Books read in 2012:
+re-read
1. Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson (January) ARC
This is a really enjoyable read that brought up a lot of questions about the ethics of cloning and medical research. I found it a little heavy-handed on the Christian values (this coming from a Christian), but then it was released from a Christian press, so I imagine people who are looking for this book will be expecting that.
2. Pieces of Us by Maggie Gelbwasser (January) ARC
This was told from four points-of-view. I was impressed at the author’s ability to separate that many distinct voices – only occasionally was I confused, and only for a moment at that. This book was enjoyable enough, but I didn’t love it.
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (January)
Ah.May.Zing. Love, love, LOVE. Gush….what else can I say? This book is about as close to perfect as it gets. I want to have this book’s babies. For real.
4. Crossed by Ally Condie (January)
This was a great follow-up to Matched, but I won’t lie, for most of the book, I liked Matched better. But there was enough times in this one that pulled me close and wouldn’t let me go that it left me thrilled for the third book. I can’t wait!
5. Let’s Get Digital: How to Self-publish and Why You Should by David Gaughran (January)
This was super informative – a resource I will use a ton in the future. IF you’ve ever even briefly considered self-publishing, this is a must-read!
6. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (January)
I still have a love-hate relationship with these books. I liked Nora a lot more as a narrator in this one – I didn’t find her nearly as irritating as in Crescendo – but at the same time, I already read books 1 & 2…I didn’t need a full-book recap. It’s almost as if Nora having amnesia was a great way to beef up the word count. I really liked the plot progression, but I felt like we spent too much time rehashing what happened in the first two books.
7. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (January/February)
In true Maggie Stiefvater style, this book was beautifully composed. I actually felt like I was on the horse, feeling its muscles contract and relax beneath me, hearing the breath huff through its nostrils. The danger was real, and so too was the love.
8. Naomi and the Horse-Flavored T-Shirt by Dan Boehl (February)
I won’t lie – this is the first book in a long, long, long time that I didn’t finish. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s just not for me. Maybe I’ll pick it up again sometime and finish is out, but I have a lot of books calling my name and I’m in no hurry for this one.
9. Cross My Heart by Katie Klein (March)
I can’t remember the last time I read a book and after getting to the end thought, wow, I would have NEVER figured that twist out. But I did after this one. The “big twist” moment is so common anymore that it’s easy to figure out what it is, but Katie Klein completely surprised me. She didn’t keep me guessing – it’s not like it was a mystery – she just came out of left field with a fantastic whallup! Also, the love story made my toes tingle. Cross My Heart is very reminiscent of Sarah Dessen, I can’t wait to read Katie’s other titles.
10. Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park (March)
If I only had one work with which to describe this book it would be quirky. In the best possible way. Each of the characters has his own quirky mannerism – but not in a way that makes me think Jessica Park was trying to force characters to stand out…rather, they were full individuals who just happened to all be a little…weird. It was interesting, after reading Cross My Heart with its never-in-a-million-years twist, to read this one – with a twist I figured out almost immediately. Even though I had an idea what was going on the whole time, my enjoyment didn’t go down at all. This book was still a super fun read!
11. The Wrong Path by Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris (March)
This book could use a strong edit – namely an adverb-ectomy and oh the dialogue tags!!! Seriously could have done without those. Once I got past the over-done prose, however, the story itself was cute and incredibly enjoyable.
12. I am (Not) the Walrus by Ed Briant (March)
Title? Awesome. Cover Art? Great. Synopsis? Intriguing. Beatles-centric? Heck yes! Book? uhhhh. It wasn’t bad – I had a hard time getting into it at first, but once I did I was totally along for the ride. That said, I feel like there could have been more. I don’t need philosophy and super symbolism or anything, but I felt like this book was just up to the potential it has at all.
13. Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel (March)
This book was really fun and intriguing. It could have used a good edit though. Indie Authors, I can’t say this enough: pay to have someone edit your book. No matter how good you are, you won’t see everything. Period. And while I can look past the editing (or lack thereof) and just enjoy the story, not everyone will do that.
14. Hush Money by Susan Bischoff (March)
Fun. That’s my word for this book. It’s a bit romantic, a bit thrilling, and a whole lot of fun. I have the second in the series and a short story set in this world waiting for me on my nook, and I can’t wait to read them!
15. The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris (March)
This book was a fun little read. I really enjoyed the male lead character – he was fun and quirky and reminded me a bit of Wes from The Truth About Forever, who is one of my favorite YA characters. The plot was a little hard to believe, but whatever. It was still fun.
16. His Eyes by Renee Carter (March)
I was really, really pulled in by this one. Both the A story and the B story are strong and the characters – especially the supporting ones – were well fleshed out. The main conflict was kind of annoying, but at the same time I can see why it would be a big deal to a teenage girl, so I get it.
17. Being Sixteen by Ally Condie (March)
I adore Ally’s writing. It is so clean and crisp and beautiful. This is the first LDS title of hers I’ve read, and it’s no different. I love that, while there was doctrine taught and talked about, the focus was very obviously on the story and the characters, not the doctrine. I’ll be honest: it was refreshing, and not something I see a lot of in the LDS fiction I’ve read.
18. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (March)
Love. This book has been on my radar for a long, long time, and I just finally got around to reading it. Why do I keep doing this? I should just read books when I first think I’d like to, because then I wouldn’t have to ask myself why I waited so long. This was a great read (and it made me want to go to the beach SO SO SO SO SO bad).
19. Invaluable by Holly J Wood (March)
This was one of those LDS titles that is just too hard hitting with the doctrine – it came across as preachy and annoying. That said, if I glossed over those parts, the actual plot was quite pleasant (though everything seemed to work out just a bit too perfectly). I like the idea of a book that plays on the young women’s values, but this seemed like it was trying to be a YA novel and a doctrinal guide at the same time, and it came across as way too preachy.
20. In the Woods by Tana French (March/April)
I have a serious love/hate relationship with this book. I simultaneously want to make-out with it and punch it in the back of the head. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so conflicted about a book in my entire life. I definitely want to read the next one, though.
A whole bunch of manuscripts for work that I can’t talk about here and now but that I hope you will get to read someday.
21. Illusions by Aprilynne Pike (May)
Love. I am so glad she mentioned at the signing for this book that it has a cliff-hanger ending, because if she didn’t I might would have gone completely nuts waiting for a year for the last book in the series. Since she did, I waited until right before the last one came out to read it. It was delightful. Whenever I am struggling with my own writing, I need to remember to go back and pick up this series to remind myself how beautiful simple writing can be.
22. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (May)
I didn’t think there was any way I could like this book more than Sisters Red, but I did. SO MUCH MORE. This book is delicious and swoon-worthy, and I can’t wait for Fathomless to hit the shelves.
23. Destinedby Aprilynne Pike (May)
