2016 End Of The Year Survey

I am so excited to be doing this survey for the first time ever! You might notice that I didn’t complete all the questions and I added some of my own, because why not? Mostly I just added some additional stats to the first part because I LOVE numbers – when they’re about books. Before I get started, this survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner and you can find all the questions by clicking on the link. Happy Reading!

Reading Stats

Number of Books I Read: 72.
Of those, twenty-one were 5 stars! Most of my reads were 4 stars and there were seventeen 3 stars. You won’t find many books rated lower than 3 stars on my Goodreads because I rarely even finish a book I dislike that much. 

Number of Pages I Read: 27,168.
The majority of those pages were published between 2000-2015. I read 18 books published this year, 3 that will be published next year and 5 published previous to 2000.

Number of Re-Reads: 1 – Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
I listened to it on audio, which was a fun new experience, in fact 41% of the books I read this year I listened to.       

Genre I Read The Most: Fantasy.
SciFi was the runner up but I also read some Historical Fiction, Contemporary, and NonFiction

 

Best In Books

1. Best Book I Read In 2016

Best Historical Fiction • Best Science Fiction • Best Contemporary • Best Debut

As if I could pick just one!

The Best Fantasy I Read This Year

2. A Book I Was Excited About And Thought I Would Love More: 

• Ever The Hunted by Erin Summerill
  I think I hyped myself up too much for this one, it was okay but it didn’t feel like anything new. You can read my full review here.
• Finnikin Of The Rock by Melina Marchetta
  I really wanted to love this book because it was recommended to me so many times and a lot of my friends enjoyed it but it was just missing something for me.

3. Most Surprising Book I Read:

• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
  I really wasn’t sure about this one, infact I put it down after the first dozen or so pages. Then I listened to the audiobook and it was just so enchanting! I want nothing more than to visit the circus with all of its magical tents and delcious treats!
• Ready Player One
  Another really hyped book, I saw this on a lot of favourite lists at the end of 2015, so I had to try it. OMG it was so good!! Im not a gamer and I can say that you dont have to be to enjoy this book.

4. Best Series I Started (and finished) In 2016, Best Sequel, Best Prequel and Best Series Ender:

5. Favourite New Author I discoverd in 2016:

• Amie Kaufman
  I read Illumiane and These Broken Stars and Kaufman knows how to write a leading lady and pull at my heart strings. I can’t wait to read more of her work.

6. Best Book Outside My Comfort Zone:

• Rat Queens by Kurtis Wiebe
  The first graphic novel I’ve ever read and I loved this sassy gang of misfits.

7. The Most Action Packed Book Of The Year:

• Flashfall by Jenny Moyer
  I could hardly catch my breath! Seriously, if you want a thrill ride without ever leaving your couch and an adorable new OTP as well, pick up Flashfall.

8. Most Likely To Re-Read:

• Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
  This was one of the first books I read this year and I can’t wait to revisit the world and the characters from the beginning.

9. Favourite Cover of 2016:

• And I Darken by Kiersten White
  There were a lot of beautiful covers but this one wins hands down and I have a sneaky suspoicion its sequel might win next year!

10. Most Memorable Character

• Iko from The Lunar Chronicles
  For leaving me in stitches
• Inej from Crooked Kingdom
  For being beautiful in all the right ways, strong in the face of the toughest challenges and gentle amidst such harsh reality.

11. Most Thought Provoking

• The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon
  This is a story about how we are all connected in some way. One persons actions, or lack of action, can change another persons day or life and they might never know one the others name. What we put out there into the world is really important. That’s what it taught me.

12. A Book I Can’t Believe I Waited So Long To Read

• Girl Of Fire And Thorns by Rae Carson
  Those were my exact thoughts while reading this book, what took me so long? Sadly I didnt feel the same with book two and three but the series started off great.

13. Favourite Quote I Read This Year

“It’s not up to you to help other people fit you into a box”  The Sun Is Also A Star
This spoke so loudly to me, thank you Nicola Yoon.

14. The Longest Book I Read And The Shortest Book I Read:

15. The Book That Shocked Me The Most:

• Invasion Of The Tearling by Erika Johansen
  I can’t remember any book shocking me with a surprise twist or death but the language and graphic content in this book caught me off guard a little. I listened to the audio book and I think hearing it out loud made it more shocking.

16. OTP of the Year Goes To:

• Orion & Dram from Flashfall by Jenny Moyer
• Iseult & Aeduan from Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

17. Favourite Book From An Author I’ve Read Previously

• Abhorsen
  I love his books and can’t wait to continue with Clariel and Goldenhand

18. A Book I Read Based Soley On A Recommendation And Loved

• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
  I didnt love the Carry On parts but the rest of the story made up for them. I can really relate to Cath.
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater
  When I joined the book community I saw it everywhere and everyone recommended it. I have a habit of thinking that those are the books I will be the black sheep for and at first I was really unsure about Blue and the Raven Boys. A third of the way in though I was SO hooked and long after I finished the first book I was thinking about the characters. That is rare for me.

19. Newest Fictional Crush 

• I cannot pick just one!
• Gansey from The Raven Boys
• Khalid from The Wrath and the Dawn
• Rhysand, the BAE of BAEs from ACOMAF

20. Favourite Non-Romantic Relationships

• The Dregs from Crooked Kingdom – the banter! No Mourners No Funerals!
• The Raven Boys, well just the whole darn cast of these marvelous books.

21. Best 2016 Debut

• The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
  Diverse, action packed and original. All I could ever want.

22. Book With The Best World Building

I really enjoyed the world building in all of these.

23. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read:

• Anne Of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
  I laughed so much while reading about Anne, I will never forget the experience or the thoughtful passages.

24. Book That Made Me Cry:

• The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
  I rarely cry when I’m reading but this one brought on the water works. It was funny, beautiful and real.

25. Hidden Gem Of The Year

• A New Hope by Alexandra Bracken
  I felt it was a hidden gem because I don’t see many fans of Bracken talk about it. I think it also gets looked over because everyone knows the story from the movies but I really liked her take on things.

26. Book That Crushed My Soul

• ACOMAF by Sarah J Maas
  It was that sacrifice at the ending. Oh Feyre ❤

27. Most Unique Book

• This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
  Her concept of evil deeds creating monsters? Creative, insightful and genius! I want more!

28. Book That Made Me Mad

• The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
  I want to first say I love Brandon Sanderson’s books but a TEN book series? Of which the first book is more than a thousand pages? I’m sorry I have commitment issues. I just can’t.

 

The Bookish Life

 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?

• Alex @ Fiery Reads
  I love her blog, and what caught my attention was her “Review At A Glance”it’s genius!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

• Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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

• Yallwest 2016!!!!
  It was SO incredible and it was the first time I have been to any bookish event or signing.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

• All the friends I met up with at Yallwest and the bonds it cemented. Also, of course meeting Leigh Bardugo!!! #lifegoalfulfilled
• The remarkable friendship that grew from my first round of #otspsecretsister with WriterGrrlReads
• Towards the end of this year I began working with a few publishers such as Raincoast and now have the privilege of reviewing advanced copies for them!

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

• This was my first year so the whole experience had its challenges. Also balancing blogging/instagram/reading/life/beingamom was something I’m still fine tuning.

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

• My stats tell me my very first Page 394 in honor of Alan Rickman was my most popular post for views. For comments, it would have to be my most recent Top Ten Tuesday: Best Of 2016

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

• I guess my reviews? Does anyone actually read those? LOL
• Also even though the first Page 394 was my most viewed, every one since has been a flop? Im not sure that I will continue in the new year.

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

• Audiobooks! Without them, I wouldn’t have read nearly as many books as I did this year. As a busy mom they made folding laundry great.
  **Obviously I knew about them before 2016 but I discovered my love for them this year.

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

• Ahahahahahaha!!
  Ahem, but seriously… I knew that I shouldn’t have set goals because I suck at sticking to a reading list. I also sucked at linking up with the hosts for the challenges I did actively participate it. Maybe next year? More about that in another post. I DID however complete, correction exceeded, my Goodreads challenge this year! I aimed for 55 books and finished the year with 72!

Looking Ahead

 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

• A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

• Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo !!

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

• Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lana Popovic

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

• Edge Of The Abyss by Emily Skrutskie
• TOG #6 by Sarah J Maas

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

• Balance between all the important areas of my life
• Reading 70 books
• 250 Blog Followers
• 2000 Instagram Followers
• Only buying books that I have read, loved and would re-read. So that means reading the books I currently own or borrowing from the library or Overdrive. The only exception I’m giving myself is if the book is a continuation of a series I love.

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

• I cannot shout this loud enough, The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova!!!!
  It will blow your mind, it is going on my shelf next to my all time favorites and I need the second book ASAP
  

 

Thank you for reading!

Happy New Year

 

No really, if you stuck with me and read about my entire first year of blogging and all the books I read, thank you so much! It means so much to me to have met all of you this year and I cant wait for 2017, the book community is so incredible. Please leave a comment below if you read any of these books or tell me what you did read. And dont forget to link your survey if you participated.