The Half-Year Mark: Best Books of 2010 (so far)

Hey folks! As it’s officially the beginning of summer and we’re halfway through the year, we decided that it was time to start keeping score – of our favorite books of the year, that is.

Without further ado, we present you with our Best of 2010 Lists – So Far.

Thea’s Best of 2010:

So far, 2010 has been running a little below average as a reading year – why do I say this? Because when reflecting upon the reviews I’ve written this year and the books I’ve read so far, only a very select few jump out at me as truly memorable. I couldn’t even fill out an honest Top 10 for 2010, unfortunately. BUT. While many of the highly anticipated debuts or sequels of the year have failed to live up to expectations and I’ve read a lot of rather ho-hum/decently entertaining but ultimately mediocre books published in 2010, there are always a few diamonds in the rough that make it all worthwhile. And I’m hoping for a STELLAR second half of the year – given the number of titles I’m ridiculously excited for, I think 2010 will, in the end, be just fine. I’m breaking out my picks in three lists: 1. Best books read, reviewed and published in 2010; 2. Best books read & reviewed in 2010 (regardless of publication year); and 3. Honorable Mentions.

Best Books Read, Reviewed and Published in 2010

1. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, 9 (Dystopia/Speculative Fiction)
2. Lies by Michael Grant, 8 (YA, horror/SF)
3. Naamah’s Curse by Jacqueline Carey, 8 (Fantasy)
4. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, 8 (YA, dystopia/post-apocalyse, SF)
5. Silver Bourne by Patricia Briggs, 8 (UF)

Best Books Read & Reviewed in 2010 (regardless of publication year)

1. Hero by Perry Moore, 10 (YA, Superhero/SF)
2. Heart of Veridon by Tim Akers, 9 (Steampunk, SF)
3. Anti-Ice by Stephen Baxter, 8 (Steampunk, SF)
4. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, 8 (YA, Steampunk/SF)
5. Titan by Stephen Baxter, 8 (Science Fiction)
6. The Affinity Bridge by George Mann, 7 (Steampunk, SF)

Honorable Mentions:

1. Girl with the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron, 9 (YA, contemporary)
2. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, 8 (YA, dystopia/SF)
3. Veracity by Laura Bynum, 8 (Dystopia/SF)
4. The Enemy by Charlie Higson, 7 (YA, Post-Apocalypse/SF/Horror)
5. Spellwright by Blake Charlton, 7 (Fantasy)

As you can see, young adult and dystopian/apocalyptic novels still dominate my lists, with a few steampunk books thrown in there too. And wouldja look at that, my New Year’s Resolution to read more science fiction is totally paying off. Here’s to an awesome back end of 2010!

Ana’s Best of 2010:

Things are quite different, at my side of the Smuggliverse – 2010 has been a fabulous reading year so far for me. I read 65 books and the majority of them were pretty good reads to the point where I had a problem trying to come up with ONLY a top 10 of the year especially taking into consideration we are only half way through 2010. If things keep up like that – and chances are they will, with so many books I am looking forward to reading – 2010 might well be one of my best reading years ever. I will break my picks in three lists as well only slightly different: 1. Best books read, reviewed and published in 2010; 2.Hororable mentions; 3. John Green (because his books were my favourite discovery of the year).

Best Books Read, Reviewed and Published in 2010

1. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, 10 (YA, Fantasy)
2. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K.Jemisin, 9 (Fantasy)
3. In For a Penny by Rose Lerner, 8 (Romance, Historical)
4. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, 8 (YA, Contemporary)
5. Irredeemable Vol.1 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause, 9 (Graphic Novel, Superheroes)
6. Irredeemable Vol.2 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause, 9 (Graphic Novel, Superheroes)
7. White Cat by Holly Black, 8 (YA, UF)
8. The Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan, 9 (YA, UF)
9. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey, 8 (YA, Fantasy)
10. A Conspirary of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner, 9 (YA, Fantasy)

Honorable Mentions:

1. The Girl With the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron, 8 (YA, Contemporary)
2. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, 8 (YA, Fantasy)
3. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire, 8 (UF)
4. Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson, 8 (YA, Contemporary)
5. Mind Games by Carolyn Crane, 8 (UF)
6. Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook, 8 (Novella, Steampunk)
7. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, 8, (YA, Fantasy)
8. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M Campbell, 7, (YA, Fantasy/Superheroes)
9. Shades of Gray by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge, 8 (Fantasy, Superheroes)

John Green AKA Best Discovery of 2010:

1. An Abundance of Katherines, 8 (YA, Contemporary)
2. Paper Towns, 8 (YA, Contemporary)
3. Looking For Alaska, 8 (YA, Contemporary)
4. Will Grayson, Will Grayson (co-authored by David Levithan), 7 (YA, Contemporary)

Ok, tons of YA as you can see, which is where the good stuff seems to be at the moment, especially of the Fantasy variety. I plan to read more straight Fantasy, Romance and Anthologies, on this second half of the year. Let’s see how it goes.

What about you, what are your favourite reads of the year so far?