2022 End of the Year Survey

It's that time of year again where we reflect back on all that we read! Well, it's 2023 and I realized I never got around to writing this post! We had company over last night so I didn't exactly get my blogging time in, not enough to write this post at least! And then I actually stayed up until midnight! That has to be a first in the last 5 years or so! Lol. Since I haven't seen anyone do this post yet, I've no graphic to display for the year. I'm using some of the headers from previous posts! So let's get to it! This post originated at Jamie The Perpetual Reader.

Reading Stats:

Number of books you read: 62
Number of re-reads: 1 (I KNOW!!!)
Genre you Read the most from: looks like a tie between Fantasy and Thrillers

1. Best Book You Read In 2022?

 

 

Tell me you're surprised!

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 

 

Such high expectations and sadly, this was on the cusp of a DNF as I sort of sped read through half of it.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 

 

 

Totally did not expect to love this book as much as I did! It was light and fluffy, very surprising, and filled with just the right amount of paranormally goodness!

 

 

 

 

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And Did They)?

 

 

5. Best series you started in 2022? Best Sequel of 2022? Best Series Ender of 2022?

 

 

 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2022?

 

 

Tessonja Odette

 

 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

 

 

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 

 

 

 

9. Book You Read In 2022 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 

 

 

 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2022?

 

 

 

11. Most memorable character of 2022?

 

 

 Evangeline and Jacks

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2022?

 

 

 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2022?

 

 

 

 

14. Book you can’t believe you waited until 2022 to finally read?

 

 

 

 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2022?

 

 

 She tried to take comfort in the books. Stories had always felt as if they were her friends.

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2022?

 

 

Fangs: 100 pages & A Court of Silver Flames: 769 pages

17. Book That Shocked You The Most?

 

 

 

 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

 

 

Jacks & Evangeline of course! Still hanging onto this ship!

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?

 

 

Jax & Callyn

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2022 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?

 

 

 

21. Best Book You Read In 2022 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure?

 

 

 

 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022?

 

 

 Varro

 

23. Best 2022 debut you read?

 

 

 

It's her YA debut, so close enough! Lol.

 

 

24. Best World Building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

 

 

 

 

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

 

 

 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2022?

 

 

 

 

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

 

 

 

 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

 

 

Crushed & revived!

 

 

 

 

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2022?

 

 

Just a fun little gag book that was humorous and unique.

 

 

 

 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

 

 

 

 

LOOOVED, looooved, loved, loved this book! But THAT ENDING! I was screaming!! Mainly because I did not have the final book in my hands to continue the story! Lol.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I'm skipping the sort of blogging stats section as I am not too happy with my blogging track last year. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good and I am being constantly reminded of the dying blogging world. But I will remain...because I enjoy it and I am stubborn. I refuse to give up something I enjoy doing that not too many people see anymore. But if you are here reading this I APPRECIATE YOU SOOOO MUCH! 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2021 But Will Be Your Number 1 A Priority in 2023?

 

 

I say "a" priority as I am making some upcoming signing books my #1 priorities for right now! 

 

 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2023 (non-debut)?

 

 

 

 

3. 2023 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

 

 

After looking at my list, I can't quite see any debuts that I know of on it. I'm sure someone will pop up that I will need to have IMMEDIATELY, lol. But since I can't find one I chose Heather Fawcett. She's not a debut but she's a new-to-me one that I can't wait to read!

 

 

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2023?

 

 

I CANNOT WAIT!

 

 Haven't read any 2023 books as of now, so nothing to recommend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's Discuss: Books with Romance vs. Romance Books

 

Happy New Year all! I had a teeny tiny mini rush of inspiration for a few discussion posts. THREE ideas came to me! Although it turns out I discussed one already, but that still leaves me with two ideas! The first one that came to me involved books with romance in them vs romance books.

 

Books with Romance vs Romance Books

 

I typically read books with romance in them. To me that means that while my books have a romance happening within the story, it is not the sole focus of the story. In my early days, I would pick up a paranormal romance and be a little put off by how much focus was put on the romance. Like where was the story? Where was the conflict? Just something...

Well, I've learned a lot since those early days. I've come to realize that I really only like romance in my books where in the very beginning I could careless if the book had any romance in it. Again, I read a lot of the wrong books in my days where it just wasn't what I was looking for at the time. If I were to go back now...well, I might not like it as much still because again, I am more about plot and action than see the characters' sole focus is to win the guy/girl over.

I've found that the books with romance in it and have a completely different plot or goal in mind focus on that and the romance just kind of happens. And I feel like it's a little more magical in that way. The book I'm currently reading is definitely more of a paranormal romance, so the romance is fast to happen, but there's still a bit of conflict and mystery happening, so the characters aren't jumping at each other all the time and I'm 100 pages in at the moment!

We all have different tastes and what not when it comes to reading and I find this is one of mine. I don't mind romance in my reads anymore and that is a huge milestone from where I was when this blog started! If the romance is more than just a kiss or two, and there's more development in the relationship, I don't mind at all! Heck, sometimes I even want to see that development! Although I do still find I like the romance as a side element and not being the focal point of the story no matter how entertained I may be with it!

 

How about you? Do you like romance in your books? Or do you like romance books flat out?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

 

Last Week I Read:

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (4 stars)

 

 

Currently Reading:

Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey

 

 

What I Plan to Read Next:

This Time Tomorrow by Tessa Bailey

 

 

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Can't Wait Wednesday
Books from the Backlog #11
Book Blogger Hop
2023 Challenges Sign Ups--Part 1
Challenges Monthly Wrap-up: December
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Stacking the Shelves--The Christmas Edition
2023 New Release Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

2023 New Release Challenge

 

The rules for the 2023 New Release Challenge are simple:

• Books have to be released and reviewed in 2023.
• Other challenges can be used as well, if you are participating in the Netgalley / Edelweiss challenge or in the COYER challenge, books can count towards more than one challenge, as long as the ones you use for the 2023 New Release Reading Challenge qualify to the other rules.
• The minimum length for a book to qualify is 100 pages, it can be in any format though, physical, e-book, ARC or audiobook.
• The New Release Challenge is open from January 1st through December 31st 2023, and sign-ups are open until September 1st 2023.
• You don’t have to be a blogger to participate, you can link to your review on Goodreads or Booklikes instead – so don’t be shy!
• If you want to spread the love, please use #2023NewReleaseChallenge on Twitter ?

There are five levels  in the 2023 New Release Challenge:

1. 1-30 books per year – New Release Newbie
2. 31-60 books per year – New Release Pro
3. 61-100 books per year – New Release Veteran
4. 101-200 books per year – New Release Enthusiast
5. 200+ books per year – New Release Obsessed
   

 

 

Going to keep it simple again and go for 20 new releases!

Stacking the Shelves--The Christmas Edition

 

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Reading Reality.

 

It was another decent week! It was a short work week AND we were allowed to leave early on Thursday, so it was a really short week! Despite all that...not much happened. LOL. Christmas was very nice! We had a great big breakfast, I ate cookies throughout the day. My brother-in-law had a bit of a cold, so we weren't able to do dinner that night but all in all, it wasn't a bad day. The rest of the week was pretty mundane, but that's fine too!

 

Here's what I got this week:

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson--I got this one at the B&N hardcover sale! It was the only one I could find since I preorder books throughout the year. I wasn't really in need of any current hardcovers. Now ones from last year and beyond are another story, but sadly, B&N doesn't keep many back-titles in store.

My LitJoyCrate editions of The Folk of the Air arrived and they are amazing! I was really excited for the annotations Holly added in and were the main reason I splurged on these!

Some of my bookish Christmas gifts were:

A OUBAH t-shirt
a map of Caraval--sadly I thought this was more of a wooden sign than just a poster as I already have one of those maps, but I already plan to have this mounted onto some backboard and give it that grander look!
a bookish lamp for my bedside table

Then my alternate cover for OUABH from A Million Worlds Design arrived and it's already been placed on one of my extra copies!

And that was it for me this week! What all did you get?

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

Happy New Year Everyone!!

 

 

Let's make 2023 something GREAT!