We'll be welcoming the new year, 2015 in less than 24 hours and I can't help but look back on the best books I read during the past 12 months. I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge this year to 120 books and (I don't know how to explain how I did it) I surpassed it by 74 books. That's right! I read 194 books from January until today!!!
In relation to this, I looked at all the books that I gave a 5-star review to, and boy did I gave A LOT. It goes to show that as a bookworm, I'm easy to please. But, how can I choose the best from the bests? It was so hard, mind you. But I had to do it and since it's 2014, I picked 14 Best Books from my 2014-Reads shelf. If you haven't read them yet, well, I hope you trust me enough on this because these books are IT.
(IN ORDER OF DATE READ)
IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.
What I thought: It's a perfect ending to Juliette and her friends' story. It's action-packed with a romance that sizzled right from the pages of the book.
MAYBE SOMEDAY by Colleen Hoover
What I thought: It's a perfect ending to Juliette and her friends' story. It's action-packed with a romance that sizzled right from the pages of the book.
MAYBE SOMEDAY by Colleen Hoover
At twenty-two years old, Sydney has a great life: She's in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter's cheating on her--and she is left trying to decide what to do next.
Sydney becomes captivated by Ridge, her mysterious neighbor. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one...
What I thought: This was the first Colleen Hoover book I've ever read and because of this, I loved her right away. It's one emotional read that made me feel that when your heart starts beating for the right person, you can't do anything to stop it.
KISS OF DECEPTION by Mary E. Pearson
Sydney becomes captivated by Ridge, her mysterious neighbor. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one...
What I thought: This was the first Colleen Hoover book I've ever read and because of this, I loved her right away. It's one emotional read that made me feel that when your heart starts beating for the right person, you can't do anything to stop it.
KISS OF DECEPTION by Mary E. Pearson
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.
What I thought: I was at the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this! It has a very delicious air of mystery that drew me in and never let go.
WHEN IT RAINS by Lisa de Jong
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.
What I thought: I was at the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this! It has a very delicious air of mystery that drew me in and never let go.
WHEN IT RAINS by Lisa de Jong
One night changed my life forever.
Beau Bennett has been my best friend since I can remember. He was my first crush before everything came crashing down, and now he wants more, but it's more than I can give him. Things are different now. I wish I could tell him why, but I can't.
I haven’t told anyone.
I never knew how much I really needed him until the day he left for college, and I was completely alone.
Then one day, Asher Hunt rides into town with his dark, captivating eyes and cocky grin. He doesn't care who I used to be, he's simply breathing life into what’s left. People warn me to stay away from him, but he helps me forget the pain that has held me hostage for so long; something I thought was impossible before he walked into my life.
I’ve been hurt.
I’ve been saved.
And I’ve found hope.
I thought my story was written that night, but now I know it was only a new beginning. Until one secret turns my world upside down…
Again.
What I thought: One of the most painful and heart-wrenching books I've read this year. The romance made me feel like I can endure anything when it comes to love, but the heartbreak crushed me.
TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han
Beau Bennett has been my best friend since I can remember. He was my first crush before everything came crashing down, and now he wants more, but it's more than I can give him. Things are different now. I wish I could tell him why, but I can't.
I haven’t told anyone.
I never knew how much I really needed him until the day he left for college, and I was completely alone.
Then one day, Asher Hunt rides into town with his dark, captivating eyes and cocky grin. He doesn't care who I used to be, he's simply breathing life into what’s left. People warn me to stay away from him, but he helps me forget the pain that has held me hostage for so long; something I thought was impossible before he walked into my life.
I’ve been hurt.
I’ve been saved.
And I’ve found hope.
I thought my story was written that night, but now I know it was only a new beginning. Until one secret turns my world upside down…
Again.
What I thought: One of the most painful and heart-wrenching books I've read this year. The romance made me feel like I can endure anything when it comes to love, but the heartbreak crushed me.
TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
What I thought: I love the simplicity of this story while retaining its uniqueness. It made me feel like I was in love for the first, many times. Cliffhanger just about killed me.
CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE by Cassandra Clare
What I thought: I love the simplicity of this story while retaining its uniqueness. It made me feel like I was in love for the first, many times. Cliffhanger just about killed me.
CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE by Cassandra Clare
In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.
Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.
The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?
When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...
Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!
What I thought: It's everything I hoped for, and more, for Clary, Jace and the gang. I loved the adventure, the romance, and the magic that Cassandra Clare was able to weave perfectly together.
DEAREST CLEMENTINE by Lex Martin
Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.
The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?
When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...
Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!
What I thought: It's everything I hoped for, and more, for Clary, Jace and the gang. I loved the adventure, the romance, and the magic that Cassandra Clare was able to weave perfectly together.
DEAREST CLEMENTINE by Lex Martin
Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn't mind being called bitchy and closed off. It's safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.
Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out...in the name of research, of course.
As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.
What I thought: It was a refreshing college romance story with an air of thrill and danger. I loved Gavin, probably because he's a journalist like me. Or maybe because he's just hot. You pick.
Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out...in the name of research, of course.
As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake…and maybe even her life.
What I thought: It was a refreshing college romance story with an air of thrill and danger. I loved Gavin, probably because he's a journalist like me. Or maybe because he's just hot. You pick.
UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover
ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.
What I thought: I loved, loved, loved the prose especially in Miles' POV. It's candid and heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.
What I thought: I loved, loved, loved the prose especially in Miles' POV. It's candid and heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time.
ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes
Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of
What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of
them knows they're going to change the other for all time.
What I thought: It broke my heart into a million little pieces. 2-hour crying jag may or may not have ensued. It made me hope only to have those hopes crushed.
TIED by Emma Chase
A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU by Claudia Gray
BRIGHT SIDE by Kim Holden
What I thought: It broke my heart into a million little pieces. 2-hour crying jag may or may not have ensued. It made me hope only to have those hopes crushed.
TIED by Emma Chase
In the fourth sexy romance by the New York Times bestselling author of Tangled and Twisted, Drew and Kate can’t wait to tie the knot—if they can survive the pre-wedding festivities.
For most of my life, I never imagined I’d get married. But Kate did the impossible: she changed me. I think we can all agree I was pretty frigging awesome before, but now I’m even better.
The road to this day wasn’t all rainbows and boners. There were mistakes and misunderstandings worthy of a Greek tragedy. But Kate and I made it through with our inexhaustible lust, boundless admiration, and everlasting love for one another intact.
That being said, there were some unexpected incidents in Vegas last weekend that could have been a problem. It was kind of... my final test.
I know what you’re thinking—what the hell did you do this time? Relax. Let’s not judge, or call for my castration, until you've heard the whole story.
And hold on tight, because you’re in for a wild ride. Did you expect anything less?
What I thought: Funny as hell. It made me proud of how grown-up Drew seemed. It's just a perfect Happily Ever After for him and Kate.
For most of my life, I never imagined I’d get married. But Kate did the impossible: she changed me. I think we can all agree I was pretty frigging awesome before, but now I’m even better.
The road to this day wasn’t all rainbows and boners. There were mistakes and misunderstandings worthy of a Greek tragedy. But Kate and I made it through with our inexhaustible lust, boundless admiration, and everlasting love for one another intact.
That being said, there were some unexpected incidents in Vegas last weekend that could have been a problem. It was kind of... my final test.
I know what you’re thinking—what the hell did you do this time? Relax. Let’s not judge, or call for my castration, until you've heard the whole story.
And hold on tight, because you’re in for a wild ride. Did you expect anything less?
What I thought: Funny as hell. It made me proud of how grown-up Drew seemed. It's just a perfect Happily Ever After for him and Kate.
A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU by Claudia Gray
Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.
Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.
A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.
What I thought: I just adored the concept of this book. The romance was killer. The mystery, the world building, the characters, and all the other aspects of this book is perfect and it made me love the idea of parallel universe.
Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.
A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.
What I thought: I just adored the concept of this book. The romance was killer. The mystery, the world building, the characters, and all the other aspects of this book is perfect and it made me love the idea of parallel universe.
BRIGHT SIDE by Kim Holden
Secrets.
Everyone has one.
Some are bigger than others.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you ...
And some will end you.
Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.
They both feel it.
But they each have a reason to fight it.
They each have a secret.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you …
And some will end you.
What I thought: Painful. Heart-wrenching. It fooled me from the happy facade and the butterflies-in-my-stomach romance. I could only hope for the very, very, very best and happiest for the characters in the next book.
DON'T LOOK BACK by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Everyone has one.
Some are bigger than others.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you ...
And some will end you.
Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.
They both feel it.
But they each have a reason to fight it.
They each have a secret.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you …
And some will end you.
What I thought: Painful. Heart-wrenching. It fooled me from the happy facade and the butterflies-in-my-stomach romance. I could only hope for the very, very, very best and happiest for the characters in the next book.
DON'T LOOK BACK by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
What I thought: It's my favorite JLA book so far, and that's saying something because I love almost all her works especially the YAs. It's just that, it's so different from anything she's ever written. I loved how the suspense was sustained until the very end. I love it.
ALL OF IT by Kim Holden
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
What I thought: It's my favorite JLA book so far, and that's saying something because I love almost all her works especially the YAs. It's just that, it's so different from anything she's ever written. I loved how the suspense was sustained until the very end. I love it.
ALL OF IT by Kim Holden
Seventeen-year-old VERONICA SMITH has it all: a loving family, a funky car named Jezebel, and a plan to go to college after graduation. On the first day of senior year, she meets DIMITRI GLENN--a mysterious transfer student with gray eyes and a mischievous smile who seems determined to win her heart. But there's something odd about Dimitri, leading Veronica to wonder if there's more to him than meets the eye. Before long, she finds herself in a whirlwind romance that seems too good to be true--until a series of devastating events leaves her questioning everything. It's not until she chooses to think with her heart instead of her mind that she can rise from the ashes to learn the truth of their connection.
What I thought: This book. THIS BOOK! Ugh. I just love this. It made me believe that love lasts more than a lifetime. It's such a beautiful book and when I opened it, I never thought that it would have a *spoiler* theme to it. Hahaha! You should read this.
So, there you have it. My Best 14 of 2014! Oh my my my these are all great books! I'm sure I'm gonna have a very very hard time posting the Best 15 of 2015 this time, next year.
Well, it has been an awesome year of being a bookworm and a new book blogger. Sharing all these books that I really loved makes me happier because I hope someone will love these as much as I did.
Until next year! (and by that I mean, sometime in January 2015 *wink* *wink*)
Love,
What I thought: This book. THIS BOOK! Ugh. I just love this. It made me believe that love lasts more than a lifetime. It's such a beautiful book and when I opened it, I never thought that it would have a *spoiler* theme to it. Hahaha! You should read this.
So, there you have it. My Best 14 of 2014! Oh my my my these are all great books! I'm sure I'm gonna have a very very hard time posting the Best 15 of 2015 this time, next year.
Well, it has been an awesome year of being a bookworm and a new book blogger. Sharing all these books that I really loved makes me happier because I hope someone will love these as much as I did.
Until next year! (and by that I mean, sometime in January 2015 *wink* *wink*)
Love,
No comments:
Post a Comment