End of Year Book Survey (2016)

I’ve been seeing a LOT of this survey floating around the last couple days, and decided I wanted to join in toooooo!

This was originally posted/created by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner … though you can probably thank Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews for being the one to push me over the edge and make me want to do the thing.

So….let’s do the THANG!

Number of Books You Read:

I won’t QUITE be beating last year’s total of books read…but I’ve gotten close despite the move and madness, so I consider that a success.  I mean really, the fact this penguin managed to read AT ALL with all that’s going on in her life lately is success enough, right?!  RIIIIIIGHT?!

Number of Re-Reads:

Zero.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada because I don’t usually re-read books unless I SUUUUUUPAH want to for some reason or other.

Wait, I lied!  I HAD ONE!!! I re-read Night World –I forgot to count it because I hadn’t read it since I was in, like…high school?  which was before my book blogging/book reviewer days.  I so fail at this game, oops!

Genre You Read Most From:

Diverse books?  Is that a genre even?  Because I read A LOT of diverse books this year, penguins.  Like….a lot!  But…if that doesn’t count, then I suppose I’d probably say fantasy, because…lots of fantasy as well.  Yup.

Best Book You Read in 2016:

Oh boy.  Uhm.  How about I give you, like…five?  Does five work?  I think five is going to have to work because I’m not choosing just one.

    

and, I’m sorry, one more for good measure because I can’t possibly imagine leaving it out:

Books You Were Excited About / Thought You’d Love More, but Didn’t:

  

You let me dooooooown, books!  You let me down so hard, and didn’t even offer me a cushion to land on.  How.  Dare.  You.

Most Surprising (in a Good OR Bad Way) Book You Read:

 I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did–I was sort of expecting to go into the read with a ton of excitement, only to have that excitement fade pretty quickly.  Surprisingly, though, that didn’t happen–this was one of the most entertaining, action-packed reads of the year for me in the end!

Book You “Pushed” the Most People to Read:

  

Best Series Started/Sequel Of/Series Ender Read in 2016:

 –Series started.

Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: interesting, though slightly confusing, world-building; I had trouble picturing the characters; some of the rules of the world were unclear; fun, entertaining, super snarky characters; not quite like anything I’ve read before

–Sequel of.

Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: this is just as adorable as the first book!; the couple is butterfly-inducing and so realistic; LOVE all the LARPing that’s mentioned throughout; great focus on important societal/moral issues; there is a LOT to love about this series; I am officially in love with Leah Rae Miller

–Series ender.

Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: I LOVE that this comes full-circle at the end; this was a great way to end the series; important moral/societal statements explored; stubborn characters who give up everything for what’s right; awesome continued world-building

Favorite New Author Discovered in 2016:

There are TWO, actually.

   –C.K. Brooke, who writes fantasy/romance ; her world-building is always SUPER great, her stories are full of action, and her characters literally leap to life off the page.

AND

   –C.E. Wilson, who ALWAYS pushes me out of my comfort zone and makes me really consider the world around me, and the moral implications she explores in her worlds.

Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/Was Out of Your Comfort Zone:

This book swept into my life like a wrecking ball and BROKE down all my barriers.  THIS book is the reason I decided to start picking up more thriller/mysteries.  Seriously, penguins, pick this one up–I promise you won’t regret it.  That ending is BOMBtastic.

Most Action-Packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year:

  

All three of these, honestly, for VERY different reasons.  Every Heart a Doorway is the book that made me realize I COULD, and probably should, listen to audiobooks without becoming distracted or feeling “bored.”  So there’s that, as well–if you’re looking for your next great audiobook, PICK THAT ONE UP!

Book You Read in 2016 that You’re Most Likely to Re-Read:

I’m not going to limit myself and say FOR SURE next year, because…who knows what’ll happen in the coming months?  But I will probably be revisiting Equal Parts in the future because HELLOOOOOOO wonderful!  Seriously, someone call up Emma Winters and find out when the next book will be released, because I NEED IT!

Favorite Cover of a Book Read in 2016:

    

I just…. I couldn’t pick just one, so I gave you five.  Again.  And seriously, I must be feeling blue today–all these covers, except that last purple one, are SO blue!  What even?!  Favorite color of the day, I guess?

Most Memorable Character of 2016:

Fiona Doyle.  Because this girl literally BROKE ME INTO PIECES and I can’t.

Most Beautifully-Written Book Read in 2016:

  

I mean…when you ask me about “beautifully written” books, you’re bound to get several examples…mostly because my definition of what makes a beautifully-written book changes from book to book, depending.  For instance–the above three?  ALL gorgeous.  For vastly different reasons, not always just the flow of the prose.

Most Thought-Provoking/Life Changing Read of 2016:

I mean…..you probably should have seen this answer coming?  Seriously, if you didn’t see this answer coming, you don’t know me very well at all.

Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2016 to Read:

I don’t really have an answer for this one, because…most of the books I picked up this year (read most as ALL) I didn’t actually KNOW about until this year.  So…there’s that.

Favorite Passage/Quote from a Book Read in 2016:

“Even though Marcus really believed some miracle would happen, he didn’t waste a second.” He gave a sad, lopsided smile. “So I learned this from my dying brother. Don’t waste it.”

“Waste what?” she whispered.

He looked at her for a long time. “Everything that makes you.”
― Moriah McStay, Everything That Makes You

Shortest and Longest Books Read in 2016:

Book that Shocked You the Most:

I feel like I answered this question already?  Like, way up there that way ^^^ ???  Wait, I guess not–surprising and shocked can be two different things, I suppose.  Okay, so… I’m going to go with The Love That Split the World, because honestly, the last 100?ish pages are SO not what I expected going into this.

OTP of the Year (You Will Go Down with this Ship!):

Eeeeeeeeh?  I don’t really DO OTPs, mostly because…uhm…because I don’t wanna? LOL

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year:

 Braeden and Rimmel have THE BEST relationship of all time.  You cannot convince me otherwise.

Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously:

Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: Doctor Who meets Stephen King; this book is SO abstract and poetic and gorgeous; disturbing and beautifully haunting in a way only Neil Gaiman can manage; a complex, well-rounded examination of childhood, stories, and the truth about truths

Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

I mean I guess it was about time I picked up a Morgan Matson book, so…thank you, book blogging block, for all the pressurizing?!

Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2016:

So….I have to say, ALL THE MEN! in this book are currently at the top of my “newest fictional crushes” list because they’re all so adorable.

Best 2016 Debut You Read:

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year:

I mean yeah, this is contemporary fiction….but you will literally FEEL like you’re in the detention center with Subhi the whole time you’re reading.  This book is just… Gaaaah, so many feels.

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read:

  

I mean seriously, pretty much any cutesy contemporary is going to make me smile, so the first two are a given.  Ivy Pocket, on the other hand…her snark is OUT of this world huge, and her journey so far has been entertaining and a blast to follow along on.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016:

NEARLY CRY FOR THE WIN because this penguin’s heart froze a long long time ago and I’ve not been able to find the right pebbles to kickstart it back to life yet.  No, no, I kid–sort of.  I just don’t cry easily, so you KNOW these books are bombtastic.

  

  

Hidden Gem Of The Year:

Natalia Jaster is just…. She blows me away.  I’ve only read two books from her, but she honestly BLOWS me away.

Book That Crushed Your Soul:

I mean… I bet you can guess, if you try hard enough.  I BET you know exactly where this is going.  I beeeeeeet you doooooooo!

Were you right?  SUUUUURE you were!  You know this penguin too well.

Most Unique Book You Read In 2016:

 

Seriously, this author’s ideas are OUT of this world amazing–and so super thought-provoking at the same time.

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

 Rating: 5/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: like the title suggests, this book WRECKED me; comfort zone? what even is that? I don’t think I know anymore; there’s an interesting play on “unreliable narrators” and “omniscient narrators” going on throughout this book that made this both frustrating, and intriguing; I don’t know what to feel right now; this book will shatter every perspective you think you have…and piece it back together in a different way

—

Rating: 5/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: good god this book!; realistic, endearing, believable characters; lots of angst, drama, and confusion; delicious ambiguity; yet another book that will change your view of the world; this novel is SO IMPORTANT; well-written, sensitive, and amazing

New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016:

Oh boy.  Okay.

Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews

Cait @ Paper Fury

Annelise (PandaPants) @ The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange

Chuckles @ Chuckles Book Cave

Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse

Favorite review that you wrote in 2016:

Vinyl (The Vinyl Trilogy #1), by Sophia Elaine Hanson

The Love that Split the World, by Emily Henry

Equal Parts (Supernova #1), by Emma Winters

Everything that Makes You, by Moriah McStay

Symptoms of Being Human, by Jeff Garvin

Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog:

How To: Freak the FRACKLE Out Over Scary Video Games

Dear How-To Penguin… (#2)

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.):

I…haven’t really participated in any yet?!  YAY for having almost no actual life!

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016:

MEETING THE PANDAPANTS AND MAKING PLANS TO TAKE OVER AHEM I MEAN RULE OVER AHEM I MEAN MAKE THE WORLD RAINBOWS!

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year:

Maintaining a consistent and awesome blogging schedule; figuring out how to keep ALL YOU PENGUINS entertained and coming back I mean seriously I only have enough tuna for ME okay go find a pebble and sit doooooown!

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views):

Uhm.  I honestly have no idea because I don’t know how to figure this out on wordpress.  I FAAAAAAIL at this game…maybe someone can teach me?

Post You Wished Got A Little More Love:

I don’t really pay much attention all things be told.  I guess I sort of wish my Villainous Love Songs posts got a bit more lovin’, because I have a ton of fun putting them together, but it’s really not a big deal.

Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.):

BOOK.  OUTLET.  Seriously, this is the best discovery of all discoveries ever discovered in my life.  Book Outlet is a life saver and a shelf lover.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Well… I surpassed my goodreads reading challenge by about 65 books, and I read about as much this year as I did last year, and I read MANY more diverse books this year than I did last year….so I’d call all that a win, definitely.

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

 

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

–Keep up my reading streak because it’s been awesome
–Read more of the books I already own because I’ve been failing hardcore at this
–Bring back my random “BOOK SALES!” posts because I fell off the bandwagon with those
–TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH THE PANDAPANTS because it’s already in the works and you all know you don’t wanna stop us

A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

AND YAY, we reached the end!  This thing was MAAAAASSIVE, penguins, oh my goodness…did I survive?  did I lose a bunch of my pebbles?  I don’t know, I don’t know!

Feel free to link me to YOUR End of the Year Survey, if you took the thing, or your wrap ups if that’s easier, or any other posts you think I might be interested in looking at, or…whatever!

As always, happy book-ing!