My 2015 Book Review!

(Hosted by the wonderful Perpetual Page-Turner!)

Number Of Books You Read: 147
Number of Re-Reads: 1; Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon
Genre You Read The Most From: Mystery/thriller, followed closely by true crime

1. Best Book You Read In 2015?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

  

This surprised me in a good way-I didn't think it would make such an impact on me, but it really did.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

 5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

  

This series sweeps this category for me!

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015? 

Jessica Knoll

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 This was one of those books I read until I literally couldn't keep my eyes open, and then woke up early so I could finish it.

 9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

11. Most memorable character of 2015?

Celia from The Night Circus

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read? 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Shortest: The Grownup by Gillian Flynn (64 pages)

Longest: In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan and Caren Zucker (688 pages)

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

(OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Stephanie Plum/Joe Morelli (Team Cupcake!); Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Stephanie Plum & Lula; Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?

Park; Eleanor and Park

23. Best 2015 debut you read?

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

All of them! Book blogging was completely new to me in 2015. 

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?

It was actually for a book I didn't like that much, but it's one of my favorite reviews because I feel like it was one of my most-balanced ones.

 http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2015/12/52-likes-by-medeia-sharif.html

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

As of now, my posts tend to be pretty strictly reviews, but that might change at some  point.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? The Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa, and Ho Ho Ho Readathon-and I'm loving COYER.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

Starting my blog-I've loved it!

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Gathering up the confidence to start a book blog.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

One of my first posts, So You've Read Gone Girl, Now What? seemed to get a lot of views:

http://thebookkeepersapprentice.blogspot.com/2015/08/so-youve-read-gone-girlnow-what.html

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I'm pretty happy with how things are going, though of course I would always love more comments in general :)

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

The book blog community in general, everyone is so nice, and knowledgeable, and its been so wonderful!

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? I did, I wanted to read 100 books for the year, and I read 147.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?

I really want to read even more off my TBR shelves.

6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

I was so excited when I heard this was being released as its own standalone novella, and it did not disappoint! Part ghost story, part character study, part signature Gillian Flynn mess with your mind, The Grownup is a quick, gripping read that will creep you out and leave you thinking about it for days.

The narrator is a young woman posing as a psychic, who sees easy money when a mother walks in begging for her help. But soon the woman discovers that everything her new client is saying about her haunted house may just be true...

The Grownup is Flynn finding her voice, so its not as absolutely amazing as her other books are. But it is still really, really good. I highly recommend it.

Home for the Homicide by Jennie Bentley

This cozy mystery features Derek and Avery, a husband-and-wife home renovation team with a tendency for stumbling on dead bodies. In Home for the Homicide, Avery finds something shocking in the attic of a home they're renovating, that stirs up a missing persons case from decades ago.

Avery and Derek are fun protagonists, and a very sweet couple. They do come across as almost too perfect, a trend I've noticed in some genre mysteries, with Derek a former doctor who is now an expert home renovator, and Avery being able to learn how to make Tiffany-style glass lamps in an hour. But their charm outweighs any of their unrealistic tendencies, and the mystery is an interesting one with a great twist in the last few chapters I didn't see coming.

I would definitely like to read more of this series, I found this book a lot of fun!

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

This is not a light holiday read. The Snowman is a serial killer who strikes on the first snow of the year, and uses macabre snowmen as his calling cards. Harry Hole, an alcoholic policeman who can't commit to recovery, sees himself as being personally challenged by the crazed killer, and sets out to stop him once and for all.

Flashbacks are used really effectively here, to heighten tension, and to make the twists even more shocking. You'll want to go back and read certain parts as new revelations are brought to light. I honestly did not see any of the twists coming, and found them shocking while still making sense within the way the story has been set up.

I was a little reluctant to pick this book up because of how dark I thought it would be, and it was very dark, but it was also an excellent read. I would definitely read more of Nesbo's novels.

P.S. Happy Holidays everyone!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop! (US)

I'm so excited to be participating in my first giveaway hop! I will be giving away a copy of....

I read this on my vacation this past spring, and thought it was amazing, and now would like to share it with one of my readers!

Rules are as follows:

Must reside within the US (sadly, I am unable to ship international, I am really hoping I will be able to someday in the future)

 Ends December 31st, 2015 at midnight CST

Open only to those who can legally enter

If you are a minor, you must have your parents' or legal guardian's permission to enter.

The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter, and announced here as well as e-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

You must check back to see if you have won.

Please leave questions as a comment on this entry. 

Have fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also, don't forget to check out my other giveaway, where the winner will get a mystery box of books, including at minimum two ARCS!
My first giveaway :)

And don't forget to check out all the other great blogs hosting giveaways on this hop!

Linky list!

Bryant & May & The Burning Man by Christopher Fowler

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. This did not effect my opinions of the book, or the review itself.

Major financial scandal is the cause of massive riots spreading throughout the city of London. In the midst of this, people are being murdered in ways that combine both fire and ancient forms of punishment from London's history.

Arthur Bryant, John May, and the rest of the Peculiar Crimes Unit must work to figure out who exactly is behind what could be a terrifying far-reaching conspiracy, and stop the murderer before he brings London down in flames.

This was my first experience with the Peculiar Crimes Unit series, and it did what any good entry in a series should. It made me want to read the rest of the books in the series, and soon. The characters were well-drawn and very engaging, and the mystery had a lot of suspense, with a powerful twist ending I honestly did not see coming.

I also really enjoyed the bits of London history slipped in, particularly the section on Jack the Ripper (being a true crime buff myself). The author has a wonderfully wry sense of humor that had me laughing out loud at certain lines.

I would definitely recommend this book. I don't think you need to have the rest of the series to enjoy it, but it will make you want to read the rest of the series.

Five Friday: Five Recommended Books That Start with the Letter "D"

1) Dare Me by Megan E. Abbott

Abbot writes amazing fictional studies of girls and their intense friendships, while also spinning a mystery as well. This book is centered around a high school cheer squad, and what happens when a new coach arrives and a suicide occurs.

2) Dead Famous by Ben Elton

A reality show goes awry when a contestant in a Big Brother-type TV show is murdered on live TV. The killer must be inside the house, but how did they do it, and who are they?

3) Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little

Jamie Jenkins was famous like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton are famous. But then she was arrested for the murder of her mother. Now out of prison on a technicality, Jamie is determined to remember what truly happened that night, and find the killer herself.

4) Death and the Lit Chick by G.M. Malliet

This is a really fun, clever send-up of the mystery book publishing industry.

5) Death in the City of Light: The Serial-Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris by David King

A true crime tale steeped in history, this book examines Dr. Marcel Petiot, "the People's Doctor" who was suspected of a string in brutal murders that may have been done under the Gestapo's watchful eye.

What are some books you loved that start with "D"?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Read in 2015

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish !

I went with books I read for the first time in 2015.

1)

2) 

3) 

4) 

5) 

6) 

7) 

8) 

9) 

10) 

Don't forget to enter my first giveaway, for the chance to win a mystery box of books! There will be at least 1 ARC in there :)

Book Giveaway!