Amy's Top Five for The Family Addiction

In honor of our blogiversary (yes, I know that was technically earlier this week, but we like to stretch things out a bit around here) it is my turn to take a trip down memory lane.  This past year I reviewed 29 books for The Family Addiction. Wow.  That was a lot of reading!  And typing!  And ignoring my household duties! Yay! You would think that composing a list of my top five favorites should be easy, right?  Wrong.  It would actually be easier for me to list my top five LEAST favorites that I have reviewed this year (I'm looking at YOU, Sweet Valley High Confidential: 10 Years Later).  When I don't like something, I REALLY don't like something.  But when I like something, I LOVE something and there were a lot of books that I LOVED this year.  I'll do my best to break them down for you here. 

5.  Crush by Alan Jacobson
Months later, I still find myself comparing female crime fighters in books and even on TV to Karen Vail.  She is tough in a male-dominated profession and yet has a likable feminine side to her also.  She balances her duties as mom, cop and girlfriend the best she can, even when surrounded by a gruesome murder during what was supposed to be her vacation.  It didn't hurt that this particular mystery was set in California; more specifically the wine country. Jacobson crafted some memorable characters in a realistic setting and I am looking forward to reading more.

4.  Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger
Again, love the strong crime-fighting main character in this one.  This time it's an ex-sheriff of a sleepy Minnesota town by the name of Cork O'Connor.  He's Irish, rugged and no-nonsense.  Cork's main focus is finding the truth even if it means he has to make some major sacrifices on his part.  He is part loving dad, part loyal ex-sheriff and part torn ex-husband.  Bonus:  there are ten more Cork O'Connor novels for me (and you!) to read.

3.  My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking
Finally a vampire novel I could read without being annoyed!  And this one even made my top five list!  Hocking made her mark as an e-publishing dynamo with this series that she wrote in her spare time. Even though it is a young adult novel, I didn't FEEL like a young adult when I read it.  The characters are mature without taking themselves too seriously.  The book is fun, short and is exactly what I want in a paranormal romance. 

2.  There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz
I was blown away by how much this book affected and still affects me.  Set in Chicago, There Are No Children Here is the story of real life for two young men raised in the Henry Horner homes. The day-to-day living of these particular boys was riveting and heart-breaking at the same time.  Drugs, crime and poverty invaded every moment of their lives in the early 1990's.  What could just a few more dollars and a little bit more opportunity have done for them?  Would their lives have been any different?  I wish I knew.

1.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Surprised?  You shouldn't be.  I talk about this book all the time!  By far my favorite book this year.  If you haven't read it DO.IT.NOW.  (Sarah...this means you!).  Almost daily, I see where more and more people are reading this book or have teenagers that are reading this book. What is all the fuss about? Set in the future after the fall of the North America, the country of Panem now exists in twelve districts that must send one person each year to The Hunger Games to fight to the death.  It's full of action, suspense and drama.  Once you start, you'll be hard-pressed to put it down. I promise.

What were your favorite books in the past year?  What would you like to see us review in the future?  Leave us a comment and let us know.  It just might make my list of favorites for next year!  Happy Reading!