Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Favorite Books of 2012

2012 was yet another great year for books. I read several books that I plan on re-reading and re-reading. Five of the books on my favorites list I've since given to other people. Interestingly, most of the books that topped my list this year I read during the first six months of the year. Probably because I spent quite a bit of time re-reading the Harry Potter and Vampire Academy series the last half of 2012. Many of my top books of 2012 are the beginnings of series. I can't wait to read more! Here's to 2013!

Top Ten Young Adult Books of 2012:



**There's a tie for #1. The False Prince wins for the book I most enjoyed. The Fault In Our Stars wins for best writing.



Sage is plucked from an orphanage and becomes a candidate to impersonate a prince. An entertaining, hilarious, seat of your pants read for all ages. In a world crowded with fantasy adventure series, The False Prince stands out for its fabulous dialogue, enchanting protagonist, and well developed plot.



Hazel is 16 years old and in a waiting pattern to die from terminal cancer. She meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor, and her world turns around. An exceptional book. It's a book you read to fall in love, to learn, and to grow. Every line is quotable. The kind of book that only gets better once you've finished it.



A WWII book like you've never read. "Queenie" is a young British spy who's been captured by the Germans. She chooses to collaborate and reveal her secrets to stop the torture. Or does she? We learn the story from "Queenie" and her best friend Maddie's point of view. Heartbreaking. My love for the book has only grown in the six months since I've read it.



Blue sees a premonition involving a boy she's never met - "Either you're his true love...or you killed him." Meanwhile, four private school boys are on a journey to discover Glendower, an ancient Welsh king supposed to be buried near their Virginia school. This is a slow-burning epic fantasy. It takes a while to get into, but once things click, you're hooked. The writing and depth of the plot are stunning.


5. Divergent by Veronica Roth

It took me a long time to read the book that everyone has been raving about for the last few years. Why did I wait so long? I can't remember now. An incredible adventure story. Better, I think, than Hunger Games. Well drawn characters, great romance, an enticingly dark plot, page turning thrills. A clear exception to my distaste for dystopia.



Assassin nuns! Ismae is a new sister at the convent of St. Mortain where the nuns assist the god of death. Ismae is tasked with possibly assassinating a high political official in the Brittany court, but she'll have to get past handsome, smart Duval first. This book has something for everyone: romance, humor, girl power, action, politics, history and more.



Hadley and Oliver meet on a flight from New York to London and have an immediate connection. A magical story. It may only be 250 pages and take place over 24 hours, but by the end of the story, it feels like Hadley and Oliver have known each other forever and you've been following their lives for years. A book that will put a smile on your face.



Another fabulous epic fantasy. A must read for any dragon lover as well as for people who simply love a good story. Seraphina is half dragon/half human. She must hide her identity from both dragons and humans who would never accept a half-breed. Hiding becomes more difficult when she goes to work for the royal family and gets drawn into a murder investigation. Not to mention catching the eye of Prince Kiggs. Both an adventure and a coming of age story. Rich characters and fabulous world building.



Cinder is a cyborg: a second class citizen in public and within her own family. Until she catches the attention of Prince Kai... A fast moving sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia for the non-sci-fi fan. Cinder features a strong main character who may like having a handsome prince but definitely doesn't need one. Plus it goes far beyond the traditional Cinderalla story. A great debut.


10. From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Probably the funniest book I read all year. I stayed up until 1 AM to finish this book with tears of laughter rolling down my eyes. Good girl Kylie ends up leading handsome, snobby pretty-boy Max on an insane trip to Mexico to go after a stolen laptop. Soon enough, Max's girlfriend Lily and Kylie's best friend Will try to pick up the pieces (or kill Max and Kylie, depending on the emotion of the moment). Told from multiple perspectives, this is a full story so impossibly crazy that it could just happen...well, probably not, but you'll think it could!

*Honorable mentions go to:

 Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Every Day by David Levithan

22 comments:

  1. Ooh good books! I have The Fault in the Stars, Cinder and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, but I haven't read them yet...I really need to catch up on my reading!

    I read Divergent this year and it was AMAZING! I'm going to read Insurgent after finishing the current book I'm reading, I'm sure its going to be fantastic! :D

    Have a great 2013!

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  2. So many on the list I agree with as best books. Miss you

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  3. I LOVED Cinder, and I've been dying to read Code Name Verity and Grave Mercy, but the holds at the library have been more than half a year long >_< Fantastic list, Alison! <3

    Happy 2013~

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  4. Alison! I have read embarrassingly few of the books on this list, I need to change that. Both you and Danny raved about From What I Remember, so I need to make time for that one for sure. I also need to read Grave Mercy and The False Prince. So many books I need to get caught up on!

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  5. I read all of these excluding From What I Remember and I agree, they are pretty amazing! From What I Remember sounds hilarious tho, so I will def be checking that out. Thanks for letting me know about it --

    ~V

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  6. Recently, I was considering the audio of The Fault In Our Stars. Probably I'll buy it this month. I haven't read any of the books on your list but the mayority are on my Tbr. By the other hand, I decided to read Harry Potter this year. Your advocacy of Harry's virtues has made an impact on me.

    Jess@ Jessy's Bookends

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  7. This cannot be! All the books I hated this year you loved!

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  8. Great choices! I need to read Code Name Verity. It is all the rave!

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  9. Great list! I'm hoping to read some of these in 2013! I'm reading The Fault in Our Stars right now...I already know it's going to be on my top ten list of 2013!

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  10. Awesome list! I loved The Raven Boys, Divergent and Cinder. And your top 2 are my top 3 books to read this year!

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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  11. The only book I''ve read on this list is TFIOS but just about every other one is on my reading radar for early 2013! (I'm starting Divergent tomorrow).Excellent list Alison!

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  12. I agree with all the books listed, apart form the three I still haven't read. Seriously, I've gotta get my hands on Code Name Verity

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  13. The Fault in Our Stars . . . man that's going to bring more tears again for me, even with just mentioning the title here. hehe. Great picks!

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  14. Woo, couldn't agree more with the ones you picked that I have also read! And as for the ones that I haven't read yet - you make me want to read them sooo badly!! Okay so, I own The False Prince, The Fault in Our Stars, The Raven Boys, and Cinder (thanks in part to reviews like yours that made me feel like I needed to have them), but I haven't read them yet - what is wrong with me?! Heh, it's honestly because I haven't found the time for them yet, but as soon as I do, I have a feeling I will enjoy them every bit as much as you did, Alison!

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  15. Ahhh I've been hearing such good things about Code Name Verity! I'll have to make it a point to read it in 2013.
    Great list Alison!

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  16. I've read so few of these (only The Fault in Ours Stars and Divergent), but want to read so many! Grave Mercy, Cinder, Seraphina, and The Raven Boys-- I'm dying to read them all. Awesome list of books, and hope you read many more great ones in 2013. :)

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  17. John Green! My goodness he is amazing writer. I don't think I ever cried so much. OH! And I just read Cinder and loved it!

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  18. I've only read one of these books but most of them are on my TBR. So I guess I should get cracking if they are your favorites for the year.

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  19. Ah! I love how you mention re-reading Harry Potter ♥ 2012 was the first year I didn't re-read the series since 2007! I also just recently got the first book in the VA series so I'm glad to hear you were re-reading the series :D

    Alright, as far as your best of 2012 goes: I've only read Divergent (totally agree!) but I own The False Prince, Grave Mercy, Seraphina, Cinder AND Immortal Rules. ALL of which are must reads for 2013. I feel like I suck for not reading them yet, but I'll just go with 2013 is going to rock reading-wise haha!

    Thanks for sharing Alison & Happy New Year!! All the best for 2013 :)

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  20. :D LOVE the False Prince. One of the most surprisingly awesome books of the year. Most of the books on your list are TBR for me. I just got Grave Mercy. I'm super duper excited for that one!

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  21. The only one of these I've read it Divergent. But there are several (The Fault in Our Stars, Code Name Verity, Grave Mercy) that I'm just dying to read and hoping to get to in 2013.

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