2016 isn’t over but everyone seems to be ready to do year-end wrap-ups and so on. I don’t want to rush December. One, because I’ve been enjoying this year and am so not ready for it to be over and two because I still have a lot of goals I am chasing this month so I need these next 24 days to go as slowly as possible.

But, in the spirit of reflection, today I am participating in a little look back at some authors I read for the first time in 2016 who’ve become favorites. My top ten (or whatever) are:

1. JoJo Moyes I read Me Before You early in the year and fell in love with this writer’s mind. I then went on to read maybe 7 of her books, from different parts of her writing career. Thankfully, she’s published a lot so I still have more to read.
2. Nicola Yoon This Jamaican-American writer reminds me so much of myself, her writing is fun and tragic and tells a great story. I just read her second book (The Sun Is Also A Star) last week and enjoyed it every bit as I did her first (Everything Everything). I can’t wait for what she writes next. 
3. Colleen Hoover This YA novelist spins a great tale. My first introduction to her writing was November 9th and I gave it a glowing review. I didn’t love the next one as much but it was a different kind of read and I understood why. But she’s on my list and I have a couple of her other books on my TBR shelf right now.
4. Helen Oyeyemi So far I’ve only read one of her books (Boy Snow Bird) but again, it reminded me of a book I would have written. Her style grabbed me and I am so impressed by her writing accomplishments, I want to read everything she’s published. 
5. Ta nehisi Coates This Non Fiction writer has been nominated for several, well deserved awards. His Between The World and Me struck a chord in my heart that hasn’t left me even several months later. I want to read more of his work. 
6. Gillian Flynn 2016 was the year where I read Gone Girl and couldn’t imagine that a writer could produce so twisted. I read two of her other books and still thought the same thing. You’re a really clever writer, Ms. Flynn, but man, I’d be scared to meet you in real life.
7. Kurt Vonnegut I read my first Vonnegut novel this year and really enjoyed the writing style. It was very different from anything I’ve read before and I know I’ll be reading more from him
8. Graeme Simsion This Australian writer published The Rosie Project which I thought was so refreshingly funny. The sequel fell a little short but I’m still waiting for more from this author.
9. Jonathan Tropper I don’t want to include this writer on my list of favorites, because his books often contain explicit language but his plots are so unique, I can’t help myself.
10. Myself – Karen Wright In 2016, I published my first book and I am enjoying being an author, loving sharing my writing with old friends and making new friends who connect with what I write so I have to include myself on this list. 

Which authors became your new favorites this year?

Top Ten Tuesday, Thinking Out Loud, Thursday Thoughts, Stuff and Things