The Best Books of 2017 (ft. Guest Panel!)

 books are a uniquely portable magic.

2018 is just around the corner, and the arrival of a new year compels reflection of the last. This year’s books offered even more discovery, magic, and adventures than the year before. But don’t just take it from me—here are the best books of 2017, featuring a guest panel of bloggers and creators with a passion for reading.

Jillian @ Jillian’s Books: Salt to the Sea

My top read this year is Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, Sepetys’ book explores the tragedy surrounding the MV Wilhelm Gustloff alongside four protagonists struggling for survival amidst the war. This has touched my heart deeply in that it features humanity at stake and how hope still thrives in situations of complete despair. Joana, Alfred, Florian, Emilia took me to a heartbreaking yet eye-opening adventure, and I couldn’t love this book even more than I already do.

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Emily @ Paperback Princess: Station Eleven

Hi everyone! I’m Emily from the blog Paperback Princess, and my pick for the top book I read in 2017 is Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. This book was unlike anything I have ever read before. It is essentially a science-fiction/dystopia novel, but the book is so relatable and the atmosphere that Mandel creates is out of this world. She is an example of a truly talented writer.

This book is about a series of journeys. An epidemic overtakes the world, and three characters will fight to stay alive and battle inner demons at various time jumps during the epidemic. I read this book when I was going through my own journey of transitioning from high school to university, and the philosophy that this book carried will stay with me for the rest of my life. It shares themes of love, loss, mental illness, and the struggle it takes to carry on. This was by far my favourite book I read in 2017.

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CW @ art from a friend: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo & Want

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee Genie Lo as my favourite should come as no surprise! This book is action-packed, warm and funny, and with a relatable heroine and hero duo that I adore. I grew up with books and stories on Chinese mythology, but never really remembered much about it -- but after reading The Epic Crush of Genie Lo for the first time, I felt like it rekindled that little corner of my childhood and gave it new meaning. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is the book I had always been waiting for.

Want by Cindy Pon was the book I never knew I needed. It is the perfect blend of sci-fi, Asian influences, and sociopolitical discourse that is articulated eloquently and without being preachy. The characters are memorable, and Pon's vision of the future Taipei is both stunning and terrifying. A cautionary tale that is compelling, exciting, and so important in today's political and environmental climate.

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Claire @ clairefy (moi!): The Hate U Give

Words matter. The best of them have the power to make us feel and think. With powerful prose that tackles issues pertinent in the United States today, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give challenges readers to question their own prejudice and act, standing out as my favorite YA book of the year. 16-year-old high school student Starr seizes the courage to speak out when a police officer unjustly shoots her childhood friend, Khalid, and she struggles to balance life at a mostly white private school and at home. Experiencing such injustice through Starr’s eyes forces us to consider the challenges she faces.

Memorable friendships, especially between Starr and Maya, reinforce the importance of remaining open-minded and considering others’ experiences to combat racism and simply provide a strong friendship I loved rooting for. When a character poses ignorant comments about Maya’s Chinese heritage—comments familiar to me—Starr advocates for and consoles her friend. As I think about the role of Asian-Americans in current events and reflect on my own perspective and influences, I was glad to see representation and encouragement of bonds to further understanding: we must stand together.

I devoured this book in a day.

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Tasya @ The Lit Huntress: The Bear and the Nightingale

My favorite book of the year is undoubtedly The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. It is a retelling about several Russian fairytales set in the winter of deep Russian wilderness. The story is captivating, the writing flows seamlessly, and the setting is very vivid and rich. The main characters, Vasya, is very strong in her belief and ability, she believes in her right or wrong and holds on to that, even when things get difficult. I truly can't wait to know the continuation of Vasya's story! And of course, I can't miss talking about Morozko, but he is something you have to read and discover by yourself :D If you are looking for retellings that has winter vibes and dark quality to it, I highly recommend this book!

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Tiffany @ The Bookish Thought: Lord of Shadows

Is it even surprising that Lord of Shadows became my number one book this year? I've been in love with the Shadowhunter world since I read The Infernal Devices series, and while usually the second book is my least favorite book in a trilogy, it's not the case for Lord of Shadows. It has everything you want in a sequel--more character development, more world-building, and more plot development. Cassie Clare knows how to deliver a great sequel, and how to wrap it up in the best (and yet most painful) way.

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Zoe @ Stories on Stage: Words in Deep Blue

One of my favorite books of 2017 was Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley. Words in Deep Blue is a deeply moving story about a teenage girl trying to finding closure after experiencing a staggering loss. The writing is exquisite, the characters are extremely realistic, and the story is memorable and emotional. The protagonist Rachel is a well-written character who is easy to relate to and sympathize for. She's intelligent and organized. She’s certainly not perfect, though, but it’s her flaws that make her feel so realistic and relatable. The best part of this book, though, is the large emphasis it places on books and the power of words. Rachel's family owns a bookstore, and so a large part of the book is set in a bookstore. That component of the story is sure to delight anyone who - like myself - shares Rachel’s passion and love for books. Words in Deep Blue is sure to appeal to fans of contemporary stories, who will surely enjoy it for its emotional message.

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Maha @ Younicorn Reads

In 2017 I have read a lot of great books, but one that I really loved was Noteworthy by Riley Redgate, in which Jordan Sun disguises herself as a boy and infiltrates an all-male acapella group in order to stay in her school. Not only it was funny and attention-grabbing, it discussed important issues, such as sexuality and male-supremacy. This novel also guarantees diverse characters, a swoony romance, and beautiful friendships. I highly recommend it.

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Alex @ The Book’s Buzz: Pachinko

Pachinko is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I am not alone in this statement. It was chosen as one the New York Times Book Review’s Top 10 Books of 2017, a title that is as distinguished as they come. Pachinko was a book that was completely out of my comfort zone, it being historical fiction and all. I recommend this to everybody, whether you like historical fiction or not because I promise you will be blown away.

Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan, beginning with Sunja, the daughter of a poor fisherman and his wife. It is an exceptional story of love, loss, friendship and identity in a time of war. The story followed such three-dimensional characters that it almost felt like I was reading an autobiography. Lee’s writing is rich with emotions. You feel sympathy for the characters and the constant discrimination they face, but you also feel elation when the characters achieve something great and excitement when you meet a new character. The book made me cry, laugh and smile all at the same time.

The best books should always make you feel something. Pachinko made me feel like the world was in need in of change. Before reading the book I was ignorant about the struggles that these Koreans faced in Japan. Likewise, I was ignorant about the hardships that immigrants faced. The book revealed the effects of gender inequality on a global level, when I thought it had only existed in America for the longest time. Most importantly, Pachinko for me broke a barrier in Asian representation in the media. I have a huge appreciation for diversity in literature, and to see characters that were a reflection of myself in the pages of this book was an indescribable feeling. This is something that I think everyone can take out of reading Pachinko, whether it’s learning something new or reinforcing an idea.

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And that's a wrap! 

2017 certainly hosted some of the best reads yet. I'll be adding many of these books to my to-read list! 

I hope you all have a wonderful new year. Here's to the stories to be shared in 2018!

What was your favorite book of 2017?