2016 Ultimate Holiday Reading Guide!

15/12/2016

I’m so very excited to share with you my top 30 books from this year that I want to shout from the rooftops about!

I think books recommended by others are the best kind of books so I hope that with this guide, you discover some authors that go on to become your favourites just like they’ve become mine! If you’re wondering where the books written by men are – I made a deliberate decision this year to read only books written by female writers for twelve months. And I’m the boss of me so I get to decide these things.

I used to read two books a week at the very least but I’ve slowed down lately and read fifty-nine this year (and started to read another handful that I couldn’t finish!) Last year I included all my four star and five star reads in my holiday reading guide, but this year I’ve gotten tougher and I’m sharing with you only the five star books.

I’ve listed the books by genre and with each title, I’ve added the link to my review as well as the Amazon link where you’ll find the blurb and the buy link to make the books super easy to purchase as an eBook today. Loads of these books are also available as paperbacks and you can have them delivered from Booktopia, Dymocks, Collins to name a few and you’ll find most of them on iBooks too.

So here it is, my ultimate holiday reading guide for 2016 - enjoy!

Contemporary Fiction

The Florentine Bridge – Vanessa Carnevale

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1836893140
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Florentine-Bridge-Vanessa-Carnevale/B01J2YK6QC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474294&sr=8-1&keywords=vanessa+carnevale

Mercy Street – Tess Evans

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15584910
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Mercy-Street-Tess-Evans-ebook/dp/B01110WV4A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1456278878&sr=1-1&keywords=mercy+street+tess+evans

Making Headlines – Jennifer Hansen

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1549166199
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Making-Headlines-Jennifer-Hansen/B015MBSW10/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481473519&sr=8-2&keywords=making+headlines

In the Quiet - Eliza Henry-Jones

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1779353670
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Quiet-Eliza-Henry-Jones/B00RSKZOVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481473617&sr=8-1&keywords=in+the+quiet

The Drifter – Anthea Hodgson

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1839738070
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Drifter-Anthea-Hodgson/B01KIYDPPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474550&sr=8-1&keywords=anthea+hodgson

The Art of Keeping Secrets - Rachael Johns

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1827872322
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Art-Keeping-Secrets-Rachael-Johns/B01E83Q5TO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481472098&sr=8-1&keywords=the+art+of+keeping+secrets+Rachael+johns

The Patterson Girls – Rachael Johns

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1381867682
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com.au/Patterson-Girls-Rachael-Johns-ebook/dp/B00U21XUOA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1453249963&sr=1-1&keywords=the+patterson+girls

Missing You – Kylie Kaden

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1796432068
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Missing-You-Kylie-Kaden/B00NURN4HG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481472170&sr=8-1&keywords=missing+you+kylie+kaden

Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1721956529
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Big-Little-Lies-Liane-Moriarty/B00K2JH9ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481473674&sr=8-1&keywords=big+little+lies+liane+moriarty

The Fifth Letter – Nicola Moriarty

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1779346048
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/Fifth-Letter-Nicola-Moriarty-ebook/B01M3UPO83/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481473739&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fifth+letter+nicola+moriarty

The Dangers of Truffle Hunting – Sunni Overend

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1821492579
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/The-Dangers-of-Truffle-Hunting/B01MQ3IHZM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481473819&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=he+dangers+of+truffle+hunting

Contemporary Romance

Evan and Darcy – Melanie Coles

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1752193640
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Evan-Darcy-Melanie-Coles/B01GF8N5Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474364&sr=8-1&keywords=melanie+coles

Don’t Mean a Thing (Got That Swing #1) – Renee Conoulty

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1836885427
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/Dont-Mean-Thing-That-Swing-ebook/B01M4RFBS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474422&sr=8-1&keywords=renee+conoulty

Click, Date, Repeat – KJ Farnham

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1595094931
Amazon blurb and buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Click-Date-Repeat-K-Farnham-ebook/dp/B00MXSLAJC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1460975665&sr=1-1&keywords=click+date+repeat

Feels Like Home – Lisa Ireland

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1526766844
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com.au/Feels-Like-Home-Lisa-Ireland-ebook/dp/B00X51KM5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453901315&sr=8-1&keywords=lisa+ireland

A Place to Stay – Jennie Jones

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1836902587
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/Place-Stay-Rangelands-Book-ebook/B01M0DLWXZ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474698&sr=8-2&keywords=jennie+jones

Home to Bindarra Creek – Juanita Kees

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1839701228
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Home-Bindarra-Creek-Romance-Juanita-Kees/B018FP8OJK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474758&sr=8-1&keywords=home+to+bindarra+creek

Summers with Juliette – Emily Madden

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1488258193
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com.au/Summers-Juliette-Emily-Madden-ebook/dp/B00U21XULS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1456279064&sr=1-1&keywords=summers+with+juliette

The Vineyard in the Hills – Lily Malone

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1488675244
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Vineyard-Hills-Lily-Malone/B013UA1C2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474899&sr=8-1&keywords=so+far+into+you

Borrowing Trouble – Mae Wood

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1752206022
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Borrowing-Trouble-Pig-Barley-Book-Wood-Mae/B013AR0QO4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474959&sr=8-3&keywords=mae+wood

Dual Time-Line Fiction (My FAVOURITE kind of story!)

The Dress – Kate Kerrigan

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1612925957
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Dress-Kate-Kerrigan-ebook/dp/B012LN0PX0/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1460975432&sr=1-4&keywords=kate+kerrigan

Recipes for a Perfect Marriage – Kate Kerrigan

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1535470250
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Perfect-Marriage-Kate-Kerrigan-ebook/dp/B014T7FP1S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454475318&sr=1-1&keywords=recipes+for+a+perfect+marriage

The Other Side of the Season – Jenn J McLeod

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1655749244
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Other-Side-Season-Seasons-Collection-Jenn-McLeod/B0167565GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481473984&sr=8-1&keywords=the+other+side+of+the+season

Under the Spanish Stars – Alli Sinclair

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1531888549
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com.au/Under-Spanish-Stars-Alli-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B016NRW9NO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454226979&sr=8-1&keywords=under+the+spanish+stars

Historical Romance

A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald – Natasha Lester

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1549019802
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com.au/Kiss-Mr-Fitzgerald-Natasha-Lester-ebook/dp/B0166ZKM3W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456279185&sr=8-1&keywords=a+kiss+from+mr+fitzgerald

Memoirs

I am, I can, I will – Bianca Plunkett Gooley

I have no link to leave my review on as it isn’t on Amazon or Goodreads at the moment. But let me tell you, that if you or anybody you know has battled cancer – read this. JUST READ IT. I will feature it as a book of the month next year with lots more details and a full review. This is the only book in two years I sent to my publisher to read so that tells you how I feel about it.
Buy link: http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/iamicaniwill/

Afternoons in Ithaka – Spiri Tsintziras

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1779379152
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Afternoons-Ithaka-Spiri-Tsintziras/B00FOFP11Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481474148&sr=8-1&keywords=afternoons+in+ithaka

Self Help

Ask Me Anything: (Heartfelt Answers to 65 Anonymous Questions from Teenage Girls) – Rebecca Sparrow

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1517326440
Amazon blurb and buy link: http://www.amazon.com.au/Ask-Me-Anything-heartfelt-questions-ebook/dp/B016HBWM8I

Suspense

All That is Lost Between Us – Sara Foster

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1494387511
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/All-That-Lost-Between-Us-ebook/dp/B013CSCVJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458295642&sr=8-1&keywords=all+that+is+lost+between+us

Urban Fantasy

Who’s Afraid – Maria Lewis

My (daughter’s) review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1836018322
Amazon blurb and buy link: https://www.amazon.com.au/d/ebook/Whos-Afraid-Maria-Lewis/B01063XPSY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481475197&sr=8-1&keywords=who%27s+afraid

27 Comments

Jenn J McLeod - Australian Fiction link

17/12/2016 10:26:09 am

Tess, what a great list. Thank you for including The Other Side of the Season. So glad you loved it as it was my most challenging book to write to date. (I now LOVE a dual time period!! Who knew??) A very Merry Christmas to you and your lovely and talented family. :)

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 11:04:03 am

Love your work Jenn thanks so much and to you too lovely lady xx

Emma

17/12/2016 11:00:25 am

I have put The Dress by Kate Kerrigan on my reading list (amongst others from this post). Your review has me intrigued from your first sentence of Simply Stunning! The story sounds exactly like the kind of books I plan indulging in over the holiday break. I normally read a few books a week but a new job and a busy silly season and my reading has been pushed to one side. I miss it so much!

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 11:03:24 am

Emma, Kate is my favourite author in the world! Next month I'm giving away a signed copy of her latest book so make sure you look for that on my Facebook page! I hope you love The Dress and if you leave a comment under the post on Facebook you'll be entered into the draw to win the prize pack xx

Emma

18/12/2016 06:17:00 am

I just left a comment on the fb post. Thanks for running such an awesome competition. So many great books on this list!

Enisa Haines

17/12/2016 11:08:12 am

Great list, Tess. Lots of enjoyable reads there to spend time with over the holidau season.I especially liked Summers with Juliette.

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 11:10:56 am

Thank you Enisa :). Loved that story! If you leave the same comment on my Facebook post I'll enter you in the draw xx

Renee Conoulty link

17/12/2016 11:22:32 am

So exciting to see my book on your list! Lots of great books there. I've read (& enjoyed) 11 of them (including mine, which I've read too many times to count, I'm sure you can relate to that 😊). Love your recommendations - a few new to me authors to try.

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 11:33:38 am

I'm so excited to have your book on there! :)

Jennie Jones link

17/12/2016 11:47:25 am

An awesome list, Tess. I'll be checking out those books I haven't already devoured. And I'm stoked to be included in your review list. Thank you. x

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 12:08:19 pm

So pleased to have you on there Jennie you are so super talented! Xx

Bianca Koehler

17/12/2016 11:51:11 am

I've read some on your list and they were all 4, 5 stars. From those I haven't read yet, Natasha Lester's is at the top of my huge TBR list.

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 12:09:33 pm

Ah Bianca you will love Natasha's book it's really amazing! If you leave this moment on my Facebook post you'll go into the draw to win the prize pack xx

Alli Sinclair

17/12/2016 11:58:44 am

Thank you so much for including my book on your list, Tess. I feel very privileged to be amongst so many authors I admire. Wishing you and your readers the happiest of Christmases and an absolutely fabulous 2017.

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 12:10:16 pm

Thank you beautiful Alli so lovely to have another book of yours to look forward to xx

Juanita Kees link

17/12/2016 05:54:03 pm

Thank you so much for including Home to Bindarra Creek on your list, Tess. I love adding books to my TBR list and this is a wonderful line up. I'm thrilled to be here with so many authors whose writing I admire. Hugs xx

Tess Woods

17/12/2016 05:56:19 pm

Loved your beautiful big hearted story gorgeous Juanita - it's warm and fuzzy just like you xx

Janine K

17/12/2016 06:21:23 pm

Tess, I have read many of these books myself this year, and I am proud to say that I read mainly Australian authors this year, it will be interesting to see how my reading year panned out when I have finished the year. I absolutely am intrigued to read Vanessa Carnivale's book The Florentine Bridge, the description sounds right up my alley plus the setting - how divine it sounds. I love listening to her podcast. Fingers crossed xx

Tess Woods

18/12/2016 10:16:37 am

Janine I'm not surprised! You're a wonderful supporter of Australian authors! If you leave your comment on my FB post you could win the prize pack xx

Kerry Tolson link

17/12/2016 07:56:50 pm

What a great list and what great reviews - So many wonderful yummy titles to choose from it's almost too hard to decide which to put on the 'must read list' for the coming year .... might just have to say - ALL OF THEM! but if I had to pick one, or two.... or three, I'd say Liane Moriarty "Little Big Lies" because I haven't read that one yet (and I'm devouring all her books at the moment) and her sister, Nicola Moriarty "The Fifth Letter" and The Florentine Bridge by Vanessa Carnevale - after reading your review, that book sounds divine.

Tess Woods

18/12/2016 10:17:23 am

Thanks so much for your lovely comment Kerry - I hope I can feature on a list soon! Xx

Julia Reynolds link

18/12/2016 07:21:15 am

What a fantastic wish list, I have read half of them will be getting your latest book great work. Merry Christmas to you

Tess Woods

18/12/2016 10:18:52 am

Thanks heaps Julia! If you leave your comment on my FB post you could win the prize pack xx

Belinda

18/12/2016 01:27:28 pm

What a great list of books! Ive read a few of them and they have been good 😊

Tess Woods

18/12/2016 01:31:23 pm

Thanks heaps Belinda! If you leave a comment on the Facebook post for which one you'd most love to read in 2017 you can go in the draw for the prize pack :) x

Karen Mc Dermott

19/12/2016 08:08:57 am

What an awesome list! I love it and have taken note of each. x

Tess Woods

19/12/2016 08:20:44 am

Thank you lovely Karen ?

In stores now!

2016 Ultimate Holiday Reading Guide!

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