Top Ten Tuesday – December 31, 2013: Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

TTT

It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the wonderful blog at The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s topic:  Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

Oh my gosh, my top ten of 2013. You know… Going through my books this year, I had a lot that I really loved but making a top ten was SURPRISINGLY easy. I definitely had quite a few that stood out and some books that will sit with me for a lifetime.

Best Book of 2013 #1: CRESS by Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles (#3)
Other Books in Series: Glitches (#0.5) || Cinder (#1) || The Queen’s Army (#1.5)|| Scarlet (#2)
My Review: My review will be live 1/3/14 but you can read My Latest Bookish Addiction rave about The Lunar Chronicles plus a spoiler-free sneak peek at CRESS!
Why it was the best: The Lunar Chronicles honestly just gets better and better. As the stories from each main character connect, I fall more and more in love with this series — the connections, character development, world building, plot twists… Long story short, Marissa Meyer’s books are pure genius. I was floored with CRESS and I have a long time to wait but I’m already salivating over WINTER.

Siege and Storm

Best Book of 2013 #2: SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha Trilogy (#2)
Other Books in Series: The Witch of Duva  (#0.5) || Shadow and Bone (#1) || The Taylor (#1.5) || The Too-Clever Fox (#2.5)
My Review: Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) – Leigh Bardugo
Why it was the best: SIEGE AND STORM was a book I wanted to savor. I actually took a REALLY long time to read it (over the span of a few weeks) because I really wanted to be able to give it my full attention and not have any distractions while I read it. I was hooked from the very beginning and was absolutely in love with everything going on in this book.

The Book of Broken Hearts

Best Book of 2013 #3: THE BOOK OF BROKEN HEARTS by Sarah Ockler
Series: None – Stand Alone
My Review: The Book of Broken Hearts – Sarah Ockler
Related Posts: The Selective Collective features The Book of Broken Hearts: Favorite Father-Daughter Relationships in YA
Why it was the best: I did some UGLY CRYING during this book. It was simply fantastic and hands down the best contemporary book I read in 2013. It instantly became one of my favorites. I really connected with Jude, her family, and fell a little bit in love with Emilio. The story just touched my heart and I made so many personal connections to the book (as stated in my review)!

Eleanor & Park

Best Book of 2013 #4: ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell
Series: None – Stand Alone
My Review: Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell
Related Posts: My Eleanor & Park Playlist! (The Selective Collective feature)
Why it was the best: I was truly impressed with Eleanor & Park in so many ways. I had read Rainbow Rowell’s previous (adult)  book, Attachments, a few years before and it was fun but I wasn’t as impressed with it as I had hoped. Eleanor & Park totally wowed me. I was so attached to each character and my heart went out to Eleanor. Each character felt so real and I was just totally impressed with how different it felt from Attachments.

The Dream Thieves

Best Book of 2013 #5: THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Steifvater
Series: The Raven Cycle (#2)
My Review: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2) – Maggie Stiefvater
Related Posts: The Raven Boys (#1)
Why it was the best: I was really impressed with The Raven Boys and made a strong decision to choose The Dream Thieves as the first ARC I wanted to read from BEA — and boy was that a good choice! I was truly impressed with everything that Maggie Steifvater has done and continues to do with this series — characters, plot, themes, twists. She’s packed it all in there and every page felt like an incredible journey!

The Beginning of Everything

Best Book of 2013 #6: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING by Robyn Schneider
Series: None – Stand Alone
My Review: The Beginning of Everything – Robyn Schneider
Why it was the best: This book was magical to me. Firstly, LOVED that it was from a male POV because I actually didn’t really realize that before I picked it up! I just really adored the story and honestly more so, the way it made me feel. Then there were the musical references and perfect soundtrack moments that I totally connected with and they just made my heart ache. I fell in love with this book and I’m definitely looking forward to future works by Robyn Schneider!

Legend

Best Book of 2013 #7: LEGEND by Marie Lu
Series: Legend Trilogy (#1)
My Review: Legend (Legend #1) – Marie Lu
Why it was the best: Seriously, guys. WHY did you let me wait until now to read Legend? Me and my dystopian kicks and… This was one I should have read a long time ago BUT at least the whole trilogy is out now and I can read the rest of it ASAP! I’m so excited to finish the series with all of the praise it’s been given!

Wild Awake

Best Book of 2013 #8: WILD AWAKE by Hilary T. Smith
Series: None – Stand Alone
My Review: Wild Awake – Hilary T. Smith
Why it was the best: Wild Awake was a stunning debut from Hilary T. Smith that totally took me by surprise. I expected to love it but I was kind of left without words after I finished. I devoured this book in a day and read all through my 4th of July! I loved the psychological aspects in this book and it was a really interesting read for me! Definitely different from your “normal” contemporary.

Roomies

Best Book of 2013 #9: ROOMIES by Tara Altebrando & Sara Zarr
Series: None – Stand Alone
My Review: Roomies – Tara Altebrando & Sara Zarr
Why it was the best: I loved so many things about this book: The fact that it’s college-related, takes place in between high school & college, the connection with each character, the alternating POVs… Tara Altebrando & Sara Zarr hit the nail on the head with this one and I had such a good time reading it!

The Summer I Became a Nerd

Best Book of 2013 #10: THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD by Leah Rae Miller
Series: None – Stand Alone
My Review: The Summer I Became A Nerd – Leah Rae Miller
Why it was the best: This was SUCH a fun book that I totally didn’t anticipate falling in love with. I thought it was going to be fun but I totally loved geeking out with Maddie and Logan. I loved the romance, the friendships, and the crazy and nerdy situations Maddie lands herself in. I think this was one that didn’t get enough mention in 2013 so put this one on your TBRs for 2014!!

Those were my favorites for 2013! Which one of my choices made YOUR list? Any of these that you didn’t read in 2013 and can’t wait to get to in 2014?

Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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16 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday – December 31, 2013: Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

  1. Rebecca @ The Library Canary

    I’m so happy you read Legend last year!!! And loved it! I freaking love Marie Lu. And I am dying to read Cress which I will have in my hands tomorrow!!! I’ll email you to let you know when I have it in my hands. 🙂 So many great books that I need to read in 2014.

  2. Ashley

    I have to agree with you Eleanor and Park and Siege and Storm were defiantly two of my favourite books this year and I can’t wait to get my hands on Cress when it is released.

  3. Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook

    Oh my gosh, Brittant, every time I stop over to your blog, I end up wanting to read Cress even more – and that’s impressive because I’m already dying to read it.

    Eleanor & Park is such an amazing book. Talk about all the feels. I’m pretty much a “I’ll read anything Rowell writes without having the slightest clue on the subject” fan. I really need to read The Grisha books. I still haven’t read them, but I keep seeing them on Best of lists.

  4. Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages

    It’s funny how as I read people lists I’m like yep, yep, expected that one. I’m reading Roomies now and I’m so in love with it, I’m maybe 50 page from the end and I don’t want it to be over! Legend is one I want to read in 2014, I’ve heard such good things! Happy New Year!

  5. Stormy

    I recently bought Wild Awake, so it’s nice to see it on a list of best-of 2013! I’ve seen a lot of mixed reactions for it. I can’t wait to read Roomies–it sounds so good! And now I have a copy of Legend as well thanks to my Secret Santa, so I’m hoping to make that one of my January 2014 reads!

  6. Cassie

    I have to pick up Wild Awake and Scarlet! Also Estelle got me Roomies so I must get that read also!

    I hear veryyyy mixed things on The Beginning of everything ! But that cover!! Love!

    Also. DUH to siege and storm. Leigh rocks 😉

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