Best of 2012!

2012 has been a phenomenal reading year for me!

After three years of hard work and partying I regained time for reading- I've read 50 books since June!
So my last post of 2012 is a quick round up of my 2012 favourites! I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year!

Favourite Debut

I picked this one up with nothing to go by and I loved it!

Favourite Start of Series

Divergent perfectly set the scene and the action for the rest of the series- just need to read Insurgent!

Favourite Standalone

 Morgan Matson is a firm summer time must read for me! I loved all the emotions and memories in this one!

 

Unexpected Favourite

I got this one free when I preordered Sophie Kinsella's latest book- I loved it! Very rarely does a free book surpass the one you paid for!

 

Favourite All Around

Dash and Lily had everything! Humour, sweet moments, stupid moments and action!

Favourite Latecomer

One of my last books of the year and one of my favourite! I'll be reviewing it next year!

The One I Should of Read Earlier!

Everyone's been raving about The Hunger Games for ages and I eventually picked it up in June this year- should have picked it up earlier!

 

Favourite End of Series

I was so happy to finally finish Ruby's story- I've loved her neurotic ways since 2006!

 

Favourite Sequel

I loved If I Stay but Where She Went had a little more resolution and perspective! Brilliant sequel!

Favourite 'Indie' Author

A random download led me to Abbi Glines! My favourite Indie author of 2012 because her books encouraged me to try other indie authors! 

 



Favourite Author

This one was hard! Veronica Rossi wrote a beautifully crafted world, a wonderful prequel and is very interactive! I'm already scouring my local bookshops for a freak early release!



Favourite Genre

 



 Before The Hunger Games I'd had no real interest in Dystopia but now I love it! I love all the different interpretations of the world, the intriguing mysteries and the characters. Not a fan of some of the love triangles but you can't love it all!


What were your favourites of 2012?
Happy New Year!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxxx

Top Ten Contemporary Reads of 2012!

Hosted By Fiktshun, Two Chicks On Books, Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, Confessions Of A Bookaholic, & A Life Bound By Books

 

 I'm a bit late to this meme but it is Christmas! Hope you are all having a fabulous celebration!

I've chose Top Contemporary reads as my topic because I've read loads of contemporaries this year and I kind of already had this post written, so I just tweaked it! 

Easy by Tammara Webber

I have been re-reading this one like crazy! I love the side cast of characters, the theme, the romance, Jackie, Lucas... Everything really! Reviewed in October.

 

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman

No surprises here! I loved these two books- brilliantly unique contemporaries with a fantastic cast of characters and a brilliant use of flashbacks! I loved how the two books are from two different point of views and both felt very emotionally deep and real. Reviewed in July!
 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Morgan Matson has been one of my go to summer contemporary authors since Amy and Roger! I loved concept and plot line of Second Chance Summer and the complex characters. Reviewed in July.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

A fun festive witty contemporary read which incorporates so much of New York City and it's diversity! Reviewed in October.

Because of Low by Abbi Glines

 

I have gushed over Abbi Glines Sea Breeze series it's no surprise this one made it on this list! Because of Low was so sweet and based around family drama which I loved. Reviewed in September

 

Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt





I loved how hot and sweet this was! I liked how Whit seemed to be the more troubled on as usually in YA/NA the guy is the most 'broken'. Such an unexpected great read. 

 

Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy.

 I liked the setting and the pace- it really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! So glad I got the chance to take part in the tour! Reviewed in December!

 Charade by Nyrae Dawn

Sped through this on Sunday- it is so amazing! I can't believe I waited so long to read it!

Review is on it's way!

 

What has been your favourite contemporary read of 2012?

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxxx

Top Ten Tuesday: Contemporary Reads of 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is: I'm choosing Contemporary 2012 reads!

 

This freebie week fits in really well with my feature! I decided to do my top ten contemporary books I've read in 2012! YA and NA!
 

 

Easy by Tammara Webber

I have been re-reading this one like crazy! I love the side cast of characters, the theme, the romance, Jackie, Lucas... Everything really! Reviewed in October.

 

 

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman 

 

No surprises here! I loved these two books- brilliantly unique contemporaries with a fantastic cast of characters and a brilliant use of flashbacks! I loved how the two books are from two different point of views and both felt very emotionally deep and real. Reviewd in July!

 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

 

Morgan Matson has been one of my go to summer contemporary authors since Amy and Roger! I loved concept and plot line of Second Chance Summer and the complex characters. Reviewed in July.

 

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

 

A fun festive witty contemporary read which incorporates so much of New York City and it's diversity! Reviewed in October.

 

 

Because of Low and While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

 

I have gushed over Abbi Glines Sea Breeze series it's no surprise these two made it on this list! Because of Low was much more sweet and based around family drama whereas While It Lasts was hotter and involved more emotional drama. I love the contrast between the two and the continuation of the cast while keeping the two stories separate. Because of Low reviewed in September and While It Lasts reviewed as part of  Young Adult and New Adult Month.

 

  Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

 

This book has everything you could ask for in a YA contemporary novel, a heroine you can connect to, a hot boy with depth, a unique yet familiar plot and utterly addictive! Reviewed in July

Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt





 I loved how hot and sweet this was! I liked how Whit seemed to be the more troubled on as usually in YA/NA the guy is the most 'broken'. Such an unexpected great read. Reviewed as part of Young Adult and New Adult Month!
 

What has been your favourite contemporary read of 2012?

Much Love!

Lettie

Xxxx

Top Ten Tuesday: Update!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

Next week's topic is Autumn TBRs so I thought I would  go back and see how many of my Anticipated Summer Reads I actually got round to reading :)

My Summer TBR was my very first Top Ten Tuesday here. I managed seven out of ten which isn't too bad!

Read

I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk- Such a good end to the series although I hope it's not the permanent end!
Matched by Ally Condie- A great read! I loved the society set up and the characters, looking forward to reading Crossed and Reached.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman and Where She Went by Gayle Forman- These books will stay with me forever- they were so emotional!
Love of The Party by Lauren Barnholdt- I loved the fact this was a combination of different yet related stories, good quick read!
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry-Better than Perfect Chemistry, it had such an intriguing plot and characters
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson- Lived up to my expectations of Morgan Matson, I'm already looking forward to her next book!

Not Read

Divergent by Veronica Roth
This one is sat patiently on my library pile! I will be taking it away with me next month so it just misses out on being a summer read :)
In Honor by Jessi Kirby/The Thing about the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt
These two haven't been read for the same reason. I don't like buying contemporary books as hardbacks and unfortunately these two are only available in hardback!
I don't want them as ebooks as I'm still not a fan of ebooks... These two will get read as soon as they are paperbacks!

All seven were great picks and really good reads so I'm glad I stuck to the majority of this list!
I'm excited to pick out my Autumn TBR next Tuesday!

How did you do with your summer TBR?

Much Love
Lettie
xxx

Top Ten Tuesday- Favourite Books!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is Favourite Books You've Read During The Lifespan Of Your Blog!
 

 

 

This topic was difficult as  I usually define a book as one of my favourites if I still love it months later- seeing as I've only been blogging since June, I really had to think which books I had read since starting my blog and go from there.
In no particular order!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

 

This book definitely convinced me that dystopia was a genre I would enjoy. It was my favourite of the trilogy! Full review.

Because of Low by Abbi Glines

Loved the relationships and revelations in this book- introduced me to what an amazing author Abbi is!

While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

Loved this even more than Because of Low- it was fun, the characters were realistic and the plot was something I hadn't read before!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This book will stay with me forever- it was breathtaking! Full review.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

If I Stay was a hard act to follow but Where She Went managed to follow it beautifully. Full review.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

I love how this book covers so much emotionally in such a short summer. Full review.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Really lived up to the hype surrounding it and had such an intriguing plot and characters. Full review 
The Selection by Kiera Cass

I loved this as it was a more light hearted dystopia book! Full review.

I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk

 Such a good end to the series and I loved finally seeing Angela 'at home'!  

Going Under by Georgia Cates

This one surprised me as I never would of thought it would end up as one of my favourites but it was such a good read it deserves to be on this list!

Honourable mentions
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan which was just too disturbing to make it onto this list and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins which got left off due to The Hunger Games!


Wow! I read a lot more books than I'd thought since June!
Let me know what your favourites are!
Much Love!
Lettie
xxx



July Round Up!

New Monthly Feature which will round up all the books I've read, progress on challenges and  review my blogging! I will be posting it the last Monday of the the month :)
It is kind of an expansion (?) of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey!


What I read in July!

What I Reviewed!
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Love of the Party by Lauren Barnholdt
Matched by Ally Condie
Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

As you can see this month I tried to post more reviews. The readathon really helped as I read a lot of books = more reviews!
I changed my review style to a What I Loved/What I didn't layout which I feel is better and have had positive feedback on. I would love more opinions!

Challenge Progress!

Dystopia 2012 Challenge hosted by Bookish Ardour= Completed- Completion post!

Those Books I Should Have Read 2012 hosted by Reading With Martinis. = 4 out of 12!

What I hope to read in August!

1. Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
5. Under the Never Sky by Veronia Rossi 
6. Someone Else's Life by Katie Daley
7. Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott
8. Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling
9. Ten Girl's to Watch by Charity Shumway
10. Starcrossed by Josephine Angeli

What I hope to achieve blog wise!

1. Post at least one review and one book non meme post a week.
2. Make strong progress on my challenges.
3. Take part in more 'activities' like readthons and read alongs.
4. Beat my total monthly posts of 17!

So that's been July- my first solid blog month!
Let me know how your July/week was!
Also if you like the idea of a monthly round up :)
Have a lovely week!

Much Love
Lettie
xxx

Monday Round Up!

One of my favourite memes hosted by the lovely Shelia over at Book Journey!

Crazy hectic week- full of 21st parties, surprise work, goodbye drinks,  visiting injured friends and driving around the countryside! Which means I had less time to blog as these events were all pretty spontaneous. This is a rushed post purely as I'm leaving for Graduation in half an hour!!

Reviews Posted
If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman- two amazing books!
Other posts
Stacking the Shelves- Find out what I picked up this week!
Follow me through my Readathon journey!
First Post ->Last Post


Read!

Loved all of these- great reading week although it tapered off after the readathon.


Reading and To Be Read

Heading back for Graduation week and taking these with me so depends on which one I pick up first :)
I'm thinking Someone Else's Life!

Upcoming Reviews
To be Rewritten (still) due to random busy week!
- Matched by Ally Condie
- Mockingjay/Hunger Games Review- eaten by Blogger so being rewritten grrr!!
- I Heart Lindsey Kelk- basically an overview of Lindsey Kelk's fabulous books. Also eaten by Blogger!


Upcoming Posts
Series Vs Stand Alones- The biggest casualty of blogger eating posts! I am furiously rewriting this one :(
I will also be putting together my bookcase so maybe a bookcase post??
Signed up for another Readathon so I'll be posting my top ten books for that!


Let me know what you've been up to blog wise this week and your plans!
Much Love
Lettie
xxx

Once Upon a Readathon: Wrap Up!

This Readathon is hosted by Lori at Pure Imagination, Candace at Candace's Book Blog, and Angela at Reading Angel f. It runs from 12:01 AM on July 9 to 11:59 PM on July 11th.

Objective- To set a goal for yourself to read more books that is beyond your average number of books you read. There is no minimum, it's all up to you!

Aim-To read five books

Daily Updates- Monday (including challenge), and Tuesday.


Result

Finished
Princess of Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George- 272 pages
If I Stay by Gayle Forman- 250 pages. Review
Where She Went by Gayle Forman- 260 pages. Review

Started
Love of the Party  by Lauren Barnholdt

Thoughts
I loved this! Why haven't I done a readathon before! I've already signed up for my next one- Summer Wrap-Up Readathon here.
I didn't meet my goal but I always set unattainable goals so I guess that's ok at least
all the books I read were so good!
I loved the Mini Challenges- well done to the hosts. Only wish I'd participated in more of them :)
I gained followers- Hi new followers!
All in All a successful and fun few days :)


Did you take part- how did it go for you?
Know of any other readathons??
Much Love
Lettie
xxx