Reader Favorites – fabi’s Top 9 Reads for 2015

by Maryse on January 10, 2016 · 20 comments

fabi’s turn for her top 2015 list, and we all know fabi well, don’t we? Tee hee!! A fun and HIGHLY active member of our group, she finds us all sorts of book goodies, and introduces us to new stuff that we might not have even tried before. Also take a look at her all-time favorite books ever: Fabi’s Top Favorite Books List:

She says:

“…alright, I kept it under 10. I don’t think I can do any better than that in narrowing them down. Those are not necessarily published in 2015. That’s just when I read them. And, don’t ask me again next week, because I’ll have changed my list again. …I’ve been thinking about being a little more strict in 2016 because I find that when I run across the exceptionally great I don’t have enough stars to make them really stand out.”

1. Illuminae (The Illuminae Files) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff <— “The absolute best book I’ve EVER read. Yup, in my whole life. That hardcover design just blew my mind. Plus, almost the entire book is quote worthy. Since I read the hard-cover, I don’t have my handy highlights. But I remember just reading and rereading certain lines and parts. AND, there are almost 7,300 ratings on GR with an average of 4.30 stars. That’s seems like a pretty solid accomplishment for those two authors. LOL – you have to quit getting me on that Illuminae rant. I try so hard to resist going on and on about it. Obviously, I fail.”

2. The Martian: A Novel by Andy Weir <— “The Martian is a spectacular book, however, it has no romance (absolutely none). Not even a hint of it. It is straight up sci fi. Gah!!! I want you to read it so bad because it is so good… The Martian is one of the few books that can be recommended to anyone. If I had a grandpa, it would the only book I’d share with him. “blush* Yet, its entertaining for anyone.”

3. Golden Son (The Red Rising Trilogy, Book 2) by Pierce Brown <— “I finished Golden Son late last night. So late that I overslept this morning. Holy crap! It was so hard waiting between Red Rising and Golden Son. I don’t know how in the world I’m going to stay sane waiting for Morning Star.”

and then I start getting confused because I have so many contemporaries that are 5* I think I’m going to add a couple of mm

4. Atom Heart John Beloved by Luke Hartwell <— “Well, good news ladies. I got lucky and kicked out of my Kulti slump with Atom Heart John Beloved. This is one crazy, messed up page turner. It’s M/M so don’t read it if that bothers you. If you’re interested in a crazy read then the link is on last Friday’s list. Unless the ending blows it for me, this is a 5 star for me… I finished Atom Heart John Beloved and its sequel, Nathan’s Story and I feel completely wrung out. I don’t even want to think about reading another book right now.”

5. The Locker Room by Amy Lane <— “I can’t remember who here recommended it. But…I am absolutely heartbroken at 40%. I only thought I was heartbroken at the beginning. Man, where this has gone and is going. I’m not sure I can take it. What is it with you ladies loving these heart shattering stories? They break me. Just…break me. …Xander from The Locker Room by Amy Lane. My gut still clenches tight thinking about Xander and Christian.”

6. Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy <— “…it was perfect for me. Sweet, low drama, good communication, witty dialogue, etc. I’m so tempted to just start it again. I think Elle Kennedy has earned a firm place as one of my favorite authors. I need to read another of Sabrina Bowen’s too.”

and then the CR that really stuck out for me were

7. Kulti by Mariana Zapata <— “This is what a romance book should be. …I totally get why read 11 hours straight through. I am so in love with these characters and this story. …Couldn’t move ’till I was done.”

8. The Deal (Off-Campus Book 1) by Elle Kennedy <— “I don’t even WANT to read anything after The Deal. I’m feeling so nostalgic. It had that perfect NA feel. Like coming home after a long trip away. It put me right back into those feelings after first reading Beautiful Disaster, Slammed, Loving Mr. Daniels, Unmaking Hunter Kennedy, …*sigh* It’s such an awesome feeling reading one of these for the first time.”

9. Cocky Bastard by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland <— ??? No comment fabi? LOL!!! I’m dying to know more…

Tagged as: reader favorites

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

Theresa January 10, 2016 at 10:06 PM: Good lis Fabi, mostly new to me. You know, everyone thought The Deal was better than the next The Mistake. I keep going back to that one was even better.
bev January 10, 2016 at 10:36 PM: Wonderful list, Fabi!
Wow. Strong feelings for Illuminae.
Kulti made for such a great reading day.
Tessa January 10, 2016 at 11:13 PM: What a great list and it’s such a Fabi list. Sci fi, M/M, and CR. I loved Kulti and The Deal, We won’t even go into how I keep wanting to get Cocky Bastard, and keep forgetting. I will get to Red Rising and Illuminae soon. Illuminae is on request, and Red Shining… *sighs* Eventually? *blushes* I love the list and it really just makes me grin.
Fabi January 10, 2016 at 11:16 PM: Maryse, you snuck this in here. :-0

It is so hard for me to pick only a few favorite 2015 books. It was such an excellent reading year for me thanks to you and the ladies here on your blog.

To appease your curiosity, and because you already know I’m a blabbermouth and can’t resist commenting on everything, here’s what I thought of Cocky Bastard:

I am so impressed with both the female and male POVs in this book. I could swear Aubry and Chase are real people.

5 big, beautiful, love story stars for this one

A big thank you to both authors for making me feel all girly, and mushy, and starry eyed. Books like these are the chocolate truffles for my soul.
Teri January 11, 2016 at 5:38 AM: Gah! Fabi I think I recommended The Locker Room to you. I absolutely love Amy Lane and that is one of my two top favorites of hers! The other is Beneath The Stain which I think you said you had already read.
Linda January 11, 2016 at 6:52 AM: Fabi I totally agree with you!!! Cocky Bastard is hands down a 5* read for me for 2015. Absolutely swooned over Chase and loved Aubrey too.
Anne January 11, 2016 at 10:12 AM: I loved Cocky Bastard too! Chase was so perfect! *sigh*

Also I havent read Kulti *covers from the peanuts flying* I know I need to read it soon.

Great list Fabi!
Jeannie Smith January 11, 2016 at 10:39 AM: I keep seeing raves for Illuminae, I’ll have to put that on my list.
marina January 11, 2016 at 2:20 PM: I loved Cocky Bastard too. I definitely need to read some of these on your list! Esp. Kulti and Locker Room and Martian is calling me. I loved Illuminae so I may be able to do Martian! Great list!!!
Lisa January 11, 2016 at 3:54 PM: Wonderful list Fabi. Ive never read M/M stories but notice you’ve mentioned a couple. (I did read Quinn and Blays story in Black Dagger Brotherhood. )
Might check your recs out.
Loved Illuminae….ultimate YA book. Thanks for sharing.
Fabi January 11, 2016 at 4:23 PM: Lisa, Quinn and Blay’s story in Black Dagger Brotherhood was my introduction to the genre. I loved that story so much that it wasn’t long before I started looking for others like it.

If you’re going to try the genre for the first time though, you might go with Try by Ella Frank. It was a big favorite around here a while back.
Grey January 11, 2016 at 5:01 PM: Oooh Fabi, this is quite the list. I almost had to put my hand to the monitor screen to make sure you were ok though…because we had ZERO books in common until the end. The Deal and Cocky Bastard and we’re sympatico however!

I do however, now want to read every last one of these that you’ve put on this list! Thank you!!
Fabi January 11, 2016 at 5:24 PM: Oh yeah, sorry about that Grey. I’m always way out in left field.
Jean January 11, 2016 at 6:53 PM: Great list fabi! Loved The Deal, Kulti (which I read because of you), and Cocky Bastard (the goat)! And I have the beautiful hardback version of Illuminae just waiting for me to read it (also because of you since I read the sample and then I wanted it)!!
Tessa January 11, 2016 at 8:46 PM: Just so you know, Fabi, you comparing the Unmaking of Hunter Kennedy to The Deal made me buy Unmaking.
Fabi January 11, 2016 at 9:16 PM: Thanks Jean!

Awww Tessa, I love that book. It tends more towards YA than NA but I just loved everything about it.
MichelleS January 13, 2016 at 6:44 PM: I have you to thank for talking me into reading The Martian. It is sooooo not my usual kind of book (or so I thought) but it was amazing. And I am pretty sure I read Kulti because you went nutso over it and the “soccer” in it. Thank you, to my fellow North Texan. I’ve thrown some stinkers your way, so I hope you still trust my judgment. (LOL).
Fabi January 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM: MichelleS, I read Kulti because of you. And I’ve read and love 99.9% of the books you’ve recommended. I don’t think I’ve read as many off a favorites’ list as I have yours. Wasn’t it like 100% of your all time favorites I’d already read? Honestly, in the what, 2-3 years I’ve been on this blog, I can only recall 2 of your recs that I didn’t 100% love. Those are some pretty awesome stats. lol I totally trust your judgment and consider myself your #1 stalker.
Michelle January 16, 2016 at 4:53 PM: Omigod what have I been doing that I missed your list?!!! Oh yeah working my a$$ off but still…

Ok I haven’t read The Martian (but I have it) or any of the M/M reads. I love Amy Lane’s Little Goddess series but have never tried any of her other books but I really need to. I still have Krylov’s DH and BT waiting to try too. Oh and Illuminae book 2 is out this fall and Morning Star Feb. 9th squeeeeee!
Cheryl January 16, 2016 at 5:32 PM: Fabi, how did I miss your list. Read several on your list and the there are others that challenge me to read that I may have missed or looked past. Maybe 2016 will be the year of more pnr/sci-fi/dystopian for me!!