Like me, I’m sure you’ve seen all the top lists of 2014 floating around the inter webs in celebration of the last week of 2014. I’m a big fan of lists, so I thought it would be fun to make a list of the top seven last minute book finds I’ve added to my TBR list thanks to these end of the year lists (and other book recommendations I haven’t mentioned yet this year). I know fourteen books would be a more fitting number of books to list, but we don’t have time for that. Much of the inspiration for this list are thanks to these Top Lists from Buzzfeed: The 22 Most Exciting Literary Debuts of 2014, and 24 Best Fiction Books of 2014, so thanks for filling my list-loving needs, Buzzfeed! More information on each book can be found by clicking the novel’s title.
7. A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride
Via Goodreads
Brutal honesty, existentialism and a story of triumph over one’s own demons? This one instantly reminded me of my college philosophy buff years, so I had to put it on the list.
6. All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
via Goodreads
Sisters. Depression. Despration and hope are what tie sisters Elf and Yoli together in this novel. Thoughtful, well plotted stories examining mental illness are always intriguing to me, as there are so many misconceptions on the subject. I’m interested to see how this novel pulls off the issue of (hopefully) trumping over mental illness without being cheesy.
5. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
via Goodreads
I found out about this one from Book Riot and the plot instantly intrigued me. A girl with a blossoming psychic ability, who hears what she calls “the radio people”, and a boy who has a prestigious education and reports on the war of the Middle East come together in this highly acclaimed story.
4. I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
via Goodreads
This title I found through Booktube hype. While I tend to be wary of books that have a lot of hype, this emotionally charged book seems worth the read. The story discusses the lives of twin siblings Noah and Jude. Life pulls them in unexpected directions, where the truth can only be seen when they can see the other sibling’s side of the story.
3. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
via Goodreads
I discovered this trilogy through Booktube and Goodreads earlier this year. A fantasy trilogy about an epic journey that coasts along with the help of magic, this book is high on my to-read list. The third and final installment to the trilogy, titled The Magician’s Land was released late this year and has promising reviews thus far.
2. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
via Goodreads
I’ll admit that as much as I love a good YA read, I’ve been shying away from the genre a bit. That being said, this book easily made my To-read list because really, who can resist a kick-ass princess who’s willing to take charge of her life? I won’t lie, the promise of a film adaptation with a lead role filled by Emma Watson sold me on this one.
1. Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter
via Goodreads
A debut novel about friendship between young women dealing with the perils of living a less than luxurious suburban life with alcoholic parents and internet troubles, this book’s synopsis brought to mind an updated version of The Virgin Suicides. A brooding, dark and honest novel is always up my alley.
That’s it for my Top 6 TBR finds in late 2014. Have you read any of these books? If so, tell me what you thought of it in the comments. What books have you recently discovered that you want to read in 2015? I wish you all a very happy (and safe) New Years Eve!
Mia Reads 