15. Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley
This was one book that surprised me, it isn't very well known and it was a topic (military school) that I had never really read before. I found it to be realistic and it also dealt with certain topics in a way that I found really great.
14. The Martian by Andy Weir
I love sci-fi and the humor in The Martian was so fantastic, I also learned a lot about science! It was so awesome to see the survival methods and how hard we will fight to survive when we are faced with that situation.
13. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
I love books that incorporate Ancient Roman facts and the brutality of this book is what made me take a deeper interest, as that's often glossed over. What truly made me fall in love with this book though is the character development that the main character Laia went through. It was so gradual but after finishing the book and then looking back at the beginning it's an incredible transformation.
12. Young Elites/Rose Society by Marie Lu
I did not like Marie Lu's Legend series, so this series took me by such a surprise with how dark and incredible it turned out to be. It kept me so enraptured throughout both books. I found it to be unique in where it is going, which is something I love finding in series.
11. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Having been the first nonfiction book that I actually enjoyed, this story amazed me in so many ways and changed my outlook on many things.
10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
I loved the book as I was reading through it and then the end just solidified the fact that it would be one of my all time favorite books. Twists and turns are what I love to see.
9. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin is just a genius, even though I hate him at times. The world in these books has just become so alive in my imagination with the combination of the books and the tv show. It's so rare to find one of those series where the characters feel so real in my life. Maybe my favorite books I read this year, but it will always be in my top favorites with how incredible it is.
8. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
This is one of my favorite series and while I did not enjoy Queen of Shadows as much as I did Heir of Fire, I'm so in love with all of the characters and their character development and the magic of this world that it was still one of my favorites.
7. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Sarah and Susan's friendship makes me life, so seeing it exist in a high fantasy book with action and them being badasses just made it all the better. I'm also a big fan of friendships in books, because I don't think romance ever needs to be the main purpose in books and so that helped me fall in love with the book even more.
6. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
One of my favorite historical fiction authors and this book was so incredibly emotional and hopeful and sad all at the same time. I felt so many emotions throughout this book and saw so many different stories. I loved it so much because it also showed me how many stories go untold and unknown. Her author's note was also just so great with her talking about her purpose for the book, which made me love it so much more.
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The first book in this series and I am already addicted, I can see it going in such incredible places and the hot faeries aren't such a bad thing either. I loved all of the characters and I am so excited for the next one.
4. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
One of the most emotional books I have ever read. I cried so hard, but I loved it so much. It just showed me how everyone goes through things and some people are able to get through it and others aren't. It also made me want to go out and experience some of the weird things around me.
3. Red Rising/Golden Son by Pierce Brown
World building is incredible and the characters are so complex. I don't think I can describe why this series made it to be number 3, but I just fell in love with the series so much.
2. The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain
I try and get all my friends to read this book, but it's so hard! It's really short too! My advice is to forget what you've read of Mark Twain and of Huckleberry Finn because I never really liked that book either. Which is why many people haven't read The Mysterious Stranger. This novella is from the end of Mark Twain's life when he becomes a lot more cynical. Which is why it's about an angel named Satan visiting earth. Literally so mind-blowing and has changed my perspective on everything.
And finally, my favorite book that I read in 2015...
1. City of Thieves by David Benioff
This book wasn't the one that my cry the most or connect the most with the characters or be amazed by the character development. Instead, it's less than 300 pages about two young men during the Siege of Leningrad who must search for a dozen eggs to avoid being executed for looting and desertion. Somehow this book brought me to their time period and the dangers they faced by everything and how unfair everything was. It was filled with humor and terror and it's only after looking back on the books I read in 2015 that I realize this one was the best. While I often hear Catcher in the Rye being described as one of the best coming of age stories, I find City of Thieves to top them all.
