Day: December 2, 2016

Hype or Like Friday – December 2nd, 2016

Woohoo, it’s Hype or Like Friday again! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

The December BOTM is A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird, #1) by Claudia Gray.

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Pleasant Surprise – What books did you read in 2016 that you weren’t expecting much from but ending up completely loving?

2016 Pleasant Surprises

  • The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles, #2) by Mary E. Pearson – I was really surprised that I enjoyed this book so much, as the first one, The Kiss of Deception, kicked off my insanely long reading and blog slump this summer. Luckily, the sequel was sooo much better! Full review can be found HERE.
  • Half Bad (Half Bad Trilogy, #1) by Sally Green – I wasn’t really sure if I was going to enjoy this series, so I decided to grab a copy from the library rather than buy it. It turned out to be so good! It was a very unique spin on the subject of witches, with a bit of dark twist that I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn’t write a review for the first book in the series, but you can read my reviews for book 2 HERE and book 3 HERE.
  • Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell by Liane Shaw – I adored this book. I’m so glad that I found and requested it from NetGalley because I would have never heard of it otherwise. READ THIS BOOK. Seriously, I want all of y’all to read it! If you’re looking for a book full of diversity – this one fits the bill. My full review can be read HERE.
  • My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows – I was just looking for a little lighthearted read when I picked this book up. I’d heard that it was fun, but I was not expecting it to be soooo much fun. The story was kooky, silly, and just downright cute. If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up this holiday season, then Edward, Jane, and Dudley are just the ticket! Full review HERE.
  • Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1) by Rae Carson – When I first grabbed this book from the library, I was just expecting it to be a nice little historical fiction (I kind of love them). But seriously, I ended up loving this book. It started off a tad slow but grew into a really fun read. And the sequel was even more exciting! Y’all just need to read it and love it with me. Review can be read HERE.
  • Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom – I don’t read a whole lot of contemporary, as I’m sure my followers have come to notice. But luckily, this book came in one of my Uppercase boxes and I’m so glad that it did. If you like a sarcastic, sometimes unlikeable protagonist with major snark – then you will love our blind (literally) leader, Parker. It’s also a really quick read if you’re looking for an easy book during a read-a-thon or challenge. Full review HERE.
  • Wolf by Wolf (Wolf by Wolf, #1) by Ryan Graudin – This is a more recent read, or actually buddy read, that completely took me by surprise. I didn’t really know much about this book beforehand but I actually had it pegged more as a fantasy type alternate history. Okay, I actually might have thought that Yael was a werewolf… Don’t judge! But needless to say, this book turned out to be something completely different and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it, and not the boring novel that I was expecting. My full review for it can be found HERE.
  • Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine – You know, I don’t know I was surprised that by how good this series is. I mean, it’s a book about books – how could I not love it? Well I don’t really have an answer for that. I just know that this book far exceeded my expectations, and maybe that’s because it’s not a very popular book. But it should be. Full review is HERE.
  • Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz – When Britt recommended this book, I thought it would be alright. But this book was such a beautiful book. I loved it and the characters were so lovely. Another contemporary to add to my growing list! I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed every bit of it. You can read my full review HERE.
  • Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas – Alright, alright.. I really kind of expected this book to be wayyyy overhyped and nothing special. But I’ll be damned if I haven’t become super attached to this series and the characters that fill it. It’s become my guilty pleasure and I’ve loved every second of it. So yes, I have become Throne of Glass Trash and I ain’t ashamed! You can read my reviews of this series HERE, HERE, and Queen of Shadows review should be up in the next few days.

All in all, I think it’s been a good year for surprisingly good reads.

What books were pleasant surprises for you this year? Did you read any of the ones on my list? What did you think of them? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday post in the comments below!