The Best of 2013

So, I kind of already rounded up my favorite reads of 2013, but I'm going to try to narrow things down a bit here.  Also, I forgot some apparently.  I read a ton this year -- 50 more books than last year for a total of just over 200 -- and a lot of great books came out at the beginning of 2013 that I just plain forgot about until I really started perusing my "read" shelf.  Plus, I listened to quite a few audiobooks along the way, and I'd like to highlight those, as well, seeing as I've convinced a good number of friends to give them a try.  (I'm actually a book pusher and an audiobook pusher.)  Also, it's really hard to narrow a list down to just ten or so like most would have you attempt to do -- and we all know there are only very few of us who could do it! -- so this list will break it up, include more than the requisite ten, and hopefully will make it easier for you to find a new favorite...if you haven't already!  =)

First up, the novels that started it all:




Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Splintered by A.G. Howard
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

These are the first books in new series that published in 2013.  Some are trilogies, some are duets, and some are companion novels in a planned series, but all are absolute page-turners.







Next up, we have the sequels I was dying to read in 2013:

These are books that ended up being just as good as or even better than the first books in the series, and I'm now dying for the next book.

World After by Susan Ee
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Everbound by Brodi Ashton

And I just realized that I totally forgot to include Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi in this list.  D'oh.  I can't believe I left off Warner!!!

I could go on to create a list of top series endings, but honestly, those are bittersweet for me and probably won't ever make one of my "best" lists.  Though that's not to say that they aren't still favorites.

Of course, I can't forget those books that I had to see what all the fuss was about:

One & Only by Viv Daniels
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Archived by Victoria Schwab

These four books were ones I was reluctant to read for whatever reason:  I'd requested and decided the book wasn't a priority, neglected to request for review because I wasn't sure it would be my thing, or ended up requesting because of other bloggers.  It's always another blogger's fault, isn't it?  And again, I just realized I forgot to include a really amazing book on this list: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay.  It is becoming clear that I am simply horrible at lists.

Now for the books I finally got to because I ran across the audio on Audible:

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Okay, so these kind of fall under the last category, too, but since I listened to them, I wanted them to have their own section.  These are books that I've heard about forever and just could not find the time to read.  (The only exception is The Scorpio Races, but I did re-read that one this year, and only because I had it on audio, so I'm counting it because it's phenomenal.) So, I did what I usually do and found them on audio.  And my goodness, I think I probably would have preferred these on audio anyway because the narration is just beyond anything I would have experienced if I'd just read the books myself.  A great book + a fantastic narrator = an awesome audiobook.  Oh, another good audio is Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen.  (Yeah, I forgot another one.)

And last but not least, the books I read at the end of 2013 that don't even release until 2014 that were just too awesome not to mention:

Heh...now I'm just teasing you.  ;0) You might see a pattern with some of these...as in, I read the first book earlier this year, fell in love, then read the sequel and it's just as to die for. Which means now that I've already read it -- and it doesn't even release until next year (and yes, I realize that's tomorrow) -- I now have to wait even longer for the next book, if there is one. I mean, c'mon...what was I even thinking?  I must love to torture myself.

The Unbound by Victoria Schwab
The Treatment by Suzanne Young
Unhinged by A.G. Howard
Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Plus One by Elizabeth Fama (not pictured, #1 because I'm a dorkus and forgot another one and #2 there's not a cover yet, so it doesn't matter...someone get on that already :P)

So, yeah, those are my picks for best reads of 2013.  At least, from what I read.  If I had to pick a favorite, um, well, I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a pencil than put my brain through that.  It's truly that difficult to pick.  But, yeah, it'd be one of these.  :D

What were some of your favorite reads this year?  Did any of mine make your list?

Stop by tomorrow to check out some of my resolutions for 2014.  There may or may not be something about sticking to limits on lists.  :P

Labels: 2013, audiobooks, best of 2013, favorites, must-read