Top 10 of 2012: Looking Forward to 2013

Top 10 of 2012 is a week long event celebrating the best of books from the past year. It is co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, & Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward To in 2013

This is the one category where I didn't feel like I could stick even close to only 10 books. So many of the 10 I initially wrote down were the conclusion or continuation of favourite series, which is great. But what about those titles I've already had the pleasure of reading that deserve to be spotlighted? And what about the new standalones or starts to new series? They're definitely equally as exciting. So here are the books I'm most looking forward to in 2013, separated into 3 sections.

The releases I've already read & adored:

1. The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2) by Maureen Johnson
I loved The Name of the Star, and this sequel is pretty much as good. Warning: the ending may cause you some therapy hours.

2. Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
I loved this one so much that I had to add it to my Top 10 of 2012. Possibly even better than Cinder.

3. Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) by Kristen Simmons
This sequel to Article 5 is incredibly action-packed and interesting.

4. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
I am a huge fan of Gayle's, and this book is just fabulous. It has left me dying for the sequel, written from the guy's POV.

5. Shadowlands by Kate Brian
I have been a fan of Kate Brian/Kieran Scott for SO long now, and I was thrilled to read this one early. Let me say that the ending was crazy!

6. Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
This was easily one of my most anticipated for 2013, and now that I've read it I can say that I enjoyed it as much as Miranda's previous books.

Additions to series I'm a huge fan of:

1. Just One Year (Just One Day #2) by Gayle Forman
See above, re: Just One Day. I need to get into Willem's head!!

2. Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand
Team Tucker! In all seriousness I can't wait to see what happens with all the angels and their purposes.

3. Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Taherah Mafi
Okay I still haven't finished book 1.5, but I am super curious what will happen next!

4. The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead
More Sydney/Adrian is needed pronto. 'Nuff said.

5. Requiem (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver
Okay I saw the ending to Pandemonium coming miles away and yet it still made my heart stutter. I need this book nowwwww!

6. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare
I can't possibly see a happy ending to this, I am deathly afraid of what will happen, but I will basically need to inhale this as soon as it's released. I am Team Don't Make Me Choose.

7. Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers
Loveddd Grave Mercy, so I'm very psyched for this one. More assassin nuns is always a good thing.

8. The Rising (Darkness Rising #3) by Kelley Armstrong
Eeeep, so excited to connect the Darkest Powers/Darkness Rising characters!

9. Star Cursed (Cahill Witch Chronicles #2) by Jessica Spotswood
The ending of Born Wicked kind of killed me, so I am incredibly curious about what will occur in this one.

10. Currently Untitled (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth
Holy moly, I am definitely intrigued to see what happens here after the big reveal at the end of Insurgent.

Standalones/Start of a New Series:

1. Mind Games by Kiersten White
Alternating POV from sisters with super powers. Sounds fab!

2. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Josh and Isla, yes please. So excited to check out their story, and to see it connected with Anna/Etienne & Lola/Cricket (counting this as a standalone because of it being a companion book rather than a series).

3. Canary by Rachele Alpine
The whole summary reminds me of a Friday Night Lights episode. It's a sports book about the power those important town figures have, and what speaking up about assault might result in.

4. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
I am a Dessen fangirl, so of course I am bouncing off the walls in anticipation of this one.

5. When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney
I really enjoyed The Mockingbirds & The Rivals, and the emotions within them, and this story sounds incredibly moving as well.

6. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
Friends turned lovers & country music!!! Yes please times a zillion.

7. The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
It's Sarah Ockler, so of course it's going on my TBR list. Add in a plot about sisters and a group of heartbreaking brothers and you can colour me intrigued.

8. This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
An accidental email correspondence with a movie star that turns into something more? So good!!

9. Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
Summer romance with an off-limits boy, and what sounds like a tough friendship story as well.

10. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
A girl in witness protection because of something her father did or saw, and the boy who is too smart for his own good. Oooh...

It was a lot of fun coming up with all these lists, and I hope you've enjoyed reading them as well! I also hope that you've been able to add a ton to your TBR list, because I'm sure by the time I read through all of yours I will be adding many books to mine.

Top Ten of 2012: Book Boyfriends

Top 10 of 2012 is a week long event celebrating the best of books from the past year. It is co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, & Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Best Book Boyfriends of 2012

In no particular order... And keep in mind that these quotes may be spoilery to a certain extent.

1. Hector from The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

"I love you the way a drowning man loves air. And it would destroy me to have you just a little."

Oh, Hector. *sigh* You have no idea how much I ship him and Elisa.

2. Gabriel from Spark (Elementals #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

A girl on the cheer squad had once asked Gabriel if having a twin was like looking in a mirror all the time. He'd asked her if being a cheerleader was like being an idiot all of the time - but really, it was a good question.

What? There had to be at least one funny quote. ;) But don't you worry, Gabriel's still so hot that plays with fire -- literally.

3. Adrian from The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

"I tried to be a better person for her– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like… like light made into flesh. […] You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine."

*melts into a puddle*

4. Zachary from Shine (Shade #3) by Jeri Smith-Ready

"I don't need to see you to know that you're beautiful."

Zachary leaned in, and I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead he pressed his cheek to mine and held it there. It felt more intimate than a kiss.

Zachary is just so lovely, he will forever be on this list. Such a fabulous character!

5. Daemon from Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"I always liked you. From the moment you first flipped me off."

"If there is anything, there is us. You and me. No one else."

Daemon is always good for snark and suggestive comments, but he can be pretty swoony as well, I gotta admit.

6. Han Alister from The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima

"So here's the truth - I love you. I love everything about you – [...] You've given me the words I need to become whatever I want. [...] I love how you go after what you want – whether it's kisses or a queendom. [...] I want to breathe you in for the rest of my life."

Jeeze, the swoon here is at such a high level I had to take out sentence upon sentence to make that passage quotable!

7. Jared from Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

"Nothing else ever mattered to me, and you weren’t even real. All I ever wanted was you."

Oh Jared, you co-dependent moody little thing -- why do I love you so?!

8. Josh from The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

"I wished my mother was here tonight, which is stupid, because it’s an impossible wish." He shrugs and turns to me, drowning the smile that cracks me every time.

"It’s not stupid to want to see her again."

"It wasn’t so much that I wanted to see her again," he says, looking at me with the depth of more than seventeen years in his eyes. "I wanted her to see you."

What even. Josh, you are way too swoony. I freaking adore the relationship in this book.

9. Shane from Let It Bleed (WVMP #3.5) by Jeri Smith-Ready

"If I were a poet, I would say you outshine the sun, moon, and stars put together." He steps forward, pressing the length of his body against mine. "But I'm not a poet, so I'll say that no matter what you wear, I always picture you naked."

Okay, there had to be a sexy quote too, and a lot of what Shane says definitely fits the bill. Shane & Ciara's relationship is super hot, but super loving and sweet as well.

10. Chase from Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

"Ember, you're the only piece of me I have left. Everything else - my family, my home, my soul - they're all gone. I don't know who the hell I am anymore. If it weren't for you... I don't know."

He put a hand on his throat, as though trying to stop the words, but they came anyway. "You're home. To me."

I adore how much Chase loves Ember, and how much he's done for her, even when she doesn't realize it at all.

Top 10 of 2012: Best YA Contemporaries

Top 10 of 2012 is a week long event celebrating the best of books from the past year. It is co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, & Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Today is reader's choice day for categories, and I have chosen to feature...

Best YA Contemporaries of 2012

In no particular order...

1. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Gorgeously written and incredibly emotional, this book just confirmed Morgan Matson's status on my auto-buy list.

2. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Despite the crazy twist that occurred part way through, I still really adored this one. I loved the big family aspect, and the relationship between Samantha and Jase felt very realistic.

3. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Miranda Kenneally is the queen of witty, smart, and swoony contemporary YA. I love how this book deals with a lot of sensitive issues without feeling preachy.

4. Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
This book was so emotionally satisfying for me. I adored the romance, but I loved how it was about family and friendship as well. It contains some of the best side characters I've read about in a long time.

5. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
This is my favourite book of the year, so it definitely had to make this list. Heartwrenching, romantic, and just plain fabulous.

6. Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn
This was such a fun romance, and a great book of character growth as well. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it so much, so it was a great surprise. One of the best examples of chemistry between two main characters that I've read lately.

7. From What I Remember by Stacey Kramer & Valerie Thomas
This one is just so much fun. I adore the hate to love trope, and this book pulls it off fabulously. Add in some teens behaving badly and you've got an awesome concept.

8. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Another great combo of family, friends, and romance. Bonus points for a fabulous wintery feel, hockey boys, and lots of cupcakes.

9. Awkward by Marni Bates
I really can't say enough good things about this one. It was so cute, and absolutely hilarious. If you enjoy humourous books with a great romance, definitely check this one out. I also promise that you'll feel completely socially competent next to Mackenzie.

10. Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols
I've liked all the Jennifer Echols books I've read, but none of them have lived up to the first one of hers I read, Going Too Far, until this one. I didn't relate to the main character at all, and yet I still felt for her. There is also a completely hot romance in this one, and not a love triangle like the jacket flap suggests.

Top 10 of 2012: Best Covers

First of all,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I hope you are all having a fabulous holiday, spending lots of time with loved ones, and getting tons of bookish presents under the tree. ;) Lots of love and blessings to anyone not celebrating Christmas as well. =)

Top 10 of 2012 is a week long event celebrating the best of books from the past year. It is co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, & Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Best Book Covers of 2012

In no particular order...

Shatter Me (paperback release) by Taherah Mafi
This one is completely eye catching, and you could probably stare at it for hours to get all the details. Gorgeous!

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse
This one is almost creepy, but it's also intricate and interesting. I love it because it's not like any other YA cover I've seen.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
I haven't read this book, but this cover has stuck in my mind since I first saw it. I love the use of diorama, the way it's split up into sections, and the colours.

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill
I just can't help but love the colours! I didn't love this book as much as everyone else seemed to, but I still adore this cover.

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
This one sticks out to me first and foremost because of the great use of font, but what's also fabulous is that the cover models actually represent the characters perfectly!

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
I love how it's not a photo cover, which makes it automatically unique. It's also pretty and interesting, and it really shows the gothic nature of the story.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Absolutely perfect use of font, and the photo itself is great; put together, these elements make the cover both romantic and memorable.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
I love the ominous barbed wire making its way across the cover! I also like the look of the psi symbol, and I think it will make people curious what it stands for.

The Book of Blood and Shadow (UK cover) by Robin Wasserman
I specifically ordered this UK cover of the book for myself because I love it so much. The colours are beautiful, I love the action element, the tagline is intriguing, and it just comes together to be both gorgeous and mysterious.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
This cover is so simple, but it's really pretty. Lens flare has been a popular element lately, but I think it really works on this one, making the cover look sweet and romantic.

Top 10 of 2012: Best Books

Top 10 of 2012 is a week long event celebrating the best of books from the past year. It is co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, & Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Best Reads of 2012

In no particular order...

1. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
This one was easily my favourite book of the year, and I'm pretty sure it's made my best books EVER list. If you are at all into contemporaries (or even not??) this is a must-read.

2. Come See About Me by C.K. Kelly Martin
An amazing "new adult" story, it's both tragic and romantic. I loved the character journeys in this one.

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
This one is slow paced, but completely magical. I loved the quest aspect, and the friendship between all the characters.

4. Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
The best ending to a trilogy that I've read in a long time, or possibly ever. Mythology, heartache, & swoons.

5. Storm & Spark by Brigid Kemmerer
Had to include both these books, belonging to the fabulous new Elementals series. I fell in love with these brothers and their stories.

6. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Gah, so many tears! Loved the family aspect, the character growth, and the romance.

7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Absolutely kick-butt main character, a mystery, a competition to become the king's assassin, and some swoons as well. Epic!

8. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
AMAZING. I loved the whole concept of the colours & abilities, and I was completely enthralled with the characters and their journey.

9. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
So fabulous!! My review for this one is still to come, but it is a must-read. So many emotions, I swear.

10. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
I really tried to keep this list all 2012 releases, but this one was too good to not include. It's even better than Cinder, which is saying a lot.

While I wanted to keep my list down to 10, I feel it would be remiss not to mention some of my favourite 2012 releases which I read in 2011. I may have read these titles a little early, but they make up some of my favourite books published this year:

- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman
- Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
- Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
- Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
- Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Phew, that was difficult! Now I'm so curious to see which books made the cut for everybody else.