Year’s Reads in Review – Top Picks for 2014

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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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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
 book6 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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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!

 

 

Comments 4

  • 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.

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