On My Favourite 2012 Reads (and more)!

Two more hours and it's the new year and that feels kind of... surreal. 2012 has had its ups and downs but I've discovered some great reads and as far as reading is concerned, it's been an amazing year!

In 2012, I finally got a Kindle and discovered that ebooks were nicer than paperbacks in some ways!

I also completed my goal of reading over 50 books. I read 76 books this year! In the process, I waded through cutesy reads, books that were all right, books that made me cry, broke my heart and made me  laugh till my stomach hurt!

There were also books written way before 2012 that I finally got my hands on and I'm so glad I got to finally read them. (The Study series. Everything Melina Marchetta has ever written).

There were books that took me my surprise and the books that I expected way too much from and ended up disappointing me.

But... back to the 2012 reads I loved. In no particular order,

(containing quotes from the book, excerpts from my review of the book as well as links to goodreads and my full review)

1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein [full review]

“It's like being in love, discovering your best friend.”

Every once in a couple of years, I happen to read a book that leaves me filled with awe... reminding of what words can do. Code Name Verity took my breath away with a story that broke my heart. The cover haunts me, now that I am aware of the meaning behind it. I can't forget Verity and Maddie and their friendship that was plain beautiful.

You couldn't make these people up, Elizabeth Wein says in the Author's Debriefing and I couldn't agree more. This book was filled with characters that felt so real... I could see them, hear them and feel the intensity of everything around and about them.

2. Wonder by R. J. Palacio [review-to-come]

“I actually like how doctors talk. I like the sound of science. I like how words you don't understand explain things you can't understand.”
This book was simply wonderful! Easily my favourite MG read of all time. I wouldn't have read it if it weren't for Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings' heartfelt gushy review!

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green [review-to-come]

“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.” 

What can I say? I feel fortunate to have read this book. :')
#undriedtears #awesometasticMCs

4. Defy The Stars by Stephanie Parent [full review]

"I see what Julia's saying," he starts, "but the way Shakespeare writes... Just 'cause a feeling doesn't make sense, doesn't mean it's not right, you know?"

Defy the Stars is an indie gem. I urge you to give it a try, especially if you're fond of modern-day adaptations. I was moved by this beautifully written tale and blown away by how well developed and multi-layered the characters were. I felt one with the pace of the story and when it ended, I couldn't stop myself from rating it on Goodreads right away; the remnants of Julia's last actions still lingering in my mind.

5. The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman [full review]

“I’d been doing everything to please everyone else and some imaginary me."

It only takes one look at the totally fun cover of The Jelly Bean Crisis to decide it's just the kind of book you might want to randomly pick up. But reading The Jelly Bean Crisis made me realise that this book was a far cry from the quirky and funny book I thought it would be. Instead, it was scary relatable. I thought the way Poppy did in high school. I think the way Poppy did even now.

6. Charlinder's Walk by Alyson Miers [full review]

I started reading Charlinder's Walk at a photocopy shop, read a little on the bus on my way back from my summer internship and most of it at home on particularly sunny days. This book has traveled places and I loved every minute of my journey with it! Charlinder's Walk was an extremely long read for me which made me appreciate the length and breadth of Charlinder's walk even more.

7. Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions #1) by Louise Rozett [full review]

“The most acrobatic thing that goes on here is a synchronized hair flip.”

Rose Zarelli, you are my hero. You have ten times the spunk I wish I had in high school.

Confessions of an Angry Girl was an amazing book because it was so raw, so real and made me feel fourteen again; with the angst, tangled emotions and all of those firsts.

8. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick [review-to-come]

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

A contemporary read that thoroughly gripped me. Without doubt an AMAZING coming of age story with a fresh perspective and an interesting cast of characters who slowly wove their way into my heart and tore it apart because they were so... human. The perfect summer read!

9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas [review-to-come]

Also the most kickass book of 2012! Celaena was not only strong and could hold her own... she was also girly and a bookworm and I loved those sides of her! For some reason... maybe because I read these books back to back, Celaena reminded me a great deal of Yelena from the Study series. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I had such a great time reading this book!

 
10. #other-favourites-discovered-in-2012

“I’m not feeling upbeat. Not as upbeat as someone should feel when they are about to collect a $150 refund… [I] try to imagine what I could do with $150. Eat a shitload of mayo, that’s what I could do. I say this outloud… I look left and see that the guy in the car beside me is staring at me. I pretend that I’m humming. Not talking outloud to myself. I nod my head up and down and hum a bit. I think I look unconvincing. This is what my life has become. Pretending to hum at traffic lights on my way to a Miss Brisbane meeting where I want to get $150 to spend on mayo.” -The Girl Most Likely

11. #books-i'll-never-forget

So that was Sykosa, Part I for me: gritty, intense and definitely not a book I'll forget anytime soon! It was so differently written. I wouldn't have expected to fall in love with the writing style but I did. It practically made me get under Sykosa's skin despite getting a dose of the perspectives of the other characters and there were parts that were so lyrical. [full review]

“Outside, the sun shines. Inside, there’s only darkness. The blackness is hard to describe, as it’s more than symptoms. It’s a nothing that becomes everything there is. And what one sees is only a fraction of the trauma inflicted.” -Sykosa, Part I: Junior Year

“I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.” -The Fault in Our Stars

*wipes away a tear*

Happy new year, everybody!