Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

Adult fiction: Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox

Contemporary YA: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, The Sea of Tranqility by Katja Millay and On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves
Dystopian YA: Crewel by Gennifer Albin, Prodigy by Marie Lu and Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Sci-fi/supernatural/paranormal-ish Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Angelfall by Susan Ee
Fantasy: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
New Adult: Easy by Tammara Webber

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

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski I have been loving the New Adult genre and the summary to this sounded intriguing… plus it had like a million 5 stars… it was a complete fail in my opinion. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin *sigh* friends had been recommending this book to me forever… I disliked this heroine so much it ruined every other aspect of the book for me.. not even the over the top perfect Noah could save this one!

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? Angelfall by Susan Ee – I was completely enthralled with this book from the start. I can’t exactly pinpoint the reasons but I know it starts with Penryn and Raffe. I’m so excited for the second book in this series.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012? The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – This book… I still think of Augustus and Hazel Grace and tears come to my eyes. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick and On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves all were amongst my faves that I think everyone will love.

5. Best series you discovered in 2012? I have to give this one to The Original Sinners Series by Tiffany Reisz I avoided these books for as long as possible and then caved and then spent days kicking myself for waiting so long to read them. The characters and the story is just so intriguing to me and so well written, I truly can’t wait for the rest.

On a different note…

The best FLUFFY series I discovered in 2012 has to be The Lucky Harbor Series by Jill Shalvis. Shalvis has to be one of my very favorite contemporary romance writers out there, and each one of these books was a homerun for me. She writes the best romantic heroes in my opinion.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012? Both Huntley Fitzpatrick and Tracey Garvis-Graves have become authors I’m dying for more from!

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I have to say it had to be Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I wasn’t a big fan of fantasy … in fact I think the only other fantasy themed book I had read prior to this was Graceling by Kristin Cashore but I immediately fell in love with Mal and Alina and of course The Darkling… (even if I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him) I’m super excited to see what Bardugo does with book 2 in the series!

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

I have to with Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout for this one. I love this series and I love where she’s taking this. The third book in the series was filled with action and twists and turns. I’m dying for Apollyon now!!

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi– absolutely positively will be rereading this. I received this as an ARC (thank you epic reads!) and I loved every second of the second book in the series. I’m sure I’ll need another fix of Perry, Roar and Aria.

But I need to add

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This book… It ripped my poor beating heart out, but the story was lovely and I’m looking forward to revisiting Augustus and Hazel Grace if only to be reminded about how fragile life is and how we should make the most of what we have.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Not only is the cover gorgeous… the story is excellent! I am dying to read the second in the series!!

11. Most memorable character in 2012?

I have to give this one to Karou and Akiva from Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. Though I did love Roar so very much in Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (if mention him enough will you all go read this?

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

This is a tough question because I think I read a lot of Dystopian and Paranormal and smut this year, but If I have to pick I’d probably go with Every Day by David Levithan

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?

Dead to You by Lisa McMann. This one killed me in so many ways. My heart hurt for Ethan, for what he had, what he lost, what he gained and the end… GAH. As a parent the whole scenario scares the crap out of me.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?

Graceling by Kristin Cashore – I loved Katsa & Prince Po

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?

“I’m in love with you, ” he said quietly.

“Augustus,” I said.

“I am, he said. He was staring at me, and i could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed an that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.” – John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

I lie on top of him, skin to skin. He’s tall, I’m not, but when we lie like this, we fit together. All the curves of my body relax into the strength of his. – Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door

“Is Jase already gonna marry you?”

I start coughing again. “Uh, No. No, George. I’m only Seventeen.” As if that’s the only reason we’re not engaged.

“I’m this many.” George hold up four, slightly grubby fingers. “But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family.”

Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. “George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on.”

George backs out of the room but not before saying, “His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.” – Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door

Love is not the absence of logic but logic examined and recalculated heated and curved to fit inside the contours of the heart. – Tammara Webber, Easy

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?

Free Four – Veronica Roth – 13 pages – not sure this should count as a book … but it’s FOUR!

Down for the Count – Christine Bell– 128 pages

Kiss the Girl – Susan Sey – 609 pages – I didn’t think it was worth the investment but…

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Prodigy by Marie Lu – (comes out in 2013) I had to wait until my friends read the ARC before I could flail with someone!

AND

OMG that one part in Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi … (also out in 2013) If you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about! I can’t wait til people are able to read this!

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Roar and Perry from Under the Never Sky/Roar & Liv/Through the Ever Night – yes I’ve mentioned them before!

Jase and Sam from My Life Next Door

Augustus & Hazel Grace from The Fault in Our Stars

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa – I had read her Iron Fey Series and loved it so I quickly read this book when it came out and loved it too!

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting I hadn’t read anything by Kimberly Derting previously and I actually really ended up loving the start of this series!

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?

Having just started book blogging myself I have found a ton of book blogs this year but among my faves I have to say Xpresso Reads & Making the Grade all my faves can be found in the sidebar of my blog!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?

I think I enjoy my reviews more when they are for books I didn’t love… I’m not sure why. I especially like my review of The Edge of Never simply because there are so many 5 and 4 stars on this book that only focus on the love of the hero in this book that I think people tend to miss the parts that didn’t quite work…. for me anyway. It scares me a bit when I have such a vehement reaction that is completely opposite what others think, but it also goes to show that not everything is going to work for every reader.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

hmmmm being kind of new to the blogging world, I don’t have a lot of major discussions on it.. though I’ll have to start working on those for next year!

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

I read a discussion on Julie Cross’s blog – What I Think About S-E-X in YA Books which was incredibly interesting and thought provoking- Go give it a read!

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I was at SDCC again this year and can I just say… best. time. ever.

Leigh Bardugo, Myra McIntyre, Melina Machetta & Lish McBride

Stephanie Perkins

Lish McBride, Tahereh Mafi & Kami Garcia

Rae Carson, Sarah J. Maas

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

I think it has to be starting the blog itself…

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

Comments – Dualed Giveaway by Elsie Chapman – It’s still going on and I know that 12 comments is kind of lame, but it’s still the most ever on this little blog! LO

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Is it lame to say all of them? lol It’s hard starting out that’s for sure! Putting all the effort into reviews and giveaways and general posts to see some of them with no comments is a little disheartening, but I know that I have a ways to go and things don’t happen overnight!

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

All the book blogs that I’ve found this year (found on the sidebar of the blog) it’s a great resource for all things books! Recommendations, hints and tips and even giveaways! ALSO Finding Netgalley and Edelweiss! They’ve been an incredible resource for books!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I did finish my Goodreads Challenge of 150 books read this year and then I upped it to 175… I’ve passed that goal too!

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

I think maybe The Mortal Instruments series. I saw the movie trailer and want to see it, but will definitely read the books first!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons… I’m dying for this book! BUT I created a post about all my most anticipated books of 2013 HERE

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Read all the books on my anticipated list. I’d like to complete my goal for goodreads that I set for 2013 and I’m hoping to hit at least 250 followers in 2013! (crosses fingers)

Make sure you head over to The Perpetual Page Turner to read some of the other survey’s as well as check out Jamie’s from this year!!

2012 End Of The Year Book Survey!!