Are you looking for a recommendation for yourself, or for a gift? Do you like my taste in books? (I hope so, or why are you here?) In December 2019, in honor of five years of keeping track of the books I read, I’ve picked my top recommendations of all time! These picks will be updated annually.
Books are listed alphabetically by author within each section. If there is no link to a review, it means I read it before I started reviewing here, and yes, I will be taking the excuse to reread an old favorite.
Fiction – series
Dresden Files, Jim Butcher (15 books, plus novellas, short stories, graphic novels, and a board game) – series of the year 2015 *
The Broken Earth, NK Jemisin (trilogy) – series of the year 2017 *
The Old Kingdom, Garth Nix (trilogy, plus 2 more books, plus novellas)
Checquy Files, Daniel O’Malley (2 books) – series of the year 2016 *
Tortall extended universe, Tamora Pierce (18 books, including the Beka Cooper trilogy, the in-progress Numair trilogy, and short stories) **
His Dark Materials, Phillip Pullman (2 trilogies plus 2 novellas)
Lock-In series, John Scalzi (2 books plus a novella) – book of the year 2017/series 2018 *
Shades of Magic, VE Schwab (trilogy) *
Sorcery and Cecilia, Caroline Stevermer and Patricia Wrede (trilogy) – runner-up series of the year 2017
Murderbot Diaries, Martha Wells (4 novellas and a novel forthcoming) – novellas of the year 2018 *
Fiction – standalone novels
American Gods, Neil Gaiman *
Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Stardust, Neil Gaiman **
The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster **
Circe, Madeline Miller
Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
Uprooted, Naomi Novik
Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel – book of the year 2015 ^
Vinegar Girl, Anne Tyler – book of the year 2016
The Martian, Andy Weir – book of the year 2015 ^
Non-fiction
The Poisoner’s Handbook, Deborah Blum – nonfiction of the year 2018
Stiff, Mary Roach (see other Mary Roach reviews)
Graphica
March, John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
Nimona, Noelle Stevenson – graphica of the year 2016 **
Habibi, Craig Thompson – graphica of the year 2016 *
* best for readers teen and up
** great for both kids and adults
^ I chose best-of awards in 2015, but did not review most of the books here
Dr. Kaitlyn Casimo 