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Top Ten Book Romances That You Think Would Make It In The Real World

01. Anna and Étienne (Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins)
Is this cheating? I mean, they live in contemporary society. And they're adorable.
02. Puck and Sean (The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater)
Though this is also contemporary, an experience like theirs can make our break you. It worked for them.
03. Aria and Perry (Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi)
I'm pretty sure there are a few parallel situations you could put these two in in the real world. Hot and cold, these two, but lasting.
04. Anna and Bennett (Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone)
Also a contemp, but with a unique situation. Still, the way Tamara wrote them made their friendship and intrigue work so well that it would stay true just about anywhere.
05. Kate and Vincent (Die For Me by Amy Plum)
Despite the paranormal themes, I just love these two together, and one of my favorite aspects of the book is getting to read them in normal, everyday situations such as going to a café. Their chemistry leads me to believe that they'd do well without their crazy backstory.
06. Augustus and Hazel (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green)
No commentary necessary.
07. Brontë and Brewster (Bruiser by Neal Shusterman)
I don't know how Neal does it, but every single book that I've read has wrenched my heart. There's so much happening in this book on so many levels, but there was a lovely moment between both of them that made me smile big. I believed it.
08. Blue and ? (The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater)
I...can't tell you. But I loved it. A lot. Why, yes, there are two entries by Maggie on this list. Because I love her heaps and it's my blog and I'll Maggie if I want to.

I'm going to stop at eight rather than name names for listings' sake. To make it is something difficult and long and though there are a lot of YA love stories that I've enjoyed, I'm not sure how many of them could exist out of their situation.

Who's on your list?

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Top Ten Books I'd Recommend As Good Beach Reads

01. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson: This book is absolutely perfect for the beach, because to get there you'll have had to make some journey and perhaps won't be as envious of the one that Amy and Roger embark on. A really superb contemporary. (And, really, anything by Morgan is worth reading!)

02. Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone: I know this one hasn't been released yet, but you'll definitely see this in many a beach tote next year, or perhaps this autumn on the West Coast. Interesting characters, a gripping premise - this is one you won't be able to put down.

03. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby: Though this is a perfect summer read, the story offers so much more than that. Anna and her father move to the beach where her parents met, the place where she lost her mother. Her journey for information is moving and makes for a fast read.

04. Starcrossed (or Dreamless) by Josephine Angelini: I have to admit, this is probably my favorite of all the Greek mythology inspired stories out there. That said, there were some Delos family moments that seemed Cullen-esque to me. Nothing that made me dislike the story at all, nor want to stop reading the series. Angelini's writing here does the trick and keeps you wanting more.

05. Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina García: I don't think this will be a book for everyone, but I think that everyone who makes it to the end will be able to find something inside for them.

06. Blood Red Road by Moira Young: Being that the majority of this world is a desert landscape, it seems like a fitting summer story. Perfect for those looking for something a little different.

07. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson: Shocking confession time - I haven't read anything by Maureen Johnson yet. But I've heard so much about this one that I somewhat feel that I have. It's a book that I'll be reading sometime this summer.

08. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: Okay. This is a book that fits on so many list, but really, even if you're on vacation already this book will take you that extra step to someplace magical.

09. Crossed by Ally Condie: Another book that I think will work as a summer read because of the world building involved, and well, the story is (for me) the best yet of the series. Apparently if a book is set anywhere near hot weather or a desert, it is a summer read for me. The things I find out creating these lists.

10. The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova: I was lucky enough to be one of the tables to have breakfast with her at BEA and she is completely lovely and when I found out that her book is about mermaids I immediately added it to my TBR. I haven't read one before, and this one is set here in NY so I'm a bit biased. (She was also sweet enough to sign my copy!) Sounds like it should be a fun book for the summer.

What are your summer reads?

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Top Ten Books That Were Totally Deceiving: (in no particular order - 'r' denotes review)

pleasantly surprised:

01. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: For the longest time I couldn't get past the title and the cover. I love YA, but this one was screaming out 'much younger!' to me every time I looked at it on the shelf. And yet tons of friends and bloggers loved and raved about it, so one day I caved. I didn't read it until last year when trapped indoors during Hurricane Irene, and boy - fabulous! Don't wait until inclement weather comes! Read this book!

02. Vampire Academy (series) by Richelle Mead: After Twilight (which I don't care for) I was a bit hesitant for anything vaguely vampire. I couldn't deal with another simpering female MC, and, boy, was I surprised when I eventually picked this up. Rose Hathaway, simpering? She'd thunk me on the head for the mere implication. This series is YA vampires done absolutely right. 

03. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready: Girl's with boyfriend, boyfriend dies, but girl can still see him? Intriguing, but perhaps with the chance that this premise can be handled unfortunately. In this case it isn't, and the idea of a "post-shift" society where a generation of people are able to see ghosts is incredibly interesting and done so well. (I'm reading the last book in the trilogy now, so I can't wait to see how it ends!)

04. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (r): Don't like werewolves? That's okay, neither do I, really, but this book was absolutely gorgeous with prose that matches the quietly haunting feel of the cover. To be fair, I've read this one as a standalone, though I do own Linger and Forever. One day I'll read them, I promise.

05. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi: The cover and title are actually what pulled me in, but I can see how it might be off-putting to some people. And don't let that happen to you as there is so much more within this book: the world-building is extraordinary and it's a story I didn't want to end. (Its sequel will be out May 1st; the title is potentially spoilery so don't look at that first!)

(un)pleasantly surprised:

06. Outside In by Maria V. Snyder: I loved Inside Out and so getting my hands on this one was exciting. And then it wasn't. The two main characters had too much to deal with here and were difficult to digest more than they were easier to empathise with. The ending, for me, was a huge disappointment.

07. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher: Gorgeous cover, amazing idea for a story but poor execution. The characters were all over the place and there were plenty of spots where the reader was assumed to know integral plot pieces that we didn't.

08. Possession by Elana Johnson (r): Fantastic cover art. Tricky, blink-you'll-miss-it ending (loved that), but everything in-between didn't work. Having a female MC called 'babe' on a consistent basis made everything else questionable.

09. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston: This was a story that I wanted very much to like, and, to be fair, the story itself was interesting. But the writing was also all over the place and that threw everything else off for me. The pace too slow in some parts, rushed in others - especially where the relationship of the main character was concerned. Taken in by the curious title and lovely cover.

10. Abandon by Meg Cabot (r): That cover. A Persephone myth. Except nothing about it worked for me aside from the premise.

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Top Ten Favorite Books That I Read In 2011: (in no particular order - 'r' denotes review)

01. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (r): I've talked a lot about this book, but there's so many reasons that I love it. The topics (water, horses), the writing (her writing methodology, descriptions, and characters inspire my writing), and the package as a whole. Sean Kendrick is a favorite.

02. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (r): How do you talk about a book like this? It's amazing in ways that I would never have been able to come up with myself. It's magical and inviting and paints the circus in a way that even someone who doesn't like them much can fall completely in love with it. I own both the hardback and the audiobook, and whatever format you choose, it's amazing. (Jim Dale narrates the audiobook.)

03. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (r): This book is perfect. Karou is such a strong female character, but not in a way that ignores emotional reactions as can be generalised in fiction. Everything in this book meshes together in such a cohesive yet totally unpredictable way that I remain in awe of Laini's imagination and skill. 

04. Unwind by Neal Shusterman (r): Everyone needs to read this book. Neal has a way of humanising his books (and characters) in just the right way that hits somewhere inside of you and leaves a lasting imprint. I will never forget this story.

05. Stay by Deb Caletti (r): While this is a book about the development of an abusive relationship and its aftermath, the way everything builds up and its aftermath is handled so realistically that I had to shake my head every now and again and pull myself out of the story. Another one where the stylistic writing really makes everything else.

06. Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson (r): Though this book has a personal meaning for me, the story itself stands on its own two feet and offers an unpredictable story with an ending I would never have guessed. A bit of fresh air.

07. Divergent by Veronica Roth: Although I still haven't written a review for this one (I plan on re-reading and doing so over winter break), I loved it. I loved Tris and I loved learning about a Chicago I've never been to and, hopefully, never will go to. The action, the growth, the character interaction - I liked everything about it.

08. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (r): The writing here was absolutely fantastic for me. I know that it won't work for everyone, but it really showcased to me that different styles can work if they're polished and supported by a great story and characterisation. While reading I kept on taking pictures of the book with my phone to remember passages that stood out to me.

09. Variant by Robison Wells (r): A boarding school story with a wicked twist right off the bat, and where the twists kept on coming. I had no idea what was going on in places, but the mystery actually worked in favor as the reader is more and more able to figure things out while the author surprises you with other things. And that ending! 

10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: I read both Anna and Lola this year, and I'd held off on reading Anna solely due to the title and the cover. I couldn't get past it, but then I finally read it and absolutely fell in love with everything about it. My advice for this would be: don't have the same title bias that I did because this one will blow you away. 

Runners up: (I had a hard time not putting them on the list.)

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman: Amazing. I couldn't truly love Unwind because of its subject matter, but I loved this one. Like most of this books, I haven't read something quite like this and it hits you in an unexpected way.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (r): Aria, Perry, and a cast of fabulous secondary characters with a mysterious post-apocalyptic background make this book a treat to read.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (r): Another book where the writing is lyrical, creating a world that you have to blink a few times to step back from. This is one I'd recommend reading in one go - the uninterrupted descriptions and setting make this story even more engrossing.

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I'm baaaaack! 

Top Ten Books For The Holidays:

01. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: I have the ARC for this one, but I want it as a sexy hardback. My very own copy to gaze happily at on my bookshelf. (I do this, but out of complete book love.)

02. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: You might say, why kaye, you already have this book! And to that I'd nod, but emphasize just how much I absolutely adore it. We might have to have quote time soon, and I'd pick a lot from this (and Shatter Me). In any case, I love the UK cover and would love to have a copy of it.

03. Legend by Marie Lu: This is the book I'd promise myself I could would purchase after finals. Well, my last exam is in January, but there's no way I'm waiting until then. It's dystopian. I'm thrilled.

04. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: Aside from dreams of Insurgent ARCs, this is a book that I have been dying to read. I love airports. I love the title. I love the possibility of it. My heart gets all warm with the thought. I'm allowed one unrealistic choice, right?

05. Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys: This is one I've been meaning to read for months and the book stars never aligned properly for me to do so.

06. Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar: I feel like I've experienced loving this through the enthusiasm of others. I want to read it for myself, and I have to figure out how to make that happens.

07. Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller: After just finishing Under the Never Sky, the plots sound somewhat similar, but I enjoyed the former so much that I still want to read Larkstorm. I want to explore different possibilities within the similarity.

08. Anything in sequential order by Cinda Williams Chima. The covers have me hooked, and I don't even know what the books are about. Which series should be read first?

09. Anything by Aussie authors. Okay, so I know this is getting a little ridiculous, but I haven't read Raw Blue, I haven't Melina Marchetta, Cath Crowley, and I have The Book Thief on my shelf but haven't read it yet. (I did read the first couple in the Tomorrow series, though, and just couldn't make it work.)

10. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins: Been in my mental queue for ages, but a friend just reviewed it on Goodreads which reminded me of it altogether. And, well, it's Suzanne Collins. I'm a believer.

I started this post on a Tuesday, but it takes me so long to hem and haw over just which books I should pick that it's now Wednesday. Technicalities!

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Top Ten Books I Had VERY Strong Emotions About (cry, laugh, hurl across the room, etc.)
01. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead: I created a love-and-hate shelf for this book on Goodreads after finishing this one. You probably have an idea as to why if you've read it. I reread the scene yesterday and it was slightly less painful. That's how you know you love the characters.
02. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling: I'll be honest in admitting that I did throw this one. Not very far, but it did have a little journey. I suppose I should have seen it coming, with what the mirrors and all, but I was taken completely by surprise. 
03. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: It wasn't just the ending with this one that got me. I study and plan to work in human rights, and so the entire concept of this book gripped me from the very first moment my mind grasped what was happening. Everything about it was wrong, but I couldn't stop reading. 
04. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld: While the way the story was told didn't really work for me, the premise of this book is fairly incredible (not in the literal sense). That people have to fix themselves to fit in and only then can they have fun is completely absurd, but, really, in comparison with some ideas in reality - is it? 
05. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling: The ending of this book was not necessarily vindication, but almost a sense of affirmation. I don't love as many characters as much as I love Snape, so here I cried more than I did over OotP.
06. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: My emotions for this book were 100% for the writing. If not for her words this book would not have made the impact - for me - that it did. I found myself taking pictures of quotes with my phone so that I could roll them over and over in my head. Keep an eye out for a review this week. This book was perfection in the form of words and phrases.
07. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes: I first read this for school and it broke my heart in an entirely new way. I struggled with the idea of experiencing something new and living, only for it to be snatched away. This is not an easy book, but it's a necessary book.
08. Wither by Lauren DeStefano: I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would, and I think that's partially because I empathized too much with Rhine. I was angry over what was happening to the girls and the general sense within society that this was okay. Not to mention what happened with Cecily and Jenna (and her sisters). It's hard to not feel something either way over it.
09. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: I laughed and smiled and all sorts of verbed along with this book. That's the beauty of Stephanie's writing - she can make you feeling practically anything while reading, and the best part of it is that it's completely genuine. 
10. Unwind by Neal Shusterman: I didn't physically cry over this book, but everything else in me was protesting the entire concept of it. I didn't know what to expect and literally stared at a particular passage of it probably for about 10 minutes before I could figure out what to do from there. If it were feasibly possible I would give a copy of this to everyone I knew. And those I didn't.

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Top Ten Titles Whose Title or Cover Made Me Buy It: warning: image heavy, but beautiful covers!

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Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time:

01. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: I don't think this one gets enough love. It's so, so critical to LotR!

02. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I read this again and again anyhow, but to be able to experience Lizzie and all she goes through again, including meeting and matching wits with Darcy, well, yes please.

03. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: This book speaks for itself. I cannot count on one hand the number of people I've talked into reading this book and have loved it.

04. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: I wouldn't even need to read the other two because the first does such a stellar job of laying everything out. This book knocked me off my feet and I was glued to it from start to stop.

05. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: I don't get to talk about this book a lot here as it's very much not YA, but it's my favorite book and I would love to read it fresh at this point in my life and see if it would still be my favorite. (I think it would.)

06. Divergent by Veronica Roth: My excitement for this book was sort of reaching epic proportions, so when it was finally released I was up until 3am reading it. I loved it. I still love it. It's one of my favorites of 2011 and I would like to experience that cycle of excitement and happiness of finally reading.

07. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab: Musical from beginning to end, the sound of this book was breathtaking.

08. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White: I wonder if this was the first book to make me cry, or if that was The Lorax. Still, this is one I don't have a copy of any longer but need to. It's a classic.

09. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: It was almost absurd the fact that I didn't own this book, but I checked out from the library over and over and over again. I could have recited it to you as a child. Roald Dahl is genius. (It was hard choosing between this and Matilda.) Funny, I still don't own it in English but I'm reading a foreign language copy. :)

10. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: Lola and Cricket = Stephanie Perkins is a mad, mad genius. Enough said.

Note: I actually never read a lot of YA books when I was a teenager, aside from the SVH/SVU series early on. I started reading adult fiction...pretty early, and so I always try really hard not to pull too many from them but when you love a book, you love a book. And you can tack on the HP series and A Game of Thrones to this list, too. :)

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Top Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open: (because of the cliffhanger or because it the ending was MINDBLOWING, etc.)

01. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
02. The Hunger Games / Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
03. Possession by Elana Johnson (This book wasn't my cup of tea, but I loved that ending.)
04. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
05. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
06. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
07. Variant by Robison Wells (Currently reading it, but, I'm preemptively placing it here.)
08. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
09. A Game of Thrones / A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
10. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (I was trying to think of another YA to put on the list instead of this one, but, really, this ending is incredible.)

In short, this is one post that I really should try to think about in advance given that they're probably the ones that take me the longest. Still, I love them! I'm looking forward to see what you all think.

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Top Ten Books That I Want To Reread:

(without explanation this week (and in no particular order) as I have an essay to write - apologies!)

Just a note: by 'wanting to reread' this week I'm really meaning 'books that I would love to experience again from the beginning so much that I want to reread them'. Whew. That's a mouthful.

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

3. The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins

4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (I was going to say Brave New World, but I've mentioned that a few times here before, although I would like to reread that, too. Two of my favorite books.)

5. His Dark Materials (series) by Philip Pullman

6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (you might guess why I love this one)

8. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (about a gazillion times better than the movie. and I love the movie.)

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

10. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (I love love loved Rose and Dimitri.)

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Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

1. Anything Sarah Dessen: It may just be a mental thing, but every time I look at one I get the feeling that they're not things that I would enjoy. The covers all seem to have girls in jeans not facing forward with no head, which is also a bit off-putting. Tell me, guys, is there something I'm missing? (I know Alissa loves them! One day I'll try, I promise.)

2. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak: I really have no excuse for this one other than that I'm playing perpetual catch up with my TBR list. I bought it a month or so ago and it's been taunting me, but I haven't gotten to it yet. This, though, is a book I want to devote some time to as it's going to be pretty emotional.

3. The Kingkiller Chronicles (Patrick Rothfuss): Again. No excuse. I own them both now, having bought the second one last week for $6 at Borders. I've heard such amazing things so I really need to get on this. Maybe over winter break? They seem like good hot chocolate and curling up books. 

3. Anything by Cassandra Claire: This one has been by choice. I know they're insanely popular, but I'm just not interested.

4. Crank, Ellen Hopkins: I really want to read this one, but I've just been thrown off by the layout. Poor excuse. I will read it.

5. Lola and the Boy Next Door, Stephanie Perkins: This one hasn't even been released yet but I feel like everyone and their mum has read it. And I'm glad for this post, as I forgot that it comes out next week. I think I should just give a portion of my paycheck to Posman's so I can just go in and pick up books.

6. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White: I'm incredibly embarrassed to name this one as this one was one I was gifted from some of my favorite ladies at WeHeartYa, and I haven't read it yet. I need a reading vacation. I'm really looking forward to it, though, and think once I catch up on review pile that this is one I'll be reading.

7. On the Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta: This is one of those authors where I haven't read anything by them yet, but some crazy literary instinct tells me that I should go out and get all of her books because they're going to be good.

8. If I Stay, Gayle Forman: Another book that I want to spend some time with. I'm pretty sure I own this one, but it's getting difficult to see all of the books on my shelf. (Found it!)

9. Hold Still, Nina LaCour: Pretty sure that this is a sneaky book that a lot of people seem to have read, but don't really talk about. I've got this one on my shelf, too. I need to check out books from the library of Kaye.

10. The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson: This book hits all of my interest points but I just haven't gotten to it yet. This is one I can't check out from the library of Kaye, though. I'm quite looking forward to it along with The Fox Inheritance. 

These posts are the ones that take me the longest to compose as I always feel guilty and as if I'm leaving something out that I should have thought of. 

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Top Ten Sequels I'm Dying To Read: As always, in no particular order.

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth: This is easy. You may or may not know that I'm ridiculous lover of Divergent (which is in part why it was the US giveaway choice) and so getting to know more about the whys behind the who and what is going to be rather interesting. More Tris and more Four? Yes. I also love Veronica's writing.

2. Unwholly by Neal Shusterman: This one is not so easy. (And I'm sure by even mentioning this author that I'm going to unleash another slew of kids looking for book report answers: there are none, read the books.) I considered Unwind to be a complete story, so I'm sort of hesitant about this choice but I know I'll end up purchasing and reading it anyhow.

3. Black Heart by Holly Black: Okay, so I haven't even finished White Cat but I can already tell that is a series I love and a world I want to spend more time in. I love Cassel as an MC - he's bright and blunt and hesitant but acts anyway. And the fact that Holly created this whole, completely original background for the workers and so seamlessly integrated it into our own history is pretty darn mind-blowing. Suffice to say that I'm really enjoying it.

4. The Winds of Winter by George R. R. Martin: Please, please let there not be six years in-between books. I don't think I could stand it. That said, I know I'd wait however long it took, but I would much rather it be sooner rather than later. The whole world of Westeros is on the cusp of so much to happen and Winter Is Coming, and well, things are going to get realllllll interesting.

5. Mara Dyer #2 by Michelle Hodkin: I was left pleasantly clueless and fulfilled all at once at the end of this one, and yet I want to know more about what is happening to Mara and Noah and what started what is happening and where it's all going to go.

6. Fever by Lauren DeStefano: I want to know more about this world and what makes it tick. I want to hope Rhine makes the correct decision for her, whatever that ends up being. To be honest, I'm just so curious. And I think I need to re-read Wither.

7. Dustlands #2 (Blood Red Road sequel) by Moira Young: No idea when this one is coming out, but Blood Red Road was a book that I truly enjoyed. It was refreshing and the writing and world-building completely engrossing. More Saba and Emi please.

8. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins: Sooo...I haven't read Lola yet, but I sped through Anna like there was no tomorrow (well, I did read it during a hurricane) and as Isla was a character in Anna and the French Kiss I wonder if we are back in Paris to wrap things up? So far away, this one!

9. The Drowned Cities by Paolo Baciagalupi: Not much is known about this one, other than that it purportedly comes out next year and is a sequel to The Ship Breaker. It's because it's a sequel to that that I want to read it quite badly.

10. Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2 by Laini Taylor: There's absolutely no information released about this one, but by the ending of the first book there's going to be a sequel and I'm 1000% okay with that. Here's for hoping for next year. This is a world I desperately want to get back to!

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This week it's a topic that I'm excited about, because I love seeing what books you guys are excited about! I know, lots of excitement in one sentence.

Top Ten Books On My TBR List for Fall 2011:  Including some books that I've read/reviewed but haven't been released.

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (9/13): I sort of loved this book beyond words. The characters were so completely delectable and the prose breathtaking. Mainly I want you all to read it so we can discuss it - I want to talk about this book! I'm hoping The Book Depository will offer the UK hardback up for sale soon, as I'd like to see it sitting pretty next to my eventual US copy.

2. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (9/27): Literally just finished this one and it was so incredibly refreshing and well done that I'm a bit tongue-tied. Karou is one of the best female MCs that I've read in a while, and incredibly engaging with a personality all her own. (Although, I think my favorite character is someone else - and no, it's not Akiva!)

3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (11/15): While this is about a girl whose touch is lethal, I have to say the thing that most makes me excited is the author herself. She's such a sweet, personable girl that I think I'm going to be hard-pressed to dislike this book - which is one I've heard many, many great things about. (And it's a dystopian. You all know how I feel about them.)

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (9/27): Oh, this book. This is one I loved in ways that I could never have expected and I think I'll be as excited to receive the finished copy in the mail as I did the ARC. While there's a lot you may or may not have heard about it, please let it be one that you try out for yourself. It's worth it.

5. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (9/20): I have one more book to get to before this one, but I'm so incredibly excited for it. I've heard such amazing things and it's been a few books since I've read a good fantasy I can sort of sink my teeth into and I'm hoping this will be the one to do it.

6. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi: The Windup Girl has actually been on my TBR longer than this one, but I only saw this one and so I immediately snatched it. It's a dystopian, which I love, but the story has a strong nod to the present day - all of the markings of a book I think I'll very much enjoy.

7. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (9/29): I read Anna and the French Kiss on Saturday as my happy-thoughts-during-an-impeding-hurricane book and loved it. I'm going to say that it's pretty much impossible not to like this one. Anna was such a great character, and everyone wants an Étienne. Lots of people have said they liked Lola more, which seems like big shoes to fill, and I can't wait to find out.

8. Prized by Caragh O'Brien (11/08): I feel like I've been waiting for this one for ages and ages. I was just approved for it on NetGalley and am waiting until closer to the release date to start it - and boy is it hard.

9. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente: I'm quite embarrassed that I haven't gotten to this one yet. I...really want to read it. I think I'll have to remedy that soon, considering it's sitting on my shelf.

10. Sequels I've been waiting for: Crossed, The Iron Knight... what else? I'm cheating, but it's my list, so I'm permitting myself. 

What about you guys? What's on your list? And, Goodreads, please come back to life. I miss you.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish. If you love lists

and wracking your brain for answers, then this is the meme for you!

Top Ten Trends You Would Like to See More or Less of:

More:

1. Books that deal with real-life issues. Don't get me wrong, I love a good, fun book just as much as the next person. However, I'm much more inclined to love a book that makes me think such as Unwind or, well, I haven't read Speak yet, but I'm sure that will also be one of them. These circumstances are real and when a story touches on a point so aptly - it's memorable.

2. Standalone books. To be fair, I love series. I'm the sort of person that loves delving into the characters and finding out more and seeing how they grow and interact...but I'm also the sort of person who can acknowledge something is being drawn out unnecessarily when one longer book would have been just as fine, and probably more lasting. And sometimes it's just ultimately more satisfying to figure everything all out at once.

3. Parents of YA characters. Tell me that I'm not the only one who wonders how convenient it is in a book where the parents work odd hours and are never home or, better yet, they're around you just never ever see them and no one is having a conversation with children who are out all night running with wolves or slaying vampires or whatever else is going on. I get that it's easier to advance the plot when Jane Doe isn't being grounded all the time, but it's an incredible suspense of disbelief on my part.

4. Characters in their 20s. I guess I really don't understand how YA always is understood to be teenagers. Trust me, people in their 20s (me!) are still learning the ropes of what it is to be an adult and we definitely fall under the auspice of YA. I would love to read more novels about people my age whether they be contemps or not.

5. Female MCs who are not klutzy, mousy, and afraid to speak up for themselves. I know we can't all be Katniss Everdeen or even Rose Hathaway, but, we can at least have a girl who's sure of herself and not afraid to say no. (And why does she always have to trip over her own feet? ) Case in point: I read a lot of stories where there's some bizarre interaction between female MC and male protagonist where the female is always internally thinking uhm, this is weird, can we hold up a second? and then she looks into his startling icy blue or deep black eyes and it's all over. It is 100% okay to question what is going on. (I'd extend this into a girl who says no to creepy potential male boyfriend, but that's a whole different essay.)

Less:

1. Stereotyping. The bad girls being catty cheerleaders or cliqueish popular girls or jocks. The outcasts being the smart ones or the emo or whatever alternative is. No plot twist would surprise me more if someone completely out of the blue ended up taking one of those roles instead. Besides, it's a completely unfair and not quite updated viewpoint.

2.Instashipping. Please. No more. This is an instant turn-off for me in a book. You know, I can almost deal with the books that are 'fated to be together 4eva' ones because at least there's a snippet of things tying together there. What I really don't understand is a story where two people have met and within a day (or hours, sadly) where they have no idea why, but suddenly the other person is the wittiest, most gorgeous person they've ever seen or envisioned in their lives and can do no wrong. What? The fate thing doesn't always work, either. I love a slow build-up. A recent example of this for me is Tris & Four in Divergent.

3. Lack of worldbuilding. I live for dystopia. Fictional, that is. But I need to know how things came about. Not a chapter's worth, but if girls are acting in a very specific manner I'd like to know what happened to create this situation, and perhaps even more about why people are not trying to remedy that situation instead of keeping the horrific status quo? If there's one thing I can't wrap my brain around, it's why a character would submit to a terrible situation without first wondering why nothing's being done to change it. It's a big no-no.

4. Girls in dresses on covers. And a lot of the times they don't have any heads, which seems a hard way to tell your story. Dresses are pretty and can be styled in so many ways, but there are times where it just seems like the 6th girl-in-a-dress you've seen and there's nothing unique about it. If I were at a bookstore and I saw a really inventive cover sandwiched in between two girls-in-a-dress it's an easy answer as to which one I'd pick up and start to read.

5. Perfect endings. Okay. I love a good happy ending. Really. Buuut I also love an ending that isn't so clear-cut and kind of makes you think or leaves you completely surprised, but in a manner that doesn't hinder the overall plot. If Billy and Mia are in this fantastic, perfect relationship and Joe comes along out of the blue and suddenly Joe and Mia are Happily Ever After/True Love at the end, well, I want no part of that. But if it's a twist that just works, well, yes please. While I wasn't the biggest fan of Possession as a novel, I appreciated the ending for this reason.