2014 End of Year Book Survey-Part 1

This survey was created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner and I’m so excited to be taking part in it. This is actually quite a challenge for someone with such a terrible memory, but I’m going to do my best.

1. Number of Books You Read: 55-58 is my best guess. I’ll have to start keeping better track!

2. Number of Re-Reads: 6

3. Genre You Read the Most From: Contemporary. About 40-45 of the books I read this year.

1. Best book you read in 2015?

I could break this down by category, but when I look at the list of books I’ve read this past year, there are two that jump out at me. The first is Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson. It’s funny because SYBG isn’t even my favourite novel of hers. That’s just how good she is. The second one is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell which is an all-around brilliant book.

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

There were quite a few disappointments for me this year.

-How to Love by Katie Cotugno. It wasn’t bad, but I really thought I would love it.

-The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. Again, I had such high hopes, but I wasn’t a fan of the main character.

-Panic by Lauren Oliver. I’ve been waiting for LO to write another contemporary book since Before I Fall but this one never lived up to my expectations. I still think she’s a very talented writer, but Panic didn’t work.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014?

The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. I knew how popular these books were, but I somehow didn’t think I would like them. Her writing style takes some getting used to but once you’re past that, you can’t imagine reading this story any other way. I loved where she took the final book in the trilogy, though I know not everyone agrees with me.

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did) in 2014?

2014 was the year of If I Stay. I work in a bookstore, and so I used the movie to my advantage in selling If I Stay to customers. I managed to personally sell at least 100 copies within a few months because I love this book so much. Gayle Forman is a master.

5. Best series you started in 2014? Best sequel of 2014? Best series ender of 2014?

Since I read so much contemporary, I actually didn’t read very many series this past year. By default, I think this entire category may go to Shatter Me, Unravel Me and Ignite Me. Honorable mention to Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor because I think she’s a wonderful writer and world-builder.

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2014?

This one has to go to Leila Sales. I read This Song Will Save Your Life and immediately connected with her writing. I can’t wait to read everything else she’s written.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I don’t read a lot of adult fiction, which I know isn’t really a genre so much as a category, but it’s what I’m going with. I really enjoyed The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

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

The Program by Suzanne Young is probably the most action-packed, but unputdownable would be Just One Night by Gayle Forman. I was dying to read that book and it did not disappoint.

9. Book you read in 2014 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

Since You’ve Been Gone for sure, and Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller. I love her writing.

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2014?

Lauren Morrill’s Meant to Be was one of my favourite covers of 2013, but her latest book, Being Sloane Jacobs, holds a special place in my heart because it has Montreal’s skyline on the cover. Honorable mentions to A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall, Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

Cath from Fangirl and Emily from Since You’ve Been Gone. I’m mentioning these two books a lot, and with good reason. I identified so much with both the main characters. I was such a shy kid, and I still am in so many ways. I’ve so often felt overshadowed by the people around me, and Cath and Emily are the same way. I loved how they grew and became more confident.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

I think I have to go with Just One Night by Gayle Forman. Her writing gets me right in the heart. She manages to capture so many emotions that I could never put into words.

13. Most thought-provoking/life-changing book of 2014?

See question 11. For me, the most thought-provoking books are the ones in which I see myself. I’m typically a pretty self-aware person but those two books had me thinking more and more about who I was, who I’ve become, and especially what’s made me this way.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited until 2014 to finally read?

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. Most books I’ve read were 2013/2014 releases, but this one was originally released in 2003. I hadn’t heard of it until this past year, when it was re-released with a new cover. I was really pleasantly surprised, and enjoyed reading about a character who is stuck between two different cultures.

15. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2014?

I’m completely terrible about keeping track of quotes, but I’ll just go ahead and assume it’s anything from Just One Night.

16. Shortest & longest book you read in 2014?

If novellas count, then the shortest is Just One Night at 40 pages, and if not then it’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane at 181 pages. The longest book I read was Allegiant, which had 526 pages.

17. Book that shocked you the most?

I’d have to say the end of Allegiant, just because I didn’t think Veronica Roth would go there. Ignite Me was also shocking, because Tahereh Mafi basically reinvented a character in what I thought was a stroke of brilliance.

18. OTP of the year?

Because I read The Thousand Dollar Tan Line this year, I’m going to cheat and say Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls. I will 100% go down with that ship. Anyone who’s seen Veronica Mars gets it.

19. Favourite non-romantic relationship of the year?

All of the friendships in This Song Will Save Your Life, Fangirl and Since You’ve Been Gone. The books were about the main characters venturing outside of their usual crowds and making new friends. I loved all of these interactions.

20. Favourite book you read in 2014 from an author you’ve read previously?

No surprise: Since You’ve Been Gone.

That’s it for now! Look for Part 2 in the coming days.

What was your favourite book of 2014? Feel free to answer any of these questions yourself in the comments below.