This week the Debs are sharing their favorite reads from 2016.
I tend to read various age groups, drawn to a book because of a must-read premise, so my fave books from 2016 are both adult and young adult. Though, it just so happens all of these novels are historical fiction. Looks like I did quite a bit of reading in my own genre.
Without further ado – and in no particular order – here are my favorite novels from this past year.
SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys
Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.
THE LOST GIRLS by Heather Young
A stunning debut novel that examines the price of loyalty, the burden of regret, the meaning of salvation, and the sacrifices we make for those we love, told in the voices of two unforgettable women linked by a decades-old family mystery at a picturesque lake house.
A FINE IMITATION by Amber Brock
Set in the glamorous 1920s, A FINE IMITATION is an intoxicating debut that sweeps readers into a privileged Manhattan socialite’s restless life and the affair with a mysterious painter that upends her world, flashing back to her years at Vassar and the friendship that brought her to the brink of ruin.
MODERN GIRLS by Jennifer S. Brown
“Brown pens the story of a Jewish immigrant mother and unmarried daughter, both pregnant and neither planning on it, in 1930s New York City. The result is a thought-provoking tale of parents and children and the sacrifices they make for one another. Exploring our dreams and choices and the way they intersect to form our lives, MODERN GIRLS is a heartwarming, haunting and memorable debut.”—Pam Jenoff, international bestselling author of THE LAST SUMMER OF CHELSEA BEACH
A CRIMINAL MAGIC by Lee Kelly
Magic is powerful, dangerous and addictive – and after passage of the 18th Amendment, it is finally illegal.
Also, A CRIMINAL MAGIC was just ordered by The CW for an hour-long drama. I’m super excited about seeing this novel come to life!
OUTRUN THE MOON by Stacey Lee
“Full of beautiful turns of phrase, lessons in Chinese customs and superstitions, and a refreshing protagonist representing intersectional diversity, this is a must-read for followers of historical fiction . . . . powerful, evocative, and thought-provoking.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
THE GIRL FROM THE SAVOY by Hazel Gaynor
“A disarmingly charming story of a young woman determined to make her dreams a reality… as sweet as a love song, as energetic as a tap dance and full of dazzling details about life in London after the disasters of the Great War. I won’t soon forget Dolly Lane…”—Jeanne Mackin, author of THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN
STALKING JACK THE RIPPER by Kerri Maniscalco
Presented by James Patterson’s new children’s imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion…
Did any of these titles make your list of Top Books of 2016? You’ll also notice a few of these novels are set during the 1920s, like my own novel, BECOMING BONNIE. Guess I had the Roaring Twenties on the brain 🙂