Top Ten Tuesday (#40) (12/31/13)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

So this list is pretty much the same as it was when I wrote my mid-year post.  It makes me sad.  I don't know if I was just in a huge reading slump, or if I didn't like anything because I was pregnant and cranky.  I have also read very few books in the last 6 weeks.  Where it used to take me a few days to read a book, it now takes me weeks.  I am hoping as the baby gets older, I will have more time to read.


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
I knew any book would have a hard time beating this as my favorite of the year, and I was right.  It stayed number one easily.
Review

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Although not my favorite Sarah Dessen book, I did love it.  It earned this spot.

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
I can't wait for her next book to come out.  If it's anything like the last two, I know I'll love it.  This easily earned it's spot.
Review

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

I stayed away from all reviews and spoilers for the entire Hunger Game series, so I went into this with a really open mind.  I was shocked to find out later how many people hated this book.  I have read the criticism, and I get what people didn't like, but I thought the changes in Katniss were organic and realistic, yes she changed, but so did her world.

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by R.L. LaFevers
This lived up to all my expectations, I loved it. 
Review

Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton
I really need the final book in the series NOW.  It will probably be one of the first books I read next year.

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi
I liked this one better than the first book.  I can't wait to find out how it ends.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
I have actually started to push this book on people who don't normally read YA.  Months after reading it, it has totally stuck with me.

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

A confession:  I own every Jennifer Echols book.  I have only read this and one other.  Both end up on my top 10 for the year I read them.  I have no idea why I haven't read all the others.  I need to get on that.

 Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter
I loved this book, and the 2nd book was right up there too.  It landed at #19 on my list of books I read this year.  I am really liking this series, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 12/30/13

This weekly recap is hosted by Shelia of Book Journeys and the kidlit version is hosted by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers. Each week we recap what we’ve read and look at what’s coming up this week.

Finished Reading:

The Deepest Night (The Sweetest Dark #2) by Shana Abe

 

Currently Reading:

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake

 

What I'm Reading Next:

Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey

Top Ten Tuesday (#39) (12/17/13)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013

Confession:  I am totally behind in reading debut authors.  I had planned to read all debut authors all the time in Dec. but I just don't see it happening.  I will try to get to my 12 author minimum though.  So here are the top 5 debut authors I read, and the top 5 authors that were new to me this year.  Not their debut year, but just new to me.

Top Debut Authors:

April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.  I enjoyed this book.  I look forward to the next book in the series.

 

Jessica Verdi

My Life After Now.  This book was a bit predictable, however, I thought it was a very important book.

Kasie West

Pivot Point is technically her debut book this year, but I read The Distance Between Us.  I thought it was a promising debut for contemporary.  I need to read Pivot Point though.

Lindsay Ribar

The Art of Wishing.  I thought this was a really clever book.  I look forward to the next one in the series.

Rainbow Rowell

I've made absolutely no secret about the fact that Eleanor & Park was my favorite book in 2013.  I still have some books to read, but it will be hard to top it.  Then I read Fangirl.  Wow.  I can't wait to see what she comes up with next in YA.




Top Authors New to Me:

Alexandra Bracken

I read The Darkest Minds a little late in the game.  I thought it was awesome, and I really need to read the next one in the series.  It's sitting on my shelf just waiting for me.

 

Cassandra Clare

I can't believe I'm admitting to never having read a Cassandra Clare book.  I am so late to the game on this one.  But I read two of them!  I need to catch up on the series as a whole.

 

Gena Showalter

Another very prolific author that I never got around to reading until this year.  I need to go back and read her past series, but I am kind of loving the White Rabbit Chronicles series.

Jessi Kirby

I never got around to reading In Honor or Moonglass, but I really enjoyed  Golden, which I did get around to this year.  I will read In Honor at some point in time.

Lili Peloquin

I read the first two book in her The Innocents series.  It's good soapy fun.  A true guilty pleasure.