When I went to set my Goodreads 2014 Reading Challenge, I honestly didn’t think I was going to read that many books in 2014. I just met my challenge for 2013 and I knew that 2014 was going to be a very busy time for me, so I set my goal a little lower. Oh ye of little faith! I obliterated my challenge by mid-spring and just kept going!
I probably started more new series than I finished but 2014 is/was a great year for books so who can blame me!
Check out which books I read this past year here!
Like I did last year, I’ve decided to compile a list of my top picks from the various categories that I read this past year. Most categories deal with books published only this past year (2014) but there are some exceptions. Each category is introduced and has a brief explanation why I picked the top book in that category. I also have links to reviews if I was able to create my own reviews this past year.
Without further ado:
| Top New New Adult Series – Series that were published in 2014 | |
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1) Caroline & West (Deeper) by Robin York
⇒Edgy, realistic and great characters! This series will stay with me for a long time. |
| 2) Rusk University (All Lined Up) by Cora Cormack | |
| 3) Trapped (Trapped) by Beverley Kendall | |
| 4) Grayson Siblings (Keep Me) by Faith Andrews | |
| 5) Crush (Just a Little Crush) by Renita Pizzitola | |
| Top New New Adult Standalones – Standalones that were published in 2014 | |
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1) Breath into Me by Sara Fawkes
⇒a great story, great characters-the perfect new adult standalone |
| 2) Rewind to You by Laura Johnston | |
| 3) Third Degree by Julie Cross | |
| 4) Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros | |
| Best New Adult Series – A series that I read in 2014, not based on its publishing date | |
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1) Marked Men (Rule) by Jay Crownover (2012)
⇒NOW I get what all the fuss is about! A fantastic series for sure! |
| 2) Ruin (Ruin) by Rachel Van Dyken (2013) | |
| 3) Out of Line (Out of Line) by Jen MacLaughlin (2013) | |
| 4) Keep Me Still (Keep Me Still) by Caisey Quinn (2013) | |
| 5) Contours of the Heart (Easy) by Tammara Webber (2012) | |
| Honourable Mentions: | Kylie Ryans (Girl with Guitar) by Caisey Quinn (2013) |
| Sea Breeze Series (Breathe) by Abbi Glines (2011) | |
| Top New Contemporary Romance Series – A series that I read in 2014, not based on its publishing date | |
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1) On Dublin Street (Before Jamaica Lane) by Samantha Young (2012)
⇒I know the series was first published in 2012 but it had three really awesome books published this year. |
| 2) Lights, Camera (Take Two) by Laurelin Paige | |
| 3) Most Wanted Trilogy (Wanted) by J. Kenner | |
| Best New Young Adult Series – New series that were published in 2014 | |
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1) Cruel Beauty Universe (Cruel Beauty) by Rosamund Hodge⇒a beautifully crafted story that blew my mind as I was reading it! |
| 2) The Young Elites (The Young Elites) by Marie Lu | |
| 3) Dark Elements (White Hot Kiss) by Jennifer L. Armentrout | |
| 4) The Lovegrove Legacy (A Breath of Frost) by Alyxandra Harvey | |
| 5) Age of Legends (Sea of Shadows) by Kelley Armstrong | |
| Best Young Adult Series – A series that I read in 2014, not based on its publishing date | |
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1) Legend Trilogy (Legend) by Marie Lu (2012)⇒everything I want in a Young Adult Dystopian |
| 2) Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten (Lost Prince) by Julie Kagawa (2012) | |
| Best Continuing Series – A series that had a sequel book that was published in 2014 | |
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1) One More Chance (Chances #2/Rosemary Beach #8) by Abbi Glines
⇒ felt every emotion when I was reading this book. One of the best of the series so far! |
| 2) More than Forever (More Series #4) by Jay McLean | |
| 3) Rival (Fall Away Series #2) by Penelope Douglas | |
| 4) The Revenge of Seven (Lorien Legacies #5) by Pittacus Lore | |
| 5) Silver Shadows (Bloodlines Series #5) by Richelle Mead | |
| Honourable Mentions: | Toxic Heart (Mystic City Trilogy #2) by Theo Lawrence |
| Sad to See Go Series – Series that ended in 2014 | |
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1) The Mortal Instruments (City of Heavenly Fire) by Cassandra Clare
⇒one of my all-time favourite series and it ended so beautifully! |
| 2) Pushing the Limits (Take on Me) by Katie McGarry | |
| 3) White Rabbit Chronicles (Queen of Zombie Hearts) by Gena Showalter | |
| 4) Under the Never Sky (Into the Still Blue) by Veronica Rossi | |
| 5) Sweet Trilogy (Sweet Reckoning) by Wendy Higgin | |
| Honourable Mentions: | Fixed Trilogy (Forever with You) by Laurelin Paige |
| Elemental Series (Sacrifice) by Brigid Kemmerer | |
| One Week Girlfriend (One Week Girlfriend) by Monica Murphy | |
| Best Serialized Series – Based on books that I read during this year, not their publishing date | |
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1) The Arrangement by H.M. Ward (2013)
⇒this series is a lot of fun and uses the serialization format to its full advantage |
| 2) Gypsy Brothers by Lili St. Germain (2014) | |
| 3) Naked by Kelly Favor (2013) | |
| Best Standalones – Books that I read in 2014, not their publishing date | |
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1) Unravel by Calia Read (2014)
⇒the story and novel was a crazy ride that captured my attention from start to finish |
| 2) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2007) | |
| 3) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (2012) | |
| Honourable Mentions: | We Were Liars by E. Lockhart |
| Best Freebie eBook – Based on Books that were Free during the 2014 year, not their publishing date | |
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1) He Belongs with Me by Sarah Darlington (2014)
⇒this book was just a lot of fun to read |
| 2) Wanted (Wanted Series #1) by Amanda Lance (2013) | |
| 3) Muse (Fighting Fate Series #1) by Maree Green (2014) | |
| 4) Evanescent by Gabriella Lepore | |
| 5) The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story Series #1) by Lucy Lambert (2014) | |
| Biggest Disappointments – Books that were published in 2014 | |
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1) Dangerous Creatures (Dangerous Creatures #1) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
⇒When one of your all-time favourite series does a spinoff with two of your favourite characters, your expectations are high and this one didn’t hit the mark |
| 2) Cold Calls by Charles Benoit | |
| 3) Crossing Stars by Nicole Williams | |
| 4) The Pretend Fiancé (A Billionaire Love Story Series #2) by Lucy Lambert) | |
| 5) Trigger (L.A. Girls #1) by Julia Derek | |
| Worst Reads of 2014 – Based on books that I read during this year, not their publishing date | |
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1) Falling Into Infinity (Infinity #1) by Layne Harper (2013)
⇒I really wanted to like this series but never made it past book 1. Everything I dislike in a New Adult series spread out over too many books |
| 2) Until I Met You by Jaimie Roberts (2014) | |
| 3) Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men #1) by Linda Kage (2013) | |
| 4) Reflect Me (Reflect Me #1) by K.B. Webb (2013) | |
| 5) Crash Into Me (Heart of Stone Trilogy #1) by K.M. Scott (2013) | |
| Best Movie Adaptations – Books that were made into movies in 2014 | |
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1) The Maze Runner
⇒It was even better than the book! Wayyy better! |
| 2) Divergent | |
| 3) The Fault in Our Stars | |
| 4) Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 | |
| 5) Vampire Academy | |
What were your favourite reads of this past year? Did you read more or less than you expected?
Have a safe and happy New Year! I wish you all SERIESously happy reading!
Whoot, whoot!!! Yay for an awesome year of reading! The Young Elites sure is an awesome read and I too, am sad to see The Mortal Instruments series end. On a brighter note, I’m excited to see TMI on- screen again as a TV series. I just hope that it gains more success than its movie counterpart ^_^
I noticed that you like to read YA so I would like to invite you to join this reading challenge that I’m hosting, if you’re interested- it’s called 2015 Everything YA Reading Challenge ^_^ I’ll just leave the link here and I hope to see you there ^_^
http://booksandicedcoffee.com/2015-everything-ya-reading-challenge/
I did not know that they were making it into a TV series! That totally just made my day! I think the series is way better suited for a TV format given all the characters so I hope it does well!
Thanks for the invite for the challenge! It sounds like a lot of fun! I’m totally in!
Aw I haven’t read Dangerous Creatures yet even though I got it right when it came out lol but I thought it’d be good, I love Link and Ridley, she was my favorite character in that series. Hopefully I end up liking it better (: Loved The Maze Runner even though I haven’t read the book yet. Happy to see Vampire Academy made your list, I loved that movie even though it wasn’t exactly like the book and I didn’t like Dimitri’s casting.
Let me know what you think about Dangerous Creatures–I really, really wanted to like it but it just fell flat 🙁 I haven’t given up complete hope yet!