Book number seven of 2017 was THE ROANOKE GIRLS by Amy Engel. This book was weird and unsettling, but I didn't find it as shocking or taboo as other reviewers have. The Roanoke girls all share a dark and disturbing family secret, and this book follows one Roanoke girl, Lane, as she tries to break free from the ties that work so hard to bind her. A decent first novel for adults, but I finished it feeling underwhelmed. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Book number six of 2017 was FINAL GIRLS by Riley Sager. My feelings towards this book remind me a bit of my feelings towards THE GIRL BEFORE; both books take a very different direction mid-way through, which I found disorientating. Once this book picked a new direction, I got on board, but I never managed to like the characters. It's not out until July, so if you like unexpected twists and turns then definitely seek this book out. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book number five of 2017 was THE GIRL BEFORE by J. P. Delaney. (You can just make out the embossed text on the proof cover.) This book is tricky because the first half felt like a totally different book to the second half, but I really enjoyed it overall. It's out next week so if you like a slice of obsession and madness with your psychological thriller, I suggest you check it out. Rating... Still undecided.

Book number four of 2017 was WHERE AM I NOW? by the charming and very well-written Mara Wilson. When I was younger all I wanted in life was to be Matilda, so listening to Mara's letter to Matilda about midway through the book was an incredible experience. I 100% recommend this as an audio book as it's read by Mara herself. Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (first five of the year!)

Book number three of 2017 was the very excellent THE HIDDEN HOURS by Sara Foster. This book consumed my life for about 30 hours and I recommend it to anyone who likes a tense, well-paced mystery when it's published in April. Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book number two in 2017 (and my first audiobook of the year) of was THE PRINCESS DIARIST by the late, ever so great Carrie Fisher. I started listening to this earlier in December and forgot about it, then resumed after the events of last week. There's something truly wonderful about listening to a memoir in the author's voice, and I enjoyed this a great deal. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My best nine from 2016 featured so much bookish goodness 😍 I'm aiming for 90 books in 2017, after having read 76 in 2016. How many books are you hoping to read this year?

Book numero uno of 2017 was THE FIFTH LETTER by Nicola Moriarty. The Moriarty sisters have a serious gift and if you like brilliant fiction by Australian women I strongly suggest you pick this up when it's out in March. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ahh I loved this! So many people have raved about it and now I totally understand why. It's perfect reading material as we head towards a new year. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so much creepy fun! It was a quick and entertaining read about the last days of an atheist who sets out to debunk the supernatural. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm recording a podcast with Holly Throsby tomorrow and I can't wait to talk to her about her debut novel GOODWOOD✌🏼️

The perfect bath time read on a dark and dreary Sunday afternoon 📖🛀🏻

Oh man I *really* want to read this! Personal recommendations from well-read friends are the best thing in the world, I reckon!

This book is rapidly jumping up my TBR pile. I really love the simple yet striking cover. Have any of you read it yet?

This book is rapidly jumping up my TBR pile. I really love the simple yet striking cover. Have any of you read it yet?

I loved this book. I have nothing in common with the characters, but they were relatable and truly hard to leave behind. Jaffé's dialogue and storytelling is outstanding for a debut and I can't wait to see what she does next.

This was a fairly amazing novella collection from Mr King. 4 ⭐️ and it put a big smile on my face to boot, as I think this has pulled me out of my reading slump!

I really wanted to like this book but I couldn't. The writing needed a good edit and the characters were unrealistic. Also, truly terrible dialogue. I'm so disappointed!

A girl goes missing, and eleven years later an imposter returns. This book is let down by a lackluster ending, but the process of getting to the ending is thoroughly entertaining.

It's not possible to get the same level of creativity and magic that Rowling's novels offer from a script and stage directions, but this was still a wholly enjoyable story. Revisiting old friends was an absolute treat!

One of my favourite picks of 2016. THE DRY perfectly captures the atmosphere of the Australian landscape in a thrilling tale about the desperate measures we take to keep our past at bay.

I really loved this book. It's a bit gentler than the two that came before it, but Liane is such a wonderful storyteller that I think her fans will adore this new book. Easily one of my favourites of 2016 so far.

One of my most anticipated books of 2016 has arrived 🌷 I can't wait to get stuck into it!