Top Ten Tuesday: The Best Books of 2013 So Far

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I've Read in 2013 (Thus Far)


1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I'm reviewing this one later this week (or next week), and let me just tell you that this book blew my mind. Blew. My. Mind.

2. The Raft by S. A. Bodeen - If you like dramatic thrillers and survival stories, this one is for you. If you haven't read it yet, trust me when I say that you're missing out.

3. Some Quiet Place by Kesley Sutton - This is one of those slow-burn books that kind of crept onto my radar and surprised me. You absolutely must read it.



4. Hate List by Jennifer Brown - I couldn't put this book down. My review will be up on Thursday, and this book made me happy, angry, sad, devastated...the whole lot. That's power.

5. Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo - I vented on Twitter the other day about how hard it is to write the perfect review for the perfect book. I really need to work on that because this book is amazing.

6. Black City by Elizabeth Richards - This one actually really surprised me. I've grown awfully tired of dystopians, yet this one still managed to surprise me in the best possible way. 


7. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally - I was really pleasantly surprised by this one. For a girl who has ardently stated that she hates fluffy contemps...that's saying something.

8. Rootless by Chris Howard - I was hoping I would love this one, and I really, really did. Even in a tired dystopian genre, this book totally soars.

9. When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney - This one has a subtle power to it, and the rich descriptiveness of the books cultural setting is one of the best I've ever read.

10. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles - I can't post this review until closer till the release date in September, but let me just say that Ms. Elkeles does not disappoint. Not at all. You have a loyal Elkeles fan in me!

56 comments:

  1. Yay for Siege and Storm and Catching Jordan, I absolutely loved both of these reads too. I have been meaning to read Hate List and The Fault in Our Stars for ages now, so I'm definitely more eager now after you mentioned them on your list! Great picks Melissa.

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    1. Hate List is incredible, Jasprit. I'm posting my review this week, and it was so hard to write, simply because I loved it THAT much.

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  2. I totally forgot I read The Fault in our Stars this year, such a great book! I just received a copy of Wild Cards yesterday actually as well, can't wait to read that :) I'm really excited to read the others on your list too, especially Siege and Storm and When You Were Here. Great picks :)

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    1. TFiOS is a great book, right?! I swear John Green can do no wrong lol

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  3. Great top ten! Loved Siege and storm:)

    My TTT:
    http://evelinesbooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/top-ten-tuesday-teaser-tuesday-5.html

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  4. So I was tweeting a few minutes ago the books I most want to read next, asking people to pick one for me. Some Quiet Place was on the list but no one has tweeted back yet (of course, it is 4AM). So, guess what? You just picked for me. lol. Some Quiet Place it is. :D I really must read The Fault in Our Stars. I've heard so many spectacular things about it. Awesome list!

    ~Briana

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    1. Briana, I hope you love it like I did! And yes, TFiOS is an amazing book...you must read it stat :)

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  5. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS! SIEGE AND STORM! YES and YES. I need to obtain a copy of SOME QUIET PLACE and I want to read the whole Hundred Oaks series sometime soon. Asheley keeps raving about ROOTLESS, so I'm excited to see another vote for that one. And I have WILD CARDS sitting on my shelf, but I'm trying to wait to read it until closer to the date, but my resolve is slowly winding down. Great list, Melissa!

    My TTT

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    1. Thanks, Lauren! I hope you do read Rootless because I really want to see if you agree with Asheley and I! We're nuts over it ;)

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  6. I really liked Wild Cards, but I will admit I have a soft spot for Simone Elkeles' books. I could probably overlook most flaws ;)

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  7. Holy cow, I loved Seige & Storm. Leigh Bardugo is an amazing writing and that world just blew me away! I still haven't read TFIOS because I don't want to cry and I know it will make me bawl like a baby.

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    1. The great thing about TFIOS is that it's really sweet and heartwarming, too, Mary. I didn't cry until I was near the end...but it was done really, really well. Trust me...you need to read it!

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  8. TFiOS...oh, I die. So many fabulous lines and scenes in that book!
    I completely agree with your emotions about Hate List. Another book about school shootings that pack a punch is 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult.
    I read Catching Jordan, then kinda binged on all of the Hundred Oaks books that are out so far! lol
    My students *LOVE* Simone Elkeles, and it's my goal to read Perfect Chemistry+RoA+CR this summer!
    Also, I can't wait to read Siege and Storm!
    My T10T

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    1. I'll have to look into 19 minutes. I swear that Jodi Picoult speaks to my soul! :)

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  9. Hi Melissa! I just followed you :)
    I've heard so many good things about WILD CARDS, so I'm definitely going to put that on my TBR list! And THE HATE LIST looks incredible, too! I'm so happy to see THE FAULT IN OUR STARS on your list, also!
    ~Becca

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    1. THE HATE LIST is amazing, Becca. I highly, highly recommend it! If you do give it a go, I'd love to compare thoughts on it :)))

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  10. I've been wanting to read Catching Jordan for a while now, sometimes a light & fluffy YA book is just what I need! And I totally can't wait to read Wild Cards!

    New bloglovin follower :)

    My Top Ten

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    1. Catching Jordan is fantastic, Amy. I really hope you read it and love it. Thanks for following via Bloglovin' :)

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  11. AHHH! The Fault in Our Stars was beautiful and heart breaking. I didn't find Some Quiet Place too compelling for me though. Thanks for sharing, Mel!

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    1. I'm so glad you loved TFIOS, too, Melanie! I swear it was breathtaking, huh?!

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  12. TFIOS was really beautiful! And I also love Miranda Kenneallys books.
    I can't wait to read Wild Cards, Simone is such an amazing author.

    El @ So Bookalicious

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    1. Simone is definitely one of my all-time favourites! I've been reading her books since I started blogging in 2009! :)

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  13. The only book I've read on your list is TFiOS, which is a beautiful story. I can't wait to start the Shadow and Bone series, I've heard nothing but great things about it so far. Thanks for stopping by and following! :)

    My TTT

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  14. I definitely need to read some Jennifer Brown! I am also very looking forward to Daisy Whitney's book <3 it sounds exactly like my kind of read.

    Oh! And I was also intrigued by the raft (I read about it from your blog in my reader recently :))
    X Nomes

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    1. Yes, Nomes! Do it! Jennifer's books have fast become some of my absolute favourites. And I'm SERIOUSLY interested to see what you have to say about THE RAFT, so pretty please read it soooooon!

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  15. I really want to check out some quiet place and siege and storm :D! Awesome list and thanks for stopping by My TTT!

    Janina
    (Thanks for following!)

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  16. I have Some Quiet Place on my list to read this week Melissa! So excited you loved it:) I just finished When You Where Here and agree completely - definitely one of the more subtle reads but I really enjoyed it. I have Wild Cards on my list and am dying to get to it. It looks like a sexy read:):)

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    1. Oooooh I hope you love it, Jenny! I thought it was really well-written and entertaining. And girl...WILD CARDS = awesome. We must compare notes, stat!

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  17. I loved TFIOS, Rootless, and Siege & Storm! I can't wait to read Black City! Great post :)
    -Scott Reads It!

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    1. I sure hope you love BLACK CITY, too! I thought it was really well done!

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  18. I'm so glad that Wild Cards was good - I have in on my shelf just waiting for me, and I can't wait to tackle it!

    TTT @ Krista's Dust Jacket

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  19. Can you believe that I've never read a John Green book? I keep telling people that I will. ;) I didn't have much luck with Some Quiet Place unfortunately, but I did really love Siege and Storm. Glad it made it onto your list!

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    1. I'm not surprised! I took forever to actually try one of his titles, and now I understand just why everyone loves them so much!

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  20. There are just so many books in your list that I have to try!
    Like Sam, I have yet to read a John Green novel. That needs to change asap. I'm glad to hear that you loved Rootless. I've had my eyes on that book for some time now and I'm looking forward to reading it!

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    1. This was one of my first John Green novels, Nick, but it's flawless. I highly, highly recommend it! :)

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  21. TFIOS is my favorite book. It blew by Harry Potter in a second. Glad you liked it!

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    1. It's right up there with my all-time favourites now, too!

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  22. I have Some Quiet Place on my Kindle, but haven't read it yet. I was kind of skeptical, so I'm happy to know it's worth reading. I'm excited to read Wild Cards this fall. Great list!
    Natflix&Books' TTT

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    1. There are some mixed reviews for SOME QUIET PLACE, Natalie, but I really enjoyed it. I think it was one of those quiet books that creeps up on you :)

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  23. Great picks! I really gotta start the Grisha series since it is on almost everybody's lists. My TTT.

    Vyki @ On The Shelf

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    1. Leigh Bardugo is an amazing author...I think you'll love the series!

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  24. You liked Catching Jordan? Hm... will have to read it then,, I'm not a huge fan of contemps either :) (they make me cry too hard)

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    1. I really did! I thought I'd hate it, but it was so, so good! I think you'll like it :)

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  25. The Fault in Our Stars really was stunning. I've been meaning to pick up Siege and Storm ever since it released, yet I haven't had the chance to buy it yet. Soon! Also, I've had Black City sitting on my shelf for such a long time, so I really need to pick it up soon, seeing as you enjoyed it so much! I've heard great things about Hate List as well, so I plan to read that one soon. =)

    Lovely list, Melissa, thanks for sharing! <3

    -Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

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    1. I hope you do read HATE LIST, Aneeqah. It's a fantastic book and so, so powerful. Also, you're going to love BLACK CITY! :)

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  26. TFIOS! S&S! Two fabulous books that filled with excellent characters :)

    Ooh, you're making me excited for WILD CARDS - I have that one for review from Netgally. Sounds like I need to start it soon!

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  27. Great list. I've read TFiOS and Hate List, they were both amazing. Some Quiet Place looks really good so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  28. I see a few to add to my TPR pile. May you continue reading great books!!

    Here is my Top Ten post!

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  29. S&S and TFiOS are some of my favorites too! Also, I'm so glad to see Catching Jordan and When You Were Here up here - such great books! :)

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  30. i'll have to check out some quiet place! thanks for the heads up!

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  31. I absolutely adored The Fault in Our Stars when I read it last year, and I always love seeing more people discover it and read it. It's probably the book I most recommended in 2012. I really enjoyed Catching Jordan when I read it a few months ago. I haven't read a lot of these other books, but Same Quiet Place has such an intriguing cover/summary that it's now on my TBR. Great list!

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  32. I'm glad you said that about Rootless. I have a copy, but I've been putting off reading it because I was afraid it would just be more of the same. Now I'm curious to see how it stands out. Thanks!

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