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Friday, January 3, 2014

2013 End of the Year Book Survey


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I have been painfully absent from the blog these past few weeks and I think it's exactly what I needed. While I have been experiencing a bit of guilt over it, this time away has also allowed me to reflect on my year as a reader and blogger. It was kind of magical.

But anwayho, I bring to your the 2013 End of the Year Book Survey that Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner has come up with. She's been doing this for four years and looking back, so have I. This is my fourth survey. Crazy.  Lets get on with the show!

Best Book You Read In 2013? 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: This was such a fantastic book. 2013 was all about contemporary and new adult for me. I read so much of it, that I was beginning to hate it. But Fangirl did great things for both genres.I am sure everyone has read this book, but if you haven't, do yourself a service and get on it. 

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

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell: I know this may be a little funny. The best book I read of 2013 was by Rainbow Rowell, and the book I was most disappointed with was also by her. I think this book was super hyped up for me, and I didn't relate to Eleanor like others did. In reality I just didn't like her. I didn't hate the book, but I did think I would like it more than I did. 

Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

Altered by Jennifer Rush: This one took me by surprise. It was REALLY good, and I don't think enough people have read this one. It's super action packed, has some smexy boys in it, and it's all plot twisty. Along with all of that, it's very well written. Jen Rush did a good job. Erased (the sequel) comes out next week and I am SO excited to get my hands on it. 

Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry: This book was SO good. I have gushed about it, I have told people to read it, and I gifted it three times since reading it. I loved this book. It has the perfect amount of angst and aww in it. Isaiah is a great character. What more can I say? Read this book. 

Best series you discovered in 2013?

Ten Tiny Breaths by KA Tucker: while her books aren't really a series, they are more companion books. The two books that I have read- Tiny Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie- were both really great. I have Four Seconds to Lose sitting on my shelf and I am very eager to get to it. These books were more than I expected them to be. I was impressed. 

Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

KA Tucker: as mentioned above. I loved both of the books I read by her, and I imagine I will continue to like what she offers. 

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

I played in safe in 2013. I read nothing that pushed my limits. Shame on me.

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo: Loved this book. I read it SO fast when I got it. It's one of those books that once you've started you just have to keep going. 

Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater: This one of the first books I'd read in 2013. And I really enjoyed it. But I think I rushed through it when I read it. I would like to reread it before I dive into The Dream Thieves

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?


Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: I love this cover. I love the font of the title, and I love the cliff and the grey tones. It's amazing how great this cover it, but the cover for it's sequel is horrible!

Most memorable character in 2013?

Allyson Healey from Just One Day: There was a time during this book where Allyson was not a fun character. But she transitions and it's beautiful and I loved every minute of it. Specifically the last half of the book. 

Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys: This was the first book of Sepetys that I have ever read and it was amazing. I should have known that it would be great considering what people have been saying about her debut Between Shades of Gray. It's wonderful and so beautifully written- you can't help but get lost in it.

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?

1) Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin: This book was heavy. And as I mentioned in my review, it has me considering my values and where those values came from. This is another novel that ins't talked about enough. 

2) 45 Pounds (more or less) by KA Barson: this book in an important one. It talks about body image and dieting and eating disorders. God read it. 

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Anywho who enjoys reading historical romance has read this book, and believe it or not, historical romance used to be the only thing I read and still, I had never read this one. And it's basically a classic. I think my grandmother ever read this one before she died. It was good but boy was it LONG! But I did it! 

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013? 

Every star has been set in the sky. We mistakenly think they were put there for us.

-Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Shortest: Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry- 67 Pages 
Longest: Outlander Diana Gabaldon- 870 pages

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.


Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc). 

Isaiah and Rachel in Crash Into You, hands down! 

Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously 

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano: There is something kind of amazing about reading a book by DeStefano. Specifically something new. She has an amazing way with words. and Perfect Ruin was a pleasure to read. 

Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Pivot Point by Kasie West- SO good! 

Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

Contemporary: Which I think needs changing in 2014. 

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

Sam from Altered by Jennifer Rush- Whewwwwwwwwww...  that's all I can say. 

Best 2013 debut you read?

Pantomime by Laura Lam

Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano- as I mentioned in my review of this book. I felt like a citizen of Internment by the time I was done reading. I loved how descriptive the world building was (it was basically the whole of the book). 

Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding: This was a cute story and had me chuckling a lot.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

Ten Tiny Breaths by KA Tucker- this one had me almost crying. It dealt with some heavy issues and it was sad. 

Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

45 Pounds by KA Barson- This was a great book and it had a fantastic message and I don't think it got enough attention. It really was amazing, and yes, it did deal with some intense things, it wasn't overbearing on the issues front. It wasn't a downer to read. I wish more people would pick it up. 


And voila! Here is my year in review! I am looking forward to 2014 and seeing what amazing reads it will being me. 

~Happy Reading Everyone! 

3 comments:

  1. YES 45 Pounds (More Or Less)! I just read this within the last month and I loved it!

    I totally loved E&P but I get why ppl didn't connect to Eleanor. LOVED Fangirl too! That is kind of ironic that your best and most disappointed was by her! haha. Have you read Attachments yet?

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  2. Okay. I'm sold. I need to read Altered. Stat.

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  3. Woohoo, Fangirl was also one of my favourites from 2013! It's funny about you not liking Eleanor and Park as much. I think I'm going to try to go into that one with lowered expectations... Whenever I see Altered or Crash Into You on blogs or in bookstores, I always recall to mind the praise you heaped on them! So I need to get to them soon. Also, I didn't know you had read Outlander - good for you! Now that is one that I have been putting off for a seriously long time.

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