​21 year old Ellory gets a full free ride to Ivy league Warren University and she is not sure why.  Within weeks she is dog tired, feeling insecure and doing her best to steer clear of the annoying senior Hudson.  Oh, she also thinks she is losing her mind.  Strange things are afoot and she has this nagging sense of deja vu.  She has never been there before but she somehow knows menus of local restaurants etc.  With Hudson's help she needs to figure out what is going on and not fall for him.  This dark academia delight stands out for its great character development, fast moving plot full of required but unexpected twists and smart writing.  The author takes into account the added drama and challenges of non-teen scholarship students who can't afford (literally) to mess up , drop a grade or get into any trouble as well as themes of racism and elitism. Prepare to fly through this one.
Fans of Donna Tartt, ATLAS SIX by Olivia Blake and NINTH HOUSE by Leigh Bardugo will enjoy this.    4 1/2 stars

The largest category in my best books of the year list is always general fiction. Drama and wonderful characters are the key. This year there were so many but these will stay with me. A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF by Megha Majurndar took me to India where a woman is desperate to get her visa so her family can flee during a crisis. Her path collides with a young boy also desperate to save his family. Breathtaking! WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy also deals with desperation in Antarctica where a woman searches for her husband and finds something more sinister in a family of survivors. The queen of family drama title goes to Catherine Newman for WRECK. A family in crisis looks to each other for strength and a laugh. SO FAR GONE by Jess Walter proves that it is never too late to be there for your kids. An estranged father/grandfather takes on a cult to save his family. One of my favorite authors brightens my day and breaks my heart at the same time. Fredrik Backman's MY FRIENDS is a testament to friendship, loyalty and passing the torch. An artist's painting gives a young girl hope as his friends take her under their wing. ​  

One of my favorite genres is historical fiction. This year I enjoyed many time periods and places but these captured my heart. THE ANTIDOTE by Karen Russell is a harrowing tale of life in Nebraska at a time of depression, drought and now dust storms. It follows a Prairie Witch who is tasked with keeping secrets for a price. THE LISTENERS by Maggie Steifvater moved me in many ways. A secret romance, a resort hotel in the mountains that is taken over by the government to house German POWS are the heart of the story but nature and the healing waters at the resort also play a big part of the atmosphere. I also really enjoyed ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid for the women's perspective and early space shuttle history. Riveting! ​

I always struggle with the list of best books of any given year. Here are the fantasy books I enjoyed. BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL is a classic dual timeline of vampires by V.E. Schwab. DEATH OF THE AUTHOR is a fable told within the story of an author who uses a super charged prosthetic that changes her life. Nnedi Okorafor is a fabulous storyteller. Just for fun - Travis Baldree's latest BRIGANDS & BREADKNIVES takes fairytale creatures and a medieval setting to showcase bravery, love, friendship and a midlife crisis in a truly unique way. Pure enjoyment! ​