BEA 2014

Unless you've been living under a rock the last couple of weeks, you probably know that next week is BEA week. I'm so excited to be going back to NYC because I love the city and to be going specifically for BEA. This will be my second year going, and I honestly can't wait. Last year was a lot of fun and I'm hoping for some more again this year. 

Because I'll be away, things are probably going to be quieter on the blog and I probably won't be on Twitter as much, though I will try to keep tweeting while I'm in New York. If you are going to BEA, let me know because I would love to actually meet you in person. Or you see me, just come say hi (if you don't know what I look like, just check out my Twitter profile). I'm really friendly (and loud, you've been warned) and I just love talking to people, especially if it's about books! 

I hope to see some of you there! 

13 Most Anticipated of 2013

After having discussed some of my favorite books of 2012 yesterday I am taking advantage of the fact that today is the first day of the new year to discuss which 2013 books I am most looking forward to reading. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the top 13 books of 2013 I am the most excited about.

Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Considering Dreamless was one of my favorites of 2012, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I am past the point of eagerly awaiting when it comes to Goddess. I just can't wait to see how everything will work out for everyone.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

In case it wasn't obvious already, I'm a big fan of Cassandra Clare. And The Infernal Devices is an amazing series and after all the events of Clockwork Prince, I can't wait to see how it will all come together in Clockwork Princess.

Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

After everything that happened in Deity, I am just dying to read Apollyon to find out what happens next and how everything will work out for certain characters. And I can already tell that it will be majorly intense. And it will probably break my hear a couple times.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

How could I not be anticipating this one. I have loved both of Stephanie Perkins' previous books so I can't wait to be taken back to Paris in another one of her stories.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen is one of the YA authors I have been reading for the longest and so far, none of her books have managed to disappoint me. So as you can guess, I am incredibly excited at the prospect of reading her next book come the spring.

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

With everything that happened in The Evolution of Mara Dyer how can I not be excited and eagerly awaiting the next and final book in this series. This story messes with my mind so much but I just can't help but love it. Even if it will slowly drive me insane.

Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Because I've been lucky enough to already have read Just One Day, I am dying to be able to read Just One Year. After reading Allyson's story, I can't wait to experience it all from Willem's perspective. Be on the lookout for my full thoughts on Just One Day very soon.

Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

Miranda Kenneally has quickly become one of those authors whose books are "must reads". And I can't wait to read the next one because her stories just end up finding a way to break my heart and then proceed to help me put it back together.

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

You can bet I will be at my bookstore first thing in the morning on the day The Indigo Spell releases. And while I'm beyond excited about this book, I'm also a little scared because Richelle Mead is known for just breaking your hear in the third book of her series.

Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

In the past year I have come to love Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy series. And with every installment things just always seem to get better so I can't wait to see what happens next in Midnight Frost.

Every Never After by Lesley Livingston

I absolutely loved Once Every Never when I first read it so I was excited when it was announced it would go from being a standalone to being part of a series. And now I can't wait to go back into that world with Every Never After when it comes out.

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Though a year later I still haven't really made up my mind about Pandemonium, that doesn't stop me from being excited about Requiem. Despite everything, I have come to love this story and this world so I can't wait to see how it will all come together.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith 

I loved reading The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight last year so I can't wait to read more Jennifer E. Smith. I'm hoping for the same kind of romance I got in her other book, but either way I don't think it will be possible for this book to disappoint me.

So these are the 13 books I am most looking forward to reading in 2013. And there are plenty more that I just want to get my hands on. By the looks of it, 2013 will be a fantastic year for books.

Top 12 of 2012

As today is the last day of the year, I am taking this opportunity to look back on all of the amazing books I've had the chance to read this year. And there were so many really great books this year, that narrowing it down to a manageable list is quite difficult. But I've managed to bring it to a list a of 12 with a few honorable mentions. So, in no particular order, here are my 12 (and a few more) favorite books of 2012.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

It should come as no surprise that I have become such a huge fan of the Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini. This second installment was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to see how it will all end.

Anything by Jennifer L. Armentrout

And I mean literally any of Jennifer L. Armentrout's books. This year alone I've read Obsidian, Onyx, Pure and Deity and none of them disappointed me. And I can't wait for more next year.

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

This was one of those books that I just wanted to hug to myself once I finished reading it. What I love about this book is that not only is it a fun and light contemporary read but it has this whole other deeper layer that makes it even better.

Black Heart by Holly Black

I'm always a little worried with the last book in a series but Black Heart simply did not disappoint. This was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy and it got me to discover that some of the characters were not who I thought and it made them simply amazing at the end.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

I was a little weary of City of Lost Souls because City of Fallen Angels hadn't completely lived up to my expectations. But that wasn't the case with City of Lost Souls and now it's got me really excited for the final book.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The ending of The Golden Lily may have just broken me. Just thinking about how things ended makes my heart ache for certain characters. So if you have yet to read anything by Richelle Mead you are seriously missing out.

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger 

This book. I had so many emotions while reading it. I've loved all of Kody Keplinger's books so far but this one just has to be my favorite. I don't really know how to explain it, you just have to read it for yourself.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I'm always a little scared with the second in a series, but I shouldn't have worried about Insurgent. It was absolutely fantastic and action packed from start to finish. And now I just want the final book.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This book honestly had me when I found out that it was a retelling of Cinderella with cyborgs. That's really all I needed to know. But it was also a fantastic story and you are missing out if you haven't read it yet.

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book seriously broke me. By the time I finished reading The Fault in Our Stars I was a sobbing mess. Ugly tears and all. I just couldn't hold it together. But that's not to say that this book wasn't simply amazing. Because it was. 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

This book took me by surprise to an extent. I just didn't expect for it to be so intense and have so much to it. And despite all the vampire books already out there, this one didn't sound like anything I had ever read before.

 

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

This was one of the rare books this year that kept me up until the early hours of the morning. And it also made me cry like a baby. But I loved it for it, because it was such a great and intense story.

Honorable Mentions:

- The Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep - Because they are mythological warriors and some intense stuff happens to them. And because of Logan Quinn.

- The Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer - Because it's a series about 4 hot brothers who can control the elements.

- Fever by Lauren DeStefano - Because this story is just amazing. As is Lauren DeStefano's writing.

- Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - Because this story made me cry like a baby and completely broke my heart. Then put it back together.

- Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers - Because this was a fantastic conclusion to this underrated series. And it has a hot ex-demon and hot angel.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the 13 books I am looking forward to the most in 2013!

Armchair BEA: Introductions First!

Since I'm not able to make it to NYC for the actual BEA conference, I decided to participate in Armchair BEA and today is the first day. For the first day, we are asked to answer five questions so that the other people participating in the event and our readers can get to know us better. So without further ado, here's a little more about me.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

If it wasn't obvious by my blog's name, I'm Emilie and I'm a 21-year-old university student. Come the fall I'm going to be in my final year of my undergraduate studies, working on a double major in communication and political science. So outside of blogging, a lot of my time is spent studying and doing school-related stuff both for my studies and for my work. As far as blogging is concerned, I've been at it for almost two years and I never even thought I would last this long. As to how I got into blogging, it was kind of out of sheer boredom. The summer after my first year of university I was living alone and I wasn't working so I spent most of my days reading since it was too hot to do anything else. I had been following a few book blogs and I thought I maybe should try my hand at it. I mean, I was reading all these books and wanted to talk about them but I didn't really have anyone with whom I could talk about that. So I figured that if nothing else, starting a book blog would at least give me a place where I could express my thoughts on those books and from there the whole thing just sort of took off.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

English isn't actually my first language. Originally I'm a French-speaker and until I reached middle school my English was relatively limited. But then I started going to school in English and I realized that a lot of the books I had been reading in French were actually translated from English so I decided to read the original versions. I still speak French whenever I'm home or with my family and still read in French from time to time, but nowhere near as much as I used to, especially since I've been going to school in English ever since and I now live in a more anglophone area.

Where do you see your blog in five years?

I really have no idea. When I first started blogging almost two years ago I didn't even thinkI would keep it up for that long. But it didn't take long for blogging to become a pretty important part of my life. I guess in five years I would want to still be keeping it up. I don't necessarily have high expectations as to what my blog will become but I'm at least hoping that I will still be reading as much as I am now and still talking about those books I'm reading. So basically, in five years I still want to be blogging but my blog doesn't need to have become something big and amazing.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

I've always had a thing for mermaid stories and when I was a kid I was obsessed with The Little Mermaid (arguably, you could say I still am sometimes) so if I could visit a literary location I would pick an underwater mermaid world. It would just be awesome to see how the mermaids really live and to experience living in an underwater world. Though I have my suspicions that if I were actually able to visit a mermaid world it would only make my obsession with mermaids even worse.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

My reading tastes haven't changed all that much since I've started blogging. Before I started blogging I was reading YA and that's still what I read now. I would say the main difference is that I read a lot more different genres within YA. Before blogging I mostly only read contemporary and paranormal but now I've widened my tastes. The other way my reading habits have changed is that I read a lot less in French than I used to. Before I started blogging my reading was not a perfect 50/50 division between French and English but there was a lot more French than there is now. Though that might also have to do with the fact that there are less French books around where I am living now.

Come back tomorrow for the second day of Armchair BEA to find out what have been some of my favorite reads of 2012 so far and maybe even a giveaway.

Hello 2012

Today is the first day of 2012 and, at least in my opinion, it promises to be a good year. If only by looking at all the books coming out, it will most definitely be a great year. I'm really excited to see all that it will bring, the expected and the unexpected. 

I already mentioned there are a lot of wonderful books coming out this year, many of which I am really looking forward to reading. So here is my Top 12 Anticipated books of 2012, in no particular order.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Divergent was among my favorite books of 2011 and with the way it ended I can't wait to be able to read Insurgent come May 2012. And, you know, getting to see more of Four won't hurt either.

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly was also one of my favorite books of 2011. I really loved the way the angel story worked. I can't wait to find out more about it all in Hallowed, and maybe get to see Tucker and Christian again. How Clara ever picks one is a mystery to me.

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

Many of the books I read in 2011 were the start of a series and now the sequels are coming out. Wing of the Wicked is one of those sequels I absolutely cannot wait to read it to find out what happens to Ellie and Will in the world filled with reapers.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess is the conclusion to The Infernal Devices series and I can't wait for it. Especially with the way Clockwork Prince finished. It wasn't really so much that it was a cliffhanger but that it was a sort of emotional cliffhanger.

Black Heart by Holly Black

I absolutely love Cassel Sharpe and this series. Holly Black created an incredible world and I can't wait to see how she brings it all together in Black Heart. The only thing that bugs me is that they changed the covers so now it won't match the rest of my books.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver has become one of my favorite authors and I can't wait for Pandemonium. The ending to Delirium completely broke my heart and I can't wait to see how it will all work out.

Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I only just read the first two books in this series this year but I fell completely in love with it. I love the idea of a teenage girl leading a pack of wolves and I can't wait to see what happens next in Taken by Storm.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines was a great start to a new series from Richelle Mead and I can't wait to see where she's going to take the story next. Plus from the last line of the first book, I can tell that things are going to get really interesting in The Golden Lily.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

I love Greek mythology and Josephine Angelini brought it to life in a really interesting way in this series. I absolutely loved the first book and I can't wait to find out what happens next to Helen and Lucas.

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors and I love pretty much everything she writes. I'll pick up one of her books without even knowing what it's about. I can't wait to see where she's going to take the story that started in Abandon next in Underworld.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Like I said in my post yesterday, I am a huge Cassandra Clare fan. I'll read just about everything she writes and her Shadowhunter series are absolutely fantastic. So basically I cannot wait to read City of Lost Souls.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

This is the only book on this list that isn't actually part of a series. This story just sounds adorable and everyone who has already read it has said that it is just as awesome as it sounds. In my books, that makes it a book I just need to read.

So these are the Top 12 books I'm anticipating the most in 2012. Of course there are A LOT more that I am looking forward to, but these happen to top the list. Hopefully I will get the chance to read all of these books and many more in the coming year.

Goodbye 2011

Today is the last day of 2011 and I thought I would take the opportunity to look back on the year, and look to what's coming in the future in 2012. While I've been blogging for over a year already, 2011 was my first full calendar year of blogging. Let me just say that I never would have thought blogging would be such an important part of my life. I admit that sometimes my roommates get sick of hearing me talk about blogging and books and in those moments I am happy that there is this whole online community of people I can talk to about this stuff. Overall, 2011 was a great year and I am sad to see it go, but at the same time I am really looking forward to 2012 and all that it will bring.

I've read many books in 2011--I don't know the exact number, but it was A LOT. It's always hard for me to pick favorites and I've tried to narrow it down. So here are my Top 11 books of 2011 (and a few honorable mentions).

In no particular order:

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

I only read Catching Jordan recently and haven't reviewed it yet but it was awesome. It was a perfect fun and light read that also had a deeper layer to it. It was a lot of fun to spend a day reading this book.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

If I thought that Clockwork Angel was good when I read it last year, Clockwork Prince was even better. How I'm going to wait until Clockwork Princess next year is a total mystery to me.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

With Delirium, Lauren Oliver became one of my favorite authors. This book was absolutely incredible and it totally broke my heart. I loved every moment of it and can't wait for more in the new year.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

What was there not to love about this book? Stephanie Perkins is a genius when it comes to writing romances and I can't wait to be able to read more of them and get a glimpse of the characters I already love.

Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston

I don't know how to put into words how much I loved this book. It was such a great story and the present and past blended together seamlessly. And when Lesley Livingston announced there were going to be more I was ecstatic.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

It's not secret that I'm a huge Cassandra Clare fan. I love pretty much everything she writes, and City of Fallen Angels was no exception. I was happy to be back with characters I loved and I can't wait for the next two books.

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This is another book I only just read recently. And despite having to study for exams, I just couldn't put it down. I loved it and the way mythology played in to the story. I can't wait for the next installment.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Kody Keplinger and her books are absolute genius. I loved Shut Out, it was the perfect read for me at the time when I read it. Plus Kody Keplinger is pretty good at creating yummy boys like Cash.

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I loved the Vampire Academy series, and while I was Team Dimitri for Rose, I still loved Adrian. I was very happy with Bloodlines and a greater focus on Adrian and other VA characters. Now I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

I absolutely adore this series and I loved the conclusion that was Goliath. Scott Westerfeld recreated an incredible world and I found myself believing every aspect of it. Except I'm a little sad that it's over.

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

At first I really didn't think much of the book. And then I read it and couldn't put it down. And that ending, oh that ending. Basically this book was all kinds of awesome and I absolutely loved it.

So those were my Top 11 of 2011 but there are some other books I would also like to mention. These didn't make the list but they were great books nonetheless.

- Abandon by Meg Cabot
- Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
- Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
- Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- Hereafter by Tara Hudson
- Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers
- Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Top 12 books of 2012 I am looking forward to. And if you haven't already, check out my post about some of my favorite debut books of 2011.