It's Already Christmas Eve? Our Top Reads of 2013

Dani and I apologize for our lack of posts this month. It's been a hectic December, especially for Dani, and before I even realized it, December 1st had become December 24th. 

And well, Happy Christmas Eve I suppose! So to do something special for the wrap up of this year, I'm going to share a few of our favorite reads this year, in no particular order (it'd take me too long to make an order, and I'd also feel bad doing it. Sometimes books are just unrankable!). Not all of these books were published in 2013, but are books Dani and I read this year. 

On that note, we also thoroughly completed our first Goodreads reading challenge in October, which we set to be 100 books in 2013. 100 seemed like a lot when I first typed that number in, but now I realize I'm reading a lot more than I think :). We'll have to raise the bar a little next year to make a real "challenge".

Without further adieu, here are some of our favorites from this year in no particular order: 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This was published quite a while ago, but is definitely one of the most memorable reads of this year. I am still constantly reprimanding myself for not picking up this tale of a young German girl living in Nazi Germany and WWII earlier. This is simply one of those books everyone needs to read at least once. 

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Sentinel was by far the best series ending I read this year. It is a sad thing to see the Covenant series go, but I couldn't be happier with how Jen concluded Alex's story. It made me wail in despair and shout for joy with every other chapter, and this series will forever remain one of my favorites.

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

On the topic of JLA, the 4th installment to the Lux series is equally amazing as everything she's written this year. This story is getting better and better, and I'm dying from the suspense Jen has built up! This was a heartbreaking yet exhilarating story Katy and Daemon that tops all others, and I can't wait to see what Jen is plotting next for them.

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

I read this book so quickly, and I distinctly remember staying up late into the night to finish the second Sweet book. I liked Sweet Evil, and I LOVED Sweet Peril. I think everything about Sweet Peril is upped to  different level, especially oh my sweet, seductive goodness Kaidan...

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

I never reviewed Crown of Midnight, and I think I need to sometime soon. After I finished the book though, my mind was in a state of nervous shock and I didn't think my review was going to come out too pretty, hence why it has slipped my mind until now. I didn't think Crown of Midnight was going to be this amazing from Throne of Glass, but Sarah J. Maas? Holy cow. This book is mindblowing, and I sob in despair every day I remember that I must wait a full year for the sequel. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This. Book. TFIOS made me cry the most out of every single book I've read this year, and now thinking about it, is probably the book I cried over the most ever. I only cry over good "tragic" books, not dumb overly-sentimental stuff too. I am still obsessed with this realistic masterpiece, and will be for a very long time, or at least until after the movie. 

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Now, I never would've been in love with Veronica Rossi if Under the Never Sky was a standalone. Through the Ever Night changed all of my perceptions about her writing style and this series, and this was one of the most exciting books I've read this year. It's full of the pounding action I adore, not to mention the breathtaking romance that Rossi has polished so well. 

The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

I read the entire Seven Realms series in four days this year. Four days, four books. Homework? Hah, whoops. The ultimate book in the series was definitely my favorite of them all, where Chima takes fantasy and magic to their finest. This book really might be more tweenish, but I've got to feed my inner child sometimes too. Raisa and Han have an unforgettable romance, and an equally epic adventure. 

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

This is one of Dani's faves of this year! It's one of those books that I could read over and over again and never get tired of it. A good friend of mine recommended it to me and I was immediately sucked in by the intriguing title and the cover. Okay, am I the only one who is obsessed with the cover girl's super cute shoes? And her endless tan legs? Can I please have her entire outfit? Leah Rae Miller has a casual, banter-filled writing style wired for teens, and it all comes across as absolutely fantastic!

Champion by Marie Lu

I understand that a lot of people won't be that happy with the ending of Legend, but above all, I really loved it. It wasn't a perfect ending but it was the one that made the most realistic sense to me. Legend is not a supernatural book, so I really appreciated that Marie Lu didn't twist this into a perfect ending just to make reader's happy, probably one of the reasons it's a fave. I can understand and agree with the way she took this series. There is a phenomenal  balance of bitter and sweet, and Marie Lu, with as much masterful storytelling as ever, delivers the final clincher of Day and June with complete grace. 

That's all for today! Any of these your 2013 favorites too? Tomorrow, we will also have our Christmas post of the books we are most looking forward to getting our hands on in 2014! Happy Holidays!