Hi bookish peeps! It’s that time of year when Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner puts together the best (and longest) end of the year survey! I did the survey last year and while it always takes me forever to finish it is seriously so much fun! It gives you a chance to look back on the year and re-experience those books that made you laugh, cry, sob and rage. It’s also an awesome way to see what cool things you did and what awesome things you plan to do. So how about we jump right on in?!
Number of Books Read
Octavia {50}
Shelly {159} As of 12/8/14….she plans to read even more!
Number of Books Re-Read
Octavia {None that I can think of }
Shelly {4}
Genre You Read the Most From
1. Best Book You Read In 2014?
(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
Octavia {Sorry guys but this is a THREE WAY TIE for me!}
~ The Fault In Our Stars by John Green ~ Contemporary~
~Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop ~ Fantasy~
~White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L Armentrout – YA Paranormal~
Shelly {I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUB BY JANDY NELSON! Seriously, soooooooo good! It’s on my ‘best of’ list for EVERYTHING.}
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Octavia {Three way tie again for me. These all disappointed me so much in equal horrifying amounts}
~Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout~
~Suspicion by Alexandra Monir~
~Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White~
Shelly {I would say The Young Elites by Marie Lu. I absolutely adore Marie Lu’s books and while I really loved The Young Elites, it’s not one that I love enough to consider a favourite. Which really makes me sad.}
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?
Octavia {Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre (Good Way)
{Illusions of Fate by Kirsten White (Bad Way)}
Shelly {Probably September Girls by Bennett Madison. I know it has a horrible reputation, that is well-earned, but I HAD TO read it. I HAD TO. I made some sacrifices for the Great Imaginations Bookish Bingo, okay.}
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?
Octavia {WRITTEN IN RED BY ANNE BISHOP}
Shelly {I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN. I am telling EEVVERRYONNEE to read it. And if you don’t read it, SHAME ON YOU.}
5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?
Octavia {Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning (Best series started) |Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop (Best sequel)| Didn’t finish any series so that’s it for me!}
Shelly {Best series: THE OTHERS SERIES BY ANNE BISHOP. Hands down, best new fantasy series ever!
Best sequel: Split Second by Kasie West. I LOVED THIS ONE!
Best series ender: How dare you make me choose, Jamie?! WHY?! I’m going to go with Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo, since I’ve been iffy about the series but the ending was well-written and it fit the series perfectly.}
6.Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?
Octavia {ANN AGUIRRE!!! YA, NA, tweets! If she composed it then it has a guaranteed spot on my shelves!}
Shelly {How can I choose?! I’m going to go with an author with already a few books out there, Nina LaCour. I’ve only read Everything Leads to You but I am itching to read all of her older novels, and I am really looking forward to it.}
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Octavia {I’m not a historical fiction fan. But Grave Mercy is in a league all it’s on and I’m pretty sure the rest of the series is too!}
Shelly {I read a lot of contemporaries, but not really psychological thrillers so I’ll go with Dangerous Boys. Holy crap guys, this is one heck of a novel!}
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Octavia {House of Ivy and Sorrow by Natalie Whipple! I stayed in one spot and finished that book in one sitting! I know it wasn’t a huge hit but I loved loved loved it!}
Shelly {Definitely Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen! So.many.things. I am dying for the 3rd book in the Scarlet series!}
9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Octavia {UGH I LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL BASTARD SERIES!! Beautiful Player is my favorite so far and I can easily see a re-read in the near future!}
Shelly {No surprise: I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN BY JANDY NELSON. Seriously, need I say more?}
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?
{Ok so Shelly and I did our survey’s separately yet somehow we both picked Jackaby for our favorite cover. Pretty sure this means two things.. 1. This cover is so gorgeous it puts all others to shame. and 2. TWAS FATE THAT BROUGHT SHELLY & I TOGETHER!}
11. Most memorable character of 2014?
Octavia {Augustus from The Fault In Our Stars. I don’t think I’ll ever come across another character that makes such a prolific impact on me.}
Shelly {Definitely a tie between Noah from I’ll Give You the Sun (how unsurprised are you?!) and Ronan from Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater!}
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?
Octavia {The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski. This woman has a true talent with words guys. A gift with them I tell you!}
Shelly {I’ll Give You the Sun, SORRY GUYS BUT LIKE I NEED IT!}
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?
Octavia {THE FAULT IN OUR STARS!! I know I’m repeating myself but ARGH THIS BOOK JUST DESTROYED MY FEELS! DESTROYED THEM.}
Shelly {I’ll Give You the Sun, I AM SO SORRY YOU GUYS BUT THIS BOOK!}
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read?
Octavia {Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning…at least I got to it and LOVED it right? RIGHT?!}
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?
Octavia, I honestly want to have this tattooed along my ribs (on the right since the left is taken)~
“Fear doesn’t shut you down. Fear wakes you up.” ~ Four of Divergent by Veronica Roth
Shelly, although Anna and the French Kiss is a re-read, I have to go with this one~
“For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.”
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Octavia {Shortest ~ The Alpha Alternative by Karen Marie Moning ~ 16 pages | Longest ~ Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers ~ 549 pages}
Shelly {Shortest ~ Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan~ 185 pages | Longest ~ Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor ~ 613 pages}
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
Octavia {Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. Total shocker that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one}
Shelly {I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN (omfg how many times can I put it on this list?!)}
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)
Octavia {Sam & Meg ~ Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop | Even though this isn’t a “traditional” ship I ship them all the same!}
Shelly {How do I even choose one?!}
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Octavia {Ashyn and Tova and Diago and Moira ~ Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong}
Shelly {Noah & Jude’s sibling relationship, I rarely like how twins are portrayed in books but damn, I love them! (From I’ll Give You the Sun, unsurprisingly)}
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Octavia {MURDER OF CROWS BY ANNE BISHOP DAMMIT!}
Shelly { I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN BY JANDY NELSON}
21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Octavia {White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout} thanks a lot Crystal *side eyes you in all your smugness*
Shelly {Written in Red by Anne Bishop, THANK YOU OCTAVIA FOR THIS} *tips hat* You’re Welcome!
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?
Octavia {ROTH!!!!~ White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout}
Shelly {Noah from I’ll Give You the Sun, NOAAAHHHH!}
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Octavia {Marked by Sarah Fine ~ Releasing January 2015}
Shelly {GODDAMMIT! I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN AGAIN!}
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Octavia {I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre}
Shelly {Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews!}
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?
Octavia {THE FAULT IN OUR STARS DAMMIT!!}
Shelly {I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN!!}
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Octavia {Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop. Yes I know it’s a sequel and that only makes me sadder.}
Shelly {The Half Life of Molly Pierce, it’s sooo good guys!}
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Octavia {I don’t even know how you’re asking this! THE FAULT IN OUR STARS!}
Shelly {I’ll Give You the Sun, UNSUPRISINGLY!}
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?
Octavia {The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski}
Shelly {I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN! OMFG! WHY JANDY NELSON? WHY?!}
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Octavia {Suspicion by Alexandra Monir…the bad kind of mad}
Shelly {Probably To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, that one made me so angry I ranted to my sister for a good twenty minutes… my family had to shush me.}
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014!
Octavia {Umm I couldn’t pick just one since there are so many so here are my top 5!
My Friends Are Fiction}
Shelly {All of the above PLUS! Oh, The Books!}
2. Favorite Review the Your Wrote in 2014?
Octavia {House of Ivy and Sorrow by Natalie Whipple! I think I did a pretty darn good job on that one!}
Shelly {My review for I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson, I am quite proud of it! It (surprisingly) has no spoilers!}
3. Best discussion/ non-review post you had on your blog?
Octavia {Stop & Chat ~Delicious Library~ I know it’s a software that only people with Macs can use but it is such an amazing piece of software I’m so happy I did decide to share it!}
Shelly {Definitely BookCon 2014. Although it was horrid and busy, I got to hang out with Octavia and meet a bunch of other bloggers that I was dying to meet!}
4. Best Event You Participated In?
Octavia {BOOK EXPO AMERICA! Duh}
Shelly {SEE ABOVE!}
5. Best Moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?
Octavia {Definitely a two way tie between meeting Laini Taylor at YallFest and meeting Shelly and Nikki during BEA!}
Shelly {BOOK CON!!}
6. Most popular post on your blog this year?
We honestly have no clue O_O soooo pass!
7. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?
Pass…again O_O
8. Best Bookish Discover?
Octavia {BOOK OUTLET!! OH MY GOSH THIS SITE!!}
Shelly {
9. Did you complete and reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of the year?
Octavia {Nope. Well not including my GR challenge which I cheated on. DON’T YOU JUDGE ME!}
Shelly {Hit my goal of 10 for the LGBT Challenge!}
1. One book you didn’t get to in 2014 but will be your number 1 priority in 2015?
Octavia {Nikki is going to kill me for this one but the entire Mistborn trilogy}
Shelly {This one is definitely going out for Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler, I want to read it SO BAD but I never can find time to order it, and I just *know* I’m going to love this one!}
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015? (Non-debut)
Octavia {The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows! I NEED THIS BOOK SO BAD!}
Shelly {I’m going to go with The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord because I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH I WANT TO READ IT}
3. 2015 Debut You are Most Anticipating?
Octavia {The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury! Gorgeous cover AND awesome synopsis?! YES PLEASE!!}
Shelly {Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, this one sounds so so soooo good and I AM DYING TO READ IT!}
4. Series Ending/Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2015?
Octavia {END OF DAYS BY SUSAN EE!! I can’t believe it’s almost over and I do believe I’m going to cry now}
Shelly {Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen, I can’t wait for the ending to the Scarlet series. I don’t want the series to end, but I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.}
5.One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?
Octavia {COMMENT MORE! I’ve been really bad at this and I really want to fix it! We receive so much love at RSR and I really want to return the favor.}
Shelly {Hmm, I’m not really sure! I definitely keep thinking about how much I want to write more personal posts. I definitely want to do that!}
6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
Octavia {Haven’t read many O_O but I’m going to say Marked by Sarah Fine. That woman can do no wrong!}
Shelly {My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga, it’s a fantastic novel that made my cry buckets and everyone should read it!!}
WE MADE IT!!!
I always have a ton of fun with this survey but finishing it must be what marathon runners feel when they cross that finish line!
