I can’t believe it’s 2015 ALREADY. WHERE DID 2014 GO? I’m stunned at how fast things went by! As always, though, I’m so excited for the year-end survey hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner. It’s such a fun way to look back on the year of books and blogs and reading. Also as always, this is one of my longest posts of the year, so get yourself a treat for reading the whole thing.
Number of Books You Read
117! WOOT! Not too shabby, huh? I mean, good thing this question isn’t “how many books did you review?” though. THAT list would be not as awesome.
Number of Re-Reads
I reread a lot of books this year, especially via audio. I reread 14 books this year, 8 via audio.
Genre You Read The Most From
I feel like I read LOTS of adult contemporary this year, which I don’t usually read. I finally read some Lucky Harbor books, which I loved. Right now, I’m on a MAJOR historical romance kick. Like, hardcore. But I’d say that, generally, I read more contemporary this year than usual, between the adult and YA titles.
Best Book You Read in 2014
Of course I have to cheat LOL:
Fantasy(YA): HEIR OF FIRE
Fantasy (adult): LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA
Contemporary YA: ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Paranormal/Fantasy YA: BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE
Audiobook: ELEANOR & PARK
Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More But Didn’t
I’m going to go with STRAY by Elissa Sussman. I’m going to post a review of some sort for this (and a few other straggler reviews) shortly after the new year, but suffice it to say that this book about fairy godmothers was fairly DRIPPING with Amy-nip, and I wasn’t blown away by it.
Most Surprising (in a Good Way or Bad Way) Book You Read in 2014
Alas, I think I was more surprised by a book in a BAD way in 2014. This bothers me on several levels: One, because I don’t like being negative. Two, because I don’t like not liking books; it bums me out. And three, because this was one book that I was DYING to read for ever and ever, and it fell majorly flat. I’m talking about SACRIFICE by Brigid Kemmerer. It’s about Michael, MICHAEL MERRICK, FFS! One of my favorite book boyfriends! His book was lame-ish, and the publisher pulled one of those things where they included about 50 pages of samples at the end of the file, so the book finished when I was only 60% done. But mostly, I was disappointed in the story. I didn’t feel the feelings, and there was almost no romance, something that I’ve come to expect and really enjoy from Brigid Kemmerer. WAHHH!
Book You “Pushed” the Most People to Read (and They Did) in 2014
I don’t know about people actually reading it, but once I read EVERY BREATH by Ellie Marney, I shouted from the rooftops about it. SO GOOD.
Best Series You Started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series-Ender of 2014?
Best series I started? The Every series by Ellie Marnie. It’s FABULOUS. Also the Gentlemen Bastards series by Scott Lynch. Best sequel of 2014? Hmmm… HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Maas was amazing, and you’ll probably see it a few more times on this list, just FYI. I’m also going to shout out BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE by Maggie Stiefvater again because it just went to these AMAZING places. Best series-ender? ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins for the companion angle, but DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS by Laini Taylor was beautiful.
Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2014
I’d never read anything by Sarah Rees Brennan before this year, friends, and I really am kicking myself for it. Her Lynburn Legacy series started out amazingly, even if I haven’t read the rest yet. I also was very glad to pick up EVERY BREATH and get myself acquainted with Ellie Marney.
Best Book From a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/Was Out of Your Comfort Zone
Hmmm…I don’t think I really crossed any lines this year, guys. That’s a bummer.
Most Action-Packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year
I COULD NOT put down HEIR OF FIRE. Couldn’t, and didn’t want to.
Book You Read in 2014 That You Are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year
WOOO, I love rereading! I’ll definitely reread ISLA, and probably MORTAL HEART on audio. Also I always like to reread Jay Crownover’s books, which I reread this year, so I’ll probably reread them again. They’re GREAT for slump-breaking and just general enjoyment.
Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2014
Most Memorable Character of 2014
There are two, because I was so blown away by them and how much they added to the story and how much I came to be invested in them over the course of just one book: Manon Blackbeak and Rowan Whitethorn from HEIR OF FIRE. Excellent characters.
Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2014
I’d have to say SORROW’S KNOT by Erin Bow. What a heartbreaking, gorgeous book.
Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014
I suppose it will say something negative about me that I didn’t have my life meaningfully altered by any book I read this year, but Jandy Nelson’s I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN was very emotionally visceral to me: the sibling conflict, the self-discovery, the secrets and feelings. I think it’s remarkable that her books always make me feel such intense empathy that I sometimes have to remind myself that I don’t actually share very many experiences with her characters.
Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2014 to Finally Read
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly. What a fantastic book! It’s historical fiction from a favorite time period of mine, the French Revolution, with a dark contemporary companion story, and they weave together so naturally.
Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read in 2014
This line from SORROW’S KNOT realllly killed me:
Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2014
The longest book I read this year was actually a reread: THE WISE MAN’S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss, and I technically listened to it. The shortest book I read this year was THE ICE DRAGON by George R.R. Martin.
Book That Shocked You the Most
There were some pretty big shockers in THE YOUNG ELITES and HEIR OF FIRE. I shall say no more.
OTP OF THE YEAR (You Will Go Down with This Ship!)
OMG. Ok. Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen. That’s one. Annith and Balthazar from MORTAL HEART. That’s two. Watts and Mycroft from the Every series. Three. Paige and Warden from THE BONE SEASON. I ship that pretty firmly. I’m inevitably going to forget ships, so I’ll leave it at that. Those are good ones, though.
Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year
Whoops already shipped it: Locke and Jean from Gentleman Bastards. THE BROMANCE. IT BURNS WITH A BRIGHT, CLEAN FLAME.
Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From an Author You’ve Read Previously
HEIR OF FIRE.
Best Book You Read in 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure
I just finished SNOW WHITE AND ROSE RED by Patricia C. Wrede because Alyssa loves it so, and it was wonderful. Solid rec from the bestie.
Newest Fictional Crush From a Book You Read in 2014
ROWAN. Also MYCROFT. They actually have a few personality traits in common, now that I think about it. Broody, secretive, not awesome with feelings. SIGH.
Best 2014 Debut You Read
THE MIDNIGHT THIEF by Livia Blackburne was really quite good and a promising start to a series. I’m ready for book two, kthx.
Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year
Camorr was so damn real to me. The slums, the smells, the House of Perelandro. I positively DIE over vivid fantasy worlds, and that was definitely one.
Book That Put a Smile on Your Face/Was the Most FUN to Read
Robin Benway’s GOING ROGUE. This book is so fast-paced and funny, with perfect amounts of swoon and adventure.
Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2014
No need to worry about “nearly”: I cry a lot when I read, so this is actually hard to answer because it’s not just one book. I cried when I read SORROW’S KNOT, REVOLUTION, BURIAL RITES, and THE GOOSE GIRL, and that’s just what I can remember.
Hidden Gem of the Year
THE FALCONER by Elizabeth May. Faeries are sometimes hit or miss with me, but this was a HIT for sure. Being set in historical Scotland certainly helped. I’m super stoked for book 2, but I CANNOT EVEN TELL YOU how much I HAAAATE the cover redesign. HATE. Doesn’t match at all, and if the girl on the cover is supposed to be Aileana, there’s actually NO RESEMBLANCE WHATSOEVER. Like, the girl on the cover of THE FALCONER–Aileana–is red-headed; the girl on the cover of book 2 is blonde and looks like she’s from a dystopian novel, not a historical fiction with faeries. Ahem. But the story in THE FALCONER is great! READ IT!
Book That Crushed Your Soul
THE DRAMA! I honestly don’t think I read anything this year that crushed my soul. I read some emotional books and books that blew me away, but none of them left me hollowed out and broken. Alas.
Most Unique Book You Read in 2014
I’m going to go with LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD by Ava Dellaira for a few reasons. One, it was an epistolary novel. I don’t come across many of those. But who those letters were written to also made it different: dead celebrities from all time periods. Really, really interesting, and it worked.
Book That Made You the Most Mad (Doesn’t Necessarily Mean You Didn’t Like it)
This one has to be SACRIFICE by Brigid Kemmerer again. It was a letdown, and that kills me. I wanted so much more from Michael’s story, and the end didn’t really do any of the books justice. You know, since it just kind of…stopped.
New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2014
I’ve been horrible with reading blogs this year, so the blogs that I’ve discovered this year might not necessarily be new to you all, but 2014 was the first year that I encountered The Pretty Good Gatsby, and I always enjoy reading Leah’s posts! I love that her reviews are in depth and thoughtful and she mixes YA and adult.
Favorite Review You Wrote in 2014
EEEK these questions are always so hard for me. I remember that writing my review for ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER was really easy because I had so much to say about how much I loved it, so we’ll go with that one.
Best Event That You Participated in (Author Signings, Festivals, Virtual Events, Memes, etc.)
Of course, going to BEA in 2014 was so much fun, mostly because I got to hang out with my bestie loves, Alyssa and Brittany! We don’t see each other nearly often enough, so any chance we get to spend time together in person is always special. PLUS! I had the BEST shoes this year and my feet were LOVING ME. (They were Sanuks.)
I’d also have to say that participating in and helping to run the On the Same Page Secret Sister was AWESOME and so fun! We’ve gotten such positive feedback and people wanting to participate again and it’s just so heartwarming that people want to make time and room in their busy lives to just put a smile on someone’s face.
Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2014
So I’m going to fudge around with this answer because I’m going to say that the best bookish moments were visiting Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL, and The Book Barn in Niantic, CT, but really that just means that my favorite moments were that I got to hang out with Brittany and Alyssa. And HELLO, we went to Anderson’s the day before Brittany GOT MARRIED!! Best day!
Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog
That would be my Series Love post about Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series. I’m going to be doing more of this feature this year because I love it, so YAY!
Best Bookish Discovery (Book-Related Sites, Book Stores, etc.)
I just flat out adore these bookends that I found on Etsy from Knob Creek Metal Arts. They’re ADORABLE. I wish I had someplace to put them.
Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals You Set for Yourself at the Beginning of 2014?
Just my Goodreads Challenge to read 105 books. I passed it!
One Book You Didn’t Get to in 2014 But Will be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015
I still haven’t read THE INFINITE SEA yet, so that’s high on the list, as is THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS.
Book You Are Most Anticipating in 2015 (Non-Debut)
LOL this question, though. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES, SHADOW SCALE, FAIREST, WINTER, THE SWORD OF SUMMER, the fourth Raven Cycle book, the fourth Throne of Glass book, THE ORPHAN QUEEN, SIX OF CROWS, THE PENDERWICKS IN SPRING, EVERY MOVE. I could literally list like 50 books right now.
2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating
THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT, THE STORYSPINNER, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES, TANGLED WEBS. I know there’s more, but since I’m only supposed to list one….
Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015
I kind of answered this already–WHOOPS!–but definitely the fourth Raven Cycle book for series ender, and the fourth Throne of Glass book for sequel.
One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2015?
Same thing as always, friends: be more consistent with my posts. Write more reviews. I sometimes just love to actually READ too much to stop long enough to blog! Not the worst thing, though, right?
