2016 EOY Wrap Up

At the end of every year and the beginning of the next, I go into contemplative mode. I think about the past year. What happened? What changed in my life? What were the big things that I accomplished? What did I spend my time doing or thinking about? And then I think about the upcoming one as well. What do I want to see happen? What do I want to change in my life? What big things do I want to accomplish? What do I want to spend my time doing and thinking about? What things about last year do I really want to see change in the upcoming one?

2016 has been almost entirely focused upon me finding my groove as a mother. While that was a change that started in 2015, this is the first entire year that I've had as such. As Little Girl has gotten bigger and bigger, I'm finding myself enjoying motherhood more and more. Don't get me wrong, tiny babies are adorable, and I love that stage where all you do is cuddle basically, but now she's becoming more independent which is easier on me. Not to mention that I adore seeing her learn new things.

The earlier months of 2016 were focused on naps and feedings. My year was broken down by days which were broken into 3 hour segments. Eat, wake, sleep. Repeat. And while we are still heavy on "the schedule," life has gotten so much easier in all of these areas as the year has passed. Little Girl and I made it to my goal of one year breastfeeding. We actually made it to almost 14 months due to her getting a cold and me not being in a huge rush to wean. December 15th was our last time nursing. She still doesn't nap well if we're not at home, but I've learned that she can go without a nap or two every so often if necessary.

This has also been my first year not working a normal job. Being able to stay at home with Little Girl has been the best. I love being the one who gets all of her smiles every day. And it hurts my heart to think about all the things I'd miss if she were in daycare or with her grandmother. All of the new things she does and learns. But I haven't had as much free time as I thought I would. Little Girl is a cat-napper so even though she still naps multiple times per day, those naps aren't very long. And it's surprisingly hard to get housework (or reading) done while she's awake. During those waking times, I try hard to work with her on learning new skills or words.

I finally feel like I can breathe a little bit, and life feels like it is getting back to a relatively normal state. Of course, we hope to have more kids so I know in the coming years that we'll be essentially repeating this year of craziness and sleeplessness. But for now, I'm eating up every minute I have where she completely adores me while I can. Reading and blogging have taken a backseat, and that's completely okay with me.

EOM Wrap Up Posts for 2016

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Blogging Highlights from 2016

Holly and I successfully hosted the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge. This was our third year. We are returning for 2017 also.

I participated in the March Take Control of Your TBR Pile and read 5 books from my TBR pile.

Celebrated my 5th Blogoversary.

October was my 4th annual All Things Halloween event of Halloween-ish book reviews and such.

I continued features created in previous years: Cover Doubles and Discussions Only We Know. Although, I didn't get any Series DNF, Upon Further Review, or From the Ashes posts done. But I'm excited to announce that I'm starting a new featuring in 2017.

I did a commentary on one movie: Me Before You.

I didn't listen to any audiobooks because I haven't figured out how to do so with my new day to day.

I also didn't do any re-reads this year.

Books Read in 2016

*These qualify for the 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge.

Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist (review coming soon)
A Lady of Esteem (Hawthrone House, # 0.5) by Kristi Ann Hunter (review coming soon)
A Noble Masquerade (Hawthrone House, # 1) by Kristi Ann Hunter
An Uncommon Courtship (Hawthorne House, # 3) by Kristi Ann Hunter
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, # 5) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
Chaos (Mayhem, # 3) by Jamie Shaw (review coming soon)
Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow
*Opposition (Lux, # 5) by Jennfer L Armentrout
*November Snow (Bad Bloods, # 2) by Shannon A Thompson
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, # 4) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, # 3) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, # 2) by Sarah J Maas (review coming soon)
By Your Side by Kasie West (review coming soon)
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, # 1) by Sarah J Maas
*Finding It (Losing It, # 3) by Cora Carmack
Faking It (Losing It, # 2) by Cora Carmack
Losing It (Losing It, # 1) by Cora Carmack
November Rain (Bad Bloods, # 1) by Shannon A Thompson
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan
The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep
Under the Lights (The Field Party, # 2) by Abbi Glines
*Winter (Lunar Chronicles, # 4) by Marissa Meyer
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
*Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry, # 3) by Simone Elkeles
Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, # 2) by Simone Elkeles
Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, # 1) by Simone Elkeles
*The Crown (The Selection, # 5) by Kiera Cass
Me Before You (Me Before You, # 1) by Jojo Moyes
Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks, # 4) by Miranda Kenneally
*Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, # 2) by Simone Elkeles
Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise, # 1) by Simone Elkeles
*The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy, # 3) by Marie Rutkoski
The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, # 2) by Marie Rutkoski
The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, # 1) by Marie Rutkoski
The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively by Gary Chapman
The Heir (The Selection, # 4) by Kiera Cass
Too Late by Colleen Hoover
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
Dreamology by Lucy Keating
Flamecaster (Shattered Realms, # 1) by Cinda Williams Chima
*The Natural History of Us (The Fine Art of Pretending, # 2) by Rachel Harris
*Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Aime Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
*Morning Star (Red Rising Trilogy, # 3) by Pierce Brown
Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks, # 7) by Miranda Kenneally
*Split Second (Pivot Point, # 2) by Kasie West
Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi
A Walk in the Sun by Michelle Zink
*Very Twisted Things (Briarcrest Academy, # 3) by Ilsa Madden Mills
Beautiful Me: Believing God's Truth About You by Stasi Eldredge
Very Wicked Things (Briarcrest Academy, # 2) by Ilsa Madden Mills
Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers, # 4) by Jamie McGuire
Very Wicked Beginnings (Briarcrest Academy, # 1.5) by Ilsa Madden Mills
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
He Will Be My Ruin by KA Tucker
Walk the Edge (Thunder Road, # 2) by Katie McGarry
The Distance from A to Z by Natalie Blitt
*Forever Summer (Summer, # 4) by CJ Duggan

Books DNF'D

Banished (Forbidden, # 2) by Kimberley Griffiths-Little (DNF @ 54%)
Night Speed by Chris Howard (DNF @ 10%)
Winging It (Corrigan Falls Raiders, # 3) by Cate Cameron (DNF @ 9%)

How was your 2016? Are you exciting about moving on to 2017? Let me know!

2016 EOY Book Survey

Jamie The Perpetual Page Turner created this EOY Book Survey. I've participated the last four years (2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015), and I really enjoyed it. So here I am again for 2016. I've discussed how difficult narrowing down these are for me, but I'm going to try to do better keeping each category to one selection. Some of these get out of hand. Oh and feel free to join in and do your own survey. Just link back to Jamie.

2016 Reading Stats

92 books read so far (including a few children's books)
0 books re-read (no time for that this year)
Genre Read the Most From? Young Adult Fantasy

Books

1. Best book you read in 2016?

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, # 5) by Sarah J Maas
Morning Star (Red Rising, # 3) by Pierce Brown
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

2. Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers, # 4) by Jamie McGuire

3. Most surprising (in a good or bad way) book you read in 2016?

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow (good)

4. Book you read in 2016 that you recommended to people the most?

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
I had several friends give birth this year, and this book helped me so much that I couldn't help but recommend it.

5. Best series discovered in 2016? Best Sequel? Best series ender?

Series: Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Sequel: Faking It (Losing It, # 2) by Cora Carmack (not pictured)

Ender: Morning Star (Red Rising, # 3) by Pierce Brown

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Sarah J Maas

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Honestly, I didn't branch out this year. With little time to read, I feel like reading stuff I'm pretty sure to enjoy.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2016?

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, # 2) by Simone Elkeles
Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist
Losing It (Losing It, # 1) by Cora Carmack (not pictured)
I chose by books that I started and finished the same day.

9. Book you read in 2016 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

Honestly, I don't see myself having much time for re-reads next year either.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3) by Aime Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

11. Most memorable character in 2016?

Calaena Sardothien/Aelin Ashryver Galathynius

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Me Before You (Me Before You, # 1) by Jojo Moyes

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2016?

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam (this book helped me get some much needed sleep)

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read?

Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise, # 1) by Simone Elkeles
Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, # 1) by Simone Elkeles
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, # 1) by Sarah J Maas

15. Favorite passage/quote from a book you read in 2016?

"I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you." - Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, # 5) by Sarah J Maas

16. Shortest and longest book you read in 2016?

Longest: Winter (Lunar Chronicles, # 4) by Marissa Meyer (832 pages)
Shortest (not including children's books): Very Wicked Beginnings (Briarcrest Academy, # 1.5) by Ilsa Madden Mills (not pictured) 68 pages

17) Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it? (Updated to: Book that shocked you the most?)

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, # 1) by Sarah J Maas
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, # 2) by Sarah J Maas
Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, # 3) by Sarah J Maas
OK I won't say that any of these books "shocked" me, but I was actually contemplating looking for spoilers while reading these. That prompted me to talk to Holly to prevent myself from searching. So I think these books had my dying to talk to someone about them the most.

18) Favorite relationship from a book you read in 2016 (romantic)?

Aelin & Rowan

19. Favorite relationship (non-romantic) from a book you read in 2016?

Darrow & Sevro (Still)

20. Favorite book you read in 2016 from an author you’ve read previously?

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Morning Star (Red Rising, # 3) by Pierce Brown

21. Best book you read in 2016 that you read based solely on a recommendation from somebody else?

The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, # 1) by Marie Rutkoski

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Rowan Whitethorn from Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

23. Best debut you read in 2016?

Dreamology by Lucy Keating
I only read 3 debuts this year and each I rated 3 Stars. So I chose between those three based on their overall Goodreads ratings.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2016?

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas
Red Rising series by Pierce Brown
The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

25. Book that was the most fun to read in 2016?

Chaos (Mayhem, # 3) by Jamie Shaw
Turns out that I read several books this year just for fun. I didn't even have intention of reviewing them on my blog due to content. Even though I do plan to review Chaos in the future, it definitely falls into the fun category. Not only does this series follow a band of talented guys, but our MC is a rocking chick that also happens to be in the band.

26. Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2016?

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow
Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, # 3) by Sarah J Maas

27. Book you read in 2016 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?

The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep
Maybe because of the genre? This one really hooked me.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Me Before You (Me Before You, # 1) by Jojo Moyes
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, & Brodi Ashton

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

Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers, # 4) by Jamie McGuire

Blogging

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?

As guilty as I feel having to answer this way, I don't feel like I really discovered any new blogs this year. I just didn't have time to focus on visiting others as much as I would have liked. Honestly, reading and keeping my own blog up has been challenging enough.

2. Favorite review you wrote in 2016?

A Comparison Review of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Babywise
Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow
Morning Star (Red Rising, # 3) by Pierce Brown

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

I really can't remember any particular post having a lot of discussion back and forth. And I only got one Discussions Only We Know post done this year.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signing, festivals, virtual events, meme’s, etc)

I didn't do any signings or festivals, and this was the first year that I haven't participated in Armchair BEA since I've been blogging. So Kimba's March Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge I guess. It's a great month-long challenge to knock out some of those books that have been on your TBR list and in your possession for too long.

5. Best moment of book blogging/your book life in 2016?

I survived 2016? I mean I feel like this is just kind of a cop-out answer to this question, but I can't even feel bad about it because it's true.

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

Becoming a mom has been one of the single most rewarding things in my life without compare. However, that means that blogging and reading just isn't my top priority right now. So keeping up with my publication deadlines has been difficult. And more than that, I've been AWFUL at responding to blog comments this year. I'm so sorry to my followers and those who leave me comments. I truly appreciate your comments and even those of you who read but don't comment. Truthfully, I can't even promise you that it will get much better in the coming years as we hope to continue expanding our family. But I can promise you that I will keep trying.

7. Most popular post this year on your blog (views or comments)?

Waiting on Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth was apparently my most viewed blog post. Although it wasn't my most commented post. (Side note: These questions are always so hard for me to answer because I don't remember any particular post getting a ton of love.)

8. Post you wished got a little more love?

Discussions Only We Know: 11 Popular Authors I Haven't Clicked With
Cover Doubles # 3
Cover Doubles # 4

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

Wattpad

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

I completed my Goodreads challenge of 52 books. I didn't quite double that, but I did well. Granted, the number of children's books that I read boosted my read count by a good bit. I also completely my 2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge Goal of 10-12 series enders. And I completed my Bible-in-a-Year reading plan for the 5th year in a row.

Looking ahead…

1. One book you didn’t get to in 2016 but will be your number 1 priority in 2017?

The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, # 4) by Maggie Stiefvater

2. Book you are most anticipating in 2017 (non-debut)?

Long Way Home (Thunder Road, # 3) by Katie McGarry

3. 2017 Debut you are most anticipating?

No debuts are currently on my radar I don't think. Or they might be, but I really don't make note of that when I'm adding to my TBR list.

4. Series ending you are more anticipating in 2017?

Havoc (Mayhem, # 4) by Jamie McGuire
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, # 3) by Jenny Han
Untitled (Throne of Glass, # 6) by Sarah J Maas (not pictured)

5. One thing you hope to accomplish or do in your reading/blogging in 2017?

Keep going.

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

By Your Side by Kasie West
Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist

What would your answers be to the 2016 EOY Book Survey? Leave me your link so I can check out your post. Or just leave me a comment! Let me know!