We over here at Read. Sleep. Repeat. can’t believe that 2017 is already (FINALLY) over and we’re excited to share our favorites of the year with you.
Number Of Books You Read:
Shelly: Around 250! Most of these are graphic novels so it’s not that high.
Angie: 50 books & 1 audiobook. It was a really bad reading year for me.
Number of Re-Reads:
Shelly: I think I only re-read Frankenstein for school but nothing else.
Angie: I didn’t re-read anything this year.
Genre You Read The Most From:
Shelly: If you don’t include graphic novels as a genre, probably contemporary or romance.
Angie: Contemporary. For the first time ever.
1. Best Book You Read In 2017?
Shelly: This is the hardest question of all time. While I loved so many of the books I read, I have to choose White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig as I read it all the way in July but I still think about it.
Angie: This is a no-brainer. The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera. Absolutely stunning and a top five all-time favorite book.
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Shelly: While I did enjoy Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger, I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. I thought the premise and characters were interesting but the romance wasn’t my favourite.
Angie: All The Crooked Saints. I’m a huge Maggie Stiefvater fan but this book was just not good.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
Shelly: My pick for this would have to be Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh. While I knew it was a ghost story, I genuinely did not expect a middle grade novel to be that creepy! It was surprising but definitely in a good way.
Angie: Most definitely Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson. This story blew my mind in all the best ways and I’m still thinking about it regularly, four months after finishing it.
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Shelly: I have no clue, you have to tell me!
Angie: I definitely pushed The Tiger’s Daughter the most. Hopefully people read it!
5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?
Shelly:
Started: Sidekick Squad Series by C.B. Lee
Sequel: Shadowhouse Fall by Daniel José Older
Finished: Cyberlove series by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell. While GoodReads says that there’s a 5th book coming out in 2018, I’m not sure that it’s confirmed,
Angie:
Started: Hmmm I’m sure you’ll all be shocked by this answer but The Tiger’s Daughter. LOOK I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK A LOT OKAY.
Sequel: I actually didn’t read any sequels this year. I read mostly standalones and series starters.
Finished: Off Campus by Elle Kennedy. I binged this series during a hard time and with the exception of the final book, I LOVED every second of it. Such great characters + friendships + romances.
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?
Shelly: All of the authors in the Hamilton’s Battalion anthology were new to me and I’d definitely check out some of their backlist books!
Angie: Jennifer Crusie! I read Bet Me on a whim and her romances are everything I love.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Angie: I don’t read a lot of middle grade or books with heavy themes, but I loved Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter A LOT.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Shelly: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Angie: It’s technically a 2018 release, but definitely Furyborn by Claire Legrand!
9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Shelly: White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig, I’ll definitely be re-reading this before the release!
Angie: The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera! I miss these characters every day, and I’ll definitely need to refresh for the sequel.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?
Shelly: Let’s Talk about Love by Claire Kann, look at that cover!
Angie: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman!
11. Most memorable character of 2017?
Shelly: Starr from The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Angie: Barsalayaa Shefali from >The Tiger’s Daughter! I even named my pet wolf in my Pathfinder game after her.
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?
Shelly: Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
Angie: Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones. So gorgeous!
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017?
Shelly: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Angie: I agree with with Shelly here. Definitely THUG.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?
Shelly: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. I can’t believe it took me this long to read a Butler book!
Angie: The Deal by Elle Kennedy. I’ve had friends reccing this romance for years and I have so many regrets I waited so long.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?
Shelly: I don’t really keep track of quotes unfortunately
Angie: I’m the same as Shelly. I never keep track of quotes. I should!
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?
Shelly: Shortest was Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell and the longest was A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
Angie: Shortest was Knit One, Girl Two at 68 pages. The longest was The Tiger’s Daughter at 526 pages.
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
Angie: Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Shelly: Rhys and Alucard from A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab. Any opportunity there is for me to put them on a list, they are included on that list.
Angie: Shefali and Shizuka from The Tiger’s Daughter. The OTP of all my OTPs tbh.
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Angie: Diana and Alia in Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo!
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Shelly: How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake
Angie: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley.
21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
Shelly: I wasn’t planning on reading The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee because I’m more of a contemporary/romance reader but the twitter recommendations made me pick it up and I’m happy I did!
Angie: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and I am so glad I did because it was just the best.
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?
Angie: Dean Di Laurentis from The Score by Elle Kennedy. He is my looooooooove.
23. Best 2017 debut you read?
Shelly: There are too many great debuts, I can’t choose! You can’t make me choose!
Angie: Why you gotta play me like this? I can’t narrow it down to just one so I’ll give you my top five.
The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Done Dirt Cheap by Sarah Nicole Lemon
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Shelly: The setting in the Sidekick Squad series is so imaginative, I really liked it!
Angie: The Tiger’s Daughter! Such a gorgeously built world.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Shelly: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Angie: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. I smiled the entire time I read it.
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?
Shelly: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. I knew I would cry and yet I was shocked when it happened.
Angie: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley!
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Shelly: The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke. WHY HASN’T EVERYONE YET IT YET???
Angie: I AGREE WITH SHELLY. BEST BOOK, EVERYBODY READ IT.
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Shelly: The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke. See above statement^
Angie: Again, what Shelly said. KATIE YOU MONSTER.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?
Shelly: You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Angie: Honestly nothing I read this year was that unique.
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Shelly: Dear Martin by Nic Stone, I was definitely angry reading it
Angie: Ooooh definitely All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds. The rage was real.
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2017?
Angie: I didn’t do much blog reading this year. I’m terrible.
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2017?
Angie: A shock to nobody whose made it this far in the post I’m sure, but definitely my review of The Tiger’s Daughter
3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
Angie: Definitely Part Two of my WHICH CARTOON CHARACTER IS SEXIER poll.
4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Shelly: I met Angie Thomas, Becky Albertalli and Julie Murphy all in one event and it was totally the best bookish event. I’ve known Becky Albertalli since before Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda came out and it was surreal to finally meet in person!
Angie: I actually didn’t participate in any events this year. I’ve been quiet.
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2017?
Shelly: Being named in a few acknowledgements! I’m in the acknowledgements of The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich and it’s still a huge honour.
Angie: Being named in my first acknowledgments! I had THE FEELINGS.
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Shelly: I hit a large blogging and reading burn-out for multiple reasons and I’m hoping to curb that in 2018
Angie: Reading was basically impossible this year. Much slump. I can’t remember the last year of my life where I read less than 50 books.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Angie:Our 5th Annual ARC August Sign Ups post was our most popular.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
Angie: Any of our reviews tbh. WHY DON’T PEOPLE LOVE REVIEWS MORE.
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Angie: HI HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE BEST BOOKISH CANDLE SHOP OF THE YEAR Canterbury Road Co!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Shelly: I read more than I expected so I think I succeeded
Angie: I didn’t set any goals because I love my sanity too much.
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?
Angie: Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?
Angie: The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke
3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Angie: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?
Angie: The Phoenix Empress by K. Arsenault Rivera
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?
Angie: I really want to get my reading back on track this year.
6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
Angie: White Rabbit by Caleb Roehrig! SO GOOD. LOVE IT.
I love looking at these survey posts. A lot of these books are on my TBR list. I’m especially excited to read Allegedly.
Allegedly is fantastic!