2016 End of the Year Book Survey

Hello friends,

I am excited to bring to you my 2016 End of the Year Book Survey, created and developed by Jamie over at the Perpetual Page Turner, I missed out on this survey last year- which was pretty sad for me. But I am here this year and I have some pretty cool books to talk to you about.

I was all about the reading experience in 2016- did I have fun reading what I was reading. I have been caught up wanting to find that next five star read, that I forgot that reading brings me joy and is my happy place. I rediscovered that in the latter part of the year.

Anywho... here goes.

Number Of Books You Read:

98

  

Number of Re-Reads:

7

Genre You Read The Most From: 

Adult Contemporary 

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

Young Adult- The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry. 

This book was amazing. It was unique and fun. A coming of age story, featuring an Indigenous main character. The story explored First Nations spirituality and time travel, which may sound odd, but it really wasn't.

Adult- I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

This book was a wild ride! Such a great reading experience. There were twists and turns and character developments I was never expecting. This book was heartbreaking and completely unputdownable. 

 

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

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 

It wasn't that I disliked this book- not at all. I just didn't connect with the eighties theme as much as others. It was still a really fun book. I am pretty curious about the movie.

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

This one was really surprising for me. I wasn't expecting the style in which the story was told, and I was also expecting to see more of the title character. I still really enjoyed this book, it was fascinating. 

 

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
 
I don't think I really pushed any book this past year. I pushed The Couple Next Door and Behind Closed Doors to a couple friends, just to have someone to talk to about both books.  

5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016? 

Best Series Started: A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 

Best Sequel: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
This was the year of Maas for me. I was hesitant to start this series because I thought it was going to be very similar to Throne of Glass, boy was I wrong, ACOTAR was great, I read that book in two days, but ACOMAF was something else- I could not read fast enough. Reading that book helped me remember what I love about reading. 

 Best Series Ender: The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski 

This series is near and dear to me. I really enjoyed it. The last book took me a minute to get into, but I really enjoyed it in the end. It was a solid series ender. 

 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?
 
Whitney G - author of Sincerely Carter, Reasonable Doubt and Turbulence. 

I binge read Whitney's book this past year. I started with Reasonable Doubt and moved onto everything after that. Boy, can she write sexy times, and alpha males that are crass and loveable. She's on my auto-buy list now.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
  
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh 

I delved into the world of thrillers this year, which is a genre I don't normally gravitate towards. But, I have found a new love. I love psychological thrillers now, and I just can't get enough. I Let You Go was phenomenal.

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

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

 As I mentioned earlier- this book was such a great reading experience for me. It was SO addicting. I just could not put it down.

9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 

I have been feeling the urge to reread this book, but I think I am going to wait until close to the release of A Court of Wings and Ruin.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?
  
The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kettler

This cover is beautiful! I just love it SO much! 

11. Most memorable character of 2016? 

Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Dante knew who he was and he was totally and completely unapologetic about it. It was beautiful. 

   

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?
  

The Little Prince by Antoine De Sainte- Exupery

What a beautiful story. I was completely blown away by this story. If you have not read this book, please do. 

  

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

 Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

This book addresses the emergence of AIDS in the eighties. About a young girl who idolizes her uncle who has recently died of AIDS. There was so much fear and shame during that time. This book was heartbreaking and really forces you to take a look at stigmas and societies response to them. 

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

I know, I know. I can't believe it either. But I finally got this one read, and it was everything I ever wanted. 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?
  
"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them"  

- The Little Prince

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016? 
 
Shortest: The Little Prince by Antoine De Sainte- Exupery - 83 pages

Longest: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon - 870 Pages

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

  
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh 

This book guys- it took me on so many crazy rides, and yes, it certainly shocked me a number of
times. 

  

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

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

 
Blue and Gansey from The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater 

Even though I don't think I fully understood the details of this story, or Blue and Gansey's relationship. But I was rooting for them the whole time. 

 19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

 
Scorpius and Albus from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 

Even though I really disliked this story,  really loved the friendship between Albus and Scorpius. It was sweet and lovely. Basically the only good thing about the book.

 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

  
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas  

Broken record- I know. 

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

  
A Court of Thorns and Roses Sarah J. Maas 

Like I said, I wasn't going to read this book, but Stephanie from Ohana Reads is a HUGE Maas fan and she pushed this series like mad, she was even present when I bought it. I read it- and now I am hooked. 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

 
Rhysand from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Okay, I am done talking about this book now. 

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

  
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

This was such a fun read. So sweet and funny. It wasn't a complicated romance. I really liked it.

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

  
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab 

World building is something Schwab is a master at. I may not have loved This Savage Song but I certainly appreciated the way I was able to visualize the world Schwab created. It was incredible. 

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

  
The BFG by Roald Dahl 

I finally reread this book after like 20 years. And it felt like coming home. There was this sense of happiness that came over me as I was reading this book. 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

  
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

A book about people who are suffering from AIDS. It's a complicated story. So many misunderstanding and misinformation. Grief and death. There were tears, so many tears.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

  
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

This book is a few years old, first published in 2012, but I don't remember hearing anything about it back then. Which is madness, because it's such an incredible story, and so incredible. 

  
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

This book is so important. Mental illness is a very real thing, and more people need to be aware of it, and all the different faces it wears. All the Bright Places was (for me) a very authentic display of bi-polar disorder. The manic highs and the intense lows. This book broke my heart. 

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?
  
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
This was an interesting book for me. A man dies, and what he encounters in the after life is incredible. Five people, some random, some not, but all influenced where his life went. It was a lovely story.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
 
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
The end of this book infuriated me! I found it to be SO gimmicky and there for shock value, I didn't think it added to the plot at all. Ugh, just thinking about it now makes me SO angry!




I am only taking on the book portion of the survey, it's what you are all here for anyways. I hope you enjoyed. ALSO- I did not include any rereads in my answer, with the exception of The BFG, if I did, I would have answered Harry Potter for every single question. Anywho, Happy New Year, friends. Be safe and happy this coming year.

~Happy Reading Everyone!

  

 

Stefanie's 2016 End of the Year Book Survey

Hello everyone,

This is the first year I've done this Year-End survey - created by Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner, and I really enjoyed it. It was really fun to look back and see what I read this year. Was it ever hard to figure out what books to pick though; I had to cheat for Best Books of the Year and pick one from each genre (after it took me three days to pick which from each genre).

This also might be the most books I've read this year. I think it happened because of my job; I get July and August off (I work in the library of a junior high) and all I basically did was read books and watch movies. This also allowed me to knock a lot out off the tbr, even though I think mine is still way too long. I seriously wonder if I'll ever be able to read everything on it.

Number Of Books You Read: 310

Number of Re-Reads: 6

Genre You Read The Most From: YA contemporary

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

I'm cheating on this and choosing one from each genre I read

Children's/ Middle Grade: Firefly Hollow by Alison McGee

YA: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Fiction: Girls Who Travel by Nicole Trilivas

Cozy Mystery: All Natural Murder by Staci McLaughlin

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

A Tyranny of Petticoats by Jessica Spotswood

I swear I'm the only one of this planet that didn't enjoy this collection

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

Cure For the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick

Surprised me how addicting it was and I wound up binge reading the entire Black Dog Bay series and then ended up buying them all!

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

Poison by Bridget Zinn

5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

Best Series I Started: Black Dog Bay by Beth Kendrick

Best Sequel of 2016: Return to the Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz

Best Series Ender: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Erin L. Schneider, author of Summer of Sloane

 

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

And I Darken by Kiersten White

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

Map of Fates by Maggie Hall

9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Becky Bloom from The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Firefly Hollow by Alison McGee

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

Teddy & Co by Cynthia Voigt

This might seem like a strange answer, but this one really got me thinking about being a child

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?
 

Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

"Can you make me a sandwich-" "No there is crackers and cheese on the table."

from Castle Hangnail, that made me laugh for a good minute after reading it

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Harry Potter Popup Book (12 pages) and Gemina (659 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

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

How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

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

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

Mia Thermopolis and Michael Moscovitz

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Darcy and Norah from Partners in Crimes by Kim Harrington

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Sadly that's an N/A

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Summer of Sloane and How To Hang a Witch

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

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

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

Girls Who Travel by Nicole Trilivas

To be honest, most of the books this year made me smile!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Firefly Hollow by Alison McGee

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Frosted Kisses by Heather Hepler

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I actually don't have an answer for this...maybe that's a good thing!

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

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

Atlantia by Ally Condie

Book-blogging

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?

I'm biased, but this one!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

The October wrap-up, anytime to talk about Halloween is a good time for me!

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

N/A

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

Joining this blog!! Thanks again Sara for inviting me to join. I've always wanted to book blog, but I never got the confidence to start my own, it was meant to be!

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Trying to figure out when to read between life

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

I'm not sure about this one
 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I haven't written that many so I don't have an answer yet

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

The Harry Potter Noble Collection at Barnes and Noble

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

I read more than my reading challenge on Goodreads (not including the cookbooks I set as read this year) and joined in on a Spooky Readathon which was really fun

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson and The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay by Kelly Harms

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Lucky in Love by Kasie West

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Blog more and try to re-read a book a month. Ideally I'd like to re-read a book once a week, but knowing me I'll be lucky to re-read one once a month. I'm also going to try my best to re-read the entire Princess Diaries series, then watch both movies.

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Haven't read a 2017 book yet, but based on reviews and recommendations, I'd recommend Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Here are my answers for the survey, it only got me thinking about all the books I'll get to read in 2017!

Vacation Read-a-Thon

Hello lovelies!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas- and for those who don't celebrate, I hope you are enjoying the season.

I am taking  the week after Christmas off from work (wahoooo), and I have nothing planned- we got a foot of snow last night, it's crazy. I have no plans to leave the house. So, I thought I would challenge myself and take part in a little reading binge: A Read-a-Thon if you will.  I don't need to back at work until the 3rd, plenty of time to read.

I have a few books I am hoping to get through- This TBR might seem ambitious and I don't think I'll get through every book, but these are my options.

1) Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty- I talked about the regret I had not having not read this book yet in my Five  2016 Releases I Meant to Read... I thought yes, I can redeem myself, and read it this week.


2) Winter by Marissa Meyer - I bought this book on release day (Nov 10th, 2015), and did not read it. I am reading it now though. I have a bad habit of not reading the last books in a series or trilogy. I'll buy them, but I don't read them. Time ti fight that battle.

3) The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins- I actually got this one for review, and I need to get it read- soon. I am looking forward to it. I love the way Hopkins' tells a story, they are gritty and flawed.  

4) The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson- this one depends on the library. I've requested it, and I think it should come in, but we'll see.


I am pretty excited about this time off and the chance to spend the time reading. I'll talk about my progress in my December wrap up next week.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the Holidays friends.

~Happy Reading. 

Stefanie's Thoughts: Bloom by Estee Lalonde

'For me, the word "bloom" encapsulates the idea that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. It's a word that hints at becoming who you are meant to be.' Estée Lalonde

In Bloom, Estée shares the moments, people, things and life lessons that have made her who she is today and offers her tips for surviving life. Celebrate your bloom story and what makes you unique.

Life * People * Work * Beauty * Fashion * Home * Travel * Food

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be reviewing Bloom by Estee Lalonde. I guess I need to start off by saying that I didn't watch many of Estee's videos until after I picked up her book at the library; I'm like that with actually most of the YouTuber books I read/buy, I hardly watch their videos, but I get really emotionally invested in their books (I love Tanya Burr's baking book!).

So, with that being said, I really didn't know much about Estee going into Bloom, so it was nice to read about her life/ background (it was so awesome to find out she's from Canada!). I really loved the beginning chapters on how she became a YouTuber and reading about how she moved from Canada to England for love (how sweet is that)- this was something I had hardly ever heard about except in movies. I liked how she talked about her anxiety; I thought that that was a very brave thing to do.

My negatives with this one is that the fashion, makeup and food sections didn't present any new information for me. I was disappointed in this, because I was really hoping to learn more on these subjects. Now, I'm no expert on these topics but I will say I know a lot about them. But, being that Estee's entire YouTube channel is dedicated to these subjects I was hoping to get some new ideas.

The last negative for me was the travel section. I basically felt that she was bragging about all the different places she had been. Sure she did give some pointers and suggestions on what to do if you ever travel to these places. But, I don't think she presented it in the best way she could have.

My other thing too was I did find some typos throughout the book and for me that takes away the professional feel of it.

I really loved the section about bringing nature indoors. Granted this was taken away when she shows pictures of her multi-million dollar home,  and I know I'll never be able to afford to ever live in that kind of luxury.

Overall I'm split on how to rate this, which is why I gave it a three. Some sections completely lacked originality, while the home section I felt was a nice addition. With less typos I think this would have been a much better read.

3 out of 5

Until my next review,

Stefanie

Library Book Haul

Hello Friends,

I am going to let you in on a little secret- the library is a very magical place. 

I use the library ALL THE TIME. Actually, I depend on my local library for the majority of my reading material. I don't like buying books I haven't previously read. For me to commit to buying a book I need to have read it and loved it. It's both a money thing- as I don't want to spend money on something I am not going to like. But mostly it's a space thing, I have very limited space to store my books- so I need to be picky. Borrowing from the library allows me to experience so many different books- new and old.

If I hear a lot of buzz about a book, or if I know of a book I really want to read, I can request it from the library. Nine times out of ten they'll have it, and if they don't, I can request they buy it. It's rare that my library won't have the book I want. Sure, sometimes the requested book isn't available right away and I have to wait, sometimes a couple weeks, sometimes months, but it's generally pretty reasonable.

Don't believe me that the library is an amazing place with so much to offer- let me enlighten you...

I have five books out from the library at the moment and they are all 2016 releases.

Underwater by Marissa Reichardt (Jan 12th)
The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter (March 15th)
The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith (March 22nd)
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid (Nov 1st)
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh (May 3rd)


All five books are a three week loans. I have read one, in the middle of another. I have one week left with two (but I can renew them), and I have two and two and a half weeks with the others. My plan is to get them alllllll read.

I love the library, and I really would encourage you all to use your local library.


~Happy Reading Everyone

Five 2016 Releases I Meant to Read...

Hello friends,

As the new year approaches, one cannot help but review the past year and reflect on it. I have started this process a bit, and in doing this, I have realized that I have a read a solid number of books this past year (93 as of Dec 13th), and I am very satisfied with that number, and I have read a number of really great books, However, there are still a handful of books I had planned on reading this year, but didn't.

So, today I bring you the five 2016 releases I meant to read this year but didn't

1) Truly, Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty (July 26th)- I discovered Liane a number of years ago a devoured her books. I was really excited about the release of her newest novel. However, July came and went, and now all of a sudden it's the end of the year. I am excited to read this one. Moriarty has a way of making the mundane fun and interesting.

2) The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson (May 3rd)- I read Since You've Been Gone earlier this year and loved it. I was very eager to read her newest one. Buuuut- I forgot about it. Completely. It wasn't until I was going through someone's wish list a few weeks ago and saw it, and I was like "oh yeah.







3) A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (March 1st)- I was committed to reading more YA debuts this year. So early on I made a pretty great list of all the debuts I wanted to read. I even bought A Study in Charlotte on audio (it was on sale one day). But then I said I wasn't starting anymore series, and when I found out this was part of one, I said I needed to finish two before I could read it... and well, ya know.



4) The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (August 16th)- I don't read a lot of non-fiction, I don't tend to really enjoy it. But I really like Amy Schumer, and I have heard good things about her memoir. I have heard it's grittier than expected. I had every intention of grabbing the audio of this book. But, I was never "in the mood."  Which kills me.

5) The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson (August 2nd)- Oh man, I was excited to read the conclusion to Mary E. Pearson's Remnant Chronicles this year. This trilogy is SO good, I was so impressed. However, when the third book came out,  early readers were giving it so many mixed reviews, I got nervous. So, I put it off. I even had the book out from the library read the first few chapters, and then stopped. This one is priority for me though for 2017. I want to know... I need to know how the story ends.




There you have it, five books I totally meant to get read this past year, but didn't. I hope you enjoyed this list. Keep an eye out for more 2016 recaps. I have a few more coming your way.

~Happy Reading Everyone.