One question I get asked the most is: “what are your favorite books?” I’ll be honest and say that I my brain normally blanks when I’m asked, and so I fumble around my memories trying to remember what books I’ve read or even if I can read. I joke, but only slightly.
I decided it was time to put together a handy list of some of my favorite books I’ve read in the past decade. A mixture of genres and themes, these are the most common books I find myself recommending. Most have made my Top 10 Lists the year I read them, but all of them were five stars reads for me and have stuck with me throughout the years. I’ve listed these in no particular order, a few of these are series, and just about every genre is represented. Mystery/Thrillers, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are my favorite genres so my lists will also be more focused in those areas. I read very little non-fiction and what I do read tends to deal with my job so you won’t normally see those represented in my lists.
A few trigger warnings: Shadows of Pecan Hollow, Valentine, and Pretty Girls for sexual assault. Pretty Girls is also fairly intense and I would not recommend for anyone extremely sensitive to gore or explicit scenes. Less a TW and more a note- Shark Heart and Nothing to See Here are quirky and not for everyone. I would never normally pick up Shark Heart but was sent an advanced reader copy before it came out and decided to just give it a whirl – I’m so glad I did.
I’ll link my full reviews to most of these below as well. If you’re looking for something to read or trying to get out of a reading rut, I guarantee one of these bad boys will be perfect for you!
If you decide to read one of these, I’d love to know how you liked it! If none of these interest you, I have lots of other reviews and recommendations on my instagram (@speakingof.books), my TikTok (@speakingof.books) and on Goodreads (Allison Speakmon)
Looking for other great reads? Check out my Top Ten Lists
2020 Top Reads
2021 Top Reads
2022 Top Reads
2023 Top Reads
24 Most Recommended Books
Reviews
Shadows of Pecan Hollow
What Comes After
Starter Villain
Lessons in Chemistry
Sourdough
The Blinds
The Hearts Invisible Furies
Long Bright River
A River Enchanted
The Frozen River
The River We Remember
Valentine
Shark Heart
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
Pack up the Moon
Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Nothing to See Here
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Familiar Dark
I hope you found a book that you are truly excited about in this post. Let me know if you enjoyed any of these by commenting below or by messaging me on Instagram @speakingof_books. Don’t forget to follow me to get weekly updates and new reviews!
Happy Reading!
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