At this time of the year (or however many hours are left of it) there are numerous lists published, looking at what happened in the past and some predictions for the future. I wanted to do my own version of this, but with books. Books have always been a constant in my life and have always offered me a place of solitude when I need to get away from the buzziness of the Internet. So here are a few of the titles I read this past year, and some that I’m looking forward to reading in 2016. 

PAST

I haven’t read as much as I have in years past, as I was caught up with “other things” (school, Netflix, life planning, Netflix), but I did read quite a few good books this year. If you like YA fiction, I would recommend I Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (which I reviewed), for those who like romance  I recommend To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, for something to make you cry-laugh Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews, and for your dystopian with a female lead (but like actually realistic and not just “tough”) I recommend Rook by Sharon Cameron. Image Sources: goodreads.com, except for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl: amazon.ca

I also read a few autobiographies this year, which I had never tried as a genre. I’m happy I did though because I learned some new things about some of my favorite people/personal heroes and myself. For a laugh/life advice read Amy Poehler’s Yes Please (find my review here), for inspiration read I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb, and for smart modern essays on sex/growing up a girl/work read Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham (I finished it on my flight from London to Miami).

PRESENT

Currently I’m reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which is absolutely fantastic. You probably know Chimamanda from her amazing TED talk(s), like ‘We should all be feminists’ or ‘The Danger of the Single Story’. She’s a wonderful role model not just for women and people of color, but everyone (even Beyoncé thinks so). I’m savoring every second of reading Americanah it is such a perfect blend of romance, race/immigration issues, and finding your identity. Image source: amazon.co.uk

FUTURE

I’m lucky enough that the people in my life know I want books for Christmas (I always make a few specific requests on my wishlist). I’m going to be starting 2016 laughing thanks to Egghead by Bo Burnham and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling, creatively inspired thanks to Rookie Yearbook Four and It by Alexa Chung, and in a constant state of indescribable emotion thanks to Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Image Sources: rookiemag.com, goodreads.com, amazon.com

I hope 2016 finds you healthy, happy, and

with a good book in your hands.