It’s that time of year again people. The time where we, the voracious and obsessive readers of LGBTQ romance, look back and reflect on what an amazing year of books it’s been. If you’re anything like us then you’re already compiling your 2018 “To Read” list, but first, let’s share some of our favourite books from the year just gone.
Over the next few days we’ll be posting our top reads of the year. Please feel free to tell us your own favourites, or simply comment on our choices.
One commenter from each of these posts will win a $5 store credit with Dreamspinner Press.
CHRIS
The Rebuilding Year Audio Book (The Rebuilding Year #1) by Kaje Harper
How do you make an already great book better? Take Harper’s wonderful writing and give it to Gomez Pugh to narrate. This book barely beat out its top competitor (Empty Net by Avon Gale & Scott R. Smith) for my audiobook spot on this list, but there was something about this book that stuck with me. And I admit it is my not-so-secret desire to have as many people buy this so I can get book two eventually.
The Love Song of Sawyer Bell (Tour Dates #1) by Avon Gale
Granted there was not a lot of competition for the f/f slot, but even if there had been I think this would have come out on top. I picked this up after another reviewer had to drop it, and it was one of the best things to happen to me this year. I loved this book and the way it kept me glued to a kind of story that I normally would have passed over.
Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price
Think this is the only one on the list that didn’t get a review by me on the blog. JCP mentioned the release of the second edition on her newsletter and it intrigued me enough to give it a try even though vampires are not really my thing. And, yeah, it was awesome. Love the twist on the vampire lore and the fast pace kept me glued to my kindle.
Abroad (Abroad #1) by Liz Jacobs
My contemporary choice this year is split up between two books. The first is my favorite new author, Liz Jacobs with her wonderful book Abroad: Book One. This was just an amazing book, and even more impressive since it is her first published novel. I loved every single character here and it has me so excited to see what book two is like when it comes out in January.
(Note from the Future: Second book? Loved it!)
The Long and Winding Road (Bear, Otter and the Kid #4) by TJ Klune
Going from a first to a last, this book is my second contemporary choice because it was the emotional and utterly fulfilling conclusion to one of first m/m series I got heavily interested in when I first started reading m/m books. This series has been a long strings of ups and downs (emotionally) but this book caped off the story of Bear, Otter, and the Ty in one of the most lovely and best ways possible.
Choosing top short story was a real tough one this year, but Patron pulled out ahead mostly just because of how well it used its short page numbers to tell a complete and completely compelling story. Every page was beautifully crafted and had me entranced.
Boneyard (The Thaumaturge#2) by Cal Matthews
I think this one made the list because it proved me so wrong about certain opinions I had about the first book in the series. It took all this things I thought were flaws, and showed me just what could be done with them. I was deeply impressed.
Yeah, this was a story I would never think to want, but now can’t live without. I fell absolutely in love with this trans retelling of Peter Pan. It is such an absolute pleasure. And it might also hold the title of best cover as well. This is an absolute must read story.
Walking on Water by Matthew J. Metzger
I came to the conclusion early on that picking between my top two favorite trans books was going to be impossible, so one of them was going to have to take the fantasy slot instead. A retelling of The Little Mermaid, this book was a complete joy to read in its new form. Not only did I love the trans angle, but it took a common story and brought new life to it. And honestly Metzger is by far one of my favorite authors out there, and if I could I’d probably fill half this top ten with his books alone. This one was just my favorite of the several wonderful stories he put out there this year.
The Spires of Turris (LondonWells #1) by Christine Danse
This book easily won top sci-fi this year. I loved the Indiana Jones in Space! feel to the story. The technology used also had a more grounded feel than most sci-fi books I’ve read recently. I can’t wait till the story continues.
Some I’ve read, some not. But on the ones I’ve read I fully agree with your reviews. Looking forward to some great books this year.
Thanks for sharing your top books from last year. I loved the Rebuilding Year and The Long and Winding Road also, so will have to check out the others from your list.
Nearly thought I hadn’t read any, but i did read The Rebuilding Year ages ago.
Maybgive Hemavore a try from this list
A great list, my favourite of them has to be “The Long and Winding Road (Bear, Otter and the Kid #4)” by TJ Klune.
Thank you for sharing your choices. I have read a couple of them but now might have to take a look at more.
I loved Christina Lauren’s AUTOBOYOGRAPHY and especially Cale Dietrich’s THE LOVE INTEREST!
Thank you for sharing your list. Another one of my favorite reads of 2017 is On Davis Row by Nr Walker
That’s a great list. I must recognise the only one I’ve read is The Spires of Turris (a really good one), but I shall add the rest of them to my TBR pile
Those are some great books! And some of them I seem to have missed altogether during the past year. i totally agree on the Kaje Harper audio and also that Matthew Metzger is an author to watch.
Heard of them but only read one. I’ll have to add the others to my wishlist. Thank you for sharing your favorites.
I love lists like this one because most of these books I missed coming out and others I saw, but didn’t manage to get. It was a great way to remind me of great books that I missed.
Fun to read these lists. Can’t wait to see the others!
I’ve only read Hemovore from this list…the others sound really good
I haven’t read most of these titles. Some sound good that I added them to my TBR list.
Thanks for your tops. It’s not often I’m this current, but I did read Hemovore and agree about how good it is. Now I’m going to look into Spires.