My book comes out today. My SECOND book. I can no longer call myself a debut author. Sad times. But the silver lining is that my book comes out today!
I'm kind of proud of this one. Writing it was not easy, but it turned out pretty much exactly like I wanted it to. I do hope you like it.
To celebrate the occasion, I'm giving away a copy of my favourite YA book of the year. It's this little beauty...
To be in with a chance of winning the unbelievably awesome IMAGINARY GIRLS, just leave a comment telling me your favourite YA book of the year, and tell me WHY it's your favourite. I'll pick a winner at midday on the 27th. The contest is open worldwide.
I'm muchly looking forward to picking up some recommendations to add to my somewhat intimidating TBR pile.
I suppose I'd best get on with the celebrating then. This morning it involves drinking tea and taking Griffpup for a walk. Exciting times, yes?
Mine would be Gillian Philip's Bloodstone, because it had me laughing, crying, and left me literally shaking for a full ten minutes after i finished. Congrats on Torn, can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteMmmmh...it's a tough question. I would say that the best YA book I read this year is ASHES by Isla J Bick. I loved the characters, the heroin I love the fact that it was postapocalyptic (love those) and intense and crazy ;p I really liked the cliffhanger even though it kills me to wait a year to get the sequel arggh and I couldn't stop thinking about it even after I finished reading it !!!!
ReplyDeleteI just bought Torn on my Kindle and I can't wait to read it either !!!!!!!
There's so many.....this is so hard! I'll have to go with....Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It is a beautiful story that had my heart racing and tears streaming from my face. It was so emotional....I love it!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read Torn! It looks really good.
Sam :D
Hi Cat I absolutely loved Forgotten by Cat Patrick it is a fantastically atmospheric and gorgeously written novel of hope and love where the heroine can remember the future but not the past. Sounds strange but it is a great read.
ReplyDeleteHappy book birthday, Cat! I can't wait to read Torn!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite YA this year was either Leah Cypess's Nightspell or H.M. Castor's VIII. Nightspell is gorgeous, smart dark fantasy with not one but two strong heroines. VIII has the most compelling voice of any novel I read this year - it was totally enthralling. I loved them both!
That is a very difficult question since I've read so many books but probably, Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. That book was absolutely fantabulous and definitely lives up to its hype. It was worth every single moment of waiting and worth every single tears!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway and happy book birthday to Torn!
Congratulations on the publication of your second book :-)
ReplyDeleteName a favourite anything is always hard. One of the first books to come to mind is Megan Miranda's Fracture, but that isn't out until next year.
I'd say All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin and Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (I couldn't stick to one and could name so many more).
SM is a dystopian and ATTID is categorized as one as well by a lot of people, but isn't. Both books have strong characters, but strong in different ways. The world has treated Juliette badly and I couldn't blame her if she let everything turn her in to the monster they want her to be, but she could become one. Anya makes snarky comments and gives off this "I don't care" attitude, but her main focus is her family and she'd do anything for them. Even stay away from the first boy she's ever loved.
Also, the writing styles are different. SM has words, whole sentences striked through and analogies. ATTID has information that is important to understand the world Zevin created succinct and in brackets which keeps the story flowing steadily.
My favourtie book I read this year is Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games triology by Suzanne Collins. I so loved the whole political aspect of it. And the revolution in it was very reflective of the Arab Spring and just generally the control we see in some governments around the world. The meaning behind this book and the whole series is just incredible, that control will eventually slip. And it was so good to read a book where romance wasn't at the forefront of the storyline. Yes it was there but bigger things were happening. And Katniss is such a brilliant heroine. A strong female who pretty much changes the world she lives in. It is a good thing to show teenage girls. That you can be strong and you don't need a man to be the strong one and protect. As Peeta plays the more submissive role, having power through words whereas Katniss has power through her actions and this is something different because people assume that it's the other way round. Women are considered emotional and are therefore weak, this book stongly contradicts this which I am only too happy to see. As someone who is slightly feminist this series just does so much to emphasise what I said earlier, women don't always need a man to survive. And one last thing, this book just makes you think about the world and makes you ask questions, like I good book should. For me the read was incrediable, I was on the edge of my seat. And the ending was slightly sad but so fitting and I felt satisfied by it. It truely is a fantastic book.
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Book Birthday!!! Woot woot!!
ReplyDeleteand Hmm, favorite read of 2011? Thats a hard one. I'l have to go with Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins. It was a fabulous book 2 in a series! I seriously could not put it down and I think that says a lot for a book 2!
My favorite read of 2011 was Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. It was on my must read list and I was lucky enough to read an ARC. I loved it! The taboo subject was so alluring. My emotions were eviscerated by this book. A definite book hangover for me.
ReplyDeleteVivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Congratulations! That is wonderful news! I would recommend Crossed by Allyson Condie. I'm a lover of dystopian novels and this book (along with the first book in the series, Matched) tells an intriguing story of a girl who is 'matched' with the person she will be with for the rest of her life only to accidentally be matched with a second person. Leaving her wondering who she is really meant to be with. I enjoyed it. :)
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Happy Birthday to Torn! Sounds amazing, can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI have to list 2 books as favorites (could easily list 10, 2011 was an exciting year in YA).
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. It was an unexpected favorite. I love the Iron Fey books, but was skeptical about an "unplanned" fourth in a trilogy written from a support characters' pov. Not only was TIK Julie's best yet, but was so intense and refreshing I have been thinking about it for the past 3 months non-stop!
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready. Again, an unexpected gem that had me swooning and swearing and loling for months.
I love reading the "faves" of others, this is better than published reviews!!
Congrats on your 2nd book!
ReplyDeleteProbably my favorite was Hourglass by Myra McEntire. I love the heroine in it...she's spunky, but has a lot of real "normal girl" feelings, too. She's nervous about what she has to do. She goes through heartbreak and depression. But she comes out strong and (literally) kicking and punching (:
My favourite book this year is Zoe Marriotts Shadows on the Moon. I love all things Japanese so not only did this book have the perfect setting but the main character got to live so many diffrent lives! From a princess to a servant then a coutesan, all of which made a great story and the book had so many references to Japanese culture - It was great story that made me laugh and cry , I also learned things too :) Also congrats on your second book, I loved entangled and look forward to Torn :)
ReplyDeletedancing_dragon747@hotmail.com
My favorite of the year? Does it have to be a book released this year, or a book I read this year? I think I'll tell you both.
ReplyDeleteReleased this year: Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff. This book... THIS BOOK.
Read this year, but already kind of old: Watch Your Mouth, by Daniel Handler. I'm a huge Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket fan, and I've read all of his books, like, a million times. But I was a bit afraid of reading Watch Your Mouth, because it's about incest, and Handler has this thing where's he's really graphic.
Turns out, I was right to be afraid. But still, the book is really good and funny and creative. I was feeling nauseous and excited while reading it. I don't have the guts to lend it to anyone, though.
daysedantas@hotmail.com
Mine is DARK INSIDE by Jeyn Roberts. It's a story that takes places during the apocalypse and it truly terrifying. The reasons it stands out for me are, first, the 5 POVs, one of which is philosophical and sad and scary all at once. The second reason is that even though the book did scare me, it also had something to say about human nature, and about the things in our very real (read:not paranormal) world that SHOULD scare the bejesus out if every single day. I don't know what I was expecting when I opened this book, but safe to say it blew my mind out the back of my skull and left me thinking about it for day's. First book in a while that, if there had been a sequel available, I would have run right out and bought it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite series is Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent. It's the perfect mix of suspense, paranormal, romance and humor! You really must check it out. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, and congrats on your second book! I hope to read Entangled soon... (curse thee large TBR pile!)
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ReplyDeleteAAAAH! thank you so much for this new giveaway! =D
ReplyDeleteYAY! my favorite book of the year?? WOW! that's the hardest question ever! There were too many! OMG! what should I answer? well, I really really liked the Entangled! Obviously =D It was a very deep and meaningful story with an ending that leaves you wonder and longing of course for the best! ALso, the twist at the end never saw it coming and that's when everything fell into place and WOW! I loved it!
I also really loved FOrbidden by Tabitha Suzuma even though is not a 2011 release in the UK but here in North AMerica it was. So I had to put this book among my favorites of the year as well! and why? Good Lord! It was emotionally shocking. Few people can turn such taboo in such beautiful love story. I also really really loved Divergent, Blood Red Road, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Eona, Shatter Me, Delirium, The Red Glove, The Scorpio Races, City of Fallen ANgels... OMG! I cant name just one!! SORRY! I just CANT!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Merry Christmas!!! and congratulations on the release of Torn! cant wait for it!!! hohohoo!!
I have a billion favourite books from this year! I'd have to say Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. It was ten shades of awesome and I really cannot recommend it enough. Looking for Alaska by John Green, Where She Went by Gayle Forman and Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard follow close after though! :D
ReplyDeletehey jsut to let you know I've read torn already... my book club got to read it befor it came out... and its AMAZING!!!! :) xx
ReplyDeletewow ur new book entangled was very interesting.but then end was very sad and even cried on that bit ur a good writer.
ReplyDeletewow ur book entangled is awesome i loved it and the end is really sad i cried on that bit. ur a good writer.
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