I’ve been doing book survey nearly every year since I started this blog and, yes, it is a tad bit late this year but as I’ve said in all my posts over the past week or so…December was a little insane for me and January, what little of it has passed already, has been all about catching up in all aspects in my life. This survey was “stolen” from the wonderful and inimitable Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner, one of the first book bloggers I ever followed, who had a profound impact on my blog and the way I approach blogging. If you haven’t had a chance to check her out, you most definitely should. Now to the end of the year survey that is just a few days late!
2018 Reading Stats:
Number of books read: 103
Number of rereads: 36
Most read genre: YA Fantasy
Best in Books:
1. Best books you read in 2018:
I had an entire post just about a week ago about the top ten best books that I read in 2018. You can actually read it here.
Some of my favorites for the year were – Everless by Sara Holland (I just finished the sequel and felt incredibly satisfied by that ending), Archenemies by Marissa Meyer, Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli, #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil, Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce.
My absolute favorite of the year by far was What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi.
3. Most surprising (in good or bad way):
So, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi released this year and was THE best book, it was THE book to buy. I read it in August and it surprised me in that…I just didn’t really care for it that much.
4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did):
The only person I really push to read books anymore is my boyfriend haha. I made him read both Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and Marissa Meyer’s Cinder. I’m proud of him for reading both. To be fair, Fangirl is probably one of my most recommended books.
5. Best series you started in 2018. Best sequel of 2018. Best series ender of 2018.
Started – I feel like I have to say Throne of Glass, even though that kind of feels like cheating. I technically read it years ago, when it came out and then stopped reading after Crown of Midnight because I just got so caught up with LIFE. But I restarted the series this year and am up to Tower of Dawn and I’m just in awe of this series so I’m going to say that.
Sequel – Archenemies by Marissa Meyer. I was already torn between the two characters and the two factions in the first book and Marissa just made it so much worse! In a good way of course! But ugh! That cliffhanger has me absolutely dying for book three!
Ender – Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas. I know it didn’t wrap in 2018 – I finished it this year – and I know it not the technical end to the series but its the end to that particular era and it was just absolutely brilliant. I consumed that book like it was a drug. So so good.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018:
Sara Holland. Abdi Nazemian. Justin Reynolds (whose book actually comes out THIS year but I read the ARC and its brilliant). Gloria Chao. Brittany Cavallero.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/ was out of your comfort zone:
I literally did not read outside of my cushy YA comfort zone at all in 2018, which makes me want to challenge myself to read, like, an adult book this year or something haha. Wow. To be fair, I really wanted to catch up on reading stuff – which I did do a bit of – so I wasn’t venturing into anything new.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/
The entire Throne of Glass series. What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer. What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli. I blew through a lot of books this year.
9. Book you read in 2018 that you’re likely to re-read in 2019:
Well, I already reread Everless by Sara Holland so that I could read the recently released sequel, Evermore. I will, of course, do my Harry Potter rereads and my Fangirl reread. I will honestly likely reread Jennifer Armentrout’s The Darkest Star prior to The Burning Shadow releasing.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018:
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare. #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil. Everless by Sara Holland.
11. Most memorable character of 2018:
Leah from Leah on the Offbeat. Mellie from What They Don’t Know. Ty from Queen of Air and Darkness.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018:
What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi. Tears and tears and tears. So many emotions. So beautifully done.
13. Most thought-provoking/ life-changing read of 2018:
I feel like a broken record by What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi, I believe, is life changing and such an essential read. I wrote an entire blog post on why everyone genuinely should this book and you can read that here.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited until 2018 to read:
The Throne of Glass series PAST Crown of Midnight lol.
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallero.
15. Favorite quote from a book you read in 2018:
“She was the heir of fire. She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.” – Queen of Shadows, Sarah J Maas
“As long as you exist and I exist, I will love you.” – Queen of Air and Darkness, Cassandra Clare
I swear, I didn’t do that on purpose lol.
16. Shortest and Longest reads of 2018:
Shortest – First Test reread by Tamora Pierce (240 pages). I’m not counting any of the Ghosts of the Shadow Market novellas I read last year.
Longest – Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare (880 pages)
17. Book that shocked you the most:
Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas. That ending tore me to pieces. I know that Tower of Dawn is in tandem with that book but I still can’t bring myself to read it yet because of that ending.
18. OTP of the year (you’d go down with this ship):
Julian and Emma from The Dark Artifices. Aelin and Rowan from Throne of Glass. Lorcan and Elide from Throne of Glass. Leah and Abby from Leah on the Offbeat.
19. Favorite non-romantic relationship:
Ty and Kit from The Dark Artifices, the entire Blackthorn family. Winona and Lucy from Hello Girls. Millie and Callie from Puddin’.
20. Favorite book from 2018 from an author you’d previously read:
Um, What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi lol. Empire of Storms and A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas. #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil.
21. Best book from 2018 that you read solely based on a recommendation:
American Panda by Gloria Chao. It was recommended highly from my friend Mina at My Fangirl Chronicles and I am so glad she did.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018:
Lorcan from the Throne of Glass series. Liam from the Everless series.
23. Best 2018 debut you read:
Everless by Sara Holland. Always Never Yours by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley. Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne.
24. Most vivid setting you read this year:
I’m not really coming up with anything for this one. The first thing that comes to mind is the sort of parallel universe that happens in Queen of Air and Darkness – its written so well and its one of my favorite parts of the book.
25. Book that put a smile on your face/ was the most fun to read:
Royals by Rachel Hawkins. Seriously that book was just so fun.
26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2018:
What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi. I’m sorry, I swear I didn’t expect it to be the answer for every single question lol.
27. Hidden Gem of the Year:
Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne. Debut novel, retelling of Jane Eyre in space. SO. GOOD.
28. Book that crushed your soul:
Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas. I literally told my boyfriend to not talk to me because I was so near the end and when I finished, I just looked up at him, like, what on earth did I just read?!
29. Most Unique book read in 2018:
#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil
30. Book that made you the maddest (not that you necessarily hated):
Either Children of Blood and Bone because it just didn’t live up to the hype for me OR Queen of Air and Darkness because it just felt so flat and disappointing after Lord of Shadows.
My Blogging/ Bookish Life:
1. New favorite blog you discovered in 2018:
I was bad at blogging this year. SO BAD. I don’t think I followed any new blogs.
2. Favorite review you wrote in 2018:
I have no idea. Maybe What They Don’t Know?
3. Best discussion/ non-review post:
????? I don’t know haha.
4. Best event that you participated in:
Ontario Teen Book Fest, as always!
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life:
I reached SIX years of blogging, which is just blowing my mind because now I’m reaching nearly SEVEN years and just…what?!
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year:
I think its coming to terms with the fact that the bookish community has changed since I started in 2012. I don’t BookTube and I don’t bookstagram well…and that’s what is popular. I’m not going to be as popular as I was before and I was dropped by some publishers this year and that’s okay. I had to remind myself that I started this for the passion I have about books and not for the followers and not for the ARCs and not for the popularity.
7. Most popular post this year on your blog:
I think it was my YallWest recap.
8. Post you wished got a little more love:
My reviews, always.
9. Best bookish discovery:
Its not really a discovery – its more of a, oh yeah, libraries exist! Rediscovering libraries, and falling deep into the ebook lending through libraries, has helped me so freaking much over the past year and my wallet super appreciates it.
10. Did you complete any reading challenge or goals you’d set for yourself at the beginning of the year?
I read 103 books! Beat my goal of 100 AND did so much better than 2017.
Looking Ahead:
1. One book you didn’t get to in 2018 but will be your number 1 priority:
Tower of Dawn and Kingdom of Ash are big ones. Rabbit & Robot by Andrew Smith – the first time I haven’t immediately read an Andrew book in years. War Storm by Victoria Aveyard.
2. Book you’re most anticipating in 2019 (non-debut):
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo, which is great because I don’t have to wait too long lol. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare.
3. 2019 debut you’re most anticipating:
The Fever King by Victoria Lee. I have the ARC, I just need to read it!
4. Sequel you’re most anticipating:
Of Ice and Shadows by Audrey Coulthurst. The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L Armentrout. Rage by Cora Carmack…if it does come out this year.
5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/ bookish life in 2019:
Read more. Blog more. Keep up with reviews. Write, write, write. Also, work on my spin off to this blog about my fitness journey!!!
And yes, I know it said one thing but I’m a reader/writer and we don’t know how to count things. Except word count. Obviously.
*****
