100 Most Popular YA Books

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Callagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush, Crescendo, Silence
13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)
18. Christopher Paolini - Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)
31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
38. John Green – Paper Towns
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – Graceling, Fire
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen, Torment, Passion
44. Lemony Snicket - Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
49. Maggie Stiefvater – Shiver, Linger, Forever 
50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
52. Markus Zusak - The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – 13 Little Blue Envelopes, The Last Little Blue Envelope
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld - Leviathan (1, 2)
86. Scott Westerfeld - Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction, Chain Reaction
92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host
93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

Out of the 100 books on the list, I've checked off 13 (40 including the sequels) and 18 of them I own and have my bookshelf to read (55 total including firsts, and sequels, etc).

There are quite a few books on this list that I have on a list to read, but I don't own them so I didn't add them to my counts at all.

*Bold are the books I've read, italics are the books I own*

If you've posted this list, be sure to link it to me, and I'll stop in and have a look!

Book Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Publish Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers
Pages: 390
Series: Nightshade # 2
ISBN: 9780399254833
Source: From publisher for review

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

My Review:

Once again I was disappointed with Andrea Cremer's book. Sometimes I feel that I'm the only one who feels this way because I always see so many rave reviews floating around (maybe because on Cremer's twitter feed, it seems there's only ever RT's of the best reviews out there). First off, the cover art, not my favourite (and I know that I'm not the only one who feels this way) .The original was definitely better. The girl who is supposed to be Calla on the cover reminds me so much of Jules, the girl who played the wolf on The Vampire Diaries. Coincidence much? And the girl on the new cover, why the need to look slutty? So disappointing.
The story picked up right where Nightshade ended (I won't go into detail and spoil anything about that) and it seemed that we were off to a good start. I wouldn't say the beginning was great, but I wasn't losing hope just yet. But then it just went on and on and 10 chapters in I couldn't believe that I was already that far in because the story hadn't gone anywhere yet. Then imagine my surprise when I reached the last page and had a HUGE question mark on my face - "What? Really? That was it? That was Wolfsbane? What happened?"
We do meet some new characters thankfully, Connor and Ethan among them. Connor was a good addition since he added some humor and kept things mildly interesting. And obviously we still have Shay and sometimes he drives me nuts! He just wont let Calla make her own decisions, and sometimes he's just all over the place with his feelings. But Wolfsbane was short on one thing - Ren. I was really looking forward to seeing Ren again but where the story took us, Ren wasn't along for the ride as much as he could have been. And that's ok, I get that's where Cremer wants to take the story, but I missed Ren.
Andrea Cremer spent so much time on the history of the Seachers and the Keepers and informing the readers of everything that she missed the little details of the characters interaction, the characters appearance and things like that that play a huge role in the overall picture of the book. So again, another disappointment.
Overall, Wolfsbane didn't live up to my expectations and I wasn't happy about it. I was hesitant to read this one because of my feelings toward Nightshade, and I haven't been impressed so far, so Bloodrose wont be on the top of my TBR pile that's for sure.

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine, to show readers what we are anxiously waiting for!

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Expected publication date: February 7th, 2012 by G.P Putman's Sons Books for Young Readers

A Great and Terrible Beauty meets Cassandra Clare in this spellbinding fantasy

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Sounds like such a great book! And the cover is really pretty. What do you think?

Top Ten Tuesday

It's Tuesday again! So let's participate in another Top 10 Tuesday hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

This week - Top ten books whose title or covers made me buy it (in no particular order!)

 

1. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - Gorgeous cover really! Much better than the new ones, if I do say so.

2. House of Night series by P.C and Kristin Cast - I had no idea what these books would be like but the covers are so pretty!

 

3. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - once again, the cover is what made me read/buy/love these books

4. Fallen by Lauren Kate - my boyfriend actually picked this book out for me once because he knew I'd love the cover.

5. Wither by Lauren DeStefano - Gorgeous!

6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - even before I knew the synopsis, I wanted to get my hands on this pretty little thing.

7. Across The Universe by Beth Revis - such an eye catching book!

8. Gin, Tonic and Cucumber by Rafaele Germain - I love the bright pink, fun cover! And the story was just as fun! And the title is awesome

9. The Vampire Diaries - I bought some of these books based solely on the fact that TVD tv show is based on these books, and I wanted to know if TV Damon is comparable to book Damon.

10. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong - the title and the cover art for this one is fantastic!

That's my top 10, what's your's?

Book Review: Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

Publish Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 544
ISBN: 9781451626339Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this first adult novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the unforgettable Crank trilogy, three female friends face midlife crises in a no holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life.
Ellen Hopkins has made her mark as the wildly popular author of several novels for young adults—every one of them a New York Times bestseller, and every one a hard-hitting exploration of tough-to-tackle topics. Now, in Triangles, Hopkins brings her storytelling mastery and fearlessness to take on the challenges of adult dramas.
In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

My Review:

When I was first contacted to review Triangles, I thought why not? It sounds like a powerful read and I was looking for something outside of the YA to read for a change. When I first skimmed through the pages and realized that Hopkins writes the whole story in poetic verses, I was a little apprehensive. I do love poems but I, for the life of me can't always find the meaning behind the author’s words. So I was worried that I would go through Triangles with a haze of "what on earth is going on?". But that was not the case at all! The story is told through poetic verses, but the meaning is loud and clear and read as if it was reading in paragraphs. For those who have read Hopkins other books, including the best selling books Crank, Impulse, Burned, etc. this is what you're used to, but like me, if this is the first time, this is a new way to read. I really enjoyed Hopkins writing. She can paint such a clear picture in the small amount of words she uses, and she can put so much behind those characters. I honestly felt like there was more character development in Triangles than there is in some other books where the author has chapter upon long chapter to develop them.
The story is about love, more specifically about love triangles and how lives are impacted and joined like the lines of a triangle. In this book, Hopkins writes a whole poem about the lines of the triangle, and I think that was my favourite part of the novel. Also, the poem at the end of each characters chapter that sort of summed up what happened and the feelings of the characters was very interesting, and well worth it.
Triangles has so much emotion throughout it. At times it’s very erotic and risky, but there was a balance so it wasn’t like reading an erotic novel from start to finish. The characters, as I said have so much behind them and because of that, I felt as though I knew them, as though I was living in the book with them experiencing the things they were going through. Let me tell you, the things these characters go through is unbelievable. We have children with disabilities, affairs, relationships without love, and so much more.
In a nutshell, Triangles is a great read. It’s not a YA so don’t expect teenage love triangles and bitchy, catty teen girls, instead be prepared for adult topics, powerful emotions and the raw truth about families and friends and betrayal.

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my fellow Canadians out there I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving! Hope it was full of good family, friends and food.

Happy Thanksgiving

And enjoy this beautiful weather, Fall is my favourtie time of the year. It's gorgeous out there, with the cool temps and the bright leaves on the trees and the ground, just lovely!

A little MIA happening over here

Hello my blogger friends,

I'm just popping in to say sorry for my lack of posts lately (sure, I've never been one to have routine posts, but whatever!). I've just recently started a new full-time job and let me tell you that I am not used to it at all. I'm not complaining or being a fancy-pants here saying that an 8 hour shift is hard, but it's hard on me when I'm not used to it! So what I'm saying is that when I get home from work, I don't want to sit in front of the computer and type, I want to play with my daughter and when I'm not working, I'm cleaning, sleeping and of course reading. Until I get used to this, my posts will lack in content or not even exist!

But I do have 2 reviews that I am working on right now, Triangles by Ellen Hopkins and Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer. One of which I enjoyed and one I didn't. Stay tuned to find out which is which!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine, to show readers what we are anxiously waiting for!

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Publication Date: November 15, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderly

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom….



First off, look at that cover? I love it so much! And the idea of a dystopian / sci-fi book with a storyline like this? - So interesting! I've never read any of Kimberly Dertings books before, but this one seems like it could be a good read!
I'm looking forward to this one!

In My Mailbox (October 2, 2011)

In My Mailbox credit goes to The Story Siren

This is the last two weeks, just to let you know! :)

I was so lucky again this year to be able to attend:

It was so much fun, and such a gorgeous day! And we go a great pile of books!

Bought:

Harry Potter series Books 1-7

Whiteout by Ken Follet

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Raymond and Hannah by Stephen Marche

Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

A few kids book my daughter picked out

*I got all of these books for a donation. It felt great to donate money for a great cause, but I felt like I was stealing ALL 7 HP books! Now my daughter has her own set, and she is so excited about that!*

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Elixir by Hilary Duff

For Review:

Devoted (Elixir #2) by Hilary Duff | Goodreads

Mr Fox by Helen Oyeyemi | Goodreads

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare | Goodreads

Thank you everyone for these awesome books! And let me tell you, when I saw that it was Clockwork Prince in the mail, I was so freaking excited! Clockwork Angel (The first in this series) was the first ARC I got, and the first book I reviewed on this blog, so this means a little something more to me I guess. So thank you again!

Leave a comment and I'll be sure to check your In My Mailbox.