Monday, June 24, 2013

Top Ten Books I've Read in 2013 So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.

Can you believe we've passed the halfway point of 2013? I sure can't! What better topic to have today, than a re-cap of the first half of a year of great books! Links lead to my reviews!







1. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (Read December 24, 2012 - January 4, 2013)
Creativity, character growth from the first book, heart-stopping ending. If you loved Under the Never Sky, this book will NOT disappoint you!

2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Read January 5 - January 7, 2013)
This is THE DAY I want to have happen to me, and it reawakened the wanderlust within me (although, it really hadn't been asleep for long). Allyson let her life behind, got totally lost, and was changed. PLUS she fell in love with a cute Dutch boy! The story is beautiful.

3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Read January 21 - February 8, 2013)
I LOVED Cinder, and Scarlet is just as, if not more, amazing! Cinder is back, but now we've got Scarlet too. And she's amazing! I love Marissa's strong female characters, and how her books showcase them rather than whiny little spineless girls. And I love Wolf! The characters say some laugh out loud things, yet there's some serious stuff going on. TONS of stuff happens, and I love this futuristic looks at Paris. 

4. Unremembered by Jessica Brody (Read February 8 - February 11, 2013)
I love mysteries and I love survival stories. Unremembered is both, plus a little science fiction.

5. Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini (Read March 21 - April 2, 2013)
I'm not usually a fan of afterlife-type novels, because I don't usually like an author's take on Heaven/Hell, Angels, God, and the afterlife in general. For this reason, I almost did not accept this book for review. Something about it, though, drew me right in and I decided to give it a chance. I am SO glad I did, because this book is a new favorite of mine! I really loved it, and it made me think about my life.
 
6. Of Triton by Anna Banks (Read April 3 - April 5, 2013)
Mermaids!! It's funny, has amazing characters, I loved the dual perspectives, I loved Anna's take on mermaid and Greek mythology, I loved the intense moments, I loved the writing style and the gorgeous underwater descriptions, and the ending killed me! Oh, and you get to learn SO much more about the Syrena in this one!

7. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson (Read April 5 - April 19, 2013)
I was sold when I found out about Jessa's coming-of-age journey through Italy! Jessa is so down-to-earth and normal. She's on a trip to Italy with her newly ex-boyfriend, and she gets to watch him hang all over the girl he cheated with. That takes guts. And she kicks her heartbreak in the butt. Plus, the Italy scenes! SO GREAT.

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Read April 19 - April 25, 2013)
AMAZING. The world, people. THE WORLD. You just HAVE to read this even if you think Fantastical futuristic Russia, sexy male leads, a kick-butt heroine, and feeling is not for you.

9. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill (Read May 3 - May 5, 2013)
A quirky heroine, breathtaking scenes of London, breaking rules, mysterious suitors, culture, bookishness, witty banter, and a slow-burning swoony romance? Yessssssss! I LOVE this one. 

10. Heist Society by Ally Carter (Read May 7 - May 8, 2013)
Good YA mysteries are hard to come by, and this one involves thieves and art! Plus, we get to do a lot of traveling with a bunch of awesome, charming characters. There's action and suspense, and it's all wrapped up in cuteness! Can't WAIT to read the rest of this series. 

So, tell me what you think! Have you read and loved these, too? Read and hated them? Leave links, and I'll come see! I can't wait to see what you recommend. :)

While you're here, make sure you enter my birthday giveaway!

44 comments:

  1. Unremembered and Scarlet made my list too, and Ally Carter's books are so fun! :) My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/06/24/top13/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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  2. Shadow and Bone was amazing! The sequel is just as good. I'm going to read Of Triton soon, so I'm glad to hear that it's great.

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    1. I definitely loved Siege and Storm as well. :) I hope you love Of Triton! It was wonderful!

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  3. Wow, Scarlet and Cinder are making TTT lists all over today. :) I loved the first book and although I have yet to read the second one, I think I'm going to like it!

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  4. Good list, I love the Heist Society series as well.

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    1. It's absolutely adorable so far. :) Can't wait to read more of it!

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  5. thanks for the list, now I know what I will be reading next :)
    I would like to recommend you more mermaid books, like Vicious Deep (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYDVK0W/ref=oh_d__o03_details_o03__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and Tempest Rising (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055GJFWI/ref=oh_d__o02_details_o02__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    Also I think you amy like Christine Zolendz trilogy Mad World :)

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    1. Tempest Rising is definitely good! I've actually reviewed the whole trilogy on my blog. :) I have Vicious Deep, and am SO excited to get to it! Thanks for the recommendations!

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  6. It's extremely weird that we have another six months to go until it's the end of 2014!

    The only read book I read is Heist Society. I love books that involves heists/thievery/young adults. It speaks to me.

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    1. I do too! Have you read any other awesome heist books I should know about?

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  7. Ohh! Just One Day is one of my favorite 2013 releases, but sadly I couldn't put it on my list because I read it at the end of 2012! But it's seriously incredible! And then two that i've really been wanting to read are Scarlet and Through the Ever Night!

    My TTT

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    1. I can't wait for Just One Year! Weeee! Definitely get to Scarlet and Through the Ever Night soon. They are amazing!

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  8. I've had Heist Society to read for over a year and really can't wait to get to it! I've heard lots of good things and I think it'd be such a fun read!

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    1. I'd also had it for a very long time, and finally made it a priority. SO glad I did!

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  9. I'm always attracted to books with beautiful covers and the Of Triton one? Gah, I'm definitely going to hunt for the first book and then read this one. Greek mythology + mermaids? Eeeek, count me in! xD

    - Tirta @ I Prefer Reading

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    1. Both books have amazing covers, and are SO good! I love mermaid books!

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  10. I absolutely love the Heist Society series. So fun. I have Jut One Day checked out, but haven't gotten to it yet. Great list!
    Natflix&Books' TTT

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    1. Drop everything you're doing and read Just One Day! Definitely my favorite this year. :)

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  11. Umm, I can't even go through these individually because basically I'm going to fangirl about like 7/10 of your choices haha! Such great picks. I see great minds think alike ;)

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    1. Hehe. This is precisely why we're friends! :)

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  12. I've been meaning to read Touching the Surface for a while now. I may need to give it some priority soon,

    My TTT List

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  13. Em LOVED Scarlet! There are lots of this list that we actually haven't read yet! We need to get on that!

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    1. Yay! Scarlet is amazing. :) Which other ones are you two planning to read soon?

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  14. Those little triangle graphic things you made are SO adorable, can I just say? But anyways, it seems like we enjoyed a lot of the same reads this year! Through the Ever Night, thank goodness, was just as fantastic as the first. I actually enjoyed Scarlet even more than Cinder, it was that great. I have yet to pick up Unremembered, but I'm really looking forward to it, as I've heard such great things. Shadow and Bone is simply stunning. I have no words, seriously. And Meant to Be was SO cute. Seriously, I loved that one so much as well. <3

    Lovely list Jana! Hopefully the rest of 2013 will bring even more awesome reads.

    -Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

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    1. Thank you, Aneeqah! I love designing my TTT posts. :) Scarlet was definitely better than Cinder. :) I'm so excited for Cress! I love that we love the same books! It's SO much fun to find people with the same great taste. :)

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  15. I loved Just One Day. It made me want to jump on a plane without a plan so badly!

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    1. I KNOW! It's one of the reasons I love the book so much!

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  16. Shadow and Bone was just fabulous and an amazing read! Meant to Be is still on my TBR pile.

    Great list!

    My TTT: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-books-ive-read-so-far-in-2013/

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    1. LOVE Shadow and Bone. :) Get to Meant to Be soon! It's amazing!

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  17. I'm right there with you! How are we already halfway through 2013? Where has the time gone!?

    There are so many books on your list that I need to read. Under The Never Sky was hands-down my favourite novel last year, and yet Through The Ever Night has been languishing on my TBR bookshelf ever since I bought it. What gives, Self!? I seem to have a problem picking back up with series after a certain amount of time has passed :( If it's any consolation, your comments really make me want to read it immediately, though!

    Heist Society is one of those novels that seems to be universally adored and is always a staple on my TBR list yet I never seem to have the time or inclination to get around to it. Well, it's official: This is the year that I will finally pick up this novel ;) Your review made it sound undeniably great.

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    1. Oh my, get to Through the Ever Night soon, especially if Under the Never Sky was your favorite last year! It's SO good! And I definitely agree with your goal to read Heist Society. I'm sad I waited so long! Hope you love it!

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  18. Excellent list. I have read any of these, but now I'm intrigued. You made Heist Society sound even more interesting than I had originally thought. Happy Reading!

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    1. Hehe. Yay! I hope I made you add Heist Society to your TBR. :)

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  19. Shadow and Bone is the best!! Also, how can fantastic russia, sexy guys, and kick-butt heroine not be for everyone? ;) I haven't read Anna Banks yet, but I've been meaning to. She is so funny and snarky on twitter and in real life that I bet her writing would be so fun to read.

    My TTT

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    1. Anna's books reflect so much of her personality, it's crazy. Her heroine is just like she is! It's full of a lot of snark and silliness, but the stories are amazing!

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  20. I LOVED Just One Day!! I just finished Meant to Be as well, and really enjoyed it.

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    1. I love cute contemporaries set in foreign countries! Glad you loved them both!

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  21. So happy you liked Shadow and Bone! I've been dying to read it but I've been nervous to start a new series. Now I cant wait to dive in!

    Em @Emma Jane Reads Books

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    1. Oh, don't be nervous to start Shadow and Bone! It's amazing!!

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  22. I need to read Shadow & Bone and Just One Day! I have both, but haven't gotten around to it. Great list :)

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    1. Make them your top priority for sure! Definitely my two favorites of the year so far!

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  23. Shadow and Bone is one I am desperate to read! I finally convinced my library to order it but they still haven't processed the books fully yet. Several others here also sound good!
    Here are my top ten.

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You're stinkin' cute. Thanks for writing to me! ♥ - Jana