Books I read in 2015 (part 1)

I made it my mission to read 50 books in 2015, and I did it!

I thought I'd list the books I read on my blog as a way of keeping a record for myself, as well as recommending the best ones to my readers. I'm not going to write a review of each one as that would take too long, quite frankly, but I will treat you to a one sentence summary of my thoughts.

Here are the first 25 books I read in 2015... check back for the second half on Tuesday!


1. This book will save your life, A.M.Homes

I didn't particularly enjoy this one and couldn't get engrossed in it at all... not a good start to my reading material for the year, and it definitely wasn't life-saving!

2. Die Again, Tess Gerritsen 

I absolutely loved this latest Rizzoli and Isles story and was gripped the whole way through. 

3. Northanger Abbey, Val McDermid

I was disappointed by this book but, in fairness, it's not a traditional McDermid offering and I should have researched it more before purchasing (I blame Jane Austen).

4. The fault in our stars, John Green 

Irritating in parts, utterly heartbreaking throughout. 

5. Because she loves me, Mark Edwards 

Enthralling book which kept me guessing until the very end, and kept me up until 2:30am. 

6. Life Support, Tess Gerritsen

A great stand alone medical thriller from Tess Gerritsen - nail-biting as ever!

7. Alan Turing: the Enigma, Andrew Hodges

Although I was looking forward to this one after seeing The Imitation Game, it unfortunately focused too much on detailed mathematics and computer science and not on the man himself. 

8. Bloodstream, Tess Gerritsen 

The weakest Tess Gerritsen book I've read to date as it was a little predictable, but still better than your average crime novel. 

9. Travelling to Infinity, Jane Hawking 

A poignant and easy-to-read autobiography which I immediately had to buy after watching 'The Theory of Everything'. 

10. Forward Slash, Louise Voss and Mark Edwards 
The clever red herrings and well-managed suspense almost make up for the overly annoying main characters (almost). 

11. Silent Scream, Angela Marsons 

One of my finds of the year - fantastic characterisation, thought-provoking themes and a gripping plot. 

12. Unthinkable, Clyde Phillips 

Although this wasn't a bad read, the final outcome was very predictable which meant the last few chapters weren't as captivating as they could have been. 

13. Lingo:A language spotter's guide to Europe, Gaston Dorren 

Very different to the books I usually read - an interesting delve into European languages (including Welsh) and their origins. 

14. What you wish for, Mark Edwards 
This isn't a bad book, but I'm not interested in the extraterrestrial which meant I didn't enjoy it as much as Mark Edwards' other novels.

15. Fifty Shades of Grey, E L James

I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about, and I'm still wondering if I'm totally honest... very dull on the whole. 

16. Fifty Shades Darker, E L James

Although this one had a better plot than the first book, the characters, dialogue, terrible writing style and constant email exchanges were still extremely irritating. 

17. Fifty Shades Freed, E L James 

Possibly the most exasperating and repetitive book of the three. 

18. The girl with the dragon tattoo, Stieg Larsson 

I know I'm late to the party with this one, but it was well worth the wait!

19. The girl who played with fire, Stieg Larsson 

I loved learning more about Salander's background and I was totally gripped by this admirable sequel. 

20. The girl who kicked the hornet's nest, Stieg Larsson 

An amazing tale of integrity, courage, determination and unforgivable corruption - probably my favourite book of the three. 

21. The Middle Child, Angela Marsons 

Very different to Silent Scream, but this one also had me on tenterhooks until the final distressing chapters. 

22. Evil Games, Angela Marsons 
The excellent sequel to 'Silent Scream' which continues to give an insight into the fascinating Detective Inspector Kim Stone, alongside a thrilling non-stop plot. 

23. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll 

I can't believe I didn't read this until 2015 - weirdly and inexplicably wonderful!

24. Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll 

This book was a little TOO weird, even for me. 

25. Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery 

One of my favourite childhood novels which definitely hasn't lost its charm.


Have you read any of the books above? What were your favourite reads in 2015, and did you read any shockers? Look out for the second instalment in a few days!