Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Debuts

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Debuts, what lovely books. These are books that may make me a fangirl for a new author. The author is coming into the bright world of publishing and this debut will be my first impression of them. It's make or break time. Thankfully, 2014 is offering some very good-looking debuts for me to be excited about.

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

Basically, during the Spanish Influenza, a girl refuses to go in a quarantine and then decides to volunteer for Red Cross and is surprised to find herself caring about strangers. One of those strangers is a boy. Historical (and researched) background, headstrong girl, a "handsome medical student and war vet" named Edmund, and deep stuff to make me think all comes together to make me giddy.

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen

It says it's Downton Abbey (YES!) meets The Selection (oh boy) in a dystopian setting with love and rebellion and war. So this might seem like a similar plot these days, but I'm anticipating this greatly.

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

Admittedly, I thought this was an adult book by its cover. While I actually didn't want to be intrigued, I was after reading its synopsis since I love summer camp books. 

Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

A alternate universe-type story about prom night? A perfectly fun read when I need to just reeeelaaaax.

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

I feel like I'm always talking about this debut, but I don't apologize because I'm stoked to read it.  A girl goes to complete her crazy bucket list because she thinks she's dying with the help of her best friend who has a crush on her (named Harvey, which I love, since I'm on a dorky H-name kick). And now she has to face the consequences and, my goodness, can it get any cuter?

Nil by Lynne Matson

One year to escape an island or die? Count me in (to read it, not live it). 

Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine, I won't lie. I don't like how reality TV stars get so famous though because all they do is live in front of the cameras with part normalcy and part scripted thanks to the producers. So this book is making me more excited than it should.

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira 

That cover is gorgeous. I want, please and thank you. Also, it obviously involves letters, which I love.

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

So far, I haven't heard any really negative reviews on this and I'm incredibly happy because this sounds right up my alley. Historical Europe, scandal in a finishing school that leads an out-of-the-box kind of girl to pursue her dreams even though her parents are trying to marry her off. Everything. All of it. I just...please, I need this.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

I heard quite a few negative reviews at first, but now I'm hearing one positive review after the next and it's giving me Grabby Hands Syndrome. I love retellings. I love Beauty and the Beast. I love fantasy. I love this cover. I love it all.

Bonus: Alienated by Melissa Landers, Pointe by Brandy Colbert, The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings, Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige, The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Already read and recommend: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anna Blankman

What are 2014 debuts you're looking forward to?

Rewind & Review: December 30th - January 12th

Hosted by Shae Has Left the Room

Don't mind me, I'm just searching for the rapidly disappearing time. Anyone seen it? It's already mid-January and I'm torn between feeling like Christmas was very far away or feeling like it was just yesterday. This is hurting my head so I'll just move on to show the pretty books I received and blogging shenanigans that have happened or will happen.

Books I Was Given: 

•  Cress by Marissa Meyer (thanks to Gillian!) 
• Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore (thanks to Emma via ARCycling!)
• Antigodess by Kendare Blake (thanks to Rachel!)
• Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce (Rachel again, YAY Tamora Pierce!)
• Severed Heads, Broken Hearts (otherwise known as The Beginning of Everything) by Robyn Schneider (thanks to above-mentioned Rachel!) 

Number of Books I've Completed: 4

Books I'm Reading:

• Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
• Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor (maybe one day I'll finish this)

Previous Blog Posts:

• Review: United We Spy by Ally Carter
• 2013 End of Year Book Survey - Part 1
• 2013 End of Year Book Survey - Part 2
• Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Goals
• Hello, My Name Is...
• Mini Reviews: The Cute One, the Fantastical One, and the Two DNFs

Bookish Happenings:

• As listed above, I dropped my pseudonym. And your comments were so sweet.
• I've series binged on Rae Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorns so I can now go HECTOOOOR with you all (I've already done so many times). 
• When Top Ten 2014 Goals popped up, I loved seeing everyone's goals for this year. There were repeats, but that made it great to know that other people were striving for the same goal. 
• I'm publicly shaming my mailman because he skipped my house TWO days in a row and now I think that I have missing packages. I don't know his name though so it's not real publicly shaming. But still. He will feel and fear my glare through the window. 

Upcoming Blog Posts:

• Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Debuts 
• Steps of Fangirling
• Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill*
• Top Ten Tuesday: Reading Wishlist
• Followers: The Shameful Truth
• Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein*

*Subject to change

Hope you've had a great haul these past two weeks!

To buy any of the books mentioned in this post, click this button: 


And to follow my reviews or connect with me click this button or subscribe by email by clicking the widget on the righthand side of the screen. 

 

Mini reviews: The Cute One, the Fantastical One, and the Two DNFs

Has everyone been keeping up with their 2014 goals so far? One of my goals was to catch up on my reviews and stay that way. That's one of the reasons for doing mini reviews. Another is because I don't have enough concrete things to say about certain books. They might be good, but what else do you say? Same things go for "meh" books or DNFs. So shall we begin?

The Cute One

Title: Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe

Author: Shelley Coriell

Publication date: May 1, 2012

Publisher: Amulet 

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

Mini review:

First line: I love being a burrito.

Chloe is the loud, spunky girl who loves attention and can work a crowd. Her personality can also work against her when her best friend becomes jealous and she realizes a little too late. I personally loved Chloe because she's who I would love to be all the time, but even then, I got a little exhausted reading her narration because she is 100% an extrovert. 

While a few things were very close to being out of reality, I thought the story was overall very cute. I found myself smiling as Chloe fought through problems and met new people. I enjoyed getting to know the opposite Duncan and the sharp Clementine. At times, even I was annoyed with Chloe, but that was supposed to happen. The main thing, though, is that our main character had growth throughout the story and I had fun watching it happen. 

Verdict: Super cute contemporary read involving a radio show and some romance.

The Fantastical One

Title: Graceling

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publication date: October 1, 2008

Publisher: Harcourt

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...

Mini review:

First line: In these dungeons the darkness was complete, but Katsa had a map in her mind.

I thought about writing a full-fledged review, but then realized that I should save my fangirling emotions the anxiety of having to write something intelligible. This is another book that reminds me why fantasy comes from fantastic. We have strong Katsa, who reminds me of my beloved Alanna, and then the wonderful Po, who I instantly loved. We saw them trust each other and bond, then journey together, and finally, grow even closer. I loved seeing the process and it felt so real. The romance didn't dominate the great story that Cashore constructed, but it was a great component to the whole. Thankfully, Jasprit and I decided to read the sequels together so I'll have a buddy throughout my emotions and someone for me to squeal to.

Verdict: LOVE LOVE LOVE

The DNF

Title: See Jane Run

Author: Hannah Jayne

Publication date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: an eARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.

I know who you are.

When Riley first gets the postcard tucked into her bag, she thinks it's a joke. Then she finds a birth certificate for a girl named Jane Elizabeth O'Leary hidden inside her baby book.

Riley's parents have always been pretty overprotective. What if it wasn't for her safety...but fear of her finding out their secret? What have they been hiding? The more Riley digs for answers, the more questions she has.

The only way to know the truth? Find out what happened to Jane O'Leary.

Mini review:

First line: "No, Riley. No way."

I wanted to love this. I wanted to love this so much that I would have mini dance jams and squeeze my iPad tight as I read this e-galley on it. It fell flat for me. Basically, my mom's pancakes are fluffier. My first problem was that this is a YA novel and it read like an MG to me. Riley and her best friend read too juvenile for me. Secondly, everything felt so stilted. The dialogue, the actions, the pacing...it was as if the author was pushing for something that just shouldn't happen. So I read nearly halfway until I gave up, exhausted with my efforts to pursue a book I had no interest in. I skimmed to the end and realized I didn't care about that either. 

I know some bloggers are vehemently against DNFing, but I thought it was best that I use my time wisely and I think it would be appreciated all around if I didn't go deeper so that I didn't end up with a lengthy rant.

Verdict: Disappointing "mystery." 

Another one bites the dust

Title: Nobody But Us

Author: Kristin Halbrook

Publication date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: ARCycling

Will

Maybe I'm too late. Maybe Zoe's dad stole all her fifteen years and taught her to be scared. I'll undo it. Help her learn to be strong again, and brave. Not that I'm any kind of example, but we can learn together.

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can't run fast enough.

Zoe

Maybe it'll take Will years to come to terms with being abandoned. Maybe it'll take forever. I'll stay with him no matter how long it takes to prove that people don't always leave, don't always give up on you.

Mini review:

First line: He comes down the road in his Camaro sliding left to right on the freshly oiled gravel and skidding to a stop in front of my house.

I went into this with trepidation since I worried it might not be my kind of read, but I now feel bad that I even received this because, yes, this is another DNF. I didn't make it far, but I made it far enough to know that I don't care about either character. Will promised to not be like Zoe's abusive father, but we see he has a short temper (leading him to be physical) and quickly gets annoyed with Zoe. Usually, that means he will turn into the very thing he said he wouldn't be. Then there's Zoe who's very dependent on her boyfriend, turning from one horrible male figure to another future one. 

They think they're in love and because they're teenagers in love, going on the run "away from their problems" is the perfect solution, right? Well, I knew that was this book's plot, but I thought the execution of their running away was done poorly. Too much stupidity for me to allow them anymore grace. 

Verdict: No emotional connection for me to allow further annoyances to continue.

Have you read any of these? What did you think?

To buy any of the books mentioned in this post, click this button: 

Hello, My Name Is...

This would be perfect if it was "Sunny" instead.

Back in October of 2012, I decided to go on an adventure. I didn't know where it would lead me and I basically conveyed this in a post in October of 2013 when I had my blogoversary. The adventure was this blog of course, but before I started it, I had one major question to decide: would I be anonymous or use my real name?

Some bloggers would think that's even silly to consider. "My real name, of course! Why wouldn't I?" Well, my sister started blogging before me and when I started blogging, she was anonymous. She went by a pseudonym that was obviously not her real name while I decided to go by Sunny. My sister Shae and I thought it up because it went with the Blue Sky Bookshelf theme and my icon was a bright, yellow giraffe. But also, it was actually very close to my real name. The last name Duvall was just off the top of my head though so don't even try to question that.

I had mixed emotions of being anonymous, but after a while, I realized that I wanted to use my real name. After Shae stopped using her Shelver pseudonym, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would too because I wanted to be the one to control it. I have may have control issues, but that's neither here nor there. Some people in the blogosphere know my real name (hey, ARCycling!) and some people in real life know I blog with a pseudonym so it's not a total secret. What really made me decide to do this post though, basically removing any sort of barrier, was that I'm hoping 2014 will be a year of blogging opportunities. More publisher contacts, more author events, meeting way more bloggers, possibly going to BEA...all of those are goals that I want to achieve and would be much easier if I just rid myself of a pseudonym. How confusing to know someone by one name and then meet them in person and probably have to explain that they can call you by your real name, am I right?

So is this the time to blare puny trumpets and throw annoying confetti? 

Hello, my name is...

Summer Elise McDaniel

Hey, I didn't just give you a first name, but the whole sh-bang. Like I said, it's not a big change though. I will be changing my Twitter name, not handle, so this was a warning to not wonder who the strange person on your Twitter feed is. You might have already even seen it on Twitter or other social media sites. The next question is whether not I do away with the giraffe icon and use my own picture. Thoughts?

Now, this doesn't mean you can't call me Sunny. I know from personal experience that after calling someone something for so long, it's hard to reverse that (just ask my brother Sam who went to Sammy or my friend Gabby who went to Gabrielle...and those name changes were even more related). I thought about using S as a middle-ground, but apparently, Shae already laid claim. But you can choose a plethora of nicknames (which does include S, I just won't use that as a signature). You can call me Sunny, Summer, S, E, Elise, SEM...anything, really. The "nickname" Summer Dummer or McDonald is not acceptable though. Bad memories there, folks.

There you have it. Finally, I can go, "Hey, that's MY NAME!" when I see Summer being used in a synopsis and make corny jokes on Twitter about people being obsessed with me when summertime rolls around. 

How do you feel about pseudonyms? Should I change my icon from the giraffe to me? If we haven't met yet, introduce yourself in the comments!

Hello, my name is Summer and I 'm not used to straight hair so yeahhh.

Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Goals

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Last year, I had made a list of bookish goals I wanted to complete for 2013. I completed around six out of the eleven items on the list, which isn't as much as I hoped. Although I did things (like interviewing an author) that I never thought I would be able to do so I'm pretty proud of that. Now onto 2014! But note that while they're numbered, there is no order of importance.

Five Bookish Goals

1. Read 150 books. I'm doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge this year and this is what I set it as. I have high expectations, possibly too high, that I'll read a lot this year, even more than my challenge. I have to remind myself that many changes are happening for me this year so I shouldn't be too hopeful.

2. Keep track of a book log. I've thought about it on and off, but I'm finally doing it. I want to jot down everything I read this year in a log so that when I do the End of Year Book Survey for 2014, I'll be absolutely prepared. Also, it'll be fun to see.

3. Attend events (like BEA). BEA would be a dream come true, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford the hotel. Airfare, registration, food...no problem. Expensive NYC lodging? Challenging. If anyone knows of anything, let me know! Otherwise, I'd love to go to other book signings and author meets.

• 3.5. See bookish friends. If BEA fails (or even if it doesn't), I'd love to see more bloggy friends since I've met a total of one. I want to meet you all!

4. Blog changes. I'm considering quite a few things. One of which is my design. I'm thinking about changing it so, once again, if anyone knows someone or you have a designing talent, let me know! Also, check back Thursday because another blog change is happening then too.

5.  Review quicker and/or take more notes. Right now, I'm taking pictures of pages that I'm reading that I want to remember for examples or for quotes for annoyances, for swooning moments, or for funny ones. But I need to be better at writing things down and already constructing my review in my head. While that's getting progress, reviewing has been slumping. I wait for the review to start formulating in my head, but then I procrastinate or think I have no time. It needs to stop.

Five Non-Bookish Goals

1. Run a 5k. I've talked about it some on Twitter and on here before, but I'm on a basketball team. We're forced to run the devil's intervals three times a week. I call it the devil's intervals because even though running is synonymous with torture, there are varying degrees of horrible and this is the worst. With that said, I've always wanted to join a marathon. I've run a 5k before at home, but I'd like to do any kind of marathon officially.

2. Sleep better. This sounds like an old person's goal or a corny one at least, but I'm serious. I tend to go to bed late because of distractions or I stayed up just because I could. Then when I have a good book, I stay up even later. My mood, my appetite, my attitude, my relationships, my body...it's all affected. Once I go to bed earlier, I'll hopefully get a higher quality of sleep.

3. Worry less. My family will have a good time reading this one. I worry a lot. I'm probably the best worrier I know, which causes reason to worry (see?), but I worry and panic and grow anxious over many things. With graduation coming up, friendship problems, family changes, blog happenings, basketball anxiety, college freak-outs...my worrying in 2014 will have reason to kick into full gear, but I don't want that to happen. Since I've been half-trying to do this my whole life, I'll fully try now and probably continue to do so forever. 

4. Smile more. Ugh, smiling. I honestly think it hurts my jaw. I smile when I want to, you know? But when out in public, I should really make the effort and smile, even when the person is annoying or rude. 

5. Journal. I used to write in my journal a lot in the elementary and middle school years, but that started to wane in high school. I received a pretty Paris journal from my mom a year or two ago and was determined to keep up with it, but I seem to forget about it until I'm in bed and worn out. But I want to remember this year and my life, the good and the bad.

What are your 2014 goals? 

2013 End of Year Book Survey - Part 2

In case you missed it, yesterday, I started the 2013 End of Year Book Survey that the fabulous Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner makes and hosts. That part of the survey consisted of the 2013 best in books. You can read it here. Today is part two so enjoy!

 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013? 

How can anybody do this without having a panic attack afterwards? I tried to list only one blog and then I realized that I have discovered so many wonderful and amazing and fantastic blogs and bloggers out there. I listed important ones near and dear to my heart along with blogs with great humor, but then afterwards, I panicked that I forgot somebody. So I'll just say YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Or at least, I hope you do.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013? 

I'm not sure if it's my favorite, but I did have a lot of fun writing my review for The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce because I was basically fangirling all around. 

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Back in January, I discussed the groan-worthy trope of love triangles, but with a twist. Instead of having the stereotypical two guys fighting over one girl, what about if it's two girls over one guy? And wouldn't be unfair since usually that girl is the main character so we automatically hate the other girl and we have biased feelings? You all responded with great comments and I loved reading them. My post can be found here. 

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

Once again, I can't do this. I have read so many amazing discussions this past year that made me think or laugh. Off the top of my head, I instantly think of the glorious Gillian and the lovely Lauren. 

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I went to my first ever author signing this year that had my favorite author, Ally Carter, so that will always be remembered. I also met fabulous authors at the Fierce Reads tour.

6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?

Now this is just cruel. How can I ever remember all of them and then actually pick the best? I loved getting my first ARC, Harper whitelisting me on Edelweiss, squealing with authors, and becoming closer with bloggers. All the little things add up to make a great 2013.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Surprisingly like REALLY surprisingly, the most pageviews were for Book Blogger Confessions #1, which is a meme I stopped doing. I don't think it happens anymore (I searched for it on the host's site and there didn't seem to be any new ones), but maybe I should do something similar?

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I'd probably have to say any review because those always take so much time to write and when you don't receive many comments, it can be a bit deflating, although I know people do lurk (I know I do).

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Uh, Better World Books (which offers great used book sales), maybe?

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I didn't set any goals until December, but I did mostly complete that one. I participated in a read-a-thon and finished most of the books I set out to read. I think I missed one or two, but I added in a couple that I didn't set out to read so I think that I compensated for it.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales since everyone and their mother seems to enjoy this one.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?

I'm just going to give you all a previous list and add in that I'll completely fangirl when I have Ruin and Rising and the sequel to All Our Yesterdays 

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Do I have to pick just one? At least I limited myself. 

 

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?

YES, PLEASE.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

I think the most fanciful one would be attend BEA. The most important would be to not be too concerned with stats and to not let school bog my reading down.

And that's my 2013—of sorts—for you! On Tuesday, I'll be talking more about my 2014 goals.

2013 End of Year Book Survey - Part 1

The lovely Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-turner creates a survey each year and this year, I'm actually able to participate! I know that I probably forgot a better answer or repeated a book title way too many times, but it was fun to answer Jamie's questions. I think 2013 was a fantastic reading year. I'll be splitting this up into two parts with part two coming tomorrow. So be sure to check back! 

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

Contemporary – United We Spy by Ally Carter and Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic – Unravel Me by Taherah Mafi

Historical Fiction – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anna Blankman

Paranormal — Parallel by Lauren Miller and The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Science Fiction — All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill and These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Fantasy — Graceling by Kristin Cashore and Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

Other than YA: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

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

It's sad that I had quite a few titles pop in my head when I read this question. The book that really wins this title though is A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan. I was expecting another beloved retelling, but ended up really annoyed. Such a disappointment.

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

 

For some reason, I was surprised by Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and its complete awesomeness. I do not doubt Bardugo any longer.

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

Probably The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I read it and went completely fangirl on it.

 5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

I take this to mean that I read more than one book in the series and if that's the case, the problem is that many series I discovered has its sequels coming out next year or my other problem is that I loved the first book and haven't been able to get to its sequel yet. I knew about it before, but I finally read The Song of the Lioness series and finally started the Graceling series and the Throne of Glass series.

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

I have a whole list about it here. Someone who isn't on the list: Cristin Terrill because I read her afterwards and her book was AMAZING.

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

Nothing is ever really out of my comfort zone nowadays, but Dark Triumph was pretty bleak and uncomfortable with its, uh, familial relationships.

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Hands down, All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. I read 200 pages in one night and then woke up and read the rest in the morning.

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

 The Program by Suzanne Young, probably. The sequel comes out next year, woohoo!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

The cover of Fangirl makes me happy.

11. Most memorable character in 2013? 

This is an extremely difficult question so I'll break it up by girl, boy, antagonist, and secondary into an incomprehensive list.

Girl: Audrey from Audrey, Wait! and Celaena from Throne of Glass
Boy: Cole from Everbound and Zach from United We Spy
Antagonist: Reinhard from Prisoner of Night and Fog and d'Albert from Dark Triumph
Secondary: Thorne from Scarlet and Gabrielle from Perfect Scoundrels

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

Was there any question about it?

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013? 

This is hard for me because I feel that many books have some sort of impact on me. But Parallel made me really question things. I've always what-iffed everything to death and this made me think about it in a deeper way. What if one tiny choice can change your whole life?

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

 

The Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce! I (audio)book binged on that and regret not starting sooner.

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

Chapter 62 of Unravel Me! Chapter 62! Oh, I should actually quote a passage or a quote that's non-spoilery? This may be the hardest question because I don't do well with remembering quotes. I know there are certain ones I love or laugh with or cry with or brings out some kind of emotion. So I'll just pull another quote from Unravel Me instead and then later be aggravated that I didn't think of so-and-so's quote that another blogger highlighted.

"As far as I can tell, you've got food in your mouth and clothes on your back and a place to pee in peace whenever you feel like it. Those aren't problems. That's called living like a king. And I'd really appreciate it if you'd grow the hell up and stop walking around like the world crapped on your only roll of toilet paper. Because it's stupid," he says, barely reining in his temper. "It's stupid, and it's ungrateful. You don't have a clue what everyone else in the world is going through right now. You don't have a clue, Juliette." —Kenji from Unravel Me

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

According to Goodreads, the longest was Graceling by Kristin Cashore at 471 pages. As for the shortest, possibly In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce at 262 pages because I'm not counting novellas.

 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!

It's probably tiring to see these books coming up so many times, but I can't lie...Parallel for the ending, All Our Yesterdays for the same reason (thankfully I had my sister and Lauren), These Broken Stars for THAT PART, and Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones for a frustrating love triangle.

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

Romance – Cath and Levi from Fangirl, Rob and Scarlet from Scarlet, and MANY more.

Friendship – Maddie and "Verity" from Code Name Verity

Familial — Penny and her family from The Lonely Hearts Club

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

Unless sequels count, which is a whole different ballgame.

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

Solely? See, I take my time and weigh many people's opinions. But maybe The Naturals because of Ally Carter's recommendation or The Song of the Lioness because Gillian PRESSURES.

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

I'm taking a guess here and saying fantasy type books? 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

Levi from Fangirl, Tarver from These Broken Stars, Xander from The Distance Between Us, George from The Song of the Lioness, Sturmhond from Siege and Storm, Po from Graceling, Finn from All Our Yesterdays...can I keep going?

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, but you probably knew that already, didn't you?

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

Again.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt was super cute and really fun to read. It was also my first ARC! I smiled throughout Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell as well.  

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

I don't cry in books, but Code Name Verity was a heartbreaking read.

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

Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards because personally, I barely heard about it through the blogosphere.

~*~

Check back in tomorrow for part two of the survey!

To buy any of the books mentioned in this post, click this button: 


And to follow my reviews or connect with me click this button or subscribe by email by clicking the widget on the righthand side of the screen.