End of the Year Book Survey 2016

After adapting Jamie’s End of the Year Book Survey to TV (read here) and Movies (read here), it’s time to talk about books, baby! Note that I’ve attempted to avoid mentioning titles more than once but a few are repeated.

Okay, let’s do this!

Number Of Books You Read: 

Books: 112

Graphic Novels: 18

Novellas: 12

Short Stories: 13

Total Works Read: 155

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

Favorite Book: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Favorite Graphic Novel: Alex + Ada, Vol. 1 by Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn with a notable mention to Paper Girls, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, & Matthew Wilson

Favorite Novella: Queen Song by Victoria Aveyard as seen in Cruel Crown

Favorite Short Story: Burning Girls by Veronica Schanoes (Tor)

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

I’m not a Sherlock fanatic so I really wasn’t the target audience for this book. That said, there was so much excitement about this book that I felt myself getting excited anyway. Alas, this book was not for me and that’s okay. I’m not going to connect with every book and this was one of them. I can totally see why people enjoyed this book. It just wasn’t for me. That book was Jackaby by William Ritter.

3. Most Surprising Book You Read?  

Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison was beyond fascinating. I’ve heard (not so good) things about the head Playboy over the years but Holly Madison breaks it down. It’s a no holds barred look at her life in the Playboy mansion and wow. Long story short, it’s a must read.

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

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes was a very popular title.

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

Best Series I Started: The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is a series that I am so, so, so glad that I began when I did. I either take my time reading series or both buy and read books in a series as they release…this one is surely the latter. Talk about a page turner. Whoa.

Best Sequel I Read in 2016: Paper Hearts, Volume 2: Some Publishing Advice is part of a trilogy of writing advice books by Beth Revis. I highly recommend.

Best Series Ender of 2016: Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler – This is a very diverse New Adult Contemporary Romance that’s a companion title to Last Will and Testament and Right of First Refusal so while you don’t have to read these books in order, you obviously will get more out of it if you do.

6. Favorite new to you author you discovered in 2016?

Adele Griffin has been on my radar for at least three years now but it wasn’t until 2016 that I sat down to read one of her books. After reading, The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, I really want to buy all of her books and binge read them. I loved Adele’s unique form of storytelling and her writing style and I want more of her writing in front of me asap.

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

I’m very picky about contemporary and fantasy. My favorite fantasy read this year was Serpentine by Cindy Pon. My favorite contemporaries that I read this year were Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – believe all of the hype about this book, it really is that good – and Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos, which I let sit on my TBR list for far too long.

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

I typically read books in either 2-4 sittings or over a long period of time but one book that I read in one sitting was Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Definitely unputdownable.

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

I don’t see myself re-reading anything next year but I do see myself referring to some recipes in The Reboot with Joe Juice Diet Cookbook: Juice, Smoothie, and Plant-powered Recipes Inspired by the Hit Documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead by Joe Cross.

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

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Kamala from Ms. Marvel is a definite stand out. If you’re not reading this comic, self correct, you need this one in your life.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma hands down moved my heart in ways it hasn’t been touched in awhile. Wow.

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

Most Thought-Provoking: Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini with Rebecca Paley

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

The autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Wow.

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

“I don’t want to imagine meadows. I want to run through them.” – I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

16. Shortest & Longest Work You Read In 2016?

Note: By Page Count, According to Goodreads

Shortest: 9 Pages – The Crown & the Arrow by Renee Ahdieh

Longest: 520 Pages – Salvage by Alexandra Duncan

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

The Thing Beneath the Bed by Patrick Rothfuss, Illustrated by Nate Taylor is a picture book that is NOT for children. I repeat. NOT for children. But if you know a kid who is wise beyond their years and has a fun sense of humor, it won’t hurt. But generally speaking, yeah, no, not for children.

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

Simon & Blue – Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Sister & Brother, Lada & Radu – And I Darken by Kiersten White

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

The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton was Kelsey’s first novel in first and first middle grade novel so there was a lot to look forward to here and boy did she deliver!

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

Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction and Get It Published by Susan Rabiner, Alfred Fortunato

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

Olly from Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon was truly everything.

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Timekeeper by Tara Sim debuted in 2016 though I read an early copy of the book as an intern, before the author was agented so to see this book get agented, get a book deal, and be published has been beyond exciting. I championed this book as an intern and will recommend this book until the end of time.

That said, since I didn’t technically read this book in 2016, I must say that I’m embarrassed to look at my list of 2016 reads, only to find that all of the 2016 books that I read were by authors who weren’t debuting. So I need to do a much better job next year in regards to reading debuts. Tsk tsk this year.

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

Worldbuilding: Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Most Vivid Setting: Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

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

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer and Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

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

Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Believarexic by J.J. Johnson, You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan, The Weight of Memories by Liu Cixin Translated by Ken Liu

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

I Crawl Through It by A.S. King

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

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall, with Lisa Pulitzer

Love is Pillow From StoriArts

BOOK BLOGGING LIFE

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016 or favorite blog post in general?

Author, Summer Heacock dropped the mic on her post about allyship and own voices here.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

And I Darken by Kiersten White – Audiobook Review

Serpentine by Cindy Pon – Review

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh – Review

3. Favorite non-review post you had on your blog?

Summer Reading Diversity Spotlight

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

The Virtual Adult Summer Reading Program Challenge stands out for sure. That was a lot of fun to participate in.

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

Remember when E-Book Retailers Paid Out Class Action Suit Credits? That was pretty awesome.

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

Reading and posting a review every other day in the summer was quite the challenge but it was well worth it. I got most of my reading done in the summer. Yay, summer reading!

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

Review: Paper Hearts Series by Beth Revis

Notable Mention: Top 10 Secret Santa Tips

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Nothing stands out book wise. Overall, I’d just like to step up my game next year though so that there is more bookish love to give.

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

Stori Arts

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

In 2015, I started the Summer Reading Diversity Spotlight late into the summer, so I was determined to start on the first day of summer this year and I did. I read and reviewed a diverse read every other day this summer. The full list of reads is at Summer Reading Diversity Spotlight.

LOOKING AHEAD

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

How about all of them. I’ve only read three of my top ten anticipated reads for this past Spring so if that gives you an idea of how behind I am…then you know I need to really catch up.

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

Bad Blood by Demitria Lunetta and these titles as well.

3. 2017 Debuts You Are Most Anticipating?

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

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

Sequel: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

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

I’ve blogged everyday for an entire month many years before. I’d like to see if I can increase that to 2 months this year.

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

Gardenia by Kelsey Sutton

Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

What were your standout reads this year?