Monthly Recommendations: Books to Read in 2016

Monthly Recommendations is a Goodreads group created by Trina (Between Chapters) and Kayla Rayne. In December we are recommending our favourite books that we think people should read in 2016!

There will be a lot of very well known and popular books in my list and the majority of people will probably have read or at least started them. But I am including them because they are some of my all time favourite books and I’m sure that there are still some people out there somewhere who haven’t read them. - Jen

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

It’s Harry Potter. No further explanation necessary.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

This series doesn’t have the greatest of beginnings, but persevere because it definitely gets a whole lot better. It ended up being one of the best series I have read.

   

Veronica Mars books by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

These books are an absolute must read for anyone who was a fan of the TV show. The writing was fantastic and felt just like a TV episode, particularly if you listened to the audiobook.

The Martian by Andy Weir

This was probably one of my favourite reads of 2015. The story, the writing, the characters, the humour, the science, everything about this book was amazing. You can read my review of The Martian if you are interested. 

Confess by Colleen Hoover

This was another of my favourite reads of 2015. Definitely my favourite book by Colleen Hoover and one of the best new adult contemporaries I have read. If you wish to read it, here is the link to my review of Confess.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Yet another of my favourite books of 2015. This is a YA contemporary romance and everything about it was amazing. Hands down my favourite Morgan Matson book. Second Chance Summer was one of the very first books I reviewed and I have included the link to it here.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I read this one several years ago now and it still stands out as my all time favourite Nicholas Sparks book. This one was darker and I loved the mystery and suspense which made it different to his usual books.

There are also my favourite trilogies that I included in my November recommendations that I didn’t want to repeat here so you can go and check out that post here.

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For the sake of not being repetitive, I won't list Harry Potter and The Mortal Instruments (and The Infernal Devices series which was recommended last month. I do recommend them though!). So here's a few books and series that I think everyone should read at least once. - Mel.

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas.

I think just about everyone has heard of this series by now, and for good reason! This series is my second favourite series only after Harry Potter and it knocked The Infernal Devices down a spot. Throne of Glass is a fantasy series about an assassin named Celaena who is retrieved from a labour prison to compete against other assassins and thieves for the position of King's Champion. Each book just keeps getting better, and I definitely recommend making it to Queen of Shadows, because that ending is epic! I can't wait for the next book! 

The Alchemist’s Key by Traci Harding

This has been one of my favourite books since my early teens and I’m currently rereading it! It’s a really interesting book with old science vs new technology, ghosts and a centuries old mystery! It’s a lot of fun and I highly recommend it! [Hint: fellow Aussies can find it in used book stores really cheap! Online prices are a bit steep.]

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book is raved about a bit, but I think that’s for good reason. It was recommended to me back in 2013 and I read it in January 2014. I had heard a lot of positive things about it and I’m so glad I read it! It’s one of those stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished it.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

This is one of the few books by Sparks that I have actually read [I have almost his whole catalogue, but I much prefer fantasy over contemporary/chick lit]. It’s such a moving story about a girl trying to find her place in the world, and mending broken relationships. It had me laughing one minute and sobbing the next!

Risk by Fleur Ferris

This is an incredible book and definitely one that everyone needs to read! It deals with online predators and how it affects the lives of  those involved. Inspired by Ferris’ own experiences as a police officer and paramedic, the events in this book are terrifyingly real. Jen and I both rated it 5/5! You can read our review of it here. 

Soundless by Richelle Mead

I have tried to read Mead’s Vampire Academy series, but just was not able to get into them. Soundless though, is a stand alone fantasy based around Chinese folklore - two things that I am very interested in! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has been getting some mixed reviews, but I suggest it for those who are looking for a quick, entertaining read.

The Next Together by Lauren James

This book is a whole lot of genres all packed into one entertaining bundle! There’s dystopian, science fiction, contemporary, action, reincarnation… It’s so good! The whole book is written in prose, letters, files, emails, newspaper articles, etc, and follows the timelines of about four of Matt and Kate’s lives, each lifetime containing obstacles that threaten to tear them apart.

Mel's November 2015 Book Haul

I did a little bit of bargain shopping this month and got 4 of these books dirt cheap!

Stack top to bottom:

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong - This book came in the November YA Chronicles subscription box
Marked by PC and Kristin Cast - found in a local op shop for $3
The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa - Also found in a local op shop. This one was $1. There were 5 other books in the Iron Fey series there too, but I already have them. I was glad to get my hands on the novellas though! And thanks to mum for letting me know they were in the shop!
Alice in Zombieland and Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter - both also in the op shop for $1 and $1.50 respectively. I'm so happy with that hardcover edition!! 
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir - I finally found it!! It took a ridiculous amount of time for my usual book store to get this in!
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - I've started this and I'm loving it so far!
The Official Harry Potter Colouring Book - YAY, COLOURING!!!

Side

The Next Together by Lauren James - This book was in the October YA Chronicles subscription box.
Geek Girl, All That Glitters by Holly Smale - I'd been waiting for this to come in the smaller format so it matched the other books in the series already on my shelf.

Jen's November 2015 Book Haul

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn - This is a short story that I've already read and loved.
Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass - The novella collection to The Selection series which I've been really wanting to start but am still waiting for the last book in the series to be released.
Mind Games by Kiersten White - The first book in a fantasy/sci-fi dystopian duology that I've been really wanting to read.
Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins - The companion novel to the Sweet Evil trilogy that I own and am hoping to get around to reading soon.
Burying Water by K.A. Tucker - The first book in her new series. I read and really liked her Ten Tiny Breaths series so I automatically started buying this series.
The Big Bang Theory: The Official Trivia Quiz Book by Adam Faberman - This book is great and makes me want to rewatch the TV show again because apparently I don't know the episodes as well as I thought I did!
This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith - I have been wanting this book for months ever since I read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and loved it.
Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken - The Darkest Minds trilogy has been on my TBR for so long and now that I finally have the collection of novellas I can start reading the series.
Grave Mercy & Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - Books 1 and 2 in the His Fair Assassin trilogy. I've owned the third book in the series for months but haven't been able to find the first two at a decent price until now.
Soundless by Richelle Mead - This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2015 and I can't wait to start reading it!
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - This was another of my 2015 most anticipated releases. It is the first book in a series and I normally hate to start a series when I don't have the rest of the books to read immediately after. But this book has been so hyped up for months that I couldn't wait and just had to read it as soon as I got it. And it didn't disappoint. I loved it and it definitely lived up to all the hype. 

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas 

This was the most prized book I received this month! Mel was amazing and got me this for my birthday when she went to Sarah's signing event in Melbourne. 

I already own all the books in the series so far but in paperback and the UK covers. This is the stunning US hardcover edition, and it's signed! 

November YA Chronicles Unboxing

November's YA Chronicles box was themed What nightmares are made of.
This box had some really cool things in it, so let's get started!

Here's the bookmark:

And next: Unicorn Blood tea! This tea has apple, vanilla bean, lavender, cardamom, rosella and ginger. And it's really nice! So different from other teas I've had, which is a pleasant change.

And then there was this: A Monsters Inc decal to stick on a window [or a wall?].

There was also a Dark Mark temporary tattoo, but my photos were really poorly done, so instead of uploading a high quality blurry photo, I've just made do with putting it in the last photo below.

Anyway! Here's the book!

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong.
I had not heard anything about this book before I opened up this box, so here's a quick description:

Riley Vasquez is haunted by the brutal murder of the couple she was babysitting for.

Max Cross is suffering under the shadow of a life-altering diagnosis he doesn’t dare reveal.

The last thing either of them wants is to spend a weekend away at a therapy camp alongside five other teens with “issues.” But that’s exactly where they are when three masked men burst in to take the group hostage.

The building has no windows. The exits are sealed shut. Their phones are gone. And their captors are on a killing spree.

Riley and Max know that if they can’t get out, they’ll be next—but they’re about to discover that even escape doesn’t equal freedom.

Here is everything all together, including the Dark Mark tattoo!

Again, photos not great this time around! I just need a better setup!

December 2015 TBR

Jen

Due to a sudden and unexpected change with my work situation, I now have much less time for reading so this is probably a very ambitious TBR. This month I really want to focus on reading some story collections and also on finishing up some series before the end of the year, as well as a couple of books that I just really want to read.  

Rapture by Lauren Kate (The fourth book in the Fallen series that I started in November.)

True by Hilary Duff (The third and final book in the Elixir trilogy.)

The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Books 6 to 9 in the Little House on the Prairie series)

My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins (Unfortunately Christmas takes place in Summer in the Southern hemisphere, but this seems like a good book to read in December anyway.)

The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen edited by Maria Tatar

Aesop’s Fables by Aesop 
Soundless by Richelle Mead (I haven’t been hearing the greatest things about this book but I want to read it anyway, and it is also the December book pick for the Perustopia Book Club.)

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (I bought this book months ago and still haven’t got around to reading it yet!)


Mel
I'm just going to read whatever I feel like this month! I do have to complete my Goodreads challenge, so I might be throwing in a few short reads to finish it up. I do have a few library books to get to, so I'll list those at least.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dream Theives by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
The Astrologer's Daughter by Rebecca Lim

November 2015 Wrap Up

Jen

November was a really good reading month for me. I got through a lot of books, but more importantly I read books that I had really been wanting to get to and finally read some of the books that had been sitting unread on my shelves for the longest time. 
 

Never Too Far by Abbi Glines → 5/5

Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines → 5/5

Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines → 5/5

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin → 4.5/5

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick) → all 5/5

What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton → 3/5

Five Ways To Fall by K.A. Tucker → 3/5

Devoted by Hilary Duff → 4/5

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn → 4/5

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff → 5/5

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer → 4.5/5

Off the Page by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer → 4.75/5

November 9 by Colleen Hoover → 3/5

Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines → 5/5

Simple Perfection by Abbi Glines → 3/5

Fallen by Lauren Kate → 4/5

Torment by Lauren Kate → 2/5

Passion by Lauren Kate → 4/5

Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate → 3/5

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey by Bob McCabe → 5/5

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder → 2/5

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder → 4/5

By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder → 4/5

Mel
Whilst I did do a lot of reading this month, I've had so many books on the go that I didn't actually finish many. Oh well, I've had loads on this month like travelling down to Melbourne for some book shopping with Jen and to meet Sarah J Maas! Definitely the highlight of the month! I also picked up crochet as a hobby, which may not actually last, but hey, it's fun for the time being! I've also been reading through my friends' manuscript, which is pretty good for a middle grade book. I've also been planning my own book out a bit more, and I'm excited to really dig in and get it going! I've already changed a few things about it, like the perspective and how I want one character to act, but I'm loving the direction it's going! I hope to get a lot written over summer, because bugger going out in that heat!

The Next Together by Lauren James → 5/5
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas → 5/5