Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2016. I immediately knew that I was going to have a problem.
I read 120 books by authors I’ve never read previously so far this year.
Obviously, I can’t discuss them all so I picked a few that stood out.
Alyssa Palombo
You know how when you sort of know someone from online and you find out they wrote a book and you are scared to read it because what if it sucks? I had talked to Alyssa in the #historicalfix chats. Her book definitely doesn’t suck. It is very, very good. You should read it.
The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo
“Like most 18th century Venetians, Adriana d’Amato adores music-except her strict merchant father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But she refuses to let that stop her from living her dreams and begins sneaking out of her family’s palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from virtuoso violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair.”
D.J. Older
I read 4 of his books this year. Shadowshaper, the 2 Bone Street Rumba books, and his short story collection.
Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel José Older
“Carlos Delacruz is one of the New York Council of the Dead’s most unusual agents—an inbetweener, partially resurrected from a death he barely recalls suffering, after a life that’s missing from his memory. He thinks he is one of a kind—until he encounters other entities walking the fine line between life and death.”
Ayisha Malik
I’ve been singing the praises of this book all over Twitter and here. Just go read it.
Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik
“Unlucky in love once again after her possible-marriage-partner-to-be proves a little too close to his parents, Sofia Khan is ready to renounce men for good. Or at least she was, until her boss persuades her to write a tell-all expose about the Muslim dating scene.”
Elisa Kova
I read her entire Air Awakens series this year.
“The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.”
Caroline Roberts
This book was so sweet. You have to read it when you are in the mood for light and happy.
The Cosy Teashop in the Castle by Caroline Roberts
“When Ellie Hall lands her dream job running the little teashop in the beautiful but crumbling Claverham Castle, it’s the perfect escape from her humdrum job in the city. Life is definitely on the rise as Ellie replaces spreadsheets for scones, and continues her Nanna’s brilliant baking legacy.
When Lord Henry, the stick-in-the-mud owner, threatens to burst her baking bubble with his old-fashioned ways, Ellie wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew. But cupcake by cupcake she wins the locals over, including teashop stalwart, Doris, and Ellie’s showstopping bakes look set to go down in castle history!”
David Leviathan
I know I’m late to the party on this one but this book was amazing.
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
“New York Times bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS.”
Becky Chambers
I read both of her books in the past few months. I loved this one most because of the amazing world building.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
“When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn’t expecting much. The patched-up ship has seen better days, but it offers her everything she could possibly want: a spot to call home, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and some distance from her past.
And nothing could be further from what she’s known than the crew of the Wayfarer.”
I have The Violinist of Venice on my tbr and she has a new book coming out soon that sounds fantastic too. Thank you for reminding me.
120 new authors – wow! I just added Sofia Khan to my list.
My stand-out new-to-me author for the year, I think, is Catherine Leroux who wrote ‘The Party Wall’. Loved it!
I have enjoyed a lot of David Leviathan’s books over the years. Glad you discovered him!