2012 Releases to Read in 2013

I read loads of awesome 2012 releases this year, but there's still so many I didn't get around to. Here are the twelve 2012 releases I'm most looking forward to reading next year!



1. The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Nina LaCour's debut, Hold Still, is one of my favorite books, period. And everyone else loved The Disenchantments. And the cover is gorgeous. So yeah, I really, really need to read this one.



2. The List by Siobhan Vivian

I've heard mixed things about this one, but the whole concept just sounds like such a great idea! And Siobhan Vivian is awesome.

3. Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Breaking Beautiful sounds dark and just perfect for me, and I've heard great things about it.

4. In Honor by Jessi Kirby

I loved Jessi Kirby's Moonglass, and In Honor sounds even more amazing. And everyone else has already read and loved this one, so I'm sure I will, too, when I finally read it.


5. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

I've heard mixed things about Second Chance Summer, but I still can't wait to read it. Morgan Matson really impressed me with Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, and Second Chance Summer sounds right up my alley, too.


6. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

I loved Kody Keplinger's debut, The DUFF, but have somehow not yet managed to read either Shut Out or A Midsummer's Nightmare. I really need to read those two in 2013.


7. The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando

I'm not sure what it is about The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life, but I just have a feeling it'll be awesome. It doesn't sound like a book that'll be deep and meaningful and stay with me forever, but it just sounds fun. Scavenger hunts are so much fun, and I love books set at the very end of high school.


8. Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Why oh why have I not read this one!? Saving June is one of my favorite books, so I'm sure I'll love Speechless, too, once I get to it.

9. Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt

I know a lot of people have gotten annoyed by tearjerker-y cancer-kids books, but I still love them. I'm weird - I just love when a book can make me cry!


10. The Space Between Us by Jessica Martinez

I loved Jessica Martinez's Virtuosity, and The Space Between Us sounds right up my alley. I love sister stories, and this one sounds perfect for me!



11. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

I read Please Ignore Vera Dietz as my first AS King book this year, and it's obvious that I need more AS King in my life. Ask the Passengers sounds so good, and the cover is gorgeous!


12. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be just sounds so, so cute, and I haven't read a good romance in way too long!


Have you read any of the 2012 releases I missed? Which ones of these do I need to read right this second?

Favorite Reads of 2012

I read SO many awesome books this year! I've read 140 books, and am hoping to read two more before the end of the year. That means I didn't quite reach my goal of 150 books, but considering how little time I've had to read lately, I think that's pretty good. Still, I'm going to need to get better at balancing classes, social life, and bookish stuff next year!

Anyways, here are my favorites of the books I read this year, in the order that I read them. I couldn't narrow it down to a top ten, so I'm doing a Top 12 of 2012!

1. How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

I read this one right at the beginning of the year, but I still think about it all the time. It's so beautiful and sad and heartbreaking but hopeful and just perfect. I wish more people had read this one - it reminded me a lot of Sweethearts by Sara Zarr, so if you liked that one, you should definitely give How to Say Goodbye in Robot a try!

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Another one I read at the beginning of the year - right when it came out. And like the rest of the world, I loved it beyond words. John Green is one of my favorite authors, and this is by far my favorite of his books. It was everything you could a want a book to be. Just thinking about it makes me want to re-read the book immediately.

3. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Wanderlove amazed me in how much a book can make you want to do things, to live. The beautiful descriptions of the places they go and the experiences they have made me want to drop everything and do something like this, too. Add to that the great story, and you have one awesome read!

4. See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles

This book made me bawl. And bawl. And bawl some more. Really, I can't remember any other book making me cry as much as See You at Harry's did. And I know not everyone thinks that's a good thing, but I love when a novel can affect me like that.

5. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

I am such an idiot for waiting so long to read this book - now I finally know why everyone is so in love with AS King! Please Ignore Vera Dietz is so subtle and simply amazing.

6. Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz

Gone, Gone, Gone is a book I connected with on a really personal level. I don't even know how to explain it, it just helped me a lot; it felt like Hannah Moskowitz had somehow gotten into the ugly parts of my mind and turned them into a book, just for me, to make me feel less alone.

7. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Moonglass is the embodiment of what I like in books. Really, if someone asked what kind of books I like, I should just give them this one, because it fits everything I like in books so perfectly.

8. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Oh, Something Like Normal. This was my most anticipated 2012 release, and it didn't disappoint. Trish Doller's writing is incredible, and this book automatically made her one of my new favorite authors. 

9. Personal Effects by EM Kokie

I wish more people had read this one. It's dark and real and beautiful, and I loved it.

10. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Along with the rest of the blogosphere, I fell in love with this novel. I'm not even sure what makes it so great, there's just that special quality about Huntley Fitzpatrick's writing that made me want to keep reading this book forever and ever.

11. Amelia Anne Is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

Amelia Anne Is Dead and Gone is really different from the books I normally read. The style is a lot more sophisticated than I'm used to; the sense of atmosphere is stunning and the writing is breathtakingly beautiful. I loved it.

12. Live Through This by Mindi Scott

I just finished Live Through This a few days ago, and I'm still in awe. It's so honest and real and heartbreaking but sweet and beautiful at the same time.

What were your favorite reads in 2012?

Review: If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

Title: If I Lie
Author: Corrine Jackson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release date: August 28th 2012
Pages: 276
Genre: Contemporary YA
Source: Bought
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Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.
Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reading is awesome. Really, that's all I want to say, because that's just how I feel, after finishing If I Lie. That seems to be all I want to say after each good book I finish lately, since it sadly doesn't happen as often anymore because college is evil. Anyways, If I Lie made me feel all the things; it reminded me what's so great about reading books that make you think and feel. It was one of most anticipated 2012 debuts, and it didn't disappoint!

Carey is a great MC. She's realistic and flawed; she can be snarky and sarcastic, which is really entertaining to read about, but she also has a very vulnerable side, and I really connected with her in that way. I loved the secondary characters, too - Quinn's parents are very flawed but add a lot to the story, George is made of awesome, Blake is really sweet, and even the mean girls have a backstory that makes them realistic. The only character I didn't love was Carey - I never felt like we really got to know him enough to understand how Quinn could sacrifice so much for him.

To be honest, the whole Carey storyline was not my favorite part of the novel. His secret is predictable and kind of disappointing. It wasn't that bad, though, since we find out what it is only about 20 pages into the book - if we hadn't found out till the end, and then gotten such a predictable secret, I would've been really annoyed, but like this, I didn't mind too much. I still think, though, that Quinn made a little too big a deal out of it; I totally get why she didn't tell the whole town, but I feel like she could have told someone, at least her dad - I just can't see someone sacrificing their relationship with their dad could like that, when she could have fixed it by just telling him the truth, without really betraying Carey, since I can't imagine the dad telling the whole town about it or anything like that.

But, really, that didn't take all that much from my enjoyment of the novel. The description focuses a lot on this one storyline, but there's so much more going on. There's the family storyline, which I loved - I really liked seeing how Quinn's past tied in with what's going on now. There's Quinn's relationship with George and the rest of the people at the hospital, another set-up I loved. And there's the bullying and Quinn's relationship with Blake. Corrine Jackson really impressed me with the way she tied together all the different storylines, the different layers of Quinn's life.

Corrine Jackson's writing is amazing; I can't explain why, but it just grabbed me, pulled me along and made me finish the book in a day. But at the same time as it made me want to read on as fast as possible, there were also a few lines that made me stop and marvel at their beauty - and that, to me, is the perfect combination.

One thing I didn't love was how pro-military the message of the novel is, how much war heroes are idolized; it was just a little too patriotic to America for me. I'm not saying that's wrong or anything like that, and I don't want to get into this too much because I know this is a touchy subject for a lot of people, but some of it just didn't sit right with me.

Despite the few smaller issues I had with the novel, If I Lie is one I really enjoyed reading. Emotional, gripping, and thought-provoking, it delicately blurs the lines between right and wrong. Quinn's story is one I know I'll be thinking about for a while!

Bookish Anticipation #20

Bookish Anticipation is a feature I do every once in a while to spotlight future releases I'm excited for. It was inspired by Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday. You can check out more of my Bookish Anticipation posts here.

All I Need by Susane Colasanti
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Release date: May 21st 2013

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi
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Release date: April 1st 2013

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it’s all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family? Now, every moment is a precious gift. She never thought being positive could be so negative. But now, everything’s different…because now she’s living with HIV.

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu
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Release date: July 23rd 2013

When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he's her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again.
But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can't stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic... and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea knows a ton about him. She spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she's obsessed.
Bea tells herself she's got it all under control, but this isn't a choice, it's a compulsion. The truth is, she's breaking down... and she might end up breaking her own heart.

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
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Release date: April 2nd 2013

Through a series of funny and poignant messages, Graham and Ellie make a true connection, sharing intimate details about their lives, hopes and fears. But they don't tell each other everything; Graham doesn't know the major secret hidden in Ellie's family tree, and Ellie is innocently unaware that Graham is actually a world-famous teen actor living in Los Angeles.
When the location for the shoot of Graham's new film falls through, he sees an opportunity to take their relationship from online to in-person, managing to get the production relocated to picturesque Henley, Maine, where Ellie lives. But can a star as famous as Graham have a real relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie's mom want her to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
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Release date: July 9th 2013

The road to heartbreak takes a lot of turns.
Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.
Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.
Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind.
Neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

Golden by Jessi Kirby
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Release date: May 14th 2013

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost may be a distant relative of Robert Frost, but she has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a mystery in her lap—one that might be the key to uncovering the truth behind a town tragedy, she decides to take a chance.

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
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Release date: May 21st 2013

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath — with candles and a contract and everything — to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle. No one wants to end up with a toaster on wheels, so they hire a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away — no way would she fall for them. But old warnings fade fast, because Emilio turns out to be the first guy in forever she likes. Really likes. Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…
But what if her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

OCD, The Dude & Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn
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Release date: March 21st 2013

With frizzy orange hair, a plus-sized body, sarcastic demeanor, and "unique learning profile," Danielle Levine doesn't fit in even at her alternative high school. While navigating her doomed social life, she writes scathing, self-aware, and sometimes downright raunchy essays for English class. As a result of her unfiltered writing style, she is forced to see the school psychologist and enroll in a "social skills" class. But when she meets Daniel, another social misfit who is obsessed with the cult classic film The Big Lebowski, Danielle's resolve to keep everyone at arm's length starts to crumble.

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
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Release date: May 28th 2013

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:
1. You will remember to water the azaleas.
2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.
3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.
4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.
5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:
1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.
2. He says he has her stuff.
3. What stuff? Her stuff.
4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—
5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—
6. You pick up a pen.
7. You scribble down the address.
8. You get on your bike and go.
9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*
*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Review: Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Title: Such a Rush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: MTV Books
Release date: July 10th 2012
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary YA; romance
Source: Bought

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High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.
But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Everyone else seems to turn into a fangirling mess every time someone mentions Jennifer Echols, but I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with her books. I loved Going Too Far, but the other Echols books I've read just did not work for me. Still, I've continued to read her books in the hopes that some day, I would love one as much as I loved Going Too Far. And with Such a Rush, it finally happened - it's replaced Going Too Far as my favorite Jennifer Echols book!

I've noticed that the characters in Jennifer Echols's books always have a somewhat unusual interest, and in Such a Rush, it's flying. These unusual interests don't always work for me, but in this case, it totally did. The concept of a girl pilot is just so awesomely kickass. To say I don't know much about flying and piloting would be an understatement, so I was a little worried I wouldn't get that part. But Jennifer Echols made it so relatable! I totally understood flying and what it meant to Leah. I love how that whole idea contributed to the novel!

Even asides from the flying thing, Leah is an all-around kickass character. She's not the usual MC you read about. I don't even know how to describe her; she doesn't fit any of the YA character stereotypes. I'll just say that I loved her, even though we're really different. I liked reading about her family situation, too - such a unique set-up for contemporary YA! I really enjoyed seeing Leah try to get out of that situation and take care of herself.

And then there's the romance. Oh, the romance. It is SO GOOD. There's really nothing else to say; the romance in Such a Rush just made me ridiculously happy. The description makes it sound like your typical good-boy/bad-boy love triangle, but that's not the case at all, for one because I'm not sure I'd even call this a love triangle. Grayson blackmails Leah into dating Alec but won't tell her why. Usually, storylines like that are disappointing for me; the secret often turns out to be some tiny thing, making the whole story unrealistic and melodramatic. But that's not the case in Such a Rush - Grayson's reasons really do make sense! And the romance is so good! Jennifer Echols is the master of sexual tension and realistic, mature relationships, and Leah and Grayson are no exception. I loved these two together.

My only complaint is the ending. I know it's the kind of ending lots of people love, but I just... don't. I just found it a little too sweet to be realistic.

But, really, I didn't even care; Such a Rush wasn't about the little things for me. It was just about the feeling of loving to read! I haven't been reading that much lately, but Such a Rush made it so easy to get lost in the story; it made me want to scream and shout my love for bookish things. Such a Rush is my new favorite Jennifer Echols book, and one of the best books I've read in a while!