At the end of every year, major outlets compile a list of their favorite books of 2017 by editors and readers alike. Since we love to read at Claire McKinneyPR, we decided to follow suit with our own Best Books of 2017!
Claire McKinney’s Best Books of 2017:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: The Goldfinch is an amazing novel and I decided to pick up The Secret History earlier this year at a bookstore. Tartt’s debut novel is fantastic – the characters come alive on the page.
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer: This book about best friends from camp felt so realistic to read. It didn’t hurt that I could really identify with the characters, who are from my generation.
Fractured by Catherine McKenzie: Fractured was a real page-turner. Over the past year I read other psychological thrillers, but they didn’t deliver the same way McKenzie’s novel did.
Larissa Ackerman’s Best Books of 2017:
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan: I was late to hop on the bandwagon for this one, but I’m glad I still read it. It’s the perfect book to read during a year that has had such an up-and-down climate! Crazy Rich Asians is gossipy, juicy, compelling, and will make you want to book your next vacation to the glittering lights of Singapore.
Heather, the Totality by Matthew Weiner: Matthew Weiner is most known for being the creator of two of my favorite characters on TV, Don Draper and Roger Sterling of Mad Men. I expected Heather, the Totality to be in a similar vein – serious yet with its human and humorous moments – but was surprised when this book took a very dark turn very early on. It’s a compelling yet uncomfortable read about the male gaze.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix: Although the book is about a teenage girl being possessed and her best friend’s attempt at saving her, this is not a young adult novel. Although it’s considered horror genre, the book is ultimately an extremely well written and eerie story about the bonds between two best friends. I also highly recommend Hendrix’s book Horrorstör, about employees getting trapped overnight in an ominous, Ikea-like store.