Books I Started But Didn't Finish In 2017

(Okay so this isn't really a best-of list, but I'm too lazy to make another graphic)

We've all been there before: You start a book but you get distracted by another read and never open it again. You're not in the mood for your current read. Maybe it's just not hooking you. Unfortunately, starting books but not finishing them happens, and in 2017 it happened quite frequently for me.

The following books, I do not necessarily consider DNF books because I do want to finish them one day, but that day was not in 2017.

1) Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman 

Everybody loves this book. And it's a contemporary. And it has an interesting premise. And a disabled love interest. It sounds like this book would be a total love match for me, but I just wasn't connecting to it when I was reading it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it at the time???? I got 25% of the way through it. 

2) Duplicity by N.K. Traver

I got a free audiobook from the author for review. I would listen to it as I walked or laid out by the pool but one day I just never went back to it. Granted, it wasn't the best book or narrator, at least so far. However, my fitire holds a lot of bus & train rides so maybe I will give it another shot on one of those rides. 

3) The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

I hate having this one on the list because this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. I read only the beginning, and I reallllllly liked it, but it was the summer and I was lounging by the pool and I just wanted to read quick contemporaries. And then I never resumed this one. BUT 2018 WILL BE THE YEAR I READ IT. 

4) 26 Kisses by Anna Michels 

Speaking of quick contemporaries, this, apparently, was not the one I was after. It's not that it was bad...it just wasn't speaking to my heart, so I just forgot to pick it up ever again. I would like to read the entire thing one day, though, just for the sake of completion. 

5) Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh

Oh lordy I was PUMPED for this novel. I got about halfway through it before I just...stopped reading it. It's not that it was bad, but I think I was expecting a more fast-paced, addicting, romantic read like Ahdieh's other work. It just wasn't giving me what I wanted at the time, but it is still probably a worthwhile read and I think going into it with adjusted expectations will help. 

6) Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me by Carrie DiRisio

When I first discovered the Brooding YA Hero twitter account, I thought it was satirical gold, but by the book came out, I think I was just over it. It stopped being clever and became redundant, and reading the book was just a bit much. Also, I received an e-galley that had some really awful formatting, so that made the experience even more unpleasant. This is one I really truly don't know if I'll ever read in its entirety, but I'm sure it's quick and requires very little brain power, so who knows.

7) Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

This one is the most recent, having started it in the later half of January. I wanna love it so bad because everyone loves it and it's about JACK THE RIPPER, who I find fascinating. I just was not connecting. I am 100% going to try again, and probably soon. 

There you have the books I started but never finished in 2017! There might be more, but I took them off my Goodreads shelf, so I don't remember?

WHAT BOOKS DID YOU START BUT NEVER FINISH? DO YOU THINK I NEED TO GIVE ANY OF THESE ANOTHER SHOT IMMEDIATELY?

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings Me

CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Okay, sorry, I just really love Christmas. I'm calm now.

That said, I present to you the books I wish Santa would bring me (but like prolly not because I never get books for Christmas, as sad as that is).

1) Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley - Crowley's Graffiti Moon is one of my all-time favorite books and so I was pumped as heck when I saw she was releasing this one. It was one of my most anticipated releases for the year. It sounds so cute and yeah I just really wanna read it.

2) There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins - Another one of my most anticipated releases.

3) The Magicians by Lev Grossman - I'm obsessed with the TV series and it doesn't feel right to love it so much without having read the series.

4) Saga, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staple - This is the only book I actually asked for for Christmas because I am obsessed with this graphic novel series and graphic novels are v expensive.

5) Now I Rise by Kiersten White - Annnnd another of my most anticipated releases of the year (see a trend here?). I've made no secret of my love for And I Darken, the first book in the series and I cannot believe I haven't picked this one up yet.

6) Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli - I just finished Becky's most recent book and really enjoyed it, and with the movie coming out soon, I need to read this one!! (Plus, NICK ROBINSON my love)

7) Into the Black by Ava Jae - I adored the first book in the series and the sequel's release snuck up on me without me even realizing it.

8) The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee - I have heard nothing but fabulous things about this one! It seems like the kind of fun I've been craving since My Lady Jane.

9) Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire - Another book I've heard a ton of buzz about and it sounds incredibly interesting.

10) Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco - I'm going to be reading the first book in the series very soon so it would be nice to have the sequel on hand the moment I finish.

7 Books I Need To Read Before The End Of The Year

All right, lads and lasses. We are two weeks (!!!!) away from the New Year, and if ya girl wants to complete her Goodreads goal of 50 books, I need to read 7 more books before this year comes to a close. And ya girl wants to reach her goal. I've actually never reached my Goodreads goal before, but by the grace of graphic novels, I'm closer than ever this year, and I gotta cross that finish line.

A book every two days. I can do that. Easy peasy??????

Here are the 7 books I plan to read, selected from the few books I brought to Florida with me and the books that are on my kindle.

1) Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

I've heard truly marvelous things about this book and its sequel. I've had this book sitting on my shelf since its release and grabbed it on a whim before leaving for vacation. Also, after a writing project for school I've been especially interested in Jack the Ripper, so it seemed like a perfect read to take with me.

2) To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

This is a book I've been wanting to re-read for quite some time because I wanted a refresher before cracking open the series' newest addition. Plus, I know it will be quick and light and fun. A good time guaranteed. 

3) The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert 

I don't know much about this one, but I feel like I've heard some positive reviews and I have an eARC so, ya know, might as well.

4) A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

Again, I don't know much about this one but it's on my kindle and it is fairly short.

5) The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

This is one of the longer novels on my list, but this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I got an eARC and I never read it and so I'll be very disappointed in myself if I don't finish this one by the end of the year.

6) Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider

This is really short and sounds cute. Plus, judging by the cover, it's fairly winter-y and it takes place in New York and it sounds like the perfect recipe for a quick, cute contemporary, which we all know I can't get enough of.

7) Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne

Another book I got from NetGalley and have yet to read (I suck, I know). But after re-reading the summary, it sounds interesting as heck and I can't wait to read it.