Hello lovelies! How are you? Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Artsy Girl and the topic this week is: Favorite Books Released in the Last Ten Years. I love this theme and I’m so excited to talk about some books I don’t feature as often (and a few I never shut up about), so let’s get into it!
2019 – The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
I’m putting this one on the list over The Bear and the Nightingale, even though I love both, since I have fewer 2019 releases to choose from. And I talk about this one less often, despite it probably being my favorite book in the series. It’s got even more fairytale elements and magical creatures than the first books and I’m so grateful to Katherine Arden for bringing Vasya’s arc to such a truly satisfying conclusion.
2018 – The Book of M by Peng Shepherd
I usually have a really hard time picking my favorite book of the year, but I’ve been telling everyone, their mother and their pets that The Book of M was the best thing I read in 2018 and I stand by it. It’s got the most original world building, an amazing cast of characters and an ending I still haven’t gotten over.
2017- Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
I knew I had to put at least one Anna-Marie McLemore novel on this list and after debating it with myself for a long time (like, a really long time) I’ve decided that Wild Beauty’s still my favorite. There’s just something about the lush, garden setting and all the fierce Nomeolvides women that nothing else can compare too. And I’m in love with McLemore’s writing style. It’s so beautiful and visceral in a way that evokes all the senses.
2016 – The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride
I know Eimear McBride’s fragmented stream of consciousness style isn’t for everyone, but I love the frenetic pulse of it. It’s the kind of writing that feels unpredictable and untamed. I was also utterly swept up in this dark, intense love story between a young actress and an older, more successful actor.
2015 – Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente
A book I loved so much I actually wrote a review for once: “Radiance is a alt-history space opera noir set in a solar-system where every planet has been colonized by mankind. The moon is home to a silent-film industry. Uranus has cities of towers grown from pink and green and yellow anemones. Pluto is covered in fields of infanta flowers and connected to it’s moon by a bridge of blooms. The universe Valente creates is so wildly imaginative and vividly brought to life – I wouldn’t have minded one bit if the whole novel was just a guided tour of the cosmos, describing each planet in rich, glorious detail.”
2014 – I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
I reread this book earlier this year and I loved it just as much, or even more the second time around. It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking portrait of sibling love and rivalry, infused with art and grief. There’s an emotional complexity to it that I think is pretty rare in contemporaries and that, along with the gorgeous writing makes it one of my all time favorites.
2013 – Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near
I remember reading this book for the first time with cartoon hearts in my eyes because I couldn’t believe it was real. I couldn’t believe a story could be so aesthetic and pink and dark and poetic and weird and full of fairies and unicorns, but it is. It’s my whole aesthetic in book form and I love it a lot.
2012 – Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
This lyrical and atmospheric Peter Pan retelling is one of the few books on this list I haven’t re-read yet, because it broke my heart and crushed my soul. I know I’ll want to go back to it someday though, it’s too hauntingly beautiful not to.
2011 – Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
My mom bought me the Norwegian translation of this book and I nearly didn’t read it, cause I found the name Karou too stupid for words. I almost didn’t read my favorite book, by my favorite author, because of a name. I wish I could tell you that taught me my lesson about being petty, but nah.
2010 – Just Kids by Patti Smith

Here’s a book I don’t mention a lot! Patti Smith’s memoir about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe is a beautiful exploration of friendship, art and creativity. It’s been ages since I read it, so my memory of it is pretty hazy. But I remember carrying it around in my bag for weeks after I finished it, cause I wasn’t ready to let it go.
This is a brilliant post. I love it! (And am probably going to do it myself, ngl…) But this is such an interesting list, too. I’ve only read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which I liked but definitely need to reread. (And lol on Karou’s name, I had felt the same way but powered through as well.) I’ve been dying to read The Bear and the Nightengale, and seeing your plugs for the trilogy gets me more and more excited. Definitely adding some of these to my list like The Book of M. They sound awesome.
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Aw, thank you so much! I hope you do, cause I’d love to read your list! I’m happy to know I’m not the only one who thinks Karou is a stupid name. And I love that you’re excited to read The Bear and the Nightingale! It’s such a wonderful series, I really hope you’ll love it as much as I do 😊
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The Book of M does sound good.
My TTT.
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It’s wonderful 😊
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This is a great list! I can’t wait to read some of McLemore’s books, I’ve heard so many great things about her books, I can’t wait to discover them 🙂
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Thank you so much! I’m so excited for you to discover McLemore’s books too 😊
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Great list! I really need to read The Bear and the Nightingale and Wild Beauty, and clearly I need to check out The Book of M, too!
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Thank you so much! They’re all fantastic reads, I hope you’ll love them if you pick them up 😊
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I still need to read Laini Taylor- her books looks so fun.
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I think she’s a wonderful writer, I hope you’ll enjoy her books when you get to them! 😊
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I really wanted to like “I’ll give you the sun” but it was just not for me xx great post
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That’s just how it goes sometimes! Thank you 😊
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I loved I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN so much but couldn’t figure how to add it to my list. Glad to see it on yours. My 10 years of favorites
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It’s a wonderful read! Thank you so much 😊
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The book of M has been on my TBR list for sooo long! Seeing it on your list assures me it won’t be bad ❤ I'm currently reading The map of salt and stars but after I finish it I will go straight to The book of M!
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The Book of M is wonderful, it’s such a beautiful and original dystopian! I hope you’ll enjoy it ❤️ And I look forward to hearing your thoughts on The Map of Salt and Stars, I really want to read that one!
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I will let you know 😀 I have high hopes, so far it is absolutely beautiful!
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I love the Nomeolvides women so much. I love it when books are about different generations, it’s not something we see a lot in YA. I have Radiance on my shelf, but haven’t read it yet. Seeing it hear renews my curiosity!
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They’re incredible ❤️ Seeing different generations, especially of women, is one my favorite things too! I hope you’ll enjoy Radiance, it’s a beautifully written book!
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I love the cover of The Book of M ❤ I will have to check it out! 🙂
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It’s so eye-catching! I hope you’ll love it 😊
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I’ll Give You the Sun is one of my absolute favourites, it was my 2014 pick too! It’s just so artistic and perfect, the writing style is my favourite. You’ve included a lot of really unique sounding books that I haven’t seen before, I’ll definitely be checking some out (even if it’s just because the covers are aesthetic!)
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Yes, I’ll Give You the Sun is so beautifully and artistically written! That’s my favorite thing about it too ❤️ I’m so happy I could introduce you to some new books (with beautiful covers) and I hope you found some you’ll enjoy reading! Thank you 😊
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omg the cover of The Lesser Bohemians is so gorgeous!
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Agreed, I’m so in love with it ❤️
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I love I’ll Give You THe Sun ❤
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Me too! It’s beautiful ❤️
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Ooo I love how different your choices are and I just added the Fairytale one to my TBR because I love weird and odd books like that. I’ve never heard of it but thank you for putting it unto my radar.
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Aw, thank you so much! That makes me so happy! I love weird, odd, magical books too ❤️ I hope you’ll enjoy it!
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I really hope to read the winter of witch soon! And I absolutely love daughter of smoke and bone!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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I love Laini Taylor’s writing! I hope you’ll enjoy the Winter of the Witch as much as I did 😊
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Ooh, I love the idea of breaking it down and picking one book per year! I’m still yet to read Girl in the Tower even though I loved the first book. It’s such an original and atmospheric series!
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Thank you so much! I hope you’ll enjoy The Girl in the Tower when you get to it 😊 It wasn’t my favorite in the series, but it so worth it to get to the last one.
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I’ll admit that I haven’t read most of these! But Radiance and The Bear and the Nightingale series are both on my tbr – glad to have even more incentive to read them 😀 And I also LOVED Wild Beauty – such a unique and lush book!!
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I hope you’ll love both Radiance and The Bear and the Nightingale as much as I do 😊 And yes, Wild Beauty is a masterpiece 💕
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Okay, oh my gosh, wow, Radiance sounds like honestly the most amazing thing ever, and I’m half-tempted to go buy it right this very second, so thank you for that!
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I’m so glad you find Radiance intriguing, it’s so underrated! If you’re okay with some mysteries remaining mysteries and love lyrical writing and world building – I think you will love it!
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I can’t wait to read DOSAB and Wild Beauty! Amazing list 🙂
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They’re both wonderful reads 😊 Thank you so much!
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I caved and bought the UK edition of The Book of M, along with the US one, and I have ZERO regrets. I sigh and smile like an idiot every time look at it. 😀 And I, um, actually haven’t read a Anna-Marie McLemore book yet (*hides*) but it’s definitely one of my goals this year! I’ll probably start with either Wild Beauty or Blanca and Roja. And seriously, you should write reviews more often. I would gobble them up so fast. Your description for Radiance is gorgeous and spot-on. ❤
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I would have done the same thing, I’m so in love with that cover 😍 I’m really excited for you to read Anna-Marie McLemore and tell me what you think! Aw, thank you so much Kathy! That means a lot coming from the queen of gorgeous and insightful book reviews! ❤️
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I’ve got Daughter of Smoke and Bone but haven’t read it yet. I’m not too sure what’s stopping me though. I’ll have to just take the leap for it especially as it’s one of your favourites!
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brilliant list! I absolutely love daughters of smoke and bone and winter of the witch!
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I recently bought Daughter of Smoke and Bone after reading a preview and found it difficult to put down. Can’t wait to read the rest!
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