End of Year Book Survey!

The end of year survey is hosted by Jamie@The Perpetual Page-Turner. This will be my first year doing this and I feel like it's going to be a lot of fun! Head over there to find out more. 

First I want to do a summary of my year in books.

I've read 108 books.
That's 37,419 pages.
Only nine 5Star Reviews.
Forty books were rated 2Stars or lower.
Average rating only 2.82 Stars.

Overall I feel like I've had an okay reading year. I had a lot of low rated book at the start of the year, but since I've started blogging I've had a lot of amazing ones. All you wonderful people have given me so many great book recommendations, or ideas on what to read next. You've had me reading books I'd never thought I'd pick up, and then I've ended up loving them. I can't wait to see my end of year report next year, because I think it's going to look a little different.

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? 


I'm going to cheat and pick three! I only gave eight 5 star reviews this entire year, which makes me feel like I am incredible picky. I am going to have to pick Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, such an amazing book that completely took me by surprise. And then I'd pick Alienated by Melissa Landers, I just ended up loving that book so much and it made me realise that aliens can most definitely be hot! My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick was a book that completely won me over from page one. I fell head-over-heels in love with that book, not to mention Jace.

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

Come on, this has to be Allegiant by Veronica Roth. It was supposed to be the EPIC conclusion to the Divergent trilogy, and instead fell very short of being even slightly entertaining. The ending was the only time something interesting happened, and by that time I was too bored to care.


3. Most Surprising (in a good way) Book Of 2013?


This would be Sleepless by Tracey Ward. I accepted this as part of a book tour, not sure what I was going to make of it. It is a little strange at times, but was an amazing book and had one of my favourite romances of the year.


4. Book You Read In 2013 That You Recommended Most?


Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. This is because I read it in January and I've had a whole year to recommend it. You can imagine how crazy everyone thought I was when I kept recommending a book involving incest. But the book is that good, so I don't mind too much!


5. Best Series You Discovered In 2013?

Alienated by Melissa Landers and the Starbound series by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman. I am dying for the sequels!


6. Favourite New Author You Discovered In 2013?

Melissa Landers, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Tabitha Suzuma and Leila Sales.


7. Best Book That Was Out Of Your Comfort Zone Or Was A New Genre For You?

Alienated and Obsidian, I hadn't really read any books where aliens were the main love interest. Both of these were A-mazing!


8. Most Thrilling, Unputdownable Book In 2013?

Champion by Marie Lu. I couldn't put it down because I had to know how it ended!


9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

My Life Next Door & Alienated! It's going to happen.


10. Favourite Cover Of A Book You Read In 2013?

11. Most Memorable Character In 2013?

Jace Garrett from My Life Next Door; please marry me!


12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read In 2013?

I'm struggling with this one and I am not sure why.


13. Book That Had The Greatest Impact On You In 2013?


I'd have to say Forbidden, but also This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales. I couldn't stop thinking about either of those for quite some time after finishing them.


14. Book You Can't Believe You Waited UNTIL 2013 To Finally Read?

I'll do two for this. The Great Gatsby would be one, it's certainly the oldest book I read for the first time in 2013 - it came out in 1925. But I'm also surprised I never had to read it in school or college; but I'm glad I finally got to it. Then Forbidden, it came out in 2007 and I am sad I didn't find that wonderful book sooner.


15. Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

I never remember quotes! But trusty Goodreads is always there to help. I'm going to go for two super sweet quotes.

“I mean, at the end of the day, what the hell does it matter who I end up with if it can't be you?” 
― Tabitha Suzuma, Forbidden

“You have to kiss me," I find myself saying.
"Yeah." He leans closer. "I do.” 
― Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door


16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?


Shortest: Tuck Everlasting - 139 pages
Longest: Beautiful Creatures - All 563 long, long pages.


17. Book That Had A Scene That Had You Reeling & Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss...) Be careful of spoilers!

Forbidden wins hands down! THAT ENDING!


19. Favourite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013? (Romantic, friendship, etc.)

I'm going to super cheat!

Romance- Samantha & Jace from My Life Next Door, Lochan & Maya from Forbidden, Cara & Aelyx from Alienated, Alex & Nick from Sleepless, Lilac & Tarver from These Broken Stars and Will & Layken from Slammed.

Familial - The Garretts!


20. Best Book That You Read In 2013 Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else?

Obsidian.


21. Genre You Read The Most In 2013?

I think it would be YA dystopian.


22. Newest Fictional Crush From A Book You Read In 2013?

Jace Garrett wins this, no contest. He's sweet and caring, looks out for his family, loves animals... perfect!


23. Best 2013 Debut You Read?

These Broken Stars


24. Most Vivid World/Imagery In A Book You Read In 2013?

These Broken Stars wins again. I loved the very Titanic start on the spaceship.


25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read In 2013?

Obsidian. That is just a really fun series, the characters are hilarious!


26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry In 2013?

Forbidden, My Life Next Door, This Song Will Save Your Life. All three got me super emotional, and I was either choked up or sobbing at them.


27. Book You Read In 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

Sleepless by Tracey Ward - a really unique story, a beautiful romance and not like anything I've read before. Definitely recommend! It's not been out very long and I hope it will get a bigger audience as time goes on.

1. New Favourite Book Blog You Discovered In 2013?

Stephanie@Book Fever

Pam@YA Escape From Reality

Pamela@Reading Is Fun Again

I think this has more to do with the wonderful people who run them. They write some great reviews that have helped me when picking books to read. They're constantly reading and commenting on my reviews and I love hearing what they thought of the book and being able to discuss it.

2. Favourite Review That You Wrote In 2013?

I think I enjoyed writing my spoiler-filled review of Allegiant the most! Probably because I hated it so much and just loved being able to rant about it!

3. Best Discussion You Had On Your Blog?

My blogs only a few months old and yet I can't decide on this one. I think I talked to people most about Allegiant.

4. Most Thought-Provoking Review Or Discussion You Read On Somebody Else's Blog?

I find this hard now, because I come across these amazing posts or ones that I leave a small book worth of comments on... but then don't bookmark or forget where I found them. I clearly suck at this.

*EDIT* I was checking out some other end of year surveys and came across something truly touching and beautiful. Ginger at GReads shared a letter she wrote to her mother, on the ten year anniversary of her death. I don't like to get too personal on the blog, mainly because I don't want to bore anyone but I wanted to share this because of how much it spoke to me. My aunt passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly this year at only thirty-eight. She was one of the greatest people I know, but also one of the greatest mothers. She left behind my ten year old and eighteen year old cousins, and they, understandably, have struggled with it. This letter gave me so much hope; hope that there will come a time when they will look back on all the amazing times they shared with their mother with happiness, and without feeling so much anger at how short that time was. A truly touching post. 

5. Best Event That You Participated In? (Author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)

I've just read a book for my first ever book tour (Sleepless by Tracey Ward) and I'm very excited to post the review I've done for it. 

6. Best Moment Of Book Blogging/Your Book Life In 2013?

I've only been blogging for a few months, and I think the first time someone followed me was a real wow moment! That feeling that someone cared enough about what you wrote or posted. 

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

Review by comments: Control by Lydia Kang

Review by views: Allegiant (the spoiler-filled review)

Other by comments: Waiting on Wednesday: Maybe Someday

Other by views: Books I Want My Cousin To Read

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I'm still kind of amazed at the love my posts get right now, but I guess any review really. 

9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)

Book Depository. How have I not used this site before? It has all the books I want that I would never find in a bookshop near me.

10. Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges Or Goals That You Had Set For Yourself At The Beginning Of This Year?

I wanted to read 100 books this year and I managed 108! So I'm really happy.

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority In 2014?

Cinder & The Program (There are about a million more!)

After I've read my December ARCs that I didn't get to. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014?

There are quite a few, and I'm going to pick one I don't already have as an ARC.

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira.

3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I'm going to use the same again. Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira.

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating In 2014?

There are so many series enders coming out in 2014, but most are for series I haven't even started yet - but really HAVE to. So I will pick Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan; I am excited to see how that series ends.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?

I want to work up enough courage to email a publisher about that one book I really want to review. I wouldn't know where to begin, so I'm pretty sure I will wimp out and not do it!

Angelfall Giveaway

My boyfriend bought me Angelfall and World After for Christmas, but had a problem with World After when it arrived. It has the tiniest dent in the back cover from where it has obviously got knocked around the box in transit. He got in touch with TBD, because he knows I am so particular when it comes to books, and they sent a replacement. Now I have two copies, and looking at the 'damaged' one, it's barely noticeable and I wouldn't have been that bothered. But seeing as I only need one copy of it, I am going to give that one away. I will also throw in a paperback copy of Angelfall to the winner as well. So just remember World After has tiny bit of damage to the back of it. As I will be sending by post, this giveaway is UK only. 

The tiny damage! 

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200 Bloglovin Followers Giveaway

I have reached a big milestone for me, which is 200 followers on Bloglovin. To think just a few short months ago I had none at all, well it kind of blows my mind. Thank you for all your support, your comments and recommendations. I have found so many amazing blogs, bloggers and books since starting my blog. It's probably the best thing that I have done all year! 

To celebrate I want to do a little giveaway. So I am offering one winner the chance to win £20 worth of books from Book Depository. That way I can do an international giveaway and you can pick the books you want. 

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