fi novel, which I’d picked up several years ago when Borders was going out of business. With its anti-hero airship captain and a ragtag crew of misfits, it reminded me strongly of “Firefly,” and that can only be a good thing! My review is here.

8. Connie Willis, Miracle and Other Christmas Stories — I loved this collection of Christmas-themed short stories with a speculative twist. There’s a lovely variety of genres in this book, from a screwball romantic comedy to an alien invasion tale to an apocalyptic retelling of the Epiphany story. I can definitely see myself re-reading this book every year during the holidays. My review is here.

2015

9. Genevieve Valentine, The Girls at the Kingfisher Club — This is a wonderfully unique retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, set in New York City during the Roaring Twenties. I loved that each of the 12 sisters had her own distinct personality, and I really enjoyed the setting as well. My review is here.

10. Jandy Nelson, I’ll Give You the Sun — I honestly think this book cast a spell on me somehow. I adored the vivid writing style and loved watching the story of Noah and Jude slowly unfold. My review is here.

Since Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us, it makes sense that this week’s Top Ten Tuesday is asking about things we love (and hate) when it comes to romances in books. I’m a sucker for love stories, so I had a lot of fun coming up with my list! I’ve listed five things I really enjoy in a fictional romance, followed by five things I hate. Here they are, in no particular order…

Things I Love:

1. Marriage of convenience — For some reason I really like this trope, which generally occurs in historical fiction: hero and heroine marry for money (or some other non-romantic reason), then slowly grow to love each other. I enjoy this type of story because the obstacles are built into the plot. Both parties entered into the marriage with a common understanding of the rules (it’s about convenience, not love); but as their feelings begin to change and deepen, they’re unsure if their spouse feels the same way. So this trope is a great way to introduce conflict that doesn’t feel silly or manufactured.

2. Friends become lovers — I’ve always loved stories where a girl and guy are longtime friends, but eventually romantic tension evolves between them. I think it’s a satisfying story because we already know the protagonists get along well and have things in common, so their love is based on a solid foundation. Whenever there’s a love triangle between the heroine, her best male friend, and the hot new guy, I always root for the best friend!

3. The slow burn — There’s nothing better than watching a couple’s relationship evolve slowly, tentatively, excruciatingly towards romance! To me, the slow burn is much more realistic than a relationship where the characters fall in love, or in bed, instantaneously (see insta-love, below). It’s also a better move from a writing standpoint: building a romance slowly increases the dramatic tension and makes the resolution all the more satisfying!

4. Beta heroes — Sure, I’ll admit that there’s something appealing about strong-willed, take-charge alpha heroes who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. But these heroes also tend to steamroll over anyone who disagrees with them — including the heroine! I prefer love stories where the hero listens to and respects the heroine, even when they disagree. Plus, beta heroes tend to be brainy rather than brawny, and I’m definitely of the opinion that smart = sexy!

5. Banter — My absolute favorite romances are the ones where the hero and heroine tease each other, exchanging witty banter and jokey one-liners with reckless abandon. Humor is such an important component of romance, to me; I think it’s really important that couples make each other laugh, are amused by the same things, and can deal with life’s problems with humor and positivity. In short, I’m a rom-com girl at heart, and I’m not ashamed to admit it!

Things I Hate:

6. Love triangles — Okay, I don’t hate every love triangle, but I think it’s really hard for authors to write them well. Usually it’s a situation where one person is clearly right for the protagonist, and the other person is clearly wrong — in which case the protagonist comes off as stupid for not immediately recognizing who the right person is, and the wrong person feels like a pointless distraction. And if the protagonist is trying to choose between two equally right people, then regardless of which person s/he picks, the outcome won’t be satisfying, because the odd man out will be too sympathetic.

7. Insta-love — I’ve already mentioned that I prefer slow-burning romances, and the flip side is that I hate romances where the hero and heroine fall in love too quickly. In these cases, it seems like the couple’s “love” is based almost entirely on looks and sexual chemistry, rather than on more substantial foundations like shared values or similar interests. Not to pick on Twilight, but this was my main problem with that book: Edward and Bella fell in love right away, for no discernible reason, and as a result, neither character was really developed very well. (To be fair, I didn’t read the sequels, so maybe that happens in later installments?) I never figured out why they loved each other, besides Edward being super hot and Bella having great-smelling blood.

8. Weird euphemisms — I tend to shy away from very explicit romance novels, but in my limited experience, there are some freaking weird euphemisms being used for male and female reproductive organs. And they can be extremely distracting in the midst of a love scene!

9. Big Misunderstandings — I understand that it can be hard for authors to maintain dramatic tension when they’ve created two characters who are obviously perfect for each other. Conflict has to come from somewhere, and I get that. But I hate when the only obstacle facing the characters is a silly misunderstanding that could have been avoided, if only they had actually talked to each other like human beings. If the hero and heroine are having trouble communicating, there should at least be some kind of basis for that (trauma from a past relationship, etc).

10. Sad endings — I know some people enjoy tearjerkers where the hero and heroine fall in love, and then one of them dies in a car accident or gets a terminal disease or marries somebody else. I am not one of them! I want my hero and heroine to end up together! Maybe that makes me a sap, but I don’t care: I want the happily-ever-after, dammit!

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is a freebie, so I’ve decided to list ten of my favorite comfort reads. In the chilly depths of winter, there’s nothing better than curling up with a blanket and a good book, especially one that makes you smile or warms your heart. So below are ten of my favorite comfort reads (in no particular order); links are to my reviews, if applicable.

1. Winifred Watson, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
2. L.M. Montgomery, The Blue Castle
3. Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs
4. Georgette Heyer, Cotillion
5. Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen
6. Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
7. Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom
8. Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
9. Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss
10. Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Perilous Gard

I love these books because they’re romantic, they’re hopeful, and they allow love and virtue to triumph in the end. Perfect for cozying up with on a cold winter’s evening! What are some of your favorite comfort reads?

I’ve found that there’s a strange paradox about being a book lover at Christmas. I should be the easiest person in the world to shop for — when in doubt, just buy me a book! But somehow I never seem to get books for Christmas. Maybe one or two volumes will find their way under the tree, but that’s about it! I think it’s because my loved ones aren’t sure what I already have, and they’re scared to take the risk. Can’t say I blame them, frankly! So here are ten books I’d love for Santa to bring me, in no particular order:

1. Carol Berg, The Daemon Prism — This is the third book in a series whose first two installments I already own. Gotta complete the set!

2. Caryl Brahms & S.J. Simon, Don’t, Mr. Disraeli! — I loved No Bed for Bacon, a hilarious send-up of the Elizabethan era by these two authors, so I can only imagine how much fun their take on Victoriana would be!

3. Mark Bittman, How to Cook Everything — I admit with shame that I don’t really know how to cook. There are a few dishes I know how to make, but honestly, it’s easier to just eat out or make something really easy, like a sandwich or pasta. I think one of my goals for 2015 will be to cook more often and try some new recipes.

4. P.G. Wodehouse, Something Fresh — I adore Wodehouse’s brand of humor and have read a lot of the Jeeves short stories, but I haven’t tried any Blandings Castle books yet.

5. Intisar Khanani, Thorn — I stumbled upon this book the other day and was immediately enchanted by the cover. Also, it’s a retelling of the Goose Girl fairy tale, and I do love me some fairy tale retellings!

6. Jill Paton Walsh, A Presumption of Death — I’ve been collecting the Lord Peter Wimsey books for several years now, and I finally have all of the original Sayers novels. Now I can start grabbing the Jill Paton Walsh books too!

7. Angela Thirkell, High Rising — I’ve decided that I really like 20th-century British female authors, and this book looks right up my alley.

8. Diana Wynne Jones, Deep Secret — I REALLY need to read some more Diana Wynne Jones!

9. Robin McKinley, Shadows — Even though this wasn’t my favorite McKinley novel, I feel a strong need to own all her books.

10. Any of the Belknap annotated editions of Jane Austen — They’re just so pretty!

What books are you hoping to receive this Christmas?