Best Reads of 2011

Another year is over and done! I hope everyone has a fantastic and fun New Year's Eve and an especially bookish new year. In honor of the new year (and my blogoversary) I thought it would be nice to go over the past year and highlight my favorite reads of 2011 plus a few other things (lets call it my Top Ten Countdown)! If you haven't had the chance to read any of these novels, I highly encourage you to do so!

1. The Cream of The Crop (in no particular order): 

Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) by Lauren DeStefano

It would be a crime to exclude Wither from this list. It has to be my favorite read of all this year, and my favorite cover. It's a fantastic dystopian--it seems as if we've had quite a few great dystopians in 2011, haven't we?--and carries through an overwhelmingly stunning plot. Characters, writing, development, and dialogue are superb. It grabs you on the first page, throwing you straight into the action. I thoroughly loved every single aspect of this novel. 

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Another Dessen classic, I was very surprised by how much I loved this one. An avid reader of Sarah Dessen's novels can usually dive right in, fully expecting every plot twist and not looking to be amazed. While What Happened to Goodbye isn't my favorite of Dessen's (This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever hold those reins), it's definitely one of the best.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Everything you look for in a good novel is easily found in this one: solid characters, realistic [and believable] romance, honest friendship, mystery, suspense . . . it's like the perfect burrito at Chipotle; you won't find one person who doesn't like it.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The summary of this one is misleading, and that upsets me. I know many who have turned this book down because it seems very middle-grade, which actually turns out to be very untrue. This novel is amazing, very suspenseful and mysterious and sometimes puzzling. The writing of Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children has to be my favorite aspect, as well as the very unique plotline. Read it if you haven't!

2. The Disappointment

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin; it wasn't bad, per se, it just didn't hold my interest enough for me to get into it--or read more than the first three chapters. I'll try again next year.

3. Boy, Did You Give Me a Shock

The most surprising read of 2011 (for me) has to be Hooked by Catherine Greenman. I'm not a fan of teen pregnancy novels (especially after Dessen's Someone Like You and Knowles's Jumping off Swings) so I was really shocked by how much I loved this one.

4. Have You Read it Yet?

The novel I recommended to more people than I can count is definitely Wither by Lauren DeStefano. It's definitely my #1 for this year.

5. The Next One Doesn't Come Out 'til When?

The best series I discovered this year is Mythos Academy. I recieved the first two both as ARCs this year, and hosted a guest post and contest for the first of the series. I'd kill for the next one!

6. Oh, Sorry, Were You Talking To Me?

The most un-put-downable, suspenseful, nail-biting read of this year also, I must admit, is Wither by Lauren DeStefano. I read the whole novel during a drive back home from California, and I have to say I cannot remember one thing someone said to me the entire time.  

7. Beauty and [Some] Brains

The books with both beauty (BEST COVER) and brains this year have to be: Wither (Lauren DeStefano), Hourglass (Myra McEntire), and  The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Michelle Hodkin). All gorgeous covers, all great books.

8. The Teacher's Pet

My favorite (and the most memorable) character from this year is . . . Well, there are two. Gwen Frost from the Mythos Academy books and Emerson from Hourglass. Both were very kick-ass and hilarious.

9. I'm Not A Kid Anymore

My favorite non-YA read this year is Water For Elephants. I know I'm cheating, since it didn't come out this year, but I read it this year. A lot of people loved the movie and didn't read the book, which I think is so lame. Read the book!

10. If Only There Was More Time in the Day

Books I really wish I'd gotten the chance to read this year but didn't:

The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Angelfire by Allison Moulton

SIMPLY NERDY BOOK REVIEWS

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! I hope everyone has a merry Christmas, happy Hannukah, and spectacular Quanza! I apologize in advance for the lack of posts within the upcoming weeks. Right now, we're on break, and it's all uphill from here: school starts up (without me, fortunately) and I start working for my dad so that I have money in Italy, then I get my braces off (YES), then I need to pack for a six month student exchange (any tips?) then I leave for New York (January 21st) and then it's off to Italy on January 26th. So, cleary, busy next month or so.

I should have the next guest post/contest up on Christmas day.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a happy new year!

My Favorite Reads of 2010 (Happy New Year!)

Yes! As weird as it is, in just about ONE MINUTE, 2010 will come to an end, and I know we're all happy about that! And why is that? Because it means . . . NEW BOOKS, NEW RELEASES, NEW AUTHORS! I know. You're all just as excited as I am. (If you're wondering, this post IS pre-written; I am NOT WRITING THIS at 11:59 PM on New Years' Eve, thank you very much.)

So, in honor of the end of an amazing year, here are my favorite reads (releases) of 2010 (in no particular order):

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I abosolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE all of the novels in the Hunger Games trilogy. This one was just as good as the others, and very, very, very edge-of-my-seat nerve-wracking. I blew through it, and I definitely recommend that if you haven't read the fantastic Hunger Games novels yet, you should start now! (If you liked Mockingjay and The Hunger Games, read Matched by Ally Condie!)

Grade: A+

Summary Blurb:

Mockingjay picks up a few weeks after Catching Fire left off, with that jaw-dropping ending to a jaw-dropping book, even better than the one preceding it. After being rescued by the rebels from District 13 during the Quarter Quell, Katniss has to come to terms with the terrible fact that she no longer has a home, that District 12 has been destroyed, and that she is the face of the war brooding all across Panem. And there's still her feelings for Gale, and Peeta's imprisoning by President Snow. The book, through and through, is one of the most riveting nail-biters that I've ever read . . . READ MORE.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

I love Kiersten White, and I LOVE this book. I'm the secretary of my high school's book club (duh) and we had a visit from Kiersten White, Sophie Jordan (Firelight), and Aprilynne Pike (Wings). As you would assume after reading their books, all three are absolutely hilarious and just generally amazing. I would recommend Paranormalcy in particular to just about every fan of paranormal literature--because just about every paranormal creature in existence exists in this book--as well as Firelight (below; also a 2010 release) and the Wings series.

Grade: A+

Summary Blurb:

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal . . . READ MORE.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Wow, I love this book. I mean, I really love this book. It's creative, funny, well-developed, paranormal, romantic . . . and there are DRAGONS. I mean, what's more creative than that? If there are two paranormal books you really need to read this year, Firelight and Paranormalcy are them.

Grade: A+

Summary Blurb:

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form . . . READ MORE.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Let's face it. This book is ridiculously good. I mean, if you've read it, you understand. It has virtually everything: suspense, romance, psycho killers, dead girls, psychic powers, and really great character development. Now, if you haven't read it . . . get on it! (Plus, the second book, Desires of the Dead comes out in 2011, even though I've already read and reviewed it, cause I'm just that cool)

Grade: A+

Summary Blurb:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . READ MORE.

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz

A beautiful cover for an equally beautiful story, don't you think? You Are Not Here is told in verse, which was a first for me. The writing is stunning, the words are rhythmic, and the plot is capturing.

Grade: A+

Summary Blurb:

Annaleah and Brian had something special—Annaleah is sure of it. When they were together, they didn’t need anyone else. It didn’t matter that it was secret. All that mattered was what they shared. And then, suddenly, Brian dies . . . READ MORE.

Matched by Ally Condie

Okay, this book is amazing. Undoubtedly. I loved it, so I'm sure you will too! I can't wait for the second one to come out. Ally Condie is an absolute genius.

Grade: A+

Summary Blurb:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black . . . READ MORE.

And here are some of the books that I just can't wait to read in 2011:

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin . . . READ MORE.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

When Pierce first sees him, she thinks he is a murderer. She's right about one thing -- he does take lives. But not in the way she ever imagined. Pierce is drawn to the dark stranger even as she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the tragic death of someone close to her. As she gets closer to the truth -- and the stranger -- unexpected secrets are revealed, even in her own heart . . . READ MORE.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known . . . READ MORE.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society . . . READ MORE.

I hope that everyone had an amazing year, and that this next one is even better! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SIMPLY NERDY BOOK REVIEWS