Favorites of 2012

Here are my top 10 favorite reads of 2012. They are in no particular order, except maybe in the order I read them. Leave me a comment. I would love to know what some of your favorites were.

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

By far my favorite of Dessen's novels. I love how Eli rides and does tricks at night while everyone else is sleeping. I love how he is healing in his own way and how he puts Auden's life in perspective just by being himself. One of the most memorable male characters I've ever read.

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Probably the books that left THE biggest impression on me. I still think of the characters--mainly Adam. I think of that scene where he flags a jogger down in Central Park and bums his old ipod off of him and finally really hears music again. I think of how the guy knows exactly who he is, but he gives him the ipod and leaves Adam in peace. I think of that scene a lot.

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

Prior to reading this book, I had read two Caletti books and liked one and disliked the other. This was a tie-breaker. The characters of this book stick out in my mind, and if you haven't guessed by now, most of what I like about a book is determined by whether or not the characters are well-developed.

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill

"So. Stinking. Cute." I wrote a longer review than that, but it wasn't really necessary. That pretty much summed it up.

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

I think the reason I liked this book so much was I really identified with the main character. I recall being an overanalytical spaz like that. I would be now, but I don't have time for it anymore (the overanalytical part anyway). It was nice to go back to good old days. And, same as the other books, I really liked the male protagonist in this one.

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

This was not my favorite of Witemeyer's books, but liked it a lot anyway.

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

When I decided to do a Best of 2012 post, this is the book I thought of first. I remember liking this book a lot (despite a few elements I didn't care for), but when I went back and read my own review, it sounded like I didn't like the book much at all. I can be overly critical like that. :)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

I reviewed the companion book to Lola, Anna and the French Kiss. I did not like it as much as I hoped I would because it lacked some of the development I expect from a novel. Lola and the Boy Next Door totally redeemed everything I disliked in the first book. I was pleasantly surprised with this one (but maybe because my expectation had been lowered!).

Geek Girl by Cindy Bennett

I read this at the very end of 2011, so I'm sneaking it in because it is so worthy of mention. This was the second book I thought of when I decided to do this post, and I was bummed when I saw I had reviewed it the previous year, and then I thought, "Hey, there are no rules here." Such a memorable story and memorable characters. Teens in the first stages of love and self-discovery and adults whose guidance they can trust.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

I read the second and third books of this series last year, It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer. This is one of those books I wish I had written myself. I wanted to be in the driver's seat of this one, equally loving it the way it is and wanting to change it to make it my own. I've read all three books more than once. Usually I sort of hate "poignant," but I kind of like "bittersweet."