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!