My silly little survey I created for myself to highlight what I read in 2010 suddenly grew when a bunch of others jumped in and has turned into such a fun end of year event that I have LOVED hosting and has made my TBR list grow crazily! So without further ado: the 4th annual End of Year Book Survey!
I know the year isn’t over yet but, as I said in year’s past, this is the time I start reflecting on what I’ve read and start looking ahead because I NEVER get much reading done during December with the holidays and what not! I’ll be filling mine out within the next day or so but I’ll be revising if I happen to read something absolutely earth shattering that would need to be on here!
So feel to fill this out whenever you feel like it…whether that’s today or in January — I know every body will want to reflect at different points! Feel free to link up and share your End of Year Books Survey and visit others on the list!
Note: The survey is for books you read throughout the year, no matter when they were published, and is not limited to just books that came out in 2013!!
Anyone who links up by January 10th will be in the running to win a book of their choice that they saw on my list! 🙂 Winner will be chosen off the linky.
1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
Contemporary YA – This is my most read genre so this is hard and I’m cheating. I make the rules sooo I can. We Were Liars, This Song Will Save Your Life, Two Boys Kissing, Something Like Normal, Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, Just One Year, Graffiti Moon, Jellicoe Road. Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic – Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Historical Fiction — Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Paranormal — Something Strange & Deadly by Susan Dennard (however I’m currently reading Pivot Point by Kasie West so I might add this)
Science Fiction — These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner
Fantasy — Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
I don’t know what genre Not A Drop To Drink is considered but it’s definitely one of my favorites.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Hands down REQUIEM by Lauren Oliver.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
I already answered The Duke & I for best out of my comfort zone read below so I won’t answer that but I will say that one would be This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales — I thought this was going to be a super light read but it wasn’t and it was AWESOME. I’d also say Cinder by Marissa Meyer was surprising for me because it’s SO not something I’d thought I’d like.
4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?
I just read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and I’ve been recommending it like crazy already but it doesn’t come out yet sooo let’s think of one that’s actually out. I think I’ve recommended Eleanor & Park the most honestly or Code Name Verity.
5. Best series you discovered in 2013?
I read the whole Unearthly series this year and I loved it. I also have a feeling that Susan Dennard’s Something Strange & Deadly series is one of the best I’ve discovered this year.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
Rainbow Rowell or Trish Doller — I’ve read 2 of their books this year and none of them got rated below 4 stars!
7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
I started my Courting Genres project and so adult romance was up first because I’ve never read it/I was afraid of the genre and I absolutely ADORED The Duke & I by Julia Quinn and can’t wait to read the rest of that series.
8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Prodigy by Marie Lu was one I couldn’t put down at all. Reads like an action movie. Also, Unravel Me and The Program! Oh and Pawn by Aimee Carter!
9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
This Song Will Save Your Life more than likely!
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
11. Most memorable character in 2013?
Oh my goodness so many! A lot in my favorites lists but I’m going to try and not repeat — either Leonard Peacock or Danielle from OCD, The Dude and Me!
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Oh god. Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith. Or Unravel Me. Or Graffiti Moon.
13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
I could easily put some of the books on my favorites list but I’m going to go with Golden by Jessi Kirby — the book was high up there for me this year and it just really made me think about a lot of stuff with the question “what will you do with your one wild and precious life?” — enough to talk about it on the blog.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
Haha um is this even a question for me this year? The first Harry Potter book. Did you see my #HPvirgin tweets? Please cheer for me on this one that I’ve FINALLY read this!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
From Wild Awake:
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
How I did this: Went to my read books on Goodreads and sorted by page number and just looked for what I knew I read this yeaer that was the shortest and longest.
Shortest– Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. GOD for such a small book — WOW. (208 pages)
Longest — City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (485 pages): Yes, I finally read this book! I LIKED it but not loved. I also re-read The Book Thief (560 pages) which is one of my all time favorites.
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
UM Chapter 62 in Unravel Me!! I’m also going to say We Were Liars by E. Lockhart because I just want to talk about the book and it’s not out yet.
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Romance – Unearthly series (won’t spoil!) and Eleanor & Park for sure (seriously my heart spasmed over this slow burn romance). Okay and Dmitri and Rose from Vampire Academy. That was like sexual tension I can’t wait to read more of. Oh and Cath and Levi from Fangirl!!
Friendship – Honestly Stebbs and Lynn in Not A Drop To Drink or Maddie & Verity in Code Name Verity.
Familial — Callie and her dad in Where The Stars Still Shine or Jude and her dad in The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
I’m not going to include series in this one so Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson or Golden by Jessi Kirby. Also, Two Boys Kissing for sure.
20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:
21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?
No surprise here — contemporary YA!
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?
Travis from Something Like Normal! Tarver from These Broken Stars! Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell!
23. Best 2013 debut you read?
I’ve already mentioned Wild Awake & Not A Drop To Drink a bajillion times but that. I’m going to go with one I HAVEN’T talked about yet in this survey and that’s Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley. WOW. Very, very intense book.
24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?
Harry Potter — I love how I was so transported into Harry’s new life along with him. Also, These Broken Stars.
25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?
Honestly Harry Potter was super fun to finally read (book 1). I’m also going to say Also Known As by Robin Benway was REALLY fun.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?
Book that made me sob the most: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson — hit very, very close to home and I cried a lot.
Other books that made me cry this year: Code Name Verity, Something Like Normal, Jellicoe Road, Where The Stars Still Shine, We Were Liars
27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?
I finally read Ballads of Suburbia this year and I feel like this one does NOT get talked about enough and it’s been out for years! I also thought OCD, The Dude & Me got overlooked this year.
(optional)
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2013?
Definitely Pop! Goes The Reader — seriously check out Jen’s blog and she’s AWESOME to boot! Also, Nikki from The Paper Sea! Also I can’t say I DISCOVERED her blog because we were already book club friends before she joined the blogging community but Book Rock Betty for sure!
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2013?
Oh man. A lot of them would have been for my favorite books and all those are linked to my reviews above! Let’s go with Unravel Me because it was both flaily but I think I tried to do a good job articulating why Tahereh Mafi is a boss!
3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Oh wow! I honestly had some AWESOME ones. Some ones I loved the most were more on the personal side. Some I loved the most:
– If We Were Having Coffee…
– A Moment Of Truth On The Blogging Front & Blogging When You Don’t Feel Like Yourself
– Beyond the Pages
– Jamie Gets Self Conscious Sometimes About Blogging Things
– One of the Hardest Things For A Bookworm to Answer
4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?
Definitely this post on if book blogging has fallen out of fashion! Some interesting observations for sure and definitely made me wonder about some of it!
5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
BEA…always. Such a good time always! I got to hang with my friends and met so many awesome people (some who recognized me because of this post) but check out my thoughts on BEA 2013 with tons of pictures!
6. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2013?
Starting book club! Even though we formed it in late 2013 we didn’t have our first meeting until 2013 and book club has wonderful! I also was really honored that I was nominated for Most Creative Blogger & Top Overall and won Most Creative Blogger! How cool!
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Definitely my post called Married To A Non-Reader: It’s Not As Bad As You Think! It was a blast to write and collaborate with Estelle on and I LOVED hearing your experiences and thoughts!! Oh oh and also my A to Z Book Survey!
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Hmm any reviews really? They take the longest to write and it seems like blogosphere wide the loving for them is going down. I have no doubt that people read them but sometimes when they aren’t getting as much comment love it’s easy to think they aren’t being read. I’d also say I wish my first Harry Potter reading post got a little more loving just because I feel like the world was pushing me to read it but then nobody was rejoicing with me! I also posted it on Thanksgiving so bad move there!
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Um Ashley’s Book Blogger plugin for self hosted WordPress! HANDS DOWN! Makes my life so easy!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I honestly didn’t set any reading goals (okay besides the Goodreads one) or participate in any challenges. I did, however, have my resolutions and I stuck to a few of them like — starting a book club, reading outside of my normal genres, cull books.
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2013 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2014?
Divergent! Or I think book club will kill me because we have plans to see it! Also, can I just say how nice it is not to have the first Harry Potter as my answer this year like in year’s past! I mean, I know I still have to read the rest of the series but yeah this is a nice feeling.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2014 (non-debut)?
Oh GOD. Here’s my most anticipated 2014 book list plus all the sequels I’m looking forward to in 2014!
3. 2014 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Hmm this is hard! BUT I think I’m going to go with Side Effects May Vary. It didn’t end up making my list because a lot of previously loved authors have 2014 releases but I have an ARC of this and I’m SOOOOO excited!
4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2014?
IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi!!!!
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2014?
I hope just to keep up this chill thing I have going on with the blog right now. I feel no stress towards it this year really. Sure, at times but after 3.5 years I’ve just accepted it for what it is. I also hope to continue to read outside my normal genres. Try to reread more. I also hope to figure out the things I talked about here.
If you could, I’d love you to leave some feedback for any questions you’d LIKE to see on this survey in the future that perhaps I don’t have on here!
Tell me if you loved any of the books I loved this year! Give me a recommendation for something I NEED to get to!
Link up!!
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
Woo hoo!! So excited to do this again this year 🙂 I will agonize over my choices, as always 🙂 Haha!
Nidhi @ Literature Martini says
I am looking forward to doing this by January! Great survey! 🙂
Isa says
Eeek last year I really wanted to do this, I filled out half and it still remains as a draft. With upcoming exams and Christmas shopping, I figured now would be the perfect time to do it. Thank you!
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I’m definitely going to do this once I have my laptop back 😀
I loved ‘this song will save your life’ despite the fact I hardly read contemporary. I was also very disappointed by Requiem. It’s still so exciting that you finally read a Harry Potter book 😀
Rebecca @ The Library Canary says
Yay! This will be my first time doing this! Can’t wait to fill it out and revel in all the awesome books I read this year. And to check out other people’s awesome books to add to my ever-growing TBR pile!
Jenni Elyse says
Yay! I’ve been looking forward to the survey!
Way to go with Harry Potter! I can’t wait to see what you think of the rest of the series. I loved your tweets. They made me wish I could read them again for the first time.
Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl says
Wooo! Let’s see how long it takes me to decide on my answers… haha.
Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews says
So excited to participate again this year, but I’m waiting until I get through some December reads first!
Kelley (Another Novel Read) says
Oh yay! I filled out this survey last year, but I didn’t know where it originated. Now that I’m much better acquainted with the blogging community, I’m not at all surprised to learn that YOU are this survey’s creator! Thank you so much for always making fun things like this. I’ll be posting mine later in the month. 😀
Ikao @ Sky Duck Books says
wow I’m so eager to participate this year! I’ll make my post near this end of year 😀
Jess Michaelangelo says
I’m looking forward to joining in this year, now that I brought my blog back! I always love this feature–sooo many good book recommendations! I’ll probably do mine closer to the end of the year.
Elizabeth says
Ahh I love your quiz survey things!! I’ll definitely be doing this one soon!
Mary @ Mary Had a Little Book Blog says
I’ll keep thinking of potential questions, but as far as recommendations go, if you have not read it already, MY #1 2013 recommendation is Winger by Andrew Smith. It’s glorious!
Kayla Elizabeth says
I know what I am going to be doing tomorrow 😉
AmandaEmma says
I am currently filling it out, I have a hard time answering some of them – there are just too many choices! and too many books!
Jess @ Gone with the Words says
I also started using the Book Blogger plugin this year! The auto-update archive is worth it alone. So, I’m definitley going to make sure I read Wild Awake soon. And OCD, the Dude, and Me. Oh! And These Broken Stars!
Other random thoughts from your answers:
Ugh! Damn it, Requiem! Now I’m even more hesitant to read it!
Callie and her dad…they made me so emotional!!
I’ve only read HP #1 too, lol. Oops.
I love Jen and Betty’s blogs!!
I also wish, like always, that my reviews got a little more love. 🙂
I think this survey is great as it is…straightforward, fun, and it covers a lot of things. Keep up the good work!!
Jess @ Gone with the Words says
OMG, ALSO!! Cannot wait for you to read CHAMPION! That series ending was perfect…
Danielle says
I usually just read books I feel like reading that I find in the library or used book store and I never have kept up with recent releases. Until I read your blog. You get SO excited about new books that it’s infectious! I’m making my Winter TBR list and I’m basically just going through this survey and selecting your most mentioned books, you’re making it so easy on me! 😉 I really love this survey and I’m going to do it after I finish the two books I’m reading now. 🙂
Michele | Just a Lil Lost says
Huzzah! You had finally gotten around to reading Harry Potter! 🙂 I love these surveys every year.. also helps me add more to my list to read (or bump up ones that were already there!) 🙂
Melissa @Harley Bear Book Blog says
I always have so much fun doing this! And by always I mean last year when I did it it was fun haha. =)
Erin says
I love The End of the Year Survey – check out mine here 🙂
http://thepaperbackstash.blogspot.com/2013/12/2013-end-of-year-book-survey.html
You sound like me, I cried during a lot of books this year too.
I haven’t read a lot of what you have mentioned, don’t read much YA yet but I do have a decent amount to catch up to.
I haven’t read Harry Potter either but have the first book and think I will next year, excited about it 🙂
I followed the link to Has Book Blogging Fallen out of fashion – great post (I commented.) They are right that it may have fallen out of fashion, but I pretty much think as long as I get so much enjoyment out of it, I’ll keep doing it for me.
Your Married to a Non-Reader was SO funny that I had to read some of it out loud to my fiance (Will’s perspective)
I didn’t notice your HP Video/post before, but it is adorable video!
alisa selene says
I agree on unravel me, awesome!
Leah says
That was one seriously long survey! I haven’t read many of the books that you’ve mentioned but am so glad that you’re a part of the Potterheads now!
Judith says
I have honestly been looking forward to this survey all year, haha. I had so much fun last year, and now is even better because this is my first FULL year of blogging. I hadn’t heard of We Were Liars until you started raving about it and now I’m so excited for it! Might need to pre-order it soon. Also, I love that Cinder and Shadow and Bone are on your list. I have so much love for those books. (I am reading Cress right now and OMG SO GOOD.) It also sounds like I really need to read Wild Awake soon – that quote is beautiful! I’m also just so happy I finally read Second Chance Summer because oh my god, that book. I was crying so hard. I think I’ll go back to edit my own post again now, haha. It’s pretty limited to my FAVORITE books.
Angie says
I totally missed your post about reading HP for the first time.. and you are right.. it’s because you posted it on Thanksgiving and I was super busy!!
Eve says
Ohh, I’m so glad you enjoyed Shadow and Bone. It’s one of the best books I read in 2013! The sequel is even better. I agree about This Song Will Save Your Life – I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. Cinder didn’t seem like something I’d like, either, but I kept getting more and more interested until I gave up, read it and LOVED it!! You never read the Harry Potter books??? I grew up with them (the only books I was willing to read when I was younger), but I’m really glad you liked it!! My favorite is definitely the third one (HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban). Second Chance Summer was REALLY emotional. I’m not really close to my dad but losing a parent is never easy, so it scared the hell out of me.
Lisa @ Captivated Reader says
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your book blog and the 4th annual End of the Year Book Survey!! I’m busily answering the questions to your book survey and hope to have my answers posted to my blog after Christmas! I’ve had fun with the answers and had a tough time trying to narrow down my choices to some of the questions!!
My must read book is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein! I also loved Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart (nonfiction) and so many more!!
Landslide says
Such a fun survey! It’s my first year participating and my answers are in portuguese since my blog is in portuguese, I hope that’s ok…
BarefootMedStudent says
Do you know that I was going to do this survey last year, and then I never got around to it? So this year I did it! It was quite difficult though.
Iris says
I love the books you mentioned (my TBR list has grown considerably after reading it haha)!
This year is my first year participating (also my first year blogging, so that’s kinda obvious) but I just wanted to say that I loved filling out the survey!
x Iris
Leanne @ Literary Excursion says
Jamie this is lovely, and thank you so much for sharing it with us! 🙂 I love year-end reflections and your survey is the perfect way to focus on books I read in 2013.
Sydney says
Aw, wow, I love this survey! I’m currently working on mine but don’t have it scheduled to publish until December 31st/January 1st 2014, because for me a year of reading isn’t over until the year changes. So I have a few more weeks. 😛
Erica Drayton (@NYCBookWorm84) says
Hey, Can you create a generic post that just lists all the questions of your Year End Book Survey?
This way it will be easier for people to just copy and paste the whole thing instead of going back and forth to copy and paste each question?
Thanks! 🙂
Leticia says
This survey is amazing Jamie! Such a great idea! But my goodness, my TBR list can’t grow any more than it already has. And look all those link ups!!! Eeeeeep!!! haha : )
Brandy says
This was my first year participating in this and it was so much fun. Thanks!
Mary @ Mary Had a Little Book Blog says
Here is my survey. This was so much fun, Jamie, thank you!
Loni says
I think I’ll binge read the whole Shatter Me series in 2014. It seems like something I’d love.
Danielle @ Love at First Page says
I had so much fun with this survey, thanks Jamie!
Michelle Miller says
Thanks for doing this. Not sure why I missed it in previous years, but it really streamlines the end of year post situation. Frankly, I just didn’t have the energy for my normal end of year post this year. 😉
sharon sant says
Just thought I’d add my little comment to the hundreds here! What a fab blog, I was sent here by Amy Bookworm’s end of year post and I’m so glad for that! There are many books on this list I need to get around to, but The Book Thief is one of my all time favourites too, so I know you have excellent taste!
Happy New Year!
Trish says
So basically I need to read This Song Will Save Your Life! Thanks for doing the survey again Jamie! It’s always so much fun.
Patrice says
I couldn’t pick just one book per category but thanks for doing this! It was a lot of fun. Happy New Year!!!
Shannon N. says
Thanks again for the survey!! I love reflecting back on my year of reading.
Ninja Girl says
I just LOVE this!!!! What an awesome idea and survey. I’ll have to get all my thoughts together and do my own post, but until then, let me just say: You picked some really great books. Also, Eleanor and Park forever! Also, thanks for this 🙂
Ninja Girl
Alys says
I don’t know how to link up with you, but I’ve filled it out too and wanted to thank you for the questions that made me think so much about the books that I’ve read over the year.
http://alysinunderland.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/end-of-year-book-survey-2013-perpetual-page-turner/
Olivia says
I love this survey! I just filled it out on my blog: http://pagesinparis.blogspot.com/2013/12/happy-new-year.html
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic says
I really enjoyed doing this survey! 😀
Wild Awake seems like a really good book, will have to get around to reading it!
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
My 2013 End of Year Book Survey!
Giselle says
So many new books on my TBR for 2014! WEEEEEE!! Dude the cover for Wild Awake is so cool I love how bright and unique it is. Enough of girls in dresses and close up faces!!! I also loved a lot of books mentioned on here! Pawn really surprised me I thought it would be just another dystopian but I enjoyed it so much! I also discovered the UBB plugin this year and has definitely made blogging SO much easier!!
Tizzy Potts says
This was great fun to do. I think your survey is the best around.
Vyki @ On The Shelf says
Very fun survey! Glad I found it so I could participate this year 🙂
Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages says
Thanks for hosting. It was a great way to wrap up the year and highlight my favorite books.
Rain Jeys says
Thank you for doing this! I had a lot of fun filling it out. I also answered Divergent as my overlooked book that is first priority 2014. 🙂
http://roseshadowink.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/2013-end-of-the-year-bookish-survey/
Martha says
Wow! This is quite a resource, bookmarking it – no way can I read all this in one sitting!
Sarah says
I only found this now!!! And I really can’t wait to participate in the 2014 one!!! 😀 Thank you so much for creating it!!! 😀
Jamie says
YAY I’m glad you are excited!! I can’t wait for the 2014 one! Not that I’m wishing away the rest of the year but IT IS SO FUN!
Mariel Tishma says
Time travel wow! but I think everyone should read Harry Potter at some point. At least the first one. I’m glad you got around to it!