Well, its nearing the end of the year, and a couple of readers have been asking about my top books for 2012. This year has been another one of wide-ranging reading for me, with most genres represented. Early in the year I went on a bit of a middle grade kick, while these past few months Ive been craving literary fiction, so these books may be overrepresented on the list. I should also note that the books on this list werent necessarily published in 2012.
Below are the books I awarded a rating of 4 stars (meaning excellent) and above this year'the obvious caveat being that this list is limited to those books I actually read, and of course is in no way comprehensive! I still plan to get through another ten to fifteen books by the end of the year, so I may make some additions accordingly.
Next year I plan to decline most review copies so that I can work through the backlog of books Ive been wanting to get through. As such, I expect that with most of the books being of my own choosing, therell probably be a chunkier best of list by the time the end of 2013 rolls around. After all, I know my own tastes better than anyone else!
For interest, you can view last years list'of best books here'and 2010s list'here.
Read in a Single Sitting's top books for 2012:
General fiction:
A Stranger in my Street by Deborah Burroughs'Rating: 
The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens Rating:
Talking to the Dead by Helen Dunmore Rating:
The Millstone by Margaret Drabble Rating:
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides'Rating: 
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin Rating:
The Bay of Noon by Shirley Hazzard Rating:
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Rating:
How Many Miles to Babylon by Jennifer Johnston Rating:
Warm Bodies'by Isaac Marion'Rating:
Life! Death! Prizes!'by Stephen May Rating:
The Glamour by Christopher Priest Rating:
Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell Rating:
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver Rating:
The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman Rating:
Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith Rating:
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham Rating:
Nonfiction/memoir
Shakespeare on Toast by Ben Crystal Rating:
Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest Rating:
Macrobertsonland by Jill Robertson Rating:
Young Adult/Middle Grade:
Unearthly Asylum by PJ Bracegirdle Rating:
A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper Rating:
The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau Rating:
The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth Rating:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Rating:
Seriously Sassy: Crazy Days by Maggi Gibson Rating:
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz Rating:
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman Rating:
Games by Robin Klein Rating:
Verdigris Deep by Frances Hardinge Rating:
Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones Rating:
Preloved by Shirley Marr Rating:
Ondine: the Autumn Palace by Ebony McKenna Rating:
Trash by Andy Mulligan Rating:
Pearl Versus the World by Sally Murphy'Rating:
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty Rating:
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Rating:
Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber Rating:
Your turn: what were your top reads for the year?
I too was late to We Need to Talk About Kevin. What a brilliant book it totally blew me away and is now in my all time favourites list. I will keep note of your other recommendations.
Thanks, Benison! It was such a remarkable book, and Im so glad that I did get to it, even if it took me a while!
Its nice to see that The Graveyard Book was one of your favorites. It is one of my favorites and worth a reread every few years.
Its a wonderful book. I havent connected with much of Gaimans work (although there are a few newer titles Id like to read), but I really enjoyed this one. :)
Great list; even if Ive only read 2 of them
The Marriage Plot and Kevin, right? I think youd like the Drabble and the Hazzard, too. :)
Excellent, adding them to my TBR
Also correct with the ones I read
A much anticipated list and great to read. Because Im new to your work, it was nice to go back and look at reviews Ive missed. Kevin is also one of faves (as you would know, I think). Ive put The Marriage Plot on my list for next year. I was intrigued by The Graveyard Book. Not being someone who is huge on YA, I think Ill have a go at that one. Nothing like a recommendation, right?!
Thanks, Sonia! I hope you enjoy The Marriage Plot. Its such a smart, funny book, and the characters feel so real.
The Graveyard Book is lovely and whimsical, with an old-fashioned vibe to it. If that sounds like your sort of thing (its certainly mine!) you should enjoy it. :)
What a great list Stephanie we have a few in common!
Thanks, Shelleyrae! Our tastes do tend to be quite similar, so Im not surprised. :)
I also read Remains of the Day this year and it will also make my top of the year list. Im always curious, though, what were the worst books of the year? The disappointments? The disasters?
Vernon God Little, without a doubt! I loathed that book. I also started an appallingly bad chick lit called Killer Heels that I just couldnt manage. Christian Jacqs Manhunt and Dan Elconins Never After were both pretty abysmal. Generally, though, if somethings clearly not to my taste, I try to skip on to something a bit better. Im definitely going to do that more next yearlifes too short for awful books!
My top reads for 2012 http://t.co/UHJmdbrv Thanks so much Stephanie.