artsy musings of a bibliophile

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books of 2014 (So Far)

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A weekly feature by The Broke and the Bookish
I keep meaning to do top ten posts but I only ever remember them on an actual Tuesday. Not this week though ’cause Lindsey tweeted about it and I was immediately on board. Also, I like to flail about good books so there’s that as well.
I read this series back in April and I’m still reeling from all the awesome. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is unlike any other book because Karou is so artsy and Brimstone has such a personality and the settings are out-of-this-world good. And that’s not even the half of it. Days of Blood and Starlight raised the bar so high I wasn’t sure anything could top that. It also broke my heart. Dreams of Gods and Monsters is my favorite from the series because of all the things that happen and the stressful undertone because man, how does it all end?! Also, I just have to mention Night of Cake and Puppets because Zuzana and Mic forever.
This was pretty much the first book I read in 2014 and OMFG, so good. This recommendation comes at a perfect time because Ruin and Rising, the last book, comes out in a week. My body is ready.
Scarlet is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions that go bam, bam- BAM. My poor heart almost couldn’t take it. I love books that wreck so this one is definitely recommended. Hehe.
Holy moly! This book did not disappoint and yes, you all need to read it.
This book. I have no words that are comprehensible because I think I’m still in bit of a book hangover ever since I read it in May. Still, I’ll tell you why you need to read it: beautiful friendship, loads of playlists, and Frank FREAKIN’ Porter.
This was my first LGBT book ever and I’m so glad that it was my first. So raw and beautiful and feels-y and that’s all I can really say about it because then it’ll be all asdfghjkl.

But what were those three words? I need to know because come on, it’s just pure torture. Still, I love those two and their story. Sigh.

Ask Again Later is such a happy book that I had a smile plastered to my face the whole time I was reading it. Also, the story is bloody brilliant despite being such a fun read.

What a messy, mindfuck of a book. If you know me, you know I love such books. Awkwardness and secrets are part of life which is why their portrayal in Life by Committee is so raw. Can I have Star’s book now?

I love road trip books and Open Road Summer had it and so much more. Though I was frustrated at the main character’s sudden bitchiness, this book made it to top ten because of the beautiful friendship, music and romance that just makes you go like, ‘Now kiss!’

I also just have to mention Gayle Forman’s Just One Year and Kasie West’s Pivot Point because they’re so good and I only didn’t mention them because they’re both duologies.

Have you read any of my best reads so far? Do you need me to convince you more?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LOVE FOR LAINI TAYLOR AND LEIGH BARDUGO

    I haven't finished either series but they're so good ahh!! Since You've Been Gone, Open Road Summer, Eleanor and Park… These books have been recurring throughout this week's TTT. MUST. READ. EEP!!

    Alicia @ Summer Next Top Story

  2. So many books on here that I want to read so badly!! I really do need to get my reading game back in shape because this just reminded me of how sad and neglected my TBR has been looking lately due to a decline in reading. I've only read SYBG and Eleanor & Park on this list but I do totally agree with you about their level of awesomeness! 😉

  3. I'm so sad that I haven't read any of these! Shadow & Bone has been on my TBR list for the longest so I must start with that! Awesome list! All books I must read asap!

  4. I need to catch up with Laini Taylor's series. I'm actually planning to read the second book for my summer TBR pile. Shadow and bone, Scarlet, Angelfall: YES. If I had read S&S this year, it would have been on my list. Great series <3 Eleanor & Park, Ask again later and Open road summer are on my radar. I keep seeing so many positive things about those books.

    Great picks Sana!

  5. Have I told you how adorable your blog is? If I haven't, well, it SO is, and if I have, I'm sure you don't mind hearing it again. =) So stinkin' cute.
    ANYWAY.
    So happy to see I'm not the only one who included World After and Ask Again Later! Adore both of those books. I am seriously praying the third book in Susan Ee's series comes out this year, but it's looking less and less likely. :/
    I'm excited to read Since You've Been Gone – hopefully I'll get to that soon!
    Lovely list, lady!

  6. Since you been goooone
    I can breathe for the first tiiiime
    I'm so moving on, yeeaah yeeeaaaah
    I ALWAYS have that song stuck in my head when I see the book 😀
    I need to get back in the mood for Contemporary! There are so many books I'm interested in and which seem to be perfect for summer but right now all I want to read is epic fantasy. Aristotle and Dante + Since You've been Gone (also: Second Chance Summer) and pretty much every Rainbow Rowell book are high on my wishlist though 😀

    I loved Night of Cake and Puppets. It's one of my favorite short stories. Zuze alone is already damn awesome but together with Mic they make the cutes couple I've ever read about.

  7. YES to Shadow and Bone, Since You've Been Gone, and Open Road Summer!! But, unlike you, I am so not ready for Ruin and Rising. I will cry forever if ANY of my babies don't make it to the end D:

  8. Shadow and Bone made my list as well and I just read it last month, so I'm really excited about the third book coming out soon so I can read two and three back to back!

  9. Hurray for book flailing! I will totally flail in excitement with you over the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy and Shadow and Bone! But I haven't read any of the other books you mention! I'm actually a little excited about that because they're all on my tbr and if they are as good as you say they are (which I'm sure they are because you have good taste) then I'm in for a treat!

  10. Ten points for the great graphics of this post. And another 50 for the following books: ARISTOTLE, OPEN ROAD, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE, ELEANOR AND PARK, ANGELFALL. 🙂

  11. Love how you listed these down! Most people go with numbers at the side, but I love the banner idea 😀

    1. YES. I can't remember much about Daughter of Smoke and Bone because I read it a couple of years ago, but I remember really enjoying it. I also like that it wasn't set in the States, which, let's face it, every book's setting right now. And also, Karou's blue hair. WANT.

    2. THE DARKLING. That is all.

    3. I've heard so much about this one! I don't know why, but it never really caught my attention so I barely know anything about it except that I do want to read it. So glad you enjoyed it, too!

    4. To be honest, I didn't find Angelfall all that mind-blowing. So many friends of mine loved it, but to me it was just kind of "eh." I might give it another go, though, just to be sure my brain wasn't trolling around when I first read it. xD

    7. I love all of Rainbow Rowell's covers! Illustrated ones are the best, seriously. And I want to read Eleanor & Park so bad, because I heard that Park is an Asian and I've never read about Asian love interests before. We need more diversity! And again, this one has gotten too many good reviews for me to resist.

    You probably have good taste since so many books that've gotten really positive reviews are on your list. 😛 I'm definitely going to check most of them out!

  12. The DoSB series is my absolute favorite! I was pretty happy that none of the books fell to the regular series faults, like second book syndrome or lame series-ender. Everything was on a high note!

  13. I had a very long book hangover after reading Since You've Been Gone too. It was so good! I also loved Life by Committee!

    Thanks for sharing! Here's my Top Ten Tuesday post

  14. Ohmygosh. YES SHADOW AND BONE. I cannot believe you finally read it! Where were my constant updates, Kai? WHERE?
    And please PLEASE PLEASE tell me you swooned over the Darkling – if not, I may (MAY) have to reconsider my ardent and undying love for you 😀
    Eeek, I just bought Scarlet for my Kindle the other day because I have seen so many people RAVING about it. I also own Daughter of Smoke and Bone + Eleanor and Park, but I haven't gotten around to reading either of them *ducks head* I promise I will get to them – one day 😀
    YESSSS ANGELFALL. You are reading so many good books this year, Kai! Me = very proud *squishes you*
    And also, Aristotle is pretty much my #1 TBR book. I wants it. I wants it REALLY BADLY.