Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, people from all over are invited to share their own Top 10 lists based on the bookish topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did

This topic is really well-timed, because I recently finished a book that I liked less than I thought, so it’s been on my mind.  Here’s the interesting thing: it was a lot easier to come up books I liked less than I thought, but I do have a few that I liked more than I thought.  It really is amazing when you read a book, and how you really feel doesn’t always match up with what you were expecting to feel or think.

1. The Sea Of Tranquility by Katja Millay.  I normally don’t put my lists in order, but if I did, this one would probably be at the top.  I liked it, but I just didn’t connect with it the way I thought I would.
2. Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans.  I was intrigued by the different levels of a futuristic afterlife, but I wasn’t expecting something so philosophical.  It’s one I didn’t like as much as I was expecting.
3. A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.  On the surface, this seems right up my alley…but I couldn’t get into it.  I wanted to like it…but it was a book I didn’t like as much as I was expecting.
4. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.  I liked this one A LOT MORE than I was expecting.  I’m never sure about sequels, and I wasn’t sure about how things would play out but things worked out so well, and I absolutely loved it!
5. Every Day by David Levithan.  I get why people love this one, but I couldn’t connect with it, and the message behind it felt a little forced.  There were a couple things I liked, but overall, not something I could get into.
6. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.  I liked this one a lot more than I expected.  After seeing quite a few reviews for Catching Fire where people expressed the thought that Mockingjay was a huge letdown/disappointment and that it felt rushed, I went into Mockingjay thinking it was going to be god-awful.  Imagine my surprise when I LOVED IT!
7. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.  I get why people like it, and I do like that there’s this whole thing about how your actions and words affect people in ways you don’t realize.  It’s just…a lot of the book didn’t work for me, which is unfortunate, because it totally seemed right up my alley.
8. An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green.  With all the love I have for The Fault In Our Stars and Looking For Alaska. I was expecting to love An Abundance Of Katherines…and naturally, I didn’t like it as much I was expected, which is unfortunate, because John Green is pretty freaking awesome.
9. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I normally LOVE Laurie Halse Anderson, but I didn’t like this one as much as I thought I would.  I’m definitely used to reading her YA contemporary stuff, so reading a middle grade historical fiction was a little weird…but I think I’m going to stick with her YA stuff in the meantime.
10. Requiem by Lauren Oliver.  My least favorite in the Delirium trilogy.  I was expecting stuff to go down, and for things to be all resolved, and I was slightly disappointed when things weren’t as resolved as I wanted them to be.

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character

Fictional crushes…it’s not something I usually think about, but I feel like it’s crossed my mind a time or two.  Why do I not think about this more?  Anyway, these are the characters I would totally crush on if I were a fictional character…or the ones I’d crush on if they were, you know, actually REAL.  Maybe I just need to admit I have crushes on fictional characters…

1. Charlie Weasley.  Charlie is the most mysterious of the Weasley’s, and the one I want to know about.  I really think it’s because we don’t know a lot about him…
2. Etienne St. Clair from Anna And The French Kiss.  He’s St. Clair.  Enough said.
3. Ethan From Beautiful Creatures.  Mostly because I actually mentioned that he is totally one of my fictional boyfriends, and that’s not something I normally make a point to mention…
4. Augustus Waters.  I feel a little weird putting him on this list, because he and Hazel totally belong together.  But I would still have, like, a HUGE crush on him anyway.  Because he’s amazing and funny!
5. Ash from The Iron Fey.  Any guy who is willing to give up  his immortality to be with someone…  And that makes him totally crush-worthy in my book!
6. Lend from Paranormalcy.  He’s Lend.  What else do I need to say?  I think he’d be a totally cool, sweet and loyal boyfriend!
7. Lord Maccon.  I think it’s because he’s a werewolf, and he made them totally cool (amongst other things).
8. Oliver from Morganville Vampires.  I know Oliver is the weird choice.  I mean, most people would probably go for Shane or Michael, who are also crush-worthy in their own right…but I’m totally going for Oliver this time around.  I think it’s because he owns a coffee shop.  Coffee is one of my favorite things…so yeah.
9. Tucker from Unearthly.  He is Tucker.  That is all.  Okay, so I’m not the outdoorsy type.  Like, at all.  But Tucker makes it seem like so much fun!
10. Jace from My Life Next Door.  I love how good he is with his siblings and how sweet he is.
11. Because I’m feeling a little inspired…Oliver from Harry Potter.  Another character that we see a little but who disappears after PoA.  Ignoring the fact that he’s Quidditch-obsessed, I’ve always found Oliver cool.  Or maybe I just like like the name Oliver.

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own Top 10 lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Books I Recommend The Most

I know I say this a lot, but I really like this topic.  Picking 10 books to recommend can be a little tricky, but it’s also fun.  I mostly went with books that I talk about a lot, but I also wanted a few I think are great reads.

1. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur.  This one is on my mind because I recently finished it but the relationship between Aubrey and her grandmother shows how special that relationship is.  
2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.  I know this might be hard to believe, but I almost didn’t put Harry on this list.  I know it’s a book a lot of people have read already, but it’s also one of the very few books that can always make me feel better no matter what is going on.
3. The Wives Of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser.  While the Alison Weir biography of Henry’s wives is my favorite, the one by Antonia Fraser is the one I would recommend.  Fraser’s biography is the one that’s most neutral, and it’s the best overview of the three I’ve read.
4. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.  It’s funny and happy and sad and every single time I’ve read it, I cry harder than I did the first time.  It’s a must read, and a book I refuse to read in public because I don’t want people to think I’m weird when I start sobbing.
5. The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa.  I love the NeverNever and I especially love how fairies have evolved and changed.  If you’re looking for a faerie story full of adventure, this is the book for you!
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  Part of me wants to listen to the audiobook, because this was a magical book that drew me in.  And it really warrants 2 reads, MINIMUM, because of how awesome it is.
7. Reason To Breathe by Rebecca Donovan.  I knew I stumbled across something special when I stared at the book for a few seconds while wondering what the  hell happened…and immediately bought the sequel.  It’s unforgettable and months later, just thinking about this book brings tears to my eyes.
8. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.  I cannot gush about this book enough.  It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and funny and real.  And I couldn’t help but love it.
9. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.  Because I couldn’t stop laughing the entire time I was listening to Beauty Queens.  It’s such a fun read!
10. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  Because Evie is awesome and because this trilogy is so much fun to read!  There’s a lot of great one liners in Paranormalcy.

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Books I Had To Buy…But Are Still Sitting On My Bookself Unread

Where do I even begin with this one?  So, I’m great at buying books, but I’m also horrible about actually READING them.  I knew I would have plenty of books to pick from, and narrowing it down to 10 was no easy task!  It wasn’t terribly difficult, but when you have the need to buy all the books…you end up with a list that could go on for a while!

1. The Scarlet Letter.  This one has been on my shelf for years.  For the life of me, I can’t remember when I got, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had it for at least 4-ish years.  I think I was on a classics kick at the time.  
2. Frankenstein.  So…my explanation for this one is pretty much the same as The Scarlet Letter.  Besides, I really do need to read more classics, so why not start with ones I already have on my shelf?
3. Most of the romance novels I have on my Nook.  I’m pretty sure I could a list based on romance novels alone.  I have them…why am I not reading the things I know will cause me to swoon?
4. The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich.  I’ve had this one for a while, because I really want to read it.  It’s just…it’s so long!  One of these days I’ll just have to buckle down and start listening.
5. Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen Of France.  I remember getting this one because I wanted something history-ish that would also give me a break from Tudor England.  And it’s history, and I love history.
6. Before I Fall.  I was so intrigued by the summary and bought it.  Clearly, I haven’t read it, because it has now appeared on this list.  But it’s Lauren Oliver and I like Delirium and I want to read this one because I’m pretty sure I’ll like it.
7. The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight.  I really need to read this one, which is why I bought in the first place.
8. The Silmarillion.  I’m pretty sure I WON’T be reading this one, because I’ve tried a few times and just can’t finish it.  Apparently, I felt the need to give a try…and I’m being pretty liberal with my definition of unread, because I always get 20 pages in before giving up.  Given my inability to finish it, it’s probably best I donate it or something.
9. The Lying Game.  Because I liked the original 8 books of Pretty Little Liars (the ones that came after the 8th do not exist in my world) and because I want to give The Lying Game a try.
10. The Hallowed Ones.  It’s a post-apocalyptic novel set in Amish country.  Why have I not read this yet?

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Books At The Top Of My Spring To-Read List

I’m excited about this one, because I have tons of books I want to read.  Here are the ones I want to read this spring.

1. Requiem by Lauren Oliver.  Because it’s Lauren Oliver and it’s the Delirium trilogy and I NEED to know what happens and how it all ends.  
2. Wither by Lauren DeStefano.  I am intrigued by a world where people only make it to 25 because of efforts to create the perfect race.
3. Soulless by Gail Carriger.  I have the audiobook, and I think I actually might listen to soon, because I have been on an audiobook kick lately.  I really need to read more steampunk.
4. Shadow And Bone by Leah Bardugo.  I want to know what everyone is talking about and one I just need to read.
5. Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols.  Because I’m in the mood for something contemporary.  And it’s set in an airport, which seems like a really cool setting.
6. This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers.  Because students stuck in a school while the end of the world is going on sounds totally cool.
7. Mind Games by Kiersten White.  Because it’s Kiersten White and I love her and I’ve been wanting to read it.
8. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi.  Why have I not read this yet?!?!?!?!?!
9. The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson.  I’ve been looking forward to this, and it came out recently and I was so intrigued with the Jack the Ripper copycat killer in the first one that this one is a priority.
10. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson.  Another one I’ve been wanting to read, so I just need to go for it.  I’ve heard really good things about it.

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 Series I’d Like To Start But Haven’t

This is the perfect topic for me, because there are so many series I NEED (and want) to read.  Actually, there are a lot of books I need to read, but that’s a topic for another day.  There are quite a series I know are popular, so I can’t wait to read them so I know what people are talking about!

1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano.  This one has been on my to-read list for well over a year, plus people seem to really like it, so I should pick it up.
2. Shadow And Bone by Leigh Bardugo.  Because everyone seems to love it and I want to know why they love it.
3. The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.  I have no clue why I have not picked this one up.  I feel like I’m missing out by having not read it.
4. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.  Another one people seem to really like, so it might be a good idea to read it…eventually.  Sooner would be good.  Like, really good.
5. Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.  I really, really, really need to read this one so I know what people are talking about.  I even own it…so why is it sitting on my Nook unread?
6. Across The Universe by Beth Revis.  Yet another series everyone LOVES…so naturally, I want to read it so I know what people are talking about.
7. Jessica Darling by Megan McCafferty.  I know absolutely nothing about this series, but enough people love it that I’m curious as to why everyone loves it.
8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.  I’ve had it for a while, and haven’t gotten around to it.  I really need to get better with not letting stuff just sit on my bookshelf for a while.
9. Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor.  Why have I not read this?  I think I even checked out the audio book from the library and never listened to it or maybe I even listened to, like, 10 minutes before deciding I wasn’t in the mood for it…
10. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock.  One, it’s been on my to-read list for over a year and two, I’m intrigued by werewolves…especially if there are no vampires in sight, which is what seems to be the case with this series.  Plus, based on summary alone, it would seem that this one would be the first werewolf-only book I could see myself finishing.

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the fabulous folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own top 10 lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top Ten Characters I’d Put On My Auto-Buy List

This is one I’ve been looking forward to.  Stopping at 10 was a little hard, but it was a lot of fun thinking about those authors that I love so much that I will buy anything they come out with…no matter what that book is.

1. Rachel Caine.  It’s been a while since I’ve talked about how much I love Rachel Caine.  But I do, and it does not matter what she writes, because I WILL BUY IT.  She has great characters that grow and change will still keeping them consistent.  
2. Alison Weir.  I love her.  I will buy anything- absolutely anything- she writes.  I love her to the point that she’s really the only person I’ve read as far as Tudor non-fiction goes, and I really enjoy her historical fiction because she sticks to history while creating this imaginative world.
3. Cynthia Hand.  Have I mentioned how much I loved her Unearthly trilogy?  Because I love it, and I will read anything she writes because of how much I loved it.
4. Marissa Meyer.  Because Cinder and Scarlet (even though I’m not done with Scarlet yet) are completely awesome.
5. Gayle Forman.  Um…because of If I Stay and Where She Went.  That is enough of an explanation, right?
6. John Green.  I’m not even going to explain this one.  If you really need/want to know why, go read The Fault In Our Stars of Looking For Alaska.
7. J.K.  Rowling.  Another one I’m not going to explain.  If you don’t get it, you are very strange…and there’s a chance I might not talk to you.  (Just kidding).  (I think).
8. Julie Kagawa.  The Iron Fey is one of my favorite series, and even though I liked The Immortal Rules and The Lost Rules, I don’t love them the way that I love The Iron Fey.  But I love Julie Kagawa enough that I will read anything she writes.  Because she is that amazing.
9. Libba Bray.  Beauty Queens was hysterical and I loved her Gemma Doyle series, and I will read anything she writes because I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by her.
10. Maria V. Snyder.  I have only read a couple books by her, but I NEED to read everything she’s written because I am impressed with the worlds that she creates.

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the fabulous folks over at The Broke And The Bookish.  Every week, bloggers from all over share their own top 10 lists based on the topic of the week.  You can find all Top 10 Tuesdays here.

Top 10 YA Paranormal Characters

This week we get to pick our favorite characters from the genre of our choosing!  If I had to pick a favorite genre in YA, I think it be paranormal.  It’s nothing against the other genres, because I like them too.  I just really love anything paranormal!

1. Zara from Need.  This is one of my favorite series, and I love how protective Zara is of her friends and family.  Plus, I love the randomness is each book- whether she’s putting together a pixie survival guide or reciting her fears when she’s freaked out…I just love her and her quirks.
2. Laurel from Wings.  Wings is another favorite series, and she’s another great character.  I love how plant-like she is, and how much she loves fruit!  Anyone who loves sunshine is awesome in my book.
3. Evie from Paranormalcy.  No list would be complete without Evie!  I know I’ve said this, like 50 million times already, but any character who kicks ass while wearing pink and sparkles is completely and totally awesome.
4. Meghan from The Iron Fey series.  Another favorite series, and Meghan’s a pretty cool character.  I love seeing how she goes from regular girl to ruler of the Iron Fey.
5. Cassiel from The Outcast Season.  One, she’s a former dijinn.  Two, she’s now in a human body.  And three, she’s such a cool character who’s still adjusting to life in a human body who’s trying to save not only humanity but the world.  And she’s pretty bad-ass.
6. Anna from Sweet Evil.  Anna’s an interesting character, and overall, I really liked her innocence and how good she was.  But I also like that there’s this dark side to her, which we don’t really see in Sweet Evil.  I’m curious about her dark side, which may (and probably will) come out at some point during this series.
7. Clara from Unearthly.  I love Clara, and after reading Boundless, I think I love her even more.  She’s a great character, and I loved seeing her figure out her purpose in life.
8. Myrnin from The Morganville Vampires.  I am a HUGE Rachel Caine fan, so it’s not surprising that two characters from two different series have ended up on my list (Cassiel is the other character).  He’s Myrnin- bizarre, funny and interesting.  I always look forward to seeing what he’s going to do next, because he has this mad scientist thing going on.  Add in the fact that he’s a vampire and several hundred years old, and you have this really unpredictable character!
9. Helen from Dreamless.  I’m never sure where mythology and fairy tale re-tellings fall, in terms of genre and whatnot but Dreamless is sort of paranormal-ish, so I’m so including Helen on this weeks list!  I’m not sure what it is about Helen, but I just really like her.
10. Kaylee from Soul Screamers.  I love that she’s a bean sidhe (better known as a banshee).  Seriously, it’s not something you see in a novel very often, and I love that she has to work with Nash.  Their abilities work so well together, but I really love how Kaylee wants to help people and do some good in the world.