Pre-Book Buying Ban Book Haul | Stacking the Shelves [37]

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and it's all about sharing the books that have come into your possession throughout the week, whether it books added to your collection, ebooks, library books, etc. Sunday post is a weekly meme  hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer where bloggers can recap their week, showcase books, and share news.

Starting at the beginning of January, I started a book buying ban. I have resolved to read five books before buying one. (I am allowing myself to buy books that I have already read as well as a handful of books for a signing coming up in March.)

These are all books that I bought before the book buying ban started (and a preorder) with Christmas money.

The Book Outlet Boxing Day sale is a magical thing. Definitely got a little arm workout holding all of these up (because no I do not work out, and yes, this was kind of heavy).

• THE FANGIRL'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY: I was really surprised to see this one on Book Outlet, and honestly, I have wanted this since it came out just for the novelty of it.
• THE LOTUS WAR TRILOGY (I, II, III): If you've followed me for a bit, you know that Illuminae was one of my absolute favorite books of 2015. I am super excited for Kristoff's new series coming out later this year, so I wanted to read some of his individual books before picking up his newest. What I know: Japanese, Steampunk, Fantasy. I need to know no more.
• THE SHELL COLLECTOR: Another case of "I loved X book" (All the Light We Cannot See) "and want to read more of this author" (Anthony Doerr). 
• WOLF IN WHITE VAN, HOW TO BUILD A GIRL: I know very little about both of these, but the little that I have heard has been amazing, so I wanted to pick them up while I had the chance.

LOOK HOW PRETTY THIS BOX SET IS. I don't care what anyone else says about these covers, I love the spines (and the covers are pretty okay). I am at book 3 right now, and I am going to try (and probably fail) to finish this series before Lady Midnight releases.

• THE WINNER'S CURSE: I've wanted to read this series for a while and when I got wind (or tsunami if you were on Twitter that day) of the cover change, I snagged the first two UK covers from Book Depository because I had planned on buying the paperbacks for this series. (The second one got lost in the mail, and then they resent it but it is sitting at my house two hours away.)
• STOLEN: I forgot to include this one in my last haul. But this one was the result of a #BooksforTrade on twitter.
• PASSENGER: Pre-ordered this one. Still haven't read it. Story of my life.
• SIX OF CROWS: I know, I know. "But Monica, you already have a signed ARC of this book." Correct, and now I have a beautiful, black-edged finished edition that can match the sequel.

Since I will no longer be doing weekly book hauls replaced with these monthly book hauls, I will still have an update of some of the posts that I have done within the past month.

January on the Blog

Reviews this month:

My Favorite Book of 2015 (and ever?) AKA: The Martian by Andy Weir

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Reading Wrap-Ups:

Books #1-5 | 2016

Other:

6th Annual Bookish Survey

2016 Reading Goals

Ten Books I Need to Read in 2016

I hope y'all like this new format. It will definitely help me out with my book-buying because I found that I hated not having a weekly STS, so I would make sure I had a book every week. 

What books have you gotten this month? Tell me down in the comments!

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A List of My Confused Thoughts on The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin | Review

I am so confused on how I feel about this book.

On one hand, it was weird and different and unique and completely unlike anything I've ever read before.

On the other hand, it was like every other YA contemporary (even though this is a far cry from contemporary) I've read.

Let me explain this to you in the best way that I know how, lists!

What I liked:

• It was so gripping. I basically read the entire book in a day, which never happens to me. That definitely says something for the pacing. It was action-action-flashback-action.
• Super gripping, super weird. I was really intrigued by this whole mystery aspect of the book. It drew me in from the very beginning and it didn't let me go until the end. 
• Daniel! I loved Daniel, and I could read a whole contemporary novel about Daniel and his escapades with love and enjoy every second of it because he is hilarious. He keeps the story light when it gets a little bit too dark. He's a great brother. He supports Mara even when she doesn't think she is doing the right thing. He stands by her side when Mara thinks she's going crazy. Best brother award goes to Daniel.
• Another light spot in the dark was Noah. Even though he's a bit overprotective for my liking and comes across as a total asshat, he's doesn't force Mara to do things. He doesn't belittle her, and he knows her limits. He's sweet and British--and while 100% not my type--I think he is good for Mara and what she needs. 
• Hodkins played with reality and it was super cool. It's a super creepy story in a completely normal, everyday setting. It's a bit throwing at first, but I love how she incorporated the elements of "What the fuck?" in with "Casual, Florida prep school." (Honestly, the only thing I know to compare it to would be a horror/thriller movie.)
• Is this what it's like to read an unreliable narrator?

What I didn't like:

• Is this what it's like to read an unreliable narrator?
• Wow, there's like a super cool best friend for Mara. And he's black. And he's bi. And he's a super-genius who can help Mara with all of her schoolwork. And he's Jewish. And he gets thrown to the side for the "sake of the plot". No no no no. I think this last half of this book would have been infinitely better with him in it. Just saying. 
• Because there were so many contemporary elements to this story, I had to suspend my belief . . . a lot, which is something I don't like doing. I can handle having to suspend disbelief for a few moments. A few are okay, but having to suspend my disbelief for an entire novel is a bit cumbersome.
• "Bad boy falls in love with new girl" cliché. Accompanied by "Bad boy isn't as bad as everyone says" cliché. The whole romance felt a little too Bella + Edward for me as well as Juliette + Warner (near the end of Unravel Me + Ignite Me).
• I'm not sure what the plot was. I thought I knew, but then it took this weird, complete 180 degree turn about 100 pages from the end. 
• Powers? What? So confused?
• There is basically zero explanation for anything that happens in this book. I need explanations to thrive, people. 
• The time frame of this book is incredibly unclear. I think it's spring time, but then there was a costume party and then sudden heat and also Mara came into the school "in the middle of a trimester" . . . I don't know what this means. Most schools have semesters, so I can't quite grasp how a "trimester" works in a school.
• Mara skips a lot of school. Her parents definitely would have been contacted about it by now . . . by the government. 
• Mara pretty much needs constant supervision, but Dad is not present and Mom is just like "Mara, you need supervision" but then doesn't enforce it.
• What you think happened at the beginning of the story, ended up being what happened, but it was revealed like a plot twist? Was I not supposed to be expecting that?
• WHAT THE HECK? THAT'S NOT AN ENDING.

 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer #1
Published: 27 September 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format - Length: Hardcover - 452 pages
Source: Book Outlet
Genre: YA Paranormal
Goodreads - My Goodreads Rating
Buy it! - Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love. She’s wrong.

Have you read this book? Tell me what you thought of it down below!

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The Next Five Books I Want to Read | TBR [1]

The Last Five Books I Read

I actually already read one book and decided not to include it (really forgot to), but you will see it on my next "Next Five Books" post.

• Burial Rites by Hannah Kent: I have heard amazing things about this book. It is also my book club (Shannon @ LeaningLight's "Read With Friends") pick for next week, so it is finally giving me the push that I need to read this one!
• Cress by Marissa Meyer: (On Audio from Library) I'm finally doing it! (And enjoying it?) I didn't really love the first two in this series. Also, I have 4 days to listen to this aprox. 15 hour audiobook. *eyes bug out in stress*
• City of Glass by Cassandra Clare: I love this series so far, and I need to know what happens ASAP (even though I kind of already do) as well as finish this series before the release of Lady Midnight.
• A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab & The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: I GET TO MEET THESE TWO LADIES IN MARCH. AND I NEED TO READ ALL OF THEIR BOOKS BEFORE THEN.

I am incredibly excited to read all of these books within the next few weeks! I hope you all like this format because I really do. As a scheduler, it feels nice to have reading scheduled out. (Is that weird?)

Which of these have you read? Tell me your thoughts down below!

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The Last Five Books I Read | Wrap-Up [1]

This picture tells you a lot, doesn't it?

*hometown library manically laughs in the distance*

"The Last Five Books" is an idea that I got from Misty @ The Book Rat, where she sums up the last five books that she read. I like this format because it is easily malleable to how much I am reading, as well as it loosens up my blog schedule at the end and beginnings of months. I have also decided to add in life + blogging updates in these posts because I will no longer be doing weekly stacking the shelves posts (because book buying bans).

*fingers crossed that this is something I keep up for the rest of 2016*

1. IF I STAY BY GAYLE FORMAN: I will freely admit it: I saw the movie first, and I enjoyed the movie more. I know this is a beloved book for so many people and I totally get why. I just saw what the movie did with Kim's character and I wanted to see the same thing in the book, but I didn't. (See me rant about that here.) I feel like the whole "Live for Love" slogan should really be "Live for Love . . . but not platonic love because that doesn't sell" but maybe I'm bitter. (I am.) - 3.75 stars
2. BLACK WIDOW, VOL. 3: LAST DAYS: IT'S OVER? I didn't know that this was a limited-run series. When I finished the volume, there was a note from the author about how "he was so honored to have added to Natasha's story" and "thank you to the readers" for supporting him on this journey. While I was sad to see it in, I was definitely glad with how it ended. We still see a great story from Natasha's life with the classic Black Widow veil of "you will never understand everything". - Goodreads Review - 4 stars
3. ALL-NEW X-MEN, VOL. 4: ALL-DIFFERENT: Wow. They got "all different costumes" . . . and that's about as exciting as this volume gets. It was a hogde-podge of things that didn't seem to cohere with each other and a weak story, but pretty art (sometimes). - Goodreads Review - 2 stars
4. CITY OF ASHES BY CASSANDRA CLARE: I thought that this was an absolute great installment in the series, and I think it was a fantastic second book. I absolutely can't wait to read the rest of the series. - Goodreads Review - 5 stars
5. WHERE SHE WENT: I think the audiobook might have been part of the reason I disliked this book as much as I did. While I enjoyed seeing Adam and his struggles, he and his "I am rock star god" got on my nerves very quickly. Also there was the whole thing with Adam and Mia thinking literally the only thing they need to live is love, so. - Goodreads Review - 3 stars

Tomorrow I will post up the "Next Five" books that I am planning on reading! Do you guys like this style of wrap-up because I know I do, and it gives me the chance to talk about the books that I don't review in full for you guys! Tell me down in the comments!

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Books I "Must Read in 2016"

There are so strict rules to this challenge, which is partially why I am participating. A lot of these books I bought in 2015 and was really excited to read . . . but then didn't. Others were released in 2015, have a world's worth of hype and I need in my life ASAP.

*I am also linking this up with Top Ten Tuesday @ The Broke and the Bookish*

A Little More About the Challenge

"This is not a TBR pile challenge. This is not a 2015 release challenge.

This is a link-up to motivate you to read books you were excited about but didn’t get to.

You don’t even have to “sign up” or use a button or track your progress every month.

Just decide what books you hope to (finally!) read… and read them!"

-from Lauren's post

This is about as casual as reading challenges go, and those are the types of challenges that I love to do! I am the person that loves to make lists of books that I want to read in a certain year, then gets ahead of herself and the list gets to be three pages long. Then I'm disappointed when I don't read them. So, this is a low-stress way to quell my thirst to make lists on lists on lists.

So what books do I want to read for this challenge?

• Books that I own and need to read: The Night Circus, The Queen of the Tearling, The Sword of Summer, The Marvels, Burial Rites
• Books that were released (or had sequels released) in 2015: Wolf by Wolf, The Kiss of Deception, Uprooted, The Wrath and the Dawn
• I GET TO MEET VICTORIA SCHWAB IN MARCH AND NEED TO CONSUME THIS BOOK: A Darker Shade of Magic

So that's it! Have you heard of this challenge? Are you going to participate? Which books are you SUPER excited to read in 2016? Tell me down in the comments!

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The Martian by Andy Weir | Book Review

I will start off this review saying that this book took me a while to read. 

I will also say that this is one of my favorite books of 2015 as well as possibly one of my favorites of all time.

Ever since a tragic forced reading of Hatchet in fifth grade, I have hated survival stories. It's a general rule for me to just not bother watching or reading any story that is just a "survival story" because it's boring and a lot of the time, I find the main character ignorant and stupid, as they often go off into the wilderness to die by themselves . . . because they wanted to. I have just never understood it.

And that's where I would love to remarket this book not as a "survival story" but as a story where humanity goes out of their way to go and find and save one of their own.

This book has one of my absolute passages and basically sums up why I ended up in love with this book. Read it:

Doesn't that just make you love humanity? That's what The Martian did to me: it made me believe in the human race again. 

I will say that this book was a little slow going for me at the beginning because it's just one dude on one Mars with a wit big enough for the entire planet. However, there are eventually other perspectives thrown it. As much as I love Mark Watney and his humor, this was a giant relief to me because it was the reason that I trudged through this book for the longest time. 

Honestly, I could read about 200 more pages about the rest of the Ares 3 crew and love every second of it. Their presence in this novel was what really bumped this up there for me.

I also loved the "LOG ENTRY: SOL X" format because I am horrible at trying to decipher dates in books. Time stamps in books are my favorite because I usually get so sucked up in the story that I forget how long the story has been going on for. 

And while a lot of people said that they "felt like they were sitting in science class" while reading this book, I almost want to slap them because of course it sounds like science class. It's science. Mark Watney doesn't know if he's going to live or die, but he does know that someone will eventually find these log entries . . . and they could help anyone else who potentially gets stuck on Mars.

Language: There's a lot, so beware

Humor: Probably the funniest book I've read all year

Also, I recommend the audiobook if you are looking for a good one. (Just beware of the language, and probably don't listen to it around children.)

The Martian by Andy Weir

Published: 28 October 2014 by Broadway Books/Crown/Random House (NY)

Format - Length: Paperback - 387 pages

Source:  Target

Genre: Science Fiction

Goodreads - My Goodreads Rating
Buy it! - Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars's surface, with no way to signal Earth that he's alive. And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, Mark won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

Armed with nothing but his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength--Mark embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Have you read The Martian yet? Have you seen the movie yet? It is going to be the first thing I do as soon as it comes out!

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Basically, I'm The Worst at Completing Goals

I didn't do horribly with my challenges that I set for myself, but by no means did I finish all of the goals that I set for myself in 2015. Let's look at the original challenges first:

1. Read 52 books
2. Read 5 books that are 500 pages or more
3. Reread 10 books (including the Harry Potter series)
4. Read more new-to-me authors
5. Read 3 classics
6. Do Katytastic's TBR Jar challenge
7. Popsugar / Goodreads group challenge

The Failures

"Reread 10 books (including the Harry Potter series)"

I did reread books, but I didn't reread 10. Nor did I complete my reread of the Harry Potter series, but I did start my reread of the Harry Potter series. 

Books I reread: the first four Harry Potter novels, The Magician's Nephew, and The Bad Beginning. 

I want to finish each of these three rereads throughout the next few years, if not next year. 

Grade: 60% - F

"Read 3 classics"

By numbers, this is more of a failure than the last. Likewise, I am significantly more disappointed in myself regarding this challenge. I only read one "classic" (more of modern classic) this year, but I read it at the very, very end of the year, and I didn't even pick it up of my own accord. 

Classics I read: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Grade: 33.33% - F

"Do Katytastic's TBR Jar Challenge"

I didn't even follow the rules for this challenge, but I had told myself from the beginning that I really just wanted to read a book in each of these categories throughout the year after the month that I pulled them out of the jar.

In accordance with my own rules, I only didn't complete two of the challenges, which actually isn't that bad. However, in accordance with the rule of "read a book that completes this challenge within the month" I didn't complete five of the challenges, but who cares about that?

Books I read for this challenge: The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossieni, P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Circle by Dave Eggers, Vicious by V.E. Schwab, Lumberjanes, The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, and City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Grade: 83% - B

"2015 Popsugar Reading Challenge"

I wasn't actively participating in this challenge so much as reading books and then seeing if they fit into the challenges. So, looking at it that way, I didn't do that bad because I completed 44 of the 50 challenges! 

If you want to see which challenges I completed and which books I read for those challenges, you can go to this spreadsheet (because I don't want to bore you--nor do I want to write out--with a list of 44 books and 44 challenges).

Grade: 88% - B

Successes

"Read 52 books"

I either read 95 or 93 books in 2015! What even? I never anticipated reading more than I've ever read in a single year. I almost doubled my original reading goal. Look, even goodreads thinks I am great at reading:

Grade: 179% - A+

"Read 5 books over 500 pages"

SO glad that I had time to consume some amazing, giant books this year. (Because a lot of them ended up being favorites.)

Books read: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Circle by Dave Eggers, Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, and Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Grade: 180% - A+

"Read more new-to-me authors"

This one wasn't too difficult because I hadn't really read a lot before this year. I am really proud of myself this year for stepping out of my comfort zone.

New-to-me authors: 32 (see the spreadsheet for the full list, even then I must have missed a few)

Grade: A

How did you do with your 2015 reading goals? Tell me down in the comments!

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2016 Reading Resolutions

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish to share lists (because we love them) about books and bookish things.

1. Read 60 books / things (i.e. graphic novels, comics, novellas)
2. Read 1 classic
3. Reread 5 books
4. Read 5 books over 500 pages
5. Read FIVE books before buying ONE -- #Read5BeforeYouBuy
6. Read more new-to-me authors
7. "Around the world in 52 books" challenge
8. 12 month TBR jar (pick one challenge to complete each month)
1. a book by a new-to-me author
2. a 2016 debut
3. a fantasy
4. an audiobook
5. a book you have on kindle
6. a sequel
7. a classic
8. over 500 pages
9. a book to movie/TV adaptation
10. read a standalone
11. a first book in a series
12. a book out of my comfort zone
9. Participate more in the "Reads with Friends" bookclub run by Shannon +leaninglights
10. Read approximately half the books on my anticipated debuts list and half from my anticipated non-debut list. (*I won't really "check in" with this goal, just something that I want to see if I will end up doing.*)
11. Read more literary/award-winning fiction.
12. Read more non-fiction

What are your reading goals for 2016? Tell me in the comments down below!

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6th Annual End of Year Book Survey | 2015 in Review

This is an annual survey (doi) about all of the books that we as a community have read in the year of 2015. It is run by Jamie over at Perpetual Page Turner, who is lovely and wonderful.

*I did delete a few questions*

Number of Books You Read

Goodreads says 93, my spreadsheet says 95. Either way, I way surpassed my goal, and I am really excited about all the reading that I will be doing this year!

Number of Re-Reads

I reread six books this year! I reread the first four Harry Potter books as well as the first in both the Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew, and A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Bad Beginning, in hopes of one day finally finishing both of these series.

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2015 release vs. backlist)

   

BEST IN ADULT: Outlander

BEST YA SERIES: The Raven Cycle (Favorite of the series: The Dream Thieves)

BOOK THAT MADE ME LOVE HUMANITY AGAIN: The Martian

BEST FIRST BOOK IN A NEW SERIES: Illuminae

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

These books are nowhere as good as the TV show. I ended up DNFing the second book because I just couldn't stand it anymore. The book has four different perspectives, but the book is only about 300 pages, which only gives us about 80 pages for each character. One of the four characters isn't even on Earth. If you are interested in this series, just watch the TV show because the show is amazing.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

I had tried reading this book multiple times right when the movie came out, and I just couldn't push through the writing. When I had to read it for school, I picked up the audiobook from my library, and it almost made my favorite books of 2015 list.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness - This is one I recommend in real life about just as much as I rave about it online. Definitely pick up the illustrated version if you can.

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

   

BEST SERIES I STARTED (AND FINISHED): The Infernal Devices and Shatter Me

BEST SEQUEL: The Dream Thieves

BEST SERIES ENDER: Ignite Me

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

Maggie Stiefvater, Tahereh Mafi, and Victoria Schwab

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I don't typically read Adult Contemporary, but Attachments by Rainbow Rowell is amazing if you need a laugh, and Me Before You is amazing if you need a cry.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 

Despite how let down I was by the ending of Clockwork Princess (and despite the fact that it was about 200 pages too long), I spent an entire Saturday reading it. I almost finished it in one day . . . but then I fell asleep.

An overall better book was Illuminae which is the standout in this category for me. The first 200 pages are easily put downable, but after that point, you better be free because you won't want to stop reading.

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
The entire Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

Here's a few of my favorites:

   

 

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Ronan Lynch, by far. 

(From The Raven Boys)

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?

Vicious is another book that will stick with me, and it will probably be reread many times throughout the years. Pardon me while I go flail in the corner.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

Seriously though, I have no idea how I avoided this series for this long.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

Favorite of the Year (from The Martian by Andy Weir):

Honorable Mentions:

"Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures.

No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time dinging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh."

— Juliette on the power of words, Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

"It was only after I made my exit that I realized I should have missed it."

― Marina Keegan, The Opposite of Loneliness

"We know that while we are flawed in a unique way, we are not unique because we are flawed."

― Veronica Roth, The Erudite Manifesto

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

*Excluding Re-Reads and Novellas*

SHORTEST: The Sleeper and the Spindle

LONGEST: Outlander

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Like I could just pick one.

   

  

Warner and Juliette (Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi)

Rhysand and Feyre (A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas)
Blue and Gansey (The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater)

Levi and Cath (Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell)

Jamie and Claire (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon)

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The Raven Boys--Ronan, Gansey, Adam, and Noah

Kenji and Juliet from the Shatter Me series

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

Richard Campbell Gansey III

I don't understand why you expected anything different from this question.

I am going to be a wreck in April.

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

I didn't actually read too many 2015 debuts. The only other one that I think I read this year is Everything, Everything which wasn't my fave.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

 

I never really liked Cinder as a character, so that definitely clouded how I feel about the series. While they aren't my favorite, I do commend Marissa Meyer for her stunning world building. It is literally the only reason I am continuing the series.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

  

I love graphic novels and comics. While I did enjoy many a Marvel comic this year, these two series (and one standalone web comic turned graphic novel) definitely have been my favorites.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

 

Despite not liking Will, I cried during the epilogue. I almost made it through without tears. There is no way to escape tears from Me Before You.

If you do, I question your humanity.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year

The Unlikely Hero needs more love than it gets. Guys, it was so good!

Missoula is just plain important and everyone needs to read it.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

see number 26

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

  

I don't know what you're doing if you haven't read this series. Please read them and let them crush your soul and feelings like they have crushed me.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Ghostwriting aside, this book shouldn't have been published. Quite frankly, I am shocked she paid someone to write this because she should get her money back.

Less agravting is The Elite by Kiera Cass. A summary of my thoughts while reading The Elite: GOD, AMERICA. THIS IS NOT A HARD DECISION. QUIT FOOLING AROUND WITH ASPEN. MAXON IS PERFECT.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

If I Stay by Gayle Forman as well as the rest of TMI series by Cassandra Clare (I am beyond determined to finish this series before Lady Midnight releases)

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

PASSENGER by Alexandra Bracken

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig
Also INTO THE DIM by Janet B. Taylor. It's "Outlander for teens" and blurbed by Diana Gabaldon. I need to know no more.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?

THE RAVEN KING

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