Sunday Salon (on Monday): Best Books of the Year so Far

I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the best books I've read so far this year since we're halfway through it. (YIKES)

These will be books that I read this year, not necessarily published this year. I linked to the review if I had one.

A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
A heartpounding epic romance. Of course I love it!

Trouble the Water by Nicole Seitz
I thought this was a beautiful book of healing. It really connected with me emotionally as well.

Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
This man can write. He took a somewhat tired story idea and breathed such reality into it, that you truly felt like you had walked in the shoes of the characters. Outstanding detail and characterization.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
What can I say? I loved every scandalous page.

Names my Sisters Call Me by Megan Crane
I love Megan Crane's writing but feel this book far surpassed the others. At times serious and other times funny, it's a keeper.

And now the BEST books I've read so far this year...

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
I loved this book because it explored some hard questions. Author's intention or not, I feel like she put flesh onto some of the difficult questions we face in our time about the nature of charity and the true definition of poverty. This book and its characters resurface in my mind long after I finished reading and that to me is success.

Silence by Shusaku Endo
This book makes the list of my favorite books of all time. I couldn't put it down while reading, when I did it was only to contemplate the story. I remember that I got goosebumps while reading the last few pages! Like TGWSS, the characters and story have come back to me long after reading. It's accomplished what so few books can do and has become part of the fabric of who I am.

What are your favorite books so far this year? Are you also blogging about it? Leave a link below!