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.
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.
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)!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!!
16 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday – December 31, 2013: Top Ten Books I Read In 2013”
Oh man, what a fun list! I have some serious catching up to do 🙂 Happy New Year!!
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.
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.
Most of these are still in my pile & it makes me kind of crazy. Must do better 😉
Eleanor & Park is definitely my favorite book I read this year. I loved Fangirl, but I didn’t think it compared.
So jealous you got to read Cress I can’t wait for it to come out. Book of Broken Hearts and Eleanor and Park are on my list to read next year so many people mentioned them as their favorites.
I really liked Siege and Storm! Roomies was good, too, but it wasn’t one of my top ten. I haven’t read any of the rest, but most of them are on my TBR list.
I really enjoyed Legend too – and I can’t wait to read Cress!
I can’t wait to read Cress next year! I just Cinder and Scarlet this year and they both made my Top 10 today.
I loved Eleanor & Park so much. It was such an amazing read.
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.
So, so, so sorry. Typo in your name. That’s Brittany. 🙂
I love siege and storm..can’t wait for Cress!
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!
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!
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 😉