2015 End of Year Survey

Posted December 29, 2015 by Emily in Other, wrap up / 0 Comments

I was trying to think of a way to recap my year in reading when I stumbled upon the End of Year Survey – 2015 Edition created by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner. It looked really fun to do so here we go.

2015 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 29? There’s still time left!

Number of Re-Reads: 3

Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy

Best in Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

I’m copping out of this one. Wow, what a great start! (P.S. Sarcasm for the win).

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I was so excited about Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan that I preordered it, but it wasn’t the revenge story I thought it would be.

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

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen wasn’t what I expected. I thought it was going to be more of a romance centered read (it is by Sarah Dessen…), but instead, it was way more character driven and a lot more relatable than I thought it would be.

Saint Anything

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand. I really connected with this book and it was so beautifully written that I had to recommend it to everyone.

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

Best series: the Starbound series by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I started and finished this trilogy this year and loved every single one of the books.

Best sequel: Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry. I loved Echo and Noah so much after reading Pushing the Limits so I was super excited when I found out that Katie had written another book centered around them. I was not let down at all.

Best series ender: Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. What can I say? It was a crazy, action packed book. An almost perfect conclusion to a fantastic series.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

Can I say Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner just because I loved their Starbound series so much?

starbound-series

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

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I typically don’t read sci-fi that much, even though I love fantasy. There’s just something about it that turns me off. It’s kind of hard to explain. Either way, I loved reading These Broken Stars and the rest of the Starbound series.

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

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff was filled with action that kept me flipping the pages.

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Where She Went by Gayle Forman. This was actually a reread from last year, which was a reread from the year before that, which was a reread from the year before that. I think it’s pretty safe to say I’ll be reading it again next year.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

This one is so hard because so many of the books I’ve read had really pretty covers. As beautiful as the covers of the Starbound series are, I have to say my favorite cover is The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It feels a bit more simple and the colors are so pretty.

the-fixer

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Lilac from the Starbound series by Amie Kaufman Meagan Spooner. Read Their Fractured World and you’ll know why. 😉

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

Hands down The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand is the most beautifully written book I read in 2015.

13. Most Thought-Provoking / Life-Changing Book of 2015?

Ummmmmmmmmm. Hold on, I’m still thinking.

In the end, it has to be The Last Time We Say Goodbye. The book is about a girl dealing with her brother’s suicide. As an older sister myself, it really made me appreiciate the relationship I have with my own brother and value the moments I have with him and the rest of my family.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Yes, I finally got around to reading it and its sequels this year. Oh, and I also read my first Sarah Dessen book this year.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

“We are the angry ones who fought, all too eager to bring pain to those who brought pain to us. We are the strong ones who loved, and were loved, discovering hope in stolen dreams and in the clasp of fingers made to interlock. And we are the darkest ones, who lived in agony and in rage, and found that even in silence and darkness there is always a spark. We are, and will always be what we choose.” from Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Shortest book: This Night So Dark by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. It’s a novella in the Starbound series which is why it only has 109 pages.

Longest book: Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, and Deborah Biancotti. At 546 pages, it is the longest book I read this year by over 100 pages.

Zeroes is the longest book I read in 2015.
Zeroes is the longest book I read in 2015.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Yes, them again. I was really shocked by the plot twist in These Broken Stars. I didn’t see it coming at all. I had to read that part over and over again just to make sure it actually happened and I didn’t just make it up.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

If I have to choose from the books I read for the first time this year, I have to say Tarver and Lilac are my OTP of the year. I loved them after reading These Broken Stars and Their Fractured World just confirmed how great they are together.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The friendship between Layla and Syndey from Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen. They just have such a great friendship.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

This is a hard one. I can’t decide between The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand (it’s better than her Unearthly series, in my opinion), Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry, and The Pledge by Kimberly Derting (I loved the Body Finder series).

21. Best Book You Read In 2015That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I don’t usually read that much contemporary, but some of my friends at school really pushed me to read the series so I did.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

Why are these questions so hard? Can I pass?

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

Umm, I actually didn’t read any 2015 debut novels. *Hangs head in shame.* In fact, the only debut novel I read this year that wasn’t a reread was Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. I think. Whoops.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting. You read it and you’ll know why.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill. It’s just a really fun read with a great message. Did I mention the cute romance?

being-sloane-jacobs

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand, I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios, and Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan all made me cry.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It was lot better than I expected, but not a lot of people seem to have read it.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I’m not even going to try. Pass.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin. This book was just so unique, especially in the way it was told. It was told through interviews with other characters about the main character and the book was filled with pictures and articles that made Addison seem like an actual, real person. There were times when I forgot I was reading a fictional book and not a nonfiction one.

wpid-wp-1424316721339.jpeg

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson. Okay, so I kind of cheated with this one. I didn’t actually read it but just hearing about it made me mad. I even wrote a post called Another Maximum Ride book? No thanks! about it.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

Chasing Faerytales!!! I love this blog. 🙂

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?

The one for The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand????

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

My favorite non-review post I had on my blog this year was my post about Saracasm Online. It’s not really a bookish discussion, but more of a blog related one.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

This is hard because I’ve had the chance to go to a lot of different author signings this year so it’s hard to pick a favorite. My favorite event was either the one with Kiera Cass, because I got to make a few new friends, or the one with Lauren Oliver and Gayle Forman because I love and respect those two authors so, so, much.

I got to meet Lauren Oliver and Gayle Forman at Barnes & Noble in March.
I got to meet Lauren Oliver and Gayle Forman at Barnes & Noble in March.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

I actually cannot think of one off the top of my head. I guess I have to say it was when bloggers I admire and respect a lot took the time to visit and comment on my blog. That or when I got the courage to finally change my blog name. Other than that it’s hard to think of one. 2015 wasn’t the best year for me blogging wise.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Balancing everything and making time to do things. Also, getting through a blogging slump. School and college applications really hit me in the face and stole a lot of my time. It was really hard to find the time to read and blog. And when I could find the time, it was hard to find the motivation.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Blogging Resources – Blogging Touturials. I compiled a list of where you could find blogging tutorials, especially ones from other book blogs and it was a big hit.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Any of my reviews. I actually started to love writing them, but they always get the least amount of views and comments compared to my other posts.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I don’t know if it was bad or good, but I discovered BookOutlet. On the good side, it’s a place where you can buy brand new books for a really cheap price. On the bad side, I spend a lot of money there.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Hehe… not really. I’m going to try to finish reading the last book to complete my Goodreads reading challenge. My goal was to read 30 books. Originally it was 52 but over time I kept cheating by lowering it.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I have it and everyone kept telling me to read it, but I just didn’t have the time. 🙁

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

Either Passenger by Alexandra Bracken because I love her writing (from what I’ve seen from the Darkest Minds series) or The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan because Percy and his squad are supposed to make an appearance. You can never have too much Percy Jackson and Percabeth.

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

No idea. If you know of any leave suggestions in the comments! 🙂

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?

Does The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan count as a sequel? Technically it’s the first book in a series that is a sequel of some kind to the Percy Jackson books.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?

Read more books! Become more social!

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

I didn’t get any 2016 ARCs. 🙁

Whew, this is a long post. I hope you guys had as much fun reading it as I had putting it together. Here’s to an interesting and fantastic 2016!

On a side note: I’m a bit out of the blogging and reading loops after being on hiatus for so long. If you have any YA blogs and book recommendations, please leave them in the comments! Thanks! 🙂

Emily

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