Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature from The Broke and the Bookish. This week we’re counting down our Top Ten Books We’ve Read So Far This Year. We’re almost at the halfway point of the year. Time to reflect on our favorite reads! Looking at my list, I liked a lot of heavy, emotional, contemporary but there are some light-hearted sweet moments in there as well.

Some of my early favorites (in no particular order) are:

1. The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding  This book is such a cute and touching read that pulls at your heartstrings. The LA setting and musical theater tie in is a treat, and there’s a wonderfully complex mother-daughter relationship.

2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – It’s Rowell’s year, isn’t it? E&P is set in 1986 and the title characters are outsiders that fit together and bond over comic books and music.

3. Just One Day by Gayle FormanAllyson’s life path changes after a chance encounter with a Dutch actor on a school trip to Europe. Loved the Paris trip and how it affects the course of Allyson’s life, plus there’s all those yummy macarons. 

4. Losing It and Faking It by Cora Carmack – Witty and fresh, and some of the best writing New Adult has to offer. In addition to the romance, there is a story here about life, careers, and relationships with friends and family.

5. If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch – Such a powerful read that is heartfelt, harrowing, and lovely all at once. It’s about abuse, survival and hope and adding it to this list was a no-brainer.

6. When you Were Here by Daisy Whitney – This is about grief and starting over again. When You Were Here has a male POV, a Tokyo & California setting, and a lovely platonic friendship.

7. Out of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys –  Set in 1950s New Orleans, Out of The Easy has colorful characters and a spunky protagonist. There’s mystery, romance, and family drama with a great Bayou setting.

8.This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales –  I read this one fairly recently and will review it closer to publication date in September.  It’s about a girl who is having a rough time of it but finds solace through the art of DJing. Fab book for fans of music-themed YA.

9. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover This book is heavy, heart wrenching and wonderful. I never actually found the words to write a review, but I’ll re-read it at some point and get my thoughts down. Just read it!

10. Golden by Jessi Kirby – This book is a story within a story, and ties in a town mystery with a girl’s journey of self-discovery.

Those are my faves so far – what books have stood out for you so far this year?

Ornament

38 thoughts on “Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far in 2013

  1. Sadly, I haven’t read any of these yet. But I’m dying to read Just One Day, Golden, and Eleanor And Park, so it won’t be long before I have. Great list, and I’m so glad to see those three popping up on so many lists! Makes me want them even more. 🙂

    New follower!

    -Kelly

  2. Faking It was a very good book although I am a prude and I don’t like reading books with sex scenes but overall it was good. I’ve been meaning to read Out of the Easy. Great list!

  3. I need to read The Reece Malcolm List and Golden soon, they both sound so good! 🙂 My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/06/24/top13/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

  4. Rory says:

    I have toyed with the idea of Losing It, because it is immediately available in my library’s ebook selection. It sounds cute, I’ll check it out – it sounds fluffy and fun!

  5. quix689 says:

    Every single one of these books is on my TBR list! I’m glad to know you thought they were worth reading. 🙂

  6. Maria says:

    I have If You Find Me, so better check that out already 🙂 Golden, too!
    my TTT

  7. Rebecca says:

    I also really enjoyed If You Find Me and Eleanor & Park, and contemporary is not my go-to genre at all. Both of them pulled me in from the start, though, and I’m very glad I picked them up! Happy reading & nice list!

  8. KateB says:

    I adored E&P = and it’s made me more eager than ever to read Fangirl. Rainbow Rowell is fantastic. Great list!

  9. Oksana says:

    Sadly, I haven’t read any books on your list, but some of them are my TBR. I’m especially excited about ‘Just One Day’ and ‘Out Of The Easy’. But you also got me interested in in other books on your list, too, so I might check them out some time in the future.

  10. #3 & #5-#10 are all on my wishlist! I think Out of the East and This Song Will Save Your Life are probably the two I most want to read! It looks as though the remainder of your reading year has a lot to live up to. 😀

    ~Briana

  11. ForesterCary says:

    Hi. I think it’s my first time to post a comment here but I’ve been following your blog for a while now. Anyway, I saw Eleanor & Park from your list and I think I better read this soon, too. I’ve read Rowell’s other book, Attachments and it’s one of my best reads this year so far. 🙂

  12. I LOVE Eleanor & Park, When You Were Here, and Out of the Easy. I read WYWH last year so it’s not on my list today, but the other two are 🙂 I really want to read The Reese Malcolm List and Golden. Nice list!

  13. I have not read any of these books yet but Golden is pretty high on my TBR pile for this summer.

    My TTT

  14. BermudaOnion says:

    The only one of those I’ve read is Eleanor and Park – I loved it too, so I’m making note of your other books. I do have Out of the Easy in my TBR pile.

  15. veganyanerds says:

    Reece Malcolm & Just One Day – two of my faves, too!

  16. Jenna says:

    I read Losing It and really enjoyed it (especially the cat excuse). I guess I need to read Faking It.

    My List

  17. I was excited to read When You Were Here, but then I heard mixed things about Danny and Holland as characters, so I’m still debating whether I should read the book or not. But the cover for This Song will Save Your Life is so beautiful and eye catching! If you liked that book I feel like you might enjoy Beat Girl by Jasmina Kallay :).

  18. Andi ABCs says:

    I’ve heard great things about Colleen Hoover books. I’ll have to check it out. This is a great list.

    My TTT List

  19. Daphne says:

    of course i agree w/ you abt e&p (the only book here i’ve read), but all the others are already on my list. very excited to start reading them 🙂

  20. Sharon (A Book Barbie) says:

    Aahhh, I’m so excited for This Song Will Save Your Life!

  21. Hi! Fantastic, fantastic list. We split the TTT five and five or Reese would have been on mine for sure. Such a great book! I always forget about Just One Day because so many people read it in December… it was almost like it came out then. And yay for nice words about This Song Will Save Your Life. I just got approved for that and can’t wait to give it a whirl. Lovely, lovely choices.

  22. sashandem says:

    We haven’t had a chance to pick up ANY of these but looking forward to them!!

  23. Brittany says:

    Wonderful choices!! So many on your list that I still need to read, but of course I will always love Gayle Forman and Rainbow Rowell <3 They are just masters at their craft!

  24. Candice says:

    I haven’t read so many of these! But I really really want to; esp since you say they were your faves! I know you’ve got excellent tastes! I’m loving seeing E&P on so many lists today; it’s a favorite!

  25. Yes for Rainbow Rowell/Cora Carmack! I’m really looking forward to This Song Will Save Your Life and the Reece Malcom List looks really adorable too 🙂

  26. booklover217 says:

    Great list! When you were here and Eleanor & Park are on my TBR list 🙂

    My TTT: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-books-ive-read-so-far-in-2013/

  27. I love seeing E&P on so many lists! I am a bit surprised that I have been seeing Golden on so many lists (mine included!). Hopeless is currently sitting my my TBR pile and I might just have to move it up because so many people love it. Great List 🙂

  28. Maggie says:

    I think we have the most similar list of anyone I’ve come across. And the three I haven’t read on your list (This Song, Losing It, and When You Were Here) I’m really excited to read them. Great list!

    My TTT

  29. vmcarswell says:

    I want to read so many of these! Especially Just One Day, If You Find Me and When You Were Here. Great list! My TTT.

    Vyki @ On The Shelf

  30. You know, I haven’t read any of these books yet! But obviously I need because they made your best of the year so far list 🙂 Which would you recommend first?

  31. Sunny says:

    Ah, I so want to read The Reece Malcolm List, Out of the Easy, Eleanor & Park, and Faking it! Great 2013 so far 🙂

    My TTT

  32. I loved OUT OF THE EASY and almost put it on my list! It was hard to narrow down. I am generally not into NA I might try FAKING IT!

  33. Ooh glad you liked Eleanor & Park! I’ve had it on my shelf for a little while now, just need to actually pick it up. I loved Attachments so I hope I enjoy E&P just as much.

  34. Great list! I haven’t read any of these but I really need to check out Eleanor & Park, Just One Day, and Out of the Easy.

  35. I just found out a few days ago that Ruta Sepetys wrote this book. I loved her first books, Between Shades of Gray. It is sounding like this book is really good too! Happy Reading!
    Here are my top ten.

  36. kay says:

    If You Find Me would definitely be on my best of 2013 so far list, too! And your list makes me all the more excited to read Golden, as well as This Song Will Save Your Life.

  37. aimee says:

    Though I didn’t get a chance to do this TTT, Just One Day and Golden were two of my favorite reads this year too. I haven’t read some of these other books, but I’m definitely adding them to my TBR. Great list!

  38. Adina says:

    The Reece Malcolm List was such a sweet story. Really good 🙂

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