Now that 2014 is nearly drawing to a close and I find myself reading a book that I certainly won’t finish before the new year, I thought this would be a good time to get all superlative and name the best books that I found myself reading this year.

The List of Contenders:

And Here are the 5 Books I Loved Most:

The Hands Down Can’t Stop Squealing About Fave:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I read this book basically in one day – it was a mad, crazy, obsessive daylong reading spree in which putting the book down felt painful and wrong until I’d finished. My apologies to the children, husband and pets neglected on February 19, 2014.

In many small ways, it felt like this book was written exactly for me – like the author had captured a piece of my soul and put it on paper. While I can’t necessarily relate to the WHOLE story (don’t have a twin sister or a psychologically diagnosed mental illness – also don’t write fanfiction and am significantly older than 18) – so much of it I could definitely relate to and I quickly found myself rooting for Cath and waiting for certain plot events to come about. I, simply put, loved this book and kinda wish I could read it all over again today.

The Lofty Historical Fiction Book I Loooved:

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

I’m glad I finally took the time to read this book – I started it once years ago and left it unfinished, balking at the complexity of the many stories being told in one book. I think appreciated it now more than I would have back then anyway. This is a fantastic story that touches on a lot of subjects that anyone can relate to – from being a mother to a daughter, a sister, a wife – hardships faced, adapting to new cultures and continually learning to pick up the pieces of our lives and start anew when needed. I think this will be a book that stays with me for a long time.

The Classic Book I Finally Got Around to Enjoying:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

How have I never read this book before? I instantly fell in love with this series and this family. It’s equal parts coming of age story / amazing science fiction time / space travel story. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

The Kids Book I Might Have Loved More Than My Kids:

Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman

This was such a fun, quick read and immensely ‘read out loud – able’. The illustrations are adorable, if not always terribly consistent with the story and Gaiman’s story telling continues to be superb. The whole family loved this one.

The Series That Keeps Getting Better:

One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde

I was absolutely blown away by this book which is impressive when you consider it is 6th in a series. The fact that the author was able to surprise and delight me in book six is really rather remarkable. There are so many elements to this book (and this series) that it seems impossible to describe but I particularly loved the descriptions of Bookworld and also the description of experiencing the real world for the first time through a Bookworld character’s eyes.

What was the best book you read this year?

You can read reviews for the rest of the books I read in 2014 here.