Tag: End of Year Book Survey

• End of Year Book Survey V

  Posted at 7:10 am by Laura, on December 29, 2018

  

  This is the fifth year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. In 2015 I shared my bookish life in Hermione gifs, 2016 in Pevensie gifs, 2017 in Gilmore Girls gifs, and this year I’ll share it in Nadiya from Great British Bake Off gifs! I’m looking forward to reading your 2018 book survey too.

  Note: This includes all books read in 2018 – they do not have to be published in 2018.

  

  

  Number of Books You Read: 47
  Number of Re-reads: 0
  Genre You Read the Most From: historical & fantasy

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2018

  I actually answer this question last after filling out the survey, and I think based on what has stuck with me all these months and what has filled up the most categories, I have to say City of Brass (with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine a very close second)!

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  From Twinkle With Love, which admittedly was mostly disappointing because I may have expected something else from it. I set the bar super high, and I really was most excited for this book last year. Ah well. I’m still looking forward to There’s Something About Sweetie!

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2018?

  Spinning Silver — again, I was expecting something more along the lines of Uprooted. I’m quite glad it wasn’t, though! The book went a totally different direction than I expected, with narrators I wasn’t prepared for, and this surprise was definitely a good one!

  

  

  

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2018?

  Uh, well, I push my clients’ work more than anything, so Empire of Sand takes the ticket! I pushed this book hardcore on Twitter and Facebook, to my friends on coffee dates and catching up sessions — everywhere. Seriously, get this book. It’s a gorgeous Mughal-Indian fantasy and it has received four starred reviews (out of four trade reviews!! Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal all love it!).

  5. Best Series You Started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?

  Series: Kings of the Wyld — Can’t wait to start Bloody Rose!
  Sequel: China Rich Girlfriend — Looking forward to reading the final book!
  Ender: none! Lots of first and seconds of series read this year.

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2018?

  I’ve read two Kevin Kwan novels this year, and definitely plan on picking up the third book early in 2019 to round out the trilogy. His writing is fun, witty, and over-the-top, and I devoured every word!

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?

  I really don’t enjoy reading nonfiction, but I was fascinated with A Long Way Home. Memory is both a strength and a weakness — how much of this journey does Saroo actually remember versus what he was told or imagined as a child? — but whatever the circumstances, I still found it incredibly moving he survived Calcutta and managed to find his little village via Google Earth.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  The City of Brass was definitely the most thrilling and action-packed novel I read this year, hands down! When I had to set the book aside (for work, errands, adulthood responsibilities) it was all I could think about. I finished it in January and I’m still thinking about it. It was one of the most complex novels I’ve read in a long time, and I’m very much looking forward to Kingdom of Copper.

  9. Book You Read in 2018 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Honestly, re-reads don’t happen for me much anymore. But if I could re-read a book in 2019 that I read in 2018, it would be The Clockmaker’s Daughter or Once Upon a River. They’re my favorite authors, and there was so much packed in the narrative — interweaving story lines, little details that appear later. Exquisite.

  

  

  

  

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2018?

  The Girl in the Tower is so pretty and wintry. It utilizes the reds and purples in a cool way, rather than a warm one. I could burrow in those colors. The covers for all three of the books in the Winternight Trilogy are great — they look like a sunrise!

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2018?

  A tie between Nahri and Dara, both in City of Brass. Oh, my heart.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2018?

  The Bird and the Blade is just…wow. WOW. It was such an affecting read, even more so that I know the music score to the opera it was inspired by. Like the music, it swelled and soared and ugh what a beautiful ride.

  

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2018?

  Since this book made me go down a research rabbit hole, The Romanov Empress takes the cake for most thought-provoking! I was fascinated with the family, the web across Europe, and overall history of Russia as it unfolded, year by year, through Maria’s eyes. There are dozens of parallels from the Romanov dynasty and the country it is today; it’s unsettling as well as heartbreaking.

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2018 to Finally Read?

  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Massive thank you to Hannah for saying just the right words to capture my attention and make me read this book. It was nothing like I expected and yet everything I could ever want it to be, and I just want to hug Eleanor and set her next to all of my Jane Eyre copies. Jane, Eleanor, and I are besties now.

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2018?

  This is what I have always done, how I have always found myself when I’ve been lost. When I first went to music college, eighteen years old and paralyzingly shy, when ringing my parents from the pay phone in the corridor just made me miss them even more, I would feel the strength in the neck of my cello, flatten the prints of my fingers into the strings, and forget.

  […]

  I play and play; through thirst, past hunger, making tiredness just a dent in my soul. […] I play on until the world is flat again and the spaces between my heartbeats are as even as the rhythm on the stave in front of me.

  — Goodbye, Paris

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2018?

  According to Goodreads, the shortest book I read this year was Jan Brett’s newest picture book, The Snowy Nap, and the longest was The Queens of Innis Lear (not surprised!!).

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  The Glass Castle. I just can’t. Those parents. Jeannette herself. I just can’t.

  

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  Royals is probably the only one I can place in this category, as most of the romance story-lines I read this year were tragic or hanging *side-eyes Chakraborty*. So. GO DAISY AND MILES!

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Clay and Gabe in Kings of the Wyld. I mean, come on. Only a bromance would survive all the crap they went through in the Wyld! Their deep friendship and understanding — with each other and with the rest of their band — was awesome to read and experience.

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Clockmaker’s Daughter is now my favorite Kate Morton novel. Kate Morton is on my auto-buy list, and she just keeps getting better and better with her already great books.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  Goodbye, Paris for sure. I had never heard of this book, and I didn’t see any of my friends reading it either, but a librarian recommended it to me “because [you] loved Eleanor Oliphant” and she nailed it.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2018?

  Dara in City of Brass, goddammit Chakraborty. *sobs*

  

  

  

  23. Best 2018 Debut You Read?

  Dear Mrs. Bird to add some variety here — I read a lot of great 2018 debuts! Dear Mrs. Bird fits right into my wheelhouse, with its historical WWII fiction, slice-of-life story line, empathetic-to-the-point-of-destruction protagonist. I was so engrossed in the audiobook (seriously, listen to the audio if you can!!) that I missed streets and exits when driving because it was so well-read and well-written!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  City of Brass takes the prize again! Cairo and Daevabad were both brilliantly described. I felt I was actually there among Nahri and the people and djinn, could see and smell and taste and touch everything. And not once did it feel like I was being bogged down with descriptions too much

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  It’s a tie! Kings of the Wyld and Royals both put ridiculously huge smiles on my face while I read, and I enjoyed every second of them!!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2018?

  Dear Mrs. Bird — the scenes with London bombings, the fights with best friends, all of it was so gut-wrenching and drawn out and agonizing.

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Goodbye, Paris was unexpectedly wonderful and perfect. I wish more people knew about it. It’s basically Eleanor Oliphant but with music, which speaks to me on such a deep level.

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  Sweetbitter, and not in a good way. I wish I could scrub that book from my memory.

  

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2018?

  Saga, mostly because I don’t read graphic novels. The librarians have their own internal book club (Genre Study, to help with readers’ advisory-related questions and suggestions from/for patrons) and one particular month’s book was to read Saga plus another graphic novel. I can definitely see the appeal of graphic novels, and they’re good for visual readers, reluctant readers, and readers who want vivid storytelling in a new form. Not for me, but it was definitely a unique experience!

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  Small Great Things, but I wasn’t mad at the book. I was mad at myself. I berated myself for the whole review, really.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2018?

  I stumbled across more IG bookstagrams than I did blogs. Lately I’ve loved bookcooklook, somekindofalibrary, and idlewildreads. All three of them have, in my eyes, aesthetically pleasing accounts. No extra fuss for props and flashy objects — just books and tea and bakes! (I’m a huge fan of that sort of simplicity, and genuinely don’t understand the appeal of crowded shelves full of POPs, candles, and clingy bookmarks.) Plus they have great snippet reviews on their posts mixed with a bit of behind-the-reader glimpses and discussions, which I enjoy.

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2018?

  The Bird and the Blade is probably my favorite, if anything because I enjoyed the book so much.

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  I didn’t write on the blog as often as I used to outside of book reviews and seasonal wrap ups, but I did post about my reading list prior to leaving for Greece! Sometimes it’s difficult to pick out your vacation reading…

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  I was lame (but mostly poor) this year and didn’t participate or attend any bookish events. I was, however, FaceTimed into Tasha Suri’s book launch in London for a few minutes! Does that count?

  

  

  

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2018?

  *incoherent screaming about a client’s book and exciting news that isn’t public yet*

  That.

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  MSWL 2018, no surprise there. I’m glad it’s proven helpful to writers, and it has certainly made my inbox full of great stuff, so I’ve made an update post for 2019 already!

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  Weirdly, selfishly, my seasonal rewind post that included my engagement *ducks and hides*

  

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  Once more, I was over my head in work-related industry stuff and didn’t get to discover a whole lot. However, I’ve really enjoyed browsing IG bookish posts that don’t require a whole lot of props or coffee––simple slice of life posts that happen to have books are totally my aesthetic!

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year? 

  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  Oh, I’m sorry — right, okay, the question…

  Well, I read more library books for fun than intended, but not enough off my own TBR shelves in my home library. I had to lower my goal of 50 books to 45 in order to be anywhere near finishing the challenge. And I read more historical and fantasy this year, but none for my Gabaldon / Marillier self-appointed challenge.

  You know what, though? I won’t feel guilty about that. I surpassed my agent goals in 2018, and that’s what really counted for me personally in the end. This career is about all those baby steps and I walked so many of them.

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

  OH GOD SO MANY. The one that’s probably staring at me the most is The Poppy War, but I’m also terrified. The rest of the Queens of Renthia series. Basically all my WWII historical fiction books. Yeah…Poppy War may be one of the first…

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2019 (non-debut)?

  The Downstairs Girl, Her Royal Highness, The Huntress, The Witch’s Kind, I Owe You One, the list goes on and on… They’re all by authors I adore, all covering topics and themes I’m super excited to dive into. What’s not to love?

  

  

  

  

  3. 2019 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  The Ruin of Kings sounds amazing, Spin the Dawn because duh, and this interesting novel I read about ages ago, The Western Wind, in an interview on Publishers Weekly simply because of the strange historical details the author had to twist in order to incorporate into the plot of the novel. So…why not?

  4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2019?

  Kingdom of Copper, it’s a given. I have the galley sitting right next to me!

  

  

  

  

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2019?

  ONE thing?! Oh jeez. Attend Book Expo, writers conferences, online contests…I’m also already scheduled for three writers conferences, Pitch Wars, and WisRWA’s Fab Five contest. But that’s work-related. Bookworm self, I would like to really and truly read the rest of my Marillier and Gabaldon collections, and not feel burdened by blogging a review for them (or any book, really). Blogging shouldn’t feel like a chore!

  I have all these high expectations, plus a wedding to plan and experience, for 2019 sooooooo cross fingers and wish me luck!

  6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone

  Bear No Malice by Clarissa Harwood and Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *pushes*

  

  ~

  What’s on your year-end review? Do we have any similar titles? Which books are you going to read, too? Good luck and have a great 2019 reading year!

  Posted in books, Update Post | 8 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• End of Year Book Survey IV

  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on December 31, 2017

  

  This is the third year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. In 2015 I shared my bookish life in Hermione gifs, 2016 in Pevensie gifs, and this year I’ll share it through Gilmore Girls gifs! I’m looking forward to reading your 2017 book survey too.

  Note: This includes all books read in 2017 – they do not have to be published in 2017.

  

  

  Number of Books You Read: 57
  Number of Re-reads: 0
  Genre You Read the Most From: contemporary

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2017

  I can’t stop thinking about The Alice Network. That was one of two 5-star books I read this year (the other was Outrun the Moon), but for some reason The Alice Network really stuck out for me. It’s not your usual historical fiction, let alone your usual parallel narrative, WWI/WWII historical fiction.

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  Caraval was a book I was very excited to read, and I was thrilled to have received a galley of it, too. But it started to crash and burn within a couple pages, and it just…continued to dig a deeper hole. I was very disappointed. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads but in hindsight my thoughts and feelings about the book could really bring it down a star or two…

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2017?

  What to Say Next tops this list. Unlike most of Buxbaum’s readers, I didn’t care for Tell Me Three Things one bit, but I was pulled into What to Say Next within a few sentences. Then she had me bawling my eyes out. So in a VERY good way, Buxbaum surprised me!

  

  

  

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2017?

  I push my client’s books, obviously, and I’ve been so excited to see how well my friends and fellow bloggers love Jared Reck’s A Short History of the Girl Next Door. Outside of agent life, I’d say the book I pushed the most was The Bear and the Nightingale at the library. You can get just about anyone to read wintry Russian historicals with a dash of magic and folklore. It’s appealing across many ages!

  5. Best Series You Started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?

  Started: Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn (Elementals 1)
  Sequel: Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier (Sevenwaters 2)
  Ender: The Dire King by William Ritter (Jackaby 4)

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2017?

  Beatriz Williams! I don’t know why it took me so long to read The Secret Life of Violet Grant, but I’m glad I did and now I want to read more by Williams!

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?

  I have a very hard time with nonfiction, but I thought Stiff by Mary Roach was interesting, informative, and hilarious.

  

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  It’s not action-packed or thrilling, but I could not put down The Map That Leads to You. It’s one of those books that’s entirely engrossing for those who have the itch to travel, the constant wanderlust, the need to find a home in a whole new place entirely our own.

  9. Book You Read in 2017 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  I’m not sure how likely it is I’ll re-read something in the first place (LOL I thought last year I’d reread a Kinsella book and, as you can see from the top ^, I have not re-read a single book this year!), BUT I really enjoyed When Dimple Met Rishi and can see myself rereading that next summer.

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2017?

  OH GOSH, I love so many covers! I’d say Like a River Glorious probably takes the cake here. The covers for this historical fantasy are so captivating.

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2017?

  Eve Gardiner in The Alice Network. I can’t stop thinking about her story, and how her story is so similar to so many women from WWI.

  

  

  

  

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2017?

  Hunted or The Silver Gate because both were so beautifully written in two completely different ways. Hunted is a Russian-esque fairytale retelling and twist of “Beauty and the Beast,” which I found lyrical and engrossing; The Silver Gate is about sibling dynamics, mental health, and the power of fairytales in everyday life, set in medieval-Celtic culture. Both made me catch my breath.

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2017?

  The most thought-provoking was probably The Miniaturist, especially after my book club held their discussion on it. I thought I had it all figured out, but then a book club member suggested a Fight Club plot that blew my mind. It’s probably too far-fetched, but it made me enjoy the novel even more for it!

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2017 to Finally Read?

  The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. So many friends and colleagues said I’d adore this book about books to pieces — but honestly, they didn’t recommend it the way that would’ve made me pick up this book in the first place: it’s a gothic book. Yes, I love books about books, but some of those just turn out to be surface-level stuff, a setting rather than a passion. This book, though, was awesome.

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2017?

  A book is a companion, though. You can read it in a special place, like on a train to Amsterdam, then you carry it home and you chuck it on a shelf, and then years later you remember that feeling you had on the train when you were young. It’s like a little island in time. —The Map That Leads to You by JP Monninger

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2017?

  Shortest: The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals by Jordan Stratford
  Longest: Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  Three Dark Crowns, because nothing really happens till the last line and I couldn’t believe I wasted all that time on a book in which nothing happens. I hear the rest of the books really build up, but I’m not going to bother. It’s not for me.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  Dimple and Rishi!

  

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Mercy and her hate-to-friendship with Elodie in Outrun the Moon. Those two navigated some deep racial and class issues so well during this shocking moment in San Francisco history. I can only hope their friendship continued on after the book’s end. (Yes, they’re real! I firmly believe it!)

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  Always and Forever, Lara Jean, of course! It was so nice to see this trilogy come to an end the way it did. I loved Lara Jean’s growth and development across all of the books.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  The Map That Leads to You, thanks to Alyssa! I couldn’t stop fawning over her instagram pictures of it, and once I got my hands on the book I fell in love immediately.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2017?

  Um, there are no memorable men this year, so my fictional crush goes to a woman I greatly admired: Eve Gardiner in The Alice Network.

  23. Best 2017 Debut You Read?

  When Dimple Met Rishi is definitely a favorite debut from this year. It’s so fun!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  Hunted made me shiver with all of its excellent wintry descriptions and magical light. I especially enjoyed the formatting for the book, with the beast’s perspective on wintry paper, as if it were written in blood on snow. Design can really play into the story!

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  You and Me, Always was cheesy in the best way and I couldn’t stop smiling as I was reading it. I definitely needed that kind of book in that moment of the year.

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2017?

  The Light Between Oceans was too heart-wrenching for words. I could easily see why both women acted the way they did, and then I was torn just like the husband, and then I put myself in the child’s shoes, and…guys, this is a rollercoaster of a book.

  

  

  

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, is such a great story for Charlotte’s Web fans and general contemporary fiction. It hasn’t gotten enough love and attention, and it deserves so much more!

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  I keep talking about The Alice Network, so I’ll change it to The Secret Life of Violet Grant. That was also covering a very crushing topic of female history.

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2017?

   Paper Menagerie, which is a collection of science fiction short stories. I wouldn’t have picked this up otherwise, but I was impressed. It was definitely the most unique book I read in 2017.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  Oh, a ton. A TON. I was probably most angry with (and deeply disliked) The Woman in Cabin 10.

  

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2017? 

  Unfortunately, I wasn’t a very good blogger overall this year, and didn’t read any new ones.

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?

  The Map That Leads to You, because it was entirely quotes. I hadn’t done that before, and I really wanted to review the book, but it was so hard to sum up the novel without the moving passages. I let the book review itself, haha.

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  One was an agent announcement (Clarissa’s novel Impossible Saints, in fact!), and another was one of my If We Were Having Coffee posts.

  

  

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  I was at Book Expo for lots of editorial meetings, and then went to ALA to meet my author Jared Reck and watch him sign galleys of A Short History of the Girl Next Door. Random House treated us to a very nice dinner with David Barkley, Nic Stone, and E Lockhart, too — it was a fun night.

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2017?

  Oh, so many things, but my clients’ work definitely tops the list. I love seeing friends add my clients’ books to their TBRs and enjoying their reading experience. I’m bursting at the seams with two big deal announcements, but that will need to wait till January or so before it goes public.

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  The most popular post this year was my review of Jenny Han’s Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  I wasn’t a terribly good blogger this year, so I didn’t have any posts in particular I wish got more attention or love, comments or discussion. I’m pleased people even find this at all!

  

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  This is so lame, but I’m saying it anyway: how much money I saved by reading books from my library. I didn’t have the best reading year, and I saved so much by checking out books from the library instead of purchasing. If I loved what I read, of course I ran to the bookstore and purchased my own copy!

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  I read a lot of fantasy, but I didn’t consider it part of my Marillier / Gabaldon challenge for Flights of Fantasy — I’ll change that for next year. I wanted to read more library books (which I did) and hold back on blind purchases (which I did). I didn’t read any classics or reread any books, but I did read a decent amount off my own TBR shelves. Win some, lose some, but in the end I’m quite pleased!

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

  The City of Brass and The Passion of Dolssa top my list for 2017, and they’re on my January TBR. I gotta get started on them!

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2018 (non-debut)?

  From Twinkle, With Love is definitely up there! Sandhya Menon has easily become an auto-buy author for me. Oh, and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik!

  3. 2018 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  Hmmm…perhaps Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. It sounds exciting.

  

  

  

  

  4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2018?

  The next Queens of Renthia book, The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst, hands down.

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2018?

  Commenting more, engaging more, and announcing more deals! (More, more, more.)

  6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  Impossible Saints by Clarissa Harwood. I’ve already mailed a couple copies to friends and they’ve come back to me with positive responses, so…fingers crossed!

  

  Posted in books, Update Post | 5 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• End of Year Book Survey III

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on December 28, 2016

  

  This is the third year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. Last year it was so much fun to share my bookish life through Hermione gifs, I decided to share it through Pevensie gifs! I am looking forward to reading your 2016 book survey, too.

  Note: This includes all books read in 2016 – they do not have to be published in 2016. 

  

  

  Number Of Books You Read: 52
  Number of Re-Reads: 1
  Genre You Read The Most From: contemporary

  

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2016

  ARG! Goodness. The first that comes to mind is The Lie Tree. It had everything I could ever want from a novel: compelling, excellent voice, intelligent protagonist, unique circumstances, beautiful atmosphere. While it’s historical fiction with a touch of fantasy (magical realism?), it’s first and foremost a Gothic novel. And ya’ll know I love me some Gothic.

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  It’s a tie between Scarlett Epstein Hates it Here and Summer Days and Summer Nights. Everyone raved about Epstein being the snarkier, more forward version of Fangirl and I was not into it whatsoever. And I so looked forward to Summer Days and Summer Nights and found I wasn’t interested in many of the short stories from some of my own favorite authors! Wah wah. (Also, yes, I realize in my review I typed “Claire” instead of “Clare” and that’s because I still think of her fanfic days and I can’t be arsed to correct it.)

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2016?

  Re Jane definitely surprised me. I’m of the view no one should touch the precious Jane Eyre, but Patricia Park really knew how to modernize this classic and make it stand on its own. Toss in the beautiful way she incorporated Own Voices, and this was a treat and absolute pleasure to read.

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2016?

  The Hating Game was pushed on me by my client Nina, and then I recommended it to Ginger, Lindsey, Morgan…next thing I know, it’s all over the place in the blogging community. I’m not saying Nina or I started it, but it was certainly a whirlwind!

  

  

  

  

  5. Best Series You Started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

  Series Started: The Queens of Renthia series with The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst OR Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
  Sequel: Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter
  Series Ender: Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins, though it was the only series ender I read this year

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2016?

  Emma Mills with her book First & Then captured my heart. I’m eager to dive into This Adventure Ends now.

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?

  Fever at Dawn was out of my comfort zone because it’s a translation. Sometimes the heart and emotion in the story, in the voice, can be lost in translation. This novel though? So good. I really enjoyed it.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman, but that’s not a surprise at all! Her novels always leave my heart pounding.

  9. Book You Read in 2016 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Perhaps Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella because WHY NOT *heart eyes*

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2016?

  A tie between Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman and Traitor Angels. I love ships in bottles (both IRL and on covers), as they remind me of my grandfather, and the art department did a great job of making the bottle really stand out. As for Blankman’s book, please just look at that dripping-ink-that-looks-like-melted-chocolate. Balzer + Bray’s art department is fantastic.

  

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2016?

  Lou in Me Before You is one incredible young woman, inside and out.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2016?

  The language, voice, and artistry of The Star-Touched Queen left me longing for more!

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2016?

  Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys should come to no surprise. Sepetys always makes me think and wonder, and her books do change my life.

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2016 to Finally Read?

  Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ KINSELLA?!

  

  

  

  

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2016?

  “I saw a girl who races to help others but doesn’t help herself. And right now you need to help yourself. No one should walk up the aisle feeling inferior or in a different league or trying to be something they’re not.”
  –I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2016?

  Shortest: Buddha in the Attic
  Longest: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, only because I was happily surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I haven’t read any of her other books, and The Jane Austen Project has been pretty successful thus far. I was just genuinely shocked how much I adored it, and how much the reviews were right.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  I didn’t read a whole lot of shippy stuff this year! WHAT. So how about I go with a manuscript I read this year that I will go down with and you will all hear about in 2017? Matt and Tabby in Jared Reck’s The Short History of the Girl Next Door.

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Ven and Daleina in The Queen of Blood, possibly. I can see where people would root for them to get together, but he’s at least 15 years her senior and he’s her Champion (intructor and defender of sorts). But their platonic dynamics were perfect!

  

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller, hands down. I learned so much in that book, too!

  21. Best Book You Read in 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  Hands down, it was Walk on Earth a Stranger, and I’m glad I did. Everyone was raving over it, and over Carson’s previous books, plus there was the appeal of the Oregon Trail story, so of course I gave in. And loved it.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2016?

  See, I didn’t read many shippy books! Maybe Jonah in When We Collided. He’s such a sweetheart.

  23. Best 2016 Debut You Read?

  The Star-Touched Queen, of course! Such a beautiful, stunning book!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst, easily. All of the trees, the spirits, the structure of the government and culture — so vivid! Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice would make a close second. I think I would need to read the following books to really sink into the world for that one.

  

  

  

  

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella (will be published in February 2017, review to come!) and Arsenic for Tea (or Poison is Not Polite) by Robin Stevens. Kinsella because she always does, and Stevens because her mystery series is so well-crafted and charming!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2016?

  A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Mara had me at near tears by the end. What a powerful read.

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Geek Girl: Picture Perfect by Holly Smale is the third in the Geek Girl series and it deserves all the attention in the US that it receives in the UK. I love this series! So fun and quirky and perfect chick lit for YA!

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  Me Before You probably. Tears for days.

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2016?

  Buddha in the Attic was told in collective perspective, rather than following one single person’s narrative. It followed countless Japanese women from Japan to America and the various lives they formed shortly before WWII. That form of storytelling is probably the most unique I’ve ever read.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  Rebel of the Sands, because I wanted to love it and I didn’t. Not at all. Far from it. I think I’m more disappointed in myself for not enjoying it than I am at the book.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2016? 

  This year I didn’t “discover” new book blogs, but I did meet several bloggers I interact with all the time on Twitter. We would hang out at BEA and see movies and get breakfast and dinner together. Collectively, I was closer to the blogging community that way — but I didn’t discover a new blog. If anything, I became much closer to Kelly @ Belle of the Literati. She is such a remarkable and fun person. I want to travel with her!

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

  My entire Kinsella series was fun to review. That One Time I Binged on Kinsella was fun to write, and I was eager to do a Part II was well.

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  If We Were Having Coffee is a good post series I plan to continue doing in 2017. It’s a great way for me to let my bookish guard down and just TALK to you! I hope you enjoy them as much as I love writing them!

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  BEA! It was so much fun reuniting and meeting with so many people — editors, authors, bloggers — in a city near my home. While Book Expo is bound to be different in 2017 (and I’m curious to see how the changes work out), I look forward to this event because it feels like one massive reunion.

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2016?

  In my blogging life, I was thrilled to finally meet Stacey @ Pretty Books! I was in London for about a week in June and we went out for a delicious pizza dinner and shopping at Waterstones. I don’t know if she remembers this at all, but I first followed her on tumblr back when we were both finishing up university. She inspired me to create a book blog, and we’ve been following each other ever since! It was about time we met in person.

  In my bookish life, my best moment by far was Jared Reck’s deal announcement!

  

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  Jared’s deal announcement and my first If We Were Having Coffee post received the most not-book-review views and comments, and Salt to the Sea continuously receives the most views throughout 2016.

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  On Reading Epiphanies was fun to write, and I would’ve loved to discuss it more with other readers! Are there reading habits you’ve lost or picked up since blogging? Since beginning a new job? Since beginning a job in the book industry?

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  Personal book discovery, though completely old hat to Londoners: Daunt Books. OH MY GOD Daunt Books. What a gorgeous bookstore. This is what bookstores should look like always.

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  *laughs hysterically* Oh, boy. I was supposed to read 5 classics this year, and I only read 1. I was supposed to reread 5 books, but I only reread 2. While those were failures, I read 8 of 5 fantasy books, 17 of 12 already-purchased-but-unread books, 20 of 10 library books, and fewer ARCs (only 9 this year). So yes, I over-completed some, and severely undercompleted  others, but I do think overall this was a good reading year!

  

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

  So many series enders, like Winner’s Kiss, and second novels like Outrun the Moon or Like a River Glorious.

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2017 (non-debut)?

  Oh, there are so many! I think even my teen self would agree with my adult self: Sarah Dessen’s next book Once and For All.

  3. 2017 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, which I’ve already started reading. I’m quite looking forward to finishing it!

  

  

  

  

   4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2017?

  Series Ending: William Ritter’s final Jackaby book!
  Series Sequel: Sparks of Light by Janet B. Taylor

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2017?

  Announce more book deals!

  6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  Jared Reck’s A Short History of the Girl Next Door, for obvious (agenting) reasons. As well as Tara Sim’s second in the Timekeeper trilogy (I can’t announce the title yet!). Then there’s Sophie Kinsella’s My Not So Perfect Life coming to stores in February I absolutely ADORED and had trouble maintaining a straight face while reading in public.

  

  ^ I love that scene

  Posted in books, Update Post | 11 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• End of Year Book Survey II

  Posted at 3:40 am by Laura, on December 28, 2015

  

  This is the second year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. What started off as a fun recap on her blog has turned into an excellent way for other bloggers to catch up with each other and what happened to them/the blog that year.

  So without further ado, here are some of my reflections on my 2015 book life! Note: This includes all books read in 2015 – they do not have to be published in 2015. 

  

  Number Of Books You Read: 66
  Number of Re-Reads: 3.5 (I’m halfway through a 4th one!)
  Genre You Read The Most From: contemporary

  

  

  1. Best Book You Read in 2015?

  AHHHHHHH of course we must start with the toughest question. I think, of the top five books I chose, it would be Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  Uprooted by Naomi Novik was definitely a good read, but I didn’t love it the way the blogging community seemed to. A lot of it had to do with the romance plotline. That particular kind of romance with that kind of guy isn’t my cup of tea, but everything else about the book was fantastic. A forest as a villain? Yes.

  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2015? 

  Most Surprising (Good): The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, only because I didn’t have very high expectations for it, and now I’m gaga over the trilogy.
  Most Surprising (Bad): This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer Smith. I thought I would fall to pieces over it, and instead the book fell flat for me! Major bummer.

  

  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2015?

  A lot of what I recommend when I’m working at the bookstore tends to be contemporary YA that’s a bit on the lighter side (plenty of teens and parents ask for books that “aren’t so dark and heavy” or “the romance isn’t the main focus of the plot”). So with that in mind, I’d say I pushed Sophie Kinsella’s YA debut Finding Audrey and Holly Smale’s Model Misfit the most (and equally).

  5. Best Series You Started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

  Best series started: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
  Best sequel: The Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman
  Best series ender: The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan (mostly because this is the only ‘series’ (rather than duology) that I finished this year)

  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2015?

  Stacey Lee! Her debut Under a Painted Sky convinced me to read all of her future work, forever and ever amen.

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?
  

  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, because I’m not a memoir person at all.

  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

  Teri Brown’s Velvet Undercover was definitely thrilling and hard to put down. Right up there with Blankman’s books. It’s that espionage element I’m surprised I love so much.

  9. Book You Read in 2015 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  Probably Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest cause it’s so damn good.

  

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2015?

  Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch for series continuity and overall Balzer + Bray brilliance, or The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston for the way it almost looks like a portrait (the background has brush strokes and everything!), or Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy, again a credit to B+B brilliance. I DON’T KNOW. I love covers!

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2015?

  Sorcha (of Daughter of the Forest). Gosh, she’s nearly everything I could want in a character. Sorcha is strong, intelligent, wise beyond her years and yet still innocent, determined, driven by instinct.

  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2015?

  Daughter of the Forest. How many times will I need to mention this book before I convince you to read it, too? We’re only on Question Twelve!

  

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2015?

  It sounds terrible to say I didn’t read a thought-provoking/life-changing book (well, Daughter of the Forest, again, is close on the life-changing), but there are a couple books I read this year that can inspire great conversations.

  • Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman is all about the underbelly of German government before Hitler became Chancellor, a period of history so rarely discussed in American schools.
  • A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis opens up a whole host of discussions about mental illness, asylums, feminism, and crime in nineteenth-century America.
  • Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway dissects the ways a tragic incident can change not only the life of the victim but other lives surrounding him as well.
  • Dumplin’ has a body positive message, one I’d never seen before (but surely had been mentioned or discussed in literature at some point…right?)
  • Finding Audrey is one of few positive mental health books where things do not end in tragedy (why must mental illness always end tragically?)

  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2015 to Finally Read? 

  Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. I think I’ll be answering this question with Outlander books forever. For shame I didn’t read them before!

  

  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2015?

  Perhaps he could still weave together the broken threads of his life. And yet, I wanted him here now. I needed him here. In the darkness, if I sat very still, I could almost feel his presence by me, quite near, but not too near. Didn’t I promise to keep you safe, he would say softly. I have never broken a promise. Don’t look so worried, Jenny. And yet, he would be careful. Careful not to move too close. Careful not to frighten me. Waiting still. I am your shelter. Don’t be afraid.
  —Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2015?

  After checking my Goodreads stats, the shortest was picture book The Animals’ Santa by Jan Brett (my favorite of her books!) at 32 pages and the longest was Drums of Autumn at 1,070.

  17. Book That Shocked You the Most

  Rook by Sharon Cameron. The intricacy, the plot, the world, the way it both mirrored and differed from Scarlet Pimpernel. Gosh, that door stopper was good. I remember I wasn’t quite in the right mindset to read the book, so it’ll be reread again eventually.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

  RED AND SORCHA.

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  Grace and Dr Thornhollow from A Madness So Discreet. I said in my review:

  What an individual. And what an opportunity for Grace to fall in love and forget her entire past and the scars it left behind, an opportunity for a scientific man to crack open his shell and break free and fall in love. Thank goodness McGinnis did not go that route!

  

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. She’s an automatic read and buy for me, and I didn’t think it was possible to love a YA male character more than Matt Finch, but then Max Watson showed up and SHUT THE FRONT DOOR I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure

  The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, recommended by Hannah @ So Obsessed With, and thank goodness! I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy…well, frankly, “royal family fanfiction” (because WHAT), and I TOTALLY DID.

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2015?

  Red. ‘Nuff said.

  

  23. Best 2015 Debut You Read?

  Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee, again. Best newly discovered author and best debut!

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  Gosh, those are two completely different things in my head. The best world-building may go to A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas, and the most vivid setting will (of course, you guessed it) Daughter of the Forest. Both are fantasies, but one is entirely new and the other based on Ireland.

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  Murder is Bad Manners / A Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens. Talk about a classic MG detective mystery!

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2015?

  Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey, but I think that has something to do with the fact it was late at night and it reached a point in the story that touched me so deeply I couldn’t help but cry. I’m emotional like that.

  

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Kate Alcott holds a special place in my heart, so I’d say her “Gone With the Wind”-behind-the-scenes book A Touch of Stardust was a hidden gem in 2015.

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  The Winner’s Crime. Right in the feels.

  

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2015?

  The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon. It’s a quirky and unique adventure-that’s-not-quite-an-adventure MG, and the author used his own artwork to enhance the story. He’s definitely someone to watch.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  I Remember You by Cathleen Bell was…odd. I still don’t know what it was I read, and I remember feeling unsettled the entire time I read it. Again, not mad, necessarily, just…frustrated.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2015? 

  Probably Kelly @ Belle of the Literati. I stumbled across it after joining the ReRead 2015 challenge, and I love her mixture of discussion, challenges, tags, and reviews (plus she reviews a lot of historical fiction, which is hard to find in a YA-saturated blogosphere).

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015? 

  A Madness So Discreet because there were so many things I wanted to talk about and discuss. The quotes alone said it all, though!

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  Best discussion: “Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary” received a lot of traffic on the blog / “Book Buying Habits” received a lot of traffic on the blog and feedback on Twitter.
  Non-Review post: “First BEA Experience” had a lot of comments, received a lot of traffic, and is picking back up in stats again.

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

  My very first Book Expo America! I met so many bloggers, had meetings with my favorite editors, gathered up some excellent reads, and successfully navigated New York City solo.

  

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2015?

  Making my first sale as an agent!

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  Most popular non-review post of 2015: First BEA Experience.
  Most popular book review post of 2015: The Doldrums

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  My Thankful For post for Thanksgiving should’ve received a little more love, I think. We all need to take a moment to be thankful for what we have and what we’ve been given.

  

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  BookOutlet.com, though if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, the jury is still out…

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  I made a goal to read 50 books in a year, and I read 66! I also participated in ReRead 2015, but only read 3 books, so I don’t think that was…completed or successful. Haha!

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

  I genuinely can’t say. Maybe The Fiery Cross (Outlander‘s fifth book) or Son of the Shadows (the second Daughter of the Forest book).

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2016 (non-debut)?

  Anne Blankman’s Traitor Angels or Stacey Lee’s Outrun the Moon or Ruta Sepetys’s Salt to the Sea.

  3. 2016 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  Apart from my answer for #6 in this section, I’d say Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor. I’ve already read it (review coming in February!), but it’s one of those books I have to have my hands on now. There’s also Evelyn Skye’s The Crown’s Game, too.

  

   4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2016?

  The next Jackaby book, though the title and publication date have not been announced. If the publication timelines are anything like what’s already been published in the series, we’ll see it this fall!

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2016?

  Announce more book deals!

  6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  Tara Sim’s Timekeeper, coming out in the fall. For obvious (agenting) reasons.

  

   ~

  What books were highlighted in your End of Year survey?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 10 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

• End of Year Book Survey

  Posted at 8:00 am by Laura, on December 30, 2014

  

  This is the first year I’m participating in The Perpetual Page-Turner‘s End of Year Book Survey. Jamie is something of a goddess in the blogging world (I remember the first time I saw her I just stared in awkward silence. Guys, bloggers are real people! Who knew?!), and what started off as a fun recap on her blog has turned into an excellent way for other bloggers to catch up with each other and what happened to them/the blog that year.

  So without further ado, here are some of my reflections on my 2014 book life! Note: This includes all books read in 2014 – it doesn’t have to be published in 2014. 

  

  Number Of Books You Read: 67
  Number of Re-Reads: 0
  Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary YA & Fantasy

  

  1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

  This is way too hard. Thank goodness I made a Top Five Books of 2014 post! What pops into my head is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, but you could ask me this same question in an hour and I’d say something else. So many great discoveries this year!

  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

  I was excited about Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, as well as The Secret Place by Tana French. I thought I’d love Lola as much as Anna but that wasn’t the case; and Secret as much as The Likeness. Though I didn’t love them like I thought I would, I still very much enjoyed the books!

   3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2014? 

  Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch surprised me in a good way. Sometimes high fantasy YA can be just as cumbersome as high fantasy adult — and with loads of hype surrounding it, I was wary. I can be pretty picky about the fantasy I read. And sometimes those physically and mentally and emotionally strong female protagonists all blend together and become way too Mary Sue. But Meira stood out for me in this magical world. I can’t wait for the next book! Such a wonderful concept.

  I was also surprised by my disinterest in the first half of Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. Come on, more Jamie and Claire, right? I should love it! But I didn’t. Stupid, stupid France. The rest of the book was great, though!

   4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2014?

  Recently, Anna and the French Kiss. Earlier this year (and pretty much always) it was Between Shades of Gray and Fangirl. Between wasn’t read in 2014, though. It’s just the book I’m always recommending to YA readers. Same with Night Circus — always recommending, even though I didn’t read in 2014. There was also Letters From Skye that I would recommend to historical fiction/war fiction readers, and they always buy it, but I wouldn’t say I pushed it on them. It was more of an excited suggestion!

   5. Best Series You Started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?
  

  Best series started: Outlander, hands down.
  Best sequel: Possibly The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan.
  Best series ender: This is TOO HARD. The Caller by Juliet Marillier? Deliverance by CJ Redwine? Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins? The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness? Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor?

  2014, the year all of Laura’s favorite series ended.

   6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2014?

  ACK another hard one. Right now, let’s go with Gayle Forman.

  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?
  

  I read mostly within the genres I enjoy. Though I typically don’t read books with much (explicit) sex in it, Outlander was tipping the borderline. That’ll just have to be my answer.

   8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?
  

  Action-packed: Geek Girl by Holly Smale (ARC), in a strange, non-action way. Every chapter ended with a witty cliffhanger, making me turn the pages fast. Review to come in January! 
  Thrilling: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman. So fascinating!
  Unputdownable: Anna and the French Kiss. I just…I couldn’t. I also read the book while on a mini-vacation with friends, and only got three hours of sleep that night because I simply couldn’t stop reading!

  Note: This is the only time I’ll ever use the non-word “unputdownable.” *shudders*

   9. Book You Read in 2014 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?

  So glad this was asked! One of my resolutions for 2015 is to participate in a 2015 re-read challenge. Anna and Fangirl are definitely on the re-read list.

  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2014?

  The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston, hands down.

  11. Most Memorable Character of 2014?
  

  The men of the books! James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser (Outlander). Matt Finch (Open Road Summer by Emery Lord). Etiénne St. Clair (Anna). Willem (Just One Day by Gayle Forman). Levi (Fangirl). I know that was more than one, but seriously, how can I narrow these down?

   12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2014?

  Oooooh. That’s hard. Maybe…Blythewood by Carol Goodman.

  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2014?

  If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I really don’t know what I would’ve chosen if I were in Mia’s situation.

   14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2014 to Finally Read? 

  Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Seriously, why did I wait?

   15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2014?

  To belong to someone – I didn’t know it, but now that I think about it, it seems like it’s all I’ve ever wanted. To really be somebody’s, and to have them be mine. —To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, by Jenny Han

  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2014?

  Longest: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
  Shortest: One of the children’s picture books, most likely Edgar Gets Ready for Bed by Jennifer Adams

   17. Book That Shocked You the Most
  

  Oh, that’s hard! Possibly Dreams of Gods and Monsters, only because I had no idea what direction Taylor was going.

  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
  

  JAMIE AND CLAIRE.

  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year

  The friendship and sisterhood between Lara Jean and her sisters in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. It’s so nice (and refreshing) to see realistic, friendly, companionable relationships between girls in YA books.

  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 from an Author You’ve Read Previously

  This was a year of series completions and new author discoveries. Because of that, I wouldn’t say this book was a favorite, but it fits with “author you’ve read previously.” The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness would have to be the book.

  21. Best Book You Read in 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

  Jackaby by William Ritter (thanks, Hannah!).

  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2014?

  Matt Finch (Open Road Summer) and Jamie Fraser. Actually, everyone mentioned in #11 fits here, too.

  23. Best 2014 Debut You Read?

  I really enjoyed A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall. So unique! I’m feeling all the warm fuzzies just thinking about it right now.

  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

  Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch, of course, for world-building. Most vivid setting belongs to Outlander. Gabaldon just goes to town describing the landscape.

  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?

  A Little Something Different and Geek Girl take the cake on this! Both made me smile and laugh out loud.

  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2014?

  The Major’s Daughter by JP Francis made me cry, and as well as If I Stay by Gayle Forman and Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson.

  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?

  Winter is Coming by Tony Johnston, a picture book with vivid artwork and stunning writing.

  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?

  Possibly Just One Day by Gayle Forman. How is it one can have such a wonderful, rebellious day in Paris, and wake up the next morning in a confused panic and not know what happened? The whole journey Allyson went through made my heart ache.

  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2014?

  If not A Little Something Different, then Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohen, only because the concept is so fun. Texts From Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg is a great parody, as well.

  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

  Panic by Lauren Oliver because it didn’t seem at all like any of her other books. It didn’t sound like her. The concept wasn’t what I was expecting. I was disappointed — and frowned a lot while I was reading.

  

  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2014? 

  Lindsey’s Bring My Books and Morgan’s co-blog Gone With the Words, but I’m probably biased because we text each other every single day now.

  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014? 

  Maybe one that’s not published yet, like I Was Here by Gayle Forman because of all the meaty content, or Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins because it was so fun. Usually when I write reviews they follow the same standard format and I do my best to stick to them. When I really enjoy the book, the format blurs, and the review may come across as sloppy — but it’s my fangirling showing through.

  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?

  The guest blog post with Lindsey for our Jane Eyre appreciation! Check out her post here, and my post there!

  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

   Meeting Victoria Schwab (and other authors) at Children’s Book World in Haverford, PA! Second would be #TBTBSanta. That book swap was so much fun!

  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2014?

  Becoming a literary agent! What a silly question 😉

  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

  According to the stats, my most popular post of 2014 was “Plowing Through the Piles,” with the most views. Not surprised. It has pictures of my bookshelf, features a TBR jar, and exposes my insane Excel spreadsheet, haha. “Nonfiction Selections for the Bookish Fan” was also big, thanks to Ortberg’s retweet.

  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?

  I was expecting more love on my Outlander review, only because I posted it in the middle of the first half of the TV show season.

  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

  Not so much a discovery as an achieved goal — I visited Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, CO!

  10.  Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?

  I sure did! I set a goal to read 50 books again this year, and I surpassed that. I also unexpectedly read more ARCs than ever this year and set up a monthly update “Advance Excitement at a Glance” that I was able to keep up with as well.

  

  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

  Dream Boy by Mary Crockett and Madelyn Rosenberg and White Space by Ilsa Bick only because I’d purchased them with a friend with the intention we’d read those books together. Obviously we haven’t gotten around to it!

  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2015 (non-debut)?

  Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman. Gotta know what happens to Gretchen and Daniel in their flight from Hitler!

  3. 2015 Debut You are Most Anticipating?

  Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, mostly out of curiosity. I mean, look at that cover!

   4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2015?

  There are so many, but what pops to my head right now is Maureen Johnson’s The Shadow Cabinet!

  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2015?

  Reading: Find the nice balance between reading manuscripts, reading ARCs, and reading published books. I’ve stumbled around this fall and I think the new year will give me a chance at solid footing.
  Blogging: Re-reading more and sticking to my resolutions. I gotta stick to those resolutions!

  6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

  It’s already released in the UK, but I highly recommend Geek Girl by Holly Smale. It’ll be a debut here in the US and I’m beyond excited for it. Fully plan to push it into people’s hands.

   ~

  That was exhaustive and fun! What books were highlighted in your End of Year survey?

   

  Posted in books, Update Post | 10 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal

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• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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