My Favourite Reads of 2011

Honestly, I have read so many great books in 2011 it has been impossible to create this list.  But I was determined to do it.  So here you go - my Top 10 favourite reads of 2011....

10: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

I loved If I Stay so I was equally excited and scared about this.  But I needn't have been.  It's the perfect companion - I absolutely loved it.

9: Across The Universe by Beth Revis

The first chapter of this blew me away.  And I loved the science fiction / romance.

8: Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

For some reason I haven't written a review for this yet - I think maybe because I don't know how to sum up how brilliant it is.  But it really is.

7: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

This is right up my street!  And how much did I love Alex?

6: Ashes by Ilsa J Bick

Dystopian and horror!  Just Wow! Creepy, suspenseful - seriously awesome!

5: Shelter by Harlan Coben

I love Harlan Coben - so a YA novel?  Everything I was looking for!  I have the feeling this will be one awesome series!

4: Entangled by Cat Clarke

I was supposed to go out but started reading this and didn't move until I finished it.  Utterly absorbing - I still think about Grace and what I think happened next. 

3: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I thought I loved Before I Fall but this took my love for Lauren Oliver to a whole new level! 

2: Rockaholic by CJ Skuse

This completely took me by surprise and I loved everything about it!  I still can't think of a curly wurly without laughing to myself...

1: Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

This was just completely different - creepy and atmospheric and just brilliantly written.

What about you?  Which books were your favourite reads in 2011?

I want to read that...

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

From Goodreads: When her boyfriend breaks up with her on the first day of sophomore year, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. Enter three stunning girls with a magical offer Lucy can’t refuse. All she has to do is get a guy to fall in love with her in the next seven days, and then…break his heart and collect one of his brokenhearted tears. As the girls teach Lucy how to hook a guy (with the help of a little magic), she quickly discovers how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to get what she wants.


Fans of Lauren Myracle, Jodi Lynn Anderson, and Meg Cabot will love this tale of breakups, friendship, new crushes, and magic. Told with wit and charm, The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers is sure to be one of this winter’s most irresistible reads!

I love the sound of this! Plus the cover is ace. It's published 27 December 2012.

Book Trailer: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Here is the trailer for the second book in the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand. It looks awesome - I can't wait to read it! I loved the first book - you can read my review for it here.

Hallowed is published 2 January 2012

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

From Goodreads:  In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

I really don't understand why I didn't read this one sooner.  I bought it as soon as it was published but for some (stupid) reason it's been sat on my shelf all this time.  The coming release of Hallowed - the second in the series - reminded me I really should read it.  And I am so glad I did because it is seriously good!

I loved Clara.  She's just really likeable - not too nice but really nice all the same.  I really liked her family too - especially her brother Jeffrey.  And her mother was interesting - I'm very intrigued by all the secrets she seems to be keeping.  I also think there may be more to the story of why Clara's dad left than we think.

The mythology in this is great - it's different enough to stand out.  Clara already knows that she is part angel - but at the same time there is a lot she doesn't know.  We get to learn a lot of that with her at the same time which is nice.  But also this reads a lot like a contemporary rather than a paranormal - there is a great deal of focus on relationships (friends, family and romance) which balances it nicely.

Now... Tucker.  What can I say?  He is just soooooo gorgeous and I can honestly say that if Clara does not end up with him at the end of this series there may be major tantrums on my part.  He is just completely and utterly swoon worthy!  Plus I love how their relationship and friendship develops.

Christian has the potential to be interesting - especially in Hallowed - but here he just didn't really make much of an impression.  I think I was too blinded by the brilliance of Tucker to be honest - but I do hope that he plays a bigger role in the next book so we can get to know him better.  I want to love him too. 

I am seriously looking forward to Hallowed now - I want to know what Jeffrey was up to?  What are her mother's secrets and will we ever know?  Plus I really need to know if Midas is okay... and of course I just want more Tucker!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

From Goodreads: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

So I think I'm with the majority on this one - I loved it!  I read it in one sitting - pretty much growled at anyone who came near - and I completely and utterly fell in love with Anna and St Clair!

The story follows Anna and her year in Paris.  She doesn't want to go - but is forced to by her father.  She feels completely out of place - especially since she doesn't speak French - but she soon makes friends,  including the lovely (and gorgeous) Etienne St Clair.  The only problem?  He already has a girlfriend...

The chemistry between Anna and St Clair is seriously awesome!  And I loved that they are friends too.  They really talk to each other - and are there for each other.  I also liked that the whole girlfriend situation wasn't simple - they'd been together for a long time and I thought it was realistic that it wouldn't be easy to walk away from that.

I also liked the group of friends - Meredith, Josh and Rashmi .    Plus I loved the Paris setting - it was something completely different.  And I enjoyed the story lines involving St Clair's dad and Anna's friend Bridge - it added to their romance but it also gave us a story that is more than just a romance.

Cute, adorable and really romantic.  I loved it so much I had to buy Lola and the Boy Next Door to catch up with Anna and St Clair!  I can't wait to read more by this author!