Okay, so I am going to start off by saying- I have a LOT of great books that I want to put on this list. Unfortunately, I have to pick ten. I am going to have to pick my favorite of the favorite. So, if you happen to be an author and don't see your book on this list, it doesn't mean I didn't love your book or anything! Most likely I did, if I read it! Anyways... onto the post.
So, this year I decided to partake in Top Ten of 2011, which I will post a bit of information about:
(This comes from Confessions of a Bookaholic:) Last year Lisa from A Life Bound By Books and I posted some Top 10 lists the last week of 2010. For five days we recapped some of our favorite books, covers and characters. We also listed some books we were looking forward to in 2011. This year we thought we'd do it again... just with a twist. We have invited some friends to help us co-host things and make an event out of it! Rachel from Fiktshun &Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Lisa and I have all come together to work on making this into something we hope more people will want to join in on and contribute.
These are my Top Ten Book of 2011. I have read a lot of awesome books this year and it is pretty hard to pick just ten! But I will anyways. I will mostly judge based on how the book affected me and also on how badly I want to re-read that book RIGHT NOW! Also, just to limit down my list, I will only put books on here that were published in 2011, and also ARCs of 2012 books I read in 2011. Hopefully this will limit my list down a bit. (I kinda stole that idea from
Fiktshun.... :)
Also, these are not really in any particular order.
1. Delirium and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Delirium was emotional and beautiful and fully convinced me once again that Lauren Oliver is one of my favorite authors. Also, Pandemonium is by far, and almost positively my favorite book this year. I could not find a single flaw within the pages. It was a perfect, perfect, perfect sequel to Delirium and I couldn't have asked for more. This book tore at my heart the whole time and I cried so much. (Yes, I admit it! I CRIED A LOT!) Pandemonium is powerful and beautiful and I can't even put my love for it into words. I finished this book back in November, and the minute I put it down, I wanted to read it again.
2. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
I read Starcrossed back February and I still think about it. Yeah, I didn't give it a perfect score, but it is one book that has stuck with me. i've found myself constantly wandering over to my bookshelf, looking at the BEAUTIFUL book cover, and wishing i had time to pick it up and re-read it. There was just something about it... Either way, Starcrossed was an amazingly written book with an awesome story that kept me reading the whole time.
3. Die For Me by Amy Plum
Die for Me was an amazing debut novel. It was also one i had been anticipating for a long, long time. I was curious to find out about these revenants and what they were. Luckily, opening up Die For Me was all I wished for and more. Amy's writing pulled me into the story and her beautiful descriptions of Paris made me want to hop on the next plane to France. Kate is an awesome main character and definitely one of my favorites in YA. Can NOT wait for Until I Die!
4. Clarity by Kim Harrington
I started Clarity a few days after I got to meet Kim Harrington at a local signing she did. Kim is awesome and friendly and I hoped to enjoy Clarity when i got a chance to read it. What I did get when I read Clarity was an book that I loved so much more than expected. I knew I would like it, but i ended up loving it. Clare is hilarious and a character you can really relate to. I did not see the conclusion coming until it hit me in the face. People said they thought this one was predictable, but i don't think so one bit. Plus, i absolutely loved the setting of
Clarity. Cape Cod = WIN.
5. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Anna was definitely one of my most highly anticipated releases this year, and it definitely lived up to expectations! I was lucky enough to get a copy form the awesome Rachel of
Fiktshun, and I tore through it in a few days. I loved the character and every one of them felt extremely well developed. Plus, the love story that kind of shows up is amazing and tragic. Anna + Cas 4E!!!!!! Plus, scariest book this year! The ending especially. FREAKED ME OUT. And the ending! Need the sequel NOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!
6. Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Possess was another one of my OMG I NEED THIS NOW! books this year. When I got an ARC i dropped everything and read it. Possess met and flew past my expectations. It was original, funny, and perfectly awesome. Plus, Gretchen managed to convince me that sometimes I like third person more than first, like with
Possess. This was also one of the books I immediately found myself wanting to reread. And there is no word of a sequel yet, BUT THERE BETTER BE ONE! Just sayin'.....
7. Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
Stupid Fast really took me by surprise. It was a quick read and i loved it much more than expected. I usually don't read contemporary, but a lot of reviewers said this book was awesome, so I decided to finally grab it. The characters were super funny and i really related to Felton in a way I don't think I have with many other characters. I keep thinking about this book and how good it is. Not only is it funny but its actually very emotional and i really think anyone can enjoy it.
8. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
A Touch Mortal was a very dark book and everyone knows i love dark. It told a story unlike any i have read before and I loved it. Can't wait to dive into A Touch Morbid!
9. Meant to Be by Tiffany King
The first time i saw the cover, i was in awe. It is beautiful and perfect and so was the book. Krista is like my twin I never had. She did things I could see myself doing and liked the same things as i do. I swear, Tiffany must've sneaked into my head or something....
10. Daimon and Half-Blood by Jennifer l. Armentrout
I loooooove Jen's writing. She manages to create an awesome cast of characters and an great story. Alex is hilarious and kick-butt, yet you can't help but love her from the very beginning. The writing is addicting and i couldn't put these down.
Honorable Mentions: (which basically are my other favorites that I couldn't fit on the actual list.....)
Divergent by Veronica Roth
A great dystopian, definitely worthy of Hunger Games comparisons. Action packed and emotional!
Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
Beautiful is one word to describe this one. My only complaint was about the end, but otherwise, I adored it.
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
I really loved how original this one was. It had great characters and I am dying for a sequel.
The Soulkeepers and Weaving Destiny by G.P. Ching
I was lucky enough to get to review these for G.P. and be part of her blog tour. I was pleasantly surprised with these and I really loved them. The characters definitely stand out and the storytelling is top notch, keeping you involved and making you feel for the characters
Also, another favorite this year was Nevermore by Kelly Creagh, but that was published in 2010, so I didn't include it in the official list....
Anyways, thanks to Rachel, Patricia, Jaime, Lisa, and Jessica for hosting this! Hope you all enjoyed my list! Come back tomorrow for my top 10 book covers of 2011!!!
