TBT: Books that defined my '10s
As we head into a new decade (no pressure), I wanted to write up a post about some books that haven't meant a lot to me in the past. And even though I read a lot as a kid, I didn't start seriously reading and tracking my books until 2015. A lot of these books fell into my lap in the latter half of the decade, but they are impactful all the same.
SO here are 10 books/series from the 2010s that left an imprint on my heart.
Let's start with series first...
Suzanne Collins
The first books in this series came out in 2008 and 2009 respectively, so not quite within this decade, but the concluding series was published in 2010 so IT COUNTS.
Not only do I remember actively devouring this first book, but Catching Fire might be the first book (outside of Harry Potter) that I ever pre-ordered. I was entirely obsessed, and rereading the trilogy this year, I'd say that's lasted.
I also remember it as one of the first books I ever recommended to my husband! The movie came out our freshman year of college, when we were newly dating, and I insisted he read it. He did, and then passed it along to a bunch of family members that summer. This series has such fond memories for me, so it has to be on this list.
Veronica Roth
I know if I reread this, I would have a different opinion, but oh my god I could not get enough of these books when I first read them. I marathoned this series over Christmas break my senior year of college. I'm not really sure how I found these books, or if I just knew of them because of the recently released movies, but they were the first things I read after deciding that I wanted to be a reader again.
This dystopian story felt so reminiscent of how I felt while reading The Hunger Games, so I think nostalgia played a bit role in my enjoyment. However, I really got swept up in the story and fell in the love reading again. Maybe I'll pick them back up sometime this year...
Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling)
First of all, we're going to ignore the horrendous new cover they designed for the fourth book in the series and just pretend that these are the only ones that exist.
Second, we support trans rights on this blog and I want to acknowledge that JKR said some really harmful things lately that are just...not okay. Outlaw TERFs 2k20.
But alas, I've really loved this series. The books are dark and gritty and the third one in particular creeped me the eff out. I have been consistently impressed by these books and they were some of the first mystery/thrillers that really caught my attention and started my love of what's recently become one of my favorite genres.
Seanan McGuire
We are just DAYS away from the next book in this series being published and my excitement is through. the. roof. These little novellas are packed with so much wonder and whimsy and diversity and really relevant and important commentary on life today. I can't put into words how much I've loved each and every one of these stories.
Each story follows a new but connected storyline about portal worlds and fantastical places that these wayward children visit. Think Narnia, Wonderland... but better! I can't recommend these books highly enough.
VE Schwab
I really wish I could remember how I found out about this series. I think it was when I first discovered bookstagram in 2015. Anyway, I remember reading the synopsis and being instantly drawn in. I got it out from the library immediately.... and Adam took it home with him over Christmas break (very rude).
Adam loved it and so of course I read it as soon as I could and fell in love with the world and the characters. Parallel Londons of varying degrees of magical; quick wit and humor; one of my favorite m/m couples of all time... There's so much I love about this series. It also has a great first line...
Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
Time for some standalones...
Jhumpa Lahiri
This book grabbed right onto my heart and never let go. Jhumpa Lahiri's writing is so quietly beautiful and I've loved both of the books I've read from her with my whole heart.
The Namesake follows a coming-of-age story of Gogol, a first-generation Bengali-American, and his constant feeling of conflict between his family's cultural and the country in which he's living. It was an extremely emotional book for me--emotions from all over the place--and I couldn't stop thinking about it after I finished.
Becky Albertalli
If you spend any time in the online book community, I'm sure you know this book. And if you enjoy going to the movies, you might know this one by it's film title Love, Simon.
This is everything I love in good, cheesy, YA romance. I truly did not stop smiling the entire time I read this and it was such a joy. But even though I loved it, that's not why it's ending up on this list.
At the start of 2018, I knew I wanted to get more involved in the bookish community--my blog is my own little space that I love, but it doesn't really have any interaction (yet?). And while I had attempted bookstagram, it wasn't really my thing. After finishing Simon, I knew I needed to talk to SOMEONE about this... which inspired me to start my BookTube channel! I completely associate this book with the start of my channel, so it will always have a special place in my heart.
Anita Diamant
Ohhhhhh this book. This was the first in a long line of favorite books that use what I now consider my favorite trope: an older person recounting their life's story to a younger person. I see so many people review books like this and say that they're boring and I first just want to say: I get it!! These books have very little plot, but for me, there's so much heart in them and I always get so emotionally attached to the characters.
Our main character in this book, Addie Baum, is the child of immigrants in a Jewish family living in the North End of Boston. This story is a response to her granddaughter asking "How did you become the woman you are today?" And boy does it cover a lot. There's so much despair and tragedy, but also so much love and hope and resilience. Addie remains on of my favorite characters to this day.
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
It was really, really, really hard for me to decide between Daisy and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (also by TJR) for this list. I love them both SO much and the were my favorite books of the year for 2019 and 2018, respectively. But in the end, this one took the cake.
With both stories, you forget that you're reading about fictional people. Taylor Jenkins Reid has such a way of making me believe wholeheartedly in what she's writing. This book is told through interviews with members of a fictional '70s rock band several decades after their abrupt and dramatic breakup. Truly, this book is sex, drugs, and rock and roll. So many trigger warnings in here for addiction, alcoholism, abandonment... There's a lot going on.
This book is super polarizing--you either love it or you can't finish it. I obviously fell into the first category, despite being SUPER hesitant to pick it up. And even though it's the most recent read on this list, it's probably the one that took the biggest emotional toll on me (in like every way possible).
Louisa May Alcott
Here she is. My favorite book of all time.
I can't totally describe why I love this book so much. Maybe it's because the first time I read it was at the peak of the holiday season, which is truly the best time to read this. Maybe it was finally putting together one of my favorite childhood movies with the rest of the backstory. But I think a lot of it is because of the beautiful and tender and fierce and loyal and unconditional love between these four sisters. SO SAPPY I'M SORRY.
In the end, I just love every element of this story. And it's again, kind of "boring" in the traditional sense--and sure the ending is a little *eye roll* but. I can't help it. I love this book so much.
There's a lot of pressure in putting out a list like this. I mean, I've read hundreds of books in the last decade (wtf) and picking just 10 (okay, I guess technically 22 with the series) was really intimidating, but also somehow incredibly easy. All of these books left an impression and I can't see any of them not being meaningful another decade from now. Hopefully, I'll also have 10 (or 22) more "decade defining" reads as we make our way through the '20s. I'm so excited to see what they all are.
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