2022 End of Year Book Survey

Posted December 27, 2022 by Brin in Discussion Posts / 0 Comments

Well, this year hasn’t been the best for me blogging-wise (understatement!) I have had a pretty poor blogging year in fact. Hoping next year proves more fruitful!! I did however manage to read a fair amount. Not my best year in reading but nothing to sniff at either…

2022 End of Year Book Survey

It’s time for the annual End of Year Book Survey. This survey was originated by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner on her blog and, although no longer updated yearly, I still like to take part as it’s a great way to celebrate my year in books.

end of year survey: 2022 reading stats

number of books you read: 150
number of re-reads: 34
genre you read the most from: contemporary

This year is the fourth year in a row that my genre of choice is contemporary so I have to say it definitely shows a shift in my reading as for years my go-to genre of choice for many years has been fantasy. I’m finally branching out lol. Not as many re-reads this year either!

1. Best Book You Read In 2022?

I’ve read a lot of fantastic books this year but if I have to narrow it down to just one, it has to be Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore. Not only is it a great sequel to a series that I adore, I think it has become my absolute favourite of the series (which is impressive because I’ve loved each and every one of the books for varying reasons). I loved Hava’s point of view, the story was amazing, and the love-story understated but really sweet and touching. A banger of a book!

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

I would have to go with Crave by Tracy Wolff. I ended up really liking the series a lot (mostly when Hudson turned up!) but the first book didn’t wow me like I hoped it would. I persevered though and I’m glad I did because the series really is a blast overall.

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

I really ended up loving All of Us Villains (and its sequel All of Our Demise) by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman. I wasn’t sure if I would since I struggled a bit to get into Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody (I started it but put it down about a third of the way through – hopefully I’ll get back to it though) and I haven’t read anything by Christine Lynn Herman before (though I plan to). This duology ended up being loads of fun and surprisingly dark in places – just my type of read!

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

I have definitely been encouraging people to pick up the newly expanded (ands racier!) edition of Trick by Natalia Jaster! Already a firm favourite of mine, this more adult-themed revision is a must-read!

5. Best series you started in 2022? Best Sequel of 2022? Best Series Ender of 2022?

The best series I started this year would have to be Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes. I’m a huge fan of her Falling Kingdoms series and I am still gutted that the spin-off series Spirits and Thieves remains unfinished (and likely will remain so). So when I saw a new series (set in the same world as Falling Kingdoms but many years later) was coming out I couldn’t wait to dive back in! It was definitely a thrilling read and a worthy successor (so far, at least) to a woefully under-appreciated series.

The best sequel I read this year is The Ballad of Never After (the follow-up to Once Upon a Broken Heart) by Stephanie Garber. It had everything that OUABH had and somehow managed to surpass it (which was no mean feat as I adored the first book). I cannot get enough of Jacks and Evangeline!

The best series ender I finished this year has to be Master of Restless Shadows Book Two by Ginn Hale. I have so much love for this over-arching series (which has been released in sets of two but each book is related and shares most of the same characters). I wasn’t sure how Ginn Hale would manage to finish off this book which is not only an end to this set but the series as a whole (at least, I think it is?) I shouldn’t have worried because it lived up to all of my expectations and smashed them!

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2022?

I accidently stumbled across a little gem of a book called The Other Brother by a new (to me) author Jax Calder. I have since devoured the rest of their available books and I am a huge fan. I can’t wait for them to release more books!

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

Erm, I think I pretty much read well within my comfort zone this year (not any outliers at all) but I guess I could list When Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata. Known for her contemporary romances, this was a change of genre for Mariana Zapata and although not specifically a genre I don’t typically read (I do read more fantastical fare) it was a superhero story mixed with romance with all of the usual Zapata charm so it totally counts because it was very different for the author. It includes a mash-up of themes I would not normally read together.

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

I would have to say Defy the Fae by Natalia Jaster. The fourth (and final) book in the Vicious Faeries series, I had no idea how it was all going to come together and whether or not the romance for each set of characters would be given equal treatment. I was more than happy with the resolution and I feel that each couple had a real chance to shine (though Puck, as usual, stole the show for me lol).

9. Book You Read In 2022 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Easy – definitely OUABH and TBONA by Stephanie Garber! I will for sure be reading these again before the third book in the trilogy is released (and maybe even before then!!)

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2022?

This is a bit of a cheat since it is not the cover art for the the version of Seasparrow that I own but I just love the US edition artwork so much (and I’m gonna track down a copy as soon as I can haha!)

11. Most memorable character of 2022?

Jacks from Caraval and OUABH by Stephanie Garber is definitely the most memorable character I’ve read about this year. I adore him and I am so glad he got his own spin-off story because he was absolutely and utterly the most compelling character in this series for me.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2022?

I’ve read several beautifully written books this year but I think I will choose The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon. Such a gorgeous book with stunning prose, I can’t fault it really…

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2022?

The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon really made me think a lot. I love her historical novels because they always have an element of truth or a true story woven around her characters. This one in particular made me seek out the real story behind the book and it was a fascinating and thought-provoking one that really captivated me.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2022 to finally read?

It’s got to be Caraval by Stephanie Garber. I sat on this book for way too long and though I overall prefer the spin-off series (more Jacks so how could I not?) I honestly can say I should have read this earlier (especially since I had the book from release date!!) 😉

15. Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2022?

“In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2022?

Shortest: Last Date by S.C. Wynne – I’m not counting short stories or novellas – this is the short full-length book I read this year at 202 pages.

Longest: Court by Tracy Wolff – coming in at a whopping 941 pages, this is the longest book I read this year by approx. 100 pages (the next longest is Crave by Tracy Wolff so a pattern there haha!)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

That twist at the end of The Ballad of Never After? Yep, still not ok about it. Like, at all. What a cruel cliff-hanger to leave us readers on Stephanie Garber… 🤨

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

EvaJacks 4 life! Ahem, so that’ll be Evangeline Fox and Jacks from OUABH series. I’m obsessed, buying all the fanart and everything…

19. Favourite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

I really love how the friendship between Justin and Sam has evolved as seen in The Damning Stone by T.J. Klune (the spin-off and continuation of the Tales of Verania series). From enmity (well, at least on Justin’s side, Sam always wanted to be pals haha!) to a genuine bond of kinship. It’s just lovely even with all the zany antics that surround them both.

20. Favourite Book You Read in 2022 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Broken record here but definitely Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore. As I mentioned above, this is my top read of the year and has definitely secured the top spot as my favourite of the series.

21. Best Book You Read In 2022 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is a book that caught my attention due to all the lovely fanarts I kept coming across on social media. I ended up really loving it even though I struggled at first (I find third-person present tense difficult to read usually).

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022?

This is a bit of a cheat since this guy is from telly but the character is from a book as well so I’m totally counting him! It’s none other than Aemond Targaryen from House of the Dragon (based on Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin) played by Ewan Mitchell. I love him (in all his problematic glory haha!) I don’t just love the bad boys though – I enjoyed the actor a lot as Osferth (Baby Monk!) in The Last Kingdom too!!

23. Best 2022 debut you read?

I really enjoyed Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. It had enough angst to feed the masochist in me but was also sweet and romantic at the same time.

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

I really loved the world and setting of The First Girl Child (and its sequel The Second Blind Son) by Amy Harmon. Her world-building is always fantastic.

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

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood was such a cute and fluffy read. I had so much fun reading this book and will definitely be checking out any books the author releases in the future as this one provided a good kick to the old happy endorphins!

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2022?

I’m not really a crier when I read anymore but Falls Boys by Penelope Douglas really hit me in the feels. Definitely a hard-hitting read.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Hidden gem for me is definitely The Other Brother by Jax Calder. Totally unexpected little read that absolutely knocked my socks off (and found me a new awesome author!)

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

There were a few but I’ve got to give it to A Different Blue by Amy Harmon. It wasn’t the saddest but the book was definitely angst-inducing.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2022?

Trick by Natalia Jaster for sure, it’s not often an author revisits a book and adds more content (especially spice!) and has it work out so perfectly. As much as I love Trick 0.1, the extra content only made the story richer and more enthralling. I love it!

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

The most rage-inducing book I read in 2022 was The Words by Ashley Jade – the so-called ‘hero’ made me so spitting mad!! I honestly don’t know how the heroine forgave him – I certainly wouldn’t have haha!

1. New favourite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2022?

I haven’t really spent that much time around the book blogosphere this year. I’ve barely spent any time on my own blog to be honest. However, one resource I discovered this year (which has been really beneficial for my blog even if I haven’t posted much) is Design Bundles– I’ve found so many great graphic designs and becoming a Plus member has been one of the best decisions I made in 2022 – I’ve gotten so much out of it.

2. Favourite post you wrote in 2022?

Well, that is a short list to choose from lol. I do like my review of Trick (which you can find here). I had a lot of fun writing this one!

3. Favourite bookish related photo you took in 2022?

I really like this photo for some reason (it isn’t the best photo by any stretch of the imagination!) The colours just work for me and it includes a book I have been searching for years to track down a copy of (hint: it’s the third book from the top!) that I used to own in my youth but foolishly gave away…

4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?

I’m on Natalia Jaster’s ARC Team and get to read and review her books early which is a lovely little bonus!

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2022?

Err, like I said above, not a great blogging year for me at all this year. It’s probably been a series on lows if I’m being brutally honest… except for a couple of reviews here and there… 🙁

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

Motivation was definitely by biggest challenge this year. I severely lacked any at all – I’ve honestly never had such a bad year since I started my blog in 2013 (I’ve had bad periods, sure, but never a WHOLE year).

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

The most popular post I wrote this year was my review of Defy the Fae by Natalia Jaster (you can find my review here). I’m happy about that because I loved writing it.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

For once, one of my reviews actually got the most views which was nice! I didn’t have a lot of posts so I can’t really make claim to wishing posts got more love – I’m just lucky they got any at all heh. 😀

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

I’ve really enjoyed browsing for vintage books this year and spent loads of time on eBay and World of Books (WOB) and managed to track down more than a few hard-to-find titles which is awesome. Not really a new discovery but more of a re-discovery lol.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I completed my Goodreads challenge today actually (originally 100 but later upped to 150). I didn’t set any other challenges this year, I’m afraid.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2022 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2023?

I really want to read the Kingdom of the Wicked series by Kerri Maniscalco – I’ve got all the books now so more excuses…!!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2023 (non-debut)?

I absolutely cannot wait for The Stolen Heir by Holly Black – my top 2023 read for sure!! I don’t have too long to wait but it feels like ages away…

3. 2023 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I’m really looking forward to Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee which sounds amazing: Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians – I am there!! (Plus look at that cover… 😍)

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2023?

I am so excited for A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber – it’s going to be a looonnng wait to September…

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2023?

I really want to get my motivation back and stick to some kind of (loose) posting schedule. I have so many half-started or abandoned posts that I stopped and started this year; maybe I can start by pulling these back out?