Top 5 Wednesday: Top Authors You Discovered This Year

It is Wednesday and I really like the topic for this week's top 5: top authors you discovered this year. I have already done a post on the top 5 books I read this year. All of them were also my first introductions to the work of those authors. However, I decided not to repeat my selections for this post. Instead, looking over the list of books I read so far in 2015 (ninety-five total), I will pick the authors whose writing appealed to me so much that I would want to read other books by them. I might have not necessarily loved the book I read but definitely think they are an author I would like to follow and continue reading.

*Top 5 Wednesday was created by GingerReadsLainey and the link to the Goodreads group can be found here.

These are listed in the order that I read them, not in the order of preference.

1. Veronica Rossi

I read Rossi's Under the Never Sky trilogy earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Her writing was very engaging and the story was quite original. I have a full review of the series on my blog here and also on Goodreads. I know that Rossi has a new book coming out early next year called Riders, and I will definitely be picking it up.

2. John Steinbeck

I read Of Mice and Men for the first time earlier this year. This book is quite short and I think it was a perfect place for me to start my acquaintance with Steinbeck. I ended up really enjoying the book and the writing style. I also like the time period he focuses on - the great depression in America. I definitely would like to read more of his books. Perhaps The Grapes of Wrath or East of Eden will be next on my list.

3. Gabrielle Zevin

My introduction to Zevin's books was her most recent novel The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. I ended up really enjoying it. The novel is advertised as an ultimate book for all book lovers. I completely agree. It is filled with references to various books, authors and genres. The main character is a bookseller named A.J. Fikry. AJ is a lonely widower who has pretty much resolved to drink himself to death when a series of unexpected events occur that make him reconsider his decision and propel him to experience the most fulfilling days of his life. This was a very satisfying read. I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely read more of this author's work. I already own Elsewhere by her and hope to pick it up soon.

4. Jennifer L. Armentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout is quite a prolific writer who has penned both young adult and new adult books. Her various series have quite a following in the book blogging/tubing community, and I finally picked up her Lux series this year. The first book in the series resembles Twilight quite a bit only dealing with aliens rather than vampires. But the series gets significantly better and much more original further along. The books are also much more romance heavy than some other books in the sci-fi genre. But I definitely enjoy her writing. Her books are currently in my "guilty pleasure" reading category.

5. Paula McLain

I had seen Paula McLain's The Paris Wife in bookstores for quite some time now. It is quite popular and has great reviews. However, the first book of hers that I read was Circling the Sun about Beryl Markham, a record-setting aviator. I really liked the book and have a full review of it on my blog here. I am definitely planning on checking out The Paris Wife soon.