2014 Reading Year in Review!

JANUARY

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
2. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
3. Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
4. Shadow and Bone (Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo
5. Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
6. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
7. Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

FEBRUARY

8. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
10. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
11. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
12. Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
13. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
14. Private L.A. by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

MARCH

15. Siege and Storm (Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo
16. The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
17. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
18. The Distance Between Us by Kami West
19. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
20. First Love by James Patterson and Emily Raymond
21. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
22. Black Horizon by James Patterson

APRIL

23. NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
24. Panic by Lauren Oliver
25. The Giver by Lois Lowry
26. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
27. Tempting Fate by Jane Green
28. The King (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #12) by J.R. Ward

MAY

29. The Target by David Baldacci
30. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
31. The Collector by Nora Roberts
32. Everything to Lose by Andrew Gross
33. Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline
34. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
35. Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
36. Unlucky 13 (The Women’s Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
37. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
38. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
39. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

JUNE

40. Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
41. The Immortal Rules (The Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
42. A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey
43. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
44. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and Illustrated by Dave McKean
45. Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows

JULY

46. Invisible by James Patterson and David Ellis
47. That Night by Chevy Stevens
48. Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich
49. Ruin and Rising (The Grisha Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo
50. If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman
51. Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman
52. Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
53. The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

AUGUST

54. The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket
55. The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) by Lemony Snicket
56. The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass
57. The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass
58. The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass
59. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
60. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson
61. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3)  by Lemony Snicket
62. The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4) by Lemony Snicket
63. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay
64. The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5) by Lemony Snicket
65. The Merciless (The Merciless #1) by Danielle Vega
66. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
67. The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6) by Lemony Snicket

SEPTEMBER

68. Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth
69. The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicles #1) by Patrick Rothfuss
70. Private Down Under (Private #6) by James Patterson and Michael White
71. Murder 101 by Faye Kellerman
72. The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner

OCTOBER

73. Obsidian (A Lux Novel #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
74. Onyx (A Lux Novel #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
75. House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan
76. The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan
77. 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
78. Crave The Night (Midnight Breed #12) by Lara Adrian

NOVEMBER

79. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken
80. Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins
81. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children) by Ransom Riggs

DECEMBER

82. The Escape (John Puller #3) by David Baldacci
83. The Prince (The Selection #0.5) by Kiera Cass
84. The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin
85. Private: India (Private #8) by James Patterson and Ashwin Sanghi
86. The Guard (The Selection #2.5) by Kiera Cass
87. The Job (Fox and O’Hare #3) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
88. The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel (Outlander #1.5) by Diana Gabaldon and Illustrated by Hoang Nguyen
89. Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
90. Burn (Michael Bennett #7) by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
91. Shopaholic to the Stars (Shopaholic #7) by Sophie Kinsella

No. 67 for 2014

Title: The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Rating: 4/5
Book: 67
Pages: 259 pgs
Total Pages: 23,475 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 56
Version: Book
Next up: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Another good installment of the series. Looking forward to carrying on in this series.

About the Book:

Dear Reader,

If you have just picked up this book, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like the previous books in A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

No. 66 for 2014

Title: One Plus One
Author: Jojo Moyes
Rating: 4/5
Book: 66
Pages: 368 pgs
Total Pages: 23,216 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 55
Version: Book
Next up: The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6) by Lemony Snicket

This book made me feel all the different feels. It was funny, dramatic and sad all at the same time. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking a light read.

About the Book:

Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe.

No. 65 for 2014

Title: The Merciless (The Merciless #1)
Author: Danielle Vega
Rating: 4/5
Book: 65
Pages: 279 pgs
Total Pages: 22,848 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 54
Version: Book
Next up: One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

This book is completely messed up and I’m still reeling from it. There were times where I had to put the book down and remind myself that what I was reading wasn’t real and it takes a lot to phase me. Definitely worth the read if you are into the horror and don’t mind some gore. I will be checking out the next book!

About the Book:

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.

Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.

Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . unless she wants to be next. . . .

No. 64 for 2014

Title: The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Rating: 3/5
Book: 64
Pages: 221 pgs
Total Pages: 22,569 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 53
Version: Book
Next up: The Merciless by Danielle Vega

Another fun book in the series but I’m starting to burn out on it. I think I’m going to take a little break from the books before I pick them back up again.

About the Book:

Dear Reader,

If you are looking for a story about cheerful youngsters spending a jolly time at boarding school, look elsewhere. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent and resourceful children, and you might expect that they would do very well at school. Don’t. For the Baudelaires, school turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives.

Truth be told, within the chapters that make up this dreadful story, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E., and the metric system.

It is my solemn duty to stay up all night researching and writing the history of these three hapless youngsters, but you may be more comfortable getting a good night’s sleep. In that case, you should probably choose some other book.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

No. 63 for 2014

Title: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay
Rating: 5/5
Book: 63
Pages: 215  pgs
Total Pages: 22,348 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 52
Version: E-Book
Next up: The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5) by Lemony Snicket

I heard so much about this book through some of the book bloggers that I follow on YouTube and I looked at it at the bookstore but I picked it up at the library and I definitely do not regret reading it! It’s such a good book and so sad! I would definitely recommend this book and I will definitely be piing this book up so I have it for my collection!

This was also my first Patrick Ness novel and it definitely will not be my last.

About the Book:

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

No. 62 for 2014

Title: The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Rating: 4/5
Book: 62
Pages: 194  pgs
Total Pages: 22,133 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 51
Version: Book
Next up: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Not my favourite of the series so far but still enjoyable. I look forward to reading more but taking a break for now.

About the Book:

I hope, for your sake, that you have not chosen to read this book because you are in the mood for a pleasant experience. If this is the case, I advise you to put this book down instantaneously, because of all the books describing the unhappy lives of the Baudelaire orphans, The Miserable Mill might be the unhappiest yet. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumber mill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log. The pages of this book, I?m sorry to inform you, contain such unpleasantries as a giant pincher machine, a bad casserole, a man with a cloud of smoke where his head should be, a hypnotist, a terrible accident resulting in injury, and coupons. I have promised to write down the entire history of these three poor children, but you haven?t, so if you prefer stories that are more heartwarming, please feel free to make another selection.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

No. 61 for 2014

Title: The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Rating: 4/5
Book: 61
Pages: 214  pgs
Total Pages: 21,939 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 50
Version: Book
Next up: The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4) by Lemony Snicket

Things just getting worse and worse for these kids.

Still an enjoyable series. I look forward to reading more of the series but I am curious as to how Snicket is going to keep the series interesting and not feeling like it is dragging on.

About the Book:

Dear Reader,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and this one may be the worst of them all.If you haven’t got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signalling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

No. 60 for 2014

Title: Before I Go To Sleep
Author: S.J. Watson
Rating: 4/5
Book: 60
Pages: 358  pgs
Total Pages: 21,725 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 49
Version: Book
Next up: The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3) by Lemony Snicket

I really enjoyed this book! The beginning of the book was a little slow but once the story picked up, I got sucked right into it and there was an unexpected twist that I did not see coming. I really look forward to checking out other books by Watson.

About the Book:

“As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I’m still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me. . . .”

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love—all forgotten overnight.

And the one person you trust may be telling you only half the story.

Welcome to Christine’s life.

No. 59 for 2014

Title: The Good Girl
Author: Mary Kubica
Rating: 5/5
Book: 59
Pages: 350  pgs
Total Pages: 21,367 pages
Library Book?: Yes
No. of Library Books read: 48
Version: Book
Next up: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

I cannot believe this book was written by a debut author. This book seems like it was written by a veteran of the trade! Fantastic book with a great plot and likeable characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great mystery.

About the Book:

Born to a prominent Chicago judge and his stifled socialite wife, Mia Dennett moves against the grain as a young inner-city art teacher. One night, Mia enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn’t show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. With his smooth moves and modest wit, at first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia’s life.

Colin’s job was to abduct Mia as part of a wild extortion plot and deliver her to his employers. But the plan takes an unexpected turn when Colin suddenly decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota, evading the police and his deadly superiors. Mia’s mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them, but no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family’s world to shatter.