Wow. I can’t believe I’m writing this post. It feels like just a month ago I was doing my 2011 wrap-up.
Before I get to the goods I just want to give a belated congratulations to anyone who attempted NaNo last month. GO YOU. If you’re looking for a critique partner to help you whip that rough draft into shape, be sure to check out my recent post on Pub(lishing) Crawl. I’ve got some tips on finding the right match for your needs, plus a chance to snag a critique partner right through the comments of the site. Similarly, if you just need an inspirational boost, my good friend Susan Dennard has a great post on creativity and lazy muses.
Okay…Moving on…
Around this time last year, I participated in the wonderful YA Superlatives Blogfest, which is hosted by a few of my writer friends. I had every intention of participating again this year, but I am just too slammed. I am going to do my own one-post roundup on my favorite reads of 2012 along with some of my most anticipated books of 2013 right here and now, but you should totally jump in on the superlatives fun. It kicks off next week.
And now, the lists…
My Top 5 2012 Reads
5. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
“What a wonderful conclusion to the epic story of the Seven Kingdoms…I have a feeling these three novels will be ones I come back to over and over throughout the years.” [my full review]
4. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
“The writing is as gorgeous and atmospheric as ever (I seriously want to live between the lines!), but it is the characters that shine most in this book…I adored this.” [my full review]
3. Rebel Heart by Moira Young
“I respect Young for letting her characters make mistakes…[She] brings them all to life–even the secondary characters that don’t say more than a half-dozen things throughout the novel. They all feel real and so I can’t help but root for them and cry with them and stress over their safety. I am SO EXCITED for the final book in this series..” [my full review]
2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
“I loved this novel…The world is terrifying, the stakes are high, and the whole thing is un-putdownable (my favorite type of read). I adored this book the way I adored THE HUNGER GAMES and BLOOD RED ROAD.” [my full review]
1. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
“TFioS is perhaps the funniest sad book I have ever read…There is very little I can say about it coherently other than the fact that I loved it—I was hugging the book upon completion.” [my full review]
Also, while I couldn’t squeeze them onto my top 5 list, I can’t go without mentioning the wonderful books by my fellow Pub(lishing) Crawl girls. These all came out in 2012 (actually, Legend was late 2011) and they are all fantastic:
I’m also in the process of reading Laini Taylor’s Days of Blood and Starlight and Catherynne Valente’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There, and it’s probably a good thing I’m not done with them yet. Both are amazing so far and would have added complications to my “pick only per list five” rule.
And now…Moving on to books not published this year…
My Top 5 Oldies Read in 2012
5. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (2011)
“This book is haunting, and moving, and full of honesty. I had to break out my tissues, but it was worth every tear shed.” [my full review]
4. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (2011)
“Even though this novel centers around angels (both good and fallen), this novel was somehow very rooted in reality. I think that’s what I loved most about it.” [my full review]
3. The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (2008, 09, 10)
“Ness has such a talent for capturing human nature…I can’t really put into words how much this [series] made me feel.” [my full reviews]
2. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (2008)
“Hilarious, moving, strange, and brilliant, all wrapped into one…This is a truly remarkable book.” [my full review]
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2006)
“This is one of those books that changes you. I went in one person, and came out another. There will now be books I read before THE BOOK THIEF and books I read after.” [my full review]
And looking ahead to the new year…
My Top 5 Most Anticipated Reads for 2013
5. Just One Day by Gayle Forman — How can I say no to Gayle Forman? Especially with the stellar premise and promise of gorgeous writing and fabulous character development.
4. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins — Back in Paris? With cameos from Anna + Étienne, and Lola + Cricket? Yes please.
3. Boundless by Cynthia Hand — Tucker! Pick Tucker, Clara. (You better. Please don’t make me come cry.)
2. The currently untitled third book in Moira Young’s Dust Lands trilogy — There isn’t even a synposis for this on goodreads yet, but I don’t care. I adore this series and am desperate to see how things end for Saba & Co.
1. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi — I can’t talk coherently about this series. Just give me the book already. Perry!! Roar! Aria! I am dying to know what lies ahead for these three. *bites nails*
Making this list was so hard! PubCrawl again has a ton of amazing books launching in 2013. All my friends at Thirteeners also debut this coming year. And a bunch of great series are wrapping up (Divergent, Delirium, Wither, to name a few). I think 2013 is going to be packed full of unbelievable stories.
But what about you? Tell me your favorite reads of 2012 (oldies or just published ones)! And what are you dying to get your hands on in 2013?
