Fave Books of 2014

Wow....

Is 2014 seriously over?

I really have no words for much of a whirlwind this year has been. So many ups.

Unfortunately, quite a few downs.

But I made it... we all made it out alive and kicking more than ever for the new year.

And I seriously can't wait to see what 2015 has to offer.

My reading this year wasn't really what I wanted to be but there were a few books that really caused to feel the full force of all the feels. There were a few gems in the field of hay.

Here they are:





1. Anna and the French Kiss
My Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ (4.40)
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Quote: "Madamoiselle Oliphant. It translates to "Point zero of the roads of France." 

In other words, it's the point from which all other distances in 

France are measured." St. Clair clears his throat. 

"It's the beginning of everything."

I look up at him. He's smiling.

"Welcome to Paris, Anna. I'm glad you've come."

I fell for it. I fell right into the Stephanie Perkins trap. I didn't stand a bit of a chance.

Omg you guys I loved pretty much every inch of this book. It was so relatable, so easy to read. Anna and Etienne have officially made the list of my OTPs. There were times when I wanted to throttle both of them, but then I thought of Paris and Anna and how much all three entities should stay together forever.

Stephanie Perkins' writing contains the very best of the feels - homey and genuinely bubbly. The entire time I was reading, I literally felt like i was in Paris with Anna as she explored and worried and began to love Etienne despite his faults. My heart beat with Anna every time she met someone or tasted a foreign food. The journey was wonderful and I can't wait to go on it again.




2. How to Love
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (4.15)
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Quote: "I wasn't shy exactly. That's never what I was. I just didn't know how to do this, is all, that clang and chatter of high school. And more than that, I didn't particularly want to learn. My whole life Cade had teased me for my inability to handle more than one or two friends at a time; ten minutes in Allie's crowded kitchen left me feeling like some wild animal dropped into a completely foreign habitat... I wasn't unpopular exactly. I was just... unequipped."

I loved this book for many different reasons. I went into it kind of expecting to be the typical teen mom cliche where the dad comes back, the mom falls in love again, and everything is happily ever after. I didn't expect, in anyway, for this story to impact me the way it has. While i was reading this, my mind warped and I basically became Rena. In the sense, I pictured myself in Rena's shoes if I don't get my shit together. Like myself, Rena wants to travel and become a journalist. She has everything planned and set out for her. But then she meets Sawyer and as they clumsily in love one thing leads to another and Rena finds out she's pregnant just as Sawyer decides to pack his things and leave. Now I don't think I'll end up a teen mom because I know from personal experience how hard it is to raise a kid at such a young age, but I do know that if I want my goals to become reality and not end up stuck in my hometown for the rest of my life, I can't just sit back and expect things to just fall in my lap.

Anyway, this story was beautiful. I'm glad I picked it up. I'm glad I got read about Rena's life. She's a strong character I think I emulate. If Rena and I ever met in real life I'd like to think we'd be good friends.




3. Angelfall
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (4.1)
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Quote: "I knew from the start your loyalty would get you killed. I just never thought it would be your loyalty to me that would do it."

This story was so entertaining. It was really different. And i didn't expect it to make me think. There was so much more than just your average Angel Apocalypse (because that's something we always read about). There were a lot of political and religious aspects that really had my brain ticking.

Besides that though, my main love fell with the characters, of course. Raffe and Penryn are on my OTP list. Despite the fact Raffe tries very hard not to fall for Penryn, by the end of the story you see how much he was starting to care for her. Penryn, sassy and kick-ass as can be, doesn't take any shit from Raffe. She's set on one goal and one goal only: to find and take back her sister who was kidnapped from an evil angel during the battle at the beginning of the story. And she plans to use Raffe to as much of her advantage as she can.

Even if it kills them both.

This first story was just really fun and I was smiling and laughing whenever the opportunity presented itself, completely enjoying every second of it.




4. Halo
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (4.44)
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Quote: "It wasn't up to you when they put this on you. You wearing this is something they did to you. If you put if back on, they're winning, okay? And you're letting them. You say this is your choice, Kit, and you're right. I'm begging you not to choose this. Choose something else. Choose the possibility that there could be something else worth feeling all the bad for. Choose me."

Soooooo I read this book for my jobs bookclub in request from one my managers. And when she told us to think Hunger Games on crack, I didn't really expect what I got.

THIS BOOK IS SO EPIC OH MY GAWD I JUST CAN'T DEAL

yeah

It follows the story of Kit, who is a fighting prodigy for her country called the Sanctuary. But here's the twist, all the fighters for this country wear a special device called a Halo that prevents them from feeling all the emotions we get to experience everyday, without consequence. So when her fighting partner removes Kit's halo, shit starts exploding (not in the literal sense).

As Kit tries to escape the Sanctuary she runs into the very sexy, very snarky Ryka.

And this is where our story really begins.

Kit is basically my spirit animal. She's smart and brave and she don't need no man. Even though Ryka is everything I want in a guy. I... ugh.... I don't know how to explain. I just need you to read so we can fangirl together.

Okay?
Okay.

(yes I went there.)



5. Dorothy Must Die
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (4.09)
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Quote: "You don't need wheels on your house to get somewhere better. All you need is something to give you have extra push."

This was so much fun. It was a breath of fresh air.

As a child I always loved the Wizard of Oz. Pretty sure I've seen every rendition. My favorite is probably the one with Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow.

All happy and hopeful and full of life lessons. They went down the yellow brick road and lived happily ever after.

Well in Dorothy Must Die, it's the exact opposite. Like forrealz. In this psychotic thriller, Dorothy has returned to Oz, with an attitude and the heaviest thirst for blood and power.

And that's exactly what she gets. Then we meet our heroine and our story skyrockets in a puddle of monkey shit and crazy fairies.

In other words, this story is fantastic and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.



6. If I Stay
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (4. 21)
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Quote: "And that's just it, isn't? That's how we manage to survive the loss. Because love, it never dies, it never goes away, it never fades, so long as you hold on to it."

Once upon a time I "read" this. And in no way did I appreciate what was written on these pages. But then I picked it up again, in lieu of the movies premiere, and decided to really invest myself in what was being said.

So yeah, I went into the story knowing what Mia chose. But I didn't fully grasp what was happening when I "read" it all those years ago.

Now that I have, I'm glad I did because this book was wonderful. It was touching, heart-crushing, and just all around thoughtful. I sincerely enjoyed this and am so glad I finally got around to it this year.



7. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (4.45)
Goodreads • Buy it

Quote: ""How is you have friends, Noah?"

        "I ask myself that daily." He chomped...""

A
TOTAL
MIND
FUCK.

In the best way possible, of course.

And that's all I'm gonna say.







8. Ignite Me
My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (4.54)
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Quote: "And we are quotation marks, inverted and upside down, clinging to one another at the end of this life sentence. Trapped by lives we did not choose."

My heart hurts at the idea of this series actually being over. I joined this bandwaggon right when the book came out. When I finished, my world was never the same. The Shatter Me series is what inspired me to write.... to truly take my life as a writer into serious consideration.

And i am forever grateful that this series has pushed me to become a better writer, helping me discover what was truly out there is this crazy world as a young writer.

So because this book has brought so much inspiration, I plan on re-reading it this year to jump start my writing again. I miss it.

I miss my fingers clicking against the keys.

I miss carrying my notebooks everywhere just so I can jot down those random bouts of inspiration.

I fell off so hard this year and it's time to return to my one place comfort.


Okay anyway, I'm really sad this is over. But that doesn't mean I can't return to Juliette's world again and again.



And that's I have for you guys.

I am in utter shock at how fast 2014 has flown by. Everything has happened so suddenly and now I'm at the point where I'm gonna be graduating from high school and my world will really begin.

I have no idea how any of that is gonna turn out for me.

But luckily, I have my blog, my books and my writing to keep me steady.

And I can't wait to see what's up next on this rocky road I call my life.

So I hope you enjoyed my 2014 favorites.

It's 2015 and I have lots of stuff coming up. Stay tuned.

So until next time, kiddies.


Hugs and Candy,
Lyric♥