Finding time to read during the year can be a difficult task- school, work and life responsibilities often times make seem more like a burden than a pleasure. However, reading can really transport you from everyday stress and can help you unwind at the end of the day. I didn't end up reading as many books as I planned, but some of the ones I did read were truly extraordinary. So without further ado, here are my top ten favorite books form 2016!

1. "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas:

This book is perfect for any High Fantasy junkie. Despite being the second book in a trilogy, A Court of Mist and Fury does not suffer from "middle book syndrome" where the sequel is not as good as the first book. The main character Feyre is badass and an excellent role model and also struggles with mental illness. The character development and plot alone make it worth a read! ACOMAF also won the Goodreads award for best young adult fantasy book, and with good reason!

2. "Nevernight" by Jay Kristoff:

This book completely blew me away! Nevernight follows the story of the young assassian Mia Corvere and her quest to avenge her murdered parents. This book is bloody for sure and doesn't have a single dull moment, the perfect read for anyone looking for something fast-paced and (literally) cut-throat. Jay Kristoff is incredibly witty and this book will make you laugh out loud. Definitely rated R for violence, sexual material and language.

3. "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir:

This book is full of suspense and will definitely keep you on your toes. I also loved how Tahir's fantasy realm is loosely based on ancient Rome. The characters are lovable and relatable, and AEITA definitely deserves the hype.

4. "Empire of Storms" by Sarah J. Maas:

Bloody, steamy and emotionally devastating, Empire of Storms is the 5th installment of the Throne of Glass series. This book exceeded all of my expectations and left me dying to get my hands on the next book!

5. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire":

Despite being a re-read, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire still ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2016! You can't help but love the Boy Who Lived and all of his crazy adventures. The Harry Potter series is marketed towards children, however, I found this book just as thrilling and dark as a lot of the adult fantasy novels I've read. J.K. Rowling without a doubt deserves her title as queen of the bookworld.

6. "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo:

Six outcasts; one heist. I didn't think anything could top Leigh Bardugo's first series, The Grisha Trilogy, but Bardugo truly outdid herself with Six of Crows. The characters are diverse and all have a wicked sense of humor. I couldn't put it down!

7. "The Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Seige and Storm, Ruin and Rising)" by Leigh Bardugo:

Part of the reasons I loved The Grisha Trilogy was because the setting, Ravka, is loosely based on Russia. Bardugo has a beautiful writing style and the plot is so intricate and exciting I loved every second of all three books.

8. "Me Before You" by JoJo Moyes:

This book will tear your heart into tiny pieces but will teach you to live life to the fullest and appreciate everything you have in your life. Plus, the characters are so lovable a little piece of them will live in your heart forever.

9. "Red Rising" by Pierce Brown:

I rarely, if ever, reach for sci-fi novels, but I definitely didn't regret picking up Red Rising! I loved the setting, gore (definitely not for the faint of heart!) and Pierce Brown's writing style. It had some problematic parts, for example there wasn't much character development and I had some issues with the ending, but all and all a very exciting read.

10. "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur:

No words can describe the beauty of this little poetry book. A must read for everyone.