Top 5 Wednesday: 2017 Honorable Mentions

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Hosted by the Top 5 Wednesday Goodreads Group

Hola, gang! So, I’m doing something a little different for this week’s Top 5 Wednesday. Today’s topic is your top five books for the year. Well, I already have another post planned for that coming (if I can keep to my schedule) on Saturday. Initially, I was going to skip this week’s post. But then I realized something: I’ve got a lot of honorable mentions I want to give a shout out to. So, this week I’m counting down my top five honorable mentions! Now let’s get on with the show:

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (Released February 26, 2013): I was in a pretty serious reading slump when I decided to pick this book up, and it pulled me right out. It’s a very heavy book about forgiveness and whether everyone deserves it. It takes place across two time periods: the Holocaust and modern day. It’s a powerful and heavy story. It really struck a deep chord with me. Even though I don’t necessarily agree with one character’s choice during the end, I still thought this was a standout novel grappling with complex issues. Easily one of the better books I read this year.
The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune (Released July 20, 2015): Introduced to me by a friend, this book was easily the best surprise of 2017. It’s a hilarious fantasy novel that serves as both satire and original story. On top of that, it’s super gay. Sam Haversford AKA Sam of Wilds has easily become one of my favorite male characters of all time. If you need a good laugh, check out this book in 2018 and maybe it’ll make one of your year-end lists.
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (Released November 15, 2016): I don’t read many memoirs, but I had to make an exception for this one. Anna Kendrick is probably one of my favorite celebrities working today. Still, I wasn’t expecting much. Actors are very rarely good writers, so I was expecting something mediocre but passable. Instead Anna gave us a very funny, engaging look into her Hollywood journey and young adult life. She’s witty and self-deprecating, never shying away from unfavorable details to make herself look good. I still find myself thinking about little anecdotes she shared, chuckling to myself. I don’t expect Anna to become the Next Great American Novelist, but I would gladly read anything else she writes. A great effort.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (Released February 28, 2017): Despite only rating it four stars, this book is one that has stuck with me all year. And, honestly? I have to credit all of that to our antihero protagonist, Alosa Kalligan. So rarely are female characters allowed to be morally ambiguous, and Alosa is unapologetically so. Her entire goal is to steal from another pirate crew so that hers can find a lost treasure. Amazing! Granted, she is still under the thumb of her father, but I really hope we’re going to see her branch out from that in the next book. Alosa is exactly the kind of spitfire that makes or breaks a novel, and she brings life to this story and then some. I stand by everything I said in my review earlier this year. Definitely one of the better and least tropey YA books to come out of 2017.
Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh (Released May 16, 2017): Speaking of books I actually reviewed, this book also receives a glowing recommendation from me. I loved these characters and their story. Mariko is such a departure from The Wrath and the Dawn’s Shahrazad, relying on her smarts rather than her brashness. The twist was great, a unique spin on one of my favorite tropes. The world-building was excellent as well, though I hope to learn more about the magic in the rest of the series. All-in-all, an excellent start to an obviously great series. I can’t wait for the next installment!

What do you think of my picks? Did you love any books this year that don’t quite make your best list? If not, let me know what you favorite books were in the comments!