Best Books of 2017

WINNER: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
John Boyne explores the full life of Cyril Avery, a boy born to a poor unwed Irish mother in the 1940's, raised by emotionally negligent (though hilariously funny) adoptive parents, who experiences the entire 20th century as a gay man, who enters the 21st century in awe at how his world has grown.
This book will make you laugh, cry, and learn about the complex times in which we live. This is Boyne's masterpiece in his writing history; you will not forget the experience of his words.





General Fiction: Beartown by Fredrik Backman and This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Beartown is a departure from Backman's Ove bestseller, but this powerful story of hockey and rape culture in a small town is not to be missed / Frankel's book is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching novel of how a family adjusts and morphs to fit the world of their transgender child into their changing expectations of the definition of family

Honorable Mention: Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney, Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout*,  Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, The Power by Naomi Alderman, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti




YA: Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
In our time of racial divide, it is powerful to look back into history, at Tulsa in the 1920's, and remember a time of great racial strife that led to murder and mayhem, as well as to changes in outlook and belief systems.

Honorable Mention: Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Mr. 60% by Clete Barrett Smith

Historical Fiction: Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford / Lightning Men (Darktown#2) by Thomas Mullen
Love encompasses the lives of three amazing children, as they grow through the early days of Seattle and find their stories again at the 1963 World's Fair. No one delves into the hearts of children like Jamie Ford, and his ability to teach us and make us feel for his characters is unparalleled / Lightening Men examines the early days of the first black policemen in post-WWII Atlanta. Powerful characterization set in a fascinating age - this setting will embed itself into your dreams and your thoughts for days.

Honorable Mention: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See, We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter,  A Tangled Mercy by Joy Jordan-Lake, Girl in Disguise by Greer Macallister

Mystery: The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz and The Dry by Jane Harper
Magpie will take you back to the days of Agatha Christie, with intelligent twists, turns, and red herrings. Intricate and incredibly well-written, this mystery will keep you turning pages / Jane Harper is the hot new mystery writer of 2017, and The Dry is well deserving of all the praise. Australia, a cynical policeman with a history, a dead boy and a false accusation will keep you reading well past your bedtime.
Honorable Mention: Kill the Father by Sandrone Dazieri, Midnight at the Bright Idea Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan, Unsub by Meg Gardiner, Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent, Odd Child Out by Gilly Macmillan, If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio


Science Fiction: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
What if there was a box that could take you to an alternative universe where you could see what your life would have been like if you had made different choices? What if there were thousands of these life choices? How does one get home, how does one appreciate the life they chose, and what makes life worth value? Trust me, you will read this book in a day, demanding that everyone leave you alone.
Honorable Mention: All Our Wrongs Today by Elan Mastai, Artemis by Andy Weir

Adult Fantasy: An Unkindess of Magicians by Kat Howard
For those of you missing Harry Potter, this grown up version of magicians and their lives amongst unmagical humans is very compelling. Dark without being too disturbing, contests to the death, an evil entity, and a powerful female lead - one of the best adult fantasies I have read in years.
Honorable Mention: Beasts of Unusual Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang, Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman








YA Fantasy:  Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
A magical city far far away, an entity that can enter your dreams, and a young man destined for greatness...this is an incredible, lyrical journey into a brand new world.
Honorable Mention: Caraval by Stephanie Garber, Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor, Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, The Gilded Cage by Vic James, Invictus by Ryan Gaudin

Memoir: The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
The story Nina Riggs tells, of her battle and death from fast-moving breast cancer is gorgeous and sad, yet also funny use of gallows humor, and ultimately a very profound look at life, family, and the end we all face.
Honorable Mention: What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Reading With Patrick by Michelle Kuo, What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken







Non-Fiction, History: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The Osage tribe, richest cultural group of the 20th century oil boom, was hunted and murdered for their head rights; this story tells of the heroic FBI agents who found the trail of the killers and brought them to justice. Un-put-downable!
Honorable Mention: The Jersey Brothers by Sally Mott Freeman, Irena's Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo,  The Immortal Irishman by  Timothy Egan


Non-Fiction, Social Justice: A Colony in a Nation by Chris Hayes
Looking back through history, MSNBC host Chris Hayes explores American history that led to the racial issues of today - fascinating and eye-opening book.
Honorable Mention: White Like Me by Tim Wise, The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, White Trash by Nancy Isenberg






Non-Fiction, Science: Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem by David M. Oshinsky
Every medical disease, plague, vaccine, cutting edge discovery in medicine walked through the door of this stories hospital; this is a fascinating look at our history.
Honorable Mention: Dreamland by Sam Quinones, The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Non-Fiction, Self-Help: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight
Okay, I hate self-help books but honestly this one is hilarious and seriously spot-on! I still use my 'F*ck' list I created to bring a semblance of peace to my life:)