End of the Year Book Survey 2014

This year has flown by so fast and I'm really happy that even with such a small amount of books I read, there were some really great books that I can't wait to ramble about. Last year's End of the Year Survey was such a fun thing to do, so I couldn't possibly pass it up this year. Thanks to Jamie @ Perpetual Page Turner who hosts this annual event. I can't wait to see your surveys or end of the year posts if you'r not doing the survey. Link me up and let me know how your reading year was. Without further ado, here's the summary of my reading year.

Number Of Books You Read: 91 (though GR says 86)

Number of Re-Reads: 4 official but tbh it’s way, way more

Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary (56/91)

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

Without a doubt, this book would be Kiss the Sky by Krista and Becca Ritchie. I have reread this book too many times to count (seriously, I lost count at 17 and now I just don’t know anymore). Kiss the Sky is a book that features my 2 favorite characters in the whole wide world: Rose Calloway and Connor Cobalt. It’s a magnificent contemporary novel that’s witty, bold, humorous, sensual, surprising—I could go on all day long. The secondary characters are just as wonderful as the main duo and I could not recommend this book or the two series (Addicted & Calloway Sisters series) enough!

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

Ummmmm.. Let’s see. I’d have to say Pivot Point by Kasie West. Almost everyone I know raved about that book and I thought it was going to be this amazing story, but I wasn’t a huge fan. I mean, yeah sure! I liked it, but I thought it was going to be a 5 star read or at least worthy of 4 stars, but unfortunately not.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?

Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker. Why? Well, I did love Ten Tiny Breaths, but the sequel companions One Tiny Lie and Four Seconds to Lose just didn’t wow me at all. In one case it was the most annoying characters and the other book managed to ruin all my hopes with an anti-climatic conclusion to all the drama that had previously taken place for basically.. nothing. But Five Ways to Fall was one of my rare 5 star reads this year and by far one of the biggest surprises of the year for as well!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

DUUUUDES!!! I THINK YOU CAN ALL ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME BUT IN CASE YOU WANT ME TO CONFIRM THIS: THE ADDICTED SERIES WHICH YOU SHOULD ALL READ IF YOU LIKE TO TORTURE YOURSELF WITH FEELINGS, GET TO KNOW AMAZING CHARACTERS, READ ABOUT SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS, GET YOURSELF SOME GORGEOUS AND SOUL-CONSUMING OTPS AND JUST.. PLEASE READ IT OKAY?? YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON SOME EPIC JAZZ.

**I also pushed To All the Boys I've Loved Before on people and Under the Never Sky Trilogy because baes and I love them sosososo much *squishes them to her chest*

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

Best series I’ve started in 2014: I didn’t start many series this year, but I’d say The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa; best sequel of 2014: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer; best series ender of 2014: lmao I wanted to finish a ton of series this year (does anyone remember that series enders post I did at the beginning of this year? Haaa! Oops! In reality I finished only 6 out of 40) but my favorite by far far far is Addicted After All by Krista and Becca Ritchie. That’s how you write a series ender, people! *standing ovation*

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

I’d have to go with Emery Lord. Her debut Open Road Summer was one of the cutest reads this year and completely won me over with the fluid writing, a good self-discovery plot, an awesome friendship and just.. sigh. I loved that book and Emery Lord took her a seat at my must-buy-all-the-future-books-by-this-author table.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Well, I don’t read a lot of historical books, which is a shame, because they’re often some of the steamiest, swooniest books and I do love my swoon! This book can be categorized as fantasy or magical realism, but I’d say it’s foremost a historical YA novel with a touch of paranormal/fantasy elements to it. Anyhow, the book, haaa! It’s Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. It was magnificent and I can’t wait to return to this world soon!

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

I had difficulty putting down Hothouse Flower by Krista and Becca Ritchie. That book is the kind that you just want to devour in one sitting, because it’s full of adventure, great ships and self-discovery. Of course I’m biased seeing as it’s my favorite contemporary series of all time and the characters are like my family by now, but I can’t argue with the facts and the fact is that this book was unputdownable.

9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I re-read and re-skim books all the time *cough* go read that first answer again *cough* but one of them is most definitely going to be Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi. Look, I know I made a mistake of rating UtNS 4 stars the first time I read it BUT I LEARNED FROM MY MISTAKES. Throughout the entire year I thought about it and then I re-read it at the beginning of 2014 and it was a FULL. FIVE. STAR. READ. Then I read Roar & Liv, Through the Ever Night, Brooke, Into the Still Blue; pushed this series on Jenn and Jae and I REGRET NOTHING. THIS SERIES IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND I’M CONSTANTLY RE-SKIMMING IT AND FULL RE-READS WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR. YOU JUST WATCH!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Ok, so I’m a complete cover trash, okay?? I cannot pick one. DO NOT MAKE ME CHOOSE. So instead of choosing, I’m going to name a few of my favorite covers: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor, Amour Amour by Krista and Becca Ritchie, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa, These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, Shadows by Paula Weston, How to Love by Katie Cotugno, Defy by Sarah B. Larson.

  

  

   

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

This answer is obviously Connor Cobalt, but I can’t pick him, Rose and the Addicted gang and their books for every answer, so I’m just going to go with another character entirely and say characters: Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean [Song] Covey. These two are just asdfghjkljfiojfg !!!!!!!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

I’d have to go with Come Back to Me by Mila Gray (also known as Sarah Alderson). Why? Well, the prose isn’t anything extra special, but the way these characters, their feelings and their stories are written? It’s gorgeous and I loved every single second of it. Even the painful parts with gross sobbing were my favorites. 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

In Honor by Jessi Kirby. I hadn’t read anything by her until this year, but I had heard so many amazing things after her novel Golden came out, but idk. I hadn’t felt the huge urge to read them until.. one day, I opened In Honor and just sat down, read the book and loved it! Afterwards, and even during the book, I felt like taking a road trip myself, discovering the world and who I am as a person; also, this book is a good reminder of how precious life is and how we should make the most of it while we still can.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?

This would have actually been pretty hard if I hadn’t read Days of Blood and Starlight this Christmas. Holy guacamole this book !!!!!!!! SUE I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK FOR MAKING ME PROMISE TO FINALLY PICK IT UP AND READ IT. I almost made an Oscar worthy speech for this answer to thank Sue because this book was magical and full of pain and obviously Sue was just looking out for me when bossing me around to read this. I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE TEARS.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

I have so many passages and quotes marked in physical books as well as e-copies and it’s really ahrd to just choose one, so I’m going to list some of my most marked books: Kiss the Sky, Addicted After All, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Scarlet, Days of Blood and Starlight, Under the Never Sky Trilogy. 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Longest would be Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld with 599 pages and shortest, if novellas count then Roar & Liv with 68 pages; if not, then Taste the Heat by Rachel Harris with 191 pages. 

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Okay so there is a book I want to name, but it’d be spoilers upon more spoilers already if I mentioned it, so if you really want to know the name of the book, after which I cried angry tears over (and nope, it’s not the book I ranted about on twitter), ask away on twitter and I’ll dm you. But since I can’t pick that one, I’m going with two books: Addicted After All by Krista and Becca Ritchie because I didn’t think something could ever top the omfg moment in Hothouse Flower, but HOLY SHIT!; and Days of Blood and Starlight because I didn’t think Laini Taylor would actually go there in chapter 71, but it happened and I hope it will be acknowledged in DoG&M. I did not expect this. 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

IS THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME EVEN THE SLIGHTEST AND DOES NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OBVIOUSLY THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER TO THIS: COBALLOWAY AKA ROSE MAGDALA CALLOWAY AND RICHARD CONNOR COBALT. THIS NERD STAR DUO IS THE PAIN OF MY EXISTENCE BUT I LOVE THEM SO MUCH THERE IS NO OTHER SHIP LIKE THIS OUT THERE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WILL NOT ONLY GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP IT HAS ALREADY WRECKED ME AND BREATHED LIFE INTO ME AND I DON’T KNOW HOW I SURVIVED WITHOUT THIS SHIP BEFORE CHAPTER 18 OF ADDICTED TO YOU IDK DON’T ASK ME THAT ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT’S THE MOST GLORIOUS SHIP OUT THERE AND YOU NEED TO BE ON IT *GIVES TICKETS TO EVERYONE WHO WANT TO BOARD AND EVEN THOSE WHO DON’T* and yes, I did just write this all in one breath. 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

I was going to say Loren and Connor, Loren and Rose, Ryke and Lily and gahh. Ok OKKKK I’m going to stop. It’s Aria x Roar (and Perry x Roar). This platonic friendship is all I’ve ever needed between a guy and a girl and their trust, faith in each other, the words said, and unsaid, between them and just being there for each other 100%? I’m alllllllllllllll in. 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Let’s go with Things I Can’t Forget by Miranda Kenneally, because that book was the cutest! I really thought I’d hate it, because it has the most religion out of all of her books, but to me it wasn’t about the religion; nope! It was a self-discovery book, opening your mind to new ideas, opportunities, growing a pair and standing up for yourself, your wants and needs. It was a wonderful character growth story and had one of the cutest ships ever. 

21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

The Fault in Our Stars. Which I ended up hating. I kid you not, I truly hate this book. It has nothing to do with how it ends, but it just wasn’t an enjoyable book. I hated almost every minute of reading it. I refuse to even rate it on Goodreads or start writing my review. Those whom I talk to often know my feelings and reasons and that’s just that. At least now I know that when people say that this book is perfect for people who loved TFiOS, I'm staying far faaaaar away from that book. 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

Almost every book has a new fictional crush for me haha. But I'm going with Peter Kavinsky from To All the Boys I've Loved Before because: hiiiiiiiiii i adore you and your clueless self and the fact that you always try and you are so cute and thoughtful and i'm just going to build walls around you and never let anyone hurt you, i'll keep you safe i promise. 

**If I had to pick someone from something that I haven’t mentioned a lot in this post so far, I'd go with Rafa from Shadows by Paula Weston. I knooooow, I know, he’s Jazzy’s! It doesn’t make me like him any less. Though he is all Jasprit’s.. Anyhow, he’s witty, brave, a complete mystery still (I need to know the background story to of the main ship right this very second!!!) and he’s just a fun guy to spend time with. I like him a lot! 

23. Best 2014 debut you read?

Open Road Summer. Read more on the why’s in answer 6.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I can’t pick Days of Blood and Starlight for every answer, can I? *groans* okokk I got this! I’m reading Cress right now (and I read Scarlet at the beginning of the year) and I can honestly say that Marissa Meyer is a magical human being. I’m not a fan of sci-fi, but her world, while full of scientific everything, is so colorful, vivid and magnificent! Love it a whole bunch! 

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

It’s probably Fangirl, because it was just so goofy and Levi x Cait is an adorable ship and I had such a big smile on my face most of the time. 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

Oh lord what is this?? Ummmm haa. It’d be easier to name books that didn’t make me cry. I’m such a crier when reading and I’m going to blame my sensitive Virgo nature for this. The book I cried the most during was Addicted After All. I seriously didn’t see anything at one point and it hurt so much in my chest that I almost couldn’t breathe for a few seconds, but I also cried like a maniac during all the happy scenes. Idk I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT BOOK OKAY. 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to answer in this one. Is it a book that I think was amazing but not many people have read it or?? Ok, whatever it is, I’m going to answer with Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross, because that book was such a cutie pie book with a beautiful romance, a good father-daughter relationship and achieving your dreams. I can’t wait to acquire a paperback and I hope more people read this, because it truly is worth all the praise I can’t seem to stop giving. Also, I want to say Magnolia by Kristi Cook, because not nearly enough people have read it and it's wonderful! Look out for my reviews for both of these in 2015.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Seriously, everything is Addicted After All and Days of Blood and Starlight right now. Ugh. And I can’t pick that spoilers-if-I-say-its-name book. I didn’t have soul-crushing books other than these three this year. But I did cry a lot during Come Back to Me. 

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

Probably The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon because holy world building. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with this thorough world building (cough info dump cough) and it was all very unique and different. Definitely excited to see what happens in the sequel. 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

It’s actually a book that I didn’t officially read (for the sake of spoilers). I ranted about it on twitter and a bunch of my friends asked questions so I ended up emailing them and some of them haven’t even followed the series from the start and know next to nothing about these characters and they were angry and frustrated about it as well, because what kind of author does THAT?? I can understand breaking up a ship that I’ve been all in with since day one, but it’s the final book and you crush absolutely everything you’ve built, throughout the entire series, in the final ¼ of the final book? I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS and I will always give this particular book (the rest of the series is gold) a stink eye BECAUSE. 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014?

I discovered a bunch of new blogs and blogging friends, as well as twitter friends, and I want to thank all of you, and I really, really hope I won’t forget anyone. In a completely random order, here goes: 

People I’ve met in 2014 through blogging: Rashika, Faye, Aimee, Jess, Allie, Lily, Cait, Zoe, Kimberly, Lola, Carmel, Jessica, Rachel, Danielle, Joy, Emma, Jeann, Summer, Ella, Larissa, Celine, Melliane, Sarah, Michelle, Sarika, Janhvi, Lisa. I'm honestly surprised that I met some of you only this year, because I feel like I have found a part of my soul with you. Some of you have become my favorite people to talk to and I know I can confide in you about everything, not just bookish things, and even if we don't talk or text every day, I hold each and every one of you close to my heart. Thank you for making this blogging experience more than enjoyable!

People I’ve met in 2014 through twitter (and mostly Addicted Series): Sue (her bookish account), Jenn, Jae, Nazeefa, Eri, Lisa, Sil, Almera, Laura, Nicolette, Amy, Paula, Anisha, Alexandra, Amy, Lanie, Jullie, Kruti, June, Danielle. You guys! Starting this year, I never imagined that I'd gain so many wonderful, hilarious, snarky and fangirly friends in my life. You make my twitter feed an awesome place to hang, always have opinions on everything and I can count on you to pick me up when I'm feeling down. Getting all sorts of teary eyed here //sniffs// but seriously, you're all so amazing! I can't even remember that boring old twitter life without you all, and almost all of you are hardcore Addicted fans and I'm so proud to be in Fizzle Force with such passionate, courageous and fun people. Thank you for book pushing your favorites on me, always brightening my day and making me laugh when I need it the most!

And a super special thanks to all of you magical, gorgeous people from the past few years: Nick, Jasprit, Jenny, Rachel, Giselle, Lauren, Tanja, Glass, Krista, Becca, Melanie, Nereyda, Brandi, Mel, Amber, Christina, Aman, Dianne, Andrea, Sam, Janina. You have been here throughout all this time and whether or not we talk daily, whether or not we comment on each other's blogs every day, whether or not you have stopped blogging or are on hiatus/post over a long period of times, you're all so inspirational and I have endless admiration and love for you. I can't imagine this blogging journey without all of you and I seriously don't know what to say to tell you how much you all mean to me. Thank you for being you, for encouraging me and thank you for loving books just as much as I do, if not more!

I sincerely hope I didn’t forget anyone, but if I did, I apologize. You’re all very dear to me and I wish I could throw a big Addicted series themed party, feed you cupcakes and hug you forever. I love you!

2. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I’m mostly all about reviews, but out of all the tour posts I did this year, my favorite has to be Hothouse Flower’s where the Addicted cast played The Newlyweds Game or Thrive’s where the same characters had to create their dating profiles. 

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

All the (very few) blog tours, Lily Calloway’s birthday and Loren Hale’s birthday events. Alsoooo, it’s not this blog related, but the Thrive challenge Sue hosted on tumblr was freaking amazing. 

4. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

A lot of my bookish friends have been featured at the back of a lot of books in acknowledgements or have been blurbed on the covers etc and each time I flail like a decent fangirl when that happens, but now I know what it feels like to be in their shoes, because my blog was mentioned at the back of Thrive and I seriously started crying, showed it to my mom and even she got glassy eyed, because it’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I will remember this until the end of times. Thank you! 

Also, I met Rashika this summer and it was one of the best experiences ever to meet one of my favorite people in real life. Thank you for showing me around in Helsinki and taking me to places I had yet to go during all my trips there, thank you for coming to the concert with me and thank you for your endless support in everything!

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

Yeah, I did! I read more than 70 books, read 22 standalones (aimed 20) and 8 debuts (aimed 5). The only “challenge” I failed at was finishing series—6 finished series (aimed 40 o_____o) which makes 15% of my goal. Um, better luck next year????

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

Oh, but there are so many! For starters, Something Real by Heather Demetrios, Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, and also Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, The Archived by Victoria Schwab, Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios and so many others. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

FUEL THE FIRE BY KRISTA AND BECCA RITCHIE OMG THIS BOOK WILL BE MY LIFE NEXT YEAR AND I DON’T EVEN REGRET SAYING IT RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW I WON’T LATER BECAUSE LAST COBALLOWAY POV BOOK OMG I’M SOBBING EXCUSE ME. 

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard simply because Sue recs and hot guys and gorgeous cover and a promising premise and just everything. //goes into zombie mode// Puuublish thaaat playliiist alreadyyy, Sueeee!

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

I can’t wait to have the final book of The Raven Cycle series in my hands (nvm that I have only read TRB but it’s the sole reason why I’ve been putting off reading TDT and BLLB, because #4 is so far away) and the end of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. 

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

Read more books than this year? Be more selective and enjoy myself more, less reading slumps and find a secret stash of motivation inside myself to blog more often? Yeah, that about sums it up! 

6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone

I have only read one and that was Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols which was really cute and fluffy, and yes, I’m recommending this for a day in beach or a warm summer night or when you’re in the mood for something summery :)

And that is a wrap! I can't imagine that this year is almost over. I hope you had a great reading year, visited a lot of cool, magical and wonderful worlds, met a lot of awesome characters, sailed on many, many ships and, what's more, I hope 2015 will be even better for you! I'm leaving you with some photos of my bookish year. Thank you for everything and see you again in 2015! <3