After spending my post-education years in a reading slump, I dedicated this year to really finding that joy again. I managed to hit my goal of 52+ books read this year and I’m celebrating with a listicle. Here are my top 5 books of the year! My full reviews are on goodreads ♡
This Thing Between Us - Gus Moreno
Starting my year with this book made me fear the rest of the year because I didn't think I'd find any other book that would match it. Gus Moreno managed to write cosmic horror in a way that the racist "greats" simply couldn't. The combination of grief, horror, culture and personal regrets/inadequacies made for such a compelling story. It's also written in 2nd person, which is hard to perfect. This was gory, heartbreaking, and mystifying. The main characters journey after his wife's death was messy and hard to read and very believable. This Thing Between Us also made me realize I can appreciate open endings.
Lakewood - Megan Giddings
I don't like saying things like "[INSERT MEDIA HERE] never discusses this!" So I won't. What I will say, though, is that Megan Giddings wrote about generational, racial trauma in a way that I don't often see. Lakewood is a horror novel. I don't care what anyone says. Generational trauma manifests in such physical ways in this. The writing was often surreal and you feel like you're moving through muck as the story progresses, but still it's grounded in a reality a lot of us face as Black people trying to make it. When the book drops its surreal nature, things get shockingly violent and confusing. I really enjoyed the reveals towards the end. This is a good read if you want a horror about small towns, Black families, and medical malpractice.
The Wolf and the Woodsman - Ava Reid
This was a re-read for me. I initially read it when I first got back into books last year, and it didn't fully click. I wasn't used to reading, and I didn't quite know what I wanted from books. Coming back to it a year later was more out of curiosity than anything, and wow.... I absolutely had to eat my words with this one. The Wolf and the Woodsman is both tender and brutal in the way it portrays love, religion, social standing, and acceptance. Nothing in this book is easy, but it's still rewarding. I loved the romance and the cultural/historical context of the book. Ava Reid did something special in this one. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would love more short stories with these characters despite the book being very complete.
Foe - Iain Reid
I had a hard time reviewing this book, and I'm having a hard time explaining why it's on this list. Foe really put Iain Reid on the radar for me, don't get me wrong. It's just... This is a rather simple book at its core with well executed tension. Not much happens directly, but at the end you're left slightly confused and very impressed by what Reid pulled of. Foe feels like a book about humanity that isn't meant to say something. It just is.
He Started It - Samantha Downing
Ah, my Samantha Downing phase (that hasn't actually ended yet). I love a thriller, especially when it ignores the realm of possibility. Downing's books don't need to be believable because she's such a compelling and dramatic writer. I love the way the plot unfolded in this, the constant reveals were so fun. I could never quite figure out what was going to happen or even what was currently happening. With one of the boldest endings I've read all year, He Started It is that girl. Messy family dynamics, a "bad woman" pov, and a whole lot of mess is just what I needed.
Honorary Mention: The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins
I know why people hate it, I get why people DNF it.... I loved it and all it nasty, gory, confusing glory
I've missed talking about books so I'm thinking I'll do a monthly wrap-up starting at the end of January. Thoughts?
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