The Broke and Bookish host a Top Ten book-blog linkup every Tuesday. I’m not a regular participant – which may be the understatement of the year given this is the second time I’ve joined in – but I thought it timely to participate today and share those authors who were new (to me) in 2016.

You’ll see a a mix of international and Australian authors, as well as more established and debut authors. There are more of course, but some will be included in my ‘Favourite books of 2016 post’ and I’m not permitting any double-dipping… this time around.

The headings link to my reviews….

1. Fredrik Backman via Britt-Marie Was Here
The Swedish author and blogger also wrote the very popular A Man Called Ove but this novel featuring the newly separated VERY high maintenance Britt-Marie was surprisingly charming.

2. Sara Barnard via Beautiful Broken Things
This beautifully written young adult novel about friendships took me by surprise. It was Brighton-based Barnard’s debut novel and I look forward to her next in early 2017.

3. JM Coetzee via The Schooldays of Jesus
I ‘think’ I’ve read Coetzee’s Disgrace, but can’t be sure of that, so am including the South African author here. The second book in Coetzee’s series about ‘David’ is a bit metaphorical for someone with my prosaic tastes but I could recognise the genius in the writing and underlying messages.

 

4. Jane Harper via The Dry
This book has been hugely popular here in Australia and has made it onto many ‘best books of 2016’ lists. Interestingly it didn’t quite make mine, but of course I do like to be different. I really enjoyed this debut novel by Harper, but it wasn’t quite different enough for me… as I’ve read similarly themed books – including Fleur McDonald’s recent Sapphire Falls, for example.

5. Colleen Hoover via It Ends With Us
I’m a latecomer to CoHo and here’s a spoiler alert… this book is also making my ‘best books of 2016’ list. I think. I’d heard a lot about Hoover but usually steer clear of romance and / or young adult novels, but am very glad I took a chance with this one.

6. Anthony Horowitz via The Magpie Murders
Horowitz is well-known for his work in television, having created Midsummer Murders and Foyle’s War. He was also selected to author a new James Bond novel, Trigger Mortis. Given that his latest novel (and the first of his I’ve read) is very Agatha Christie-eque, I’m disappointed he wasn’t chosen to continue the Dame’s Hercule Poirot books!

 

7. Joe Ide via IQ
This is a recent read for me and though I felt the plot had a few holes and needed a little work, I adored Ide’s lead character – Isaiah Quintabe (IQ). I got the impression this is the start of a series and I look forward to again meeting the pragmatic problem solver with the genius IQ!

8. Rachael Johns via The Art of Keeping Secrets
When I guest-posted over at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer earlier this year I wrote about Aussie authors I figured US readers wouldn’t have recognised. Bizarrely, the hugely-popular (here) Rachael Johns was one of the three, although I’d not read any of her books. However… as she’s moved away from romance here I took the risk and was extremely glad I did.

 

9. Fleur McDonald via Sapphire Falls
Fleur’s another popular Australian author whose work – I thought – leant heavily on the romance side of romantic suspense, but I discovered it was most certainly not the case in her latest release. Indeed, as I mention above, I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed the much-lauded, The Dry. 

10. Bernhard Schlink via The Woman on The Stairs
Schlink is a German author and former judge. I must admit I know nothing of this earlier book, The Reader (or the movie) but his latest offered up a fairly unlikeable character, but in a way that he charms we readers through his journey of self-reflection and regret.

 

Are any of these authors new to you? Have you discovered any new (great) authors this year?