Tales Post – 15 Best Books Read In 2015

It’s time to share my 15 best books read in 2015!

I ran a little poll on twitter to see if this list should include just 2015 releases or any releases that I have read over the year of 2015…here are the results…

I’ve read 63 books this year and picking just 15 has been tough as I have read some AMAZING books (you can see what books I have read here )

Also check out my 2015 End Of Year Book Survey here

These will be listed in no particular order.

I still have so many amazing books from 2015 yet to read!

Before I start I would like to thank everyone for their support in 2015!  The brilliant book community, all the friends I have made, fab authors for writing fab books and being generally awesome and everyone who has supported me through my first full year of book blogging.

Thank You All x

Here we go…..

(remember these are in no particular order…. it was tough enough picking just 15!)

7 Days by Eve Ainsworth

This book had me smiling, shouting no! at the characters in the book and with my bottom lip trembling and eyes welling up very often I realised what a powerful, important thought provoking book Eve Ainsworth has written and I really encourage every one to read it!  Everyone should read this book!  If your being bullied, doing the bullying, a parent concerned for their child or just to get an understanding or sense of what people go through when being bullied then please read this book.

You can find my full review here

Panther by David Owen

Panther is a raw, powerful read that tackles serious subjects mainly about depression and how depression is still widely misunderstood, the damage that it does, the effect it has on the sufferer and the people around them and the stigmas of depression.  In some ways a hard read, but in a good way. You feel the struggles of Derrick and his family and as a reader you feel so many emotions! It is truthful and honest and does not gloss over any aspect of depression and that’s what makes this book so very special and important. 

You can find my full review here

The Art Of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Wow!  This was my first read of 2015 and what a way it was to start 2015.  Right from the offset, page one, this book gave me goose bumps!  Straight away I knew it was going to be something special.  Such an important, stunning beautifully written debut.  I loved every single page, every single feeling and every single message.  Most importantly this book, for me asked the question What Is Normal?  And my own answer to this is everyone is normal in their own unique ways and we should stand proud.

You can find my full review here

Darkmere by Helen Maslin

I LOVED this book from start to finish!  It pulled me in and wrapped me around it’s pages and did not let me go until the very end leaving me craving more!  Like ghost stories?  Like romance and mystery?  Like great friendships and castles?  Like dual narratives past and present?  Then I cannot recommend this book enough!  A brilliant chilling, romantic, heart thumping debut with two distinctive voices and stories that intertwine perfectly!

You can find my full review here

Jessica Cole Model Spy – Catwalk Criminal

Super spy Jessica Cole was back with a bang in this third instalment of this brilliant series and I loved every page of it!  With many twists, turns and action it was impossible for me to put this book down!  I really would recommend this book and the whole trilogy to any one looking for an action packed adventure with a hint of mystery, humour and a kick ass heroine!

You can find my full review here

Seed by Lisa Heathfield

I fell in love with this book from the minute I started reading it right through to the heart stopping end and have not stopped talking about it since!  This book is hauntingly beautiful and deals with such sensitive and often rather unnerving subjects and situations including one of the most hated controlling characters I think I have ever read!  Lisa Heathfield’s writing is stunning and beautiful in such a tender way.  Every sentence is enriched with so much care and imaginative description that you fall in love with it.  This is Lisa’s debut!  It’s inspiring.

You can find my full review here

Black Iris by Leah Raeder

I picked this book up on a recommendation by Jim ( @YaYeahYeah ) after I saw him tweeting about it.  He told me this book would destroy me!  And destroy me it did!  An extremely intense read with an amazing main character who is just as much unlikeable and she is likeable.  This book messed with my mind.  With narration from the past and present, exploration of mental illness, friendships, love (both m/f and f/f) and with twists and turns throughout this book’s ending did exactly what Jim said it would do….destroyed me!

Asking For It by Louise O’ Neill

“They are all innocent until proven guilty.  But not me.  I’m a liar until I am proven honest”

It’s message clear, important, powerful and necessary I was left an absolute emotional angry mess by the time I finished this book, but also very proud of Louise O’Neill for writing it.  A story about rape, consent, the effects of social media and again featuring another character who is just as much unlikeable and she is likeable Louise O’Neill’s writing it truthful and does not gloss over a single detail.  Louise has this way of getting into your mind and making thoughts flash through your mind unconsciously that you hate yourself for it.

Remix by Non Pratt

I loved this book so much.  A story of friendship and how special and amazing that can be.  Set at a music festival I experienced the highs and lows of a friendship, love and laughter and how best friends can know each other better than they know themselves.  Non has this way of making her characters completely relatable and very real and the story just flows between them effortlessly.  I also fell head over heels in love with Sebastian, but that is a whole other conversation.  Also Non introduced me to the best word EVER…. Cockwomble!  Oh Yes!

The Sin Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

Reading fantasy is really out of my comfort zone, but Melinda Salisbury’s debut about a girl who can kill with a single touch drew me into a world full of imagination, corruption and love.  I could actually imagine this world being part of our past and history.  The story lead me to question things happening in this world with a massive twist along the way and left me craving…no actually demanding more!  I cannot wait for The Sleeping Prince in 2016!  Oh and also I’m definitely team Lief *swoons*

You can find my full review here

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

This book is just stunningly beautiful inside and out.  The words, the illustrations, the characters and the story.  I was completely swept away by it.  The setting of a wintery Russia is breathtakingly picturesque and Feo is a feisty character who befriends a young soldier, gains unexpected allies, a terrifying enemy and starts a revolution all for the love of wolves.  The wolves themselves are full of spirit and their own unique personalities.  I found myself smiling, laughing, crying and cheering at this book.  A future classic!

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

Yes I know!  I am so behind reading these books and whilst away on holiday I finally had the perfect time to savour and enjoy this remarkable book.  I love a good murder mystery and with Daisy and Hazel I enjoyed it even more.  The first book in the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries was an absolute delight.  I enjoyed discovering the clues with Daisy and Hazel and watching the mystery unravelling before my very eyes.  The 1934 boarding school setting was perfect and the language / writing really captures the time.  It kept me guessing until the very end and I still didn’t guess the murderer!  It also introduced me to #BunBreak *scoffs cake*

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

“You make me feel like I just stepped out of the wardrobe and into Narnia”

I simply cannot even talk about this book without crying.  I was left an absolute emotional wreck because of it and can feel myself welling up thinking about it whilst typing this.  This book was completely heart-wrenching and tells the love story of a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die who meet on the ledge of their school bell tower.  Together they embark on a journey and Jennifer Niven writes with complete honesty, beauty and emotion about depression, those suffering and the people around them.  This book made me think and feel so much.  It is lovely and beautiful and will stay in my heart always.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

“I fall in love with these kids over and over again and my heart aches for their tragedies and marvels at their friendship”

Wow!  That above quote from this book basically sums up my feelings about this book completely.  This was the last book I read in 2015.  I received this book from the lovely Caitlin Lomas ( @CaitLomas ) as part of a secret Santa I was taking part in and I had not heard of this book before.  This has now become one of my favourite EVER books.  This book made me cry on the bus and my son told me I was so embarrassing.  The story of friendship, family and love that all happens around the Jellicoe Road. I highly recommend.  Taylor the main character is a reluctant leader in the towns territory wars with Cadets and Townies and with flashbacks to a past story unfolding as we read hit me right in the heart and I cry just thinking it about it.  The writing is powerful and full of emotion throughout and also introduced me too one of my favourite YA boys ever….Jonah Griggs!  To him my heart will always now belong.

You can find my full review here

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This is a 2016 release which I am lucky enough to have already read.  This book made my heart beat with every page and eyes sting with tears!  I felt emotionally connected to all of the four characters telling the story and I loved the sense of friendships, family and community that push themselves to the forefront due to the situation that arises.  Although a hard painful read full of emotion it is written brilliantly and with care.  A brilliant book from start to finish!  A brilliant debut to look out for in 2016.

You can find my full review here

So there you have it!  My 15 best books read in 2015!  I highly recommend all of these books!

Before I go I just want to mention a book that I read in 2014 that was released in 2015 and certainly would have made this list had I read it in 2015!

The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone

I loved this book….. a lot!  Since the end of Harry Potter I have been looking for a book and / or book series that could fill that Harry Potter void in my life.  A book that has the right mix of great characters, humour, magic and action!  Right from the start of the book debut author Abi Elphinstone captures the atmosphere and pace of the book perfectly.  The sense of good and bad is fantastically built up in the readers imagination.  This book has everything!  Magic, talismans, woods, tree spirits, rituals, voodoo wax figures, tree houses, oracle bones, witch doctors, riddles and puzzles, touching friendships, fab characters and an adorable wildcat!  This book is a real magical adventure.  The keywords that jumped out to me from this book were friendship, family, community and courage.  A fantastic, magical debut novel that I have not stopped talking about all year! The Dreamsnatcher is a dream to read!

You can find my full review here

I would love to hear what your favourite books read in 2015 were?  Are any of them the same as mine?  Why not leave a comment or tweet me on twitter using @ChelleyToy

Happy Reading!