Maybe you’re one of the few, the proud, and you finished all your holiday shopping early, and you’re ready to snuggle up in front of a cozy fire with a cuddly pet of your choosing at your feet, warm flannels, and something great to read.
While we can always suggest some great KT Lit titles (all our 2016 print releases are in the pick to the left! Click to embiggen), we thought you might be interested to hear some of our favorite non-client books we read in the past year. Enjoy! And if you pick one up and read it, let us know!
Sara’s Picks:
To date I’ve read 53 non-client books in 2016. I tend to read in the same genres I represent – to know what’s out there and, well, because I love it! Before submitting to an editor I want to read 2-3 things they’ve helped publish. And, I read debut authors to know what kinds of voices are breaking out. And, I read things that I hear about on twitter or from other agents and authors. And, I impulse buy WAY too much at my local bookstores. It’s hard to come up with a Favorites list because there are so many amazing books out there. But, here is what I came up with:
GHOST by Jason Reynolds
A PROMISE OF FIRE by Amanda Bouchet
TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE by Stephanie Tromly
STAR WARS: AFTERMATH by Chuck Wendig
HEROINE COMPLEX by Sarah Kuhn
Hannah’s picks:
I represent a wide variety of genres, so you know my personal reading list is often all over the place too! But this year I was definitely drawn to lush, dark and complex fantasies and magically realistic narratives:
A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING by Jessica Cluess
THE READER by Traci Chee
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Colson Whitehead
LAST SONG BEFORE NIGHT by Ilana C. Myer
THIS SAVAGE SONG by Victoria Schwab
Renee’s Picks:
As for books I loved this year: I was really into the female-led thrillers/mysteries this year. GIRLS ON FIRE by Robin Wasserman, ALL THE MISSING GIRLS by Megan Miranda, and YOU WILL KNOW ME by Megan Abbott were all gripping, haunting, masterful books.
Books I loved that weren’t about murder: Tahereh Mafi’s FUTHERMORE, Sabaa Tahir’s A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT, Ruta Sepetys’ SALT TO THE SEA, and Tim Federle’s THE GREAT AMERICAN WHATEVER.
Kate’s Picks:
Two books absolutely blew me away this year, both contemporary YA: EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR by E.K. Johnson and the forthcoming WE ARE OKAY by Nina LaCour.
In middle grade, I loved OMEGA CITY by Diana Peterfreund, and can’t wait for the sequel, and I’m loving the Magisterium series by Holly Black and Cassie Clare: THE IRON TRIAL, THE COPPER GAUNTLET, and THE BRONZE KEY are all out so far, with more to come!
Happy Reading!
