2012 End of Year Survey

(Credits to this fabulous idea go to The Perpetual Page Turner!)

Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)
Hard question!!! I would say...all in all...the very best book? Partials by Dan Wells. Yeah...probably that one....

Adult fiction: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Contemporary YA: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Dystopian YA: Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Sci-Fi: Partials by Dan Wells
Paranormal: Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margeret Stohl
Fantasy: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Defiance by C.J. Redwine - I absolutely did not get the hype that got me so excited about it :/

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Partials by Dan Wells
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

 4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Divergent, because I think it's so universal. Everyone loves it! I even bought that one for my friend for her birthday :)

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?
Oh my... The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead (I still have to read books 2-6...), The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare although I only fell in love with this one as I was reading the fourth book and The Belles Series by Jen Calonita.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?
Gosh....I just really started getting into YA this year, so there are many! Maggie Stiefvater, Ally Condie, Cassandra Clare, Dan Wells, Sarah Ockler, Lauren Oliver.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. I usually don't like Paranormal Romance but that one was pretty good, I think.

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. I didn't even like that one all that much but I couldn't stop reading until I knew how the story would end.

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Quite a few. Especially with all the recaps coming up...The Matched Trilogy, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins....

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
Again, such a difficult question!


11. Most memorable character in 2012?
Noah and Echo from Pushing the Limits and Anya from All These Things I've Done!

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - what else?

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012?
If I Stay by Gayle Forman - it really taught me to appreciate life more.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - that book was so brilliant!

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?
“It's just that...I just think that some things are meant to be broken. Imperfect. Chaotic. It's the universe's way of providing contrast, you know? There have to be a few holes in the road. It's how life is.”
― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever
I really don't know if that one is my favorite, but it sure is a good one.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012?
Longest - City of Lost Souls (535) I think. It was worth every page and every second :)
Shortest (I don't count novellas) - Bloom by Elizabeth Scott I think it's good hat it wasn't longer....

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It?
I'm going to go with the end of Delirium, too. That was quite something! Also the ending of Insurgent...because I simply didn't get it...and needed someone to explain it to me :)

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Again Noah and Echo from Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits and also Kyle and Lindy from Alex Flinn's Beastly, Halley and Scarlett from  Sarah Dessen's Someone like You, Anya and Win from Gabrielle Zevin's All These Things I've Done.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
The Truth About Forever and Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini! I never intended to read that one because I never read Adult Fiction but my aunt got it for me and I loved it!

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012?
365 Days of Reading - her reviews are always to the point and very nicely written!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012?
Phew. I don't know ;) Maybe the one for Delirium? I actually make sense (I believe) in that one...

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
I didn't really have one...I guess. Maybe the one about not judging J.K Rowling's book by its cover?

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
There were many! But I usually don't bookmark them or anything - and if I do, I don't keep the bookmarks for a long time, so I can't really say :/

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Bout of Books 4.0 - my first Read-a-Thon and so. much. fun! Can't wait for 6.0!

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?
Uh...the day I started my blog. Because I knew - just knew - that this would be one of the best decisions of my short life :)

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Hehe...by views: My Candy Challenge for Bout of Books 5.0

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I don't think there were any...I'm always surprised by how many people read and comment on my posts. It's just sometimes that I wish I got more comments on reviews or other more unique posts instead of on the meme posts...

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Oh my...Bookblogs in general, I think?

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yup, I planned to read 50 books this year, then changed the goal to 100 and ended up with 105 books :).

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, books 2-6 from The Vampire Academy Series, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, Where She Went by Gayle Forman, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
Dare You To by Katie McGarry, Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, Fragments by Dan Wells.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
I would like to interact with other bloggers more and make real friends in the blogosphere. I tend to stay to myself which is so sad considering all the great people in the YA community :)
Oh, AND finishing series and trilogies! I have that habit of never reading more than the first book :(

These are the kind of people that intimidate me...

I just started watching this girl's videos...and I'm addicted...but also intimidated. Oh my...these videos are sooo much fun! I like...can't stop grinning and laughing and when I try to do something while watching her videos, I sooner or later stop doing it because I'm laughing so hard!
Whatever...you guys probably already know Polandbananasbooks but just in case you don't - check out her channel! Now! Goodnight!

The 2013 Debut Author Challenge

This challenge has fascinated me ever since I started blogging (not even a yer ago...) and I decided to join for 2013! The goal is to read at least 12 debut novels by YA or MG authors this year, but instead of creating a list beforehand I'm going to decide which books I read spontaneously! 

Are you participating in this challenge, too? Which other challenges do you take part in this year? Do you have any recommendations? Or do you host any challenges? Let me know :D

Bookish: 2013 TBR Pile Challenge

You guys know me. I don't spend a lot of money on one single book. I buy them used. But I buy a ton of them each month - waymore than I can read! So for 2013 I am setting the goal to get through all those books thar are collecting dust on my shelves...to be clear, I am setting the goal to read 11-20 books (A Friendly Hug) simply because that number fits my current TBR pile perfectly :D

1) Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2) Fire by Kristin Cashore

3) The Diviners by Libba Bray

4) Cloaked by Alex Flinn

5) Tempest by Julie Cross

6) Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

7)Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

8) Gone by Michael Grant

9) Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

10) Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

11) The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
12) My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares
13) Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
14) The Boyfriend list by E. Lockhart
15) Love Story by Jennifer Echols
16) The Statistical Probablity of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
17) Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
18) Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
19) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
20) How To Save a Life by Sarah Zarr
21) The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.
That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again.
He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.
We are a sensational team.




Release Date: February 6th, 2012
Series? No
Pages: 452
Publisher: Egmont Press

LONG STORY SHORT:


Code Name Verity was an entertaining, interesting, intriguing, funny novel that I enjoyed reading a great deal but that I was not obsessed with. Honestly, I don't get all the hype. I mean, the premise is awesome, it's something different - especially in YA and - a big plus - has a lot of girl power. But overall, there are just books that got me way more excited...

REVIEW:

I looked forward to reading this one so much. The premise sounded epic - in my opinion, I was looking for something new and refreshing - without all the YA cliches and your typical teen drama around love, romance and jealousy. In a way, that's what I got. But I expected it to be better. I wanted it to be better. That's the thing with high expectations, I guess.

The main characters were both funny narrators, great storytellers and one of them fooled me. Perfectly. Although I somewhat, kind of knew I'd be fooled. It totally caught me off guard. But then, I wasn't like "Woah...no...what...I...It's just". I was more like "Ah. Okay, so that makes sense...". You know it didn't capture me. Nothing in this book really captured me. There was not a lot of suspense, not a lot of action.

The storytelling was awesome, I will give it that. I also think that might be why most other people loved it so much. It's amazing how the author lets two stories flow together and how she makes them seem so real. Also, the stories are heart breaking, raw, they could bring you to tears.
But then again, storytelling is not the only thing I look for in a book and not what I was looking for in this book. I want to identify with the characters, to find myself lost in a world and to feverishly wait for the ending to reveal the big BAM.

Code Name Verity was a good novel, yes. I did enjoy it. I would recommend it. But I also found it dragging a bit and can't really understand the hype....Again, my disappointment is probably caused by my completely different expectations going into this novel.

For people who love: Historical Fiction, heartbreaking stories about friendship

RATING: 2/3 Smarties

2013 Sequel Reading Challenge

Just in case you guys haven't noticed I'm terrible at finishing a series...I always end up with a bunch of sequels that simply overwholm me. So for next year, I thought it was a great idea to participate in this awesome challenge.

Here are a few sequels I want to get read:

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Reached by Ally Condie

Rise by Anna Carey

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Winter White by Jen Calonita

Merry Christmas!

...and Happy Holidays to everyone who refuses to spend their holidays following blogs. I - am pretty sure you will hear fro me on here quite a few times during the Holidays. I mean, I'm a teenager, I don't have any responsibilities. I don't have to cook, clean, take are of the children, wrap presents and if I bake I only do it because I want to :P Wait...what was the point of this again?
Ah, yes! Happy Holidays! I hope you all enjoy these days and make them special.
Greetings,
the Booksmartie

Review: Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes

Goodreads Summary:

Recently banished, unfairly, by the school’s popular crowd, former “it girl,” Miranda Prospero, finds herself in a brave new world: holding dominion amongst a rag-tag crew of geeks and misfits where she works at the Hot-Dog Kabob in the food court of her local mall. When the worst winter storm of the season causes mall workers and last-minute shoppers to be snowed-in for the night, Miranda seizes the opportunity to get revenge against the catty clique behind her social exile. With help from her delightfully dweeby coworker, Ariel, and a sullen loner named Caleb who works at the mall’s nearby gaming and magic shop, Miranda uses charm and trickery to set things to right during this spirited take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest



Release Date: December 18, 2012
Series?#1 (Twisted Lit Series)
Pages: 224 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Merit Press

Other works by the authors:



LONG STORY SHORT:
The premise of this book somehow just appealed to me and the fact that it's set in the winter time made it even more promising for me. Once I started reading it did surprise me, though. I didn't expect me to like it as much as I did. This is a quick, fun read that makes you laugh or at least grin quite a few times!

REVIEW:

We all know them. The fun, little, mostly contemporary stories that don't have a huge impact on our lives, but that entertain us and light up those cold and rainy winter days. Tempestuous is that kind of book. The number one fun factor in my opinion is the main character, Miranda, who speaks sarcasm as if it was her mother tongue but still doesn't lose herself in endless monologues arrogantly mocking everyone around her. While her back story is pretty funny, too - she started a business where the geeks at her school tutored the popular people and got payed with popularity and got busted because of that - the death of her mom and how it affected Miranda and her dad helped this novel to a little bit of depth that it might have lacked otherwise.
This is also accomplished by the friendships that grow and develop in the course of the book. Not only the friendships that grow, but especially the ones that Miranda leaves behind for good. If you look more closely, you do get a very important message about keeping only those people close who are good for you and walking away from the ones who aren't.
You don't have to take that closer look, though. If you're looking for a light, funny story with a bit of mystery mixed in towards the end, this one is for you.
The only thing that bothered me a bit was the ending. There was one situation where I thought the authors definitely made it too easy for themselves, but that little detail can easily be forgotten.
One more thing; I have not read the original Shakespeare story so I can't say anything about how those two go together :)
This book was quite amusing and I can't wait to read the second one, Exposure!

RATING: 2/3 Smarties


Thanks so much to the authors/Netgalley to provide me with a copy of this book. My opinion is not influenced by anyone but me, though :D

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

Everyone who has been following my blog for a bit is probably like "What? Is that girl serious?" right now, but wait!...wait, I can explain. I know that in general I hate most Paranormal Romances. But there definitely are exeptions, also because not every Paranormal story automatically is a Romance, too. And when I discovered this challenge I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to branch out a bit next year! 

Vampires

Frostbite by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #2)

Werewolves/Shifters

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)

Fey

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey #1)

Angels/Nephilim

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Mermaids

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs (Tempest #1)

Dragons

Eon by Allison Goodman or

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Zombies

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Demons

Witches/Wizards

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Ghosts

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Aliens

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Other (ie: sirens, unicorns, centaurs, timetravel etc.)

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

I might change this list (or read some of these books in 2012) but as for now...this is it!
Do you guys have any suggestions for other paranormal stories I should try? If so, leave them in the comments :)

I saw The Hobbit!!!

...but still haven't read the book...

Yes, you got that right. My best friend somehow talked me into seeing The Hobbit last weekend even though I have never

a) read the book

b) read Lord of the Rings

c) saw a LotR movie

Isn't that like...totally unacceptable? I know! But what can I do? I was weak, I said yes and now I'm going to write a quick note on my liking of the movie. I don't want to go into much detail because obviously I am in no way a Middle Earth expert. I don't know which expectations the movie should have fulfilled because I didn't have any to begin with!

I liked the portrayal of the setting. Every new place in Middle Earth was beautiful and creative and it fascinated me to see a world so different from ours on the screen and to feel like it could really exist!

The characters...didn't impress me all that much. I couldn't really connect to any of them and I didn't really care for them but that might have been different if I'd known the LotR story and the characters in those books/movies. Although the plot was good - in my opinion it wasn't great. It was just different kinds of enemies appearing, getting closer, starting a fight that our protagonists sooner or later won and moved on to the next group of enemies.

All in all, I don't want to be critical at all in this note (it's not (!) a review) until I know a little bit more about Tolkien's world and stories. The only thing I can say for sure is: if you are completely unfamiliar with Tolkien's world like I am (which you probably aren't) you might find the movie a bit long and uneventful but you will probably enjoy it anyway because the setting and the "creatures" are soo cool!

Oh, and one more thing: The first Lord of the Rings book has appeared on my nightstand already, so that hopefully I will be able to join all of you hardcore fans out there :)

Have a great day,

the Booksmartie

Top Ten Books I read in 2012 - The Final Countdown!!

Ahhh, the dreaded topic again. Usually I hate talking about any kinds of favorites. This time, though, it wasn't even that hard....some books just stood out!

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

This was one contemporary read that I could totally relate to. The main character's situation was very similar to mine and then she starts her new job and meets all those great people and you see her blossom and that is just wonderful!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I don't even know why I enjoyed this book so much but a one point in the middle of the book I noticed that I...just did :)

Partials by Dan Wells

I just felt so cool reading this one - I could live out my inner geek with this novel all about the end of humanity and such. Oh, and I can't forget how epic this story was!!! Can't wait for Fragments!

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Just fun. Nothing but pure wit. This one made me laugh so much that literally my stomach hurt - during a time in my life when all I felt like doing was cry all day long!

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

A beautiful love story with the greatest characters I've read about in...a while!

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

Very sad, very heavy, very deep. But so, so true!

Dear Bully (Anthology)

See above. But also add: empowering, inspiring, life-changing...All these stories not only make you stronger facing whatever you have to face but they also encourage you to try to be the best person you can be.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Probably the most different and unique dystopia I've read this year - and a great heroine, too!

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

The first book in the whole series that I devoured. Devoured, people!

Starters by Lissa Price

This probably was the biggest surprise of the whole year. Epic, suspenseful and action packed and a pretty new take on dystopia...

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Goodreads Summary:


Embrace the Forbidden
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?



LONG STORY SHORT:
This is going to be a pretty short review. I just wanted to inform you. I did not like this book a lot. A bit, maybe. But I did not find many things I didn't think were either cliche, ridiculous, far - fetched or predictable. Not my cup of tea. Not what I expected after all the hype for this book. I am disappointed. Very.

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Pages? 453
Series? #1
Publisher: HarperTeen

REVIEW:

Another paranormal Romance novel that almost everyone praised and that I didn't like. Surprise, surprise! But actually, I was surprised. I expected this story to be epic. Epic, funny, witty. Everything a good book needs to be. Instead I got...

Lame characters - and ALL of them. There wasn't one person I liked! Whiny and overprotective Patty??? She got on my NERVES! Are their actually people who behave like that? Anna - the personification of good? Oh my...If I could have, I would have slapped her in the face. One more word about feeling your "inner sense of moral forbidding you those thoughts" and I won't be able to hold back!!! Jay and every other guy in this book? STOP BEING SO CLICHE! What is it with you? Were you cut out of the "This is how no guy would ever behave, but we fit into that novel" catalog? Stop being Ken and start being a man, you *...*

Ridiculous premise - um...hello? Let's just assume there were dukes on this planet whose only business is to bring evil into the world and people's minds...they would never, ever, ever force their nephilim children to try to make girls lose their virginity, take drugs, drink alcohol or party too much...Come on guys, are you serious? I do have one whole bag full of fantasy but I can't imagine for one second this could be true! Un-be-lie-vable! That's what it is!

In addition to that the writing style was super simple and not very extraordinary and I didn't care for the story at all.
So, no thank you very much. Sweet Peril does not interest me at all.
Then again, I know this review is probably too mean and maybe even disrespectful, but I don't want to offend anyone. I just really had to let go of my frustration some how. And a little reminder to everyone who feels turned off of the book: Many people really liked it so if it sounds like a book you would usually adore , then go for it. Just...maybe...borrow it from the library first? Please?

Quick Update!

Hey everyone!
I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday no matter if it's coming to an end (It's 9 PM where I live) or if you're just making breakfast :)
I don't know about you guys but these last few weeks and months time has been running like crazy for me and all I felt was rushed, stressed out and exhausted. Now my favorite holiday of the year is coming around and I'm going on Christmas break and all I want to do is relax and do whatever I want to do without the pressure to "get something done".
Why I'm telling you this, you ask? Well...this sort of affects this blog, as well. While I do love blogging, it's been not a lot more than Review/Meme/Book Haul/ Wash/ Rinse and Repeat. It's getting on my nerves that I can't seem to find the time or motivation or inspiration to blog about something else and entirely unique, so that I decided to keep things more laid - back and focus on reading the big chunky books I love and come up with a few new blog ideas.
So to not have the time problem again, from now on until the end of the year I will cut back on the usual stuff I do on the blog and just write about whatever (book-related!) topic I can think of. Now, this doesn't mean I won't post any reviews or take part in other memes at all. However, I will only do this if I can find the time to prepare a post like that and if I really want to.
I might also come up with some Christmas-y posts or something..we'll see. I just wanted  to let you guys know that I'm abandoning my blogging schedule from now on until January 2nd.
Oh, and of course, even though you'll hear from me later, I wanted to wish you all very Happy Holidays!!! Love you guys!
the Booksmartie

Feature & Follow Friday

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY? TELL US ABOUT THE SCENE…

If I Stay! Simply because it's the only book that ever made me cry (I believe...). Shame on me, but I don't remember the exact scene. I think it was just that lovely family that was torn apart that really got to me...and how everyone else cared about them so much, too. Have you read If I Stay? And which books make you cry?

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other

Release Date: February 7th, 2012
Pages: 330
Series? Yes.
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Other books by this author:


LONG STORY SHORT:

Ahh..what a novel. Such a beautiful work of art :) I really enjoyed Born Wicked. I mean, the premise itself was promising enough. Three sisters - completely different in character (so there is one for every girl to identify with) ? Forbidden, but powerful magic? Secret organizations? An era of pretty dresses and tea parties and super - formal engagements? Oh, yes please! From beginning to end I felt like I had to let this book dissolve on my tongue (or....melt in front of my eyes???)...

REVIEW:

I mean, I knew I would like this book. It has that historical touch ( a la the Gemma Doyle Trilogy) and those three vibrant sisters who are completely different in personality but all so likable. I wished they were my best friends! The other characters were awesome, too. It's one of the first times that I was ever torn between two fictional guys( usually, I don't even care for the romance at all!). What was also very interesting was how every character kind of had a little secret of their own that was revealed throughout the book.

Apart from the characters, the novel scored with the historical time set, the overall setting (that beautiful house with the garden and the roses? I could picture it all in my head!) and just...the lifestyle. I loved how the girls were going to tea parties, how their father thought they needed a governess, how their neighbours put so much emphasis on etiquette and - as I mentioned - how the guys had to ask for a girl's hand.

The actual plot was - I have to admit it - rather slow at times. There were a few scenes with some action ( but mostly drama, really) in them, but I will forgive that :) Said drama especially took place between the sisters - as you can probably imagine with three of them under one roof - and even that was never dreadful or boring. It was funny, sometimes heartbreaking and certainly entertaining to see them all growing into their own selves and trying to get along with each other.

The only thing - or rather, person - that drove me nuts was their new governess. Oh, how I hated her. But even that only shows how much I started to care for the three sisters - and especially Cate - in the first installment of the series already. That's also why I absolutely hated the ending! I even went looking for another page/paragraph that would tell me that the book did not end the way it did!

So, as you have probably have guessed by now I loved Born Wicked and cannot wait to read the next book in the series :D

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly meme where we showcase all the books we want on our shelves as soon as possible!

How can you talk about something you can’t remember?
Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.
Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

Why I want it on my shelf:

This book never really caught my intention until I read a review for it on a blog (I can't remember which one) and then I read the synopsis and now I'm soo curious about the story :) Has anyone of you read it?

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012

(It was hard enough for me to pick just ten. You don't expect me to put them in any kind of ranking, do you? Because I won't. These are in no particular order.)

1)Gabrielle Zevin
I never expected All These Things I've Done to be such an enjoyable, fun but also adventurous story! But what really made that book unique was Zevin's writing and the main character's voice. After a while I was like "Wow, that's so Anya!",because she was such a strong character (in both ways: strong as a person but also very much her own person) - can't wait to read Because It Is My Blood and other books by this fantastic author!

2)Dan Wells
Partials was another book that totally surprised me (aren't those the best ones anyway?). It was such an epic, action-packed adventure - the plot blew me over, but the characters were sooo likable, as well.

3)Lauren Oliver
I waited forever to read this book. I guess it was because I have the version with the not so pretty cover so that it didn't look as attractive :) When I finally picked it up, I had that sensation that you slowly turn to love a story and the characters so much that you can't stop reading it but it takes you forever to figure out how much you really adore that story! Did that...um...make any sense at all?

4)Alex Flinn
Beastly was another surprise. I thought it was a cheesy Paranormal Romance like every other, but I turned to love this (fairy-)tale because of the sweet and slowly developing romance and the two main characters :) I want more Alex Flinn next year!!!

5)Sarah Ockler
I'm a huge contemporary fan (as most of you guys know) but I feel like the more I read it the better the writing has to be for me ton enjoy it (I guess that's the natural order of things...) and Sarah Ockler's writing is gorgeous! I think next to Sarah Dessen she's my favorite contemp author because she just gets how teenagers feel :)

6)Katie McGarry
Pushing the Limits belongs to that other type of contemporary. It's nothing like Sarah Dessen/Ockler with their teens who go through the same things most of us do. This book was about teens dealing with heavy stuff that they shouldn't actually be dealing with. Anyway, McGarry did a brilliant job telling this story, creating her characters, developing a plot and most of all...making me hope for a better future for Noah and Echo throughout the whole book. I can't wait to read more books by her!

7)Gemma Halliday
Okay, I know Deadly Cool is probably not one of the most brilliant novels that have ever been written. I know a lot of people think it's too flat and nothing but maybe a tidbit entertaining. But you know what? This last spring I was overwhelmed by schoolwork, I had no energy for anything anymore and everything I wanted was to sleep and never wake up again - I felt that exhausted. I wouldn't enjoy a single page of the books I attempted to read. And then I read Deadly Cool. And then Social Suicide. And it made me happy and it made me laugh and it reminded me to see the funny side of things and go through life with a smile on my face and to make up for a bad day with a whole bag of ice cream and not feel guilty. Honestly, you guys? Epic tales of magical worlds are awesome - but we do need fluffy, silly reads, too!

8) Michele Jaffe
I read Rosebush this year and it took me a week to get past the first twenty pages. But then I started understanding the story. And I loved every single page of that novel, because Jaffe accomplished to write a book with a great, twisted plot, likable characters, a lot of humour that also contained a great message. This deserves some applause, people!

9) Gayle Forman
I still haven't read Where She Went. And I seriously have no idea why. It's like the Universe does not want this book to make its way safely to my doorstep. Anyway, I loved, loved, loved If I Stay. It made me cry. I never cry. If that's any indication.

10. Richelle Mead
Because I never taught I'd like a Vampire book. Never, ever. She taught me how damn cool those bloodsuckers can be!

Motivational Monday

...or something not very close to my usual MMs - sorry! I'm so busy with schoolwork and getting my license right now that I didn't really accomplish more than this:



Anyway...I hope these pretty covers motivate you for the day - at least a little bit! See you guys tomorrow for Top Ten Tuesday :)

Review: Beastly by Alex Flinn

Goodreads Summary:


I am a beast.
A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright--a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever--ruined--unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.


Release Date: October 2, 2007
Pages: 304
Series?
Publisher? Harper Teen
Other books in the series:




LONG STORY SHORT:

It's the best - the best! - when you start reading a book, thinking it could never impress you very much and then you find yourself needing to pick it up again every free minute you have until - suddenly - it hits you. You've fallen in love with the story, with the characters, with the author's writing...and you want nothing more than to loose yourself in the world forever. Beastly was just like that. It was a wonderful, deep, fantastical love story without all the cliches and without any annoyances. Just a very sweet tale and a couple you won't forget so soon....

REVIEW:

This seemed not like the kind of book I would enjoy. It started with the genre (a fantasy retelling that sounded like paranormal Romance), then it had a male narrator which usually weirds me out like crazy and the story could have ended in a cheesy cliche...but it didn't.
Honestly, I was so surprised by Beastly. I cannot say that enough. I mean, Kyle was a mean idiot in the beginning. He was so...woah, it drove me crazy how he treated other people and also how he thought of them. But even at that point, he also felt very real. I believed the author that this guy really existed, his story made sense..
I'd have to lie to say it was the same with Lindy. indy's story maybe somnehow, in a way....could have turned out a bit more realistic than it was. It was a bit too tragic, a bit too dramatic and her dad...was a bit too cruel in my opinion. But that I can forgive. Literally, I just stopped thinking during the scenes I could not quite find realistic because the rest of the novel amazed me so!
Kyle and Lindy's way to each other is pretty long and they have to overcome MANY obstacles before they can finally be together but that - in addition to my love for both of the characters - just made me cheer them on and root for them even more.
Okay, so...just in case you haven't noticed: I enjoyed this book a great deal - it caught me totally off guard and I recommend it to everyone because this love storey is sooo cute that no one is going to be able to put it down or laugh it off :D

RATING: 3/ 3 Smarties

Feature & Follow Friday

Activity! Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common

Hehe, easy! Hermione Granger, of course! It's not just that we both have curly, untamable hair, we also share our love for books and that annoying habit to correct other people when we sense a lack of knowledge in other people. Then again, growing up I think we bot had to learn (the hard way, sometimes) that we and what we read in books is not always 100 % correct and that there comes a time in everyone's life when breaking the rules might be the better decision than naively believing everything you were told in the past :)

The PR thing

It's time we discuss something. And by we I mean myself and all of you. All of you whiny heroines, wannabe lifesavers (even the sparkling ones), the nameless friends and the second and third and fourth love interests. Actually, I'm talking to everyone who has ever appeared in a Paranormal Romance novel.
Why can't you just leave me alone??
I mean, I know you guys aren't good for me. You make me groan. You make me hurt books. You make me throw my head on a table or into a pillow. You make my fingers ache every time I turn a page. And most of all - you ruin my mood whenever I type a review.
And now of course you're saying it's not your fault. Obviously, it should be my own fault. Because - hello? - who keeps buying the Paranormal Romance novels? Who keeps reading raving reviews? Who is unable to turn off a trailer for these kinds of stories?
I know it's me. And I know it's bad. But you're not giving me a choice. You don't even try to make this easy for me.

I mean who can even resist covers like these? Tell me what you want but you pass by these kinds of covers for only so long. And then something in your head stops working and your thoughts form a big fat "Whatever" and the book lands in your cart and you bring it home and it's total shelf candy but - you don't like it.
These things happen to the best of us. That's just the way it is.
And it's not even the covers alone. What if it says Meg Cabot on that pretty cover? What am I supposed to do then? I mean, I can't leave it there on the counter, right? I can't just ignore it!





Speaking of Meg Cabot I have to admit that you're not all bad. I mean I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on Abandon. Or Evermore for that matter. Those were good books and I'm even considering buying the sequels. It's just that...this makes it so hard not to be fooled by that evil wave of PR.
How am I supposed to know which of the books I can read without the danger of seriously hating them? It's hard work making that decision every single time!





I guess I will just have to avoid all of you guys, right? Not give into the temptation. I have to lean on trusted bloggers for this one. I have to be very strong. And to help me through this I need you guys, too, my readers. Because in this new feature I want your opinion. I need your opinion. I can't make these choices on my own anymore.


So...what about Everneath? Did you like it? Can I read it without the risk of falling asleep? Is it really worth it?

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me 

1 The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

 Somehow this is the one book I always throw in my cart, convinced I'll buy it and then I throw it out at the end - so frustrating!

2. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

I have this one in ebook format but I just recently noticed that the hardcover version is basically a chocolate bar under the dust jacket and that is sooo freaking cool!

3. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

This book seems to be amazing...oh, and I adore how it looks as a hardcover book :)

4. Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This is one of those series everyone talks about. Everyone but me because I still haven't read it...

5. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

This story sounds so cute!

6. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I would never buy this book myself because I didn't like the first one but I wouldn't mind receiving them for Christmas...the covers are sooo pretty :) (And no...I'm in no way superficial...)

7. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Because I love Peter Pan!

8. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

...sounds epic!!!!

9. Winter White by Jen Calonita

I really enjoyed Belles, so I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!

10. Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz

Because this book sounds like it could easily become my new favorite!

Motivational Monday

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:

“Not everything is about you," Clary said furiously.
"Possibly," Jace said, "but you do have to admit that the majority of things are.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Glass

MOTIVATIONAL GOAL:

Honestly? The only thing I really, really, really want to accomplish this week? I want to get over my huge mountain of procrastinated history homework that is the reason why I avoid to enter my room....

MOTIVATIONAL MOVE:

I listen to Christmas Music. Like...nonstop...

New Releases:





Oh. Another Pretty Little Liars book. That leaves me with five more. Will I ever be able to catch up??? The Almost Truth sounds good, doesn't it? But to be honest, I'm not really interested in any of these...