Saturday, December 30, 2017

A look back at 2017



Personal:
Hiked the Grand Canyon - rim to rim
We adopted Emma
I walked the New York Highline
Tested out lots of different drinks in the Year of Cocktails
Sold my first international item on Etsy


Professional:
I doubled the programming over the summer and attendance followed
We held two huge programs this year that will end of being the first annual programs
I became an SLJ reviewer and gave out my first star
Had a great performance review


Blogging:
After 9 years, I reached over 750,000 views!

Friday, December 29, 2017

Year of End Survey


 


Note: The survey is for books you read throughout the year, no matter when they were published, and is not limited to just books that came out in 2017!!

Number Of Books You Read: 232 books and 247 picture books

Number of Re-Reads: 5
Genre You Read The Most From: contemporary romance


1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2017 release vs. backlist)
I did a post here for Top Ten Tuesday

2. Book You Were Excited About and Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? - I hate answering this question. Skipping it.


3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  
Just Another Girl by Elizabeth Eulberg
I expected a romance - but that wasn't the story at all. 

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

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

 5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017? 

There are so many of these I love, I read a lot of series.

But here's a start.


Kids/YA/Adult

Started:

If the Magic Fits by Susan Maupin SchmidYou Don't Know My Name by Kristen OrlandoAbout a Dog by Jenn McKinlay


Sequel: 

Royal Crush by Meg CabotNever Say Die by Anthony HorowitzNew York, Actually by Sarah Morgan


Ended:

Manhunt by Kate MessnerTake the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally CarterDawn Study by Maria V. Snyder

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?

Letters to the Lost by Brigid KemmererThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

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

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

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

Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo

 9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year? - I don't usually re-read books unless it's for work.


10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise  Miller

11. Most memorable character of 2017?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas


13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?

Real Friends by Shannon HaleGirl Rising by Tanya Lee Stone

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

16.Shortest and Longest Book You Read In 2017? 

Shortest (nonpicture book): Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy #1 by Chynna Clugston Flores


Longest: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling



 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

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

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously Favorite 

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

21. Book You Read in 2017 from an author you've never read before. 

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca ZappiaRenegades by Marissa Meyer

22. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

23. Best 2017 debut you read?
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

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

Renegades by Marissa MeyerThe Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi

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

Never Say Die by Anthony HorowitzAlways and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny HanPrince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

Real Friends by Shannon HaleBrave by Svetlana Chmakova

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

Snow White by Matt Phelan

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

Everyday Magic by Emily Albright


1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2017? I see a lot of blogs - I wish I kept track of this.


2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017? How can I choose? I'm not saying they're all amazing - I just seriously don't know how to pick one. Or if one is even better than the others.

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog? I wish I kept track of this - but probably a Top Ten Tuesday post.


4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? BEA is always a blast! I got to see Sarah J Maas again, meet Anthony Horowitz, see Jennifer E Smith, hang out with Tera Lynn Childs, and Skyped with Elizabeth Eulberg with our middle school.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017?

                    A package from Meg Cabot. Squealed with glee.


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

This cute puppy (She's so little here) kept me on my toes this year. And is most likely the reason I did not make my reading goal this year. But look at that cuteness!

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

A Percy Jackson giveway post was my most popular post - thanks to Rick Riordan re-tweeting it!


8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love? 
When Love Hurts complete with booklist for teens.
9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Image result for fuck off i'm reading socks

 I bought these as a birthday present to myself - my parents were not as amused as I was....


10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? I always set goals but never seem to keep track of them. Maybe I will do better next year! Maybe I can check in on them monthly. That might help.


11. Number of blog posts: 317 - my lowest since 2009

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

Nightfall (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #6)


2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)? I didn't do them in any order and I made myself stop after 11, but here's my Top Ten Tuesday post on that.


3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Love Songs & Other Lies

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

The Queen of Sorrow (The Queens of Renthia #3)A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.5)

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018? Keep track of things better. 


6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read and Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

The Belles by Dhonielle ClaytonThe Unicorn Quest by Kamilla BenkoBefore I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp