10 Best Books I’ve Read This Year (So Far)
Goodreads is my BFF. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to keep track of all the books I want to read.
The year isn’t up yet, I know, but I have to share some of my favorite books I’ve read so far.
Break out your Goodreads list, and get to adding!
FICTION>>>
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald (2016)
A remarkable story of one of the most famous couples in literary history expertly told from the first page to the last. If you loved the romance and tragedy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age prose, then you’ll fall in love with Therese Anne Fowler’s biographical fiction novel. (The Christina Ricci will be starring as Zelda in the film, by the way. Commence jumping up and down.)
Don’t You Cry (2016)
When am I ever not geeking out over all things Mary Kubica? She’s the queen of twists and turns, always beckoning me to turn the next page. After reading The Good Girl, I didn’t think it would be possible to top it — but Don’t You Cry set the bar once more for psychological thrillers.
Mosquitoland (2015)
If you want to grab my attention, use humor. If you want to keep it, make your protagonist a lovely little oddball. Did you ever read Where’d Ya Go, Bernadette? Then you’ll laugh out loud with David Arnold’s Mosquitoland.
The Widow (2016)
Laced with just the right dose of plot twists, this psychological thriller kept me turning the pages so fast I nearly gave myself a papercut. The entire plot — along with the secret-keeping husband and wife duo — was fast-paced and compelling to the end. Brava, Fiona Barton, for a masterful debut novel!
An Abundance of Katherines (2006)
So I waited ten years to read this delightful book—sue me. I got here as fast as I could, Mr. Green. I’m going to say something that might offend some people: An Abundance of Katherines was better than The Fault in Our Stars. *shields self from onslaught of hate messages*
>>>NONFICTION
Purple Cow (2003)
You’re either a Purple Cow or you’re not. You’re either remarkable or you’re invisible. Seth Godin hit this book out of the park with the one thing you need to know about marketing. A Purple Cow is something phenomenal, counterintuitive, and flat-out unbelievable. Do you have what it takes to add a Purple Cow to your business?
Your First 1,000 Copies (2013)
I appreciated the solid advice on email marketing in Tim Grahl’s book. The author gave clear, actionable advice that I started implementing straight away (and recommend my authors do as well). I gave it four stars on Goodreads instead of five because the book must have skipped the copyediting phase — I lost count on all the spelling and grammatical errors (sneak peak? Come on, bro). Overall, insightful read.
Get Picked: Tips, Tricks, and Tools for Creating Irresistible Speaker Proposals (2016)
A smart, witty, and essential guide for aspiring public speakers! Authors Aurora Gregory and David Pitlik deliver a fresh perspective on tried-and-true methods, steering you away from the pitfalls of public speaking so you can get picked. All their instructions are well written and easy to understand, and I appreciated the humor throughout the book to keep me entertained (Pitlik was a TV comedy writer).
How I Sold 30,000 E-books on Amazon’s Kindle (2013, Revised)
Looking to self-publish your book? Martin Crosbie’s guide is full to the brim of why-didn’t-think-of-that information on Amazon, the indie world, and marketing.
Eat That Frog (2001)
I’m embarrassed that I waited this long to read Brian Tracy’s legendary book. Productivity seems like a fairy tale to many of us, but these 21 steps can get you there, my friend. Try it yourself.
So I have to know: what books are you reading? Should I add them to my Goodreads list?
An expert editor, seasoned writer, and author-centric coach, Shayla Eaton works one-on-one with self-published authors, having edited three hundred books. She is the president of Curiouser Editing, where she offers top-notch publishing guidance for authors and their books.
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