Top Ten New to Me Authors I Read in 2016
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a TTT post, but today’s topic was a fun one, and I just had to join! For my list, I only included authors that I’ve been seeing around the blogosphere for quite some time, but just jump in and read something this year myself.
(Links for the author names go to Goodreads. Click on the book cover to see my review.)
1. Victoria Schwab / V.E. Schwab
I finally read my first Schwab book, and I definitely see what all the fuss has been about. This Savage Song was an instant All-Time Favorite, and bought all of the V.E. Schwab books at an author signing event so I could jump on the bandwagon with the rest of you. I haven’t read them yet, but they are high on my TBR.
2. Tahereh Mafi
I planned on doing a readalong of the Unravel Me series this year, but it didn’t happen. BUT I did read my first Mafi book—Furthermore, which was absolutely fantabulous. Both my daughter and I absolutely loved it! Need to read Unravel Me soon!
3. Kendare Blake
This is another author that I’ve been meaning to read forever. I even bought Anna Dressed in Blood at an event awhile back, but I haven’t managed to pick it up. But Three Dark Crowns was an All-Time Favorite, so I now know that Anna needs to get bumped way up on the old TBR!
4. Anne Bishop
So many of my blogger friends raved about The Others Series, but I just wasn’t finding myself in the mood for Urban Fantasy for some reason. Then I picked up the first book—and I was immediately hooked! Now I’m a HUGE fan and I can’t wait for the next book!! It’s coming in March!
5. JoJo Moyes
I know I was really late to the game when it came to Me Before You, but I finally read it when the movie came out. I was a fan (with a few reservations—more when it came to the movie). I definitely plan to read After You as well at some point.
6. Jill Shalvis
I don’t read a ton of adult romance, which probably explains why I hadn’t picked up Jill Shalvis even though she’s everywhere. I jumped in with the second book in Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series and loved it. When I had the chance to review the next book—a novella—I was excited to keep reading!
7. Victoria Scott
I have to confess that I hadn’t given Scott a lot of thought in the past. I’d seen her books around, but they’d never really called to me. Still, when I saw Titans, I knew I wanted to read it, and now I’m a converted fan. I plan to give Scott’s other books a try at some point now too.
8. Rachel Hawkins
The Hex Hall Series is one I’d had my eye on for quite awhile, which makes sense since it was finished in 2014. When I started getting into audiobooks this year, I noticed that my library had this one available and I jumped right in! I enjoyed the series immensely and will probably pick up her others at some point.
9. Ernest Cline
I’d heard about Ready Player One and Cline’s genius for forever, but I hadn’t been that interested in picking the book up—until I realized it would be a perfect book to read along with my son, who is obsessed with video games. I wasn’t expecting the book to end up being an All-Time Favorite, but it was. I haven’t read Armada yet, but I definitely plan to at some point.
10. Renee Ahdieh
I wasn’t nearly as behind the crowd on this one, since Ahdieh’s big hit just came out in May of 2015. But I held off on reading The Wrath and the Dawn until the second book was out so I could read both books (and all the novellas) together.
A few of mine: Eric Lindstrom, J. Daniels, Ann Omasta, Nicole Archer, Martina McAtee, Anna Banks, Renee Carlino, Liza Weimer, Shae Ross. This year I really went out of my way to read new authors.
I read Liza Weimer for the first time just the other day! Really enjoyed her book! I really want to read Renee Carlino, but haven’t done it yet.
You really need to grab Swear On This Life. I mean REALLY.
Just added it to my Wishlist TBR (which means it’s highest on my TBR list)! 🙂
I LOVE Cline and Schwab! ♥ LOVE them. I’m happy you felt the same 🙂 Ahdieh too but I still need to get my hands on The Rose & The Dagger! I only read the first book in the Hex Hall spinoff series but I enjoyed it – I really need to read the original series^^ I definitely want to read Scott, Bishop, Blake and Mafi as well…hopefully in 2017!
I actually didn’t even remember that there was a Hex Hall spin-off series. I’ll have to check to see if the library has that one!
I love seeing Jojo Moyes on your list! I read Me Before You in 2014 and she instantly became a favorite. I’ve read two more by her since then and The Girl You Left Behind is my favorite. That book was simply unforgettable.
Me Before You is one of those books that everyone talks about, but I just hadn’t been all that motivated to read. Then I saw the preview for the movie and thought, “Ooh, I want to see that.” It wasn’t until the preview was almost over that I realized it was this book! I decided I needed to read it at this point.
Kendare Blake, Renee Ahdieh and Victoria Schwab were new to me this year as well (and I will definitely read more of their work). I have nothing but love for Mafi, Moyes, Shalvis, and Hawkins. The new to me authors I loved this year and want to get all their books were: Jeff Zentner, David Arnold, Stephanie Kate Stromh, AS King, Julie Buxbaum, Max Wirestone, Leigh Bardugo.
I have Jeff Zentner, Julie Buxbaum and Leigh Bardugo on my shelf, but I haven’t read them yet. Need to!!
OOoh nice! See several on here who were already on my favorites list! Though Victoria Schwab kinda just made it this with This Savage Song! LOL! I tried reading her previous YA series but the timing must have been wrong because I gave up after a few pages. :/ Love Scott, Ahdieh, Bishop, Hawkins, Blake, and Mafi! Haven’t read Tahereh’s MG book but I did love her YA ones! Great list!
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You should definitely read Furthermore. It was adorable and awesome!
Renee Ahdieh is on my list, too! There were quite a few authors I finally got around to this year whose books I probably should have read sooner, like Kristin Cashore, Leigh Bardugo, and Ruta Sepetys. But better late than never, right?
I still haven’t read Bardugo, but I did finally read Sepetys (LOVED her latest!).
I read Victoria Schwab for the first time this year too, although it was the Shades of Magic books I read. I can’t wait to read This Savage Song, so I’m glad to hear you liked it.
Likewise, I’m super excited to read the Shades of Magic books now. 🙂
oh so many good ones. I loved the wrath and the dawn and ready player one. both were awesome books. ready player one was so much fun with all the 80s references. loved it. i want to read a couple of the others you have on here. furthermore, three dark crowns. yup need to get to those.
I didn’t expect to love Ready Player One as much as I did, even with all the 80s references (which were right up my alley, of course). 🙂
I REALLY need to read the first four authors on this list. Maybe 2017 will be my year! haha I did read Me Before You this year as well and saw the film.
-Lauren
It feels impossible to read everything, no matter how hard we try!!
Don’t worry, Nicole. I’m late to EVERY party! 😀 I have Armada – I went to Cline’s signing in Austin. Walked right past his Deloreon in the parking lot. Still haven’t read either, though.
https://girlof1000wonders.wordpress.com/2016/12/06/top-ten-tuesday-for-the-first-time-in-2016/
Ha! So fun about the Deloreon. It’s impossible to keep up with all the books, but we sure try!
Ohhh Ernest Cline! Love his books. 🙂 I’m glad you finally discovered Anne Bishop as well. Great authors!
Did you love Armada too? I’ve heard not as good things about that one, but I still definitely plan to read it for myself.
Victoria Schwab! I’m slowly working my way through all of her books. I love them.
I’ve still only read the one, but I definitely need to keep going!!
I didn’t put together a list for this TTT, but when I heard of it, Schwab was the first name that came to mind!
I’m so glad I found her!
Bishop and Cline made my list this week too! I can’t wait to read more by them. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
Kendare Blake made my list too! I mean, it was a list that I devised in the comments section of Holly’s blog, but still, she made it. Also, read the Shatter Me series for SURE- and IMO, the books get better as they go along! I love Renee’s series (can’t wait for her next book!) and Victoria’s books too (you should read Fire & Flood and then help me petition Scholastic for a third book 😉 ) And I need to read more Victoria Schwab, I have only read two- still behind in needing to read AGOS! And I need to read JoJo Moyes too, I have heard nothing but great things! Awesome list 😀
I read one new author.Tahereh Mafi. I did read the Shatter Me series. You do need to read them. They are really good. I have Renee’s book on my list and Me Before You on my list.
I’m hoping to discover Victoria Schwab & Renee Ahdieh next year! Their books sound beyond amazing!
VE Schwab made my list too! I love her! I also discovered Ernest Cline for the first time. I loved Ready Player One way more than I thought I would. I have Three Dark Crowns on my Kindle, but I haven’t read it yet. So happy that author made it on your list!
I was the same way with Ready Player One—I was expecting to like it, but it was so much better than I was imagining!
You just now read Victoria Scott for the first time? Wow! But actually it doesn’t surprise me that much I guess, she is an author that I love that I think is totally under the radar for most people. Glad you got to read her this year. And you need to do the Unravel Me by Mafi series, I love it so much!
I had definitely heard of Scott, but I hadn’t managed to pick up one of her books yet. There are SO many books like that—I need more hours in the day!!