This week’s TTT (hosted by The Broke and The Bookish) is too hard, so I’m cheating. I can’t pick just 10 books, so I’ve split it into 2 lists; a top 10 of adult fiction and an extra one for YA. Just be glad I didn’t do separate lists for non-fiction, books about the Brontës and children’s books about koalas.
Adult Fiction
10 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I was late to the party on this one, but I loved the richness of the imagery, the amazing clocks and the weird gothic vibe.
9 The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
Very weird feminist-tinged tale of women imprisoned in a camp in the Australian Outback.
8 The Butcher’s Hook by Janet Ellis
Gloriously mad historical “romance.”
7 Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I am now obsessed with Adichie. The end.
6 His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
My Booker pick; the varied style of this really grabbed my attention.
5 All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
This was my top book of the year, but I read it right at the start of 2016 and too many books have been and gone since. I have vowed to reread it soon.
4 Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
So weirdly heartbreaking and lovely. And I don’t even like dogs. (Sorry.)
3 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Superlative, sweeping tale of two linked families, rooted in slavery in Africa and resulting in modern day America.
2 Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer
I remain in awe of this wonderful book about a dysfunctional Jewish family and a crisis in Israel.
1 The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah
I am so pleased I stumbled across this beautiful and subtle book. I raved about it here.
YA Fiction
10 A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
I feel very wrong for not putting this higher up the list. I am taking out my feelings of frustration about waiting for the third book by punishing this one.
9 The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder
Possibly the loveliest book I’ve read all year.
8 Lydia by Natasha Farrant
This reimagining of the troublemaker from Pride and Prejudice was very funny.
7 Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
I still can’t think about this WWII story without wanting to do a little cry.
6 Front Lines by Michael Grant
Girls in war! Woohoo! This was a fun read, with some serious stuff about sexism too.
5 Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
So tragic! So heartbreaking! But also so hilarious?
4 Dumplin‘ by Julie Murphy
Ahh, Willowdean, my fictional BFF. Just thinking about this book makes me want to do a celebratory dance.
3 Vivian Vs the Apocalypse by Katie Coyle
I’m so pleased to have discovered these books completely by accident. It’s a brilliant, entertaining duology which now has slightly frightening connotations, post-US election. Is Katie Coyle actually psychic?
2 Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
Obviously this is on here. It was brilliant. More please. NOW.
1 The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
The only book lovely enough to beat The Museum of Heartbreak to the title of Loveliest Book. Because it’s lovely. Also, Alaska. And lots of salmon.
wildeonmyside.wordpress.com 
I’ve always thought AGOS/ADSOM/that series in general is pitched more as adult fiction with a YA appeal! But that would be one of my picks as well. 😉
I’m looking forward to reading The Night Circus. I’ve had that on my TBR since forever.
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Weirdly, AGOS&pals seem to be marketed as both adult and YA here in the UK; I’ve seen them in both sections in bookshops. I think of them the opposite way round: as YA with adult appeal. But they are a perfect crossover either way.
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His Bloody Project made it onto my list too – a wonderful surprise for me – I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it so much.
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I also adored A Gathering of Shadows, and I do agree it walks the line between YA and Adult. Whatever it is, it is amazing. I didn’t get a chance to read Salt to the Sea yet but it’s definitely high on the TBR list.
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I finally took the plunge and bought Homegoing for my kindle (like 2 dollars on amazon today) after thinking/talking about reading it for so long. Great List!
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Yay for Homegoing and Americanah! I put the Petinah Gappah on my TBR. Nice lists! (When I did my Best Of 2016 I didn’t even realize that was the topic for Top Ten Tuesday, LOL!)
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I loved Americanah and All the Birds in the Sky. I really liked The Smell of Other People’s Houses too. I really, really need to read Homegoing! Also I’ve never read the Night Circus, but keep wondering if I should.
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