One of my favorite posts of the year is the "End of Year Book Survey" hosted by Jamie at Perpetual Page Turner. Check out which books made my "Best of 2013" list.
1. Best Book You Read In 2013?
It's really hard for me to narrow it down to just one, so I have made some categories. Also, you'll find a mix of books on my survey---some older books I have read this year that were fantastic (and made me wish I had read them earlier!) along with some pretty fantastic books published in 2013.
Adult Historical Fiction- A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams, Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, and Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen
Adult Fiction - On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves and All the Summer Girls by Meg Donohue
Young Adult Fiction- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland, Golden by Jessi Kirby, and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Young Adult Historical Fiction- Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys and A Northern Light by Jennifer Connelly
Young Adult Fantasy/Science Fiction- Everneath by Brodi Ashton, Boundless by Cynthia Hand, These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, If I Should Die by Amy Plum and The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean is my most surprising book. It's the first time I have ever read a historical romance novel and I thought I would hate it, but it was surprisingly funny and addicting.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
I read The Fault in Our Stars in early January and have been recommending it to everyone! I also read an ARC of These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and have been telling people to read it ever since. For my friends who like adult historical fiction, I have been recommending A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams.
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
The Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand isn't new to me, but I finally got around to reading Hallowed and Boundless this year and absolutely LOVED them! I also read the first two books in the Everneath series by Brodi Ashton and really enjoyed them as well.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
New to me: Rainbow Rowell, Beatriz Williams, Meg Donohue, Tahereh Mafi
Debut Authors: Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner, Leila Holland
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (refer to question number 3 for the reason). Also, Lady Catherine, the Earl and the Real Downton Abbey by the Countess of Carnarvon was out of my comfort zone since it's non-fiction, but I loved it since I am pretty much obsessed with Downton Abbey.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams
9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen - I love a good summertime book cover and this one is my favorite.
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Hazel and Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars and Josie from Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Golden by Jessi Kirby, and All the Summer Girls by Meg Donohue
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly and Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
All the Summer Girls by Meg Donohue - "Summer is Avalon, New Jersey: thick, humid air cut with the salt funk of low tide and flip-flops smacking against hardened soles and hair drifting around you like seaweed as the ocean lifts you up toward a cloudless sky and the feeling that you will never be anything but young."
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations” and “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”
16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Longest — The Diviners by Libba Bray - 578 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. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
Obviously all of the important moments from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green…there were so many amazing moments that made me want to stop to discuss.
I also was freaking out as I was reading Boundless by Cynthia Hand, which is the conclusion to the Unearthly series. Also, the last book in the Revenant series, If I Should Die by Amy Plum, had me flipping the pages and wanting to talk about it with friends.
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Augustus and Hazel from The Fault in Our Stars
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Golden by Jessi Kirby, Tarnish by Katherine Longshore, Boundless by Cynthia Hand, and If I Should Die by Amy Plum.
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
Young Adult: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (Thanks, Christina!)
Adult: Swimming Pool Summer by Rebecca Farnworth (Thanks Leanna!)
21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
I read mostly Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal novels with some historical and contemporary fiction mixed in. Also, I read about 25 adult books this year, which is way more than last year.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Tarver from These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
These Broken Stars had great world building along with The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and All the Summer Girls by Meg Donahue
27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys - I feel like not enough people have read this book and/or talked about it. Also, Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland is an awesome summertime read that I want more people to read and for it to receive more attention.
Aweesome list!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your first historical romance read was such a success Christina! You really can't go wrong with Sarah MacLean, she writes outstanding books:) If you want more historical romance recommendations at any point, let me know!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on These Broken Stars, it was one of my favorites of the year as well. I just loved everything about it and can't wait for book 2 even if it's a companion rather than a direct sequel:)
I am loving Sarah MacLean and already bought the next book in the series. I may come to you for more recommendations at some point. Thanks for the offer.
DeleteI hear that there may be a sequel to These Broken Stars….although maybe it's just a rumor, but if it is just a companion novel, I'll definitely be checking that out too. Thanks for visiting, Jenny!
I'm really glad that you loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns! I loved These Broken Stars too. I'm so glad I was able to fit it into my reading schedule this year. You mention a lot of fantastic books on your list, especially The Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor & Park. Nantucket Blue was really good too. I saw that there is a sequel coming next year.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recommendation, Christina. I can't wait to continue with the series. I also can't wait for the sequel to Nantucket Blue, Nantucket Red…that is definitely only TBR list. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteI loved The Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor & Park. I'd like to read many titles in your list.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays.
Me too. Both books are the kind that really stay with you. Thanks for visiting and Happy Holidays to you too! :)
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