The best of the best!
New Adult:
Series:
Novellas:
Stand alone/first graphic novel:
Sweet romance:
2013 was a really bad reading year for me. I seriously thought that I may never enjoy reading like I used to again.
But then 2014 opened with the powerful The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and I never looked back. (The Winner’s Crime – book #2 is on this list because I read it this year but it doesn’t come out until 201- but it blew me away so it’s here.)
I let a lot of series go in 2014. I quit reading ones I wasn’t enjoying but only continued out of guilt or some misguided sense that I “made it this far so…” but a few of my favorites delivered. Banishing the Dark was a fantastic conclusion to the Arcadia Bell series, Murder of Crows - oh how I love this series, Magic Breaks was a game changer and Isla and the Happily Ever After, although quite different from Anna and Lola was delightful.
I stopped reading based on OMG THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER twitter hype. That never goes well for me. I picked what appealed to me – and let the other stuff go.
I read a LOT of novellas and that pulled me right out of my reading funk. I also stuck to lighter books. I am seriously over angst filled stories. I’ll probably come back to them at some point but I needed a break.
The majority of my picks, with a few exceptions of course, were just plain FUN or romantic. I found that that’s exactly what I needed to be reading this year. I wanted an escape. I didn’t really care if it was a deep, life changing read.
Courtney Milan's Talk Sweetly to Me was so darn adorable, Laura Florand can do no wrong IMO, Nyrae Dawn delivered a powerful and timely story with Rush. I discovered Ruthie Knox ( Truly) and Megan Erickson (Make it Count), Heidi Cullinan (Fever Pitch), and graphic novels - The Graveyard Book.
Shocker - I enjoyed quite a few of the New Adult titles offered in 2014. Mostly the less angsty ones but it gives me hope that the genre to expand a little for those of us looking for something different.
AND…..I did it! I made it to my goal of 200 books read in 2014!!
Feel free to share or link your favorites in the comments.
I HATE internet hype because I always fall for it! Luckily I had read The Winner's Curse before it had exploded on the internet (or I just wasn't paying attention).
ReplyDeleteI have Make it Count, I can't wait to read it!
Same here. I wonder if I would have loved it as much if I had read it later.
DeleteMake it Count was a lot of fun. Nerdy hero :-))
I hate the OMG BEST BOOK EVER hype. It destroys books for me
ReplyDeleteI don't even pay attention anymore. If a book is too hyped I wait a year to read it. Luckily I read The Winner's Curse before anyone else had started hyping it.
DeleteFirst off, congrats on reaching your Goodreads Challenge goal! I had the same goal and it was a bit tricky reaching it this year. Also, fun and romantic sound perfect right about now so I'm definitely going to be checking out a lot of the titles on your list. Particularly The Winner's Curse because I've had it sitting on my shelf for a bit now and I could totally use a read that will blow me away!
ReplyDeleteJust a heads up - The Winner's Curse is NOT fun. lol It's pretty intense but I loved it.
DeleteCongrats for making the 200 mark! I had a lower goal initially but I thought I might be able to make it in time.
The Winner's Curse is awesome. I'm jealous you got to read The Winner's Crime early. I've been waiting and waiting, lol.
ReplyDeleteOh man! It's worth the wait!
Deletecongrats on finishing your goal. There have been some amazing books this year :) Some really good and others not so much. I adore most of the books in your best of pile.
ReplyDeleteI just bought The Winner's Curse but haven't read it yet - glad to see it made your list. I've been loving NA lately too :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on meeting your goal!
Congrats on reaching your goal! That's awesome. I hope you keep reading more graphic novels; I read a lot this past year and I'm excited to find even MORE.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many series I haven't even started yet, but there are some I hope to read and possibly finish (many of them are finished now) in 2015; see what I think!
-Lauren
I have read THREE from your list, I can't believe it! haha and love them all (TWC, Isla and Truly)
ReplyDeleteOh no wait, FOUR. How could I forget Jenn Bennett *-* Best series ever, seriously.
DeleteI'm psyched to see Anne Bishop's, Jenn Bennett's and Ilona Andrews' series getting some For What It's Worth love! They just so happen to be some of my favourite Urban Fantasy reads.Congrats on hitting the 2-0-0 mark; you make my piddly 130 look sad.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think I was going to be able to read anything in 2014 (reading slump) so no one is more stunned than me at hitting 200 lol
Delete130 is awesome too! At least 50 of mine were novellas so maybe a slight cheat :-))
I love novellas too! I need to add a lot of these to my to read list!
ReplyDeleteI think novellas were my saving grace in 2014. They helped me love reading again.
DeleteOho, The Winner's Curse and Crime atop your list? I'll have to move them up my tar then. And I totally feel you on novellas!
ReplyDeleteThey're both pretty intense but I loved them.
DeleteI have not read ANY of the above books, lol. Glad you enjoyed though.
ReplyDelete