Looking Back at 2018

What. A. Year.

Anyone else feeling like that? And also that we feel like that at the end of every year?

It seems like the year has flown by for me but it's also been jam packed. Most of it was all good things but there's been a ton going on. Mostly thanks to the new job I started back in March - woot! That defined my year, for sure, but in between all the learning and the growing and the learning (so much learning), I kept at the blog and read my little heart out.

Even though a lot of mental energy has been sucked up by getting used to a new position, I've been finding I've had much more energy for blogging. I've also been reading a whole lot more. I now have an hour lunch break, instead of the half hour I used to have. I try to take the full hour every day (sometimes work takes precedence but I know myself and I know I need that break that, well, I'm entitled to). That's a lot more reading time! There's a park just a few blocks from my office so this summer and fall I risked cutting into my reading time to wander down to sit and read in the sun. So worth it. I'm making it to the gym a whole lot more too (also helps me feel so much better) and that allows for reading time while I do cardio. Related: I've listened to a few more audiobooks this year which is nice for not only walking around downtown but also for listening to during an entire workout, weights included.

I'm still writing reviews for a local magazine, Niagara Life, and that allows me to get out of my comfort zone and read more widely. Another thing helping me expand my reading horizons is my monthly book club. I think it's been just over 3 years since I've joined the club and it's been so great to get together with like-minded women and chat about books and life. And drink wine. Book club allowed me to finally read The Alice Network (SO GOOD) by Kate Quinn and Beartown (SO EFFING GOOD) by Fredrik Backman.

I'm finding it harder and harder to get to book events in Toronto (reminder: I'm about an hour and a half, in good traffic which isn't a thing that exists, away from the city) but I did manage to get to a few over the last year. The events I'm attending are changing, just as the blogging world has. I'm hopeful there will be even more adult reader events in the next year.

My first event of the year was the launch for Marissa Stapley's second novel, Things to Do When It's Raining (check out my review here). It was lovely to see all of the support she has from her friends and family. She has a great network of women authors who were (mostly) all there and it blows my mind that they know who I am. These women include contributors to a national newspaper and multiple best-selling authors. I wrote in my Instagram post about the evening how crazy and wonderful that is.

The library in Grimsby, a city in my region, hosts authors once a month for about six months of the year and tickets are always sold out. Luckily my boyfriend gets free tickets so I get to experience this great event. In April, Jennifer Robson was one of the authors. I hadn't read her books but I've purchased them for gifts. I was so enthralled by her talk that I bought Goodnight from London and devoured it a few days later. Read it.

HarperCollins Canada had a few great events I was lucky enough to attend this year. In May, they held a Meet and Greet with Joanna Goodman (author of The Home for Unwanted Girls) and Ellen Keith (author of The Dutch Wife). Even though the books were still very new, I had already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) both novels for Niagara Life (you can see the issues with my reviews here and here). Listening to the women talk about their novels was so great. You can read my full event recap post here.

The second Meet and Greet event I went to at HarperCollins was in June and featured three authors - Karma Brown (author of The Life Lucy Knew), Tish Cohen (author of Little Green), and Uzma Jalaluddin (author of Ayesha at Last). Jalaluddin's book was a highly anticipated read for me so I was thrilled to hear her speak. I've met Karma on numerous occasions and was really looking forward to her new book too. I've only read one of Cohen's (many) books but loved it. It was so cool to hear from three authors who are at very different points in their careers speak. Also, the inscription in my copy of The Life Lucy Knew may be my new favourite. Karma had no idea what to write so I just told her to write "s'up" - and she did.

Speaking of Karma, she came down to Niagara for a Wine and Words event (a local library, where I worked a few years ago, has an author visit a different winery every month-ish). I love supporting libraries and local events and authors I love so of course I went (you can see my Insta post here). A friend came with me - and ended up purchasing a book too! I also helped a couple of other older ladies decide which books to purchase for themselves. I just love talking about books!

In a completely different type of event, my friends and I went to Word on the Street in September and also got tickets to watch the premiere of Anne with an E. We got to see the show on the big screen at a theatre, with some of the actors there, and afterwards we got flower crowns. It was a really fun and neat experience. And free!

HarperCollins also hosted a wonderful tea featuring Jennifer Robson (yes, my second Robson event, if you're keeping track) and Kate Quinn. As soon as I saw tickets go on sale I jumped on it because I knew they'd sell out (they did...in less than 24 hours, I think). My friend, Natalie, managed to get on the wait list and scored herself a ticket. Remember that group of authors I mentioned who are friends with Marissa and who all support each other? Natalie and I were seated with all of them at this event. It was so lovely! A bit surreal. But lovely. Jess Allen from The Social hosted and interviewed the authors and we learned so much about their writing process.

In October a friend and I went on an epic road trip for an author event featuring K.A. Tucker (one of my favourites), Marissa Stapley (second event of the year for her too), and Joanna Goodman (yep, second event). We drove a couple of hours to visit my friend's new baby, then had a flight of cider and beer at a local brewery/cidery, followed by lunch with Tucker and a group of her fans (!!!), and then the event. And then a drive home. Phew! It was an amazing day though and the event was wonderful.

I went to a second Grimsby author event in October which featured Joanna Goodman (the third time this year I've seen her!) and Eden Robinson (author of Trickster Drift). The stories these women told were amazing and it was a great event. Then, in November I went to a third event with Beverley McLachlin (the former Chief Justice of Canada and author of Full Disclosure) and Dave Williams (former astronaut and author of Defying Limits). It was probably my favourite event they've hosted because McLachlin and Williams had such fascinating lives to share with us. Every event Grimsby holds is well done because they put so much effort into it.

Wow. Looking back I've realized I really have been able to go to a lot of events. Lucky me!

As for the actual reading I've done? I read more books in 2018 than I have in years. I'm working on book #110 because I like nice, round numbers. You can check out my full year in books on Goodreads here. I learned the shortest book I read was Half Spent Was the Night at 112 pages and the longest, at a whopping 656 pages, was Lethal White. Two very, very different books. I wanted to read more diversely this year but I didn't do as well with that as I would have liked - only reading 5 that could truly be called diverse. Gotta do better in 2019. I read way more books by men this year than I have in awhile, with 10. 89 books were from women. 32 books were by Canadians, 6 were YA (that number keeps dropping, which isn't surprising), ad 4 were non-fiction. I posted last week about my favourite books of the year so check that out and let me know what your favourite books of the year were.

Overall, 2018 was a really lovely, bookish year. I'm hoping I can read a lot next year as well and do better about reading more diverse stories and authors. Attending as many author events as possible is also on the agenda.

I hope you all had a great 2018 and wish you all the best for 2019!

HarperCollins Meet and Greet: Joanna Goodman and Ellen Keith

Last month I had the chance to attend a meet and greet event at the new HarperCollins Canada offices in downtown Toronto. I live outside of the city so I can't often make it in to evening events on a weekday. However, I have a new job and we have a Toronto office so I made plans to work there for the day so I could walk a few blocks over to the event after work. Win all around!

I was excited for the event for all sorts of reasons. One was that I hadn't seen the new HarperCollins offices yet. A few fellow YA bloggers had been to a Frenzy event and I was a bit envious of the views they had. I settled myself into a window seat at the event, not really thinking about my fear of heights. Probably not the wisest decision as this was the view:

Pretty incredible though, right? I just kept telling myself not to look all the way down (after I had snapped this shot, of course) which was easier said than done as the windows were floor to ceiling. Amazing but a bit fear inducing for me!

The authors being featured at this event (which took place on May 2) were Joanna Goodman and Ellen Keith. Both women had recently published historical fiction novels. Joanna's, The Home for Unwanted Girls, released on April 17th and Ellen's, The Dutch Wife, on April 24th. The books were new but I had read both for Niagara Life, a magazine I review for. I really enjoyed both of them so I jumped at the chance to hear them speak and get signed copies of both books.

Check out the synopsis of each book on Goodreads:
The Home for Unwanted Girls
The Dutch Wife

I wasn't the only one who enjoyed these books either. Both women debuted on The Globe and Mail bestseller lists. Joanna at number 1 the week her book came out and Ellen, a week later, at number 2. How amazing is that?

I believe this is actually as Kaiti announced Ellen debuting on
the bestseller list. I love seeing how happy Joanna is for her.

One of the best things I learned from the talk was that both women fell down a bit of a research rabbit hole while working on their books. Joanna knew she wanted to tell a story of a woman giving up her baby in 1950s Quebec and Ellen wanted to give a Nazi a chance to tell their perspective of WWII. Ellen had done some traveling in Germany and wondered how they were being taught the history of the war compared to what we may be told over here in North America. Both women's vague ideas were made so much richer by the research they found. Joanna's research led her to Duplessis Orphans (check out Wikipedia for a brief overview). Ellen learned about what happened in Argentina during the Dirty War plus about the brothels at prison and labour camps during WWII.

Joanna said that she'd been working on this book for "half her life" and found it very difficult to find first-hand accounts of the orphans. She said it wasn't surprising because the children would not have received a formal education so their literacy would be limited. She did find one instance where a child had put together her story and talked to a journalist who, in turn, published an article. Joanna said that it was so helpful finding that book because it confirmed the perspective she had of the orphans.

Ellen answering a question either from Kaiti (right) or the audience.

The women were asked if there was a pressure to tell their historical stories "correctly" and they both responded with a strong yes. Ellen said she was terrified that someone would come and tell her that she got it all wrong. Joanna agreed. Joanna was less concerned with the factual errors or inconsistencies than with the emotional ones. She just didn't know exactly how the orphans would have felt. Ellen has a history degree and found herself getting too focused on getting every little detail right and she didn't know how to handle the gaps in the research. In the end she learned that the novel should be more about the heart and essence of what you're trying to communicate than cold, hard facts.

The authors also went into more detail on how, exactly, the first seeds of their story were planted. Joanna's novel was kind of her mother's story and Maggie was written almost entirely as her mother (apart from the giving up a baby part of the novel). It was bittersweet for Joanna as her mom passed away before the book was published. Ellen wanted to write an homage to her grandparents who lived in the Netherlands during the war. While Marijka is spunky just like Ellen's grandmother was, Ellen's heroine is not really based on anyone in particular.

As is inevitable at events such as this, someone asked what advice the women would give to aspiring authors. Ellen said to never, ever give up. She also suggests finding other people who love reading and writing and have them read your work. That really helped keep her going. Joanna absolutely agreed and added that you need to have a thick skin as you'll have to learn to ignore every rejection. She also said that writing workshops have been the best thing for her career. Both women shared stories that showed how finding people you trust can be the best thing for your writing as they have more distance from the work itself and can sometimes provide a better perspective.

The authors graciously signed all of our copies.

It was a wonderful evening and I'm very thankful HarperCollins Canada allowed me to take part in the event. We all got a copy of each book and had the chance to have them signed by Ellen and Joanna. It was nice to have a quick moment to chat with each other where I could tell them I really enjoyed their novels. Joanna also let me know, once she learned where I was from, that she should have a couple of events in Niagara in the fall so I'm looking forward to that!

Two more signed books to add to my collection.

7th Annual End of Year Survey

It's that time of year again! Time for the End of Year Book Survey, courtesy of Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner! To be honest, it's past that time of year. But that's ok! I'm still going to post my answers. How was your reading life in 2016? Links will lead to Goodreads (but only the first time I mention the book/author) or, if noted, to my review.

Number Of Books You Read: 103
Number of Re-Reads: 8
Genre You Read The Most From: Adult Contemporary (fiction, chick lit, romance, and so on)

Best in Books 

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

You can’t expect me to pick just one, right?

Best Reread: Arranged – Catherine McKenzie

Best (Romantic) Suspense: He Will Be My Ruin – KA Tucker (review here)

Best (Adult) Contemporary: Poles Apart – Terry Fallis

Best YA: The Unexpected Everything – Morgan Matson

(Fun fact: almost all of those authors are Canadian!)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin. I’ve been a Giffin fan for years but I just didn’t love this one, even though many others did.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

It wasn’t so much the book itself that was surprising but the subject matter, which was based on truth. In The German Girl, by Armando Lucas Correa, it’s 1939 and a ship full of Jewish refugees was turned away in Cuba, the USA, and Canada before being forced to head back to Europe. Some people were allowed off and the novel focuses on a fictional girl who stays in Cuba with her pregnant mother but her father is not allowed off the ship. He, like many others, dies in a camp in Europe. I didn’t love love love the book but it made me realize how many stories I just don’t know from history.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I reread Arranged by Catherine McKenzie this year because my book club decided to read it (yes, with my urging) and it’s one I’ve pushed on many people over the years.

5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

I finally read All Lined Up by Cora Carmack and loved it. I wish my library had the books because I definitely can’t afford to buy the rest of them! 

I also freaking loved Sarah Morgan’s series From Manhattan with Love. A definite must for romance lovers. 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Karma Brown. I actually came across her in a way that’s fairly normal for others but not for me. A co-worker was given her book and because she doesn’t read, she passed it off to me. See the blogging life category further down for more on Karma!

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Literary fiction is not usually my jam but I freaking loved The Hidden Keys by Andre Alexis (he won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2015 for Fifteen Dogs…which is also very good.)

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

He Will Be My Ruin by KA Tucker. I love her writing anyway but she wrote such a suspenseful book that I just could not read fast enough.

9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Arranged was a re-read and I’m likely to re-read that one as it’s one of my all-time favourites. I also imagine I’ll reread the Lucy Maud Montgomery books I read this year. But will any of those get read in 2017? Unlikely.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

The Regulars by Georgia Clark

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Most of the characters from We’re All in this Together by Amy Jones were pretty memorable but I think I’ll have to choose Georgia Nicolson from Louise Rennison’s series. I read these back in high school and a blogger friend and I reread them after Rennison’s death earlier this year. Georgia is a bit ridiculous and has so much growing up to do but she definitely qualifies as memorable!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery.   

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

Either The Break Katherna Vermette or The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittall. Both are must reads.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I know. I had it on my shelf but it took the movie and going to a (very very quick) signing for me to finally read this one.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

So many parts of Jenny Lawson’s Furiously Happy had me laughing so hard I was in tears or nodding because I totally understood what she meant. This one is one of the funny ones.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Longest: The Unexpected Everything – Morgan Matson (Goodreads says 519 pages)
Shortest: Winter Wishes – Karina Halle (Goodreads says 87 pages – it’s a novella)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

While I read many shocking stories this year, most of them had expected shocking moments. Finding out who the killer is, if the father and pillar of the community really was guilty of sexual abuse, who it really was who raped a young girl (oh yeah, I read some really light books this year)…those are all things you expect to find out through the course of a gripping, suspenseful novel. But I had a literal jaw drop moment when I read Karen Swan’s latest book, of all things. Christmas Under theStars had a few more twists than I had anticipated and I think I was more shocked because I figured out one revelation and then, bam, Swan surprised me with another.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Georgia and Dave the Laugh from Louise Rennison’s series.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The friendship between Hannah and Kate in Karma Brown’s The Choices We Make is one of the strongest and best I’ve ever read. 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

He Will Be My Ruin by KA Tucker

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

I kind of wanted to read it anyway but all the press about The Nest made me look forward to the book. End result? Meh. I do not see what the fuss is about.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Blake Crawford from Karina Halle’s Smut. Blake is British, smart, funny (sometimes more on the dry wit and sarcastic side), and good-looking. Sign me up. Plus – Halle’s muse was Sam Claflin. Yum.

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Technically Amy Jones has been published before but We’re All in This Together is her first novel (and it’s delightful). Also a stretch because it’s not her first book but it is her first novel, The Break by Katherena Vermette. Although, I did read Karma Brown’s debut novel, Come Away With Me, this year even though this wasn’t the year she published it.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Break takes place in Winnipeg, which is a real place and wouldn’t necessarily need a lot of “worldbuilding” but in order for the story to work, Vermette had to paint a picture of what it’s like to live as a Native Canadian. She did and it’s a total gut punch. And a must read.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

I read a lot of books that are on the lighter side so they have funny and sweet moments throughout so, I think I’ll go with Hot Dudes Reading because, hello.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Raise your hand if you’re surprised that it was Me Before You.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Pretty much anything by Karina Halle but Smut and Heat Wave in particular.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. Read it.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

I really enjoyed Don’t I Know You? by Marni Jackson. It’s a book of short stories that follow a woman from 16 to 60 as she has the most random encounters with celebrities in her everyday life. You have to suspend your belief a little bit but once you do, it all works and it’s thoroughly enjoyable. Notable celebrity mentions: Leonard Cohen, Taylor Swift, Keith Richards, Meryl Streep, and Bob Dylan.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

I had an ARC that infuriated me but some of the issues did get resolved so my pick is Falling by Jane Green. It was infuriating and I think tried a little too hard to be like other popular books.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?

Every year I say, “Kaley, make sure you write down which new blogs you’ve discovered otherwise you’ll forget when it’s time to do the end of year survey” and every year I forget. So, I’m going to promo for a friend (who has no idea that I’m going to hehe) Rattle the Stars belongs to a girl I went to university with. She’s just about to celebrate her first blogoversary (so I guess, technically, I did discover it in 2016 lol).

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

I’m going to go with my review of Hot Dudes Reading because the book and review meant staring at hot dudes who were reading. You cannot go wrong with that.

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

2016 was my sixth blogoversary, can you believe it? I kind of let it all out in a post celebrating that and I’m glad. We always talk about being yourself and blogging the way you want to blog so I kind of just talked about everything that was good and bad and in between with blogging over the last year.

4. Best event that you participated in?

I finally read Me Before You this year and adored it. I heard Jojo Moyes would be in Toronto (about 1.5 hours away from me) for a signing so made plans to go. It was a bit of a clusterfuck getting there as I didn’t realize until close to the event that it was just a signing, and a fast one at that, and realized the day before that it was at a different Indigo than I thought. I almost didn’t go but having the chance to hang out with Jess from Paper Trail Diary was too good of a chance to pass up. Fast forward to the day of and having to drive into Toronto (shudder) and almost not finding the store and having to buy new copies of the book for Jess and myself because of their stupid rules and not being able to hear any of the Q&A before the signing, we got our copies of Me Before You signed by the lovely Moyes. That doesn’t sound like much fun, right? Well, you’re right. But because of who I was standing with (Terri from Read and Riot), we all got passes to see the movie Me Before You that night – about two weeks before it was released in theatres. VIP theatre (my first experience), free popcorn, water (or pop), magazine, and Kleenex (and yes, it was necessary). It was so much fun and I was so glad I made the trek into the city for the signing!

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

As I mentioned earlier, Karma Brown was a new to me author in 2016. I saw an event coming up where Karma was being interviewed by another author I knew and liked (Marissa Stapley) so I devoured her first book (Come Away with Me, the one I was given) and bought the second (The Choices We Make) at the event. It was a great event – two smart women talking about books and publishing! – and I had a chance to hang out with my Toronto author friend Samantha Stroh Bailey and bumped into author Chantel Guertin too! But that wasn’t the best part of my year with Karma and her books. My book club decided to read Come Away with Me so I tweeted at Karma to tell her that. She ended up coming to our meeting! It was an excellent night and almost everyone in my club was engaged and asked questions. We kept Karma for almost two hours (sorry about that…) but it was a fantastic evening.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Fitting in time to blog and being inspired to write were my biggest challenges. I got a lot of reading in but just did not feel like sitting down to write the reviews. Sigh.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My post on my blogoversary was well loved (thanks, guys!) but my review of The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson was a popular one, too!

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I think everyone needs to read Karina Halle and everyone can because she has something in pretty much every genre. I reviewed a couple of hers this year, and read a few more, but I don’t think enough readers know about her. If you’re a fan of KA Tucker or Colleen Hoover, you should really read Halle.

Review of The Lie and review of Heat Wave 

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Hamilton Review of Books (not to be confused with the musical…I live near Hamilton the city) just started up a month or so ago and I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with next. The Penguin Shop in Toronto opened this year but I have yet to visit (they’re only open during the week and I’m never in Toronto during the week or, if I am, it’s after the store has closed). Finally, I discovered FirstEdition Tea and have even bought some…I just haven’t tried it yet. Oops. Their packaging is just so fun!

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I had decided to make my reading goal 75 because I was hopeful I would eventually work full time and would therefore have less time to read. I did get full time but I also managed to read 103 books.

I also reread all of the Georgia Nicolson books with Jessica from Paper Trail Diary. It was a mission and a half (and we may have regretted our decision partway through the year) but we stuck with it. It was really interesting to read YA books from when we were teens and compare them to what teens are reading these days. Let me just say, thank goodness some things are changing.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I bought it the day it released (the actual day time…I didn’t do the midnight release) and because of magazine deadlines and other books and life, I just haven’t gotten to it yet.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen (my all-time favourite author!) and Until it Fades by KA Tucker. Oh and Things to Do When It’s Raining by Marissa Stapley! And for a non-fiction choice, Baseball Life Advice by Stacey May Fowles (It looks like Goodreads hasn't updated the listing for the book yet with the right title or new cover but that's the book! You can see the cover here).

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

This is one of the hardest questions to answer! I’m so bad at knowing what debuts are coming, plus I always find it’s YA debuts that are talked about most in the blogosphere. Not helpful for me. (Even if answers for 2 and 4 make you think otherwise haha)

I did find one article on the interwebs that included The Young Wives Club by Julie Pennell. I have no idea if I’ll get to it this year or not, but it sounds intriguing and it’s her first novel.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (SO EXCITED) by Jenny Han and The Enemies of Versailles by Sally Christie (that one will be my first read of the year!).

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Other than recommitting and blogging more, I really really really want to finally redesign my site. There’s so much work involved (design, hosting, etc etc etc) that I’ve been putting it off for awhile now.

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

I beta-read one upcoming novel which I’m really excited about but you’ll just have to wait to hear more about that one.

I did finish Juliet’s Answer: One Man’s Search for Love and the Elusive Cure for Heartbreak by Glenn Dixon, which releases later this month, and it was delightful. 

6th Annual End of Year Survey

Image from The Perpetual Page-Turner

I know, I know. 2016 is well underway. Why am I bothering with a recap of 2015 reading? Because I damn well want to, that's why. I adore Jamie of The Perpetual Page-Turner's End of Year Survey and I'm so glad I did take the time to work on it because it's rekindled my love of books, blogging, and reading, which took a bit of a hit last year due to all sorts of reasons. So, without further ado, I present my answers to the 2015 End of Year Survey. Jamie's survey can be found here.

2015 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 110

Number of Re-Reads: 6 (the first six Anne of Green Gables books)

Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary (Some chick lit, women’s fiction, YA, NA)

Best In Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

I had a lot of favourites this year. You can check out my top ten list I did mid-December here. One book I keep mentioning as one of my favourites (might be number one) was The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (review, on Novel Escapes, the other blog I write for, is here).

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford. I don’t know why I didn’t love it but I just didn’t. It was one I was really excited about when I went to BEA and I managed to find an abandoned ARC just sitting on a table. I think part of the issue was I had only heard so-so things about it so I was negatively influenced. Ah well.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

I didn’t expect to like All Inclusive by Farzana Doctor as much as I did. The Canadian author wrote a great novel that I just couldn’t put down. Review is here.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I push every book that I love so it’s hard to say which one got the most pushing. I didn’t read it last year but I tried to get many library patrons to read Crazy Rich Asians (review) when I was working at a library this summer. At the Water’s Edge (review), The Lake House (review), and The Sisters of Versailles (review) all got pushed at the library, too.

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

I finally read Jenny Han’s Summer series and am oh so glad I did. Loved them! And I thought the third book, We’ll Always Have Summer, was a perfect ending.

I also read the follow up to Meredith Schorr’s Blogger Girl (review) in ARC form and even though Novelista Girl (review) didn’t publish until 2016, it was probably the best sequel of the year. (Other than the manuscript of another book I read by Laura Chapman.)

I also devoured M.S. Force’s Quantum series. Seriously, I finished one and immediately picked up the next. I was that hooked. I’m so excited that the series isn’t actually over and she’s written another book about another couple from that world (Rapturous is out today!).

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

I found a bunch of new authors last year (some debut, some new to me) and put together a Top Ten Tuesday of all ten new to me authors a few weeks ago.

I think I’m most pleased I was able to get the chance to meet Sally Christie in July and cannot wait to dive into the ARC I have of her second book, The Rivals of Versailles.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Career of Evil was the third book in Robert Galbraith’s (aka J.K. Rowling) Cormoran Strike series. I don’t usually read straight mystery/suspense but I’m loving this series.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

See above :) Or any of K.A. Tucker’s books, especially the ones in the Burying Water series, I read in 2015 (Becoming Rain, Chasing River, Surviving Ice).

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

As I’m sure I mentioned last year, I don’t often reread books that close together. I usually like to wait at least a year before diving back into a particular world.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

Three way tie between three very different covers: Finding Audrey (review), Christmas at Lilac Cottage (review), and Leading Lines (review).  

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Ivy from Surviving Ice. I didn’t think I was going to love the last book in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water series but Ivy worked her way into my heart and I loved reading about her kick ass self.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

I reread most of the Anne of Green Gables books this year and I forgot how exceptionally lovely they are.  

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?

Oh man. I don’t think I really had any book totally change my life last year. #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso did give me a lot to think about though. I’m trying to read anything I can that will really help me find my focus and help me figure out what the hell I should be doing with my life.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

Jenny Han’s Summer series, for sure.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

I am the worst at keeping track of quotes and I'm at a double disadvantage with not having my laptop working right now, so I can't easily access all my pictures. (I take a lot of pictures of pages with quotes on it I like. That's how I keep track. Not a great system lol) But this is one I posted on Instagram, so clearly it made an impact!

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Shortest was Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton (amazing graphic novel) at 166 pages.

Longest was Middlemarch by George Eliot at 904 pages. (Holy long and boring. Audiobook totally helped though.)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

I was shocked by the twist in November 9 (review) by Colleen Hoover but then I realized it reminded me too much of another NA book and then I was slightly annoyed.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Ben and Reese from Five Ways to Fall. I was surprised I loved this couple since Ben was always kind of a know-it-all pretty boy in my mind in the previous Ten Tiny Breaths series. But, I should know better than to doubt K.A. Tucker and I really grew to love Ben in this book.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Anne and Diana from Anne of Green Gables. Kindred spirits, bosom friends. (See above quote!) 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Sarah Dessen finally had a new book out in 2015, Saint Anything. I love everything she does but this one was so much better than a few of her recent ones. Such an amazing novel.  

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Actually, Jamie was all about 99 Days by Kate Cotugno so I decided to read it. So. Good.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

Brook from First & Goal by Laura Chapman. Swoon.  

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

I’ve already talked about Sally Christie but I loved Avelynn (review) by Marissa Campbell too. Yay Canadians! Yay historical fiction!

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan. The most outrageous thing about this book and it’s setting, among the filthy rich in Mainland China, is that it’s based on real life. Not the characters and their escapades, exactly, but people like Carlton and Astrid, and all the rest, actually exist. To have that kind of money…

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton. (Review) If you’re like me and hadn’t read any of her Hark, A Vagrant! comics, you need to rectify that situation immediately. I loved the mix of history, pop culture, humour, and feminism in this collection.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

I’m fairly certain Who Do You Love (review) by Jennifer Weiner made me cry. At the very least, I had crazy goosebumps as I read the scenes taking place on 9/11.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Marrying Type (review) by Laura Chapman. This was a really awesome novel that was a subtle nod to Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I adored it and wish others would give it a shot too!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Possibly Before We Were Strangers (review) by Renee Carlino. WHY DIDN’T THEY JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER?!? (This also has a jaw dropping twist moment.)

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis (review). This one ended up winning the Scotiabank Giller Prize and, shocker, I had read it before it was even nominated. Quick and dirty synopsis: Two gods (Hermes and Apollo) make a bet and give a group of dogs at a Toronto vet clinic human consciousness and language. It’s a little bit heartbreaking and a little bit weird, but a lot riveting.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
I already mentioned how Before We Were Strangers was a bit annoying because the two main characters just didn't converse with each other. So many problems could have been solved had they just talked to each other. His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay also drove me a bit batty...it's why I don't read a lot of "literature" because nothing happens and I get bored.

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?   

Every year I tell myself to make a list of the new blogs I find and every year I forget. Sigh. I can say that this year I fell in love with Alyssa’s photos on Instagram. She runs the blog Swept Away By Books and is on Instagram and Twitter as @alybabybooks. Her photos are gorgeous and she’s smart, funny, and Canadian.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?   

It was hard to pick a review I would call a favourite since I struggled a lot this year, but I decided to go with my review of The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster. Scott Wilbanks was a debut author and seemed so genuinely appreciative of my review. It was a really fun and riveting book too, which helped the writing and sharing process!

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I didn’t have many non-review posts this year (hell, I didn’t have many posts at all). In a couple of questions you’ll see my posts on BEA, which were a lot of fun to write.

My favourite Top Ten Tuesday post was probably the one about bookish things I want to quit. It was good to take a look at my reading and blogging habits and figure out what really needs to be change.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?  

I had so much fun at Word on the Street this year with my blog (and very good) buddy, Natalie (Browsing Bookshelves). It was a beautiful day and we crossed paths with so many bloggers, including part the Ottawa Blogettes, which was such a great surprise.

I was also thrilled that the Ontario Blogger Meet Up was back this year. I hadn’t realized how much I missed getting together with my fellow bloggers. Being able to meet more authors (Sally Christie especially), say hi to another I’ve met before (lost my mind a little bit about being able to really chat with K.A. Tucker), and (re)connect with contacts in publishing is also great. And the amazing swag bags don’t hurt either!

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

BookExpo America was, hands down, the best bookish event of 2015.This was the first time I had ever been to the event and the first time I had ever been to New York City. Needless to say, it was amazing. I got to meet some of my favourite authors (Catherine McKenzie - finally, K.A. Tucker - again, Meg Cabot) and hung out with some of my other faves at an amazing author dinner, after a fantastic event for Laura Dave’s latest novel (I love her and her book Eight Hundred Grapes - review) where I also got to meet Liz and Lisa, authors and defender of chick lit (amazing women).

My recaps (sans haul post because I suck): Planning and Travel, Day One Day, Day One Night, Day Two, Day Three, Touristing and Leaving.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

I got really behind with blogging near the end of 2014 when I was working over an hour away from home (one way). The commute (and the job) sucked the life out of me and it was hard to focus on anything fun. I was still playing catch up but I was getting there...and then my laptop broke at the end of 2015. It’s been so frustrating trying to get it fixed. Also, because of falling behind, I feel like I’m also having to totally rebuild relationships with publishers. It was a really tough year.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog?   

One of my popular posts this year was about my Five Year Blogaversary. I still can’t believe I’ve been blogging for over five years now!

Another highly viewed post was my review of Clara Hughes’ book Open Heart, Open Mind.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?   

Probably my review of Dina Silver’s newest book, Whisper if You Need Me. I loved this book and I wish more people knew about it. It was her first YA novel and it was a damn good one. Definitely one for contemporary fans (especially those who love Sarah Dessen).

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)? I'm sure there was something at BEA or Word on the Street that I hadn't heard of before but I'm drawing a blank. So, instead, I'll go with adult colouring books. I had heard about them way early on (thanks to constant Chapters browsing) and finally got myself one, Johanna Basford's The Enchanted Forest, right before said book sold out pretty much everywhere. Then it seemed like everyone and their sister was colouring! I have...well...a lot of them and I adore them. Yay adult colouring books!

These were just the three I got for Christmas!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I wanted to read 100 books and I did. I made it to 110, a secondary goal I made once I hit 100. I’ve cut my number down to 75 because I don’t want to stress about hitting the goal (and I can’t not make one...it’s kind of fun to a point. We’ll see if I stick with it in 2017). I’m also hoping I’ll be working full time soon so that will cut into my reading time.

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?     

It’s not that I didn’t get to it in 2015 or that I’ll make it a priority, but I really should finally read Me Before You before the movie is released and my imagination doesn’t get to have any fun creating characters.

I’ve also been saying for years I want to read Outlander. Maybe 2016 will be the year I finally read it.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?   

I am the worst at actually knowing what books are coming out, if you can believe it. Oh, I’ll know when it’s about a month out but that’s usually after it’s gotten a little bit of bookish press (which is before the average person would hear about it). Needless to say, I had to do some research for this (and the following) question.

The Austen Project has finally announced the date for probably the most anticipated Jane Austen update. Curtis Sittenfeld is taking on Pride and Prejudice and, surprisingly, they’ve actually changed the title. Does this mean the book will be more updated than the other ones have been? (Emma - review - and Sense & Sensibility - review - were such a disappointment but I did enjoy Northanger Abbey - review.) The new book, Eligible, will be released April 19.

I’m also so excited that Catherine McKenzie will have another new book this year. Circling October 4 on my calendar!

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?    

I’ve seen The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney pop up here and there and I am really intrigued. It's set to release in March.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?

I’ve already mentioned it but I am so excited for The Rivals of Versailles by Sally Christie. My amazing friend who works at Simon and Schuster Canada snagged me an ARC right before Christmas. I could have kissed her when she delivered it. I probably would have if I hadn’t been working. I did squeal and do a dance. You're welcome, David's Tea customers.   

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?

One thing I’d love to be able to do is go to Canada Reads and watch the debates in person. They’re in Toronto (an hour and a half away, ish) so that’s why I haven’t made it before now. Perhaps this year my schedule will allow for it!

I’ll also throw it out there to the Bookish Gods in the hopes they can help me get to Chicago for BEA this year...   

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone

I’ve only read two 2016 releases so far and one has already published. Novelista Girl by Meredith Schorr will be pushed on my chick lit girls (review) and He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker will be pushed on everyone else. Love those two women and their novels!