It’s been a long time since I joined in on a Top Ten Tuesday prompt (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish), and I MISSED IT! I love lists (although that’s not common knowledge is it?) and December is full of wrap-up lists.
I am so okay with that.
26 books are on my “best of 2014” shelf on Goodreads. How the heck am I supposed to get that down to 10?! Oh the agonies I go through for you, blogglings.
This Week’s Prompt: Top Ten Books I Read In 2014
1. Throne o
f Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, & The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J Maas
Yes, I cheated. I cheated magnanimously by listing 4 books for 1, and I’m not even sorry. Sarah J Maas has single-handedly made and ruined my life. Her books are phenomenal. Furious female lead. Epic adventures. Wicked assassin skills. Snarky wit. Fiery magic. Oh, and did I mention her uncanny ability to BREAK MY HEART IN HALF?
It’s been a stressful YEAR, thanks a lot, Sarah J Maas.
I’m really too emotionally involved in this series. Heir of Fire (the third and latest book out) just about murdered me with those last few chapters.
Dorian. Chaol.
Oh someone get my book four before I hurt myself.
2. Half Bad by Sally Green
Because a) poor little Nathan doesn’t deserve to be abused so horribly, and b) the writing is drop-dead (sometimes literally) beautiful and sharp and sparse. It has lists, too, which obviously makes it my favourite book of the universe.
And it’s also dark and scary. Like really dark. I love it and I cry.
3. Splintered and Unhinged by A.G. Howard
I bet this list isn’t surprising you, is it? I’m way too predictable with my literary obsession. BUT IT’S TRUE LOVE, THESE BOOKS AND I.
If you don’t know the level of incredibly shrieking fangirl I am with these books, just ask anyone I know. Specifically, ask Kelly. She’ll attest. Or detest. I confuse those words sometimes.
4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I have a confession…I watched the movie first.
But I loved the movie so much I got rather desperate about reading the book. I whined about this to Lydia, who told me to shut up and go read it. (As good friends do.) But I knew pain was coming. INCREDIBLE PAIN. And, even though I knew what would happen because of the movie, I very nearly bawled my eyes out. 
The book is incredible. Death is the best narrator. And I hate that ending. Oh, oh, oh I hate it. IT WAS SO UNFAIR.
5. Da
ngerous Girls and Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas
I have trust issues with authors thanks to Dangerous Girls. I did NOT expect that ending. I was taken for the sucker I am and I absolutely gasped like a codfish in shock at the end.
6. Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
Of course Maggie Stiefvater is on this list. And I read several books by her this year, but I adored going back to The Wolves Of Mercy Falls series and my favourite characters ever: Isabel and Cole.
They are so mean and snarky. The writing is so beautiful and rich. The feels are simultaneously wonderful and horrible. I…I…I…just can’t explain how much I love how Maggie Stiefvater writes.
7. White Cat an
d Red Glove by Holly Black
I started by reading The Spiderwick Chron
icles in January. You know the drill: cute kids, cute fairies, cute trolls, cute adventures.
I ended the year with The Curseworkers. You know the other drill: death, destruction, blood everywhere, crime families, manipulation, best humour ever. Oh and cats.
8. Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Because apparently I like pain. Now the real question is: which do I like better? And while I love Verity and Maddie’s friendship the most…I loved ALL of Rose Under Fire. (I find the beginning of Code Name Verity rather tedious.) Rose and Roza pretty much broke my soul with how strong they were.
Also the Holocaust absolutely terrifies me. I laugh in the face of paranormal…but Historical Fiction really makes me sob.
9. The Mortal Inst
ruments by Cassandra Clare
All of ’em. All freakishly large volumes for 400+ pages for hours and hours and pain and pain and tears and fangirling and sinking ships and golden horizons and I LOVE THIS SERIES A LOT. I’m also proud of me for finishing it. I never finish series, but I read 6 books and I did not flag. Huzzah, Cait, huzzah! You deserve a break!
…and a new series infatuation. Oh gosh. Decisions. Rick Riordan, maybe?
10. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Nievern
Back to those darn tears. Honestly, I’m not a waterworks. I read 200+ books this year and only a handful actually reduced me to a miserable wreck. (And I actually never shed the tears, but I’m crying on the inside.)
This was the worst though. The worst. I really related and connected to the story to the point where I just forgot about the entire world and DEVOURED page after page. Then I cried a lot. Then a bit more.
But seriously you should go read it. You need this kind of pain in your life. You do.
Honourable mentions?
Because this week 10 was NOT enough.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell || The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey || We Were Liars by E. Lockhart || Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor || A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness || Bird by Crystal Chan || Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant || Cress by Marissa Meyer || The Maze Runner by James Dashner
i know it’s hard to make decisions like this, but be strong. if you can name me your top 3 reads this year, i’ll give you pie. (and also i like bookish recommendations) and have you read/liked any on my list?! also…did my list surprise you at all? (haha. i bet i’m 100% predictable here!)
Cait would like to affirm that there is, in fact, a Supernatural gif for everything. (The aggressive meow wins the post.) Currently, she’s playing with her puppy by throwing a toy mushroom for him to catch. Normal toys are too mainstream for us. #hipsterpuppy
OH MY GOSH ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES I HAVE NOT SEEN A SINGLE NEGATIVE REVIEW. IT’S LIKE ARISTOTLE AND DANTE ALL OVER AGAIN I’M MISSING OUT. But…like, it’s coming out soon. And I’m going to drag my family to a bookstore in England so I can buy the hell out of it.
BUT YEAH. Too many amazing books this year. I don’t blame you for cheating. I particularly have to read White Cat because…cats.
My gawd Cait, you’re such A CHEAT. More like 10 ten authors of this year, eh? Anyhoo, these are some seriously awesome books you have hear. THE BOOK THIEF IS THE BEEEEEST. It’s like one of my all time favourites…
Lovely list there, girl! <33
Amazing list! <3 I soooo agree with Dangerous Girls. Did not see that ending coming, at all, and I think when I finished it I had to pick my jaw up from the floor. And ohhh, I keep hearing amazingly good (and sad) things about All the Bright Places… which is simultaneously making me excited–and terrified for it. I have not get been able to brave Rose Under Fire. Maybe next year? Code Name Verity took my heart out and put it in a blender, so quite frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready for RUF just yet. 😉
I have only managed to read The Mortal Instruments out of these, though I do think pretty much all the rest are on my TBR/wishlist.
I am SO EXCITED for All The Bright Places. Everyone who has already read it seems to have loved it. And even the cover (so organized!!) feels really attractive to me. 😀
Thanks for sharing these and have a good Tuesday 🙂
You can cheat for Throne of Glass. I will allow it. JUST THIS ONCE THOUGH, OKAY?
OHHHH and Sinner! Yes to that book and everyone in it <3 I was genuinely mesmerised while reading it. I don't even know what it was but I was just . . . I can't even explain the feeling. Which basically means it was a typical Maggie book BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS FLUSTERS ME
SOOOOOO MANYYYYYYY BOOOOOOOKSSSS!!!! And I’ve hardly read any of these but ooooh I want to!
Top reads of the year have to be Disruption by Jessica Shirvington, Blue Lily Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater and Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead. Honourable mention to Masquerade by Kylie Fornasier for not being part of a series/series continuation. 😀
You did cheat, tut tut. Pick 3.. hmm, Dangerous Girls | Cinder | Distance Between Us – I am such a varied reader and this years choices have been pretty easy, I only had 10 favourites, whoop! I’M GETTING ALL THE BRIGHT THINGS THOUGH. Yes, because of you fangirling, I’m getting an arc. Oh happy days. Wonderful list, excited for more Maas in my life, and yes, all the points here 😉
Oh my God, that Meow gif nearly made me fall off my chair I laughed so hard. AMAZING.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, listing four books as one number is totally acceptable. Because I did the same, although not for the Throne of Glass books. Which, in hindsight, is probably a mistake……….
Ooh, you put lots of great books on here! I loved The Book Thief, Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire because they were so realistic and simultaneously tore me to pieces. I agree that Rose Under Fire was a little bit better than Code Name Verity, because Code Name Verity did seem a bit slow at the beginning. I also loved Cress, We Were Liars and Bird. Also, I actually blame you for influencing me to read most of the books I mentioned, haha. I would like to read Fangirl, so I’m glad that made it into your top 20.
I OFFICIALLY NEED TO READ THRONE OF GLASS. I have heard endless good things about the series. I actually have the first one on my Kindle but why haven’t I read it yet? I don’t know, I must be crazy. I also have Splintered on my Kindle which looks SO GOOD, and I still need to read City of Heavenly Fire but I’m too scared to: a) Because it’s a big book. Like, a really big book, so big it could be used as a weapon and b) Cassandra Clare has been known to utterly obliterate my heart, which I think is a fairly valid reason for not reading it yet. BUT I SHALL READ IT SOON. I will, I promise. I also really want to read Maggie Stiefvater’s books and Holly Black’s books (as I’ve been mentioning in practically every comment I leave) so I shall be heading to the library soon.
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
My TTT Post!
That. Is. IT. I’ll HAVE to read Throne of Glass now. It’s like everyone is raving about it, so now I’m too curious. I’ve also been thinking I should read more fantasy, so this would be a good place to start, right?
*INTERRUPTS* Yes. Yes you do. It’s fantastic.
YES, ANNE, YES. WHY EVEN ARE YOU STILL HERE? GO READ THRONE OF GLASS ASAP!! (And I know The Assassin\’s Blade is the prequel, but I recommend going with ToG first.)
Yes, I can indeed narrow my list down to three. Ready? Here I go:
3. The Book Thief
2. The Hobbit
1. The Shadow of the Wind
If you want to see my full list check out my post here http://ireadboooks.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/top-ten-books-i-read-in-2014/
Now, where’s my pie? 😀
I now own Dangerous Girls and think I’m gonna have to get a copy of White Cat soon. Just wondering, is it fantasy? Ad for my top 3 favourites…
I’m not telling – yet. You’ll have to wait until next week until I post my list. Can’t have me ruining the surprise, can I? *cackles*
White Cat is urban-ish-fantasy. It\’s set in our world but everyone knows about magic/curses.
OH YOU EVIL THING YOU. YOU DON\’T GET PIE THEN. *stuffs face*
OMG. SINNER. HOW DID I FORGET YOU ON MY LIST??? I wish we could do more than 10 because I’d list soooo many and nobody would know what to do with me hahah! I rather enjoyed SINNER (aduh), and DANGEROUS GIRLS (omg we need to make this book famous, seriously, IT IS THE YA GONE GIRL,people!!!!). Great great list and lovely to “meet” you. I’m Rachel*waves*
Here’s my TTT- http://rachelwritesthings.blogspot.com/2014/12/to…
*waves* HELlO RACHEL!! I WILL FORGIVE YOU FOR FORGETTING SINNER. BUT REALLY. HONESTLY. HOW COULD YOU??? lol XD I forgot a lot of books on my list actually….ahhhh, there are just too many!!
Code Name Verity! The Book Thief! AMAZING BOOKS! Yeah, I’m pretty sure you like pain 😛
But with such books on your list it makes for an incredible past year.
Can you please stop making me want to read books that I thought I didn’t want to read?! Argh. I was so not interested in Half Bad but people keep talking about how much they love it! I’m glad you cheated with your list too. I only added one extra book and a few special mentions but it’s so hard to pick favourites. Obviously Sarah J. Maas’ books win for me every time though. I NEED to read those Alice adaptations.
Talking/Thinking about The book thief makes me want to cry. It’s such a beautiful story and the book has been an all-time favorite for years now. The TOG series destroys me every time, her characters are flawless. I need to check out Code name verity, it sounds like a book for me.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dangerous Girls and Dangerous Boys! The ending to DG blew my mind! I’m so excited about All The Bright Places, I’ve heard such amazing things about it 🙂
TUT TUT TUT, LOOK AT ALL THIS CHEATING CAIT! Oh the nerve! HAHAHAHAHA You can cheat for Howard though. Because MORPHEUS. He just makes everything for me.
BUT HA! Me reducing my top reads into three? NEVER. I could make them series, does that count? It probably doesn’t. I wouldn’t want to cheat LOL (I kid, I’d never hold that against you <3) I'm going to say The Young Elites, Snow Like Ashes and Vicious. See. I can make decisions (I'm kidding, that's because these were read in the last three months and I can't remember anything beyond that hahaha)
Oh yes to The Book Thief and The Mortal Instruments! I haven’t read any other book of the ones you listed (except for you honorable mentions LOL) but I ordered Code Name Verity and 2015 is gonna be the year to read it! Also, All The Bright Places is one I’m really anticipating and I’m happy to know is a sad one. I love sad books even though they kill me. I’m a masochist. I can’t help myself!
When I saw the title of this post I thought, “Heir of Fire, Cress, and something by Maggie Stiefvater.”
Then as I read I’m like, “Check… check and…. CHECK. I WAS RIGHT.” XDDDDD
*Writes titles on the “to read” list glaring at everyone*
I’m kind of upset about how little I read outside university books this year. What’s happening?! I think I’ll start using Goodreads more next year, they are keeping me from my books by mentioning the thesis every two second, I know it. As a matter of facts one of the books I liked is for my thesis, about the art of listening. But you have to learn italian to read it, which is a shame ^^’
I’m shamelessly writing down every book mentioned in both post and comments, I blame you all *meows aggressively*
Great list! I am so happy that The Book Thief made it on here. It is probably my favorite YA book of all time. Not probably.
Hmm, my top three reads this year… SO DIFFICULT. I feel like so many books tie for these top three places really.
I will follow your example and cheat! The Skyscraper Throne trilogy by Tom Pollock counts as one whole thing because the whole trilogy was AWESOME and I read the whole thing this year. Best urban fantasy ever, so well-written and imaginative and smart and diverse and just really awesome.
Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill. Chilling and horrifically sad and relatable. It’s one of the few books that I’ve read this year that I still haven’t been able to stop thinking about even though it’s been months since I read it and my mind still comes back to it and it haunts me. And I can’t stop telling people about it. It didn’t even get a five-star rating for me, it was just short, but somehow. I can’t get it out of my head, so it must have been really good.
And um…. like a billion other books. OKAY OKAY I will say The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth because that was like, so riveting and real and atmospheric and just such a gorgeous coming-of-age story about a queer girl. Absolutely amazing.
The only one I’ve read on your top ten list is the Mortal Instruments, and even that one I haven’t actually finished. I got past the fourth book and found it pretty boring and disappointing compared to the first three so I abandoned the series. I did really enjoy the first three though! The first book used to be one of my favourite YA books ever.
I’m currently just starting Half Bad! It’s very strange and intriguing. I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!
I’m dying to read All The Bright Places!!! The cover is so pretty and everyone says they love it so far.
I’ve read a couple of your Honorary Mentions. Fangirl and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. The whole of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy could be in my top three list, really, it’s so deliciously good and beautifully written and soul-crushingly perfect in every way. THE PROSE, THE CHARACTERS, THE PLOT, THE SHIPS. EVERYTHING. OKAY MAYBE IT’S KIND OF MY NUMBER ONE READ THIS YEAR I APPARENTLY CAN’T STOP GUSHING ABOUT IT.
I liked too many books too much.
To come up with a top three is hard, but I’ll do almost anything for food. I want apple pie! With custard!
…Ahem…
My top 3 reads of 2014:
1. The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris- read in one sitting, turned straight back to the first page and started again. It’s a prequel to her Rune series and it’s narrated by Loki. LOKI. Joanne Harris writes the best Loki (personal opinion alert).
2. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater- Wow. Welsh folklore. In Virginia. I can’t even. I’m still not sure if my favourite Raven Boy is Noah or Ronan. I am, however, sure that I want Blue to get with Noah. Do not ask me why, I just do.
3. The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan- The finale of HoO! Nico got his happy ending! And Reyna was AWESOME! And…and…it was the end of an era *sob* well done to Riordan for an epic happy ending 😀
FAVOURITE RAVEN BOY IS: RONAN. <– THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER. But no matter how much I love Noah, it\'s Gansey/Blue. IT JUST HAS TO BE. *cries forever over ship* I\'m in the middle of Lily Blue right now.
If The Mortal Instruments made it to the top of your list this year, next year YOU HAVE TO READ THE INFERNAL DEVICES (if you haven’t already). I love that trilogy so hard! Even more than TMI. 😀 And the Throne of Glass series <3 Great picks, Cait!
I AM GOING TO, I PROMISE. I\’m requesting them for my birthday, actually, and I will put puppy dog eyes on for people to pay attention to me about. lol that failing: library. I NEED TO READ THEM!!!
You have read some amazing books this year! 🙂 I’m currently reading Heir of Fire and I’m enjoying it very much! I have All The Bright Places to read very soon and I’m so excited! I’ve heard so many positive things about it.
From your list I’ve read Throne of glass and The girl with all the gifts, so, I guess I have to add some books to my list! =)
My top 3 so far (still a couple of days left!!! =));
– Me before you, Jojo Moyes
– What the moon said, Gayle Rosengren
– The secret hum of a daisy, Trazy Holczer
They all just break your heart in their own kind of way.
BONUS!
– Through the woods, Emily Carroll (graphic novel/comic book (really don’t know the difference but it’s really scary just the same!))
Wooooot! THRONE OF GLASS IS AWESOME and TGWALG was just unbelievably phenomenal. I cannot get over it.
Ahh! I want to check out all your favourites now!
YESSS the Throne of Glass books and The Mortal Instruments are two of my all time favourite series~ Definitely read Rick Riordan!! I read the PJO series and it was so good! I just bought the HOO box set and I’m super excited to get into them. They’re all really huge too :S
You’re not predictable, just that a lot of us have the same taste! Great taste I might add 😉
THE BOOK THIEF – oh my gosh that book KILLED! I still hurt when I read, “How about a kiss Saumensch?). I recently got it back from a whole round of friends who just had to borrow (now that’s the thing with letting people borrow your books, when you want to cuddle up with them for the night you can’t…) and I just hugged it to me for a bit. I’ll love it forever, I swear I will.
A Monster Calls – it’s always the sad books that stick out to me (maybe because they have all the feels?) so I look forward to reading All the Bright Places (I have heard VERY good things). Can’t wait to go book shopping soon…
I… haven’t read most of the books listed here! Actually, I haven’t read any of them, except for the first Mortal Instruments book. 😛 I should, though, because they all look really interesting! And I DO have Splintered from the library right now, so I’ll try to start that soon. 🙂
I’m going to do a list like this, but probably in early January…
The Book Thief! Yes! I just borrowed the movie from the library. . . so now my family can all share in my pain as we watch together. But I love the book. I really need to give it a reread.
I am convinced that I need to read Sarah Maas’ Throne of Glass. I just- There are too many books in the world!
But I finally did read Cinder. And I loved it! Oh, it was amazing! It blew my expectations away. I want more now. It was phenomenal and I need another great phenomenon to happen soon, like Scarlet, that would suffice.
Also I really, really want to read Unhinged. I’m curious as to what happens next. And I miss reading about Netherland, and maybe I miss reading about Morpheus too- but just maybe.
Haha you cheat! Top 10 huh?
The Book Thief. Beauty Beauty Beauty.
Sarah J. Maas is a fantastic author. Celaena is the best female heroine on the shelves.
I NEED ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES!
So many books on this list that I really want to read. I hope Book Santa got my list!
My top three books of this year are; We Were Liars, Anna and the French Kiss annnnnnnnd I’m gonna go for The Young Elites. Where’s my pie?
I know! Heir of Fire just gave me ALL THE FEELS!!!!!!!!!! It was my number one too!!!
Apart from, like, the books that I read most years at least once because they are amazing, my books would probably be Code Name Verity/Rose Under Fire, The Infernal Devices and ( whatever book is next, know that I regret it because there are so many others that deserve to belong) Snow like Ashes by Sarah Raasch. And Across a Star Swept Sea, and Ruin and Rising, and A Curse Dark as Gold, and Throne of Glass and, and and.
I finished Bird this morning! It was amazing!
Just three…? BUT CAIT THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE.
But if I had to pick it would probably be Undivided by Neal Shusterman (*feels need to mention this yet again because I adored it with my whole soul*), Bruiser also by Neal Shusterman (Oh, I cried.Yes I did.), and RED RISING BY PIERCE BROWN. OH GOSH. RED RISING. *flails*
These all look great! I’ve got White Cat on my list, too, although I’ve got 19 books to go before I’ll be able to read it. I blame you for flooding me with books to read.
Aggressive MEOW made me laugh so harddd. I totally forgot about Half Bad! it feel like so long ago since I read it and I rarely come across bloggers who talk about it. O_O It’s a great book. Why it has to be a trilogy though, I have… no idea…
Great post!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!! I WANT AS MUCH HALF BADNESS AS POSSIBLE.
Tell me if it’s good, okay?! I have a suspicious feeling about that book. e_e
YESS, TBT is an amazing, amazing book! Loved the movie too. 😀 I enjoyed Cress, but it didn’t quite make it to my faves because I enjoyed Cinder’s story’s more.
After just quickly scrolling through my book list for this year, I would say my top three are … Spark by Evan Angler, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker. (The only other one I wish I could squeeze on there was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee … but that would be fourth, I think.)
So yeah, I doubled with you for The Book Thief. It was magnificent. (And I also watched the movie first.)
I love your list. I’m glad to see there are others out there who only got around to reading The Book Thief this year. Red Glove has been on my TBR pile for forever. I really enjoyed the rest of the series, I just never got around to reading that one. I will make it a priority for next year.
My TTT
LisaILJ @ I’ll Tumble for YA
I must know you insanely well because I’m not surprised at any of your choices. 😉
Anyhow, I completely agree with Dangerous Girls and Dangerous Boys. Both books were so well-written and twisted, and the endings for both left me spellbound. (And I definitely agree about the whole trust issue thing…)
And OMG! Rose Under Fire was so insanely sad! *cries* I know we already talked about on GR, but I was really impressed on how much better it was than Code Name Verity in terms of not having the annoying airplane details at the beginning.
Heir of Fire…oh gosh. That book hurt. I don’t know how Sarah expects us to live with an ending like that!
Fabulous post Cait, and great choices! ♥
I’ve actually read a lot of the books you mentioned! FINALLY. I also just finished reading Dangerous Girls and am currently experiencing a mental breakdown. No worries.
But yes I agree with you SO MUCH on all of the books you mentioned (except, of course, for the ones I haven’t read). One of those is actually Rose Under Fire. Mostly because I wasn’t all that taken with Code Name Verity. (oops)
Awesome post as always ;P
I need to get on with it and read so many of these. Arrghhh so behind. Sarah J. Maas, especially. Even my sister’s read some…
My list.
Awesome list Cait! Dangerous Girls definitely deserves to be up there, it’s still one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. The Book Thief is still one of my favourite books of all time and I found that the movie was quite true to the storyline as well which was good to see.
YAY for the Throne of Glass and Splintered books! I’ve become completely obsessed with both series. (Oh, and with Chaol & Celaena and Morpheus & Alyssa – No. Other. Options. Possible!!) Thank goodness Ensnared is only a couple of weeks away, but ToG#4 will be impossible to wait patiently for!
I really should read Half Bad soon, shouldn’t I? I’ve seen a lot of love for it, so I think I should give in… But I have Dangerous Girls sitting on my bookshelf, so that will definitely happen soon! Hopefully over Christmas, but it’s always dangerous to plan anything over the next few weeks. I really want to read The Wolves of Mercy Falls series! I just finished up The Raven Boys over the weekend, and I can’t wait to read more of Maggie’s books 😀
CHEATER *points* 😉 Ahhh darn girl, awesome picks. Throne of Glass series is amazerful!! <33 I'm so glad you enjoyed TMI, that series is just so FUN and epic. We all need that sugary greatness every once in a while. I have to read Splintered and Dangerous Girls. Everyone loves this!! Ooh I just got an ARC of All The Bright Places. I guess I should read it soon since you loved it so much. Great picks hon <3333
Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books
I hate to say it but I have been trying to read the Book Thief for well over a month now and can’t get past the first 50 pages!? Why?? I have no idea! However, I will continue as my cousin told me it was his favourite book of the year. I will give you my favourite 3 books I have read this year, even though they were published before 2014: The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson, We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver and Brick Lane by Monica Ali.
Angelica x
http://www.amzelica.com
1.) Cress; 2.) Across a Star-Swept Sea; 3.) Siege and Storm. Do I get pie?! I like chocolate! 🙂
I read The Book Thief last year… definitely amazing… and the movie was pretty good too! I thought the actors/actresses did a spot-on job. Especially little Rudy! Love him!
Code Name Verity made my list today as well, and I also cheated my grouping series together because it’s totally legit.
My top three reads are probably Everblaze by Shannon Messenger–so many feels!!!–the Lunar Chronicles thus far, for obvious reasons, and….gosh. Can I say both On the Fence and Since You’ve Been Gone? I’m still in withdrawal after that last one. It was just…so cute! And Frank. Gosh. He was way too awesome. The scene where they were dancing at the wedding….Eep!
Good choices! I’ll have to have a look at the ones I haven’t read. The Book Thief made me cry too, but I found Death a bit of an annoying narrator. And don’t worry, I saw the movie first too 😛 Throne of Glass, ahh. This has been on EVERYONES list, and I still haven’t read it! I must read that next year, ASAP!!! The Mortal Instruments is also high on my next years TBR, I’ve only read the first one. Here’s my list if you’re interested 🙂 https://victoriajaynesbooks.wordpress.com/2014/12/13/top-10-tuesday-3/
There were so many great books this year… I admire that you were able to pick just ten favourites even though you read was it around 200 books this year? I only just hit 100 and I have trouble choosing three… Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn and We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart were the two most memorable so probably my favourites. Great post! I really want to read Dangerous Girls and Dangerous Boys…
Code Name Verity makes the cut for me! It is one of the books I included on my series giveaway. And I owe the credit to YOU! I definitely remember hearing about it from the first time on your lovely blog and it was sooooo gooooood. I thank you for the good taste!
Don’t even mention Chaol and Dorian to me. I’m sure I’ll melt into a little puddle that can only be coalesced by book four being placed into my hands.
Half Wild is almost here Cait!!! Just three more months 😀
Yep – All the Bright Places made me cry even more that TFiOS. It’s one I’d cry over again and again though!
Great list, Cait! I LOVED the Curseworker series; you need to read Black Heart! And I also really enjoyed Splintered.
Best 3 books I read this year (GOD, that is a hard question. But I’ll try my best):
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross
GAH I need to read all these books. All the Bright Places needs to be in my hands now. It isn’t. I am not happy. Also, I MUST read Half Bad. Because I won an ARC of Half Wild and also because I trust your reviews an unhealthy amount. And why haven’t I read The Book Thief yet? I don’t think there is an acceptable answer to that one. Oh, or Code Name Verity. Unacceptable. I plan on reading Splintered and Throne of Glass too. Promise. And Dangerous Boys! I just realized I haven’t read it yet! Goodness.
Okay, top 3? Yikes. I couldn’t narrow it down to Top 15! I’ll try though, just for you. Rites of Passage by Joy N Hensley. Umm. Undivided by Neal Shusterman, taking the entire series into account. And I guess Ignite me by Tahereh Mafi, for the same reason. I don’t know, that was too hard and mean, Cait. Too much, you’ve crossed a line.
First of all, congrats on the new name, the awesome layout and your move to WordPress, Cait! Way to go 🙂
I guess I was lucky this year, I only have 10 books on my fave 2014 list on Goodreads, so it was quite easy to make my list for yesterday *grins* it’s a first, though, usually I almost cry if I have to choose between two or more favourites to make my lists.
I actually haven’t read Unhinged yet, but I loved Splintered. Very happy to see Unhinged on several lists today, as I’m planning on reading it very soon 🙂
Have a great day, Cait! Happy reading.
Thanks, Lexxie!! XD I\’m very happy to be a WordPresser now. Woooot, why did I wait so long?!! XD
UNHINGED IS AMAZING AND I HOPE YOU LOVE IT!
1. SJM = Queen of my TTT’s for….as long as she’s writing books. So…forever? Have you read her Starkillers Cycle? It might help tide you over for a bit!
2. I CAN’T watch The Book Thief. I seriously can’t do it. I was SO excited (because Geoffrey Rush) so I finally read the book…and then was so completely destroyed by it that I just cannot relive that in any form. Even Geoffrey Rush can’t make me do it.
Lol. Yes for Throne of Glass! The ENTIRE series! Whoop! And Unhinged? Wow. I think you have some very good taste in books. I am kind of surprised to see Half Bad on here though. I haven’t read it yet (I want to) but from what I saw it seemed to get a lot of mixed reviews. I’m glad you liked it though; hopefully I’ll get to that sometime next year…
BOOK THIEF!
CODE NAME VERITY!
For some odd reason I have not yet read Rose Under Fire, though it is sitting on my shelf politely waiting. Why do I have a tendency to read books I got from the library instead of ones I already own?
A BUNCH of the other books on this list are on my TBR for 2015. They all sound so wonderful!
My top three would have to be Code Name Verity and Book Thief, along with Dream Thieves (or the Raven Cycle in general?). Now give me pie for completing such a difficult task.
Absolutely agree with many of these books in here. Anything Maas writes and anything Haas writes (HEY THEY RHYME! AND SPELT “ALMOST” THE SAME!) are good. I’d gobble anything they write <3 <3
Yes, I can name my top three! It’s ohhhh so painful, but I can. Because these were so fabulous.
1) The Crown of Dalemark by Diana Wynne Jones. SERIOUSLY. THAT THING. It wrapped up The Dalemark Quartet and totally blew me away and broke all my everything. DIANA WYNNE JONES. ALL HER THINGS. But seriously, there was time travel stuff (in a fantasy world!!! Why is this not DONE more??? It’s brilliant.) and it broke my mind and all the CHARRIES that I looove! *wails* DAT ENDING. I CAN’T. Have you read Diana Wynne Jones??? BECAUSE YOU MUST. SO MUCH HUMOR AND AWESOMESAUCE.
2) Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adams. I LOVED IT SO MUCH THAT I STILL HAVEN’T REVIEWED IT BECAUSE I CANNOT HAVE THE WORDS TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR IT. Yes, this is a thing. BUT BUT BUT ALL OF IT. ALL THE FEELS. It seriously has THE. MOST. HUMAN. CHARACTERS. EVAR. The bad ones had good things about them (I WAS CONFLICTED. SO MUCH.) and the good ones I’m sometimes wary of. But it wasn’t like a list of flaws and virtues, THEY WERE REAL PEOPLE. The most real people I’ve ever read. o.o
3) The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer. IT WAS SO HILARIOUS. AND SOPHY HAD SO MUCH SPUNK. AND CHARLES RIVENHALL!!! HE WAS SO DELICIOUSLY DARK AND MEAN AND SNARKY. YOU’D LIKE HIM A LOT CAIT. HE’S LIKE WHAT MR DARCY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. (And this is from a Mr Darcy fan extraordinare, so you KNOW this means a lot!) It’s basically Jane Austen if Jane Austen had REAL humor and lively stuff going on and sparky characters.
YES!!!! I included the whole ToG series too, haha, it needed to be done. Yes to The Book Thief. And Dangerous Boys and Girls!! HAAS BETTER BE WRITING MORE OF THOSE BEAUTIES!!!And All the Bright Places :'( Just thinking about that book makes me want to cry. A lot of the others are ones I still need to hurry up and read, if and when I can find the time.
Yes to The Book Thief and TMI. Have you seen the Book Thief movie? It’s also good. 🙂
YES I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
The Supernatural gifs are GOLD!!!!!!!!XD There is really and truly a Supernatural gif for everything!!!!!!!!XD
CRESS WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST BOOK I READ THIS YEAR!!!!!! Of course, I think I only read like 30 books this year (it was a busy year), but it was by far the best! Splintered, The Hobbit, and Dark Life were good, too, though!
The Book Thief is such an emotional book! It really broke my heart. And I love the Throne of Glass series, although I can’t speak for Heir of Fire because I haven’t read that one yet. So many of the other books I still have to read -and I can’t wait to fall in love with them too.
Great list!
Throne of Glass and Half Bad are both books I really need to read and want to right now! I don’t know why, but even though I have seen so many positive reviews for Splintered series, I cannot seem to want myself to read the books. I am afraid I will be horribly disappeared. Dangerous Girls, Holly Black books and All the Bright Places… GIMME I want them! I loooved the Book Thief. Such beautiful writing, sad story and so well written. And then City of Heavenly Fire was such a good ending to the series, yay!
My list is coming tomorrow, but it definitely has a Sarah J. Maas book on the list as well! You’ll just have to wait and see which one it is 😉 I LOVED DANGEROUS BOYS so much. Haven’t read those Mortal Instruments ones past the 2nd book though. I plan on bringing Splintered & Unhinged to my road trip away so I can finally discover its greatness! Awesome list Cait, it’s so hard to keep it to 10 isn’t it?
I’m either attested or detesting. I’m doing something. MOTHY! I’m totally picking up what you’re putting down there. As much as I absolutely adore the series as well, I can honestly say you’re the biggest advocate for it I’ve come across. Like Ms Howard needs to make you a button to wear. Because you know, buttons are super cool fly girl.
I’m posting my list as my second last bookish list of 2014 and luckily I won’t limit myself to 10. I can’t. But for the sake of it, my top three but in no particular order would be:
1. The Winner’s Curse
2. Prisoner of Night and Fog
3. Bird
And about 100 others.
This lists out my want to read list. I totally blame you for wanting to read many of these books. I’ve been afraid of the book Thief, maybe I’ll do the thing too and try the movie first. Congrats on finishing the Mortal Instruments! You just have to read Infernal Devices now. 🙂 Cress and Daughter of Smoke and Bone made my list too! (My top two) Number three was Percy Jackson Blood of Olympus.
Thanks for reminding me about Half Bad, I have to add it to my winter possibles list. After reading your little blurb, I think it is going to be one of those books that others didn’t care for that I will like, in fact, I think it was your review of the book that made take a closer look at it to begin with.
Okay…I planned on reading Crown of Midnight when I finished Throne of Glass despite my disappointment…but now, NOW, I REALLY JUST WANT TO READ IT BECAUSE I WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
Also, I was so excited for Half Bad, and I’ve had a copy since April, so, WHY HAVE I NOT READ THIS ONE YET?! Also, UNHINGED. I need to get onto that one…I need to find out what all this Morpheus-love is all about.
YES. THE BOOK THIEF. I LOVE THAT ONE. I already want to re-read it. *sigh* If only…AND DANGEROUS GIRLS. I OWN THAT TOO AND I NEED TO READ IT ALREADY.
Sinner sounds really great, so I should probably read The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy already…(is that even the correct name? I don’t even know.) I’ve wanted to read it since its publication and I actually own the second book and I LOVE THE RAVEN CYCLE, so I really need to read more Maggie Stiefvater.
As I’ve said before, I’m really excited for White Cat. I actually got a copy out from the library the other day, so SOON. And, as much as I don’t want my heartbroken, I really want to read Code Name Verity…
Hmm, I can’t pick 3, but I’ll give you 6…three favourites and three recommendations…although they’re all favourites and recommendations if you haven’t already read them. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, Every Word by Ellie Marney, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell aaaaand…okay, that’s nine, but I JUST CAN’T NARROW IT DOWN, CAIT, I CAN’T. That’s pretty good though, I have 26 on my 2014 favourites list.
I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THIS LIST CAIT. Like first off, that Book Thief ending is just horrible, but that’s what makes the book so good. And second, YES TO CODE NAME VERITY AND ROSE UNDER FIRE. I think for me Code Name Verity made me more emotional, but Rose Under Fire was better over all. AND YAY MAGGIE STIEFVATER. Though I’ve only read The Raven Boys and the The Dream Thieves 🙂
GREAT PREDICTABLE LIST. SO PREDICTABLE.
Code Name Verity! Fangirl! Sinner! THE BOOK THIEF!! These are all absolutely marvelous. I read Sinner and Fangirl this year and I think they’re both some of the best books of 2014 for me!! I’m also exceptionally excited for All the Bright Places because a) it sounds like a fantastic contemporary, and b) your flailing is contagious. I’m so glad it comes out in January so I can read it soon!!
Also, top three books of 2014?? What kind of a question is this?! Okay, some of my favorites were: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo; Falling into Place by Amy Zhang; and The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson (AKA The Moment Collector). I know you didn’t care for that last one much, but I absolutely ADORED it. So good. <3
I listened to Code Name Verity and it made me want to SOB. OMG! The twist. I was driving home and trying so hard not to lose it. I was in mourning. I think I am still in mourning. I’ve giving this book to two people for the holidays just have have someone to cry with.
I liked Rose Under Fire, but I found Rose to be a bit annoying. Maybe it was the narrator. But you are right Rose and Roza have a strength that I cannot even imagine.
Have you read Night by Elie Wiesel? Haunting, true account of Elie’s time at Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
And you know that book three in the Verity series comes out this next year, right?!
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
I really must get to the Throne of Glass series next year. I’ve got the first one in my TBR pile… I just need to get reading!
I still have to read so many of these (Throne of Glass, Splintered, The Book Thief, Dangerous Girls, Code Name Verity)! Fangirl and We Were Liars were two of my favorites this year though. I’m definitely going to read some of the ones you mentioned next year 🙂
Oh yes, Sarah J. Maas. She would almost certainly be my favourite author of 2014. And 2013. And heck, 2012. Also, just because I know it’s bound to be true, 2015. She just writes so fantastically and it is always emotional and brilliant and beautiful and divine.
Ah, the Book Thief. Did you end up liking the book or film more?