2012 End of Year Book Survey!

I've been seeing this survey popping up on book blogs that I read and I followed all the links back to the source over at The Perpetual Page-Turner (that's her graphic too by the way!) and I wanted to jump on the bandwagon and participate too!

Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

This is actually really hard for me! I always have issues picking favorites because I feel like I'm missing one or leaving one out. But I'll try.

Adult Fiction: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn; The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice
Contemporary YA: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
YA Dystopian: Crewel by Gennifer Albin
YA Paranormal: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
YA Historical: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
YA Fantasy: Entice by Jessica Shirvington
YA Thriller: TEN by Gretchen McNeil  

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

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama. I hadn't read much mermaid fiction before and this one caught my eye. But I just didn't like it too much.  

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

Definitely On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves. I don't normally read women's fiction/chick lit/romance type books, but this one blew my mind by how much I loved it. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Either Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers or The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. They both were favorites of mine this year and each stood out in their own ways. I loved the character of Ismae, the assassin, in Grave Mercy - she was so kick ass! I loved The Raven Boys because it had so much paranormal stuff going on at the same time - loved it!

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

I actually came across a couple great indie series that I LOVED. The "Pretty in Black" series by Rae Hachton and the "Brightest Kind of Darkness" series by P.T. Michelle. I participated in blog tours for each of these and I became a bit obsessed with them both. :) 

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Oh man, there were SO many - I don't even know where to start! Gretchen McNeil, Maggie Stiefvater, P.T. Michelle, Rae Hachton, Rhiannon Frater, Kathleen Peacock, Jennifer Bosworth, Gennifer Albin, Bethany Griffin, Robin LaFevers - just to name a few.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

On the Island by Tracy Garvis-Graves, without a doubt. Why? See my answer for #3. 

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

There were a couple of these for me. TEN by Gretchen McNeil - I couldn't stop reading this one and ended up finishing it in one sitting. It took about 3 1/2 hours, but I did it! The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington - I just read this one a couple days ago, so my review isn't up yet. I picked this one up late one night because I couldn't sleep and then couldn't - wouldn't - stop until I was done. I ended up finishing it at 6 AM - it only took me about 3 or 4 hours to read it all. So worth it. And The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - this one had me wandering around the house attempting to do things like cook dinner while my nose was stuck in it. I didn't get much of anything accomplished because I couldn't put it down. One of my faves of this year!

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

 Probably one of the ones that has a sequel coming out. I usually like to refresh before I start another book in a series. 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

 It's a tie between:
 

  
11. Most memorable character in 2012?

Probably Ismae from Grave Mercy. She was completely awesome - an assassin nun - but also had flaws that made her realistic and likable. She was a really strong heroine.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

On the Island by Tracy Garvis-Graves. I've mentioned this one a few times now, but it really blew my expectations out of the water. This book was so beautifully written and real that I had visceral reactions to it and I'm not usually like that with many books. I was smiling, laughing, crying - the works.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield. This book was a very deep and serious read that was really emotional and moving, especially for me because I could really relate to the main character and some of the struggles that she went through. It really touched me and will stay with me for a really long time.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck. I had never really heard of the series before and I wasn't that blown away by the description. Then, I was approached by the publisher about reviewing it and I thought I would give it a try. I ended up really enjoying it and now I have the whole series sitting on my shelves waiting to be read.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?

To be completely honest, I don't really keep track of quotes from books. So I don't know! 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?

Shortest: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss at 64 pages

Longest: Nocturnal by Scott Sigler at 566 pages

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

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. All of her books always are like WTF?!?! for me, because they're so twisty. This one was no different and I loved it.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

This is another tie for me between Ethan & Nara from the "Brightest Kind of Darkness" series by P.T. Michelle and Marcus & Ellie from the "Pretty in Black" series by Rae Hachton. And there's Adelice & Josten from Crewel by Gennifer Albin. So, it's a three-way tie I guess. 

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Either Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice. I've read all the books both of these ladies have written and loved them all. They are automatic reads for me, I don't care what they're about - I just know I have to have them.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. This was published back at the beginning of the year and I decided to try it out based only on reviews and ratings I read online. Luckily, I really loved it and have already devoured the second book in the series, Entice, and am anxiously awaiting Emblaze to be released in 2013. 

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?

All of them! I started out book blogging at the very beginning of the year, so I hadn't started following anyone until then. There are so many awesome blogs and bloggers out there, I don't even know where to start! I follow an insane amount of them now and I love them all. :)

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?

Probably the review for Scars by Cheryl Rainfield because it meant so much to me. 

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

I've never really had a discussion on my blog, so I don't know!!

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog? 

I really loved a post the Parajunkee did on her blog about controlling our TBR piles. That post helped me organize my review books and start a spreadsheet to help me keep track of dates and review dates. It was SO helpful! 

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Meeting author Gina Damico! I live in a teeny tiny town in NW Pennsylvania, so I never get to go to any events like author signings or conventions. When Gina announced her impromptu road trip/book signing and said she was coming near me, I was SO excited! She was the first author I'd ever met and she was really nice. She stopped in Erie, PA just cuz I asked her to and I was the only one there. It was so cool. 

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

Meeting Gina Damico (see above question) and talking to authors online. I've "met" some great authors this year - all of whom are super nice! It was pretty mind boggling to be tweeting/posting/emailing with famous people. Well, to me they're famous people! 

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

Aside from Giveaway hops, the most popular post was a blog tour stop for Becoming Jolie by Monique O'Connor James - it had over 1100 page views! 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 All of them? Seriously! I feel like I don't get that many views or comments on posts unless they're for giveaway hops. Hmmm....

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Goodreads (obviously!), Netgalley, and Edelweiss. They are all epically awesome! 

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Yep! I did the 2012 Reading Challenge on Goodreads to read 100 books this year. Right now I'm at 168 and I know I'll squeeze a few more in before the end of the year. 

Looking Ahead…

 1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. I seriously waited for that book to come out for over a year after I read A Discovery of Witches and then I never got around to reading it. That is one that I WILL read soon! 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

There are seriously TONS of titles that I'm freaking out over for 2013! Some of them are: Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey, Spellcaster by Claudia Gray, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke, Chantress by Amy Greenfield Butler, The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan, The Murmurings by Carly Anne West, The Shadow Girl by Jennifer Archer, Taken by Erin Bowman, The Weather Witch by Shannon Delaney - I could go on forever! 

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

I just want to keep blogging and keep loving doing it! Really though - I need to tame the review pile. It's enormous and is eating me alive. (Not that I mind though!) And I'd like to make more blogger friends - that would be awesome!