(un)Conventionally Backwards is my look back at 2017, what happened on the blog. Off the blog. What books did I read? Did I find new authors I loved? You know the drill, right? We all seem to look back when we arrive at the end of a year, so that it’ll be easier to look forwards once we start 2018.
I read more than one new-to-me author in 2017, and some of them have become new favorites! Here they are, in no particular order – including the book I read that got me ‘hooked’ on them 😉
(un)Conventionally Backwards – New To Me Authors that have become faves:
Becky Albertalli is awesome! I read The Upside of Unrequited this year, and I loved it. Now, I want to read her other books as well, because her writing was so good. And her characters really touched me deeply!
I had heard of Tarryn Fisher for years! Not only is she friends with one of my other favorite authors – Colleen Hoover – but so many of my fellow bloggers have read and loved her books. I finally took the plunge this year, first with Atheists Who Kneel and Pray, then with some of her backlisted books. And I have been blown away!
I’m not sure how, but I didn’t read any Elle Kennedy books until this year. Many of my blogger friends have been singing her praises for a long time, and I met her at the RT Booklovers Convention in Atlanta in May this year. Now, I have actually read most of her books, and I absolutely love them! The Deal (Off Campus #1) was the first of her solo-written books I read.
I also met Sarina Bowen in May, and again in September. In May, I hadn’t read any of her books, in September, I had read almost all of them 🙂 See a pattern here? The first book I read by her was Hello Forever – which is the second book in a series, but I still loved it!
Next up is yet another author I met at RT, Anne Eliot. She’s one of the nicest persons I’ve ever met, and her Unmaking Hunter Kennedy was awesome!
T. Torrest writes really good New Adult romance with a twist. And the first of her books I picked up – Remember When Part 1 – brought me down memory lane. Part of the story unfolded in the 90s, and there were just so many things I remembered from my own youth, it made me laugh in some places, and cringe in others 😉
I can’t really have a list with new-to-me authors who have become favorites without mentioning Ginger Scott! Her books are new adult, too, some set during the characters’ college years. And she was able to bring to life characters whose struggle was a bit more than simply finding the right person to love, or what classes to choose next semester. The first book I read by her was This is Falling, and I promptly one-clicked and read several others.
These are just some of the new-to-me authors I read this year, there are more, and I truly loved their stories as well.
Did you discover any new authors this year? Were they good? Should I read them, too?
Great list! I’ve discovered Saffron A Kent this year and I’ve been blown away. The writing was perfection and the storyline so captivating. Not for everyone as some topics could offend some but definitely one of my favorite books.
It’s been a while now since I read a Elle Kennedy book but I love the Off-Campus books so much. I really need to catch up.
That Tarryn Fisher novel sounds pretty interesting. I read several new to me authors, but the one who sticks out in my mind is Gregg Hurwitz, who wrote a bestseller called Orphan X. It was nonstop action and people raved about it. Then he followed it up with the Nowhere Man, which is even better. Hope your day is fabulous! Hugs…RO
I read a lot of new to me authors this year. I read at least 32 new to me authors I read this year. A few of those I actually read multiple books now by now and many of those I plan to read more by. From your list I have some books by Sarina Bowen that I hope to get to next year. I have heard of some of the other authors, but haven’t read books by any of them.
I love Becky Albertalli’s books. I’ve read both of her published ones and am eagerly awaiting the one coming out next year.
Tarryn Fisher and Elle Kennedy are my TOP faves, Lexxie. Glad that you gave them a chance and loved their books. The Off Campus is one of the best NA. Oh I need to try ‘This Is Falling’. Always love your recs. ?❤️?
Twitter: teamwork
I found a few including Parker Swift and Michelle St James. I really want to read Becky Abertalli. I just recently got a copy of Simon Vs to read!
I love new to me authors. I’ve read Becky’s Simon Vs. and I LOVE it, so I really need to read The Upside ASAP. I’ve read one or two things by Sarina Bowen I believe, but I do want to read more by her for sure.
-Lauren
Twitter: Mlsimmons
These are all new-to-me too. I’ll have to check them out. I had a few new-to-me authors and even narrators. That is always so much fun to find them. I hope you have just as many in 2018.
I’ve got a copy of The Upside of Unrequited that I need to jump in to soon! 🙂
Ahh I need to read a Becky Albertalli book already! And I have seen SO many great reviews about the Deal series that I just know I need to read that one as soon as I possibly can DD: