Event hosted by A Life Bound by Books, Confessions of a Bookaholic, Fiktshun, and Two Chicks On Books
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! It’s time to start recapping my favorites of this year and look forward to what’s in store in 2012. Today’s post is for my top ten favorite reads. It seemed impossible to do, but I finally narrowed it down:
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater – (Review) – The biggest and best surprise of the year for me. This book is quietly stunning and even now, weeks after I read it, it still has a pull on me. A favorite for all time and that last line? Perfection.
• Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor – (Review) – This is a fantastically layered book that has some familiar elements found in other novels but Laini Taylor offers a new edge. The world is so imaginative, enthralling, and, as I’ve mentioned them before, those “Hello”s are a killer. Swoon!
• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins – (Review) – This was only my most anticipated book of the year, so… high expectations, right? No need to fear, Stephanie Perkins delivered with another lovely story with the right amount of sweetness, yearning, and everything wonderful.
• Divergent by Veronica Roth – (Review) – So.much.fierceness! While this is definitely action packed and thrilling, Veronica Roth matched that with equally compelling characters. In addition to that, the romance offers a slow burn based on mutual respect.
• The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson – (Review) – I fangirled over this book after I read it and I’m happy to do it again: AMAZING READ, OMG. Elisa’s character arc was incredible and I could gush all day about the unexpected — but awesome — places Rae Carson took the story.
• Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick – (Review) – I sped through this book as if it were water and I was dying of thirst. I could not read it fast enough and yet I dreaded every page turn because things were so C-R-A-Z-Y. This was definitely the most intense read for me this year and it was so good.
• A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee – (Review) – Not only was the mystery fun to unravel, but Mary and James are great leads and their chemistry is some of the best everrrrrrr. Seriously, it pretty much oozes off the page and, psst, it only gets better in book two (and I’m sure book three which I will get too soon!).
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – Review – I didn’t review this one because I wouldn’t be able to detail how affecting the book is. Beautiful and brutal.
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand – (Review) – Cynthia Hand more than made up for the horrible angel books I read prior to hers and I actually love this one more with each re-read. The mythology is interesting, her characters are fully fleshed out, and she still manages to keep an air of mystery surrounding everything. Also, Tucker!!!
• Blood Red Road by Moira Young – (Review) – Blood Red Road is awesome because it has: a lot of adventure, a unique writing style, a prickly and flawed main character, a handsome and charming guy, an awesome pet crow, a group of kickass females, and other excellent elements that I will not detail because you should read this ASAP!
I wouldn’t be me without cheating somehow, so here are some honorable mentions as well:
• Angelfall by Susan Ee – I just finished this yesterday and I’m still in a state of CAPS LOCK over it. My review will be up soon, but you should just go ahead it buy it for your Kindle or Nook. 99 cents, people! Don’t miss out!
• Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren – (Review) – Exciting adventure, great romance, and a story full of heart. This book has everything!
• Unwind by Neal Shusterman – (Review) – Terrifying and haunting, this book has one of the most chilling scenes I’ve ever read.
• Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare – (Review) – So much Jem goodness! Plus, this really was an excellent followup to the first book.
What are your favorite reads of the year? Do we share any of the same books? Let me know!
About Stephanie
Lol! I also cheated :D
Snap on many of the books as well ;)
Ten is such a tiny number. I resisted adding more, lol.
I’m a big cheater too ;-) I loved Divergent, Lola and the Boy Next Door, Clockwork Prince and Unearthly. I want to read Blood Red Road, Unwind, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and The Girl of Fire and Thorns.
My Top 10 of 2011
I hope you enjoy them when you check them out. Judging by your list + the books you already love, I think you will!
Great list! Lola is on mine as well, and several others on my TBR. There just needs to be more time! Haha.
Andie
My Top Ten
I feel you on the time thing. It’s a never ending list! ;P
I’m not sure any “Top xx” list is complete without DOSAB and Divergent gracing the lists. Two of my absolute favourite novels!! Oh my gosh. Yes. And The Scorpio Races… maybe my favourite of Maggie’s so far. And I LOVE Lola, Waterfall and Unwind <3 I've been seeing Angelfall around a lot lately and am so intrigued. It's that good?! So excited for your review!
YES, IT IS THAT GOOD! I really think you would love it so I hope you get to check it out! :D Major love for the other books! <33
Wow. Your description for The Scorpio Races has me moving that one to the top of the to-read list! Thanks for visiting Babies, Books, and Signs.
I loved Divergent so much! Unearthly is on the top of my to read list! I absolutely love Unwind. I’m reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone right now- it is beautifully amazing! Great list!
Everything that I’ve read from your list is on mine too, ahaha …Except Waterfall, but I only read the first few chapters. I was reading something else at the same time and sadly it got put aside and forgotten, but I’m tempted to pick it up again seeing that it’s on your list! And ahhh of the books I haven’t read, I have most of them, but just haven’t had the chance yet! I’ll definitely have to bump them all up on my to-read list!
I love love the book Unwind. One I would’ve never picked up if it weren’t for my book club! Check out mine too!
Angie
XOXO Angela’s Anxious Life
Clockwork Prince is my top TO-READ book. I just have to wait for one more Christmas present next weekend to make sure I am not being given it. I almost ordered it last night, but decided to wait just in case! LOL I have actually only read two of the books on your list – Lola and Unearthly. Many of the others are on my TBR list, though. :-)
Thanks for stopping by PBN!
Divergent made a lot of people’s top ten, and I really liked The Girl of Fire and Thorns too :)
So nice to see the Agency series getting a mention here! I love the dynamic between Mary and James and am really looking forward to book 3 – it feels like we’ve been waiting forever for it! I received A Monster Calls for Christmas and I’ve heard that it’s such a powerful, moving book so I really must get on that soon. So many books to read!!
That’s an EPIC list right there!!
Thanks for stopping by! :)
Great list! I’ve seen The Girl of Fire and Thorns on enough lists now that I really need to read it myself!:) The same with Blood Red Road.
I love your design by the way, very professional looking and nothing like all the other book blogs I read! New follower!:)
TSR, Lola, Divergent, Unearthly, CP and TGOFAT were so good! I’m glad they made your list :) I’ve STILL yet to read DOSAB and Blood Red Road but I know they’ll both be amazing ;) I’m looking forward to read the Waterfall series too! <3 Thanks for stopping by :)
Loved so many of these! I can’t believe Ashes didn’t even pop up in my head, that was such a great book. I’m currently reading and enjoying The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I have Waterfall and hope to read it soon. Enjoy the rest of 2011!
Great list! I have The Agency books on my TBR, glad to hear you enjoyed them! (:
Thank you for visiting my blog <3
Great list! I COMPLETELY agree about The Scorpio Races…so amazing!
Jess @ Gone with the Words
My TTT post!
Thanks for sharing your list & I’m really happy to see Blood Red Road on yours too. That was such an amazing book! I’m just about finished with Ashes. I haven’t been able to read the last few days, but WOW did that book get good quick!
-Lisa
So glad to see The Scorpio Races on your list too! Definitely a big surprise for me as well. That is one book that’ll sit comfortably on my favorites shelf for a long long time.
I love your picks! I read a lot of them this year, and loved them (especially Blood Red Road). I still need to read A Monster Calls, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I hear they are so good!
So many on your list that I still need to read! I hope to get to Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Lola and the Boy Next Door pretty quick, since I got them for Christmas. I’ve not heard too much about Angelfall and Unwind, which is cool because I always love to learn about new books on people’s top 10 lists. Patrick Ness is my new favourite author so I’m going to need A Monster Calls soon. After The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men, of course.