End of the Year Book Survey: 2012 Edition

Hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner, this is a silly little survey she created to highlight what I read and did in 2012 on the blog.

Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

I'm going to stick the young adult genre, but break it down a bit:

Contemporary: Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Dystopian: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Historical: Venom by Fiona Paul

Paranormal: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Romance: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Fantasy: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

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

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson was my biggest let down in 2012. I was so set to love this book, and I knew by the time I was 1/3 I disliked it. I’m a huge Peter Pan fan, so it kind broke my heart I didn’t love this book.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

Huntley Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door. It blew me away with how genuine and heartfelt it was.

 4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This was one of those books I was raving about online and in my personal life. I considered buying a second copy because I worried mine would get messed up from being passed around so much.

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. I had never read them before this year when a publisher approached me about reviewing them (which I still need to do—crap!). I was surprised by how much I enjoyed them.

 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Huntley Fitzpatrick, Katie McGarry, Morgan Rhodes, Kasie West, and  Julie Kagawa (I never read the Iron Fey series, so my first Kagawa novel was The Immortal Rules).

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes pushed me a bit. I had never been big into fantasy because, to be honest, it overwhelmed me. Rhodes created a story I reveled in.

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock. I was shocked when I started reading this book and finished it four hours later. I skipped dinner for this book.

 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Spellbound and Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz. I love, love, love these books.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

Rachel in Defiance.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Speechless by Hannah Harrington slayed me in the best way possible.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman. The book deals with a girl who gets lured in by an internet predator and goes missing. Very powerful and very relevant.

 14. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

The end of Everneath by Brodi Ashton. I was freaking out. That, and the end of Aimee Carter’s Goddess Interrupted. Both are cliffhanger endings that had me screaming.

15. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Tie between Daemon and Katy in the Lux series and Brendan and Emma in the Spellbound series.

16. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz (sequel to 2011’s Spellbound)

17. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson. Jenny @ Supernatural Snark RAVED about it, so I had to try it. So glad I did. I love that book!

 Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012? 

SupernaturalSnark, Bella’s Shelf, The Sisters’ Tale, A Backwards Story, and Lili’sReflections

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012? 

Um … I don’t think I have one. I the one I debated the most over posting was my review of Poison Princess by Kresley Cole since I didn’t finish the book.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Probably the BEA one last month … I’m excited, and so I love that other people are excited.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

I think there were a lot of discussions that swept across the blogs like wildfire:

                -ARCgate

                -Plagiarism

                -BEA Debacle of 2012

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Definitely BookExpo America 2012. It was so amazing. I met a few people I had only known via the internet, met a ton of authors, got some amazing books and swag, and decided I would going back in 2013.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

Attending BEA and getting to meet everyone! I can’t wait to go back in 2013. I think this time I’ll be more relaxed and able to enjoy things a lot more.

Baltimore Book Festival

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Not counting blog tours and giveaways, the most viewed post was the Baltimore Book Festival Recap. Wow. Really? Huh.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I started a new thing this month called Bananas for Books—a monthly spotlight on books coming out the following month I want. Despite its lack of love, I enjoyed it and think I’ll keep it up.

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Edelweiss!

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I kinda of hosted a mini Hurricane Sandy challenge, but we lost power and then there was the clean up and real life and I never followed up on it. Whoops.

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Ugh, if I can only pick one … Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes. Now that I got a taste of this world in Falling Kingdoms, I am DYING for more.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Keep better track of my reviews. I got waaaaaaaay behind on them and am still playing catch up. I read like 20 books and never reviewed them this summer.