Top Ten Books Read in 2010

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature organized by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s feature is about the top ten books you read in 2010.

Choosing my top 10 of 2010 is a nearly impossible task for me. This is the year I really "discovered" YA, and I've read so many incredible books. At the beginning of the year, I never could have anticipated that I would be so involved in this community. I didn't read the same way, because I wasn't reviewing or talking about books with others, and I didn't have the same knowledge of what was out there. I had also never kept a log of my reading before. Things have changed a LOT since then. I now feel completely immersed in reading and blogging, and I came close to reading 200 books this year.

I don't have any strict literary criteria for choosing ten favorites of the year. If you asked me yesterday or tomorrow, I'd probably pick some different ones. Thinking about my top ten now, though, I think these are the books that I've recommended the most this year. (Recommended meaning pushed forcefully.) I am constantly loaning the books on this list to friends and telling other bloggers to buy them. While I have loved many books this year, these are the ones I have shared the most, and sharing them has made them less like books and more like mutual friends.

  1. If I Stay: I've said it before and I'll say it again. If Gayle Forman wrote a technical manual or a shopping list, I'd buy it. I love her writing so much. I read If I Stay before I started blogging and then tried to "review" it when I was just getting my feet wet, so the review doesn't really do it justice. This book is a beautiful, though-provoking, and the definition of tear-jerker.

  2. Looking for Alaska: John Green is another author whose work I would buy no matter what he published. More than any other author I've read this year, his work makes me sad that I didn't start reading YA sooner. I've obsessed over his books and vlogs, and between book bloggers and nerdfighteria, I've found an online community full of people that make me feel considerably less alone in this world.

  3. Shiver: I'm not generally big on the paranormal books, as many of you know, but Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series is pure goodness. These books are not just werewolves and kissing, they are poetry and longing and heartache and pure bliss. They are book shops and candy shops and golden woods and crunching snow. When I recommend paranormal books, Shiver and Linger are always the titles I think of first. Plus, I find Stiefvater completely charming, while also hating that she is an author, artist, and musician. Nobody has a right to be that talented. 😉

  4. Revolution: This book was a game-changer for me. Before reading Revolution, I rarely picked up historical fiction. I think I equated it too much with school reading instead of pleasure reading. I was very mistaken. I read this nearly 500 page book in one night. If you can judge a book by the amount of sleep you're willing to lose for it, this one was clearly well-loved. It was a perfect bridge between contemporary and historical, fiction and nonfiction. It also helped me discover how much I enjoy reading books set in other countries, like Anna and the French Kiss and Sea.

  5. The Deathday Letter: This was one of the funniest books I read all year. I have a lot of respect for Shaun David Hutchinson's ability to take a teen boy's deathday and turn it into a hilarious examination of what it means to live life to the fullest. When somebody is looking for a book that will make them laugh their ass off, this is usually the one I recommend.

  6. Hunger Games: What more really needs to be said? This is a series that has been well-loved all around this year. I'm glad that I discovered it late because I didn't have to wait long between start and finish. I love sharing this series with YA lovers, but I also really enjoy showing it to people who are skeptical of YA. These books are a dark and powerful social commentary that clearly depict YA lit as something more than puppies and cupcakes and rainbows. Not that I don't like puppies and cupcakes and rainbows. Believe me, I do.

  7. Twenty Boy Summer: This book completely ripped my heart out. It is a gorgeous exploration of loss and moving forward afterward. I didn't have this book on my radar until the whole Speak Loudly debacle, so I'm thankful to that book banning insanity for convincing me to read this incredible book. It just goes to show that when you try to keep people from reading something, it only makes them more interested. This is definitely a book that I want out there for teens and adults to read.

  8. Delirium: In a year filled with dystopian reads, this one stands out as one of my favorites. Lauren Oliver is another amazing writer, and she completely pulled me into her world. Delirium is not a light, easy romance with instant-love. It takes a serious look at what love is and the effect it can have on people. I can't wait for this incredible book to be released so that I can get my own copy and read it all over again. If you want another heart-stopping, tear-jerker then be sure to add this to your tbr pile in 2011.

  9. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares: I'm so in love with Dash and Lily. It's smart and funny and good-looking; it has all those qualities I'm searching for in a…book. I enjoy David Levithan and Rachel Cohn separately, but it's possible that they are at their best when they work with each other. (Though David Levithan and John Green also make an excellent pairing.) This was the perfect holiday book, and one that I hope will become a Christmas classic.

  10. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour: This book was the best road trip I've never actually taken. It has it all: grief, romantic tension, road snacks, and playlists. I'm not a huge fan of actual road trips in general, but I loved this one. Amy and Roger were great companions, and their journey was well worth taking. I also loved this book's combination of text and visual media.

Now that I'm done revisiting a year in books, what were your top ten favorites of 2010? I can't wait until next week to see what books you resolve to read in 2011.

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16 Responses to "Top Ten Books Read in 2010"

  • You definitely read the best of YA this year!

    Here is my Top 10 list: http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-ten-books-ive-read-in-2010.html

    1 debnance at readerbuzz said this (December 28, 2010 at 10:40 AM)


  • Great list! We have a lot of books in common on our lists. Delirium was amazing, and If I Stay is one of my all-time favorites. I have not read any John Green books but will have to remedy that. Thanks for sharing – happy reading!

    2 Lucy said this (December 28, 2010 at 12:04 PM)


  • I have read almost all and am adding others to my tbr 🙂

    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

    3 brandileigh2003 said this (December 28, 2010 at 12:44 PM)


  • Top 10 Books I Read in 2010

    1. The Trophy Bride’s Tale by Cyrilla Barr
    2. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
    3. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
    4. Ghost Hunt: Chilling Tales of the Unknown by Jason Dawes & Grant Wilson
    5. The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner
    6. A Man and His Maniac: The Bunkie Story by Charles Franklin Emery III
    7. Citizen Mitten by William Voedisch
    8. High on a Mountain by Tommie Lyn
    9. Expiation by Greg Messel
    10. A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

    4 mary Ann Langan said this (December 28, 2010 at 1:13 PM)


  • Shiver made my list as well. I love your commentary on that pick!

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads
    My Top Ten Tuesday

    5 Carmel @ Rabid Reads said this (December 28, 2010 at 2:04 PM)


  • You really chose some great YA. I loved If I Stay, The Hunger Games and Shiver. I also liked 20 Boy Summer and Dash & Lily. Delirium was amazing too! And I’ve had Amy & Roger on my “must get” list for so long now, I’m so looking forward to reading that one.

    Think I’ll have to add the 2 books on your list I haven’t read to my TBR as I love all the rest you’ve listed

    6 Bree said this (December 28, 2010 at 3:37 PM)


  • dftba 🙂

    John Green is an amazing author and I’ve read nearly all of his stuff. The only reason Paper Town and Looking For Alaska are not on my list is because I was trying to veer away from YA some this year. I did read them and as well as Will Grayson Will Grayson. And Abundance of Catherines will always be my favorite over all of his I think 🙂

    7 Laura@Bunny Tales said this (December 28, 2010 at 4:56 PM)


  • Your list is amazing!! I would put a lot of these on my top 10 list as well. I just got If I Stay, so I am eager to read that one soon. I’ve been seeing Looking for Alaska mentioned a lot too.. may need to pick that one up as well.

    8 Ginger @ GReads! said this (December 28, 2010 at 9:03 PM)


    • You must read it. In fact, you should read it, and then read it again.

      9 Melanie said this (December 29, 2010 at 7:54 AM)


  • I love your list girl! I think I would mix and match my list if someone asked me again, I had a really hard time picking 10, so I did honorable mentions..I am a relentless pusher, so I did the same thing, just picked the books I shoved at my friends.

    10 Katy said this (December 28, 2010 at 9:44 PM)


  • Great List. If I Stay is one of my top ten as well. I’m about to start Delirium.

    11 Librarygal said this (December 28, 2010 at 10:27 PM)


  • I’m currently reading Revolution. I’m about halfway through the book and I’m really enjoying it!

    Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour is hands down my favorite book of 2010. Super jealous you’ve read Delirium already! I finally got someone I work with to start reading the Hunger Games and she’s hooked! I feel so accomplished! 🙂

    Thanks so much for stopping by and participating this week!

    12 Jen said this (December 28, 2010 at 10:36 PM)


  • I am exactly the same for IF I STAY (even for the getting feet wet in reviewing part!)I’m saddened to say that I only got to reading three of those titles, but have been anxiously awaiting all others. Good luck for 2011! 😉 I hope to comment your blog, and others I plan to continue following, more!

    13 Cass said this (December 29, 2010 at 12:24 AM)


  • Argh…so many good books, so little time.

    14 Anne Bennett said this (December 29, 2010 at 2:01 AM)


  • Great picks! I loved Looking for Alaska. I was impressed with John Green’s ability to insert a bit of philosophy into the novel without being deliberate about it. 🙂

    15 Darlyn said this (December 29, 2010 at 9:53 AM)


  • This is hilarious, because I think we have slightly different taste in books sometimes (where’s the swoon!? what about the swooooonage, mel?!), I love ALL of these books. Amazing list. Well, except Deathday Letter? Hadn’t heard of that before!

    16 Anna said this (December 29, 2010 at 11:29 AM)


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