Top 14 Books of 2014

This year I discovered so many new favorite books! When I went through the 84 books I read this year, I spent forever trying to narrow down to the 14 I was going to recognize as my top 14 books of 2014. I honestly couldn't narrow the list smaller than 16 and I'm still sad about the awesome books I'm not including. For a lot of these, I wasn't expecting to love them as much as I did so that makes them even more special! Because I rated most of these 5 stars, I'm going to discuss them in the order I read them this year instead of trying to determine highest to lowest favorite.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - 5 stars

The first book of 2014 jumped to my all-time favorites list in a heartbeat! I've mentioned this in just about every TTT post and will forever rave about it. It made me so emotional: heartbroken, relieved, frustrated, depressed, elated... I felt everything in this story. I loved reading about Afghanistan, the complex characters, and the struggles they faced. This story is about trying to cope with and redeem one's self for deeply rooted guilt and regret and it was nothing short of a masterpiece in my mind.

Shark Out of Water by Jenn Cooksey - 4 stars

This is the third book in the Grab Your Pole series (mature YA/NA contemporary romance). I rated the first book four stars and the second book three stars so I was expecting to just decently enjoy this as well, but the EMOTIONS this book evoked within me were incredible! This series deals with situations and relationships that the main characters (Camie and Tristan) are foreign to so these books explore them and their friends trying to adjust, understand, and communicate with each other. There is a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding that drives these passionate characters apart from each other. It's so frustrating because you just want them to solve their issues, but the issues are relate-able or at the very least understandable for these types of characters. When everything comes together at the end of this book, I cried like a baby because this interesting duo was just too beautiful! I never wrote a review on this book, which is probably why I wrote so much just now. Anyway, I loved it so much!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - 5 stars

I think every YA contemporary romance fan has read this book and if not, they should! And don't let the title fool you. It isn't cheesy; just a super sweet, fun story full of quirks and personality!

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - 4 stars

This was another one I enjoyed more than I expected! It's a very fun, light read that has great and serious conflicts. I LOVED the romance, the fantasy intrigued me rather than scared me off, and the storytelling was wonderful with good pacing. Meadows had a way of telling the fantasy, conflicts, and romance of the story so beautifully. I rated this 4 stars but couldn't stop thinking about it and its sequels (which I will for sure read in 2015) all year!

This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Grace Earl - 5 stars

Esther was so relatable and I'm so happy I read her story. Check out my review for all my thoughts of Esther's life because I cannot possibly explain them all right here. :)

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - 5 stars

For someone who wasn't entirely thrilled with the first two books in TID, this amazed me! All of the connections that were made with TMI and its characters, the way everything came full circle... absolutely wonderful! I teared and choked up multiple times, was delighted by the humor and joy of its journey, and I loved all the characters more than I ever have!

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge - 5 stars

Yet another one that surprised the crap out of me for loving it! I mainly read it because it was a spin off of Beauty and the Beast and my two of my friends really wanted to read it so I thought, okay, might as well. It was fantasy and kinda creepy (things I'm not a huge fan of) but it was dark and I was addicted to it! I fell in love with the love interest who was also creepy (loving him creeped me out) and the ending was incredible! I totally recommend it!

Where She Went by Gayle Forman - 5 stars

I loved this much more than If I Stay! Probably because the ending was so perfect. Loved! For my full review click here!

We Were Liars by e. lockhart - 5 stars

I'm not even going to say what I loved about this book because everyone should go into this book knowing nothing about it. Seriously, just jump in! So good!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han - 5 stars

What a page-turner! Having all of Lara Jean's love letters accidentally sent out to past crushes was such an interesting plot, but what I loved most was getting to know the relationship between Lara Jean and her sisters and her and Josh! So sweet and heartwarming!

Prodigy by Marie Lu - 5 stars

Marie Lu is SO good at writing action sequences! They're simply amazing and the awesome plot kept me guessing the possibilities. I liked how all the characters are developed and was torn between who I wanted to be in a relationship with whom.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover - 5 stars

Colleen Hoover never disappoints! All of her books have differing characters, complications, backgrounds, and plots, and they're always so good! I loved Sydney and Ridge and the ending was so satisfying! I reread the ending twice as soon as I finished the book because it was such a beautiful conclusion.

Four Summers by Nyrae Dawn - 4 stars

Huge surprise! Okay, so every book in this list except CoHo's surprised me ;) This book is about a girl who has been living in a lake house her entire life and works around the lake houses during the summer months as guests rent out the cabins. It explores four summers that a specific family with two boys rent the same cabin. Romance ensues and the story covers the relationship that blooms between Charlotte and Nate each summer they are together. I felt all the feels and it was the perfect summer read!

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han - 4 stars

This is the second book in the Summer trilogy and I loved it the most because of the progress that was made among Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad.

Take Me On by Katie McGarry - 4 stars

Of the 6 books I had read by Katie McGarry at the time, Take Me On was my second favorite, after Pushing the Limits of course! ;) I haven't loved any of the relationships in McGarry's books as much as I love Echo and Noah's, but this is closest! The thing that makes me consistently knock a star from McGarry's books is that at some parts I feel like you can tell a woman wrote the guy's perspective. They're so emotional to the point of being boarder line cheesy and it ends up being too much for me. But I've enjoyed all the relationships and the plot is always intriguing. This book had the least amount of cheesiness so it bothered me least and the kickboxing kickassery of Haley was awesome!

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry - 5 stars

I love Echo and Noah! Did you hear me? I LOVE ECHO AND NOAH SO MUCH! I'm so happy Katie McGarry decided to continue their story and write their happily ever after! Gaaah perfection!

Honorable Mentions: (Other 4 and 5 star rated books)

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Did any of my favorites match yours? Tell me what your favorites were! 
Thanks for reading!


Holly