Welcome to the 8th annual End of Year Book Survey hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner! I first participated in this event last year and I found it to be such an eye opener into my reading accomplishments from 2016, that I am super excited to reflect on my 2017 reading this year. It is so interesting to revisit the books that were favourites and those that maybe didn’t quite wow me as much as I had hoped.

2017 READING STATS

Number Of Books You Read: 127
Number of Re-Reads: 1 (Heist Society by Ally Carter)
Genre You Read The Most From: Young Adult Contemporary

BEST IN BOOKS

1. Best Book You Read In 2017?

Warcross by Marie Lu is hands down one of the best books that I have EVER read! I read a lot of books, so that is saying something pretty special here. It is very original and action packed and has the most incredible world building that you can imagine. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly suggest this book.

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

Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore is one that I had really high hopes for, but I ended up not finishing it because I found it to be extremely slow paced and overly descriptive.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Gone Girl  by Gillian Flynn is one that I read this past fall, as it had been on my TBR forever. I had never been spoiled for this one, which is really surprising. The plot is one that just threw me for a loop. If you love a great thriller, this is one to read!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

The second that I learned about When Dimple Met Rishi  by Sandhya Menon, I was instantly intrigued. The cover is all sorts of adorable and the story is absolutely as cute as can be. Dimple is one of the sassiest characters that you will come across in YA, and the Indian culture that I learned about in this book has expanded my horizons beyond belief!

 

5. Best series you started in 2017?

Warcross! I am so excited to get back into this amazing world. There are very few details that I have been able to find about the second book in this duology, so I hope that the wait isn’t too long.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?

Stephanie Garber! Caraval was one of the first books that I read in 2017 and the concept just blew me away. I love books that have mystery and complexity to them. Garber’s writing is not only beautiful, it is super descriptive and gives the reader a sense of reality in a fantasy world.

 

 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue  by Mackenzi Lee is one historical that I absolutely loved. I don’t typically pick up this genre and I am so glad that I made an exception for this one. The story is quite entertaining and just so much fun!

8. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

I am a huge Marissa Meyer fan and Renegades is one superhero story that I just loved dearly! I will most likely have to re-read it when the next book in the series comes out in September to refresh my memory a little bit.

9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

 

 

 

Caraval has got to have the most gorgeous covers from 2017. The UK editions are so incredible and the fact that there were those stunning secret covers that you could also be lucky enough to own makes this my favourite cover of 2017.

10. Most memorable character of 2017?

Eleanor Oliphant sticks out in my mind the most. Gail Honeyman created such a fantastic character in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine that the reader really gets into the mind of someone with mental illness. The writing is gorgeous and the emotions that you will feel will be immense if you read this one.

 11. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?

I first picked up You Bring the Distant Near  by Mitali Perkins because of its beautiful cover. Let me tell you, that the beauty on the cover is just the surface. I was not prepared for what the story contains and it is one that will draw you in from start to finish. One of my favourite aspects of this book are the Indian customs and culture that are seamlessly woven into the narrative. The music and the food that play such large roles in this story are absolutely incredible.

12. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is one that I listened to via Audible this summer. It is one that I had been hoping to get to read for years and I am so glad that I finally got the chance to experience what all the hype is about. It is such a fun book to read and is perfect for your summer TBR.

13.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?

 

 

 

14. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Becky Albertalli is one of those authors who can always seem to add an element of fun to any storyline. The Upside of Unrequited is a book that has important messages, yet also is relatable and will have you laughing out loud. Another one of my 2017 favourites, for sure!

15. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

My first Jeff Zentner book, Goodbye Days had me sobbing for days. This is a book about grieving and coming to terms with the death of people you love. It is a tough topic and one that Zentner writes in the most beautiful way.

BLOGGING/BOOKISH LIFE

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

OMG THEY'RE HERE!!! @angiethomas @andimJULIE @beckyalbertalli pic.twitter.com/QUuddcAjqR

— The Candid Cover (@candidcover) September 10, 2017

HCC Frenzy Presents is one of those blogging events that many of us in the Toronto area look forward to each year. The team at HCC Frenzy just know how to throw the best bookish party. Right down to the food and goodie bags, there is so much to get excited about when learning about upcoming titles. This year was exceptional as there were author signings and tons of amazing bloggers to meet!

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

I hosted another Summer TBR Wipeout this year and I found the challenge to be really helpful and I was able to read quite a few backlist books. There is something to be said for the encouragement of others, as it was really inspiring to read the other participants’ updates and I loved the constant pats on the back we gave to one another. It is definitely something that I am considering hosting again this summer.

LOOKING AHEAD

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017,  But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

I am really disappointed that I did not get the chance to read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This is one important read that I will definitely be getting to very soon. I have a feeling that I am going to need more than one box of tissues to get through this one.

2. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Beauty That Remains is one that I recently discovered and I am in love with both its cover and synopsis. It sounds like it is going to be a powerful and amazing read for 2018.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?

Trying to get back to reading more fantasy is something that I really hope to accomplish this year. I have been focusing on contemporary lately and I would really love to start reading something different.

4. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone?

You Won’t Know I’m Gone by Kristen Orlando is one that I just finished reading. Let me tell you how incredibly fantastic this second book in The Black Angel Chronicles is! First of all, it is better than the first story, which is not usually the case for most series that I read. I absolutely  love the training academy setting of this book, and it is exciting and fast-paced. Give this series a try if you are a fan of the mystery/thriller genre.

Do you have any books/reading goals that you are excited to accomplish in 2018?