Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! πππ I hope you all are having such a wonderful holiday season! This past week on Instagram, Iβve been counting down my favorite published books of 2017! And today is the very last day where I announced my favorite book (which will be no surprise to any of you), but I figured Iβd do a quick wrap up for you all to see my five favorites of 2017!
These are the five books that were published this year that were a tier above the rest. These five blew my mind, and expectations, out of the water. I truly believe these five are perfect books in every single way. And I personally recommend them with my entire heart, body, and soul.
β½The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1) by Katherine Arden
βBefore the end, you will pluck snowdrops at midwinter, die by your own choosing, and weep for a nightingale.β
This book taught me that girls can be anything they wish to be, no matter the expectations society, family, and everything else in this world puts on them. And to always surround yourself with people that accept you and believe in you.
β½The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
βThat’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?β
This book taught the world that we want black stories, from black authors, with black casts, with black people on the covers⦠no matter how many old, racist, white dudes continue to get published. But this book taught me how much more work needs to be done, and how I need to do more to boost marginalized voices, and how the world needs to change and it can begin with me and our generation.
β½Tyrant’s Throne (Greatcoats #4) by Sebastien de Castell
βFrom nothing we become men and women who write poems and wage wars and conceive of futures both wondrous and terrifying.β
This book taught me that found families with unconditional love is the most powerful force in any world. And that friendship can heal wounds you never thought would stop bleeding. And that your past will never define you, or hinder you, from being good and kind and ultimately becoming the person you want to be.
β½The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3) by N.K. Jemisin
βBut for a society built on exploitation, there is no greater threat than having no one left to oppress.β
This book taught me to never stop moving forward, to always speak up, and help marginalized voices that need to be heard. And that we donβt get to choose how people love us. And how one voice can change the world. And that blood is only blood, and that we should spend our days with people who love us! And that we are always deserving of love. Always. No matter what.
β½Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor
βSarai was seventeen years old, a goddess and a girl. Half her blood was human, but it counted for nothing. She was blue. She was godspawn. She was anathema. She was young. She was lovely. She was afraid.β
This book reminded me why I love reading, and that books are magical, healing vessels. This book taught me that everyone has the right to change their future, and that we will never be our parentβs mistakes. And that we can rise up, and become so much more, and that all of our stories deserve to be told. And ultimately, you get to choose who is in your story.
These books mean a lot to me, and I feel so very thankful, privileged, and blessed that I was able to read them all this year. These books have all changed who I am as a person, and I will carry, pass them down, and sing their praises for my entire life. Books like this make render me speechless to be honest, but I hope I did a decent job letting you guys know how much they mean, and will continue to mean, to me. And again, I hope youβre all having a wonderful holiday season. Happy reading, lovelies! ββπ
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Great post Melanie!!
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Thank you, beautiful! I hope you are having an amazing Christmas Eve! (And I’m so damn happy that 2017 brought me your friendship, Kayla!) β€
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Awww Iβm really glad too. Hereβs to a growing friendship in 2018!
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Awesome list! I absolutely loved Bear and the Nightingale!!! And I am so so excited for Strange the dreamer π xx
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I am way too excited for you to read it! Thank you! ββπxx
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You know I agree with you about The Bear and the Nightingale! It truly is fantastic!! I have THUG at the top of my list to read for 2018! (Still need to buy it!) I just bought Strange the Dreamer so Iβm super pumped it made you favorites list!! Iβm really excited to read it! Great post!!! π
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This makes me so beyond words excited! You have some good reading in front of you, haha! I wish you the happiest of reading and holidays, beautiful! β€ xx
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youre so adorable omg aaaahhhhh
i so badly wanna read the bear and the nightingale and i think you’ve just kicked it up my tbr a bunch of notches. so glad to see great titles like the hate u give and strange the dreamer on your top 5!! π
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Awh, thank you, my love! I read The Bear and the Nightingale like… the last week of November(?), too! I couldn’t believe how amazing it was. AND A DEBUT? What kind of witchcraft! I hope you love it! Happy holidays and reading, beautiful! β€ xx
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What a wonderful list of books! Iβm currently reading The Bear and the Nightingale and itβs really good so far! π
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This warms my heart so much! And your twitter message completely made my day! I hope you are having the happiest of holidays, love! β€ xx
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I hope you have wonderful holidays as well and that the last days of 2017 are gonna be beautiful for you ππΈ
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Fantastic list Mel! I adored The Hate U Give too π
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Thank you so much, love! I hope you’re having the happiest of holidays! <3xx
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I am so excited to start ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ π All those positive reviews made me get a sample and I really loved it! The language is beautiful, the snowy setting is as well and I can’t wait to get back to it!
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I can’t wait for you to start it! Ahhhh! I wish I could reread it for the first time right now! Please come gush with me when you’re done! And happy reading, love! ββπxx
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The Bear and the Nightingale can’t wait to pick up book 2 and I really need to read the last book in the broken earth trilogy, I absolutely loved the first 2 books.
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You are in for some GOOD reading, love! I hope you had an amazing holiday season! And I can’t wait for you (and your candles) to have an amazing 2018! ββπxx
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Thank you so much! Funny you mentioned the candles I was just thinking about which to send you π
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OH MY GOSH! DID CHRISTMAS COME AGAIN ALREADY? ββπxx
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LOL
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The Bear and the Nightingale! ππ
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SO thankful I received an ARC or book two to light a fire under my ass to read this series! Hahaha! I hope you had an amazing holiday, beautiful! ββπxx
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You too! π
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Iβm so glad to see The Bear and the Nightingale and Strange the Dreamer on this list! They were definitely two of my favourites this past year as well! Iβll check out the others you loved. βΊοΈ
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Awh, this makes my heart so happy! They were both… beyond words! I hope you had an amazing holiday season, love! ββπxx
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