Top Ten Books of 2015 Thus Far

Time for another mid-year check in point! Hard to believe 2015 is more than half over already.

So many good books this year. I feel like I finally got out of my reading slump that has basically lasted for two or three years. I've read about 65 books so far this year. Last year I only read 82 books the entire year! I'm hoping that I can get to at least 100 or 120 this year. One thing that's helped is that I've listened to a lot more audiobooks than ever before. I love feeling like I'm being told a story.

Top Ten Young Adult Books of 2015:

10. Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

Royal Wedding is a delightful coda to the Princess Diaries series. The adult Mia feels more comfortable in her skin and in her role as a Princess.Her silly zaniness has matured into a lovable neurotic nature.

9. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest is kind of a companion to the companion novels. It tells the story of Queen Levana - the big bad and also links back to the three heroines of the series. This fascinating look into the who's and why's of a villain adds a lot more depth to the series.

8. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Sometimes deciding whether a book is bad, decent, or great comes down to a gut feeling more than anything else. I went with my gut on the Red Queen. As soon as I finished it, I was in love with the characters, plot, and world-building. I couldn't wait for the sequel.

7. Boys Don't Knit by T.S. Easton

Hilarious and fun! I loved reading about Ben's secret love of knitting, his quest to get a girlfriend, and his weird friends and family. Plus, I loved how British the book felt.

6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I can see why this book is so critically acclaimed. It's hilarious and heart-breaking. Arnold is growing up on an impoverished Indian reservation with a troubled but loving family. He struggles, but his outlook on life is delightfully snarky.

5. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover won this year's Newbery Award. It's an artfully done book that is as good at substance as it is pretty poetry. I loved the rhythm of the rap-like verses. But best of all the emotion from this tale of growing up and family.

4. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

While this isn't my highest rated book of the year, I do believe it's the best quality book that I've read. Brown Girl Dreaming is just as compelling as it is well written. It is a book about love. Jackie had a troubled family and grew up at a difficult time, but she was surrounded by people who loved her.

3. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

This also isn't my highest rated book of the year, but it definitely was the most fun to read. This book is basically British royal fanfiction. There's no attempt to disguise is, nor would I want it to be disguised. Much of the reason it is so fun is because it purposely echoes Will and Kate, right down to the cover.

2. Trouble by Non Pratt

The gist of this book is that Hannah, a high school girl, gets pregnant. Aaron, a new kid, volunteers to pretend to be the father. Throughout the course of the book, you get to know person. They're flawed and messy, but both essentially good. A readable, compelling novel.

1. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I could not put this book down. A classmate discovers that Simon is gay and blackmails him. It sounds like this would be a downer, but it's not. Ultimately, it's a heartwarming and uplifting read. All the characters are three-dimensional (even the black-mailer) and it features adorable flirty emails between Simon and an anonymous classmate. You'll come to love Simon, his family, and his friends.