I’M BACK FOR THE NEW YEAR! // Goodbye 2017 ft. the end of year book survey + 2018 resolutions!

IT’S 2018!

HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE.

High key mind blown right now???? (Even though we’ve had several days already to process the news)

It’s been a couple of days* since I’ve last talked to you guys and now it’s 2018???? What is this witchcraft????? I am led to believe I CAN CONTROL TIME, GUYS.

*days = months :O

…But obviously not really because if so I would’ve frozen time to finish my TBR (smart, eh?) and keep up with this blog and the community which I have ABANDONED for the past few months…

I’ve had a rough couple of months, with work and my studies which were becoming too overwhelming to handle alongside with blogging, and although this hiatus certainly helped and I don’t necessarily regret it, I am sorry for leaving so suddenly and overall ending 2017 with… silence?

YOU GUYS DESERVE MORE THAN THAT and I’ve also missed talking to you so much… FORGIVE ME, FRIENDS. ❤

But now it’s 2018 and I’m not usually one of those “new year, new me” people (we all know I’m gonna forget all about my so-called new year’s resolutions as soon as February hits but shhh) I’m taking it as a fresh start!

To wrap up 2017, I’ve decided to participate in the annual End of Year Survey for 2017 hosted by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner! (But I’m cheating and haven’t answered some/many of the questions.)

AKA BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS.

Paradise, yes?

PIESSSSSS AND STATS.
As in pie charts to organize some stats! Sadly not actual pies (my mailbox is open though).

Number Of Books Read: 72 (goal was 60)

I had a SHOCKINGLY high amount of 5 star reads this year!! I’m not too much of a hard marker, sure, but nearly 50% of all my reads were rated 5 stars??? I mean that’s a good thing for sure, but I’m super shocked. Am I just an easy marker or did I just choose good books? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I had a few 2 and 3 stars, but overall I had a really great reading year! *celebrates with pie*

WHAT IS THIS MADNESS THO.

Number of Re-Reads: 10

Most of my reads were books I haven’t read before, unsurprisingly! A lot of my rereads were of series, I believe, like the Lara Jean books, the first 2 books in the Shades of Magic series, This Savage Song… all of which had the third or final book releasing this year! (I have an AWFUL memory, guys.)

But then there was also the Six of Crows duology which I adore SO MUCH I read them for no reason other than puuuuuure love. :))) But tbh you don’t need a reason to reread books? JUST DO YOUR THING.

Genre I Read The Most From: CONTEMPORARY

I read a TON of contemporary this year, like, you have no idea. (Well, you can kind of get an idea seeing how contemporary took up nearly 60% of my reads this year but whatever.)

I looooove fantasy but I noticed I didn’t end up reading many of them this year??? What happened to me. Most of my contemporary reads were great though, so I have no regrets!

Best Books You Read In 2017?

Guyyyyyyyyys. If there’s one thing that kills me about the end of a year, it’s choosing the favourites??? I don’t know why it’s so hard but maybe it’s because I just feel so bad about leaving out a book from the top books list because I still liked it? THE STRUGGLE.

First Half of 2017 (January and after)

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis:

• Surprisingly very very dark despite its cover??
• But super awesome
• Trigger warning for rape, assault
• (Told you it was dark)

Red Rising series by Pierce Brown

• MY FAVE
• How did it take me so long to get around to reading this series????
• Seriously someone kick me it’s amazing
• Sci-fi/fantasy which gives you all the feels and is also kind of dark but amazingly so
• AHHH

History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

• Very very messy and sad and THAT’S LIFE KIDS
• What is the use of a heart???
• It’s so cute sometimes and then it just bashes you on the head with sadness and devastation?
• Read it :)))

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

• ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SERIES ENDERS
• Seriously, no need for a heart guys
• The world, the writing, the characters are just my absolute LIFE.

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

• Trigger warning for child abuse!
• Julian my poor precious child ❤
• One of the most absolutely heartbreaking books ever
• Also featuring an amaaazing non-romantic sibling-like relationship that I love to death
• Must must MUST read

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

• MUST I EVEN START???
• One of the best debuts I’ve ever read!
• Important
• Realistic
• Familial love!! Absolute bestttt
• If you haven’t read this I’m kindly shoving you towards it

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

• Ft. casual diversity, and a fat main character who is comfortable in her skin ❤
• I love Molly so much
• She has tons of crushes and is awkward and I love herrrr
• It’s Becky Albertalli, guys.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

• This entire series is so cuuuuuutee!!
• Someone give me some of Lara Jean’s desserts, thanks
• And get me a Peter too please?
• Such a lovely conclusion to a lovely series!!
• LOVE
• (too much love oops)

How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake

• Ft. a bisexual protagonist and a f/f romance
• Kind of messy? But oh so beautiful I love it
• The RELATIONSHIPS ahhh
• I totally started crying in this one, not gonna lie
• I don’t think I need a heart anymore

Second Half of 2017 (July and after)

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer:

• SADNESS GALORE
• I’m starting to sense a theme here
• About a girl whose mourning her mother and meets this guy who reads the letter she leaves for her mom at a graveyard
• MY HEARTTTT
• Yes that’s all I’m going to say

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo

• WONDER WOMAN
• I’m starting to think I came back from my hiatus with a broken caps lock key
• Diana is amazing?? And Alia?? And omg Theo IS the reincarnation of Jesper and no one can tell me otherwise
• THAT TWIST THOUGH.

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

• This one sneaked up on me!! SO underrated
• A Snow White retelling ft. a prominent girl cast L E T’S G O
• Mina (the stepmom) was so great??? Like the whole retelling was so unique and I loved reading her perspective
• Snow and glass is just so aesthetic???? Me likie (also the concept and execution was great, ofc. I’m not that shallow, pff)

Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill

• My one and only thriller of the year!
• SO GOOD
• I want more thrillers now
• The romance was kind of really unnecessary but I looooved the characters and I could not stop reading this at all
• Even if you don’t read thrillers you should 100% read this

Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab

• foegjiwrjgiowejgoiewjjgoiwjgoijgoijwroigjroigjroigj
• PERFECTION
• Why are my babies so stupid :'((
• I love them so much
• I’m not crying you are????
• (So many tears)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• So magically/oddly written? Yes, it’s both
• Death kept spoiling things and I hated him but loved him
• Liesel stealing books speaks to my soul
• (I swear I’m not a thief guys)
• :'((((
• SADNESS

The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims

• WOAH. So, so underrated omg. One of my faaaaavourite contemporaries of the year! Maybe even all time
• It was funny, it was sweet, it made me SOB like crazy????
• I don’t usually cry reading, let me tell you. But this book ahhhh
• So many feels!! SO AMAZING
• Go read ittttt.

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

• WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF
• This book was so stressful omg
• About a school shooting…!
• There were multiple POVs and I connected with most, if not all
• So basically my heart was torn out. FUN!

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

• …
• If I ever thought I had a heart…
• It’s been destroyed. AGAIN.
• Adam Silvera is literally amazing though???
• RUFUS AND MATEO ❤ ❤ ❤

Books You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson: ★★★ 2.5 stars? Uhhhh. Main feeling: BOREDOM. Sadly. I was expecting a tear-jerker and although it was sad in the end, all throughout was so  s    l     o    w unnecessarily?? I just got bored and also I found the grudge Taylor’s friends were holding against her pretty pointless?

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert: ★★★ I really really loved the diversity of this one! The protagonist is questioning, most likely bisexual, and her brother has bipolar disorder, and many of the side characters were diverse as well in a very casual way which is AMAZING. It isn’t bad by any means at all, in fact I would still recommend it, but at the same time I couldn’t connect to many characters which made it quite tiring.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon: ★★★ INSTA LOVE. I should’ve known to stop there. Ahh.. It was cute, and I like the issues it tackled but overall it was not really what I was hoping for?

The Authentics by Abdi Nazemian: ★★ Although I appreciate the racial diversity of our Persian-American protagonist Daria (I think), I was just SO ANNOYED with her the majority of the time. Aghhhh. Sure, she’s a teenager and I probably could see myself reacting like she did, but story-wise? Sooooo annoying.

Lucky in Love by Kasie West: ★★ Yikes. Did not like this one at all. The love interest was sweet though! But the protagonist…………… gosh. This book had such a cute premise, and I love Kasie West’s other books, but this one was all too predictable for me to enjoy it.

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Morning Star by Pierce Brown // A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab // A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas // Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab // Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

PRETTY COVERS GALORE.

A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray // A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston // The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon 

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley // Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab // They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

I love the blue theme of this row omg I LIVE.

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: If you’ve read this book (and you all have, am I right? RIGHT?), you must know how INCREDIBLE this book is, spreading awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement, and empowering POC. YES PLEASE. (Also that family dynamic!! LOVE.) I never realized how bad police brutality could get, but ahhhh. This book was so heartbreaking, yet so full of hope?!

OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)?

Rufus and Mateo from They Both Die at the End: I WILL STAN THEM TILL THE DAY I DIE, OKAY.

Lila and Kell, Rhy and Alucard from the Shades of Magic series: I will legit fight anyone who argues against these ships. NO QUESTION.

Percy and Monty from The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue: Percy is so pure ahhhh these two were so adorable omg. ❤

(And the pairings from Six of Crows, OBVIOUSLY. Is that even a question.)

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?

Sevro and Darrow from the Red Rising series: SEVRO my child!! His and Darrow’s relationship was so perfect, filled with loyalty, anger, and all that fun stuff. (SOMEONE KICK ME FOR WAITING SO LONG TO READ THIS SERIES.)

Adam and Julian from A List of Cages: This sibling-like relationship is so pure and perfect and I can’t even. ❤

Kell and Rhy from the Shades of Magic series: The Shades of Magic series again! A surprise to a grand total of 0. 🙂 This bromance was so pure and beautiful and ahhhh I would trade romance for this any day tbh.

I’m trying to find an outstanding male-female or female-female non-romantic relationship apart from Six of Crows and I’m failing. UGH. WHERE ARE THOU BOOKS.

Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?

Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab: One of my faaaaavourite authors ever omg I die every time. ❤ ❤

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera: Have I gushed about this too much hahha oops.  I’ve read all of Silvera’s releases and they’ve all been SO AMAZING.

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo: Perfection from the genius behind Six of Crows ❤ ❤

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli: I probably like Simon vs a bit more but I still looooved this!

Best Books You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak // One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus // The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

THANK YOU, HYPE.

Best 2017 debut?

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust: What a lovely retelling this was??! This book completely sneaked up on me, I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did!

Saints & Misfits by S.K. Ali: I loved reading this book! I had a few issues with it, and the ending was a bit too open-ended for my liking but it’s an incredibly important book ft. a Muslim MC! Don’t sleep on this one!

Definitions of Indefinable Things by Whitney Taylor: I don’t find many books with characters with depression, so this one was super interesting to read! I actually really loved the cynical and sarcastic voice of the protagonist, and it made me laugh so much!

Books That Put A Smile On Your Face/Were The Most FUN To Read?

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon: A book! About two Indian-American teens! Falling in love! I’m not Indian, but this book probably came the closest to representing my own background and I love love love how fun to read this was! (Can someone please find me a Rishi????)

Geekerella by Ashley Poston: A geeky, fandom-related Cinderella retelling! So, so adorable. If you like reading cute contemporaries, THIS. ❤

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson: How fun was this?? I was kind of annoyed with Emily (? I think) at first for being so dependent on her best friend, but this was such a cute summery book and I loved it.

Books That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

   The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims // If There’s No Tomorrow by Jennifer Armentrout // How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake //  A List of Cages by Robin Roe // Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab // They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

I’ve talked about most of these already many times, so I’m just going to say: TISSUES ARE YOUR FRIEND. Before 2017, I hadn’t teared up that much at books?? And then I read these and that flew out of the window, no questions asked. (Some of them I probably teared up/cried more than others but I don’t remember details lol.)

Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims: ★★★★★  The perfect mix of happy and sad and fjoejfoiwejfoijfi READ THIS. So, so, SO underrated in contemporary I can’t even.

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer: ★★★★★ ???!! PEOPLE. Read.

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust: ★★★★★ What a lovely retelling this was???? So unexpectedly cool and interesting (although I wasn’t as invested in Lynet’s POV for a bit).

Whisper to Me by Nick Lake: ★★★★★ Book on mental illness! It got super dark at times, (hahahhaa DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE COVER LIKE I WAS.) but it was so unique and I loved it ahhhh.

Basically: GO READ ‘EM ALL, PEOPLE.

Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?

Not that I have many to choose from (oops), but I did really like my reviews for The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas!

Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I’m interpreting this as the discussion or non-review post I enjoyed writing the most? Because there’s a question speaking about the popularity down below, so in this case I’d say:

The book aesthetics were SO much fun to make, oh my gosh. I’m addicted. I really loved the topics I was writing about for these posts, which made it so much easier and fun to write!

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017?

There have been plenty of moments that made me happy during 2017 for blogging, but I’ll have to say hitting 1000 followers felt pretty great! ❤ (THANK YOU!) I’m at around 1700 right now, and that’s just so mind-blowing to me, especially with how inconsistent this year has been?!

^ That gif is LITERALLY me though???

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Definitely keeping up with the community, and maintaining my own blog! There’s only so many hours in a day, and I really struggled to comment on other posts when there are so many blogs I follow, reply to my own comments, and also consistently write posts that I like. (How do y’all do it all????)

(WHY IS BLOGGING SO HARD.)

(I still love it though.) :))) ❤

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

I was actually so surprised with how popular this post was?? Usually comments come in a few days within posting, but I would randomly get comments on this post months after I posted it? It was so unexpected but I’m so happy people liked it!

Oooh I actually had lots of fun writing this post! Not to mention I also hit 1000 followers at this time and was holding a giveaway, which was exciting!

Another pleasant surprise! While writing this actually took really less time (I usually spend a lot of time writing a post) and it was pretty simple–I never expected it to get as much response as it did, but it was SO much fun reading and replying to everyone’s comments! (To all of you who warned me I would cry during The Book Thief… Y’ALL WERE RIGHT. RIP my heart)

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

Uhhh I actually can’t find or remember what my goals were apart from the GR Reading challenge (which I did complete, yay)??? SO SKIP.

(This is not just because I’m scared to see how I failed reaching my other goals at the start of the year, of course not………)

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

I have a post coming up on this so ;)) (But basically all of them okay)

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli: Back to the world of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda? MUST YOU EVEN ASK.

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp: This is Where it Ends was so captivating! I’m kind of scared though because I’ve seen a lot of meh/negative reviews on this one? Yikes.

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon: Another book by Sandhya Menon! SQUEAL! The covers and the titles are so so cuuuuute.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas: Ahem, the second book of ANGIE THOMAS. (If this isn’t on your TBR, can I just politely push to Goodreads?)

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody: Daughter of the Burning City was so good, despite being really slow at first! And this one sounds like something I will LOVE, with something almost like a Kaz 2.0 I’m sensing??? YAS.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: I’ve heard some mixed reviews on this one but fairies! Or faeries! (Idk man, there are too many different spellings.) Fantasy!

These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch: I loved Snow Like Ashes! The second book was kind of more meh but I like the author’s writing.

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh: Necromancers! Zombies! Death, probably! WOO.

2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews: A CONTEMPORARY BOOK BY CAIT, GUYS. (Go check her out if you haven’t already?!!!!!!) I’M SO EXCITED AH EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT DIE OF FEELS.

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian: I’m making up for all the fantasy books I didn’t read in 2017 in 2018! These fantasy covers are so alike but I loveee it still.

Furyborn by Claire LeGrand: No clue what it’s about, but :)))

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed: #OwnVoices! Indian-American teen! Tackling Islamophobia! CAN I JUST.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena: Ohhh I love all of these diverse novels coming out this year! YES PLEASE.

My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma: Bollywood!! I LOVE BOLLYWOOD, OKAY. This will probably be cheesy, maybe even unrealistic, but it will be the cutest and I can’t waittttt. ❤

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: The synopsis already sounds so beautiful and magical and jifjigjworjigiorjg so many awesome fantasies this year??!

Everless by Sara Holland: THAT COVER. I know it’s not realted to it, but it reminds me so much of Aladdin and I just love the cover so much. (That’s all the reason I need, okay.)

Ink, Iron and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare: You can create an entire world by writing. Like an ACTUAL WORLD. (This is lowkey what every writer dreams of … okay, or what I dream of, whatever.) Also that cover!!

 Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

Series Enders:

Allied by Amy Tintera: I didn’t actually read the second book of the Ruined trilogy yet but I LOVED the first book!! LET’S GO with the fantasy and epicness, people.

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare: DON’T KILL ME, BUT I haven’t read Lord of Shadows yet? *runs away* BUT THIS BOOK. Once we near its release (December, darnit) I will for sure binge read the entire trilogy, I promise.

Sequels (or fourth books):

 

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi: MARCH 6TH, GUYS. (I’m so shook there are going to be 3 more books in the Shatter Me world?? YAS.)

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown: CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING RIGHT NOW????!?!! (It’s coming out THIS MONTH holy crap)

One Ten Things You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?

Yup, 10! LET’S GO and watch how I fail epically at these goals in the next 2 days.

1. Read 65 books. I managed around 70 books this year, so I think it should be doable? I would set it higher but then if I set it low and read more it seems like I’m more of an over-achiever than I am? #hacks
2. Write AT LEAST a mini-review for each book I read, right after reading them. (Hahahahah let’s see how long this lasts –> so far it’s not horrible? But I’ve only read 2 books.)
3. Post 1-2 reviews on the blog each month. (I seriously have done SO little reviews this year, and I want to see if I can change it up so I enjoy writing them more often!)
4. BLOG HOP BLOG HOP BLOG HOP 
5. Discover how to freeze time
6. BLOG HOP BLOG HOP BLOG HOP (in case you didn’t guess, blog hopping is a very big goal of mine this year, in general just making more time to comment on other blogs?)
7. Not fail completely at following a blog schedule (HAHAHA) aka write posts in advance and not the day of
8. Take less hiatuses! –> I’M (hopefully) HERE TO STAY
9. Say it with me: BLOG HOP!
10. FREEZE TIME PLEASE

At least I started off realistically? 2018 is gonna be a GREAT YEAR, GUYS. (I hope.)

What are some of your favourites of 2017?? What was your top genre? Have you read and/or loved any of the same books as me? What was your best and/or hardest moment of blogging this year? 

And feel free to name a 2018 release you’re looking forward to and/or a 2018 resolution YOU’VE made if you made it this far! (Which is quite a feat with this post, not gonna lie. Making this post I was just putting ALLLL of my 2017 feels in here whereas I technically could’ve split this into, like, 2 or 3 posts? I’m smart.)

All this to say:

Happy New Year!! I hope you guys are all happy and having a lovely time, wherever you are! ❤