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#ReRead2015 & 2015 Challenges Recap

Jan 1, 2016

I can't believe 2015 is coming to a close! It seems like only yesterday that I was working on my sign-up post for the challenges that I wanted to participate in - deciding what goals seemed reasonable and what books I was hoping to read to meet those goals. And now, the year is over. All of my goals have been met based on the goals I set for myself! I've been keeping track of my progress along the way, but I still wanted to share a final recap. Rather than list all of the books I read for each challenge, which would make this post way too long, I'm highlighting my goal, what I actually accomplished and the books that were my favorite for each.


The Re-Read Challenge

To the participants in The Re-Read Challenge - THANK YOU! It was such a pleasure co-hosting this challenge with Kelly, and I'm so thankful that she approached me with the idea. I'd been wanting to make re-reading more of a priority for quite a while, and this was the push I needed. It made 2015 a better reading year than I could even have imagined! I loved revisiting so many of my favorites and finding more to love about them.

Since Kelly is currently traveling, I'll be drawing the giveaway winners in the next few days and announcing them on Twitter! And if you enjoyed participating this year, I hope you'll consider joining the challenge again. I won't be co-hosting (because I'm being lazy with a baby on the way!), but I'll definitely be participating. I finished this year's challenge with two final re-reads in December - Cinder and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.

My Goal: 36 Re-Reads
Accomplished: 51 Re-Reads


My Favorite Re-Reads:
Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer
All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum


Dive Into Diversity
Hosted By: Rather Be Reading & Reading Wishes / Details & Sign Up

Goal: 12 Diverse Reads
Accomplished: 15 Diverse Reads


My Favorite Diverse Reads:
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
P.S I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead


Flights of Fantasy
Hosted By: Alexa Loves Books & Hello, Chelly / Details & Sign Up

Goal: 18 Fantasy Reads
Achieved: 29 Fantasy Reads


My Favorite Fantasy Reads:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay


A Series A Month Challenge
Hosted By: Love at First Page / Details

Goal: 12 Series
Accomplished: 20 Series


My Favorite Series:
The Orphan Queen and The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows
The Burning Sky, The Perilous Sea and The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas
Scarlet, Lady Thief and Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen
Shadowfell, Raven Flight and The Caller by Juliet Marillier

Have you read any of my favorites?
Did you meet your challenge goals for 2015?
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2015 End of the Year Book Survey

Dec 31, 2015

Created & Hosted by Jamie from Perpetual Page-Turner
I always look forward to these end of year recap posts for because I always discover new book recommendations. But more importantly, there's something I love about reflection. It's nice to stop, think back over what's happened this year and gather my thoughts before starting the new year!

1. Number of Books You Read: 153 books
2. Number of Re-Reads: 51 re-reads
3. Genre You Read the Most From: Contemporary (57 books - exactly the same as 2014!)

1. Best book you read in 2015?
I had three favorite young adult books: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios (contemporary), Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (fantasy) and Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee (historical). 

But I had so many favorite adult books that it's hard for me to choose! There were four contemporary standouts: Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman, It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane and The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. And I had were two historical favorites: These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. (See all of my favorite 2015 adult reads here.)

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn't?
I was initially going to say After You by Jojo Moyes because I absolutely hated it, but I was never actually excited to read it. I was nervous and skeptical, and my fears about it were confirmed in the end. So, I think the better answer to this question is Ana of California by Andi Teran because I was so excited about a modern Anne of Green Gables retelling, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

3. Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book of 2015?
I decided to answer this question with a book whose very publication was a surprise - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. The content of the book was also surprising and not at all what I expected. I'm not sure it should have been released, particularly not marketed as a "new" book from Lee, but I'm glad I read it.

4. Book you "pushed" the most people to read in 2015?
I bought Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center because of Estelle's review and absolutely loved it! As soon as I finished reading it, I started pushing it on all of my friends. I just couldn't help myself - it's just that good. I had to feature it for Buy the Book, too! If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for?

5. Best series you started in 2015? Best sequel of 2015? Best series ender of 2015? Best series overall in 2015?
I think my favorite series I started was A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and my favorite sequel was Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. I loved a number of series endings, but The Caller by Juliet Marillier and Every Move by Ellie Marney are at the top of my list. And my favorite series that I read start to finish is a tie between Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier and Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?
I highlighted ten favorite new-to-me authors in this Top Ten Tuesday post, and it's hard for me to choose just one for this question. But I think I'd have to go with Stacey Jay because I absolutely loved Of Beast and Beauty and Princess of Thorns - both were so creative and beautifully written!

7. Best book from a genre you don't typically read?
I used to read a lot more non-fiction than I do now, so I don't know if it technically counts as a genre that I don't typically read. But I'm going to go with it, and my favorite non-fiction book was If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher. I loved the writing and connected emotionally to what Brencher shared!

8. Most action-packed, thrilling, unputdownable book in 2015?
Without question, I have to say Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. I couldn't wait for it to be released, and I actually took the publication day off work so I could read it uninterrupted. I'm so glad I did because I did not want to put this book down once I started it! This was definitely my favorite book in the series so far.

9. Book you read in 2015 that you are most likely to re-read next year?
Well, I have to give a shoutout to Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, which I read for the first time this year... and then re-read just a few weeks later. As for what I'm likely to re-read next year, I'm already itching to pick up These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner and It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane again. Plus, there are a number of books in a series that I'll probably re-read next year.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?
All of my favorite covers this year were on historical fiction books - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly and Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee. Just look at them!


11. Most memorable character in 2015?
Sarah Agnes Prine from These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner is definitely a character I'll always remember. She immediately came to mind for this question because I've never met a character quite like her. She's got gumption and grit, and I absolutely loved every minute I spent in her world getting to know her.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr was one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a long time - not just this year! I loved the characters and the story, too, but it was the writing that first drew me in and kept me hooked. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

13. Most thought-provoking book in 2015?
I've got to go with the book that made me think and take action - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. I never expected a book about organization and cleaning to give me so much food for thought about what I bring into my home and why. It was an odd read at times, but I'm so glad I picked it up!

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?
I still can't believe I didn't read Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein until this year. I pre-ordered it back in 2013 after loving Code Name Verity and finally made it a priority. Why did I let it sit on my shelves for so long?!

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2015?
"But the things we remember are what we hold on to, and what we hold on to becomes the story of our lives. We only get one story. And I am determined to make mine a good one." - Happiness for Beginners

"Life is where you sleep and what you see when you wake up in the morning, and who you tell about your weird dream, and what you eat for breakfast and who you eat it with. Life isn't something that happens to you. It's something you make yourself, all the time." - Goodbye Stranger 

"I have seen the aftermath of death, the incredible mechanism of the body laid bare, and I know now that each person is a kind of miracle. A spark nestles like a bird inside our chests, so deep that we can't find where it lives, but it is everything. It's what makes us dream and think and feel and laugh and sing. And it is a mystery, and it is mundane, and, above all, it is fragile. Any moment could be our last." - Every Word

See more of my favorite quotes in this Top Ten Tuesday post!

16. Shortest & longest book you read in 2015?
I think the shortest book I read was We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (though it's technically more of an essay), and the longest book I read was Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.

17. Book that shocked you the most?
I read Come Away with Me by Karma Brown while I was at the beach this summer, and I was so shocked by one aspect that I actually reacted to it out loud. My mom and sister both looked at me like I was crazy, but I couldn't help it. I'm not saying another word about it... Read it for yourself, and then you'll see!

18. OTP of the year?
THERE ARE TOO MANY TO CHOOSE! I loved Helen and Jake in Happiness for Beginners, Bex and Nick in The Royal We, Sarah and Jack in These is My Words, and Aurora and Niklaas in Princess of Thorns. But my absolute favorite couple is Aelin and Rowan in Queen of Shadows. SWOON.

19. Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year?
The friendship between Hannah and Gabby in Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid was my favorite! The book was dedicated to Reid's best friends and "all of the other women I feel destined to have met." I can't think of a more fitting way to start a book with one of the best friendships I've read in a long time!

20. Favorite book you read in 2015 from an author you've read previously?
I read my first Mhairi McFarlane book last year and enjoyed it, though I wouldn't say it was a favorite. But when I read Here's Looking at You and It's Not Me, It's You this year, it cemented McFarlane's spot on my list of all-time favorite authors. I absolutely adored both and can't wait to read more from her now!

21. Best book you read in 2015 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?
I would never have discovered My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman if a publicist hadn't pitched it to me. I'd never heard of the author before, but I was convinced that this was a book I NEEDED to read. It's one of my favorite reads of the year and earned a spot on my all-time favorites shelf, and I probably never would have read it if it wasn't for an email in my inbox!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?
Jake from Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center swept me off my feet! He's one of my newest fictional crushes, but I think he's earned a permanent spot on my favorites list. He's smart, passionate, kind, helpful, and will have you swooning as soon as you get to know him.

23. Best 2015 debut you read?
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee was one of my favorite books I read this year, and it just so happens that it's a 2015 debut, too! There were so many reasons that I loved this book - the setting, the characters, the relationships, the writing, etc. I could go on! Now I'm eagerly anticipating Lee's next book, Outrun the Moon.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2015?
In order to avoid repeating the same books over and over again, I'm going to give this one to The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh. While I had a few issues with the romance and plot, I absolutely loved the world building in this book! I felt like that was where Ahdieh's writing truly shone.

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2015?
I had so fun reading The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, even though it wasn't always a happy book. I thoroughly enjoyed finding the connections to Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story and totally fell in love with the characters while I was reading. And now I'm hoping for a sequel!

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2015?
Although I technically read it at the end of 2014 (though it was published in 2015), I bawled my eyes out while reading Before I Go by Colleen Oakley. I still get teary eyed when I think about it today! But I also cried reading Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen - an emotional roller coaster of a read that was my favorite of the series.

27. Hidden gem of the year?
I'm going to go with Unequal Affections by Lara Ormiston, a book I discovered solely because Barnes and Noble suggested it as a book related to something I was looking at on their website. I hadn't heard of this Pride and Prejudice retelling before, and it ended up being a favorite. I'm glad I didn't miss out on reading it!

28. Book that crushed your soul?
I'm pretty sure These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner crushed my soul. I could have used this book as the answer for the question about a book that made me cry, but it seemed more fitting for this question. I loved this book, but I still haven't recovered from the ending. I never saw it coming, and now my heart...

29. Most unique book you read in 2015?
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid was one of the most unique books I've ever read because of the concept and format. It looks a tiny decision in the main character's life and splits into parallel stories based on what happens in her life as a result. The idea of fate versus free will was fascinating, too! 

30. Book that made you the maddest?
Love, Lucy by April Lindner was the book that made me the angriest. It's a modern retelling of A Room with a View, which is an incredible book with the best message. But this book did such a disservice to the source. The two stories don't compare, and the retelling didn't capture any of the depth of the original.

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?
I'm so happy I found Lauren from Bookmark Lit this year! I always look forward to reading her posts - whether it's a review, discussion or another creative feature. And I think I discovered Modern Mrs. Darcy at the very beginning of the year, and it's quickly become the blog I most look forward to reading every day!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?
I loved my review for Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee because I was inspired to use a more creative format for it! And I enjoyed writing my review for the Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier because I think I highlighted all the reasons the series is so worth reading.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Rather than choose my discussion post with the most comments or views, I decided to highlight four of my favorites - on channeling your creativity, on being in a reading funk, on my biggest book buying quirk and on what Anne and Gilbert taught me about love.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I loved co-hosting the Return to Green Gables event with Rachel from Hello, Chelly and Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, so that would definitely be my favorite online event that I participated in. And although I didn't attend any large bookish events, I did get to go to two signings that I adored - one for Before I Go by Colleen Oakley and one for A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (with Susan Dennard there, too!).


5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?
I absolutely loved meeting Lindsey from Bring My Books for dinner when she was passing through Georgia in April, so that was definitely a highlight! And I took the day off work to see Mockingjay Part 2 with my dad, which will be a favorite memory for me. I'm still sad about saying goodbye to the series! 

6. Most challenging thing about your blogging or reading life this year?
Hmm... I think the most challenging thing about my blogging life this year was probably being in a blogging funk for most of the fall. I found out I was pregnant in August (which is so exciting!), but I spent most of my first trimester feeling like I could fall asleep at any minute. It's been hard to get back in the blogging groove!

7. Most popular post this year on your blog?
My Beginner's Guide to Faux Doris: The Inserts post was the most popular one on my blog this year, and it's also the most popular post I've ever written on my blog. I've definitely got search traffic and the online interest in faux doris to thank for that! I loved writing about it, so I'm glad it was something people enjoyed.

8. Post you wished got a little more love?
I can't really think of a specific post that I wish got more feedback! I'll always wish that reviews were a bit more popular, but I totally get why they're not.

9. Best bookish discovery?
I'm so glad that I discovered The Folio Society, even though my wallet isn't a huge fan. They make the most gorgeous editions of books, and I'm giddy every time I look at them on my shelves! Honestly, they're so pretty that I'm almost afraid to touch them. I'm so obsessed with them that I wrote a post all about them.


And while it's not strictly a bookish discovery, I'm glad I discovered faux doris this year, too! I'm an organization and planning nerd, so faux doris are right up my alley. I already loved May Books, and now I have the perfect way to carry them with me. I can plan, write down favorite quotes and brainstorm future posts in one place!


10. Did you complete any reading challenge or goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I recapped my progress on my 2015 resolutions in this post if you'd like to take a look. But to summarize - I met eight out of the ten resolutions I made and completed my goals for all four of the challenges I participated in.

1. One book you didn't get to in 2015 but will be your number one priority in 2016?
I've had Life After Life by Kate Atkinson on my shelves since 2013, and I have no excuse for not having read it yet. I've heard nothing but praise for this book - so why haven't I picked it up?! I'm making it a priority in 2016.

2. Non-debut book you are most anticipating for 2016?
I'm dying for the next Throne of Glass book, but it doesn't have a title or cover yet... So, I've got to go with The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry. I've loved everything I've read by Berry so far - hopefully I'll love this one, too!

3. 2016 debut you are most anticipating?
I struggled a little bit with this question because I rarely get too excited about debut books, though I do love reading them. But I'm looking forward to reading A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro and love the cover!

4. Series ending you are most anticipating in 2016?
Without a doubt, I cannot wait to get my hands on The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski! (And thank goodness the cover isn't changing anymore...) I'm nervous, excited and desperate to see how it ends. ALL THE EMOTIONS.

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2016?
I made a lot of progress with reading fewer review books this year, but I'm still buying too many books and not reading enough from my TBR. In 2016, I hope to make a bigger dent in the unread books on my shelves!

6. A 2016 release you've already read and recommend to everyone?
I've only read two 2016 releases, but I was so pleased with The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows. It was an excellent conclusion filled with romance, action, emotion and everything else I've come to expect from this series!
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2015 Resolution Recap

Dec 30, 2015

1. Read 150 books.
I met this goal! I finished 153 books in 2015. While it's fewer books than I read last year, I think I achieved better balance this year. I was in a bit of a reading funk at the beginning of 2015, but I slowly recovered and maintained a decent reading pace. I'm finally learning to focus less on quantity and more on quality.

2. Read one non-fiction book - that I already own - per month.
Whomp whomp! I didn't meet this goal at all. I did make progress since my mid-year check-in, but the six non-fiction books I read this year (two for review and four that I bought in 2015) were all books I acquired. So, I completely failed at my intention of reading some of the non-fiction that's been on my TBR for ages!

3. Finish 12 series.
I completed this resolution! I finished nine series that I started prior to 2015 (and I count duologies), read eight series from start to finish (in 2015) and, if I let myself count re-reads, I finished three additional series. I'm quite pleased with my progress on this goal, and I hope I continue to conquer my series TBR next year, too.

4. Request and/or accept no more than 36 review books all year.
Thanks to The Picky Pledge, I was able to meet this resolution. I read 33 books for review in 2015, which is a decrease from 2014. Review books only made up 21% of my reading (down from 31%), and I'm quite pleased with that progress! I have a feeling it will only continue to drop in 2016 as I read even fewer review books. 

5. Read at least five debut novels.
I'd already met this goal in July, though I can't remember if I meant debuts in general or debuts specifically in 2015. Since the latter made the most sense, that's what I decided to track for this post. I've read 11 books that are 2015 debuts. Several of those books ended up being favorites for me, so I'm glad I took a chance on them!

6. Re-read 36 books (3 per month).
This resolution makes me the happiest! I was able to re-read 51 books this year, which definitely exceeded me initial goal. I'm glad I made this a priority and co-hosted a challenge dedicated to it because it's improved my reading life. I remembered why I love re-reading so much - and found more to love about each book I read!

7. Host one reading challenge, and participate in at least two!
I co-hosted The Re-Read Challenge this year, which was fantastic. I'm so thankful that I teamed up with Kelly for it! As for participating in challenges, I joined three: Dive Into Diversity, Flights of Fantasy and Series a Month. I completed (and exceeded) my goals for all three challenges, which I'll recap in Friday's post.

8. Write one discussion post per month.
I completed this goal! There may have been a month or two near the end of the year where I didn't write a discussion post, but I wrote enough throughout the year to make up for it. I've written 23 posts that I'd categorize as discussions (though some are more tutorial/organization posts):
And while it wasn't an official resolution at the beginning of the year, I wanted to make an effort to write some posts that I'd consider more "personal." I wrote three: about friendship, about music and memories and about falling in love with my husband. I plan to continue to write more of them next year!

 9. Leave five comments per week on other blogs.
FAIL. I struggled to comment on blogs this year, and it moved even farther back on my list of priorities when I found myself in a blogging funk this fall. I'd like to make more time for this task, but I think it's time to admit that I'll probably never comment as much as I wish that I did. But I've learned to be okay with that fact!

 10. Start a new feature on my blog.
I started two features: Buy the Book and Tune in Tonight. Both are favorites for me and are things I genuinely love working on. Additionally, I introduced Mini Editions of So Obsessed With, Cassie and I revamped Favorite Factor, and Kelly and Alexa and I introduced a historical fiction feature called Time Travel To.

8 out of 10 Resolutions Completed
Did you meet your 2015 resolutions?
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2016 Releases I'll Probably Pre-Order

Dec 29, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Every week they post a new topic and invite everyone to share their answers. I'm so obsessed with lists - so I obviously love this feature!

Top Ten Most Anticipated YA Releases 
for the First Half of 2016


1. The Rose and the Dagger by Rene Ahdieh - I read and enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn earlier this year, and now I can't wait to read the sequel! There were a few things that didn't quite work for me, but that last 25% was my favorite part - and that bodes well for this follow up! I can't wait to see what happens next!

2. The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry - Berry's All the Truth That's In Me is one of my all-time favorite books, and I also really enjoyed her recent middle grade release, The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place. So, of course, I'm anxiously awaiting this 2016 release! The summary sounds right up my alley.

3. Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan - I'm completely and utterly obsessed with Brennan's The Lynburn Legacy, and I was thrilled when I heard she had a new book coming out in 2016. And when I found out it was inspired by A Tale of Two Cities? Even better because that's my favorite Dickens novel!

4. Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee - Lee's debut, Under a Painted Sky, absolutely won me over earlier this year! It was one of my favorite YA historical fiction reads, and it made me so excited about reading more from Lee. This book sounds like it will be just as excellent, and I look forward to falling in love with it, too!

5. When We Collided by Emery Lord - I've absolutely loved both of Lord's books, Open Road Summer and The Start of Me and You, so it's a given that this book makes my list! While the summary doesn't appeal to me as much as Lord's first two books did, I'm sure I'll end up enjoying it just as much as her previous books.

6. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas - While my love for A Court of Thorns and Roses doesn't even compare to my love for Maas' Throne of Glass series, I still can't wait to see what happens next in this world and with these characters. But I'm a little nervous - what will Mass put my heart through next?!

7. The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski - Rutkoski's The Winner's Curse absolutely blew me away, and the second book quickly solidified these books as one of my favorite fantasy series. Reading them has been an emotional roller coaster, and I'm dying to get my hands on this book so I can finally see how it all ends.

8. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys - I've read and enjoyed both of Sepetys' books, though neither was an all-time favorite for me. I just can't resist reading more from this author - she's never let me down! I've heard nothing but praise for this book, which has made me even more excited to get my hands on it!

9. A Tyranny of Petticoats edited by Jessica Spotswood - This is the only book on my list that isn't a follow up from an author I've previously read! But it's an anthology of short stories from fifteen different authors, including a few I've read before. I adore the idea behind this collection and hope it lives up to my expectations.

10. The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller - I fell in love with A Mad, Wicked Folly last year, and I've been keeping an eye out for a new release from Waller ever since. When I saw that this book was coming out in 2016, I did a little celebration dance. I'm so glad it comes out in February so I won't have to wait long to read it!

What are your most anticipated 2016 releases?
Do we have any books in common?
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My Favorite Posts of 2015

Dec 28, 2015

As the year draws to a close, I always spend time recapping my reading with the End of the Year Survey (coming this week!) and Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2015 posts. But realized recently that I've never spent very much time looking back at the past year of blogging! I adore Modern Mrs. Darcy's blog, and I was reading her two recaps - The 10 most popular posts of 2015 and My favorite posts of 2015 - when I realized I wanted to share those same lists on my blog. I devote almost as much time to blogging as I do reading, so why not take a look back at the best of the year? So, here are my 10 favorite posts on So Obsessed With in 2015:


1. Four Tips to Channel Your Creativity
While working on my post about my favorite planning tools, I had the idea to write about channeling your creativity. I was feeling inspired and full of post ideas, especially in the beginning of the year, and this was one of my favorites. I liked exploring the steps that have helped me become a more creative blogger!


2. When You Find a Friend
I wanted to write a few personal posts this year, and this one was my first. I went to the beach for a week with my best friend this year, and I came home thinking a lot about friendship. Writing about the journey that led to my friendship with Lauren was cathartic  - and reminded me of just how thankful I am for her!


3. Musical Memory Montage 
This was another one of my attempts at being a little more personal on the blog. I realized that music is intrinsically linked to so many of my memories. I can turn on certain albums or songs and instantly be transported to different periods of my life. So, I shared fifteen songs and the memories they're associated with. 


4. Oh Heavenly Day 
And this was my final personal post of the year - about meeting and falling in love with my husband - to celebrate our wedding anniversary! Of all of my discussion-y posts this year, I think this one was my favorite to write. I'm so thankful for Nick, and I loved revisiting our history. I can't wait for many more years with him!


5. Top Ten Things I LOVE in Love Stories
I knew I wanted to include at least one Top Ten Tuesday post among my favorites, and this one was the winner! I loved talking about my favorite types of romances, the feelings they evoke, the moments that make me swoon and pairing each one with the perfect gif. What can I say? I'm a sucker for love stories!
6. Tune in Tonight: Alias
I wanted to start a new feature this year, and I was so excited when I ended up with Tune in Tonight. I loved all of the movies and TV shows that I talked about this year, but I definitely had the most fun obsessing over Alias. It inspired me to rewatch all five seasons - and sparked so many discussions with fellow fans on Twitter!


7. So Obsessed With: Mini Edition #3 
While I enjoy writing seasonal So Obsessed With posts filled with things I'm currently loving, I was excited to introduce mini editions this year. I've only written three so far, but I have some more in the work. My favorite was definitely my post about The Folio Society because I want to get everyone hooked on these gorgeous editions.

8. The Picky Pledge
Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and I were talking at the end of last year about our book buying and reading habits. We both wanted to make changes for the better, and The Picky Pledge was the result! Of all the check-ins and discussion posts we wrote, my favorite was the post that prompted it all - My 2014 Reading Stats.


9. Return to Green Gables
I co-hosted several events this year, but this one holds a very special place in my heart! I loved celebrating my all-time favorite series with Alexa from Alexa Loves Books and Rachel from Hello, Chelly. My favorite post was the one I wrote about Anne and Gilbert's love story and what it taught me about relationships. 


10. Throne of Glass Book Tag
With the explosion of book tags around the blogosphere, it seemed only fitting to create one for my favorite fantasy series with the blogger who introduced me to them in the first place - Alexa from Alexa Loves Books! I think I liked this post so much because I felt like we nailed the categories and had the best time collaborating!
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