Top 10 of 2013: Looking to 2014

Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014

(Published only in 2014)

In order of release date. . .

TOP 10 BOOKS FROM CONTINUED SERIES:

1. Lady Thief (Scarlet #2) by A.C. Gaughen (February 11)
2. Every Second With You (No Regrets #2) by Lauren Blakely (February 17)
3. The Mistress Rebellion (Brothers Sinister #4) by Courtney Milan (May 1)
4. The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass (May 6)
5. Raging Star (Dust Lands #3) by Moira Young (May 13)
6. The Immortal Crown (Age of X #2) by Richelle Mead (May 29)
7. Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead (July 29)
8. Shimmer (The Rephaim #3) by Paula Weston (July 2014 -- later in North America)
9. Sisters Fate (Cahill Witch Chronicles #3) by Jessica Spotswood (August 14)
10. Visions (Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong (August 19)
11. Encore (Amplified #2) by Tara Kelly (Summer 2014)
12. Rivals in the City (The Agency #4) by Y.S. Lee (2014)
13. Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin #3) by Robin LaFevers (2014)

(Just had to keep in those few extras, even though there aren't firm dates for them yet.)


TOP 10 NEW SERIES or STANDALONES:

1. Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine (February 4)
2. The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons (February 13)
3. White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout (February 25)
4. What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick (April 15)
5. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (April 22)
6. #scandal by Sarah Ockler (June 17)
7. Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally (July 1)
8. On the Fence by Kasie West (July 1)
9. Landline by Rainbow Rowell (July 8)
10. A Blind Spot for Boys by Justina Chen (August 12)

Top 10 of 2013: Top 10 New Adult

For everyone celebrating today, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. May your holidays be blessed and filled with love, light, and joy.

Best New Adult Books I’ve Read in 2013

(Published at any time, read in 2013)

Today was a "choose your topic" day, so I chose to list the Top 10 New Adult titles I read this year. There are a lot of bad books in every category, but I feel like New Adult books were both the most popular and most maligned this year. Therefore, I'd love to recommend some of my favourites if you're new to the category or just looking for the best of the bunch.

In no particular order. . .

TOP 10 NEW ADULT

1. Rush Me by Allison Parr (I enjoyed how this focused on more than just the romance -- it was really about Rachael navigating the post-grad world as well. Girl is involved in publishing, guy is NFL quarterback.)
2. A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers (This is a book I look back on and feel butterflies in my stomach thinking about how emotionally tied to the story I was. Please don't be squicked out by the step-sibling or almost-priest romance. It works, I swear.)
3. Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage (This is one of those books where the concept (gigalo!) makes you go "what?!" but the actual story is just lovely. Bonus: a heroine with an emotionally scarring past who is cheery and upbeat, willing to move on)
4. Only Between Us by Mila Ferrera (Mila is another author who can write "broken people finding one another" stories where you actually believe in the emotions, and where the issues don't encompass all of who the characters are)
5. One & Only by Viv Daniels (written by Diana Peterfreund under an alias, this one is a perfect example of what I wish more NA was like: college, romance, friends, family -- all these things included in a "what's next??" type of story. Bonus: science geek main characters)
6. The Thrill of It by Lauren Blakely (This book is gritty, emotional, and beautiful. It so easily could have been over the top because of the subject matter (sex addiction), but Lauren has written flawed characters who are more than their labels)
7. At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey (Another one where I plead for you to look past the subject matter (girl sells her virginity in an auction), because Brenna has written something so smart, lovely, and romantic)
8. True by Erin McCarthy (If you hand me another NA where a tattooed bad boy falls for the virgin princess I'm liable to freak out, but Erin McCarthy has written this book and made me love it. That alone is a pretty big endorsement ;))
9. Stir Me Up by Simone Elkins (Technically a YA, but works well as a YA/NA hybrid. A young, injured veteran deals with his new reality, while a young chef tries to figure out life after high school. Basically: SO. GOOD.)
10. Deeper by Robin York (comes out on January 28: Ruthie Knox writing under a pen name; a very smart book centred around "revenge porn", a girl dealing with sexual photos posted without her consent -- the fallout from that, and the complicated guy she falls for in the meantime)

If you'd like even further NA recommendations, be sure to check out my NA Recs Shelf on Goodreads.

Top 10 of 2013: Best Book Covers

Best Book Covers of 2013

(Published in 2013)

In no particular order. . .

Mind Games by Kiersten White
I remember my jaw dropping when I saw this cover. I love the colours, but I also love all the images that you can just see snatches of underneath.

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
Clearly writing about gods helped out Kiersten's "cover karma", because she gets another cover on this list. So gorgeous!

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
I have a feeling this one will make a lot of people's lists, but I just can't help it. The dress, the stars -- it all comes together into something so lovely.

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
Epic!! There's not much else to say except I love it.

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
So simple, but I love the composition of it, the font, etc.

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
A perfect picture for the background, and the title treatment is awesome.

Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer
Just so whimsical and charming.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Loveeee it! A fan art-esque cover is really the only appropriate cover for this book.

How To Love by Katie Cotugno
I may not have cared for the book, but this cover is awesome.

Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin
This one is so simple, but there's something about it I really like. The guitars standing in for the main characters are perfect -- it's just so charming and fun.

Top 10 of 2013: Best Books of 2013

Best Books I’ve Read in 2013

(Published at any time, read in 2013)

In no particular order. . .

TOP 10 YOUNG ADULT

1. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers (The characters, the world building... these books are flawless)
2. The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson (THIS is the way to end a trilogy)
3. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (Epic and exciting!)
4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (This book just spoke to my heart)
5. This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales (So powerful and gorgeous! A must-read for music lovers)
6. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Another amazing fantasy novel with great characters, steamy romance, and jaw dropping moments)
7. Shadows by Paula Weston (An Aussie angel book that had me salivating for Book 2)
8. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (I love the characters in this novel, and how this 2nd novel in the series kept things fresh)
9. Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood (Not one touch of a second book syndrome here, either. And talk about a killer ending!!)
10. Cress by Marissa Meyer (These books keep getting better and better, I swear)

TOP 10 ADULT

1. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan (I capped the Courtney Milan titles on this list at 1, but I easily could have added Unraveled, among others)
2. Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen (So funny and so charming. Loved everything about it!)
3. Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely (Smart, funny, and swoony -- a perfect romance)
4. Tangled by Emma Chase (I've never read a romance written entirely from the male POV, and this one was brilliant. Really dirty, but brilliant)
5. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas (I loved how epic this book felt! A story spanning adolescence to adulthood, and I loved where it ended up)
6. Shadow Fever by Karen Marie Moning (A freaking amazing ending to a dark, but fabulous, series)
7. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (So, so charming and relatable)
8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (This book emotionally drained me like nothing else, but it was gorgeous and honest and amazing, too)
9. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (This is one of those "it could be YA, it sort of fits into NA now, but it was released as adult" titles. Either way, I finally read this one and I actually thought it was amazing)
10. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson (This could also fit as YA because of the younger heroine. It's a clean historical romance that proves you don't need graphic scenes to present a completely swoony romance)