Your favorite book, if you had to choose only one… (part 1)

What’s your all-time favorite book (if you could choose just one)? Oh, I know (and I’m sorry to put your book-loving brain through this one…) It’s a toughie and it’s almost impossible for us to choose. I know I stumble over that question regularly. Our absolute favorite can depend on our current mood, or the genre, or simply the fact that… a few just equally stand out as our #1.

Our favorites can be one that has sentimental value, can be from our childhood, can be our “first”… or can be the one that put us in a reading frenzy. Our favorite might even be one that seems to be everyone’s favorite. Or it might be one that’s just a little more personal. A little more… obscure.

Our favorites can be easy to list if we can list a bunch of ‘em, but… what’s the one that just flashed in your head right now?

And you know what? Many (and I mean MANY) of you have managed to give me an answer, and I am in awe!! I have thousands of “#1 favorite” book titles from our fellow readers, so I will be posting them in groups of 50 over the next few weeks/months. Fun right? ‘Cause you know… while there are quite a few in these lists that didn’t surprise me (after all, we have very similar book-tastes), many of you have introduced me to some new ones, and I can’t wait to try ‘em! Wow… how good they must be if you considered it a favorite. If it’s your favorite, I wanna read it!

So here they are, our fellow reader’s favorite books: Part ONE of “If I had to choose just one…”

1. Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy by E.L. James<— Joanna says: “Fifty Shades of Grey because that’s what’s started it all for me… Before that I neverrrrr read. Now I can’t stop.” and Dianne agrees saying: “It is the only book that I have read over a dozen times.” ♥ (check out Maryse’s review)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee <— Jennifer says: “To kill a Mockingbird is my favorite books of all times.” Jessamyn and Ashley agree! Ashley says: “Hands down To Kill a Mockingbird. I read it for the first time in highschool and I’ve read it countless times since then. I get so excited when I see it referenced in other books!”
3. Animal Farm by George Orwell <— Claudia says: “I would have to choose “Animal farm” Read that back in high school. Made me fall in love with reading…”
4. Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephenie Meyers <— Morgan chooses this: “Twilight. It started my reading addiction. I have reread it several times and still love it!” and Andrenella agrees: “I have to say my all time favorite book is Twilight, its what got me into reading!!  ))” ♥ (check out Maryse’s review)
5. Beautiful Disaster: A Novel by Jamie McGuire <— Lisa’s choice! ♥ Jenn agrees: “My favorite has been Beautiful Disaster, there is just something about Travis.” and Heather says: “ I think I have to go with Beautiful Disaster. I just love it so so much and it really started my love of reading. I’m in Jamie Mcguire’s debt for that one.” (check out Maryse’s review).
6. Death Be Not Proud (P.S.) by John J. Gunther <— this one made Brandi cry! “My all time favorite book…. Death Be Not Proud by John J. Gunther. I cried my eyes out reading this one, but it was worth it.” 
7. Fury: 1 (New Species) by Laurann Dohner <— Jessia says: “my favorite all time book would have to be fury by laurann dohner i love all her books but this one i can reread and love it each and everytime” (check out Maryse’s review)
8. Outlander: with Bonus Content by Diana Gabaldon <— My favorite book was Outlander. That’s the one that started it all for me and got me back into reading a few years ago. Hundreds of books later (most recommended or reviewed by you) I still can’t get my fill of Jamie and Claire. (check out Maryse’s review).
9. Collide (Volume 1) by Gail McHugh <— Anton chooses this: My favourite book would have to be Collide by Gail McHugh.♥ (check out Maryse’s review)
10. The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition <— Deb chose this one: My fave is Diary of Anne Frank.
11. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss <— Marissa selects this one!
12. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen <— I knew this one would come up and Jen was the first to announce it as her favorite. “All time Favorite would have to be Pride and Prejudice.”
13. Reflected in You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day <— Deborah selects this one: “Right now, my favorite book is definitely Reflected in You by Sylvia Day. I keep rereading it and finding something new each time!!” (check out Maryse’s review).
14. I Know This Much Is True (P.S.) <– Michelle couldn’t help but choose two! Saying: “My second favorite book is I Know This much is True by Wally Lamb. Slammed bumped it from the first spot:) Collen Hoover is genius!” Marjie agrees: “My fav is This much is true. It really stuck with me!”
15. Slammed: A Novel by Colleen Hoover <— which is Michelle’s first pick! (check out Maryse’s review)
16. Sanguinary by Emma L. Edwards <— Julia chose this one!
17. A Painted House by John Grisham <— Jaime chose this: “I think my all time favorite book is A Painted House by John Grisham. I can read this book over and over and over!”
18. This Man (This Man Trilogy) by Jodi Ellen Malpas —> Janie chooses: “My favorite book would be This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas.”
19. The Fever Series 5-Book Bundle: Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever, Dreamfever, Shadowfever <— Oh I love this series, and so does Shelly! “So hard to choose just one as my favorite, but if I had to pick, it would be the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.” (I reviewed ‘em all, but here is my review of book# 1)
20. The Color of Water by Octavia Butler as suggested by Richelle “The Color of Water by Octavia Butler. I read that in high school and still remember it 10 years later!!” (sidenote: Okay I’m finding the book and the author, but not together, so here is a book by Octavia Butler: Kindred (Bluestreak) and here’s what appears to be the book this fellow reader suggested: The Color of Water 10th Anniversary Edition by James McBride).
21. Walking Disaster: A Novel by Jamie McGuire <— Stephanie chooses one of my favorites! “Right now I would have to say Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!!!” (check out Maryse’s review)
22. Little Women (Enriched Classics) by Louisa May Alcott <— Molly suggests this one: “The one book I’ve been reading over and over for years is Little Women. I loved it as a kid, and still pull it out to read like it’s an old friend. I have other favorite books, but this one has been my favorite the longest.”
23. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks <— Haley chooses: “My all time favorite book would have to be….. goodness what a tough decision…..A Walk to Rememeber by Nicholas Sparks. I remember reading that in 7th grade and just being amazed…not to mention I felt grown up!”
24. Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain) by Kristen Ashley <— Tamika loves this one: “My favorite book right now is Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley. My favorite book used to change often but this is the only book I can read over and over again and still experience the same deep feelings as the first time I read it.” (check out Maryse’s review).
25. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch <— Aileen chooses this one!
26. The Outsiders by SE Hilton <—- Beverly chooses: “All time favorite book has to be The Outsiders by SE Hinton. Got it from my mom and wore out the binding on it I read it so much.”
27. Wuthering Heights by Emily Jane Brontë <— Kat’s choice: “At this point if I had to choose an all time favorite book it’s ‘Wuthering Heights’.”
28. Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12) by Sherrilyn Kenyon <— Jamie chooses another one of my favorites saying: “Omg, it has to be Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon!! I could read it over and over… He is the love of my fantasy life!!” (check out Maryse’s review)
29. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle <— Katherine’s choice: “I would have to go with The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle”
30. Rain of Gold by Víctor E. Villaseñor <— Sarah chooses this one!
31. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein <— Autumn’s choice
32. Matilda by Roald Dahl <— Jess can’t pick just one, so here are her two: “My fave of all time would have to be Matilda by Raul Dahl from my childhood. My favorite currently is Easy. That book is amazing!”
33. Easy by Tammara Webber <— and she chooses this one, too! (check out Maryse’s review)
34. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald <— Raquel says: “My all-time favorite book is “The Great Gatsby”. This classic story is so well written and can apply to today.”
35. The Complete Harry Potter Collection by J.K. Rowling <— Tyna’s favorite: “If I had to pick it would be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. I’ve read it at least 8 times and I’m still on the edge if my seat every time. Best end to a series I’ve read as of yet.”
36. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell <— LaDondra suggests one I’m embarrassed to admit that I still haven’t read yet. “Gone with the Wind is my favorite book of all time. It is the most realistic love story ever.”
37. Interview with the Vampire (Vampire Chronicles) by Anne Rice<— Vampire lover Debbie says: “Interview with the Vampire. It’s what started my vampire obsession!”
38. Redeeming Love: A Novel by Francine Rivers <— Monique chooses “Redeeming Love-is my favorite book by Francine Rivers ❤”
39. Pink and Say by Patricia Palacco <— Kala: “My favorite book of all time is Pink and Say by Patricia Palacco.”
40. Tandia by Bryce Courtney<—- Jo chooses this one: “My favourite is Tandia by Bryce Courtney”
41. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks <— Belen says: “My all time favorite book The Best Of Me by Nicholas Sparks”
42. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett <— Jenn tells us: “My favorite book of all time would be Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett!”
43. The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski <— Sarah’s: “I think right now, my favorite book is The Edge of Never. It has just really stuck with me ever since I read it.” (check out Maryse’s review)
44. Fire and Hemlock by DianaWynne Jones<— Kimberly’s favorite: “My favorite book ever (at last count, I’ve read it 14 times, I think!) is Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones. (Really, anything she’s written is great!)”
45. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) by J.R Ward <— Zabrina says: “Any black dagger brotherhood book!!!!!! Love me some jr ward!!!!!!” (Agreed!!!) Kendell also agrees: “One book! oh my it’s very hard! I would say Dark Lover by JR Ward. Because it really got me back into reading the para romance genre.❤❤” (check out Maryse’s review)
46. Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon<— Jennifer loves: “Best book for me would be Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon.”
47. What Dreams May Come: A Novel by Richard Matheson<— Julie loves this one, though… the movie edition.
48. Sempre by J.M. Darhower <— Loved by Jamie! (and me!) – check out Maryse’s review
49. Brideshead Revisited Robyn suggests: “My all time favorite book is Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.”
50. The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle <— Judith admits: “It was twilight but now the mighty storm is a fav! Of course all the brothers (black dagger brotherhood of course) are close to my heart but jake and his rock star looks wins all the time…” (check out Maryse’s review)

Tagged as: books that stayed with you, reader favorites, reader recommendations