Friday 27 December 2013

End of Year Book Survey.



Hello everyone, 2013 has been a wonderful reading year for both Rachel and I, we discovered several new beautiful reads, read books which kept us up until the early hours and had some books that we just wanted to drop everything for, so that we could stay at home all day long and read. We thought the perfect way to recap our reading year was to take part in Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner's 2013 End of Year Book Survey! 





1. Best Book you read in 2013? 
Jasprit: Contemporary YA: Fire with Fire by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian, Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend by Louise Rozett, Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Dystopian/ Post-Apocalyptic: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa, Angelfall by Susan Ee
Paranormal: Fire with Fire by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian, The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Science-fiction: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, Parallel by Lauren Miller, The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna.
Fantasy: Fractured by Sarah Fine, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, 

Rachel: Contemporary YA/NA: All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry,Dare to You by Katie McGarry, Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic:  Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi, The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
Paranormal: The Black Heart by Holly Black
Science-Fiction:  Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris, Pivot Point by Kasie West
Fantasy:  Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn't?
Jasprit: Taken by Erin Bowman
  
Rachel: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, Boundless by Cynthia Hand
  
3. Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2013?
Jasprit: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Rachel: The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
Jasprit: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Rachel: The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
Jasprit: Guards of the Shadowlands by Sarah Fine: Sanctum and Fractured. 

Rachel: Love Me With Lies by Tarryn Fisher, Amour et Chocolate by Laura Florand

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2013?
Jasprit: Lauren Miller, Sangu Mandanna, Sarah Fine, Cristin Terrill

Rachel: Laura Florand, Tarryn Fisher, Lauren Layne

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Jasprit: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Rachel: Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews, Iced (Dani O'Malley #1) by Karen Marie Moning

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Jasprit: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Rachel: The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

9. Book you read in 2013, that you are most likely to re-read next year?
Jasprit: The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot. I love this series so much, and I'm so sad that it's come to an end, I think I will need a definite re-read of the entire series next year.

Rachel: Iced by Karen Marie Moning in prep for Burned this summer! The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand just because I loved it sooo much! Favorite romance of the year!

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2013? 
Jasprit: 

Rachel:
The Chocolate Touch  (Amour et Chocolat #4) 


11. Most memorable character in 2013? 
Jasprit: Heather Wells from Meg's Heather Wells series.

Rachel: Olivia from the Love Me With Lies series by Tarryn Fisher

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Jasprit: If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

Rachel: The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
Jasprit: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Rachel: The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher.  I still think a lot about about the whole series.

14. Book that you can't believe you waited until 2013 to read?
Jasprit: Angelfall by Susan Ee. I remember all the hype that was surrounding this book when it was first released. Me being the wary reader I was decided to not jump onto the bandwagon straight away. Two years later when I finally gave this book I was simply blown away.

Rachel: Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I've always been afraid to pick it up, but I ended up loving it. I would like to see what happens years later, though!

15. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2013?
Jasprit: “This book is a treasure; I did not suspect it would be so good when I picked it up, but now I can feel the printed words seeping through my skin and into my veins, rushing to my heart and marking it forever. I want to savour this wonder, this happening of a loving book and reading it for the first time, because the first time is always the best, and I will never read this book for the first time again”  If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

Rachel: He wanted to find that one person and just give her all of him, his heart, his head, his body. He wanted the sound and scent of her in his apartment, he wanted to be cooking with her in the kitchen, he wanted babies eventually, waking them up every two hours and leaving toys for him to trip over. ~The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand

16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?
Jasprit: Longest: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sarra Manning (560 pages)
Shortest: Lila and Alex Short story. X-rated by Sarah Alderson (13 pages).

Rachel: Longest:The Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (570 pages) 
Shortest: Curran: Magic Strikes Hot Tub Scene (18 pages)

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it?
Jasprit: There's actually two books that come to mind. First is The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa. First of all how insane was this book and then we were left with this cruel ending. And then there was Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian. This totally messed with my feelings. And now there's year long waits for the next books :(

Rachel: Two books: Left Drowning by Jessica Park. I got to a scene where a character does something that ticked me off SO BAD I had to text three of my friends immediately! Long ranty texts followed with back and forth for quite sometime. Still ticks me off to think about it!! Also, Dirty Red by Tarryn Fisher. After I finished I wanted to jump up and down over all the revelations!! I read this with my book friend, Arlene and my husband, but Arlene and I finished first.  We had to keep whispering in corners (we were at the Mid-Winter ALA together) about everything because my husband would've literally (maybe, lol!) killed us if we spoiled anything.

18. Favourite relationship from a book you read in 2013?
Jasprit: Warden and Paige's relationship in The Bone Season. I loved how I didn't really know what I would be getting, but the development was a great one.

Rachel: Dominique and Jaime in The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand.  They were both tender and bruised souls in need of the love each other provided. So very lovely!
  
19. Favourite book you read in 2013 from an author you've read previously?
Jasprit: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Rachel: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

20. Best book you read in 2013 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?
Jasprit: The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo

Rachel: The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand (Keertana @Ivy Book Bindings, thank you!)
The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher (Arlene @Winterhaven Books)

21. Genre you read the most from in 2013?
Jasprit: Contemporary YA.

Rachel: Contemporary romance NA/Adult.
 
22. Newest fictional book crush from a book you read in 2013?
Jasprit: Raffe from Angelfall. 

Rachel: Dominique from The Chocolate Touch, Ryodan from Iced by Karen Marie Moning

23. Best 2013 debut you read?
Jasprit: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Rachel: The Opportunisty by Tarryn Fisher, Pivot Point by Kasie West, Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
Jasprit: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon or Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

Rachel: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews, The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2013?
Jasprit: Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend or The Bride wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot.

Rachel: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2013?
Jasprit: If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

Rachel: The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher, Left Drowning by Jessica Park

27. Book you read in 2013 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
Jasprit: You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle. This book definitely deserves so much praise, it was different to what I was expecting, but also provided us with a great journey with the characters.

Rachel: All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry. The story was surprisingly good with a romance filled with longing and a mystery that kept you guessing. The second personal narrative made it stand out for me even more!



1. New favourite blog you discovered in 2013.

Rachel: Tanja & Glass at Ja čitam, a ti Aman at Enticed by Books, Siiri at Little Pieces of Imagination

2. Best event you participated in?
Jasprit: I was actually able to attend some incredible author events this year. Including meeting Sarah J. Maas, Samantha Shannon, Leila Sales and Sarra Manning.

Rachel: I'm pretty fortunate as a lot of authors blow through the Los Angeles area, so I was lucky enough to see Richelle Mead again for the release of Gameboard of the Gods, which was all kinds of fun. The Summer Lovin' Tour  featuring Sarah Ockler, Jessi Kirby, Morgan Matson, Shannon Messenger, Kimberly Derting, and Suzanne Young back in May of this year was a laugh a minute! I got beaned in the head by candy (thrown by said authors) for answering book questions correctly. What more could you want from a signing?!

3. Best moment of book blogging/ your book life in 2013?
Jasprit: Having some of of my favourite authors acknowledge a review I've written of one of their books.
And getting to know some really fabulous and generous authors and bloggers. A special shout out to Sarah Alderson, Sam, Maja, Siiri, Nick, Jenny, Jess and Melissa. (Sorry if I've forgotten anyone else).

Rachel: Going to the Mid-Winter ALA in Seattle and then the main event ALA in Chicago were both super fun! Kid in a candy store, I tell you! Also, I got to hang out with some of my best book friends and all we did was gossip books *heaven*.  Having a quote from my review listed in a couple of books was awfully nice as well!  Interacting with our awesome bloggy friends, as Jasprit mentioned above is always a highlight to me! My go to girls: Jenny, Andrea, Keertana, Maja, Siiri, Glass, Tanja, Nick, Sam, and Aman.  I always know I'm going to have a laugh, and add way too many books to my TBR when I visit their sites! But also, weed some out through their helpful and insightful comments and reviews.




1. One Book you didn't get to in 2013, but will be your number one priority in 2014.
Jasprit: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty. I've lost count from the number of times I've been planning to read this book and just not got around to it. 2014 for sure! 

Rachel: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

2. Book you are most anticipating for 2014 (non-debut)
Jasprit: Shimmer by Paula Weston, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.

Rachel: Burned by Karen Marie Moning (Here I come Ryodan! Jenny, prepare!), Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Cycle #3 (no title yet) by Maggie Stiefvater

3. 2014 debut you are most anticipating?
Jasprit: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy, Pointe by Brandy Colbert.

Rachel: I seriously can't come up with one! My mind is totally blank for this category!

4. Series ending you are most anticipating in 2014?
Jasprit: Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han, The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa and Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

Rachel: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi, although, I may have to hurt someone upon finishing depending on how the love triangle resolves *sigh*, Oblivion (Nevermore #3) by Kelly Creagh, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins: This is another one I'm nervous about. All the date extensions make me a little nervous.

We hope that you all had a wonderful reading year too! We will be back in the New Year with lots more reviews and fun posts. Happy New Year!

18 comments:

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

This is so cute, Jasprit and Rachel! I'm so glad I found your blog this year, and Meg Cabot tweeted at you!!! How cool is that?! You girls rock :)

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

Love this! That Meg Cabot tweet would have made my year. A fantastic reading year! Here's to another one in 2014. *clinks glasses*

Jenny said...

This is such a fantastic survey, I'm putting my answers up tomorrow and Sunday! It's just so much fun to see what books everyone else loved this year and why:) I'm seeing a lot of The Chocolate Touch from Rachel, and I've heard nothing but good things about that series, so clearly I need to add it to my list. I agree with Warden and Paige completely Jasprit, their relationship was definitely one of my favorites this year as well!

tthepageturner said...

The 5th Wave and Angelfall are both brilliant. <3

Jasprit, the relationship between Warner and Paige in TBS really surprised me, too. I honestly didn't think there would be a romance at one point.
Oh, Raffe. *swoons* Great choice!
Heather is such a fun character, and it's awesome that Meg tweeted your review!

Rachel, I am mega scared and just a little bit existed about Ignite Me. Mostly scared, though.

Hope you both had a lovely xmas! :D

Siiri said...

Reading these is so much fun and it's great to compare books like this. I'm posting mine on Monday :) I read the questions and tried to guess your answers before I read them and Fangirl for Jasprit's most surprising was definitely a hit for me haha. I did miss some questions though lol. "Left Drowning by Jessica Park. I got to a scene where a character does something that ticked me off SO BAD I had to text three of my friends immediately! Long ranty texts followed with back and forth for quite sometime. Still ticks me off to think about it!! Also, Dirty Red by Tarryn Fisher. After I finished I wanted to jump up and down over all the revelations!! I read this with my book friend, Arlene and my husband, but Arlene and I finished first. We had to keep whispering in corners (we were at the Mid-Winter ALA together) about everything because my husband would've literally (maybe, lol!) killed us if we spoiled anything." -- RACHEL! OMG. First of all, I know EXACTLY which scene you are referring to. God, that dude was so over the line when he did THAT O.o I still haven't forgiven him... -.- Also, I've yet to read Dirty Red because I don't remember everything that went down in The Opportunist (though it's one of my favorite mind-fuck and pull-my-hear-out books. Love that book so hard! And hate it at the same time, haha.) and you know.. who doesn't hate Leah. That girl is just.. unbearable. I have no idea what I'd feel like to be inside her head. I agree with you on All Our Yesterdays! I want to read that one BAD, especially thanks to Jasprit's glowing review ;) Thanks so much for including me on your favorite bloggers list, girls! You two are beyond wonderful and I'm glad that we don't always love the same books, but rather share interest in same stuff and get to fangirl over things and also debate on some parts. Broadens my view of world and view on books, heh ;) Also, the other girls you listed? They're all amazing! I love Aman, Jenny and Lauren so hard, haha. They're fantastic and I actually discovered Aman's blog thanks to yours and Jenny's :) I'm waiting for The Winner's Curse and Sinner as well! Sinner. Oh, my god, Sinner. I have been waiting FOREVER for this release *jumps up and down excitedly* I hope we all have a great blogging/reading year in 2014 and can't wait to read some amazeballs books already :) *hugs*

Unknown said...

I love reading these because I get so many book suggestions! Rachel, I'm pretty sure Jasprit already told you (since that was her pick for thriling), but YES, 2014, you need to read All Our Yesterdays. How have I not heard about The Gathering Dark by BARDUGO? Bardugo is fantastic. And that tweet from Meg Cabot is amazing. I would die right there if she did that to me. I have so many comments on all of this swarming in my head, but I don't even know where to continue! Great post, ladies, 2013 seems to have been a great reading year for both of you!

Leanna Elle said...

I've loved reading the answers to this survey all around the blogosphere! Sounds like I need to check out The Opportunist!

Very cool tweet from Meg Cabot, btw. :)

Hope you both had a lovely Christmas! x

Carina Olsen said...

Ohh. Awesome list you guys :D I loved reading about all the books you read this year. <3 Sigh. Graceling. I just can't get over how good it is :)

Amanda said...

Jasprit: I am so glad that you found Graceling! And All Our Yesterdays really is such a valid answer to so many of these questions. :) You do need to read Sloppy Firsts asap!
Rachel: I really need to start Laura Florand's Chocolate et Amor series, as well as Moning's paranormal series (starting with Darkfever there, though). I haven't heard of The Opportunist, but clearly I need to look into it!
Happy Holidays to both of you.

Ronyell (a.k.a. Rabbitearsblog) said...

Awesome job Rachel and Jasprit!!! I love the way this survey is set up and I'm definitely working on my favorite reads of 2013 down the line! It must have been amazing to have Meg Cabot comment on your blog like that! I get giddy whenever an author comments on the great work I've done on my blog!

Tanja - Tanychy said...

Rachel girl thank you so much for mentioning us there! It was an amazing year for us and I had such a great time with commenting here. I love it, every single thing on your blog :) I cannot wait to see what you have for us next year ;)
Girls these are some great answers and you seem like you had a great year. I still haven't read many of the books you put there but they're all on my to-read list. I'll make sure to read them asap.
Great post :))

Henrietta @ Leisure Reads said...

Looks like I have a bunch of books that I must add to my read list - thanks for sharing what you loved and are anticipating - Have a Happy Early New Year! :D

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

I'm so glad you got around to Angelfall this year, Jasprit! And that you picked up Stolen this year, Rachel. Both of those books are absolute favorites of mine. :) We also share a lot of other favourites, such as Just One Day, Through the Ever Night and The 5th Wave. Shimmer, The Winner's Curse and Raven Cycle #3 are among my most anticipated books of 2014 too. And Isla and Dreams of Gods and Monsters! Gosh, I can't wait. I've been dying to get my hands on some these. Rachel, I might have to bother you for spoilers when Ignite Me comes out. I don't think I could take it if the love triangle doesn't wrap up the way I want it to! And thanks so much for the mentions, you two! I think it's been just over two years now that we've known each other? Crazy! You guys were among my very first GR/blogging friends and I'm so glad to have been able to keep up with you both in 2013. Here's to another great year in 2014! :) <3

Unknown said...

Flipping heck you've both chosen some excellent books there! If He Had Been With Me totally ripped my heart out! Not long until BURNED, Rachel! Hope you both have an absolutely fantastic 2014 :)

Lauren @ Love is not a triangle said...

I'm amazed at anyone who fills out this survey. I tried to answer the first two and gave up! From this, I need to read Fractured and Confessions Of… series as well as the chocolate books. I'm still afraid of The Opportunist, but everyone who reads it LOVES it, and I trust your romance recommendations, Rachel. I also agree with what you said about Boundless (I'm officially erasing that book from my mind), and I'm not going near Taken! I also think I'll skip Left Drowning if you still haven't gotten over something one of the characters does. SHIMMER! I can't wait for it either, and I'm freaked about IGNITE ME. I think Jasprit likes Warner, do you too, Rachel? THANK YOU for mentioning me Jasprit! I always love what you ladies are reading. Rachel, I'm going to email you about ALA. Are you going this year? I'm headed to Midwinter in Philly at the end of the month and I have no idea what to expect. Is it like BEA? Any advice is great! Happy 2014 ladies!!

Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm said...

Lots of great books! You've mentioned some that I've really enjoyed, but lots that I am still dying to read. I am still desperate to read the 5th Wave, Angelfall, All Our Yesterdays and anything by Rainbow Rowell!

Great answers. My End of Year Survey.

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