The Best of 2017 – Lee’s List
2017 was an excellent reading year for me – in fact, I actually had trouble limiting my “Best of” list to ten. I’ve found my tastes have changed over the years, as I am reading more historical mysteries, but I still enjoy excellent contemporaries and historical romances. Here are ten of my favorite books of 2017, in no particular order.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
This was a hard book to read but the heroine was very endearing. Due to circumstances in her family life, Eleanor is alone but trying to learn how to live in today’s world with the help of others. Lots of sadness but humor too.
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The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn
A very creative story about a couple from the future going back in time to help Jane Austen survive her illness and recover her unfinished book.
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Something Like Happy by Eva Woods
Annie is in a rut but somehow finds herself in the cross-hairs of Polly, who is dying but is determined to live every day to the fullest and make others do the same. FYI, this is a tearjerker.
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A Song for Tomorrow by Alice Peterson
Another tearjerker, but based on a true story about a young woman diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Her dream is to record an album, even though she has trouble breathing. After I read the book, I went online to discover the true story and listened to her recordings on Youtube.
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The Fire by Night by Teresa Messimeo
One nurse is stationed in Europe and the other nurse is in a Japanese POW camp during World War II. As you might imagine, this is not the easiest book to read but it is intriguing.
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On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins
Two sisters turn to each other in their time of need even though they haven’t always been close. Ms. Higgins does these types of story so well that you don’t want her books to end.
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Beauty Like the Night by Joanna Bourne
It’s always a welcome sight when Ms. Bourne publishes a new novel, and this one doesn’t disappoint. She has such a way with her characters that you don’t know whether they are all good or all bad.
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A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas
The latest in Ms. Thomas’ Charlotte Holmes’ series is wonderfully puzzling and surprised me at the end. How could I not see that coming?
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The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal (Historical Fiction) – The latest episode in the Maggie Hope mystery series finds our intrepid spy in WWII Paris, and meeting Coco Chanel, among other real historical figures. Ms. MacNeal’s books are based on fact, which makes them so hard to put down.
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Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh
Ms. Balogh always writes emotionally rich stories and her latest has an intriguing character, Wren Hayden, who proposes marriage to the new Earl of Riverdale. This is the latest book in Ms. Balogh’s Westcott series.
Some excellent books here. This year I was on the search for unusual and find it in many of your recommended books —like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Something Like Happy. And of course Kristan Higgans is a big favorite.
Thanks Leigh!
Great list! I too have become more of a reader of historical mysteries this past year. I adored Conspiracy in Belgravia, and I too did not foresee the ending.
Yes, I was like “What???!?” ;)
What a great list, Lee. I really want to read the Parisian spy book now. You sold me on WWII and Coco Chanel.
Ms. MacNeal’s series is awesome.
I’ve read three of the books on your list – The Jane Austen Project, Someone to Wed and The Fire by Night. The Kristan Higgins – On Second Thought – is in my TBR. Great list ;-) !
Thanks Maggie!
It’s interesting to see how covers are changing. All of these, except the Higgins, have a sole woman on them.
That’s interesting. I didn’t even notice. Maybe publishers realize they don’t need clinch covers all the time.