My 2013 Retrospective
December 31, 2013 • book events, personal, yearly recap
This is the first time I'm doing a recap of my entire year, bookish and personal, on this blog. It's tremendously exciting to be able to share what my 2013 looked like with this little (visual) walk down memory lane.
January 2013: The cold weather enticed me into staying home most of the time where it was warm and cozy. There were a lot of marathons (Supernatural, which I have yet to finish, and old episodes of CSI), and a lot of binging on junk food. The only times I ventured out of the house were for work, church, helping out my friend Joe by walking his dog Anthony and the big New Year's party.
February 2013: One of the first things that happened this month? I attended the Teen Flights of Fancy event at Books of Wonder, where I finally met Jodi Meadows. Other than that, I flew home to the Philippines for two wonderful weeks. I got the opportunity to catch up with my family and best friends and my then-fiance/now-husband. It was a nice reprieve from the weather, particularly that snowstorm that arrived hours after my flight took off. My friends were all wonderful about getting together and celebrating my trip with me. I also co-hosted the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon with Katelyn, where the hashtag (#LoveAThon) was trending on the day I flew back to the US. [P.S. Watch out for the 2014 edition of the Love-a-Thon!]
March 2013: The weather was a bit testy, but that didn't stop me from enjoying myself! I had random dinners with friends, special St. Patrick's Day treats, movie dates, a birthday celebration for my best friend Pat, and finally got to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The biggest event of my March, by far, was attending various events for the NYC Teen Author Festival, where I got to meet a lot of authors, and hang out with a lot of my book friends too.
April 2013: The weather was clearly more spring than winter. You know what that means for me? ALLERGY SEASON. Sadly, I was cooped up at home recovering from being really sick a lot of the time. In all fairness, that definitely helped me read a lot of books, experiment with nail polish and talk to the loved ones I left back home in the Philippines. When I did venture out into the springtime, I appreciated the beautiful colors that were starting to seep into all the scenery little by little.
May 2013: The weather got warmer, and pollen count went down, so I was up and about again. Honestly, once the weather gets warmer, being outside is more inviting. So, it's really no surprise I did a lot more things this month! I met Lauren Graham, watched In the Heights and reunited with Gaby early on in the month. I also went to the YA Icons tour and watched Once the Musical with some of my favorite people! Plus, BEA began at the end of May, so that was certainly a whirlwind of activities and hangouts.
June 2013: Lots of fun things happened in June! BEA was one of the big ones, including the awesome Book Blogger Picnic I organized with Katelyn, Andrea and Jen. [Look out for the 2014 picnic!] I also hung out a lot with friends, bookish and real life, particularly going on food trips. It was also an honor to be the official blogger for the NYC stop of the Fierce Reads tour! But one of my favorite memories of this month has to be getting to see Demi Lovato perform live during the Good Morning America summer concert series with Rachel.
July 2013: With summer comes more shenanigans, and July was no different. I watched Matilda the Musical with Rachel, and the show was pretty phenomenal. I also watched First Date and Peter and the Star Catcher, which completed my Broadway trio for the month. There were also lots of food trips with friends, a beach trip with some fellow bloggers, a mini-bachelorette party and a fabulous send-off for me with my blogger friends!
August 2013: I flew home to the Philippines in order to be there a month before my wedding (!). It was nice to have some time to relax and spend quality time with friends and family (which obviously involved a lot of food, as you can see in my collage). My sister Mel and I also got it into our heads to organize our personal library in our parents' house (which took us two days, mind you). I celebrated my 24th birthday in my hometown of Bacolod, filmed my pre-nup video and had an awesome travel-themed bridal shower!
September 2013: I just had to make two collages for this month, because I thought my wedding deserved a separate one. Anyway, one of the earliest things that occurred in September was the wedding weekend, which we all affectionately call "Our Greatest Story". (You can check the #ourgreateststory hashtag on Instagram for photos and videos!). We had a welcome dinner, a beer pong party and a despedida de soltera to start. But my wedding day was just incredibly magical and beautiful and even more wonderful than I could have imagined!
September is also the month that I went on a Tagaytay trip with the instabarkada (which roughly translates to "instant group of friends") and family, moved in with my husband (and discovered he does marble nails beautifully), stayed in Astoria Suites for a week during which there was a sleepover, watch Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour and went to Singapore for my honeymoon.
October 2013: Half of my October was spent in the Philippines. There was a second trip to Bacolod, where I mostly hung out with friends! We went up to the mountains, off to the beach and just ate a lot of good food. In Manila, Macky's church threw us a wedding reception for the people who couldn't make it to Bacolod, and it was lovely. I spent lots of time hanging out with my family this month, mostly because I knew that mid-month, it was time to say goodbye! My sister and I flew back to New York together. One of the first things we did was go pumpkin picking at Demarest Farms and celebrate Halloween, followed by a visit to Central Park.
November 2013: Fall was fully upon us come November! I loved the colors of the leaves. My sister and I attended Ed Sheeran's Madison Square Garden concert; it was phenomenal because he's just so talented. We also supported my friend Kristi when her indie film aired at Tribeca Cinemas, and I took Mel to see First Date on Broadway. We ate more yummy food, and hung out a lot in New Jersey (for Thanksgiving, in particular). The best part of November? Seeing my friend/college roommate Rachel in the Big Apple!
December 2013: It got seriously cold in December, with temperatures dipping into the negatives based on the Celcius scale. Still, the snow was beautiful! Plus, it's hard not to be all warm and fuzzy when you get the opportunity to hang out with amazing friends and family. My 2013 is drawing to a close with extreme levels of awesome because my family (mom, dad and my baby sister Rachel) have joined Mel and I in New York for the holidays! There has been shopping and eating, shenanigans and shows, road trips and dinners to boot. We've been having so much fun together, and I really wish time would just slow down and not move by so fast.
Thanks for joining me on my walk down memory lane! Stay tuned to find out what my to-do list/goals/dreams for 2014 look like in a separate post that will be going up at some point this week.
YOUR TURN - What are your favorite memories of 2013? Is there any particularly awesome event that you'd like to share with me?
An Author A (Mon)day: Trish Doller
December 30, 2013 • An Author a Monday
This week's guest is actually an author who's been previously interviewed for An Author A (Mon)day, the talented Trish Doller. When I interviewed her last year, we focused mainly on her debut novel, Something Like Normal; this year, I invited Trish to come back because I loved her 2013 release, Where the Stars Still Shine. She is also one of the nicest people I've tweeted with, as well as a very talented contemporary author. Without further ado -- my 2013 interview with Trish!
Alexa: Welcome back to the blog, Trish! To get things started, tell us - how different/similar was the process of writing Something Like Normal and Where the Stars Still Shine? I personally feel like these books are entirely different in story, but also have similarities among the characters.
Trish: Writing Stars was both easier and more difficult. With Something Like Normal, Travis' story poured out of me rather quickly. He was a character with a lot to say and a voice that demanded to be heard. Callie was a quieter character so I had to shut up and listen carefully. On top of that, I was writing with reader expectation in mind in a way that I didn't with Something Like Normal. I wrote Travis in kind of a little bubble, but with Callie, my internal critic was going crazy. So it took a lot to turn off that voice and just write.
Alexa: I can imagine that having the pressure of readers anticipating your next novel would definitely affect how you write it. Moving on, why don't you tell my readers a little bit about Where the Stars Still Shine? (Bonus challenge: Do it in 1 sentence!)
Trish: It's the story of a broken girl who comes home to a family she doesn't remember and must learn about family, forgiveness and love.
Alexa: Awesome! You did a great job summing it up. What are you currently reading? And what do you plan on reading before the year ends?
Trish: I'm not reading anything right now because I'm on a tight deadline for my third book, but I have a TBR mountain for December that includes We Were Liars, Bright Before Sunrise, Open Road Summer, The Killing Woods, Dangerous Girls, and a couple of new adult titles from Sophie Jordan and Viv Daniels.
Alexa: I've been meaning to read Dangerous Girls too, and I'm looking forward to We Were Liars and Open Road Summer when they're finally out! Now it's time for a little future talk - what's up next for you in terms of writing? I know that you're working on Arcadia Falls, which sounds very different from these first two books you've written.
Trish: I'm putting the wraps on the book formerly known as Arcadia Falls (we don't have a new name just yet) and I have a couple of projects on deck, including a YA romance set in Berlin, Germany, and an adult novel. Neither of them are officially books, so this isn't news. Just some things I have up my sleeve.
Alexa: I'm very intrigued by all of your upcoming projects! They sound like books I'd definitely want to read. And now, a bonus question because of the holidays -- what was/is your favorite tradition for the holiday season?
Trish: I love advent calendars (and wreaths) and I love, love, love Christmas carols. It won't be long before my Pandora station is set to Santa Baby radio!
Alexa: Once Thanksgiving is over and done with, I definitely put on my holiday music too -- especially the NSYNC Christmas album! It's perfect for the season.
Alexa: Once Thanksgiving is over and done with, I definitely put on my holiday music too -- especially the NSYNC Christmas album! It's perfect for the season.
Thank you so much for dropping by my blog (again) today, Trish! It was a pleasure to interview you again, and to be able to chat a little more about your current and future projects. I'm sure everyone (myself included) is anticipating them all now! If you want to find out more about Trish, you can check her official website, her Twitter, her Tumblr, her Facebook page or her Pinterest!
MORE ABOUT WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE
Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility. (from Goodreads)
Why should you read this book?
I devoured Where the Stars Still Shine in nearly one sitting, stopping only to use facilities and eat and work. It's an incredibly moving book, and I fell in love with Callie's story. One of my favorite parts? The setting. It was depicted so well, and made me want to visit the little town. Another big highlight was Callie's (new) big Greek family! For more of my thoughts, you can check out my official review of Where the Stars Still Shine, but I've included a quote from it below:
Where the Stars Still Shine is one of the most incredible books of this year. Callie's story is heartbreaking, but also hopeful; I was completely invested in it from start to finish. What makes this novel moving is how Doller skillfully tackles things that many of us might face in real life: shifting family dynamics, new friendships, and the promise of romance. Underneath all this, of course, is the heart of the book: Callie's journey towards making peace with her past, her present and her possible future.
Ink Is Thicker Than Water - Amy Spalding
December 27, 2013 • Amy Spalding, book review, By Alexa, young adult fiction
Ink is Thicker Than Water by Amy Spalding
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thank you!) || e-galley
[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thank you!) || e-galley
[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]
For Kellie Brooks, family has always been a tough word to define. Combine her hippie mom and tattooist stepdad, her adopted overachieving sister, her younger half brother, and her tough-love dad, and average Kellie’s the one stuck in the middle, overlooked and impermanent. When Kellie’s sister finally meets her birth mother and her best friend starts hanging with a cooler crowd, the feeling only grows stronger.
But then she reconnects with Oliver, the sweet and sensitive college guy she had a near hookup with last year. Oliver is intense and attractive, and she’s sure he’s totally out of her league. But as she discovers that maybe intensity isn’t always a good thing, it’s yet another relationship she feels is spiraling out of her control.
It’ll take a new role on the school newspaper and a new job at her mom’s tattoo shop for Kellie to realize that defining herself both outside and within her family is what can finally allow her to feel permanent, just like a tattoo. (from Goodreads)
During a recent Twitter chat, I mused how I wanted more contemporary books that emphasized family and friendship. Ink is Thicker Than Water is precisely the kind I meant, offering up a story that focuses primarily on Kellie and her family, even as she also has friendships and romance to deal with. Even though the book didn't necessarily get my attention right off the bat, it won me over eventually.
Kellie's story is fairly typical of contemporary novels. She's at an age where she's discovering more about herself, and what she likes, and the things that she enjoys to do. She's also at an age where vulnerability is harder to admit to, she's let in on all the adult issues families often deal with and she experiences the first buds of romance. It's a confusing mess of a time (based on my own experience), and I really think that Spalding did an excellent job of capturing that in this novel. It felt like a snapshot of a specific part of Kellie's life, which I'll mention again later on.
It twisted my heart and squeezed a little too hard to witness Kellie's family's new situation. It was like from a place where everything was settled, things were just thrown into uproar when Kellie's sister Sara meets her birth mother. That singular event cascaded into a whole bunch, and watching it happen was really heartbreaking. I recognized that feeling so well, particularly because I've been through a version of it myself, and I think Spalding was spot on in writing it. She managed to handle the various reactions -- Kellie's feeling of distance with her sister, her worrying over her mom's attempts to put on a brave face, trying to please her dad and compete with Sara's stellar achievements -- deftly, convincing me that Kellie's story was extremely real. I loved this; it was just what I craved in YA.
I like that Spalding was able to weave in the friendship and the romance, albeit having more success with the friendship. Kellie's relationship with her best friend Kaitlyn is tested by the fact that they're starting to embrace separate interests; her new interests, such as the school newspaper, lead to new friendships that broaden her perspective. The easy flow between dealing with the hardship of allowing a friendship to grow as the two people involved do and the entrance of new friends was well-done.
The romance, on the other hand, was pretty much a secondary part of this novel. While it seemed pretty sweet to have Kellie distracted by the attraction and attention she receives from Oliver, it also seemed a bit too instant to me. I wasn't a particularly big fan of how it played a role in this novel, but I can understand getting swept up in all those feelings when you're overwhelmed in real life.
Ink is Thicker Than Water hit the spot when it came to providing me with an authentic teen's story, filled with family, friendship, romance and topped off with discovering herself. I think using the tattoos to make a point, or paint a metaphor, was quite clever. It added a bit of character to the story, and also made me think of ways that it could prove to be symbolic about this period in Kellie's life. Even though I do wish there had been a little more to that ending instead of being so abrupt, I rather liked this novel.
The Promise of Amazing - Robin Constantine
December 26, 2013 • book review, By Alexa, Friends with ARCs, Robin Constantine, young adult fiction
The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Source/Format: Edelweiss (Thank you!) || e-galley
[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects my review.]
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Source/Format: Edelweiss (Thank you!) || e-galley
[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects my review.]
Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.
Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.
One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.
If there's one thing I can say about The Promise of Amazing, it is that it truly lives up to its name. The book definitely contains the promise of an amazing story, but sadly fell short of what I was expecting. Even though I kind of liked Wren and Grayson, and even thought their story was pretty darn cute at times, there was just something about this novel that didn't work for me. (Sidenote: it kind of reminded me of this particular book, though I might have enjoyed this one a smidgen more.)
As mentioned, the characters in this book were kind of likeable. Wren Caswell is a girl looking to find her own place, which is something teens and adults alike will be able to relate to. As someone who enjoys watching people discover the truth about themselves, it was no surprise I liked seeing Wren figure things out, though a lot of those realizations came a bit too conveniently. Plus, I adored her friends - Jazz and Mads - who were the best! Grayson Barrett, on the other hand, almost felt stereotypical: the bad boy who finds something someone that inspires him to be better. This is not to say I didn't like him, because I did - especially when I witnessed how he was around his family. His friends, unlike Wren's, are pretty much jerks.
The story is told from alternate points of view, which gives readers a sense of knowing everything that's happening for Wren, Gray and Wren + Gray together. Their individual stories were pretty compelling, which sort of made up for how quickly these two fell for each other. It's not quite clear whether it's simply a case of insta-lust, serendipity or love at first sight, but the romance certainly happens fast. The book had an odd combination of authenticity in some parts and dramatics in others, particularly towards the ending, which kind of left me feeling confused and a teensy bit irritated.
The story might have had a bit of a heavy hand on the dramatics and sweeping statements; it also somehow managed to be tongue-in-cheek and sweet in a few rare moments. Even though it didn't particularly wow me, The Promise of Amazing was okay.
It's actually pretty difficult to pick between Wren and Jazz in order to answer this question! They're very similar personalities, but the one major difference between them is this: Jazz has an idea of what she wants to do with her life, while Wren isn't sure. And that is why, in the end, I had to choose Wren! In high school, even though I had a set group of friends and interests (like writing and reading and drama club), I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. I often felt directionless when everyone seemed to know what they should or wanted to do, and that made it hard for me to decide what university I wanted or even what course to take. (Truth? I still feel that way sometimes until now.) Wren also happens to be the quietest one of the three, until she decides it's time she had a voice -- and that was definitely an experience I shared with her.
(As a bonus for this edition of Friends with ARCs, I'm sharing a high school photo with you!)
'Tis the Season: A Holiday Greeting
December 25, 2013 • personal
'Tis the Season: A-Caroling We Will Go
December 24, 2013 • personal
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is holiday music! Though I do listen to holiday stuff all year round (yes, even in spring and summer and fall), it's especially fun to hear it playing everywhere come this time of the year.
Since it's Christmas Eve, I thought it'd be fitting to share some of my favorites. If you're looking for more recommendations, why not check out Estelle's post over at Rather Be Reading? Here's a list of my top twelve tunes this year!
1. O Holy Night by NSYNC
2. Santa Baby by Michael Buble
3. Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Dean Martin
4. Let It Snow by Boyz II Men
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside by the Glee Cast
6. As Long As There's Christmas from Beauty and the Beast 2: An Enchanted Christmas
7. Jingle Bell Rock from the Mean Girls movie
8. My Only Wish by Britney Spears
9. Mistletoe by Justin Bieber
10. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by NSYNC
11. Christmas Must Be Something More by Taylor Swift
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra
YOUR TURN - What are your favorite holiday songs? Feel free to provide links to your playlists or to videos in the comments below.
Under the Never Sky Series Read-a-Thon
December 23, 2013 • event, Under the Never Sky Read-a-Thon
It looks like 2014 will be the year of read-a-thons and read-alongs for me! I'm very excited to be able to announced that Nina of The Sea of Pages and I will be hosting a read-a-thon for the Under The Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi!
The read-a-thon will officially kick off on February 3, just a little after the release of the final book, Into the Still Blue, and last up until February 7. We clearly intend to binge read these novels and novellas, simply to enhance our reading experience! There's obviously no pressure to do the same, but we just thought it'd be fun.
If you're curious about the series, here's the summary of the first book, Under the Never Sky:
WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.
Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.
Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.
If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.
I agree with Nina; this series sounds pretty amazing. (Plus, a ton of my friends have been wanting me to dive into the books for AGES now!) We'll be reading the novellas (Roar & Liv & Brooke) along with the three books (Under the Never Sky, Through the Ever Night & Into the Still Blue). And we want YOU to join us!
If you're interested in signing up for the read-a-thon, please add the link to your blog/Twitter below! If you want to gush with us, feel free to use the hashtag #UTNSReadathon. If you've got more questions, feel free to tweet Nina (@theseaofpages) or me (@alexalovesbooks).
For your convenience, here are links to more information about all the books and novellas below. And feel free to grab our read-a-thon button and help spread the word too!
The Monday Mix basically gives me the opportunity to share with all of you the links I loved online from weeks past. This includes everything from great reviews, articles about writing, inspiring posts and perhaps other things too. I've always valued the opportunity to share the great things I've read or seen, and this is my way to share the love with all the bloggers, authors + pubs out there!
So, it's the week of Christmas, and I am SO excited about that! This has always been my favorite time of the year, whether I'm in a country that's blustery and cold or in one that's warm and tropical. My favorite parts always include spending time with the people I love, consuming lots of good food at all the parties and exchanging presents with others.
This year, Christmas is extra special. Want to know why? My family is here in New York City! Even though I won't have the husband for our first Christmas married, I get to have my dad, my mom and my baby sister here with me and my little sister for the first time in THREE years. Isn't that awesome? We're going to be playing tourist and making new holiday traditions together, and I can't wait to share our adventures with all of you.
Anyway, I hope your days are merry and bright and filled with lots of joy, laughter and love. An advanced Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (and yes, that's an NSYNC reference) to one and all!
This year, Christmas is extra special. Want to know why? My family is here in New York City! Even though I won't have the husband for our first Christmas married, I get to have my dad, my mom and my baby sister here with me and my little sister for the first time in THREE years. Isn't that awesome? We're going to be playing tourist and making new holiday traditions together, and I can't wait to share our adventures with all of you.
Anyway, I hope your days are merry and bright and filled with lots of joy, laughter and love. An advanced Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (and yes, that's an NSYNC reference) to one and all!
LINKS TO CHECK OUT
1. I've been waiting a long time for this post! Betty finally shares her natural hair product recommendations. I've always been particular about my hair, but I'm definitely going to look into these and maybe give them a try.
2. Magan put together a gift pack inspired by Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian -- and it's so perfect. I love pretty much everything in this post (which I guess means I should read this book...?). I also love Estelle's gift exchange between the characters in My Life In Outer Space by Melissa Keil, because I'd rock all of Camilla's gifts!
3. It was really interesting to hear about life as a publishing sales rep, as shared by Vanessa Di Gregorio. I'm actually surprised to discover that being in sales is a bit different from what I thought it was, particularly the part about being an extrovert. Very insightful!
4. Thanks to the team at Bloomsbury USA, I've discovered this pretty cool site where you can find a critique partner! I think that my writing buddies and aspiring writers will definitely appreciate this.
5. These 31 book-lover stereotypes are pretty darn accurate! I was pretty much nodding my head as I read this article. (Thanks Steph!)
6. I might not read a lot of science fiction, but I think I'm going to have to start doing so. Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman talk about why science fiction is very important, and it's definitely gotten me thinking!
7. This collection of quirky non-book gifts for booklovers compiled by Chrys is pretty adorable! I can definitely tell you that I want the earrings and the shot glasses.
8. I'm currently job hunting, so reading about book-related jobs in this advice column Book Riot article was pretty interesting (and just plain fun). Who among us wouldn't want to work with books?
9. As a Harry Potter fan, every single new development or reprint of this series fascinates me. What do you think of them publishing a fully-illustrated version?
10. Elena shared this gorgeousness on her Twitter the other day, and I just wanted to drop everything to go and visit. How AMAZING is this? It's something I'd want to see one day!
11. Katie McGarry shared about her books pushing the boundaries of YA over on RT Book Reviews. I love her books, and it was fun to learn a little more about how she felt writing Pushing the Limits.
12. I loved Amy Spalding's take on having a job and having a dream. It's pretty darn inspiring to read, mostly because she's one of the authors who also manages to have a separate day job! (Thanks Katherine!)
13. My friend Gillian is so incredibly talented. Check out her amazing YA-inspired work over on The Art of Young Adult! (And yes, you can be jealous of her mad skills with me.)
14. If someone were to buy me this Harry Potter sweatshirt (and the other HP merchandise), I would be most grateful. (Thanks Erin!)
15. I've always been of the mind that everyone has their own style of blogging. What works for me might not necessarily work for someone else. I've been thinking about this ever since I read Betty's thoughts on being a "messy blogger".
16. Melissa wrote about genre trends (including her prediction for what's next). I found it very fascinating because I hadn't really thought about it before, but it makes so much sense.
17. #RBWL (Reader/Blogger Wish List) is a pretty awesome thing. Readers and bloggers were chiming in about the books that they would want to read -- and it was so cool! Shae and Jess have compiled most of the tweets on Tumblr, so you can browse there for more.
18. I know it's almost Christmas so everyone probably already got their gifts for people, but I loved Ginger's wanderlust-themed gift guide and her sweet treats-themed gift guide! I wanted EVERYTHING in these posts, seriously. The same goes for Jen's gift guide inspired by Little House on the Prairie! I also liked Sharon's book gift guide for this year, and Betty's post (actually, the Baby Bettys) for children's books to gift. (You can also check out Shae's holiday celebrity gift guide for awesome book gift suggestions!)
19. Looking for a Christmasy read? Jana compiled a collection of them, and they're sure to get you into the holiday spirit even more.
20. Elena has Morgan Matson sharing her favorite Christmas movies. I actually haven't watched a lot of these (yikes), but I intend to remedy that!
21. I might be a wee bit obsessed with Sharon's Christmas playlist. It's a wonderful collection of songs, some I knew already and some I didn't, and I think you all should give it a listen.
22. Jamie got some of her friends in publishing to talk about their favorite 2013 reads. (Pssst, there's also a pretty darn epic giveaway!)
23. Even though I'm a Potterhead, I'd not heard of the Harry Potter Alliance until Alyssa mentioned it. It sounds like a great initiative, and I'm loving the goodies in the shop too!
24. Speaking of Harry Potter, I loved Gillian's take on 20 signs that you're from the Harry Potter Generation because they're so TRUE. Potterheads, REPRESENT!
25. If you're looking for writing music, check out Susan Dennard's favorites of 2013. I love Lindsey Stirling (who is SO talented), and I'm definitely keeping these other suggestions from Susan in mind!
2. Magan put together a gift pack inspired by Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian -- and it's so perfect. I love pretty much everything in this post (which I guess means I should read this book...?). I also love Estelle's gift exchange between the characters in My Life In Outer Space by Melissa Keil, because I'd rock all of Camilla's gifts!
3. It was really interesting to hear about life as a publishing sales rep, as shared by Vanessa Di Gregorio. I'm actually surprised to discover that being in sales is a bit different from what I thought it was, particularly the part about being an extrovert. Very insightful!
4. Thanks to the team at Bloomsbury USA, I've discovered this pretty cool site where you can find a critique partner! I think that my writing buddies and aspiring writers will definitely appreciate this.
5. These 31 book-lover stereotypes are pretty darn accurate! I was pretty much nodding my head as I read this article. (Thanks Steph!)
6. I might not read a lot of science fiction, but I think I'm going to have to start doing so. Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman talk about why science fiction is very important, and it's definitely gotten me thinking!
7. This collection of quirky non-book gifts for booklovers compiled by Chrys is pretty adorable! I can definitely tell you that I want the earrings and the shot glasses.
8. I'm currently job hunting, so reading about book-related jobs in this advice column Book Riot article was pretty interesting (and just plain fun). Who among us wouldn't want to work with books?
9. As a Harry Potter fan, every single new development or reprint of this series fascinates me. What do you think of them publishing a fully-illustrated version?
10. Elena shared this gorgeousness on her Twitter the other day, and I just wanted to drop everything to go and visit. How AMAZING is this? It's something I'd want to see one day!
11. Katie McGarry shared about her books pushing the boundaries of YA over on RT Book Reviews. I love her books, and it was fun to learn a little more about how she felt writing Pushing the Limits.
12. I loved Amy Spalding's take on having a job and having a dream. It's pretty darn inspiring to read, mostly because she's one of the authors who also manages to have a separate day job! (Thanks Katherine!)
13. My friend Gillian is so incredibly talented. Check out her amazing YA-inspired work over on The Art of Young Adult! (And yes, you can be jealous of her mad skills with me.)
14. If someone were to buy me this Harry Potter sweatshirt (and the other HP merchandise), I would be most grateful. (Thanks Erin!)
15. I've always been of the mind that everyone has their own style of blogging. What works for me might not necessarily work for someone else. I've been thinking about this ever since I read Betty's thoughts on being a "messy blogger".
16. Melissa wrote about genre trends (including her prediction for what's next). I found it very fascinating because I hadn't really thought about it before, but it makes so much sense.
17. #RBWL (Reader/Blogger Wish List) is a pretty awesome thing. Readers and bloggers were chiming in about the books that they would want to read -- and it was so cool! Shae and Jess have compiled most of the tweets on Tumblr, so you can browse there for more.
18. I know it's almost Christmas so everyone probably already got their gifts for people, but I loved Ginger's wanderlust-themed gift guide and her sweet treats-themed gift guide! I wanted EVERYTHING in these posts, seriously. The same goes for Jen's gift guide inspired by Little House on the Prairie! I also liked Sharon's book gift guide for this year, and Betty's post (actually, the Baby Bettys) for children's books to gift. (You can also check out Shae's holiday celebrity gift guide for awesome book gift suggestions!)
19. Looking for a Christmasy read? Jana compiled a collection of them, and they're sure to get you into the holiday spirit even more.
20. Elena has Morgan Matson sharing her favorite Christmas movies. I actually haven't watched a lot of these (yikes), but I intend to remedy that!
21. I might be a wee bit obsessed with Sharon's Christmas playlist. It's a wonderful collection of songs, some I knew already and some I didn't, and I think you all should give it a listen.
22. Jamie got some of her friends in publishing to talk about their favorite 2013 reads. (Pssst, there's also a pretty darn epic giveaway!)
23. Even though I'm a Potterhead, I'd not heard of the Harry Potter Alliance until Alyssa mentioned it. It sounds like a great initiative, and I'm loving the goodies in the shop too!
24. Speaking of Harry Potter, I loved Gillian's take on 20 signs that you're from the Harry Potter Generation because they're so TRUE. Potterheads, REPRESENT!
25. If you're looking for writing music, check out Susan Dennard's favorites of 2013. I love Lindsey Stirling (who is SO talented), and I'm definitely keeping these other suggestions from Susan in mind!
RECAP OF MY POSTS
I reviewed These Broken Stars (sci-fi + romance + beautiful writing = awesome!), Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer (a strange, weird, yet entertaining read), The Hero (a great addition to the Thunder Point series), So Tough to Tame (a fun adult contemporary romance), The Geek's Guide to Dating (a dating advice book with a twist), and Pawn (an interesting starter to a new dystopian series).
I shared my gift wish list with you guys, and was also lucky enough to be able to interview the awesome Kat Zhang. I filled out the 4th Annual End of Year Book Survey, so you can find out what my favorite books, blogs, events and posts are! It was a struggle to narrow things down, but in the end, I think I managed well enough.
I hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as I did! Now it's YOUR turn - are there any posts (on your blog or other blogs) from last week that I missed out on? Please feel free to share links in the comments and I'll try to check them out.
Books & Blogging 2013 (The 4th Annual End of Year Book Survey)
December 20, 2013 • just for fun, Year End Book Survey
One of the things I look forward to in December is the End of Year Book Survey, as hosted by Jamie! It's a great way too look back at a year of books and blogging, plus, it's pretty fun to see what else everyone has been reading and raving about in 2013. This is actually the survey's FOURTH year (which is pretty darn cool). [For my past posts, check out the one I did in 2011, and the one for 2012!]
It's always hard for me to make sure I mention a variety of books, so I've made a few rules for myself this year: (1) I am only allowed to repeat a book 3 times, and (2) I can break things down into genres. These rules are totally my own, but feel free to use them if you want!
And now, without further ado, here are my answers for this year's survey.
1. Best book(s) you read in 2013?
Fantasy YA: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell (reminds me of Tamora Pierce books!)
Contemporary YA: Golden by Jessi Kirby (one of my absolute favorites this year!)
Paranormal YA: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer (second in a series, but so, so good!)
Historical Romance: Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros (reminds me of Beauty & the Beast!)
Contemporary Romance: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas (an oldie, but a goodie!)
Historical Fiction: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (such a uniquely written book!)
Non-fiction: The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith (all the references are quirky!)
Middle Grade: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (I adored the main character!)
New Adult: Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess (set in New York City, baby!)
Series Starter: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard (necromancy + steampunk!)
Middle of a Series: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Chaol freaking Westfall!)
Series Ender: The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (I totally cried reading this!)
2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?
While it sated my need to find out how it all ends for Tris and Four, I just didn't find Allegiant by Veronica Roth as compelling as its predecessors.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Hands down, the answer to this question is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did, but seriously, it's great! I also absolutely loved The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler. My review's not going up until next month, but suffice it to say, this book kept me reading until 3AM because it was just. that. good.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
I'm fairly certain that this book is Crown of Midnight, because I basically gushed to everyone willing to listen about how amazing this book is and how incredible the series is as a whole. [P.S. I am constantly available for anyone who wants to email/chat/tweet about this series.]
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
This is a prize that will either go to the Unearthly series (my review of book 1), which Jamie brought to my attention, or the Something Strange and Deadly series (my review of book 1). I'm pretty sure you can also count all the companion novels in the Hundred Oaks series by Miranda Kenneally (my reviews: 1, 2, 3) too.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Samantha Shannon (author of The Bone Season) is one of my newest favorite authors! She's incredibly talented, and inspiring, and one of the sweetest people ever.
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
This is going to have to go to a series that I (finally) embraced last November - the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward (my mini-review of books 1-3). I never even considered picking up this series until my sister bullied me into it -- and I'm glad she did. This vampire brotherhood is kick-ass!
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Hands down, this goes to All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. Once I started this book, I simply could not put it down! There was so much happening, so many twists I had to unravel and I loved it.
9. Book you read in 2013 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I'm most definitely re-reading Incarnate, Asunder & Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows for the Incarnate Series Read-A-Thon I'm co-hosting with Bonnie! Other than that, we'll see but I'll most likely re-read some of my favorite historical romances.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
I am seriously obsessed with the cover of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I love that they used an illustration for it, and one that goes perfectly with the contents of the book. Plus, I adored the font of the title too!
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
The one character I was familiar with but loved even more this year was Chaol Westfall (Crown of Midnight). The new characters I loved were Allyson (Just One Day by Gayle Forman) and Persis Blake (Across A Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund).
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
The Book Thief was so wonderfully written! It might have started slow, but it just won me over as I kept turning the pages. The inclusion of illustrations and definitions and other such things was something that I completely adored.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
It was definitely Golden. That book made me think about what I was doing with my life presently, and what I wanted to do with it in the future. It is such a beautiful, thoughtful novel!
14. Book you can't believe you waited until 2013 to finally read?
It took prompting from the Gayle Forman Read-Along to get me to read these two, but I loved If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. I'm pleased to say that I really loved these books, and I can't wait for the movie!
15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2013?
I have so many quotes that I loved from books I've read this year (and you can find them on Stories by Alexa). But my favorite right is this:
16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?
The longest book I read this year was The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (811 pages), and the shortest was Teacher's Pest by Charles Gilman (170 pages). [I didn't count novellas, but if I did, the shortest would be Fearless by Brigid Kemmerer (44 pages).]
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.) Be careful of spoilers!
Okay, seriously, this will have to go to Crown of Midnight! Anyone who knows me and has read the book will know exactly which scene/s I'm talking about. [And if you want to discuss with me, just tweet me or email me!]
18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2013?
[Sorry guys, I'm totally cheating on this one and posting my top choices for each section!]
Romance: Celaena & Chaol in Crown of Midnight / Beth & Ryan in Dare You To by Katie McGarry / Wanderer & Ian in The Host [There deserves to be a bonus shout-out for Warden & Paige in The Bone Season!]
Friendship: the gang in Crash Into You by Katie McGarry / the seven demigods in The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan / Ronan and Gansey in The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater [I also loved Caggie and her best friend in The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle, out in 2014!]
Family: Callie and her father & his family in Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller / the Merrick brothers in the Elemental series (my review of book 1) / the brotherhood in Black Dagger Brotherhood series (my mini-reviews of books 1-3) [I also loved Jude and her dad and sisters in The Book of Broken Hearts!]
19. Favorite book you read in 2013 from an author you've read previously?
I'm going to answer this one with Where the Stars Still Shine. I loved this sophomore novel a lot! The descriptions of the setting made me want to go there and visit immediately. I also adored the family aspect to this one, particularly because it featured a giant Greek clan!
20. Best book you read in 2013 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?
I'm going to have to say that it was one of my sister's recommendations: The Host. That book really wasn't what I expected, and in a good way. You can tell I liked it a lot because it's already made multiple appearances on this list!
21. Genre you read the most from in 2013?
I read a lot of fantasy, which should come as no surprise to anyone.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Warden from The Bone Season! Daniel from Something Strange and Deadly! Wrath from Dark Lover!
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
I've mentioned a few debuts already, so here's a new one: The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas. I liked this fantasy series starter! It might have had a bit of a slow start, but it really picked up towards the middle. I liked the whole girl-disguised-as-a-guy bit, and I really liked the idea of training in the Crucible!
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
I loved the descriptions that were included in Across a Star-Swept Sea. There's one part in particular, involving a star cove, that was especially lovely. I also liked the way things were described in These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner, because I really felt like I was immersed in that world!
25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013?
I had fun reading Also Known As by Robin Benway! That book made me laugh when I read it, and I loved the story too because it has spies and it's set in New York City. My favorite characters - Roux and Angelo - are pretty much a big part of why I enjoyed this one.
26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2013?
Let's see, right off the top of my head, I remember crying or at least tearing up while reading Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally, Golden, and The Host.
27. Book you read in 2013 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
I think this honor goes to the Elemental series (my review of book 1), which more people need to know about! For stand-alones, I definitely want to put it out there that The Cadet of Tildor is pretty darn awesome.
Fantasy YA: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell (reminds me of Tamora Pierce books!)
Contemporary YA: Golden by Jessi Kirby (one of my absolute favorites this year!)
Paranormal YA: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer (second in a series, but so, so good!)
Historical Romance: Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros (reminds me of Beauty & the Beast!)
Contemporary Romance: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas (an oldie, but a goodie!)
Historical Fiction: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (such a uniquely written book!)
Non-fiction: The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith (all the references are quirky!)
Middle Grade: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (I adored the main character!)
New Adult: Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess (set in New York City, baby!)
Series Starter: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard (necromancy + steampunk!)
Middle of a Series: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Chaol freaking Westfall!)
Series Ender: The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (I totally cried reading this!)
2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?
While it sated my need to find out how it all ends for Tris and Four, I just didn't find Allegiant by Veronica Roth as compelling as its predecessors.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Hands down, the answer to this question is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did, but seriously, it's great! I also absolutely loved The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler. My review's not going up until next month, but suffice it to say, this book kept me reading until 3AM because it was just. that. good.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
I'm fairly certain that this book is Crown of Midnight, because I basically gushed to everyone willing to listen about how amazing this book is and how incredible the series is as a whole. [P.S. I am constantly available for anyone who wants to email/chat/tweet about this series.]
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
This is a prize that will either go to the Unearthly series (my review of book 1), which Jamie brought to my attention, or the Something Strange and Deadly series (my review of book 1). I'm pretty sure you can also count all the companion novels in the Hundred Oaks series by Miranda Kenneally (my reviews: 1, 2, 3) too.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Samantha Shannon (author of The Bone Season) is one of my newest favorite authors! She's incredibly talented, and inspiring, and one of the sweetest people ever.
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
This is going to have to go to a series that I (finally) embraced last November - the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward (my mini-review of books 1-3). I never even considered picking up this series until my sister bullied me into it -- and I'm glad she did. This vampire brotherhood is kick-ass!
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Hands down, this goes to All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. Once I started this book, I simply could not put it down! There was so much happening, so many twists I had to unravel and I loved it.
9. Book you read in 2013 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
I'm most definitely re-reading Incarnate, Asunder & Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows for the Incarnate Series Read-A-Thon I'm co-hosting with Bonnie! Other than that, we'll see but I'll most likely re-read some of my favorite historical romances.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
I am seriously obsessed with the cover of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I love that they used an illustration for it, and one that goes perfectly with the contents of the book. Plus, I adored the font of the title too!
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
The one character I was familiar with but loved even more this year was Chaol Westfall (Crown of Midnight). The new characters I loved were Allyson (Just One Day by Gayle Forman) and Persis Blake (Across A Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund).
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
The Book Thief was so wonderfully written! It might have started slow, but it just won me over as I kept turning the pages. The inclusion of illustrations and definitions and other such things was something that I completely adored.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
It was definitely Golden. That book made me think about what I was doing with my life presently, and what I wanted to do with it in the future. It is such a beautiful, thoughtful novel!
14. Book you can't believe you waited until 2013 to finally read?
It took prompting from the Gayle Forman Read-Along to get me to read these two, but I loved If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. I'm pleased to say that I really loved these books, and I can't wait for the movie!
15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2013?
I have so many quotes that I loved from books I've read this year (and you can find them on Stories by Alexa). But my favorite right is this:
16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?
The longest book I read this year was The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (811 pages), and the shortest was Teacher's Pest by Charles Gilman (170 pages). [I didn't count novellas, but if I did, the shortest would be Fearless by Brigid Kemmerer (44 pages).]
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.) Be careful of spoilers!
Okay, seriously, this will have to go to Crown of Midnight! Anyone who knows me and has read the book will know exactly which scene/s I'm talking about. [And if you want to discuss with me, just tweet me or email me!]
18. Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2013?
[Sorry guys, I'm totally cheating on this one and posting my top choices for each section!]
Romance: Celaena & Chaol in Crown of Midnight / Beth & Ryan in Dare You To by Katie McGarry / Wanderer & Ian in The Host [There deserves to be a bonus shout-out for Warden & Paige in The Bone Season!]
Friendship: the gang in Crash Into You by Katie McGarry / the seven demigods in The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan / Ronan and Gansey in The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater [I also loved Caggie and her best friend in The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle, out in 2014!]
Family: Callie and her father & his family in Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller / the Merrick brothers in the Elemental series (my review of book 1) / the brotherhood in Black Dagger Brotherhood series (my mini-reviews of books 1-3) [I also loved Jude and her dad and sisters in The Book of Broken Hearts!]
19. Favorite book you read in 2013 from an author you've read previously?
I'm going to answer this one with Where the Stars Still Shine. I loved this sophomore novel a lot! The descriptions of the setting made me want to go there and visit immediately. I also adored the family aspect to this one, particularly because it featured a giant Greek clan!
20. Best book you read in 2013 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else?
I'm going to have to say that it was one of my sister's recommendations: The Host. That book really wasn't what I expected, and in a good way. You can tell I liked it a lot because it's already made multiple appearances on this list!
21. Genre you read the most from in 2013?
I read a lot of fantasy, which should come as no surprise to anyone.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Warden from The Bone Season! Daniel from Something Strange and Deadly! Wrath from Dark Lover!
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
I've mentioned a few debuts already, so here's a new one: The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas. I liked this fantasy series starter! It might have had a bit of a slow start, but it really picked up towards the middle. I liked the whole girl-disguised-as-a-guy bit, and I really liked the idea of training in the Crucible!
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
I loved the descriptions that were included in Across a Star-Swept Sea. There's one part in particular, involving a star cove, that was especially lovely. I also liked the way things were described in These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner, because I really felt like I was immersed in that world!
25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013?
I had fun reading Also Known As by Robin Benway! That book made me laugh when I read it, and I loved the story too because it has spies and it's set in New York City. My favorite characters - Roux and Angelo - are pretty much a big part of why I enjoyed this one.
26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2013?
Let's see, right off the top of my head, I remember crying or at least tearing up while reading Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally, Golden, and The Host.
27. Book you read in 2013 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
I think this honor goes to the Elemental series (my review of book 1), which more people need to know about! For stand-alones, I definitely want to put it out there that The Cadet of Tildor is pretty darn awesome.
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
I only started following Snuggly Oranges this year, but I love it! Debby's a pretty awesome blogger. Her blog design is super cheerful, "Debby books" exist in the world and I enjoy reading her discussion posts too. Out of my real life friends, I adore Gaby of Queen Ella Bee Reads because she has great reviews (and we share tastes in books and book boys), and fun discussion posts.
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013?
One of the reviews that was extremely hard to write, but hopefully expressed my feelings well was the one I wrote for The Book Thief. A close second and third would be the ones for Golden and Just One Day, with Crown of Midnight rounding up the group.
3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
I don't actually do a lot of discussion posts on my blog, which is something I'd like to remedy in 2014. Here are three posts that I feel could fall under discussions -- and I hope you check them out!
4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?
Two of my favorite posts were written by Magan - one about foster care and parenthood, and one announcing her pregnancy. These posts were so wonderful to read, because they were personal, thoughtful and really emotional too.
Other posts I liked: Asheley's post on reading all kinds of books, Hannah's post about reading classics, Estelle's post about the internet and friendships, and a post from Stephanie May with blogging advice
5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I loved attending BEA for the second time in 2013, and co-hosting the Book Blogger Picnic (Look out for this again in 2014!). Virtually, I loved co-hosting the Love-a-thon in February (and watch out for this again in 2014!).
6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
I adored meeting the YAGB girls! It was truly an honor, just like being the official blogger for the NY stop of the Fierce Reads tour was. I also spazzed every time an author (Tahereh Mafi! Diana Peterfreund! Jodi Meadows! Nova Ren Suma! Leigh Bardugo! Meagan Spooner! Amie Kaufman!) knew who I was, and knew my blog.
7. Most popular post this year on your blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
If we're looking at views, I'm surprised to report that my series review of Something Borrowed + Something Blue by Emily Giffin garnered the most views! I seriously wasn't expecting that at all, but I guess people really liked that book or the movie.
8. Post you wished got a little more love?
I appreciate each and every comment I get, mind you, but they can be surprisingly sporadic when it comes to the biggest part of my blog - my book reviews. Generally, I wish all my reviews got a little more love and not just the popular or most anticipated titles! Here are some reviews I feel like you should check out: Moonset by Scott Tracey, Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer and Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros.
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, bookstores)?
I'm pretty much obsessed with the photos that Margot takes of "faux" YA book covers. She shares them on her site, The Real Fauxtographer, and it's the best. thing. ever. She's so talented that it's not even funny -- and one of the nicest people I know too!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
The good: I completed my Goodreads reading goal of 200 books (which is so unexpected, and pretty awesome)! I also managed to catch up on the entire Elemental series, and completed my goal of reading 24 debuts this year!
The bad: I failed by 3 sets for the Companion Novels Challenge, and haven't read 4 of the books for the Song of Ice and Fire Read-Along.
1. One book you didn't get to in 2013 but will be your number 1 priority in 2014?
There are three series that I will pick as answers to this question: the Jessica Darling series, the Legend series and the Under the Never Sky series. I've been hearing nothing but really good things about all three, so it's high time I check them out. Right? [Feel free to (lovingly) yell at me about which one I should read first in the comments.]
2. Book you are most anticipating for 2014 (non-debut)?
I want to answer this question with lots of different answers, but I will try to keep it to 10:
3. 2014 debut you are most anticipating?
I'm going to go with a book that Jodi Meadows recommended to me recently - Alienated by Melissa Landers. Even though I don't read a lot of book about aliens, I trust Jodi's recommendation and really think I'll like this one!
4. Series ending you are most anticipating in 2014?
I actually listed most of them up there! I think I'm most excited for Strange and Ever After though, because I need to know what happens to Eleanor, Daniel and the Spirit Hunters. Plus, it's set in EGYPT -- one of my dream travel destinations!
5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2014?
I would ideally love to be able to manage my reading of review books better, so that I can serve as a much better partner to all the publishers who let me read their books. This, of course, while making sure that blogging always stays fun and never feels like a chore! I'd also love to try to come up with more creative posts and discussion posts.
YOUR TURN - Have you filled out your End of Year Survey yet? (Feel free to link me in your comment so I can go and check it out!) Which of the books on my survey have you read? Which blogs do you enjoy visiting the most? Tell me what you think!
YOUR TURN - Have you filled out your End of Year Survey yet? (Feel free to link me in your comment so I can go and check it out!) Which of the books on my survey have you read? Which blogs do you enjoy visiting the most? Tell me what you think!
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