Top Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2012

Today is one of my most favourite days of the book blogging community- the beginning of Top Ten lists of 2012! This year's Top Ten of 2012 is hosted by  Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Rachel from Fiktshun!

1) "Divergent" by Veronica Roth: I know, I know. I know what you are thinking, "Why is "Divergent" included on your 2012 list, Avery, when it was a 2011 book?" BECAUSE I AM A BOOGER- THAT'S WHY! Seriously, I had bought "Divergent" a few days after its release date in Summer 2011 and I didn't get to reading it until the beginning of this year- why? Mainly because I bought it solely because of the hype surrounding it, I literally had no idea what it was about (plus, I don't read synopsis') and I didn't think that it would really up my alley. WAS I EVER WRONG! After reading this book for the first time I reread it almost every week in January and February- this is without a doubt one of my most favourite books of all time.

2) Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Being a HUGE fan of "Obsidian" I admittedly didn't think that JLA could top herself- did she ever! This is one of the most successful sequels I have ever encountered before- it was utter perfection. I literally cannot think of a single complaint- *Well* I suppose that Daemon could have been more swoon-worthy. No wait, I doubt that that is possible.

3) "The Golden Lily" by Richelle Mead: I have been a Dimitri fan through and through, Adrian was nothing but an irritation to me in "Vampire Academy", not unlike an annoying fly that continuously buzzes around your head- but then I read this book and fell head over heels for him. Dimitri better watch his back because Adrian is slowly creeping up behind him as one of the most swoon-worthy YA boys of all time.

4) "Pushing the Limits" by Katie McGarry: There had only ever been one book in my life where I had felt something physical while reading it (aside from tears, I literally cry at the drop of a hat), "Bridge to Terabithia: by Katherine Paterson (what? Don't judge, I read it in grade 6 and had yet to be introduced to death therefore the death of Leslie caught me totally off guard)- that is, until I read this book. The emotions of this book were so realistic that I literally had a stomach ache the entire time while reading this- this is truly a testament to author Katie McGarry as she has been able to do what any author (aside from Katherine) has been able to do for me (Plus, Noah's hot).

5) "Soulbound" by Heather Brewer: Admittedly when I received this book from the publisher to read and review I knew nothing about it and I totally judged it by its cover (I personally am not a fan) and I am ashamed for having done so. As is evident from this being on this list this book is one of my most favourite reads of 2012- if not ever. It totally blew me away and still, months later, I think about it on an almost daily basis- especially with its ending (I am PRAYING that I can find the time to reread it sometime over the next couple of weeks). "Soulbroken", its sequel, is one of my most highly anticipated books of 2013.

 6) "The Plege" by Kimberly Derting: Like with "Soulbound" I totally formed an opinion of this book prior to reading it- I was determined that there was no way in heck that I would like this book as much as I do Kimberly's "The Body Finder" series (one of my most fav series ever), however, was I wrong. I liked this book just as much, if not more than, her TBF series. Also, I love the fact that the model kinda looks like Lady Gaga.

 7) The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna: In all honesty I'm not too sure what made me request this book, but I did and am I ever glad that I had! This book in my opinion is, without a doubt, is the most under-appreciated YA book of 2012. There are SO MANY books out there that I don't think that are worthy of the hype that the receive and this book deserves ALL THE HYPES. I also love the fact that this book could go either way- as a standalone or as the beginning of a series.

8) "Shine" by Jeri Smith-Ready: While I liked both "Shade" and "Shift" I wouldn't have considered myself to be a bona fide Team Kilt member, that is, until I read this book. This book is one of the best series closing books I have ever had the pleasure of reading before. Everything that I wanted to happen happened and then some. This is a world that I know that I will revisit time and time again.

9) "The Selection" by Kiera Cass: Despite this not being the most unique dystopian of 2012 I couldn't help but not love it. I just found it to be so cute and fun, exactly what I needed at the time that I read it. I love that this is a different sort of love triangle and I can't wait to see what happens in its sequel, "The Elite", due out early 2013! (Oh, and don't be fooled by this book being marketed as "The Hunger Games" meets "The Bachelor"- it is nothing like "THG"- in a good way).

10) The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay: This book. THIS BOOK. If you have yet to read it *FLAILS*. Admittedly when I first read it I was kinda on the fence about it, however, since having read it (more than a month ago) I have thought about it. Everyday. In that time I have come to appreciate it and love it like no other. Read it. OR YOU WILL REGRET IT.




Honorable mentions: It's kinda cheating, I know, but I couldn't not at least mention these books since they were so gosh darn satisfying: