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10 Books That Made My 2017

Ah, 2017. What a year. I don’t mean that lightly, either. It has been one very hectic, chaotic and unnerving year for the entire world. But in the world of books, immersed in the story-worlds that have taken over our brains, the world is a calmer place. With our heads inside a book, we don’t have to worry about them ever hurting us like real life can (unless our favourite Character gets killed off) so it’s only fitting that I round up the Top Ten Books That Made My 2017 bearable. They are in order from ten to one, with one being my ultimate read this year!



10. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

This book was the first of Nina’s that I’ve ever read and it was a total winner. I love the style of her writing and how much emotion showed throughout the scenes. For fans of Young Adult, if you haven’t added this to your TBR this year, you definitely should. 


9. Girlhood by Cat Clarke

This is such an important, sheer perfect YA book this year. It had to make my list. I’m pretty sure this was one of the Zoella book club books after I had already read it, so you can see just how much it would have been appreciated by the bookish community this year!


8. Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

One of the few otherwordly books that I’ve read this year and one of the best I’ve ever read! It has such a great premise, huge promise for the future and a celebrity name behind the title! 


7. The Dry by Jane Harper 

I was on a blog tour for this stunning book and it’s no wonder that it’s gained a huge following. I’m reading Jane’s second book (and on the tour!) very soon, so I think that says everything. I don’t read the genre of mystery, in Adult especially, very often, but for Jane’s books? I always will. She has a way with words that’s music to my ears. 


6. There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

It’s no secret that Stephanie is one of my favourite YA writers of all time. She has the romance! The character development! Anna, Lola and Isla! So when she announced her first thriller, I was dubious. I only ever knew her writing to be sweet and fluffy, but I was happily surprised! Her debut thriller wasn’t up there with Anna, but it was a huge success in my eyes! No wonder it made my top ten…

5. Nyxia by Scott Reintgen 

Into my top five and we have Nyxia! It was such a stunning novel. I remember staying up late to read it thinking how insanely awesome it was. I really can’t wait to read more from Scott! I know that whatever he writes next will be going straight onto my bookshelf.

4. Girl Hearts Girl by Lucy Sutcliffe

Lucy’s story is probably one of the most important, yet extremely addictive and gorgeous books I read this year. It was a true story, about being her true self, growing up and loving who she wanted to. I had so many people say they picked up this book because they saw it on Pretty Little Memoirs! That makes me so happy. 


3. Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Coming in easily in my top three is one of my favourite YA authors of all time! Windfall was literally a breath of fresh air and had me swept off my feet with each passing second. Huge sweetheart points because this book was too cute! I loved it.


2. The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

Magic realism has never looked better in this hugely loved novel this year! I read this mostly in the park during early Autumn / late Summer and fell in love with the characters, the setting…literally everything. I can’t wait to read book number two next year!


AND NUMBER ONE IS…


1. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

It’s no surprise that the Queen of YA is in at number one for my favourite novel I’ve read this year. Everything that’s troubling me seems to melt away when I read one of Emery’s books and I can’t recommend her to anyone enough. So happy that I got a little slice of heaven this year reading The Names They Gave Us!


So there are my top ten books of 2017! If any authors who have been featured above want a winner badge for their site, I’ve included one below! I would be honored if anyone featured it, but of course, it’s not mandatory! I’m just excited you stopped by and read my post!



What were your favourite books of the year?


Let me know on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or you can leave a comment below! 


happy reading!

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Book Review: The Best Kind Of Magic by Crystal Cestari

Title: The Best Kind of Magic

Author: Crystal Cestari

Published: May 16th, 2017

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Find the Author: Goodreads 


Disclosure: I bought this book myself! As always, my reviews are fair and unbiased.

Amber Sand is not a witch. The Sand family Wicca gene somehow leapfrogged over her. But she did get one highly specific magical talent: she can see true love. As a matchmaker, Amber’s pretty far down the sorcery food chain (even birthday party magicians rank higher), but after five seconds of eye contact, she can envision anyone’s soul mate.


Amber works at her mother’s magic shop–Windy City Magic–in downtown Chicago, and she’s confident she’s seen every kind of happy ending there is: except for one–her own. (The Fates are tricky jerks that way.) So when Charlie Blitzman, the mayor’s son and most-desired boy in school, comes to her for help finding his father’s missing girlfriend, she’s distressed to find herself falling for him. Because while she can’t see her own match, she can see his–and it’s not Amber. How can she, an honest peddler of true love, pursue a boy she knows full well isn’t her match?


The Best Kind of Magic is set in urban Chicago and will appeal to readers who long for magic in the real world. With a sharp-witted and sassy heroine, a quirky cast of mystical beings, and a heady dose of adventure, this novel will have you laughing out loud and questioning your belief in happy endings.

First Thoughts 

When I saw this on Wordery, I was really enticed. The cover, for one, is freaking beautiful and then to match it – that blurb! I couldn’t believe I’d finally stumbled upon a Realistic Fantasy Novel that sounded totally plausible and unique. I posted my reading progress on social media and SO MANY of my followers were really excited to see my views on this. 

Review 

Amber Sand isn’t a witch. She’s not mad over it, but it’s a little disheartening. The Sand family gene seems to have skipped her (almost) and left her a somewhat matchmaker. With this power, she can see your perfect match and your future together. But there’s not a lot of perks of the job, telling people that their significant other isn’t the one for them doesn’t sit well with a lot of the public. Although, much to her dismay, she can’t see her own perfect match (but she gets closer and closer to seeing her best friend’s love story every time they meet up, despite Amani – a fellow supernatural – not wanting to find out). But that doesn’t stop her from being a crucial part of the Sand family Wicca shop, enchantingly named Windy City Magic. 

When Amber’s Mom starts acting odd, hanging out with a frequent visitor into the shop, the Mayor, she desperately wants to find out what’s happening. But because Amber isn’t a witch, she’s magically sealed off from listening in and whenever she tries to dig for details, she gets nothing but stale information. But when the Mayor’s son, Charlie (the most desired boy at school) comes into the store wanting to find his Father’s missing girlfriend, Amber ties the two situations together. The more that they start hanging out together, trying to solve the mystery of their Parents secretiveness and the actual mystery at hand, Amber can’t hide her feelings any longer. She’s falling for Charlie, hard. But she’s seen his perfect match, and it’s not her, so she feels like the magnetic pull isn’t enough to dispute the Fates plan for his own match. As they work together in a bustling, lively Chicago, it’s more than clear that they’re in for startling revelations and intriguing supernatural enigmas.

I just can’t stop thinking about this book (and the next in the series!) and it definitely shows. I finished it a little while ago, but it’s taken me so long to try and sum my words up into a considerable amount and not reel on for pages. Crystal has written a world of wonder with down-to-earth characters, sass (lots of it) and a killer vein of romance with an eager pulse on magical elements. As much as I loved Amber and Charlie, Amani was definitely my favourite character. I really loved her personality SO much. Overall, this is probably the best Fantasy book I’ve read this year, or maybe even longer than that. Huge five-star read! 

Rating & Recs

For fans of Magic Realism and Fantasy! For younger to older YA readers.

Have you read The Best Kind of Magic?


Let me know what you thought in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!


happy reading!

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