Top New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2016

Top Ten Tuesdays are hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today's topic is the top ten authors I read for the first time in 2016. It's always fun to look back at my Goodreads list for the year, because I'm often surprise by what I find. It turns out I read a lot of authors for the first time this year, so it was just a matter of narrowing it down to the ones I liked the most and who I'm most likely to read again.

As it turns out, there were eight that really stood out. I spent some time waffling around trying to pick another two - and there were definitely other books by authors I read for the first time and really liked - but they didn't stand out nearly as much as my original list, so I'm sticking to eight.

1. Kate Morton: I read The Forgotten Garden
Historical family saga and mystery set mostly in the English countryside. Immersive and atmostpheric.

2. Taylor Jenkins Reid: I listened to One True Loves
A young woman finds love for the second time, only to learn that her presumably-dead husband is still alive. Angsty contemporary that I couldn't put down.

3. Jennifer Crusie: I listened to Bet Me
Older contemporary romance/chick lit with wonderfully amazing main character and a ton of humor.

4. Peter Swanson: I read The Kind Worth Killing
A guy decides to murder his wife and a woman he meets in an airport offers to help him, but his wife has her own agenda they don't know about. Excellent psychological novel that's full of surprises.

5. Courtney Milan: I read The Suffragette Scandal
Historical romance full of feminism and hilarity. Courtney Milan is also excellent to follow on Twitter.

6. Beverly Jenkins: I listened to Forbidden
Another historical, this one about a black woman making her way in post-Civil War America. Really interesting issues addressed, but also great main characters and a sweet romance.

7. Nicola Griffith: I read Hild
Difficult but excellent historical about a strong young woman. Dripping with detail of life in seventh-century Britain. Not quick or easy to read, but definitely worth it.

8. Elizabeth Gilbert: I read Big Magic
Inspiring part-memoir, part-self-help book about creativity. Recommended for all creative types or creative wannabes.

I'm hoping to read more by all of these authors, each of whom impressed me in a different way.

Did you discover any new favorite authors this year?