Despite this, I managed to read a creditable 111 books this year. Some were amazeballs, a couple were bad, but I don't regret a single one. Like Neil gaiman said, 'I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else'.
This end of year survey is hosted by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner. Thanks Jamie! I've taken out the bit in the middle about my blogging life as I've not been as active in the blogging community as I've wanted to be (see above re. lack of time) but hopefully people might find some inspiration from my list.
Happy new year everyone! Here's to a bookish 2017.
Number Of Books You Read: 111
Number of Re-Reads: 1
Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary YA
Best In Books
1. Best Book You Read In 2016?
ACOMAF. I know this is probably going to be on a lot of bloggers’ lists, but it absolutely blew me away! Just ... I can’t even. I never thought I’d love a book as much as I loved this one. Perfect on every level and has entered my Top Five Books of All Time list.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. I was so excited (time travel!) but I just couldn’t get into it. Overwritten and navel-gazey.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portas. I was genuinely surprised at how much this book affected me. A protagonist who I didn’t really like to begin with and who truly grows over the course of the book and a kinda-love story that haunted me for a long while afterwards.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
ACOMAF! I bought it for my sister for Christmas along with ACOTAR, even though they’re not really her usual genre. I also bought the two books for my Secret Santa at work and it was only when we were all opening the gifts that I realised that a book with that much sex in might be considered inappropriate!
5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?
The best series starter of 2016 was An Ember in the Ashes. The second book has come out, but I’m waiting until the series has finished before I binge them all in one go.
Best sequel - ACOMAF. I know. I’m trying not to put it as my answer to every question.
I don’t *think* I ended any series this year. Maybe next year.
6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2015?
Robin Reul. Her debut, My Kind Of Crazy, was hilarious and touching in equal measure and I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by her in the future.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
I don’t usually read NA, but the best NA book I read this year was Understanding Nora by Ruby Malloy. It’s a sweet love story and as mucky as anything!
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee. It was like a soap opera set in the future. I literally couldn’t put it down and I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed it!
9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
I might give The Thousandth Floor another go, especially as the sequel is due out in August.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?
The Monstrous Child. I got it as a library book and the stars and lettering are picked out in bronze foil. The book itself was only okay, but the cover and illustrations inside are just heavenly.
11. Most memorable character of 2016?
Hazel from the Saga series. Awesome series, awesome kid.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?
The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman. I didn’t love the book per se, although I did enjoy it, but the writing was gorgeous.
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?
The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah. She was an author I’d always meant to try out, but this book was so unbelievably bad that I’ve taken a lifelong vow never to touch anything of hers ever again.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?
Junk by Melvin Burgess. First published in 1996, but Melvin only came on my radar as an author this year. This book was like a YA Trainspotting. Utterly terrifying.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?
“To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."
Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?
Shortest - The Egg by Andy Weir (of The Martian fame). Four pages!
Longest - Winter by Marissa Meyer. 832 pages! Miles too long. The same story could have been told in about 400 pages and would have been just as good.
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
The Problem with Forever by Jennifer Armentrout. It was shocking. Ly bad.
18. OTP Of The Year (I will go down with this ship!)
Marko and Alana from the Saga graphic novels. They make being parents look sexy.
19. Favourite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Dara and Nick - the two sisters in Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver. I can’t really say why without giving the game away about the book, but if you’ve read it you’ll know.
20. Favourite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I loved the other two books in her series, so I was super excited to read this one. It didn’t disappoint!
21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli. Pure peer pressure and it turns out that everyone was right - this is a great book.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?
Rhys from ACOMAF. Just because.
23. Best 2016 debut you read?
My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul.
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
The Thousandth Floor. I know a ten-mile high (or whatever it was) building isn’t actually possible, but dammit, this book made it feel like it was.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Going to Sea ina Sieve by Danny Baker. He is one funny gent.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?
Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes. I don’t often cry at books, but I did with this one!
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Does this qualify as a hidden gem? It was definitely off my usual radar and it was really good!
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Again, Anatomy of a Misfit. I don’t cry often when reading, but I was a mess after this one.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?
Gotta be the Saga series of graphic novels. They totally win an award for Most Use of Crazy Imagination in the Universe Ever!
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Girl Up by Laura Bates. It makes me angry on a near-constant basis how much the media objectifies women, and Laura put her arguments across more succinctly than I ever could.
Looking Ahead
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand. Kept meaning to read it. Still haven’t.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?
A Court of Wings and Fury. Oh yeah!
3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti. Let’s hope the story is as lush as the cover!
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?
A Court of Wings and Ruin! Also the sequel to The Thousandth Floor.
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?
I really want to go to YALC this year, having spectacularly failed to get my bum in gear for the last two years.
6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
I’ve only read one 2017 release - The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr. It was pretty good though!