Top Ten Tuesday- Favs Books I’ve Read While Blogging

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by those awesome chicas over at The Broke and The Bookish.  This week we’re discussing our favorite books we’ve read during the life of our blog.

Now, please understand, this blog is (almost) two years old.  We’re just a wittle bitty baby.  And although I’ve read tons of books in that time, goodness, there are so many books I love that I can’t even mention because I read them pre-blog.  Ugh! It’s killing me. I mean, hello, I want to talk about Jonah Effing Griggs. I want to tell you how much I LOVE Cameron Quick (Sweethearts), but those were…sniff sniff…before.

Never fear! I’ve honestly read some absolutely incredible books since that lovely day in November of 2010, when I decided to put my crazy on display.  Yes, you’ve heard me babble about these books over and over again, but you guys, it’s because they’re so good!  

1.  Where She Went by Gayle Forman- I never imagined I could love the sequel to If I Stay as much as the first book…but sweet fancy Moses, I love this one even more. Maybe it’s that it’s all from Adam’s perspective?  Um, yeah, because he’s crazy hot awesome.  And yet, I also think it’s because I was so happy to have that chance to see Mia again, to know she’s not just surviving but that she’s thriving.

2. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson- Everything about this book is beautiful. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the writing, I love the sad, crazy tragedy of it all. This book is pretty much perfect.

3. I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan- I couldn’t put this book down.  It got to me on every level: in the girliest ways as I was sucked into the romance, but also as a mom as it explored the sad life of Sam and Riddle and the painful upbringing they had.  It was so well-done.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor- Good Lord, the writing here is fantastic. It’s poetic and beautiful, but it’s also funny.  Taylor created this wonderful mythical world and made it live alongside the real world, both seeming so real and so vibrant. And the MC, Karou? She is what kept me turning the pages. I loved her.

5. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness- Oh, this book killed me in the best way possible (there is a good way).  It’d better than you’ve heard, which is saying a lot. It’s definitely one of my all-time favorites.

6. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi- Holy cow! The swoon, the steamy kisses, the bad guy I wanted Juliette to face punch and kiss–man, this is a good story.

7. Delirium by Lauren Oliver- This book is gorgeous!  Lauren Oliver has such an amazing, lyrical way with words.  I could read this book over and over again.

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- I can’t talk about it without sounding like a total idiot.  It’s just, well, wonderful.  And you know that because it’s John Green, but still.  I loved it.

9. How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr- Oh, I love all of Sara Zarr’s books, but this is my favorite. Even in the midst of loss and change and sadness, this story radiates hope.  And I love Zarr’s writing style. It’s clean and simple and yet her words pack such a punch of emotion.

10. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta- Goodness, this book is pretty much amazing, as are all Melina Marchetta books.  There was humor, there was a great cast of characters, and of course, like all of her books, I was hooked. And yeah, I cried, but not in a sad, depressed way.  She is such a great writer.

11. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater- Although the premise here sounded good, being that I wasn’t a built-in Stiefvater fan, I really wasn’t expecting much. And this book has a slow pace.  The beginning is a bit difficult as the author sets up the story, but truly, honestly, I say this with all of my heart, this book is so very worth the wait.  I could not put it down and I was so sorry to say goodbye to Sean and Puck in the end.

12. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins- This book is like a warm hug or day at Disneyland.  It shines with humor and happiness and manages to have one of the sweetest, more adorable romances I’ve seen in a long time.