December/Year Stats

Happy 2013!

Looking Back at 2012: What an exciting year! First I reached my goal of reading 300 books (just under the wire). Second I posted 374 posts, most of them being reviews, keeping to my goal of being a site that posts reviews rather than memes.  Third, I hosted nine giveaways (two standalones and my week-long extravaganza). Fourth I grew from 267 followers to 425-a tremendous leap. Thank you so much, everyone who stopped by. I also discovered loads of new blogs and am excited about building more relationships with those bloggers.

Looking Forward to 2013: January is off to a bang with a lot of 2013 releases as well as some 2012 titles that I had missed. Look for early reviews of Gayle Forman's Just One Day, Dance of Shadows, and Cinders and Sapphires, some of my most anticipated reads as well as lots of other cool YA and MG titles. This year I am definitely planning to read more MG after some great experiences in previous years. I am also looking forward to hosting more giveaways and growing as a blogger.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 25
Pages Read This Month: 7803 pages
Average Length of Book: 312 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.02 stars
Recommended Reads of the Month: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater; Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys (releases in February)

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 300 (goal reached!)
Total Pages Read: 94,288 pages
Average Length of Book: 314 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.01

(Month) By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-15
Romance-3
Classics-1
Science Fiction/Fantasy-1
Non-Fiction-2
Historical Fiction-2
Short Stories-0
Other-1

(Month) Source:
Home Library-5
Own/Borrowed/Won-5
Netgalley-10
Other ebook source-2
Booksneeze-1
Amazon Vine-2

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November;

Books Read:
276. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
277. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
278. Forever a Lord by Delilah Marvelle
279. Not Exactly a Love Story by Audrey Coulombis
280. Rift by Andrea Cremer
281. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
282. The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
283. Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
284. Louder Than Words by Laurie Plissner
285. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
286. Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliott
287. The Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab
288. Scent of Power by Maria V. Snyder
289. The Lady Most Willing...by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway
290. What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan
291. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
292. The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress
293. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
294. The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen
295. The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
296. Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheldt
297. Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
298. Prettiest Doll by Gina Willner-Pardo
299. Delusion by Laura L. Sullivan
300. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer C Smith

November Stats

Looking Back at November: A very mixed month for me. I did meet my goal and am on track for 300 books read this year (thank you Thanksgiving break!) However I didn't really feel blown away by any books this month which is always a disappointment.  I am also very behind on my goal of reading Anna Karenina...let's not talk about how far. But on the bright side, I did host awesome giveaways this month-I'll be emailing the winners this morning and having a wrap-up post tomorrow.

Looking Forward to December: Looking forward to winding things down-I'm planning on having an end-of-the-year giveaway as well as going over my very favorite reads of the year. I should also have more time to read as outside commitments go on pause until the new year. I've got some exciting reads coming up and it should be a pretty fun, chill month. Hoping to read 25 books so that I do meet my 300 books read this year!

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 23
Pages Read This Month: 7042 pages
Average Length of Book: 306 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.78 stars
Recommended Reads of the Month: Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 275
Total Pages Read: 86,485 pages
Average Length of Book: 314 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.79

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-1
YA/MG-20
Romance-0
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-1
Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-0
Own/Borrowed/Won-12
Netgalley-4
Other ebook source-0
Booksneeze-0
Amazon Vine-7

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October;

Books Read:
253. A Beautiful Failure by Janet Ruth Young
254. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner
255. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
256. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand
257. Endlessly by Kiersten White
258. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen
259. Ten by Gretchen McNeil
260. Ouroboros by Christopher Turkel
261. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
262. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
263. The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki
264. Starting From Here by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
265. Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie
266. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
267. Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn
268. Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo
269. Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
270. The Panem Companion by V. Arrow
271. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
272. The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
273. Perry's Killer Playlist by Joe Schreiber
274. The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan
275. Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

October Stats + #AnnaKareninaRA

Looking Back at October: A better month for me, with a just below average number of books read but a higher enjoyment. I just plain liked the books I read this month with a few standouts so that lifted the average rating on them.

Looking Forward to November: Lots of cool stuff for November but first and foremost is my 3-year blogoversary including a full week of giveaways (currently planning a minimum of 7). Another exciting thing is this Anna Karenina readalong-we're only in the first week so there's definitely time to jump in; see this post for more info and the schedule. I know it's a fat book but it's actually very readable. I've already finished the first part and am looking forward to going further. Plus I'm focusing a bit more on the books I own so that should hopefully lead to higher ratings and more enjoyment for me.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 24
Pages Read This Month: 7819 pages
Average Length of Book: 326 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.90 stars
Recommended Reads of the Month: Because It is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevins and The Girl Who Was on Fire edited by Leah Wilson


Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 252
Total Pages Read: 79,443 pages
Average Length of Book: 315 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.88

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-1
YA/MG-14
Romance-4
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-1
Non-Fiction-0
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-2
Other-2

Source:
Home Library-2
Own/Borrowed/Won-3
Netgalley-14
Other ebook source-2
Booksneeze-0
Amazon Vine-3

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September;

Books Read:
229. All You Never Wanted by Adele Griffin
230. Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay
231. League of Strays by LB Schulman
232. Once Upon a Time Machine edited by Andrew Carl and Chris Stevens
233. Velveteen by Daniel Marks
234. Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
235. Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt
236. Diverse Energies edited by Tobias S. Buckell and Joe Monti
237. This Is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees
238. Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling
239. Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
240. Two and Twenty Dark Tales edited by Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink
241. Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley
242. Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevins
243. Flutter by Gina Linko
244. The Girl Who Was on Fire edited by Leah Wilson
245. The Scottish Witch by Cathy Maxwell
246. Losing It by Erin Fry
247. The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde
248. Every Day by David Levithan
249. Cold Fury by TM Goeglein
250. An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere
251. Strong and Stubborn by Kelly Eileen Hake
252. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

How was your month?

September Stats (and #giveaway reminder)

Looking Back at September: Definitely not my best reading month, with the least books read and a general lack of enthusiasm for them. I think there were a few books where I should have just given up and not finished but my stubbornness pushed me through. Fortunately I am still on track for the year. On a happier note, my giveaway for a realistic YA book of your choice is still running through the end of this week so you'll definitely want to check that out!

Looking Forward to October: It looks like I have mostly review books scheduled so look forward to hearing about some of the latest releases but also with a few older books sprinkled in. We are also getting ever closer to celebrating my 3-year blogoversary in November including a full week of giveaways-I can't wait to celebrate this milestone with all of you :) I'm hoping to pack in more reading time too so that I'm not so disappointed with my totals.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 22
Pages Read This Month: 7159 pages
Average Length of Book: 325 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.57 stars
Recommended Reads of the Month: The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde; Speechless by Hannah Harrington


Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 228
Total Pages Read: 71,624 pages
Average Length of Book: 314 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.57

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-17
Romance-2
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-1
Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-2
Own/Borrowed/Won-2
Netgalley-11
Other ebook source-3
Booksneeze-0
Amazon Vine-4

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August;

Books Read:
207. The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
208. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
209. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
210. Beyond by Graham McNamee
211. A Soldier's Secret by Marissa Moss
212. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
213. Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
214. Something Red by Douglas Nicholas
215. Scorch by Gina Damico
216. Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant
217. Emily's Dress and Other Missing Things by Kathryn Burak
218. What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt
219. The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne
220. If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
221. Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin
222. Speechless by Hannah Harrington
223. Hidden by Sophie Jordan
224. Dearly Beloved by Lia Habel
225. Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin
226. Crewel by Gennifer Albin
227. A Lady in the Making by Susan Page Davis
228. The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski

August Stats

Looking Back at August: Pretty good month, both reading and personally. I read 27 books, much more than I was anticipating and I'm in a good position to read more over Labor Day weekend. However I was disappointed in a lot of the books and was a pretty harsh critic-I guess I am getting crabby as my blogging years increase. Personally I started a new job that has immensely lifted my spirits-it's an increase in pay and benefits as well as the chance to grow a lot more professionally.

Looking Forward to September: Again a lot of YA, including a blog tour for Sulan, Episode One: The League by Camille Picott and the highly anticipated conclusion to the Firelight trilogy Hidden. I do have a few adult novels sprinkled in though as you'll see. I also have a four week series about reasons to love realistic YA lit (culminating in a giveaway) so you'll definitely want to be around on Sundays! Lastly I am moving forward on work for my 3-year blogoversary in November including a full week of giveaways-I can't wait to celebrate this milestone with all of you :)

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 27
Pages Read This Month: 8149 pages
Average Length of Book: 302 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.7 stars
Recommended Reads of the Month: A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master (review to come)

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 206
Total Pages Read: 64,465 pages
Average Length of Book: 308 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.71

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-3
YA/MG-20
Romance-3
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-0
Non-Fiction-0
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-7
Own/Borrowed/Won-2
Netgalley-14
Other ebook source-0
Booksneeze-0
Amazon Vine-4

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July;

Books Read:
180. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
181. A Path Toward Love by Cara Lynn James
182. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
183. Sweeter Than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott
184. The Wednesdays by Julie Bourbeau
185. Jump Into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall
186. Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer
187. Mr. Monk on Patrol by Lee Goldberg
188. Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle
189. Rape Girl by Alina Klein
190. Between You and Me by Marisa Calin
191. Beauty For Ashes by Dorothy Love
192. Underworld by Meg Cabot
193. Since You Left Me by Allen Zadoff
194. Arise by Tara Hudson
195. This Scarlet Cord by Joan Wolf
196. Come August, Come Freedom by Gigi Amateau
197. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
198. The List by Siobhan Vivian
199. Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett
200. Mr. Monk Is a Mess by Lee Goldberg
201. A Beautiful Lie by Irfan Master
202. From What I Remember...by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
203. The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
204. Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King
205. The Last Free Cat by Jon Blake
206. Sulan, Episode One: The League by Camille Picott

July Stats

Looking Back at July: I got to host Lindsey Leavitt in support of A Farewell to Charms-check out her interview! It was a very productive month for me, reading 29 books (I had been averaging 25 a month) but alas while I'm in the reading groove, I have fallen out of the habit of writing reviews. It is taking me much longer than I would like to put my thoughts down-there may be some mini-reviews coming your way if I don't get inspired soon!

Looking Forward to August: Another fantastic mix of recent YA along with a few adult books-I like to mix it up! I am also working on some discussion posts about blogging/the process of writing reviews, which is a bit ironic considering my current slump. I'm hoping it will be interesting for bloggers and non-bloggers alike. Along with that, I hope to pull myself out of my reviewing funk because I currently have about seven posts in draft and I would really like to hit publish on them. What do you do to pull yourself out of a reviewing slump?

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 29
Pages Read This Month: 9466 pages
Average Length of Book: 326 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.79
Recommended Reads of the Month: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 179
Total Pages Read: 56,316 pages
Average Length of Book: 315 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.79

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-2
YA/MG-21
Romance-1
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-1
Non-Fiction-2
Historical Fiction-2
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-7
Own/Borrowed/Won-0
Netgalley-15
Other ebook source-1
Booksneeze-1
Amazon Vine-5

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June;

Books Read:
151. Imperfect Bliss by Susan Fales-Hill
152. Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
153. Nothing Special by Geoff Herbach
154. Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove by Audrey Penn
155. I Am (Not) the Walrus by Ed Briant
156. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
157. The Scorpions of Zahir by Christine Brodien-Jones
158. Through Rushing Water by Catherine Richmond
159. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
160. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
161. Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger
162. Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal
163. First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky
164. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
165. What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor
166. Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton
167. Circle of Silence by Carol M Tanzman
168. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
169. Starring Me by Krista McGee
170. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
171. Prince William by Penny Junor
172. The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields
173. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
174. Narc by Crissa-Jean Chappell
175. Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
176. Keeping the Castle by Patricia Kindl
177. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
178. Burn by Heath Gibson
179. Stress Point by Sarah Francis Martin

June Stats

Looking Back at June: This was a tough reading month in two ways. First my grandparents were visiting so I didn't have much time in the beginning of the month leading to a mini-marathon yesterday where I read about 1000 pages in addition to my regular Saturday activities so that I could reach my goal of 150 books for the halfway point of the year: totally worth it! The second problem was plenty of solid books but few outstanding books that just clicked with me. The clear winner, also mentioned below, was Elizabeth Wein's Code Name Verity, my favorite book of the year. Love love love it! I ended up buying my own copy and have lent it to my mom.

Looking Forward to July: I'm most excited about participating in a blog tour for Lindsey Leavitt's A Princess for Hire series. This is on July 3rd; look for an interview, review of A Farewell to Charms, and a giveaway of one book in the series. It will be an exciting day!

I'm also going to be attending some author signings at the end of the month; not sure if I'll end up posting about that but I'm excited to be attending that personally. As for reviews, look for a lot of 2012 YA releases along with some adult books.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 26
Pages Read This Month: 8615 pages
Average Length of Book: 331 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.67
Recommended Reads of the Month: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein-go read now!

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 150 (right on track!)
Total Pages Read: 46850 pages
Average Length of Book: 312 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.69

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-3
YA/MG-20
Romance-1
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-0
Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-11
Own/Borrowed/Won-1
Netgalley-7
Other ebook source-2
ARC-1

Amazon Vine-4

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May;

Books Read:
125. Park Lane by Frances Osborne
126. Death by Petticoat by Mary Miley Theobald
127. Along Came a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle
128. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
129. Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
130. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
131. Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear
132. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
133. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
134. 7 Clues to Winning You by Kristin Walker
135. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
136. Burn Mark by Laura Powell
137. Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
138. The Story of Us by Deb Caletti
139. Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgis
140. Racing the Moon by Alan Armstrong
141. When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
142. Without Tess by Marcella Pixley
143. Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
144. The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton by Elizabeth Speller
145. Fever by Lauren DeStefano
146. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
147. A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt
148. The Girl Is Trouble by Kathryn Miller Haines
149. Never Enough by Denise Jaden
150. Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Happy reading :)

May Stats

Looking Back at May: Earlier this week, I worried about how much I had been reading but I sat down and focused and ended up with 24 read which is not too shabby. I think it helped that I loved a lot of books this month-I recommend 5 of those books below!

Looking Forward to June: I'm really psyched about my reading for the month of June-I have a ton of great YA releases on tap as well as a few older books and, just for fun, a couple of adult mysteries and romances. It should be very fun and I'm looking forward to talking with you about them and what you are reading!

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 24
Pages Read This Month: 7859 pages
Average Length of Book: 327 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.04
Recommended Reads of the Month: Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker; My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin; The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross; Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren; and Miracle by Elizabeth Scott (reviews of these last two to come)

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 124 (slightly behind goal)
Total Pages Read: 38,235 pages
Average Length of Book: 308 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.03

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-2
YA/MG-18
Romance-3
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-0
Non-Fiction-0
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-1

Source:
Home Library-8
Own/Borrowed/Won-1
Booksneeze-0
Netgalley-9
Other ebook source-2
Audiobook-0
ARC-1
Amazon Vine-3

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April;

Books Read:
101. The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary
102. Two Crafty Criminals! by Philip Pullman
103. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
104. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
105. Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
106. The Cranes Dance by Meg Hawrey
107. Gilt by Katherine Longshore
108. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
109. Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
110. Timepiece by Myra McEntire
111. Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
112. My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin
113. Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely
114. Lyon's Bride by Cathy Maxwell
115. The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
116. A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
117. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
118. This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas
119. Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren
120. Illuminated by Erica Orloff
121. Transcendence by CJ Omololu
122. Miracle by Elizabeth Scott
123. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
124. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

April Stats

Looking Back at April: This has actually felt like a really long month with good and bad stuff. Bad first: I still feel some stress from work but it feels more manageable at the moment. Now on to the good:  1. Netgalley April (I dove headfirst into that and ended up reading 16 books, surpassing my goal of 14); 2. I received a blog makeover (I invite you to click through if you're reading this on google reader) and 3. I got a lot more reading done, with 26 books total and me on track to complete my reading challenge of 300 books read for the year.

Looking Forward to May: May is another exciting month, mostly YA but with some adult mysteries and romance also making an appearance. The YA is touching on all genres-some contemporary, some historical, some fantasy, some paranormal, some steampunk. I love all of the different kinds of stories I've had the chance to be reading.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 26
Pages Read This Month: 8,566 pages
Average Length of Book: 329 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.71
Favorite Book: Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink-a total Bookworm1858 book, just wait for my review!
Other Recommended Reads: 13 Hangmen by Art Corriveau; The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 100 (1/3 of the way through the year and 1/3 of the way through my goal)
Total Pages Read: 30,376 pages
Average Length of Book: 304 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.72

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-3
YA/MG-21
Romance-0
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-0
Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-1

Source:
Home Library-3
Own/Borrowed/Won-1
Booksneeze-0
Netgalley-15
Other ebook source-0
Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-6

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March

Books Read:
75. Candlewax by C. Bailey Sims
76. 13 Hangmen by Art Corriveau
77. Torn by Stephanie Guerra
78. Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves
79. The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman
80. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
81. The Academie by Susanne Dunlap
82. Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia McNeal
83. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
84. Various Positions by Martha Schabas
85. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King
86. Island of Vice by Richard Zacks
87. Spirit's Princess by Esther Friesner
88. Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie
89. The Mapmaker and the Ghost by Sarvenaz Tash
90. The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge
91. The Selection by Kiera Cass
92. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
93. A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
94. Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by LL Samson
95. The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenwood
96. Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen
97. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
98. The Unbearable Book Club of Unsinkable Girls by Julie Schumacher
99. Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
100. Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

March 2012 Stats

Looking Back at March: I really struggled to fit in reading this month and am just under my goal. There are several reasons for that, one of which I will be sharing about this month; it's just something else that has consumed my attention and makes me happy. Unfortunately another reason is stress from work, something I don't see ending this month although I am trying to be more at peace with the situation there.  One more reason would be the books I was reading. Most of them were average reads for me, meaning that I didn't hate any of them but unfortunately I wasn't head over heels in love with most of them. I have 2 books to recommend below whereas last month I think I recommended 5.

Looking Forward to April: It's a pretty exciting month with lots of YA books in many different genres, almost exclusively published in 2012 so you can find out if the newest releases are worth your time. I'm also throwing in some adult reads including the latest Lauren Willig, The Garden Intrigue, which I have already read and loved. I will also be talking about my latest (non-book) obsession and why it is preventing me from reading. 

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 24
Pages Read This Month: 7009 pages
Average Length of Book: 292 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.88
Favorite Book: Radiate by Marley Gibson-a great contemporary filled with emotion and heart!
Other Recommended Reads: Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 74 (should have been at 75 by this point but oh well)
Total Pages Read: 21,810 pages
Average Length of Book: 295 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.88

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-20
Romance-1
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-0
Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-1
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-5
Own/Borrowed/Won-1
Booksneeze-0
Netgalley-12
Other ebook source-1
Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-5

Stats for Previous Months: January; February;

Books Read:
51. Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea by Sophia Nash
52. Seattle Cinderella by Gail Sattler
53. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
54. Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
55. Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator by Josh Berk
56. Man Overboard! by Curtis Parkinson
57. Crossed by Ally Condie
58. Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson
59. Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner
60. Croak by Gina Damico
61. Life Is But A Dream by Brian James
62. Sisters of Glass by Stephanie Hemphill
63. Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler
64. Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
65. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Random Riggs
66. Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood
67. Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz
68. Tessa Masterson WILL Go To Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
69. Dying to Know You by Aiden Chambers
70. Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo
71. The Great Divorce by CS Lewis
72. The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig
73. Clockwise by Elle Strauss
74. Radiate by Marley Gibson

February 2012 Stats

Looking Back at February: I read a lot of library books and have begun making a dent in my Netgalley requests. I am also hoping to either check out from the library or buy those Netgalley books that expired early to give them a chance to impress me. Sadly I have been struggling to make time to read lately although I read some *amazing* books this month (see recommended books below).

Looking Forward to March: I'm kind of starting Netgalley month early (the next one is in April) because I just have so many books on there and I don't want the galleys to expire. I also have The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge to read because The Iron Thorn intrigued me so much-this is probably my most highly anticipated book of the month so we'll see how I feel after I finish it. I hope to make more time for reading because I do treasure that time and I can be cranky if I don't get it ;)

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 24
Pages Read This Month: 6916 pages
Average Length of Book: 288 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.92
Favorite Book: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey-beautiful cover that lived up to promise!
Other Recommended Reads: The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas; Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake; Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber; Everneath by Brodi Ashton; Legend by Marie Lu


Year Stats:
Total Books Read: 50 (on track to read 300 this year)
Total Pages Read: 14,801 pages
Average Length of Book: 296 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.92

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-16
Romance-3
Classics-1
Science Fiction/Fantasy-1
Non-Fiction-2
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-11
Own/Borrowed/Won-1
Booksneeze-0
Netgalley-10
Other ebook source-0
Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-2

Stats for Previous Months: January;

Books Read:
27. Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede
28. The Sword in the Stone by TH White
29. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
30. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
31. Take the Cannoli by Sarah Vowell
32. The Vanishing Game by Katie Kae Myers
33. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
34. Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
35. Cat Burglar in Training by Shelley Munro
36. Double by Jenny Valentine
37. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
38. The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
39. Every Other Day by Jennifer Barnes
40. The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas
41. Prehistoric Clock by Robert Appleton
42. A Waltz at Midnight by Crista McHugh
43. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
44. The Glass Collector by Anna Perera
45. A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
46. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
47. Everneath by Brodi Ashton
48. Erebos by Ursula Poznanski
49. Legend by Marie Lu
50. The Catch by Rick Jasper

January Stats

Looking Back at January: I read all of the books I had planned to read for Netgalley month but am quite behind on reviews for those books; in fact, I'm very behind on reviews in general. That is my weekend goal as well as, of course, reading more. It was a pretty good month overall with many books earning a solid 4. I also got off to a good start with YA debuts, reading 8. That number will continue to increase over the year as I try to make a point to check out the debuts.

Looking Forward to February: Don't have many special plans. I am about 1/4 of the way through Little Dorrit which I'm trying to read in honor of Dickens' upcoming bicentennial but progress is slow; not because I don't like the book but just because it's awkward to carry and it takes me a bit longer to read. Lots of Netgalley book reviews to come: mostly YA and romance.


Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 26
Pages Read This Month: 7885 pages
Average Length of Book: 303 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.08
Favorite Book: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Year Stats:
Total Books Read: 26
Total Pages Read: 7885 pages
Average Length of Book: 303 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.08

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-19
Romance-3
Classics-0
Science Fiction/Fantasy-0
Non-Fiction-4
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Source:
Home Library-10
Own/Borrowed/Won-2
Booksneeze-0
Netgalley-9
Other ebook source-1
Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-4

Stats for Previous Months:

Books Read:
1. Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse by Lucas Klauss
2. Prince Philip by Philip Eade
3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
4. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
5. Look, I Made a Hat by Stephen Sondheim
6. The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
8. Ditched by Robin Mellom
9. The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani
10. Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher
11. Life: An Unexploded Diagram by Mal Peet
12. Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
13. My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan by Seth Rudetsky
14. Tempest by Julie Cross
15. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
16. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
17. The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow
18. Then by Morris Gleitzman
19. Notes From the Blender by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
20. The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison
21. Persuasion: A Latter-Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison
22. Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks
23. First Date by Krista McGee
24. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
25. 100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein
26. Soulless by Gail Carriger

2011 Stats

This is my wrap-up post for the year 2011. I originally aspired to 250 then 300 and then 400 books read and I actually managed to surpass that! See below for full details.

I posted 442 posts, the vast majority being reviews of course.

I hosted my first contest and hope to have at least one more in 2012.

I was a First Round Judge at The Shady Glade's best Overlooked YA Book Battle and ended up stepping in as a Round Two Judge too.

How did I do on my 2011 Resolutions (totally forgot I had even written any!)?
-I did end up feeling pressured by myself to read a lot, which was successful but also sometimes stressful so that is one of my goal's for this year. I also felt pressured to post every day which is something I'm dealing with by trying to build up a backlog of posts.
-Reach 100 followers-done! Currently at 267 (thank you so much!) and trying to figure out what will happen when GFC inevitably goes away...
-Finish all my challenges-done! Not that I was very ambitious and this year I only signed up for 2 but I also want to do some readalongs and readathons as I hope to read more classics this year and really buckle down on my FITG challenge.

Year Stats:
Total Books Read: 413
Total Pages Read: 123,040 pages
Average Length of Book: 298 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.73

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-29
YA/MG-258
Romance-31

Classics-13

Science Fiction/Fantasy-7

Non-Fiction-42
Historical Fiction-13
Short Stories-2
Other-18

(Please keep in mind that I did read more science fiction/fantasy and historical fiction but since it was YA they were classified as that).

Source:

Library-182

Own/Borrowed/Won-53

Booksneeze-6

Netgalley-109

Other ebook source-34

Audiobook-2
Amazon Vine-27

I am very surprised that I read 53 books that I owned; that's about 1/8 of my total and beyond what I was expecting. I am also a little surprised by my library numbers as I would have thought it would be more; but now that I have celebrated one year with my nook color, I guess it's no surprise that I've been reading a good amount on it.

December Stats

Looking Back at December: I read a good deal of books but the quality was not very high. Many books left me with a "so what?" feeling, that there was potential in the plot/characters/writing but that it wasn't executed to appeal enough to me. It's not the best way to end the year, but what can you do?

Looking Forward to 2012: Another Netgalley month with Wilow Red House...Lots of reviews (got some great YA ARCs through Amazon Vine) and fun. Check back tomorrow for a wrap-up and plans for 2012!

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 27
Pages Read This Month: 8528 pages  
Average Length of Book: 315 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.72

Favorite Book: There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones (so amazing; need to read more by her!)

Longest Book: Mastiff by Tamora Pierce at a massive 581 pages

Shortest Book: The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss, an accordion style book with only 77 pages

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-1
YA/MG-19
Romance-3

Classics-1

Science Fiction/Fantasy-1

Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Challenge Updates:

Cozy: 0 read, 5 total

British Books: 0 read, 41 total

YA Debut: 6 read, 63 total

Ebook: 12 read, 145 total (a resounding success!)

Source:

Home Library-9

Own/Borrowed/Won-2

Booksneeze-0

Netgalley-11

Other ebook source-1

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-4

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November 

Read:
387. The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves
388. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
389. The Merchant's Daughter
390. A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
391. Tankborn by Karen Sandler
392. A Mortal Terror
393. Legacy by Molly Cochran
394. It's a Wonderful Life by Jesse Goossens
395. The Girl Is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
396. Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher
397. Flyaway by Helen Landalf
398. Finishing the Hat by Stephen Sondheim
399. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
400. The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky
401. Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
402. There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
403. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
404. Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
405. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
406. Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle
407. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
408. The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss
409. Tina's Mouth by Keshni Kashyap
410. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
411. Chime by Franny Billingsley
412. The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Connie Brockway, and Eloisa James
413. Strings Attached by Judy Blundell

Check back tomorrow for an End of the Year Wrap-Up!

November Stats

Looking Back at November: I ended with reviews of the last 7 books in the Anne of Green Gables, which was a lot of fun. Also due to the Thanksgiving holiday, I was able to add quite a few more books to my total, which makes me happy. The other great thing was that I read a lot of really enjoyable books and handed out more than a few 5s just because the books were so good. Most of those reviews have already been posted if you want to explore my November posts.

Looking Forward to December: My main goal for December is to really plow through my Netgalley review books (I'm currently under 50!) so there will be plenty of reviews from there but also some other YA releases and even a few other categories (like a classic and a non-fiction book). I'm hoping to end the year strong (I will definitely read over 400 books this year) as I have several holidays, which always gives me more time to read.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 27
Pages Read This Month: 7080 pages  
Average Length of Book: 262 pages
Average Rating of Book: 4.06

Favorite Book: I read so many great books this month but I think I will go with Rilla of Ingleside by LM Montgomery.

Longest Book: The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins at 396 pages

Shortest Book: Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan, a children's book at 35 pages
 

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 386

Total Pages Read: 114,512 pages

Average Length of Book: 297 pages

Average Rating of Book: 4.05

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-12
Romance-2

Classics-1

Science Fiction/Fantasy-1

Non-Fiction-3
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-8

Challenge Updates:

Cozy: 0 read, 5 total

British Books: 0 read, 41 total

YA Debut: 3 read, 57 total

Ebook: 8 read, 133 total

Source:

Home Library-8

Own/Borrowed/Won-8

Booksneeze-0

Netgalley-7

Other ebook source-1

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-3

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October

Books Read:
360. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
361. Bunheads by Sophie Flack
362. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
363. The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin
364. Wherever You Go by Heather Davis
365. Anne of Avonlea by LM Montgomery
366. Anne of the the Island by LM Montgomery
367. How to Be Perfect by Daniel M. Harrell
368. Eddie's War by Carol Fisher Saller
369. Soldier's Game by James Killgore
370. Anne of Windy Poplars by LM Montgomery
371. The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees
372. Anne's House of Dreams by LM Montgomery
373. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
374. Anne of Ingleside by LM Montgomery
375. Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl
376. Rainbow Valley by LM Montgomery
377. With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo
378. Rilla of Ingleside by LM Montgomery
379. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
380. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton
381. The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins
382. Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce
383. Washington Square by Henry James
384. Irena's Jar of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan
385. How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
386. Tall, Dark, and Determined by Kelly Eileen Hake

How was your month?

October Stats

Looking Back at October: October was a very successful Netgalley month for me with 11 titles read and a lot of organization going on. I deleted the titles that were archived and I've planned out my reading for 2012 titles. I'm hoping to read at least 5 in November and at least another 5 in December so I feel like I'm in a good place. I'm still waiting to hear back on some requests (*fingers crossed*) but otherwise I'm at about 50, which isn't too bad as I was close to 100 earlier this year!


This was not my best reading month with only 24 done but it was also really busy. I had two orchestra concerts, which was so exhausting and I've just been involved with other things.

Looking Forward to November: I'm SO excited about this month. I have a few library books and a few Netgalley books to read and then I'm embarking on a special week: Anne of Green Gables week! Last year I read Anne and adored it. I asked for a boxed set of eight titles for Christmas, received it, and then never read them. They just sat there collecting dust. Thus before another year has past, I am going to read the other seven works. Five of them are about Anne and I think the other two are more about her children. I'm also going to write a birthday post in honor of LM Montgomery on November 30. I'm just looking forward to being swept away by the lovable Anne. I guess it might make more sense to wait for an anniversary of her birth or death but I'm too excited to wait!

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 24
Pages Read This Month: 7901 pages  
Average Length of Book: 329 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.85

Favorite Book: Liesl and Po, Lauren Oliver's entry into middle-grade fiction

Longest Book: Death Watch by Ari Berk at a long 523 pages

Shortest Book: The Grace of God by Andy Stanley, a mere 217 pages
 

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 359

Total Pages Read: 107,432 pages

Average Length of Book: 299 pages

Average Rating of Book: 3.85

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-1
YA/MG-12
Romance-3

Classics-1

Science Fiction/Fantasy-0

Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-4
Short Stories-1
Other-1

Challenge Updates:

Cozy: 0 read, 5 total

British Books: 1 read, 41 total

YA Debut: 3 read, 54 total

Ebook: 13 read, 125 total

Source:

Home Library-3

Own/Borrowed/Won-4

Booksneeze-1

Netgalley-11

Other ebook source-2

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-3

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September

Books Read:
336. Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
337. You Are My Only by Beth Kephart
338. Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
339. Jane Austen Made Me Do It ed. Laurel Ann Nattress
340. The Maid by Kimberly Cutter
341. Ambitious by Monica McKayhan
342. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
343. Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
344. A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf
345. Operation Napoleon by Arnaldur Indridason
346. The Grace of God by Andy Stanley
347. Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond
348. Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen
349. Turnabout's Fair Play by Kaye Dacus
350. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
351. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
352. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
353. The Dead Kid Detective Agency by Evan Munday
354. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins
355. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
356. Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
357. Must've Done Something Good by Cheryl Cory
358. Death Watch by Ari Berk
359. Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown

September Stats

Looking Back at September: A much better month than August in terms of quality. I read a lot of books I really enjoyed, a lot of exciting YA, a lot of different genres.

Looking Forward to October: Another Netgalley month at Red House Books; I already have 10 downloaded and I'm hoping to mostly focus on books from there with the occasional library and Vine book topping my reading list. I'm not doing anything special for Halloween but I am hoping to read some classics and/or books by British authors for my BBC challenge.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 30
Pages Read This Month: 8791 pages
Average Length of Book:  293 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.77

Favorite Book: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Most Disappointing Book: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davis-bleh love triangle

Longest Book: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, 420 pages

Shortest Book: Queens of All the Earth by Hannah Sternberg, 159 pages of lyricism

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 335

Total Pages Read: 99,531 pages

Average Length of Book: 297 pages

Average Rating of Book: 3.76

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-3
YA/MG-25
Romance-0

Classics-0

Science Fiction/Fantasy-1

Non-Fiction-1
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Challenge Updates:

Contemps: 2 read-COMPLETED!

Cozy: 0 read, 5 total

British Books: 1 read, 40 total

YA Debut: 8 read, 51 total

Ebook: 12 read, 112 total

Source:

Home Library-14

Own/Borrowed/Won-1

Booksneeze-0

Netgalley-8

Other ebook source-2

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-5

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August 

Books Read:
306. A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler
307. Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman
308. Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
309. Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan
310. Pirate King by Laurie R. King
311. The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
312. Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
313. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
314. Deadline by Chris Crutcher
315. Mr. Monk on the Couch by Lee Goldberg
316. Variant by Robison Wells
317. Queens of All the Earth by Hannah Sternberg
318. Past Perfect by Leila Sales
319. All These Things I've Done by Gabriele Zevin
320. A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davis
321. Exile by Anne Osterlund
322. The Poisoned House by Michael Ford
323. The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin
324. Eve by Anna Carey
325. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
326. Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly
327. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
328. Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
329. Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
330. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
331. The Simpsons by John Ortved
332. Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
333. The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon
334. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
335. As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

How was the month of September for you?

August Stats

Looking Back at August: I learned an important lesson about being more restrained when requesting books from Netgalley as several galleys I wanted to read had expired because it had been almost a year. Alas I also had some difficulties when three books were archived by the publisher even before the release date! I thought they were supposed to remain on there at least until the release date and it has dampened my interest in reading two of them.

And although I read a great deal, I had a lot of disappointing books. My average rating on the books is significantly down this month due to the lackluster books. I am hopeful for a better experience this month.

Looking Forward to September: I'm trying to catch up with my Netgalley books so expect some reviews of those. It also looks like a mostly YA month so that should be a lot of fun.  I would also say that almost all of the books I will review were published this year, which is unique for me in that I usually try to pepper in some older books too.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 33
Pages Read This Month: 9720 pages
Average Length of Book:  295 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.52-a very bad month

Favorite Book: Hands down-Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt-go read this now!

Most Disappointing Book: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins; I admire Perkins for writing contemporary romances but neither of her books have worked for me yet no matter how much I want them to.

Longest Book: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld at 543 pages

Shortest Book: Ember by Bettie Sharpe-a quickie at 141 pages; I highly recommend this because it's available for free on her website!

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 305

Total Pages Read: 90,740

Average Length of Book: 298 pages

Average Rating of Book: 3.52

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-0
YA/MG-27
Romance-1

Classics-0

Science Fiction/Fantasy-0

Non-Fiction-3
Historical Fiction-1
Short Stories-0
Other-1

Challenge Updates:

Contemps: 1 read, 17 total

Cozy: 0 read, 5 total

British Books: 1 read, 39 total

YA Debut: 8 read, 43 total

Ebook: 11 read, 100 total

Source:

Home Library-14

Own/Borrowed/Won-3

Booksneeze-1

Netgalley-8

Other ebook source-4

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-3

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June; July

Books Read:
273. Life's Biggest Questions by Erik Thoennes
274. I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler
275. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
276. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
277. Compulson by Heidi Ayarbe
278. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
279. Ember by Bettie Sharpe
280. Fury by Elizabeth Miles
281. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
282. The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills
283. Babe in Boyland by Jodi Gehrman
284. A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley
285. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
286. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
287. Be the People by Carol M. Swain
288. Fail Harder by failblog
289. Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
290. The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
291. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
292. The Wolf of Tebron by CS Lakin
293. In Trouble by Ellen Levine
294. Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
295. Pearl by Jo Knowles
296. This Girl is Different by JJ Johnson
297. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
298. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
299. Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera
300. Cat Vs Human by Yasmine Surovec
301. The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
302. Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt
303. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
304. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
305. Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

July Stats

Info:
Looking Forward to August: I have already planned out my month and I'm super excited about what's on tap. I have some more Netgalley reviews coming, reviews of Supernaturally, Nightshade, and Wolfsbane, plus some less-publicized YA books. I'm going to keep reading and enjoying myself.  Of course, I also started my new job (!) so that will cut into my reading time. But it's totally worth it.

Looking Back at July: I participated in RedHouseBooks Netgalley July, reading 15 books. Unfortunately more than a few were not to my taste and I requested about as many as I read, meaning that my queue has not shrunk despite my good intentions. Oh, well-here's always Netgalley October!

I also attended my second book signing and hosted my first giveaway, which I think was a rousing success. Thanks to everyone who entered and who followed my blog-I hope to continue providing quality book-related content and I hope you stick around! Happy reading!

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 37
Pages Read This Month: 10,519
Average Length of Book: 284 pages
Average Rating of Book: 3.74

Favorite Book: I'm going to pick Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick (review schedule for August 7) for the way it surprised me.

Most Disappointing Book: Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg; he talked about things I wasn't interested in and refused to dish out Hollywood gossip.

Longest Book:  What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen at 402 pages.

Shortest Book: Cat's Tale by Bettie Sharpe, a romance novella, at 104 pages.

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 272 (in comparison, last year I read 277 books total)

Total Pages Read: 81,020

Average Length of Book: 298 pages

Average Rating of Book: 3.75

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-6
YA/MG-21
Romance-3

Classics-0

Science Fiction/Fantasy-1

Non-Fiction-6
Historical Fiction-0
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Challenge Updates:

Contemps: 0 read, 17 total

Cozy: 1 read, 5 total

British Books: 3 read, 38 total

YA Debut: 6 read, 35 total

Ebook: 16 read, 89 total

Source:

Home Library-17

Own/Borrowed/Won-2

Booksneeze-0

Netgalley-15

Other ebook source-1

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-2

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May; June

Books Read (Link for those reviewed):
236. Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
237. Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
238. Winning the Culture War by Linda Hermann
239. Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander
240. When Christians Get It Wrong by Adam Hamilton
241. Abandon by Meg Cabot
242. Sister by Rosamund Lupton
243. My Favorite Band Does Not Exist by Robert T. Jeschonek
244. Wildefire by Karsten Knight
245. Cat's Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold by Bettie Sharpe
246. King Solomon by Philip Graham Ryken
247. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
248. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
249. The Sergeant's Lady by Susanna Fraser
250. Rakes and Radishes by Susanna Ives
251. Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
252. Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick
253. After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn
254. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
255. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
256. Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg
257. Populazzi by Elise Allen
258. Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
259. Bossypants by Tina Fey
260. Drop Dead Divas by Virginia Brown
261. Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
262. Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin
263. Angry Management by Chris Crutcher
264. The Alchemy of Murder by Carol McCleary
265. The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
266. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
267. Paradise Lust by Brook Wilensky-Lanford
268. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
269. Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
270. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
271. Five 4ths of July by Pat Raccio Hughes
272. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

June Stats

Info:
Looking Forward to July: I've seen book buying bans around the blogosphere a lot but I don't think I've seen any banning people from checking books out at their library. Yet that is my plan for July because I have about 80 books on Netgalley to read.  If I concentrate on my e-books (with maybe a few books I own but haven't read yet), I think I can take a sizable chunk out of that number. I'll be participating in RedHouseBooks Netgalley July to further encourage me.  Happy reading!

Looking Back at June: Another good reading month albeit sucky on a personal level.  Like many Americans, I am unemployed and living with my parents.  I've seen loads of jobs for which I'm qualified but seem unable to get that first interview.  Any advice or prayer would be much appreciated.

I also felt overwhelmed with reviews so I decided that I didn't have to review every book I read.  In general, I'll review the YA books I read as well as ARCs I receive, but not necessarily anything else. I was putting way too much pressure on myself before. After making that decision, I felt much more relaxed and eager to review the books I did read.

Monthly Stats:

Books Read This Month: 37
Pages Read This Month: 11,362
Average Length of Book: 307
Average Rating of Book: 3.84

Favorite Book: Wedding of the Century and Other Stories-helped me fall back in love with the romance genre.

Most Disappointing Book: Love Story by Jennifer Echols-do you know the song "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry? Yeah, that kind of describes the MC as well as my feelings toward the book.

Longest Book:  Ironically Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld at a weighty 485 pages

Shortest Book: Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa, the 47-page Puck novella

Year Stats:

Total Books Read: 235

Total Pages Read: 70,501

Average Length of Book: 300 

Average Rating of Book: 3.84

By Genre:
Mystery/Thriller-3
YA/MG-25
Romance-4

Classics-0

Science Fiction/Fantasy-0

Non-Fiction-5
Historical Fiction-
Short Stories-0
Other-0

Challenge Updates:

Contemps: 3 read, 14 total

Cozy: 1 read, 4 total

British Books: 4 read, 35 total

YA Debut: 3 read, 29 total

Ebook: 12 read, 73 total

Source:

Home Library-21

Own/Borrowed/Won-1

Booksneeze-1

Netgalley-6

Other ebook source-6

Audiobook-0
Amazon Vine-2

Stats for Previous Months: January; February; March; April; May

Books Read (Link for those reviewed):
199. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
200. My Life, The Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff
201. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
202. Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales
203. Wedding of the Century and Other Stories by Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James, and Charlotte Featherstone
204. Ash by Malinda Lo
205. Bumped by Megan McCaffetry
206. Tighter by Adele Griffin
207. Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
208. Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracey
209. Mad About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle
210. The Waiting Place by Eileen Button
211. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
212. And the Rest is History by Marlene Wagman-Geller
213. Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind by Ellen F. Brown and John Wiley, Jr.
214. A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
215. Killer on a Hot Tin Roof by Livia J. Washburn
216. Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
217. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
218. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
219. William &Catherine: Their Story by Andrew Morton
220. Plain Kate by Erin Bow
221. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
222. Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands by Roger L. Di Silvestro
223. Family by Micol Ostow
224. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
225. Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
226. The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt
227. Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
228. Dark Goddess by Charwat Sadda
229. In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap
230. The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller
231. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
232. Love Story by Jennifer Echols
233. Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon
234. Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
235. Mr. Monk is Cleaned Out by Lee Goldberg