Best of 2012

I know, I know... It seems that I'm a few days late for this one. We're already IN the New  Year, but I decided this year that I wouldn't post this list too early to give myself more of a chance to read as many 2012 releases as I could.

So without further ado... I give you my list of the top reads for the 2012 year!

10. The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
This book was a surprise I received in the mail from Scholastic, and I wasn't familiar with it at all until I opened up the package in the mail. However, I was so surprised by it - there's some really fascinating steampunk aspects to the story, and turned out to be one of the most touching books and remarkable characters I have ever read about. Plus the writing works so well to give off a distinctly gothic creepy vibe.

9. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Epic high fantasies are some of the best fun there is when it comes to books. I loved the political intrigue and multiple perspectives which made Falling Kingdoms stand out in my mind from many other stories I've read. It's dark and full of magic and mysteries and has just enough of a mature/grown up feel to it.

8. 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
Reviews have been mixed for this book (I recommended it to one friend who turned out to be a bit disappointed) but I was totally freaked. right. out. I loved the suspense and the space setting! And the ending is one that really left me guessing. I'm just dying for a re-read of this one.

7. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Another great fantasy pick. There was a whole lot of hype surrounding Shadow & Bone, and it was definitely well-deserved. Fascinating character dynamics, and magical world building is a great start to a new series.

6. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Contemporaries have rarely moved me the way Pushing the Limits did; the romance is intoxicating, and Echo's past is mysterious and leaves you guessing and turning the pages as fast as you can to figure out the puzzle. Shocking and so very, very touching.

5. Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell
The Widdershins books have quickly become some of my new favourites - I love clever, brave heroines and the world created here felt so lively and real with its developed religions and society. Furthermore, the villains in these books are some of the most terrifying I have ever read.

4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I loved the take on magic, dragons, and mystery in Seraphina! The romance is so unlike other YA books (or other books in general, actually) and I loved the depth Rachel gave to her fantasy world. And it has a traditional mystery feel to it, very "whodunnit". Oh, and the musical take to Seraphina's character! So creative and thoughtful.

3. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Re-tellings can be fairly hit-or-miss but Scarlet is one that I would absolutely recommend. It was so much fun, and thoroughly brought Robin and his band of merry men (and one woman) to life. The characterization was phenomenal, and the romance delightful.

2. Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
Historical fiction tends to be a favourite of mine and the assassin nuns found in Grave Mercy make for a thoroughly enjoyable alternate historical story. PLUS: witty banter, I love thee.

1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
I'm really surprised that Code Name Verity made my top spot for the year - why? Because this is the only 4-star book on my list. And I struggled through the first half of the book. But very, very rarely has a story ever left such a mark on my heart and become unforgettable. I cried and my heart breaks every time I think "kiss me, Hardy! Kiss me quick!"

So now I'm curious - have you read any of these? And did you LOVE them as much as I did? What were your top picks for the year  (which was a FANTASTIC year for books. It was so hard to narrow these down, but you can totally tell what types of books I really love).

Review: Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Release Date ~ July 31, 2012
Harlequin Teen
ISBN13: 9780373210497
E-galley received from publisher via Net Galley
Goodreads Synopsis:
"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

I've had a hard time trying to formulate my thoughts on this book, and I know I'll never be able to appropriately express what Pushing the Limits meant to be. I know that this book has a number of positive reviews already and I'm not sure what else I can add to those.
This book is remarkable. It deals with a number of heavy, hard-hitting issues and tackles them head on. But with respect, and leaves its characters with dignity and a graceful ending (or, at least, as graceful as it can be).

1. An emotional rollercoaster ride:
   
   Oh dear, this book just kept breaking my heart again and again. I was so emotionally invested in these characters and their stories, and I hated that the WORST things just kept happening to them! But their resiliency and inner strength was inspiring. And it's almost harder because you know that things like this really do happen - some people really do live with these problems. So even though Echo and Noah aren't real- well, little pieces of them are. And that just kills me.
2. Questioning the norm:
   
   Echo and Noah both desperately want to live a "normal" life - but I love and greatly appreciated the extent to wish Pushing the Limits questioned what it means to be normal. I think too often we get swept up in this idea of a picture perfect life and anything else is abnormal but that's not true. We all have issues, we all have struggles to overcome. But I loved how this craving brought them together, and gave them the strength to try and find ways to overcome these difficulties.
3. Beauty in brokenness:
   
   I'm sure we've all known a person or two in our lives who we've recognized as being completely broken down at one point or another - and I love that Katie McGarry points out so well using Echo and Noah as examples that there is still beauty in that. That perhaps there is even a special kind of beauty, because of the amount of strength it takes to fight something to so dark and personal. There's no need for shame.
4. An unconditional romance:
   
   I loved, loved, LOVED seeing these two characters come together in the midst of circumstances and still put the needs of the other before their own. Sure, they're selfish at times (aren't we all?) but they know, in the end, that they want to help someone else at the end of the day. They want to be there for that person, and meet their needs in whatever way they can. It's pretty rare to find something so raw and intimate in YA, and for that this one must be applauded.
5. Most importantly, Katie nails all the emotions:
   
   I was absolutely FLOORED by how well Katie wrote the emotions of her characters, especially Echo and her relationship with her mother. She nailed just about every single feeling from guilt, to anger, to loneliness and longing. They're all there. And it may be hard for some readers to fathom cycling through all these feelings, especially given the circumstances of what takes place between Echo and her mother and the rest of her family, but I can say with all honesty that that is totally what it feels like. It's remarkable that a book captured it so well.

There are so many phenomenal aspects of this book, and I loved the way it dealt with topics normally shied away from including dysfunctional families (to the max), self-mutilation, and mental health. None of these are easy to discuss, but Katie handles them all with delicateness and poignancy.

Noah won't be every girl's dream come true - I mean, he does some things that I don't agree with personally either. But there's so much more to him, if you can see past all that (and you should. You really should).

One of the most emotionally touching and heartbreaking (yet hopeful) books of the year, this is one I'd recommend to every reader.

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