Best of 2011: Best of Everything

There are a handful of books in the world that you finish and just say "wow." You sit there, staring at the book (maybe even wiping away a few tears), and wish you could write something that perfect. This year, I found one of those books. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me fall in love. You may have heard of it...

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater!

Just as it wouldn't be a Wolves of Mercy Falls book without Sam and Grace, it wouldn't be right if Stiefvater didn't make me cry. Again. For about the entire last 90 pages of the book I was a blubbering mess, proving once again that this is one of the few series that is consistently able to make me cry. That alone is a testament to how deeply I care for these characters.

Though the ending was completely and totally evil, Forever was still the perfect ending to an amazing series. It kept me up late into the night, desperate to see how it would end. And as sad as I am to say goodbye to this lovely batch of characters, I couldn't have imagined parting with them any other way.

Read the rest of the review here.

Just thinking about this books make me feel warm and content. For all of the ups and down, evil plot twists and tear-jerking moments, I still look back on this book with nothing than fond memories. The characters were perfection, the romance was delectable, the world was captivating, and the writing was beautiful. I cannot find a single flaw in this conclusion to one of my most beloved series of all time. Even the ending, as mean and open-ended as it was, felt right. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to these characters and their world. So Forever gets the award for "Best of Everything" and is my favorite novel of the year.

And that, ladies and gents, is the end of my Best of 2011 posts. I hope you saw a few of your favorites or found some titles to read in the new year. Thanks for reading!

(P.S. I want to know what book gets your "Best of Everything" award. Let me know in the comments.)

Best of 2011: Best Paranormal Sequel

For me, the best paranormal sequel of 2011 was...

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer!

Often, I would finish reading a hundred pages only to realize that all of the events I’d just read about had happened in a mere matter of hours. Calla’s world was constantly changing. In fact, when I finished reading, I was shocked to realize that the entire book only spanned, at most, three days. As far as stories go, that’s not a lot of time, and yet Calla’s life at the end was completely unrecognizable from the beginning of the novel.

Read the rest of the review here.

Wolfsbane was a great sequel to one of my favorite paranormal novels of 2011, Nightshade. Oddly, the reasons why I enjoyed Wolfsbane were vastly different than Nightshade. The pacing, characters, even the overall feel of the novel had little resemblance to Nightshade. Still, I found myself highly intrigued by Calla's latest adventure. The thing that really stood out to me about Wolfsbane was the incredible amount of plot development Cremer was able to cram into such a short amount of time. It was a whirlwind read that left me wanting more. I am so happy Bloodrose is coming out in January, because I don't think I could wait much longer for a resolution to Calla's story.

Best of 2011: Best Contemporary Sequel

This year, the best contemporary sequel I read was...

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter!

Heist Society was one of my favorite releases of 2010, and now Uncommon Criminals is one of my favorites of 2011. There is just something about this series that is so enchanting. It could be that Ally Carter is the author or it could be that Kat is such a strong, engaging main character or it could be that I have always loved spy/heist stories. No matter, it is safe to say that this series has stolen my heart. 

Uncommon Criminals was particularly fun to read because there were two heists, meaning there was twice as much scheming. And, if you know me, you know I enjoy the scheming and planning just as much as the heist itself. There was also a lot of Hale, which is always a plus. I really enjoyed getting to get to know more about his background, as well as Kat's and all of the other character's. It was just so much fun getting to be back in their world. I cannot wait for more books in this series!

Check back tomorrow for another Best of 2011 post.

Best of 2011: Best Last Hurrah

This past year I have said goodbye to a lot of my favorite characters. One goodbye stood out from the rest though. And that book was...

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han!

Ever since I read The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah have been some of my favorite characters. Going into We'll Always Have Summer, I had no idea who I wanted Belly to end up with, as I loved both Conrad and Jeremiah. I decided to just go with the flow and enjoy the last installment in their story. This last hurrah was definitely not what I had expected. Not at all. The events of the novel took me completely by surprise, further confusing my feelings about Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. Still, when it was all said and done, I found myself pleased with how everything had worked out. All three characters were true to who they were and everything felt...right. 

What was your favorite last hurrah of 2011? Let me know in the comments!

Best of 2011: Best-Dressed Love Interest

This book could easily have won the award for Best Contemporary Romance. The couple was adorable, one of my favorites of the year for sure. Such a basic award did not fit the book though. Yes, the romance was wonderful. But the two characters were also wildly unique and the entire book was different than any other contemporary novel I'd read. The award it received needed to fit this uniqueness.  So the award for Beset-Dressed Love Interest goes to....

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins!

Then, of course, there is Lola’s neighbor and romantic interest, Cricket. Perkins has a talent for writing magnificent male leads. They all have their little quirks, of course, but that’s what makes them so swoon worthy. Though Etienne will always have my heart, Cricket is a strong second with his endearing personality and tendency to ramble, as well as his glorious pants (this will make a lot more sense once you read the book).

Read more from the review here.

Illustration of Cricket by
Simini Blocker

Oh, Cricket, what a great love interest you were. He was charming and quirky and sweet - a classic Stephanie Perkins love interest. He also had some great pants, the impetus for this award.

Throughout the novel, Lola (a budding designer) comments on Cricket's fabulous style. According to her, unlike other straight boys, he knows how to dress. And though she notices other aspects of his style, his pants always stand out to Lola. They are not simply jeans, but fancy pants. Pants with pinstripes that are nicely cut and always fall (deliberately) above his socks.

As you can see in the illustration to the right (from Perkins' blog), Lola was not joking when she said Cricket was well-dressed. I am particularly fond of this illustration because it also captures Cricket's bashfulness, which is a huge part of his personality.

All in all, Cricket was a great love interest with some seriously great pants.

Best of 2011: Best Debut

Every new year brings with it a new group of debut authors. They are excited and sweet and their books always entice me. Naturally, every year I participate in the Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren, and make it my goal to read as many debut novels as I can. This year, my favorite debut novel was...

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab!

The Near Witch is one of the prettiest books I’ve read in awhile. When the summary says the tale is “achingly familiar,” it isn’t joking. Schwab has crafted a fairy tale as beautiful and haunting as those whispered late at night over backyard campfires.

The entire time I was reading The Near Witch I felt as though I was floating along through a story I’d heard during my childhood but had long since forgotten. Each sentence and paragraph felt as light and eerie as the wind whistling through the trees, calling me forward to pages riddled with even more surprises. I was swept up into Lexi’s world and didn’t leave until I flipped the very last page. It's the kind of story I could easily see myself reading over and over again, never growing bored.

Read the full review here.

The Near Witch was...enchanting? Haunting? Magical? I do not know how to put it into words. Schwab's writing was lyrical, giving the novel a fairy tale feel and entrancing me. The story itself was lovely, but it was Schwab's writing that makes this book my pick for the best debut of 2011. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly suggest picking up a copy as soon as you can. Once you read it, you will understand what I mean.


Tomorrow I will be giving away a very unique award to one of my favorite books of the year. Be sure to stop by to find out which book I'm talking about. And, as always, leave a comment letting me know what you think.

See you then!

Best of 2011: Best Cast of Characters

This award goes to a book with one of the best cast of characters I've encountered in awhile. Every single character was colorful and well-written, capturing my attention. 

And that book is....

Hourglass by Myra McEntire!

From my review:

Even the supporting characters were wonderful. From Em’s best friend, Lily, to Michael’s best friend, Kaleb, every character had multiple layers to them, making them as interesting as Em herself. Each one could easily hold his or her own in a spinoff novel. In fact, though I don’t normally say this often, I am as excited to find out more about the supporting characters as I am about reading more about Em and Michael in the next book. It was all around one of the best cast of characters I’ve encountered this year, if not ever.

Yes, it's true, I fell hard for all of these characters. McEntire has a real talent with writing realistic characters that are as complex as they are colorful. I loved a lot about this book, but the character were by far my favorite. So long as all of my favorite characters are back in Timepiece, I am sure I will love it.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another Best of 2011 winner!

Best of 2011: Best Surprise

There is always that book that you pick up on whim - maybe you recognize the author, like the cover, are enticed by the title - and end up absolutely adoring. This past year, I encountered one of those books. And it was...

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater!

From my review:

Much to my surprise, the Scorpio Races were not the main focus of the novel. Rather, Stiefvater focused on developing the island of Thisby and its inhabitants. The island very well may be as magical as the creatures that emerge from the seas around it. Every character, every custom, every delectable pastry was described and developed beautifully. I quickly found myself lost in Thisby, as excited to simply be there as to be following the course of the novel.

It is truly difficult to put my feelings into words. The Scorpio Races was, quite simply, a masterful creation on all levels.

Ever since I read Shiver, I have been a fan of Maggie Stiefvater. I read Lament and Ballad, both of which I enjoyed well enough. They were good, but I didn't love them, not like I loved Shiver. So when I heard Stiefvater had a new standalone coming out, I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it was a new book by Maggie Stiefvater! On the other, it may not be able to compare to The Wolves of Mercy Falls. 

But it did. Oh yes it did.

Stiefvater stole my heart in a whole new way. The Scorpio Races was unlike any other book I'd read, with its colorful setting, complex characters, and carnivorous horses. I now know never to doubt Stiefvater's ability to write books that captivate me.

Did you encounter any surprisingly wonderful novels this year? Let me know in the comments. And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for another Best of 2011 title.

The Best of 2011

The end is near (and I don't just mean the end of the week)!

As of yesterday, December is half over. That means Christmas is just around the corner and with it, the end of the year. So, naturally, it's time to start looking back on this past year and all of the books it brought us.

I have already seen a few blogs starting there 2011 wrap-up posts, and I figure I may as well join in. Rather than doing my tradition "Top 10 Books of the Year" post, however, I have decided to shake things up a little. Starting next week, I will be posting a new "best" book everyday. The categories will range from "Best Sequel" to "Best Dialogue."

This past year has just been too great reading-wise for me to try and boil it down to just 10 books. Each book has its own unique way of capturing my heart, and I want to honor that. I hope you'll join me in celebrating these titles. (And feel free to throw your two-cents in as well!)

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a semi-weekly feature that spotlights the covers of upcoming YA novels. I know some people say "you can't judge a book by its cover," but with covers as pretty as this, it's hard not to.

Summary:

Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and lacking a single memory of the accident that landed her there. What she can remember, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the accident.

As she takes us through her transformation from invisible girl to on-trend Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby herself does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why is Gabby left alone to take the fall?

Putting the pieces together will take every ounce of Gabby's strength. As she peels back the layers of her life, she begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

Cover: There are some covers that are so reminiscent of others that you just can't help but assume that was the publisher's intent. This is one of those covers. As soon as I saw it, my mind immediately went to The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. Sandy beach, brown-haired girl, freckled face, pure white background - there was no denying the similarities. So, of course, I quickly added the book to my "To-Read" list on GoodReads. Clearly, the publisher's plan is already working. I mean, they even put a quote from Jenny Han on the cover. If that isn't a marketing plan, I don't know what is.

Now, I do feel slightly bad writing this post on the similarities of this cover and that of Han's book. This is a separate cover, for a separate book. It is not its fault that it looks like another, and it deserves its own special attention. After all, anyone can see how pretty this cover is. The light is stunning and the girl's countance - both thoughtful and proud - makes me want to learn more about her. Had I never read Han's series, I definitely would have picked this book up in the bookstore. The clean white look suggests a contemporary feel, which I love, and I especially like the fact that, though the beach is pictured, the girl is not in a bathing suit or doing something summery. It suggests that there is more going on in the book than simply summer fun. All of these things constitute a book I would enjoy, successfully piquing my interest. The fact that the cover is also reminiscent of one of my all-time favorite series is just, as they say, the icing on the cake.

Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts

I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday again this week. For those of you unfamiliar with the feature, it is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week, hundreds of book bloggers post a top ten list in response to a prompt chosen by The Broke and the Bookish. This week, in true holiday fashion, the topic is "Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts."

I hope you enjoy my list!

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
At the end of last year my co-editor at The Gazette was looking for a good book, so, of course, I recommended Anna and the French Kiss. She LOVED it, as in, she stayed up all night reading it. For Christmas this year, I would definitely give her Lola, as I'm sure she'd love it just as much as Anna.

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My little sister will be thirteen this January, so I think she'll finally be old enough to read this book. My dad has now read (and loved it) and agrees with me. Plus, if she reads the book, I'll have another excuse to go see the movie when it comes out in March. Because, duh, I plan on seeing it multiple times in theater.

3. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
I'd give this book to my best friend, ShinEui. She really enjoyed Stiefvater's Shiver series (even though she is taking ages to read Forever), so I know she'll love this one too.

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
This year I am on a mission to get my little sister hooked on reading. Right now, she's...not. And since she's almost thirteen, it's about time she really plugged into a book. Considering she watches a Harry Potter movie every few weeks, I am fairly certain she will love the books. Fingers crossed!

5. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
I made my good friend, Katie, read this series a few years ago right after I read The Summer I Turned Pretty. She really enjoyed but hasn't had a chance to read this final installment. For Christmas, I'd buy it for her.

6. Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Yet another sequel I'd buy for a friend. My childhood friend, Geena, read The Body Finder over the summer after I suggested it to her. I don't think she's had a chance to read this one, so I'd give it to her for Christmas.

7. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
When my mother was in high school, she adored the movie. We watched it all the time when I was growing up, but she's never read the book. I think it's about time she did.

8. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
This is one of those books that I could give to any of my friends and know with confidence that they'd enjoy it. It is contemporary, deals with bigger issues, and has a bit of romance. In other words, there's something for everyone.

9. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
I have been trying to get my friend Dorien to read this books for ages. I know for a fact that she'd love it, but  she's just too lazy to buy and read it. So, I'll just have to buy it for her and annoy her until she read its.

10. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
This one would be for my older sister. For some odd reason, she decided long ago that she wouldn't read anything I read/reviewed. It's both weird and highly annoying, as I pretty much read everything because of my blog. I have a feeling she'd like Twenty Boy Summer, so I'll just have to lie and say I've never read it.

Now that you've read my list, what book would you like to give as gifts this Christmas/Hanukkah?

Cover Judge

Cover Judge is a long-standing, semi-weekly feature here at Chick Lit Teens that spotlights the covers of upcoming YA novels. Most people claim you can't judge a book by its cover, but with a cover as stunning as this week's feature, it's hard not to.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Release: May 1, 2012

Summary:

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Anna, a tender-hearted southern girl, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip forces Anna and Kai to face the reality that hope and love are not options for their kind. When it's time for Anna to confront her demons, will she choose to embrace her halo or her horns?

Cover: So. Pretty. When I first saw this cover (just a tiny little icon on GoodReads), I struck by its beauty. The juxtaposition of the red against the greys and blacks of the background and the model's pale hair and complexion is eye-catching. The loveliness of the dress itself further contributes to the cover's beauty. There is just something about a flared skirt that screams drama. And when it's paired with such a foreboding background and figure, that drama is increased ten-fold. There are admittedly a few flaws with the cover (like the male figure, who, frankly, just looks awkward and out of place), but the overall affect is stunning.

Top Ten Childhood Faves

I had so much fun making this list. This just might be my favorite topic thus far. Growing up, I didn't read a lot, but when I did, I got heavily invested in the books/series. To this day, I still count these books amongst some of my all time favorites. The rush of  nostalgia from making this list has me wanting to reread them all over again!

1. The Guardians of Ga'Hoole series by Katherine Lasky

If I had to pinpoint the moment where my love of reading began, it would be around chapter four of the very first book in this series. After that, I was hooked. Reading, before then just a part of being in elementary school, became one of my great loves. I tore through this series, buying the newest releases as soon as I could get my hands on them. My poor mother, great woman that she is, endured hours of me retelling the stories of the brave Guardians of Ga'Hoole. 

2. Warriors series by Erin Hunter

The Guardians may have been my first love, but the Warriors series was my first head-over-heels romance with a book series. I don't think I have ever loved a series quite as much as this one. I read the first three story arcs - from fourth grade all the way into my freshman year of high school. I simply adore everything about this series and have nothing but fond memories of it. To this day, I will strike up a conversation with my friends Katie and Shannon about the series, and we will get all fan-girly about how awesome the books were.

3. Heartland series by Lauren Brooke

In addition to cats, I also love horses. This series appealed to my inner horse lover, feeding her glorious tales of the bond between horses and their riders. It captivated me, eventually leading me to take up horseback riding, one of my favorite childhood memories. Though the books may have ended, Heartland ranch lives on in a television series produced by CBC, which I frequently watch.

4. The Princess Tales series by Gail Carson Levine

I completely forgot about this series until just now. Ah, I loved these books so much! My sister and I were constantly swapping them, reading each one in a day or two. Though I loved Ella Enchanted, this series will always be my favorite of Levine's, simply because of the memories it holds of my sister.

5. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

My best friend, Kenzie, turned me onto this book. I remember reading in Tahoe, completely captivated by the story. Had I not read this book, I never would have gone to the Shannon Hale and Libba Bray signing in San Francisco - the event that ultimately led to the creation of Chick Lit Teens. So not only was this book a great read, it was also instrumental in changing my life.

6. Chestnut Hill series by Lauren Brooke

Yet another horse-centered series from Lauren Brooke. This one had much less to do with helping horses and more to do with boarding school relationships and horse shows. Nonetheless, I found myself entranced by the series. I just adore horses.

7. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

I am fairly certain every child read this book at some point, at least that was the case when I was a kid. It was just so cute and heart-warming!

8. Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

Oh, how I loved this book growing up. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon it, but I certainly did enjoy it. I think it may have been the first science fiction-y book I read and actually enjoyed, probably because of its high fantasy flair. I actually enjoyed it so much that, years later, I went to the bookstore and purchased a copy for my personal library. 

9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

This is another one of those books that I feel almost every child has read. It was one of the first books to make me cry. Simply enchanting.

10. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I think this was the one and only book report/Reader's Workshop book that I genuinely enjoyed. The murder mystery storyline captivated fifth-grade me and led me to pick up many similar books, such as one of my all time favorites, Bad Kitty by Michelle Jaffe.

Okay, now that you've seen my list, I want to know what books you adored as a child. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Release: September 29, 2011

Companion Novel: Anna and the French Kiss

Source: Purchased

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Stephanie Perkins burst onto the YA scene last year with her debut novel Anna and the French Kiss. Her witty characters and entrancing romance quickly stole the hearts of readers and reviewers alike. Now she’s back with Lola and the Boy Next Door, proving that she most definitely deserves her spot on my all-time favorite authors list.

I think it would be nearly impossible for me to write this review without filling it with comparisons between Lola and the Boy Next Door and Anna and the French Kiss. To be quite honest, it was impossible for me to read Lola and the Boy Next Door without constantly comparing it to Anna’s story. Fortunately, Perkins wrote yet another fabulous book, ensuring that I was never disappointed by the comparison.

Lola immediately stole my heart, banishing all fears that her story would have trouble standing up to Anna’s. She was colorful and funny and had a huge heart. One of my favorite aspects of her personality (and the novel) was her penchant for costumes. I loved reading about her various outfits, which always went above and beyond my expectations.

Then, of course, there is Lola’s neighbor and romantic interest, Cricket. Perkins has a talent for writing magnificent male leads. They all have their little quirks, of course, but that’s what makes them so swoon worthy. Though Etienne will always have my heart, Cricket is a strong second with his endearing personality and tendency to ramble, as well as his glorious pants (this will make a lot more sense once you read the book).

Speaking of Etienne…I had heard talk that he and Anna would be making an appearance in Lola and the Boy Next Door. And while that excited me, it also made me a bit sad. “Appearance” sounded small, like the “appearances” Sarah Dessen’s past characters often make in her newest releases. Those little cameos are fun, but I loved Anna and Etienne far too much to only get a glimpse of them. Fortunately, Perkins was kind enough to give readers lots and lots of Anna and St. Clair. Not only were the two characters good friends of Lola (and thus frequently popping up), St. Clair actually played a big role in pushing Cricket and Lola together.

After seeing the dynamic between St. Clair, Anna, Lola, and Cricket, I’m really looking forward to Isla and the Happily Ever After. I’m especially excited to see how all the characters will cross paths!

Perkins has once again hit the ball out of the park. Lola and the Boy Next Door is the perfect blend of wit and romance, the ideal read for an afternoon escape. Just be sure that when you pick it up you clear your schedule, because you won’t want to put it down until you turn the last page.

5 stars!

Debut Author Challenge 2012

Happy December 1st everyone!

There is a rule in my house: we cannot start celebrating Christmas until after November 30th, my mother's birthday. Since that was yesterday, I can officially, publicly start celebrating Christmas. Wohoo! That doesn't simply  mean decorating the house and playing Christmas music and drinking Christmas coffee at Starbucks. It also means I can start doing December- and New Year-related things, including, drum roll please...the 2012 Debut Author Challenge!

This annual challenge, put on by the lovely Krsiti at The Story Siren, is one of my absolute favorites every year. I have always loves discovering great new authors, so a challenge centered around doing just that is perfect for me. Plus, debut authors are always so sweet!

For those of you interested in joining, you can sign up here. To find out more about the challenge, how it will be run, and for a list of titles, you can check out this post. I've included a brief summary of the challenge below, as posted on The Story Siren, but Kristi's posts are much more detailed.

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE: To read and review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013.*

*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.

RULES AND GUIDELINES:
You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads.
Your blog must be written in English.
Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

BOOK GUIDELINES:
Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.
If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

I had quite a bit of fun going through the list of novels coming in 2012 from debut authors. Maybe too much fun...I ended up with 20 books on my list, plus many more to keep tabs on. What can I say? I have a book problem! (As if you didn't already know that.) Here are the 20 that made my list, thus far:

1. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
2. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
3. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
4. Level Two by Lenore Appelhans
5. Tempest by Julie Cross
6. Queen of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
7. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
8. The Selection by Kiera Cass
9. A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
10. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
11. Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom
12. Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham
13. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
14. What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
15. Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
16. Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
17. Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance
18. Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini
19. Gilt by Katherine Longshore
20. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

That's all for now. What titles made your list?