It’s been a superb year for reading, and there were so many books and graphic novels that I enjoyed, but I wanted to highlight ten that I fell especially in love with this year.

(The following list is in alphabetical order, there’s no order regarding favouritism.)

The Bewitching
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I loved the way this story was framed using three different eras in time spanning the 20th century as it made each chapter’s cliffhanger all the more frustrating, in the best kind of way, due to having to wait a chapter or two to pick back up with that timeline and character. Moreno-Garcia paced the story fantastically and doesn’t go overboard with description, giving just enough to sketch an image but leaving the rest to the reader’s imagination. The characters were great, but we could have done without a particularly inappropriate romance in the story.

The Demonata
Darren Shan
I reread this series for the third time this year, and I just cannot express how much I love it. It’s marketed as YA, and I read them first as a teenager, but the level of horror and Shan’s incredible yet gory way with imagery is just as shocking for adults. Although the books shift between three different narrators, the characters interact with each other just enough to keep the narrative flowing smoothly. Some instalments of the series are better than others, but on the whole it is an adventurous and cohesive story. I’m already looking forward to reading them again in in my forties!

Hamnet
Maggie O’Farrell
I read this way back in January, but much of the story and imagery has stuck with me all year. O’Farrell’s style of writing is poetic, her descriptions utilising just about all the senses, transporting the reader to Shakespeare’s time. The touch-and-go of Hamnet’s health is anxiety-inducing, even though we know from the off how it will turn out for him. The relationship between Agnes and William and with their children is the soul of the book, while William is the mind and Agnes the heart. I’m excited to see the film adaptation arriving early next year!

Kingdom Come
Mark Waid, Alex Ross
I don’t really know where to start with this graphic novel. I first read it many years ago but clearly I completely forgot how good it was, or I just didn’t appreciate it properly. The art style is absolutely stunning, some of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing in a graphic novel, and the story itself is the kind of story you don’t see too often in any media – incredibly heartfelt, meaningful and thought-provoking yet highly entertaining. Truly superb writing, the kind that continues to resonate and reflect societal issues.

The Nickel Boys
Colson Whitehead
Having seen the film adaptation some time ago, it took me longer than I care to admit to get around to reading The Nickel Boys, and I’m kicking myself because it is a terrific yet painful read. Although based on a real school that abused boys and young men, it’s also a reminder of the widespread abuse experienced by many young people in many institutions, especially non-white folk. This is one of those books that should be a reminder of the sins of the past and how not to repeat them, but it seems many still choose not to pay attention. I encourage everyone to read this book.

A Promised Land
Barack Obama
It took me five years to finish this book, to the month. Not because it was boring – far, far from it – but because it is incredibly politically dense. Obama’s first three years in office are condensed into this book, as well as anecdotes from and memoirs of his life prior. I always was, and remain, a fan of Obama and his moral compass, so I didn’t want to let this book get the better of me. It was very eye-opening to get a glimpse into the goings on behind the scenes and Obama’s own mind, and I really hope he gets around to a second part one day.

Small Things Like These
Claire Keegan
Much like The Nickel Boys, I saw the film adaptation of Small Things Like These before reading the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and I was very happy to find that the book was just as exquisite, if not more so. It packs a punch and leaves a strong impression. It’s the kind of book you can read in one cold wintery evening and count your blessings that you are safe and taken care of, or if not, that you can have hope that there are people out there willing to fight for you and put themselves in the line of fire to stand up for you.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Tom King, Bilquis Evely, Matheus Lopes
I hadn’t read many Supergirl comics in the past, and usually when I see her she pops up in the comics of other characters or in crossovers. This is the best portrayal of her in any comic or graphic novel that I have read. A fresh take on Kara, it shows a human side to her that we might not expect from her, having spent much less time on Earth than her cousin. The story is fantastic, the kind that will stick with you, and the art style absolutely gorgeous. I’m eagerly anticipating (to put it very lightly) the Supergirl movie coming next year that will be mostly based on this graphic novel.

Superman: Birthright
Mark Waid, Leinil FranicsYu, Gerry Alanguilan, Dave McCaig
In a similar way to Kingdom Come, I had read Birthright before, but for some reason I just hadn’t appreciated it nearly as much as I do now. In fact, it has become my favourite Superman comic/graphic novel. It reimagines some aspects of the Superman lore but retains his core of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow, as well as his innate need to help and give hope to people. It encompasses everything I love about Superman with a fresh story, and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two while reading.

We Are All Guilty Here
Karin Slaughter
Karin Slaughter is my favourite author, as she has been for over a decade now, and she has never gone wrong in her ability to excite and immerse me in her crime thrillers. We Are All Guilty Here is Slaughter’s first in a new series, so she introduces new characters and begins to fill out the world that she will continue to build on in future instalments. Just like all her previous novels, it is an absolute page turner, the cliff hangers at the end of the chapters keeping me going until I can’t keep my eyes open. I’m just going to go and check for any announcements of her next novel…

What were your favourite books you read this year? Any recommendations? Leave a comment, let me know! ♡