2015 saw me read a disgraceful three books. There was no way in literary heaven I was going to read just three books in 2016.
So this year I decided to set myself a challenge. The Goodreads challenge. I have a small child more commonly known as the Terror Tot, so I knew reading time would be limited. I figured reading one book a month would be better than just three over the year. So that’s what I set my challenge as.
12 books, 12 months.
But I’m pleased to say I smashed that goal into teeny tiny words like smithereens. I read 32 books.
So here’s my summary of the best books of 2016, including recommendations, my challenge for 2017 and the number of books are set myself to read next year.
Below is a list of all the books I read this year including my ratings and links to buy them. I’ve also included links to some of the reviews I’ve written if I’ve written them on my blog. And you can see all my Goodreads reviews here.
I’ve read a mix of non-fiction and fiction (12 non-fiction to 20 fiction) partly because I was trying to teach myself marketing. So you might want to shimmy your little booties down to the book forest and check out some of the marketing books I read as I found them extremely helpful in building my knowledge.
Next year, I’ve set one of my goals as reading a minimum of 52 books – one a week. I’m crying a bit okay… (a lot) over that, but I think realistically, I’d hope I’d read more than that, I mean, clearly I didn’t this year, so fuck only knows why I think I can next year, but I’m nothing if not a fiend for setting unrealistic goals.
Do you do the Goodreads reading challenge? How many books are you going to aim to read next year? (Let me know in the comments below)
Onto the best books of the year. I’ve chosen a Non-Fiction book of the year and a Fiction book of the year, so my faves were:
Non-Fiction Book of the Year
How to Market A Book by Joanna Penn
This had to be one of the most helpful books I’ve read all year. It really gave me a kick up the proverbially strategic ass and changed my mindset towards writing. It also gave a ton of helpful tips on marketing as well as info on where to start with various things like Amazon and audiobooks. It’s probably more for your starter author, but nonetheless, even though I had some knowledge of marketing, I still learnt loads, and because of the amount I learnt, it gets my top spot for best non-fic book of the year.
Fiction Book of the Year… Is a Draw
Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland
The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
I won’t give too much away as I’ve written reviews for both books on my new website which is launching very soon and both will be on there. But suffice to say if you read young adult fiction then they’re a must. Seriously… Go. Read… NOW.
Other Books I Read This Year
Amazing Indie Authors To Read:
Connor Kelly & The Four Treasures of Eirean by Ali Isaac: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Rhymes of the Times by Judy E Martin: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Hinting at Shadows by Sarah Brentyn: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
The Fair and Foul by Allie Potts: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
The Siege by Esther Newton: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Guinea Pigs by James Howell: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Non-Fiction Books on Marketing Or Writing:
Dictate Your Book by Monica Leonelle: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Write to Market by Chris Fox: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Anything You Want by Derek Severs: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Ancient Secrets of Lead Generation by Darryl Urbanski (Not linking to this because I do not recommend it)
Indie Small Press Book Marketing by William Hertling: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
90 Day Plan to Launch a Book by Melissa Se: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
The War On Art by Steven Pressfield: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon by Penny C Sansevieri: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Your First Thousand Copies by Tim Grahl: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
How to Make a Living With Your Writing by Joanna Penn: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
How to Market a Book by Joanna Penn: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Supercharge Your Kindle Sales by Nick Stevenson: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
YA Fantasy, Dystopian or Romance Books:
Delirium by Lauren Oliver: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
RoseBlood by A. G. Howard: Pre-Order 10th Jan 2017, AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
The Selection by Kiera Cass: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Legend by Marie Lu: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones: Pre-Order, 7th Feb 2017 – AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Higgs: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Frostbite by Richelle Mead: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
The Testing Guide by Joelle Charbonneau: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Abomination by Jane Dougherty: AmazonUK, AmazonUSA
Great work! Might do a reading challenge too next year.
Thanks dude 🙂
Cheers, you have just made me see how bad I have been this year, hardly any books read at all. In my defence, I have written a lot, but hey…
Oh man, not my intention at all, but I was the same in 2015. Two days and it’s a new year 🙂 you can start again
That’s the plan, always time for improvements, they say…
There is! Always 🙂
I’ve not counted but I should really. Mostly fiction. Go on tell me the worst. Off line of course.
Worst books? Lol, I have only 1, one star review out. I use Goodreads to count. It does it all for you. You just find the book you’re going to start, and tell it you’re starting and when u finish – helps if u have set a challenge up tho – think that’s how it stores them in one place. Super easy to do though, and I love knowing.
Really inspiring. Thanks
No problems, how many books do you want to read next year?
I used to read all the time but last year have been sadly lacking. I have a load of brilliant books waiting to be read, so I need to give myself a kick up the rear and get stuck in.
I am thrilled and flattered that my book was one that you read this year, and thank you for the wonderful review that you wrote for it too. 🙂 xx
Ahh you’re most welcome, next year I want to read lots of other friends books, like Hugh, Geoff, Ruth, Shelley, Diana and Helen among others. So many friends to read I might even end up way past my target ? I do love Goodreads challenges
I would have failed miserably. In fact, the books I have read, I have not put on Goodreads, I need to get my act together methinks!!!!! 🙂
haha, well you don’t need to put them on goodreads I am just nosy and like nosing through other peoples selections and I like being able to see what I’ve read.
Oh, I am nosy as well, I think it is in our blogger’s nature!!! 🙂
Thank you 😀
Congratulations – it’s so hard to read with little ones around. I remember those years! You have an impressive list – it’s great to see what other people read. Happy New Year and happy reading in 2017!
Thanks so much, it is hard to read with a small one, but it’s also important to do, so I really want to focus on it for next year too. What were your books for this year?
Hi Sacha – I’ll be posting my faves next week! Have a great holiday.
will come poke my nose in!
I’m sure I haven’t read half as many books this year, as I was thinking of my book nominations for 2016 last night. I’m currently reading Dylan’s Genesis Redux, so waiting to finish that before I pull my list together.
I see you read Sansevieri’s truckload thing. Hope it was at least marginally helpful. Seeing as I suggested it!
Didn’t realise the GR thing did a neat tally. Might be worth doing if only for that. Thanks for the info Sacha.
Ahh Goodreads is fab for its list record – but it only works efficiently if u do a Goodreads reading challenge and then record every book you read – I use it all the time now to watch my progress as I read books and because I like looking back on it.
I did indeed read that book, thank you for the recommendation I thought it was great 🙂 I will read it again actually because it had a few useful tidbits and lists in it that will be better served when I publish.
Dylan is on my list for next year 🙂
Aah, Sacha, just looked at your GR reviews and saw you gave Penny a great review and five stars (no I don’t know her from a bar of soap) which is super. I love to recommend a book and someone enjoy it/find it useful. Another blogpal gave a fiction YA story, that I recommended, five stars this week, so I’m on a roll 🙂 Brilliant. Everyone is happy. Authors and readers.
I might do the GR thing though. Sounds good. What’s realistic? 50? 100? Half of what I read are MSS.
I did! 😀 It was a great book and I really will go back to it 😀
Well, I’ve set a goal of 52 this year which is one a week, but then I don’t read manuscripts too often, maybe 5 a year. Those can’t be counted on Goodreads either which is a bore – that is unless they publish in the same year. You can only count published books that are actually on goodreads – but I’ve never found a published book not on there. What do you average book wise a week? 52 is a good starting place I reckon for your average reader.
I thought it was basic, but I’m up on PR.
I went for 50. Half the books I read are MSS. That’s my issue.
In Dec, I’ve read for review a good book (erotica), have been asked to look at other betas, reading Dylan’s, so I probably really read 200 a year. Min.
Because of worky stuffy, it ends up being a low count. I’ve read a 100,000 plus novel to price, some betas at 5,000, 15,000 etc. Just in December.
Full time job? Home to run? Children? Partners? Fifty is lucky
BLIMEY, 200 a year is dead impressive, even if half are manuscripts thats still manuscripts. Haha, well I am secretly aiming for 104. But I have a well cool trick up my sleeve -I just don’t sleep! :p I swear I will drop down dead at 40 from over exertion haha.
There are days when I read a book a day. But I thought 365 was a little optimistic. One of my bosses told me I’d burn out before 50. I left work before it happened. But sleep ? Oh yes. I am the original sleep monster. Sleepy person + book person + cook person = a hell of a scruffy flat 🙂 ?
By the end of tonight, I’ll have read 4 books in 5 days, so almost a book a day. But that’s not a pace I can keep up with a toddler. I just happened to have a bit more time the last few days.
HA! Love that you left work before 50, big finger up to them! I hope I get to do that too! LOL to your flat, my partner likes the house tidy to OCD standards unfortunately!
Loved this post, Sacha! You’ve also just prompted me to add another gazillion books to my TBR pile now! 🙂
Lol thanks Shelley it’s so nice to look back and see what I’ve read. Totally going for 52 books next year thanks to your encouragement ?. What did you add to your list?
Err, all of them!!!!! 😉
Pahahaha I see! That is quite the list additions ???
Nice selection. Thanks for sharing.
you’re welcome – it was nice actually going back and looking at them all.
🙂
I have no clue how many I read – I forgot to keep track! I should do better in 2017.
If u use Goodreads it does ALLLLL the work for you. Are u on there?
Yeah – is there a particular page for the challenge?
Congratulations. It’s always great to set a goal and then beat it be a big margin. I read from a tree book every night before sleep and audio books on CDs in the car every time I’m driving somewhere. Have no idea how many I read or hear annually.
Also, you wrote reviews for all of them. Wow! I’m way behind on writing reviews for the books I read or listen to.
Not quite all of them, but a lot. And definitely anyone I know or who is indie. I’m a bit slack on trad authors, but I like to support where I can in the hope karma prevails when I publish!
Do you have a detailed battle plan to promote your book when it comes out?
Getting there yeah, its not finished yet, but it’s why I’ve been doing so much research and planning in the background and why I’ve posted less recently. And it’s also why I haven’t published yet, next year I should publish multiple times (on purpose).
Are you re doing your plan?
My promotional plans are fluid as I invest in promoting my work, running ads, and learn from the results what site to drop and the ones to keep running ads with. My last big promotion ran for a couple of months into early December and I plan to write a post about it to share the results and where I’ll be putting my money for the next big push.
It would be great to make a profit off each paid promotion, but that is not a realistic goal.
Promotion is a way to gain attention for our work and attract new readers and hopefully a promotion that doesn’t pay for itself turns into word-of-mouth that does down the line.
For instance, if I pay less than $40 for an ad to run on a book promotion site and end up selling a dozen books at $US 0.99, I see that as a win even if I only made back a few dollars because that book gained a dozen pairs of eyes that might enjoy reading the book and then talk about it. Word of mouth is hard to measure unless your work goes viral like Amanda Hocking who worked hard to promote her books for almost ten years before her books went viral.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jan/12/amanda-hocking-self-publishing
I’ve heard of her. I think she got big during the ebook boom in 2011/12 good timing, a bit of luck and some decent books. I agree word of mouth is super hard to measure, but growth in sales isnt and like you say, not every paid ad will give you sales, but it might get you subscribers who will buy your book later down the line and THAT is golddust.
Thanks for the mention, Sacha, and the tremendous review 🙂
Most welcome Jane 🙂 ? happy new year x
Same to you 🙂
Wow you rocked it! And you beat me by 2 books lol. Good luck with a book a week once you become a published author, marketing your ass off LOL. Happy New Year my friend! xo <3
Did I not tell you my secret weapon? No sleep ? xx
Ya, mine too! Did you get my email? I sent 3 times in response to newsletter. So many glitches. 🙁
I did, sorry at friends for NYE and I’d forgotten to schedule the newsletter so had none of the proper formatting or time to do it, all the email addresses are fudged too – clearly 2016 must be my year for paying attention to detail ??
LOL Happy New Year my friend!!!!! xoxo
Right back at you ?
<3
??
Don’t forget to include beta reads – I forgot to add them ?
Oh ya! Me too! 🙂
Thanks so much for the mention as well as the recommendations. I’m truly honored.
Just think, this time next year you will be on someone else’s list!
And with that, I leave you to your panic.
Happy New Year!
*DEEP BREATHS* *DEEEEEEEEEEP BREATHS* oh dear god, why would you say that! :p It’s fine, I’ll only be on two peoples lists, mine and my mums! :p
Interesting list. You’re getting me motivated…maybe 12-15 books is realistically possible this year. (oh, the pressure )
Hope the new year brings lots of laughs and inspriration to you!
It IS, if you’re determined. I didn’t think I would even get 12 done last year, and I have a small human to run after, you can totally do it 😀 😀 I believe in you x
Ah. My reading last year was more like your 2015. Very sad. While I’m not ready to set a challenge, I do intend to read more than a handful. I have to. You’ve got some great reads here (some I’ve read, some I’m buying now) and imagine my shock at seeing my book among them. ? I’m honored, Sacha, and appreciate the mention so much. Happy New Year! ?
Hey, it happens. Sometimes we have crappy years, sometimes we have amazing years. oooh, which ones did you buy? and but of course, if you publish another one this year, you’ll be on this years list too! :p – now there’s a tempting challenge for you… hehe.
Can’t believe I’m just getting to this post now… and I’m in it! Thanks for the mention! I actually read 9 books in December, although I wasn’t writing or blogging. It was great!
haha, don’t worry. I have 60million emails again, pretty sure I have one of yours tucked in there. Will have a gander today 😀 9 books in one month is crazy good! Well impressed. I have read 3 this year and should finish another tonight. 4 in 5 days ain’t bad! I cannot keep that up though!!