Best Books of 2016 + How To Read Books for Almost Free

Affiliate links included. When you purchase anything via these links, I make a small commission. Very small. But very appreciated. Thanks for loving ohAmanda! A few of these books were given to me as review copies. All words and thoughts my own.

I love end of year book lists. Sometimes I think I love book lists more than I love reading. Is that weird? I seriously have made a hobby of adding books to my to-be-read pile.

I read about 86 books this year. Out of all of them, I probably only bought 2 hard copies. I spent about $60 this year on ebooks. The rest of them were from the library or digital downloads.

Wanna hear all my crazy keep-track-of-my-books-and-read-them-for-almost-free procedures? I know you do. So, here’s the plan:

1. Find books. My fave places? What Should I Read Next podcast, my Bookworm-ish Twitter feed and my BFFs.
2. Add them to my Amazon Wishlist–on kindle, not as a paperback. That way I can scroll them every once in awhile and see which one is on sale.
3. OR search for them on my library’s website. I can either add them to a to-check-out list or go ahead and request it.
4. OR search for it on my library’s EBOOK website. My library and my kids’ school use Overdrive. You can download ebooks and audiobooks to read directly on your e-reader, on your computer or phone/tablet. It’s the BEST because there are no late fees!
5. I’ve noticed that when an author has a new book coming out, they will usually put some of their older books on sale for Kindle so you can get hooked and buy the new one. Keep your eyes on your favorite authors by following them on Amazon or via BookBub. You can set up a list on BookBub with your favorite authors and every time one of their ebooks are on sale, they email you!d

Bonus: When I find a great deal, I usually update it on my ohAmanda LOVES BOOKS page which also includes links to my yearly book lists!

I keep track of all my books (which is ridiculously fun to me) on Pinterest and sorta on Goodreads (if you’re active over there, find me!) but I like compiling my top reads here. So, in a few different categories, here are my fave books this year–not books that were released this year, just that I’ve read!

Historical Fiction

This is my very favorite genre. I already wrote a post about my favorite WWII novels this year. So, besides alllll those, here’s some other stand outs:

Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave // Wicked humor coupled with the seriousness of World War II, race and class.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier // Probably my favorite book this year. It’s a gothic romance. I’m still shivering thinking about it. (The audio version is crazy spooky.)

Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green // A woman marked by her sin is sent to the French colony of Louisiana. Horrific but also full of redemption. (This one actually hasn’t been released yet–it comes out January 3rd!)

Young Adult Fiction

I’m not ashamed to love YA.

I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones // Funny, clean, sweet story of a geeky high school girl falling for the football star. (Is it ok that I fell for him, too?)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys // Not sure why this is YA–it’s just a gorgeous story of 4 people in World War II trying to escape the horrors of war on the Wilhelm Gustloff.

Kids

I wrote a whole ‘nother post about my favorite Middle Grade books!

Contemporary

Contemporary is my least favorite genre. I’m more of an escapist when it comes to reading. But these books were wonderful!

Mayor Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson // Smart, funny story of a stodgy English widower falling for his Pakistani neighbor.

The Feathered Bone by Jocelyn Green // Chilling story of a young girl kidnapped and used as a slave in Louisiana around the time of Hurricane Katrina.

When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti // A beautiful story of redemption of three generations of women.

Non Fiction

My non-fiction books tend to be devotional in nature. These books will change you if you let them.

How My Book Became a Movie by Robin Jones Gunn (and the book that became the movie!) // Writers, dreamers and God-followers need to read this one!

I Stand at the Door and Knock by Corrie Ten Boom // Short devotions from a survivor of the holocaust.

The Day I Met Jesus by Mary DeMuth and Frank Viola // Part fictional retelling of Bible stories, part amazing teaching. My favorite devotional/spiritual book this year.

Classics

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie // TERRIFYING.

Short Stories of Lucy Maud Montgomery, 1905-6 // Short beautiful stories from the author of Anne of Green Gables. (FREE on Kindle!)

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell // It’s a classic for a reason.

Series

I just included this category so my Historical Fiction section wouldn’t be so long. *wink*

Daughters of Fortune by Susan May Warren // The story of two sisters–and their daughters from the late 1800’s through World War II, from newspaper barons, to gold miners, Hollywood starlets and more.

And now, in honor of the What Should I Read Next podcast, a few books other people love but I did not like this year:

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom // Basically, a sordid soap opera set on an antebellum plantation in the south.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes // Contemporary fiction is not my favorite. Neither are books without hope.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith // Well, I only read 20% of this one. It felt…dirty. Talk about no hope.

So, what about you? Best books you read in 2016? Any books you didn’t like?