2015 Reading Survey!

I love doing the end of year survey written by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner every year. It's a fun way to review the books you read this year. I read a lot of great and not-so great books this year.

Number of books you read: 100! I read the most books I've ever read this year, which is pretty exciting. I also branched out and tried audio books and graphic novels, which I'm very pleased with myself for doing.
Number of re-reads: 3, and they were all Harry Potter books.
Genre you read the most from: I read a lot of contemporary and a lot of fantasy this year. I read more fantasy this year than ever before.

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?
Adult contemporary: Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.
Historical fiction: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I was so happy to see this book win a Goodreads Choice Award.
YA contemporary: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen and All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Also I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. I can't pick just one!
YA fantasy/retelling: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Can't wait for the next book!
Thriller/mystery: The Blue by Lucy Clarke and Those Girls by Chevy Stevens

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige was massively disappointing. I didn't love The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins as much as I thought I would, but I think that was because of the hype.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  
Night Film by Marisha Pessl. I was so drawn into this book and basically didn't put it down for two days.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?I pushed Lindsey Kelk's books quite a bit this year, such as the I Heart series and Always the Bridesmaid. Her books are always hilarious and fun to read.

 5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?The Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes is fantastic so far. I also started and finished The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and loved it. I started a few other series that only have the first book out so far. I'm excited for the next ones in the series, like An Ember in the Ashes and A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?
 Colleen Hoover. I have a love/hate relationship with her books.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?The Martian by Andy Weir. It was more science fiction than I usually read, but I loved it.

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?Any and all of the fantasy/thriller/mystery books I read.

 9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
 Honestly, probably the Harry Potter books again.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson because who doesn't like a taxidermy raccoon named Rory?

11. Most memorable character of 2015?I'm still thinking about Will Traynor.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin was beautifully descriptive of Paris.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?
The non-fiction books I read, such as Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, Big Magic by Liz Gilbert, and The Lost Girls.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read? 
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I wasn't sure that they'd be 'me' books, but I liked them a lot.

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?
I'm kicking myself for not making any notes on quotes/passages this year.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
Shortest was Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed at 112 pages and longest was Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon at 1,070 pages.

 17. Book That Shocked You The MostEach book in The Falling Kingdoms series. Don't ever think your favourite characters are safe because Rhodes is ruthless.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
All the pairings in The Lunar Chronicles. I sound like a broken record, but it's true.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
The female friendships in both of Emery Lord's books.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
The Martian, The Girl on the Train, and probably other new releases.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?
I don't really have a fictional crush, but probably Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series.
 
23. Best 2015 debut you read?
An Ember in the Ashes.
 
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski.
 
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Anything by Lindsey Kelk. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard.
 
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
ME BEFORE YOU. That book hurt my soul.
 
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner was a non-fiction book about three friends traveling. I loved it so much, but it did nothing for my wanderlust.
 
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Me Before You, again. I'm sorry, but that book killed me.
 
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
An Age of License by Lucy Knisley is a travel memoir drawn and illustrated by the author. It was fantastic.
 
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
All The Rage by Courtney Summers definitely gave me all the rage, but I really liked the book.

Looking Ahead to 2016

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?
Ahh, so many. I don't even know if I can pick!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)? When We Collided by Emery Lord and The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson. I also just learned that Jodi Picoult has a new one out in October and I NEED IT.
 
3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
I went through my shelves and couldn't pick any out. I'm sure I have one and I've just forgotten to shelve it.
 
 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?
I don't think any of my series are ending this year.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?
I want to read 50 books, and I want to read what I want to read. I don't want to feel pressured to read certain books. In my blogging life, I want to blog more and write different types of posts.

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
I haven't finished it yet, but I'm currently reading Dark Territory by Susan Philpott and I think everyone should read the first book, Blown Red, and then read this one.

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Christmas is rapidly approaching and all I've heard from the last month or so is, "what do you want for Christmas?" My answer is usually always books, which earns me 'that look' from my husband. Those with significant others probably know which 'look' I'm referring to.

I started this last year sometime, but I was not in a fantasy mood at that time, so I returned it to the library. I really do want to read it because I was enjoying it, so I'd love to own the box set.

I keep hearing about this series, so I really want to check it out for myself. I'm definitely in a fantasy mood.

 

Me Before You killed me earlier this year, and I need to read this one. ASAP.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hoover's books, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to read them all.

 

I NEED THIS BOOK. I read all the others in eBook or got them from the library, so I'm currently waiting for my library to process this book. I'm first in line and I want it immediately.



This isn't out yet, and I haven't read anything by Bracken, but I really like the sound of this book.

 

This is apparently out in the UK, but not here yet and this is another book that I NEED. I loved The Seven Sisters and I can't wait for this.

 

I've heard mixed reviews about this book/series, so I want to check it out for myself.

I need this in paperback to complete my set. I also need to read Clockwork Princess (which I own) and then I can finally read this one.

 

I own all of these in hardcover, but I absolutely love these covers and have started buying them. I own 5-7, so I'd love for Santa to bring me 1-4.

Those are all the books I'd love for Santa to leave under my tree this year. Some of them aren't even out yet, but we all know that Santa is magical. Are there any on here that you'd like to find underneath your tree on Christmas morning?

 

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2015

 

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Creating this list, I found I didn't actually read a lot of new authors. There was only about a handful more that I could have added to this list. I should make a goal to change that in 2016. Who knows how many other fantastic authors I'm missing out on.

This is not in any particular order, just the order they showed up in my Goodreads.

Some of these authors are debut authors, like Sabaa Tahir and Susan Philpott so I've only obviously read their debuts. You should check them out if you're looking for a new author. Sabaa Tahir wrote An Ember in the Ashes, which I absolutely loved and was one of my favourite fantasy novels this year. Philpott wrote an exciting cross-Canada story about an underground railway system that helps women in trouble. It's called Blown Red and I have an arc of the second one, Dark Territory, which is set to come out in January.

The others on the list all have multiple books out and some are very well-known. I wrote yesterday about my complicated relationship with Colleen Hoover. My favourite of her books so far is Maybe Someday.

Morgan Rhodes is releasing the fourth book in her Falling Kingdoms series next week and I cannot wait to get my hands on it! Check it out if you're missing Game of Thrones, like I always am.

Lucinda Riley writes historical fiction novels and I read the first book in her newest series called The Seven Sisters and I loved it. I'm impatiently waiting for the next one, The Storm Sister, to come out in the spring.

Emery Lord is a master at writing female friendships and I fell in love with her love of female friendships.

Marissa Meyer writes the Lunar Chronicles series and I should be ashamed that I only read them this year, but I actually loved being able to mostly marathon the series. Winter was an incredible end to the series.

Jennifer Niven wrote All The Bright Places which killed me and I think it's an important book for everyone. It's, of course, being made into a movie so that should be interesting.

Harlan Coben is the author of many suburban thrillers and I love me a good thriller. I seem to get instantly addicted to his books and fly through them.

I've only read one JoJo Moyes books so far, Me Before You, and that book left me a weeping mess. I seriously need to pick up her other books asap.

Top Ten Of My Auto-Buy Authors

Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors (no matter the genre or what it's about...you'll buy it from these authors!) Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

I feel like a broken record with many of these, but what can I say? I like to support my favourites. Some of these authors I still have unread books by, but I intend to get to them.

Jodi Picoult - I don't think I could rave about Picoult any more than I already do. Leaving Time blew me away, as do all of her books.

Kristin Hannah - Hannah is an author that I think just keeps getting better the more she writes. I absolutely adored The Nightingale. It's a historical fiction set during WW2, and shows the struggles that the women had to go through. It also shows had amazing they were, and how integral to the war effort they were.

Chevy Stevens - If you like thrillers, Stevens' has to be on your TBR. She is fantastic at writing thrillers that get into your head. Her latest release, Those Girls, left me an emotional wreck by the end.

Lucy Clarke - She only as three books out so far, but I have absolutely loved each one. Her newest, The Blue, just came out this month and it was a 5 star read for me. She is a master at writing breathtaking settings. Random bonus: her covers are always gorgeous.

Emery Lord - Lord is a new addition to my auto-buys, as I just read both of her books, Open Road Summer and The Start of Me and You, this year. She writes YA contemporary fiction, and celebrates female friendship, which is a nice change.

Sarah Dessen - I've been reading Dessen's novels for about 10 years now, and I don't see myself ever stopping. They're YA, but they always make me nostalgic and understand my past a little bit more. Saint Anything was released earlier this year, and it's Dessen at her finest.

Kimberly McCreight - Her latest, Where They Found Her, as well as her previous book, Reconstructing Amelia, kept me guessing the entire time. Her characters are very relatable, and you may find yourself in one of them. Perhaps even the 'bad guy'.

Morgan Matson - She is another contemporary YA writer who writes realistic characters. I wrote a Why You Should be Reading Morgan Matson post last year that better explains my love for her books.

Lindsey Kelk - Her books are just so much fun to read. I always turn to her when I need something light and fun. I don't consider 'light and fun' to be a negative thing at all. I recently started her I Heart series and loved the first book. I also really loved The Single Girls' To-Do List.

Diane Chamberlain - She is an author whose back list I still need to finish (I have Summer's Child sitting right next to me), and is someone I turn to when I need a book that I know I'll love.

I know I've mentioned all of these authors in previous posts, buy they're all just so good! Who is your #1 MUST BUY author?

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Unique Books I've Read

It's been far too long since I've written a post here. I blame wedding planning (87 days!) and working full-time hours. Here I am, though, and I hope to make this a more regular thing again.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish, and is one of my favourite book memes out there. Today's theme is the ten most unique books I've read. This is actually a hard topic and I'm not even sure I can come up with ten.

1.) The Book Thief - has anyone else even written a book in Death's perspective? I don't think so, and I can't even image how difficult this was to write.

2.) If I Stay - Mia has to decide whether or not to stay alive, or to die. This was a beautiful book about how life really can change in an instant.

3.) The Lovely Bones - Susie was murdered and tells her story while in heaven, hoping to lead her family to some answers. I read this years ago, and was captivated the entire time. I never saw the movie (I heard it was terrible - shocker), so if you decided not to read this because of the movie, read it.

4.) Room - This book is narrated by a 5 year old boy being held captive in Room with his mama. He's never been outside the room, and it's so interesting to see life through his very narrow, limited perspective.

5.) Where'd You Go Bernadette - Bernadette is an eccentric woman who has gone missing, and it's up to her daughter, Bee, to decipher the clues she's left behind in order to find her.

6.) The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window & Disappeared - Allan has decided he's had enough of living in the nursing home, and literally climbs out the window and disappears on his 100th birthday. Along the way, he meets murderers, a suitcase full of cash, and an elephant. Oh, and Allen knows how to make Atom bombs.

7.) Life on the Refrigerator Door - This was told entirely through notes between a mother and a daughter. This was more beautiful than you'd think and actually had a poignant message at the end.

8.) The Storyteller - Told in the present day and during life in Nazi Germany, I loved this book. It's heartbreaking, beautiful, and so interesting. Definitely not a happy, go lucky book, but worth a read.

9.) The entire Harry Potter series - Because it's Harry Potter and it opened the door to reading for so many people.

Apparently I can only come up with 9, but that's okay because they're all really great books and should be checked out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry



 Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish because they are particularly fond of lists. These lists are always fun to think about, and this one was really fun to put together.

I am definitely a crier. I cannot watch those SPCA commercials. CANNOT. It's at the point where my fiancé just turns the channel as soon as it starts because I will cry. Surprisingly, I don't find myself crying a lot over books. I don't know why because they definitely leave me with all sorts of feelings. Alas, here are ten that made me cry like a baby.

19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult - really and truly, any Jodi Picoult book could have been included in this list. The entire list could have been Picoult books, but I thought that would be overkill. Tears for days with any book written by this fantastic author.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman - Such a great, but sad book. It lives up to the hype for sure. What made me sentimental was wondering what I would do if I was in that same position. It's been over a year since I read it and I still don't have an answer.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling - If you're a Harry Potter fan, I don't even have to justify this one.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling - I cried less than 50 pages in, and again at the end because, hello, it's the series ending!

Marley & Me by John Grogan - Remember those SPCA commercials I was talking about? Yeah, this. This book ruined me, as did the movie.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron - Give me a book about an animal and the tears are just about guaranteed.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks - a lot of Sparks novels make me weepy, but this one especially did me in. I loved this entire book and devoured it in a day. The movie will make you cry, but probably more because it stars Miley Cyrus. Her acting makes me cry.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I doubt that I need to explain this one. If you haven't read it, a.) what is wrong with you?, and b.) go. Now.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah - Many books about the military focus on male soldiers. Not this book. This book follows Jolene on deployment and then home again as she tries to recover. This was a beautiful story that haunts me to this day.

The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (also known as Someone Knows My Name) - This is one of those books that I believe should be taught in schools. It was powerful, heartbreaking, and entirely engaging.