My hands-down favorite thing about a new reading year is how hopeful I always feel at the beginning of it. I psych myself up to *finally* reach that goal of reading 200 books. My body hums with excitement as I add titles to my list of books I'm definitely going to get to before December 31st. Then comes December and all I can do is laugh at how little the reality of what I accomplished during the year matches the fantasy of what I thought I could get done! Ah, well. It just means I still have lots of great books to look forward to in the next year.
This week's question for Top Ten Tuesday (which is hosted by the lovelies over at The Broke and the Bookish) asks which 2014 releases we really, really, really meant to get to and didn't. I could list hundreds, but here are the first ten that came to mind:
1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart—This twisty mystery got all kinds of great buzz last year. I'm definitely planning to read it soon!
2. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge—Rave reviews have put this Beauty and the Beast retelling high on my priority list for 2015. I'm going to read it as part of the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.
3. Panic by Lauren Oliver—This novel, about teens playing a high-stakes Fear Factor type of game, looks intriguing.
4. Landline by Rainbow Rowell—I enjoyed both Fangirl and Attachments, so I'm very interested in Rowell's newest.
5. After the End by Amy Plum—I'm not sure exactly what this one is—Post-apocalyptic? Psychological thriller? Action/adventure?—but it looks good.
6. Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White—I've enjoyed the books I've read by Kiersten White. As this one also promises to be a big contender for the 2014 LDS literary awards (Whitney Awards; AML Awards), I'm going to be reading it soon.
7. Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis—Another fairy tale retelling that I'm planning to read for the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.
8. Landry Park by Bethany Hagen—I bought a copy of this post-apocalyptic caste system romance thriller/romance (thromance?) as soon as it came out and, yeah, there it sits on my bookshelf just waiting to be noticed ...
9. Compulsion by Martina Boone—I adore books set in mysterious Southern plantation homes, so this one looks like something I'd enjoy.
10. Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer—This teenage con artist mystery/thriller just looks fun.
Have you read any of these? What did you think? And what great 2014 releases are you planning to get to in 2015?
*All book images from Barnes & Noble
I've read Compulsion and I absolutely loved it <3 We Were Liars was...disappointing to say the least. I hope you get around to reading these soon :)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to read WE WERE LIARS and LANDLINE, but alas, did not. There are a couple of others on your list that look interesting to me. 200 books? Seriously? Well, good luck to you. :-)
ReplyDeleteNone of these made my list, but they're on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading!
Landline was great! I fall in the other camp - the one where we haven't read Fangirl yet.Maybe 2015??
ReplyDeleteYou have to get to Cruel Beauty. I loved that one. Since 2014 was such a non reading year for me, I haven't read one. Not one. Of Rainbow Rowell's books. How pathetic am I?
ReplyDeleteLove your list!! I read Trust Me, I'm Lying, but Stitching Snow is one that I just haven't gotten the chance to get to at all, either! I'm definitely going to check out Cruel Beauty though. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDanee @ Fiction Function
I've read We Were Liars, Cruel Beauty and Panic, and I definitely recommend them! Cruel Beauty was one of my favourite books of the year.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I forgot to put Illusions of Fate on my list, but I'm hoping to read that too.
I've read both Landline and Panic. I enjoyed both of them. Landline is my second favorite Rainbow Rowell book after Attachments. Cruel Beauty and Stitching Snow look really interesting. I love retellings.
ReplyDeleteI have Cruel Beauty on my list too...and there are a couple others on yours that I need to read as well. Too many books...not enough time.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT is here.
I know that feeling you describe at the beginning of your post all too well. :-)
ReplyDeleteTrust Me, I'm Lying looks like it will be a good read. I'm beginning to think I should read Cruel Beauty. It's on so many lists! Rainbow Rowell . . . I have yet to read any of her books. And Amy Plum's book caught my attention. I've read some of her other books and enjoyed them.
TRUST ME, I'M LYING sounds very intriguing. I'm going to check it out! Thanks for sharing this list.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Stitching Snow! It was such a fun take on a fairy tale.
ReplyDeleteLandline is such a great read! Compulsion and We Were Liars were good ones too! I've been wanting to read Illusions of Fate, it looks so good and that cover is BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading :)
I've only read Cruel Beauty on your list, but I really liked it! I hope you do too! But all your other books are on my TBR as well. Hopefully, we both make it through some of that list this year. Thanks for stopping by our top ten!
ReplyDeleteAmber R. @ Bibliophilia, Please
I've heard so many good things about most of these! I know exactly what you mean about having unrealistic enthusiasm at the beginning of each new year. This year I made myself a list of 20 books I'm definitely going to read, some that came out in 2014 and some that came out earlier. But it's not the same (mostly) as this week's TTT, so that means more like 28 books I must read in 2015. Sheesh - I'd better get cracking! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeveral of these books are on my TBR, too, but not on my list this week, Susan.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading :)
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I can't wait to read Cruel Beauty! It sounds amazing. Illusions of Fate also sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy these books when you get to them :-D
Trust Me, I'm Lying does look good. I'm always on the lookout for good YA Mysteries. We Were Liars was definitely something different. It's super short too... you could probably read it in a day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by My TTT
I've heard mixed things about We Were Liars, but I hope you enjoy it when you read it! I've only read Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and I really enjoyed it, but Panic does sound super interesting. Enjoy all of your books! thanks for stopping by my blog Susan!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed WE WERE LIARS. The twist is amazing and the whole story turns upside down. I also thought CRUEL BEAUTY was incredibly well written and intriguing (although the last 30-40 pages were confusing, frankly.) I've also read FANGIRL, but not Rainbow Rowell's other books, which sound even better. On the list! COMPULSION is great southern gothic, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere are some great books on here, I really wanted to read Cruel Beauty too, it was close to making my list.I read Panic and it was definitely an interesting read, you should pick it up of you get a chance.
ReplyDeleteI loved Cruel Beauty and quite enjoyed Illusions of Fate. Landry Park and Compulsion are both high on my list this year.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of books on your list that would've been on mine had I done this one.
ReplyDelete