Top Ten Books I've Read This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at my other blog, The Broke and the Bookish.

This year I decided that I was going to be more stingy with my five star ratings. Which I have been, however, looking at my goodreads list you wouldn't believe that. I managed to stumble across several amazing books this year! 

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: I was hooked from the very beginning. It was just so odd, and I liked it! The characters are fantastic, funny, sarcastic, real. The friendships are heartwarming and the romantic tension is alluring. 

2. Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor: Picture this. Me, 3 am, sitting my bed, book in hand, tears streaming. Okay. Maybe DON'T picture that. Ha. But this book. This was one of those that doesn't connect with everyone. No book does. But this book slammed into me. It pulled me in, broke my heart and warmed it all at once. 

3. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas: Loved the first book. This one was just as wonderful, maybe even better? I CANNOT wait for the next book! 

4. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein: This was a tough read, but like the first book, the writing is wonderful. Letters on a page transformed into fully realized people. The harsh landscape of their world was detailed and gritty. Their friendships were beautifully, and painfully, real. I was invested in all of them. 

5. Cress by Marissa Meyer: Okay, I really liked Cinder and Scarlett. But Cinder? My absolute favorite out of the three. Cress is positively adorable. The other characters remain amazing, and I loved their interactions with each other. As each character is discovered and added to the group, the more I love the story. 

6. New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd: Now, if you've read my blog or follow me on twitter, you know how much I love New York. I'm also a total history geek. I house-sat for a relative. What was I most excited about? They have the history channel. Anyway, this book tells the story of New York, from it's earliest days of Dutch settlers, all the way up to the events of 9/11. I grew to love the families I was introduced to. I learned SO MUCH from this about the history of the city. I was googling stuff every few pages. 

7. Across a Star Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund: I love the Scarlet Pimpernel, I love retellings. This book was fantastic! I love the characters she created, and the world that she built! It was real, colorful to the point it felt tangible. Such a fantastic read. 

8. Pivot Point by Kasie West: I was so intrigued by the premise, and drawn in by the writing style. I swear, Kasie West has been eavesdropping in on conversations between me and my friends, because so much of what they say and do, remind me of my own friends. 

9. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini: Again with the history geek part of me, I also love mythology. I loved those elements in the story, along with characters that were fun and interesting. 

10. Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg: Friendship portrayed in a realistic way is always so refreshing. I loved this characters, and I loved their interactions. It was a fun, cute read that left me smiling.

SO! What made your list? I'd love to hear what YOU loved. The best way to get recommendations! :)

STAGED by Ruby Preston

Book/Author: Staged by Ruby Preston
Publisher: Circle Dress Publishing
Series: Yes
How I got it: From the lovely people at Circle Dress Publishing.
Publication Date: March 12, 2013
Add it: Goodreads
Rating: 4.5 Stars

 

Aspiring Broadway producer Scarlett Savoy has almost everything she needs to make her first musical a huge success- millions in financial backing, a talented (not to mention handsome) young director, and a big-name Hollywood starlet as her female lead. But with none of the theater owners in town willing to back a novice, she’s missing one final piece of the puzzle: a Broadway theater. Just when Scarlett thinks her show might never see the footlights of day, an unexpected meeting with the young, eligible son in the Stewart theatrical empire changes Scarlett’s Broadway prospects forever.

 

 My Thoughts

A quote from a review of the first book in this series, Showbiz, describes it perfectly. “Will have you dreaming of Broadway even if you’re miles away.” (TheatreMania) As I was reading this I found myself remembering my own adventures in NYC… and I was homesick. So much that I actually created an entire board on Pinterest dedicated to it. The author describes the city in such detail, and with such affection, that I was completely immersed in the story. The culture and charm of New York simply oozed from the pages, it’s obvious that the author has a lot of affection for it. I got excited every time she talked about something that I remembered seeing for myself when I was in NYC, the TKTS bleachers, the hawkers in Times Square vying for your attention, trying to get you to come see their show, the restaurants…

 

The story itself was quite enjoyable too. I felt like I knew the characters personally, because I know people, friends, who are very similar. Especially Scarlett’s brother and her best friend, I swear I know people just like them. I felt myself stressing along with Scarlett as she struggled to make her show work. I’ve been part of a production that is just getting started. The stress of finding just the right people for the show, funding, location, publicity, funding, going to read throughs, did I mention funding? Scarlett’s deep devotion and love for the theatre is evident on every page. Not just the “oh, the Arts are popular and we must preserve them”. But the love of the history, culture, tradition… I feel like we're kindred spirits.

 

The only part of the book that I felt was a bit off was the situation Scarlett finds herself in, it was a bit far-fetched and almost felt out of place with the realism of the rest of the book. And yet… it’s New York, and even more importantly, Broadway. ANYTHING is possible.


Oh, and as a warning to those who appreciate show tunes. They are referenced constantly throughout the book. You WILL have them running through your head for days after. I think I'm going to make a Spotify playlist for the songs referenced in this book...


I'll leave you with a picture of Times Square. :)