2016 End of Year Survey

Thanks to the hard work and sheer creativity of Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner!

This is our fourth year at APR doing The Perpetual Page Turner's annual survey and every year it inspires joy and terror. I have to narrow down the hundreds of books I read into coherent year end list form? I have to choose a favorite? Why not just gut me now, eh? But at the same time, I get to revisit all these amazing books, some of which it feels like much longer than 11 months since I read. So let's dive right into the first category:

Note: The survey is for books you read throughout the year, no matter when they were published, and is not limited to just books that came out in 2016!!

Number Of Books You Read in 2016:

Jessie: 325
Danielle: 140

Number of Re-Reads:

Jessie: 26
Danielle: 6

Genre You Read The Most From:

Jessie: 
fantasy: 110
I always read the most from my favorite genre, and 2016 was no exception. And it also does not include paranormal fantasy or urban fantasy. 

Danielle: I read 32 graphic novels. This was the year I totally got back into comics. I'd followed a few of the big two's series on and off since middle school, but guys, did you know indie comics are fucking phenomenal???

If you don't want to count graphics as their own category: fantasy with 35 books, followed by UF with 24. I also overwhelmingly read adult this year. 64% of my total books classified as adult fiction. Only 27% was YA.

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2016 release vs. backlist)

Jessie:
Adult Fantasy: THE LAST MORTAL BOND by Brian Staveley (The Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne #3). I have a hard time picking a BEST BOOK of the year but if I HAD TO, this would be (and has been) the book to beat since April.

Adult, Non Fantasy Category: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. No one writes adult contemporary like TJR (that's what I would call her if/when we were best friends.)

YA Fantasy: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows #2). This book had such high hopes.... and Bardugo exceeded them. It was fun, it was harsh, it was unpredictable, and it hurt. I hate to say goodbye to the Dregs, but damn did they ever get a sendoff.

YA, Non Fantasy Category: This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills. This is such a ship book-- friendship, relationship -- and it made me feel all the things.

Dani: I rated 40 books 5 stars, so good job me.
Fantasy: Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. I'm still me, babes.

Urban Fantasy: Two of my absolutely favorite series are in this category and try as I might, I have not been able to choose between them. Written in Red by Anne Bishop / The Wicked + The Divine: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen.

Historical Fiction: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Science Fiction: Saga by Brian K. Vaughn. All of it. All six volumes.

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

Jessie: Man I had a couple highly anticipated reads that did not pan out. Of Fire and Stars was definitely one -- so much awesome f/f fantasy potential -- so staid and blah in execution. I had been eager to read Spare and Found Parts for mooonths... and then it was weird and half-conceived and uuurgh.

Danielle: The Heiress and The Husband Hunt by Lynsay Sands. Goddamn it, I loved the first book in this series and the sequels lost all the joie de vivre. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo. How can I love one of her series so much and hate this one even more???

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

Jessie: Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer surprised me by being really fucking terrible and also offering NO EXPLANATION ABOUT ANYTHING. What was EVEN THE POINT of that book?

Danielle: Bands of Mourning/Mistborn: Secret History by Brandon Sanderson. Will I ever be over Brandon twists? No, no I will not. (If you've read them, you know why you can't separate the twist between the two.)

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

Jessie: Ever since I read the first Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne book (The Emperor's Blades) way way back in February, I was determined to make people understand the awesome this trilogy contains. It's a fantasy series based on Tang-era China that features many varieties of badass women and also NINJAS FLYING STEALTH MISSIONS ON GIANT BIRDS.

I also got people interested in a so-bad-it's-good YA series about a mermaid war. You're welcome.

Danielle: I pushed The Wicked + The Divine so hard, but I think you're all afraid to love yourselves? That's my only explanation why JESSIE HASN'T READ IT YET IT'S SUCH A JESSIE BOOK OH MY GOD WOMAN.

A bunch of people reread Code Name Verity because I cried really hard.

 5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

Jessie:
Series Starter: Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge (Untitled #1). I AM THE ANTIBLACKSHEEP. I loved this book and I can't wait for the sequel.
Sequel: Saint's Blood by Sebastien de Castell (Greatcoats #3). Penultimate novel in the series and Castell has really hit his stride.
Series Ender: The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne #3)

Danielle:
Series Starter: Written in Red (The Others #1)
Sequel: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #4) I know, I know. Basic bitch, but I lap this series up like cream.
Series Ender: Blackout by Mira Grant (Newsflesh #3)

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Danielle: So, so many. Anne Bishop, obviously. Brian K. Vaughan and Kieron Gillen. But also Rebekah Weatherspoon and her Sugar Baby romances. Elizabeth Wein, though I'm not sure I'm up to the emotional trauma of reading the next in the series. Elizabeth May and The Falconer! (I'm about halfway through the second book as I type this.) If I don't get the next Stephanie Oaks, I will literally die.

Jessie: I had never read anything by Claudia Gray before this year. However, I finally read A Thousand Pieces of You and loooved it. It reminded me a bit of Dissonance/Resonance and was such a clever and fun idea. The  sequels (Ten Thousand Skies Above You and A Million Worlds With You) only solidified my newfound love.

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

Jessie: I tend to run very far away from published poetry or even from verse novels, but I found Nikita Gill on instagram.... and I had to have her books. I loved Your Soul is a River, though I must admit that Your Body is an Ocean,is not quiiiite as good.

Danielle: I am not a thriller reader, but Caleb Roehrig's debut Last Seen Leaving is amazing. Mystery that kept me turning the page, LGBT rep with a great ship, and really realistic teenagers. Super loved it.

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

Danielle: Illuminae. I couldn't put it down twice.

Jessie: Besides Gemina, Hold Back the Stars was one, as was A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab -- but that one is more just unputdownable than purely action-packed.

 9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Jessie: I plan to reread both of Elizabeth May's Falconer books before the last one, The Fallen Kingdom, comes out in May. I loved The Falconer back in 2014 and again in August when I reread that and read The Vanishing Throne. More Kiaaaraaan! And Aithinne!

Danielle: Even though I hated it and ultimately DNFd it, I could see myself giving Siege and Storm another chance after I finish Crooked Kingdom. I just want to like it so much and everyone keeps telling me book 3 is better.

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

Jessie:

I have a few but Furthermore is a definite favorite:

Danielle: (If I had actually finished Furthermore, like a reasonable person, I would AGREE.)

Caged and Enraged sums up this hell year, right? 

Plus I just go gaga for this film poster parody style

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Jessie: For me it was definitely Gwenna from The Last Mortal Bond. Prickly, angry, prone to solving problems with explosions.... she's my favorite kind of character. Forever hoping for a series just centered on her.

Danielle: I think it's Minnow Bly from The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly. Seventeen-year old murderess and jailed cult member? Hard to let that one go.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Jessie: The Star-Touched Queen definitely is the answer for this. Also Laini Taylor's Dreamdark books -- skews a tad young but full of her same lovely writing.

Danielle: The Song of Achilles. There is a ship. I'm on it. We're crying.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?

Danielle: The Rose Society was pretty thought provoking, but I don't think I'd cal it life changing. I guess Code Name Verity is the closest.

Jessie: Umm.... no answer? I don't really think any book changed my life this year.

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

Jessie: Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart. I really enjoy the Ruby books so I can't believe I waited this long to finish her quartet of books.

Danielle: Saga, Queen of Shadows (why am I always behind in this series???), Illuminae, Warbreaker. Oh, all Nora Roberts! I wrote a post on that.

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016? 

Danielle:

'Aithinne speaks from behind us. “I admit to being somewhat unclear on the function of human tears,” she says. “So we’re sad about this? Should I menace someone?”' 

- The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

“Since when have you carried one of these?” Wax asked, taking it from her.
“Since about six months ago. I put one into my purse in case you might need it.” She raised her other hand, displaying two more. “I carry the other two because I’m neurotic.”
He grinned, taking all three. He downed the first one, then nearly choked. “What the hell is in this?”
“Other than steel?” Steris asked. “Cod-liver oil.” He looked at her, gaping. “Whiskey is bad for you, Lord Waxillium. A wife must look out for her husband’s health.” 

- The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson

THIS IS A REALLY BIG SPOILER FOR BLACKOUT, DO NOT HIGHLIGHT IT UNLESS YOU ARE YSA OR MEG OR JESS

Miss me? —From Images May Disturb You, the blog of Georgia Mason, August 2, 2041. Shared internally only.

Yes. —From Adaptive Immunities, the blog of Shaun Mason, August 2, 2041. Shared internally only.

- Blackout by Mira Grant

Jessie:

"Shall I sing to you of Troy?
Shining Troy, windy Troy, many-towered Troy. The city of gold, gatekeeper of the east, haven of the god-born and the lucky." -- A Song of War by various

"Show me
the most damaged parts of your soul,
and I will show you
how it still shines like gold.

You are a dangerous collection of all my favorite things.

An old soul,
a heart of gold,
and hands that make my body
sing."

"Some people are born with
tornadoes in their lives,
but constellations in their eyes.
Other people are born with stars at their feet,
but their souls are lost at sea."

"We have calcium in our bones,
iron in our veins,
carbon in our souls,
and nitrogen in our brains.
93 percent stardust,
with souls made of flames.
we are all just stars
that have people names."
 
-Nikita Gill, Your Soul is a River

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Jessie:
Shortest: Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers (96 pages)
Longest: Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (1,087 pages)

Danielle:
Shortest: Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box by Mira Grant (21 pages)
Longest: Also Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (1,087 pages)

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

Danielle: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 2: Fandemonium went somewhere I definitely did not see coming. Code Name Verity. *weeping* As I Descended was a constant mind fuck.

Jessie: I don't wanna run the risk of spoilers so let's say that Sabaa Tahir's A Torch Against the Night def had a few moments that were NOT expected. Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan is another that packs a punch or two.

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

Jessie: JOSH AND LUCY 5EVAAAAA (aka the couple from The Hating Game... aka the Shippy Book of 2016.) And, also, always, forever: Inej and Kaz from Crooked Kingdom.

Danielle: Wax and Steris. Fuckign fight me.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year?

Danielle: Six of Crows? Did I name the whole crew last year? Because them.

Jessie: Loveloveloved the strong friendship between Iseult and Safiya in Truthwitch. All my Dregs loves from Crooked Kingdom <333 forever precious. I also loved the strong sister bond shown in Caraval between Dontella and Scarlett.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Jessie: The Rivals of Versailles by Sally Christie. This was the second in her Mistresses of Versailles trilogy, and it was soo good. Historical fiction at its best.

Danielle: Hello, do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior, Brandon Sanderson?

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Danielle: Code Name Verity. I NEVER do WWII books. But then Jess appeared like the angel of broken feelings and suddenly I'm crying into my phone.

Jessie: I am so so glad that the twitterverse flailed and made me aware of how awesome The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers was. Holy shit is that some good scifi. (So's the sequel, A Closed and Common Orbit.)

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

Jessie: JOSHUA TEMPLEMAN from The Hating Game. Jest from Heartless. Max Fox from Hold Back the Stars.

Danielle: Blake from Smut. Specifically after the library scene. Kady from Illuminae. KIARAN FROM THE FALCONER

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Jessie: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. That book took so many of my favorite tropes and made them fresh. It made me really invest in these two dorks and omg feeeeelings.

Danielle: Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig.

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

Danielle: The Wrong Side of Magic was SO CUTE about this. An homage to The Phantom Tollbooth but in a totally new world that really speaks to bookworms.

Jessie: Tahereh Mafi's Furthermore just BURST from the pages for me. Her writing is just so visual and so bright.

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

Jessie: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton is silly, funny, and.... punny. Wanderlost was so cute and fun and shippy -- it's impossible not to smile while reading it.

Danielle: This answer has not changed in 11 months. The Countess by Lynsay Sands. Where are my Tessa girls and why aren't they reading this?

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Danielle: Haha, nearly. Cute.
The Secret Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
Strong Signal by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Lady Thief by A.C Gaughen
Blackout by Mira Grant
The Pirate Princess by Jeremy Whitley (happy tears!)
Last Will and Testament by Dahlia Adler (rude Dahlia, btw)
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Jessie: Oh man, "nearly"? I wept at:
Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan
Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin (Wolf by Wolf #2)
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows #2)
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Jessie: anything by Amalia Carosella or Phyllis T. Smith! I read Carosella's last Helen of Troy book this year and it was fab. Phyllis T. Smith tackles the Roman empire and emperors in Daughters of the Palatine Hill.

Danielle: I really loved The Wrong Side of Magic and it's a shame for the third(?) year in a row I'm rec'ing an underloved MG. LET ME SHOW YOU ALL GREAT MGS!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Danielle: The bold ones on the cry list. You monsters.

Jessie: Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan did a marvelous job of ripping my emotions into tiny, tiny shreds. You should go preorder it and then share my pain in late January.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

Jessie: Last year it was obviously Illuminae and Kaufman & Kristoff have done it again. It's gotta be Gemina, obviously. I don't think I will ever tire of the creative and inventive ways these two can find to tell a story.

Danielle: Gotta agree on this one. I read Illuminae and listened to the audiobook and they are both amazing, unique experiences, completely different from each other.

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

Danielle: the princess saves herself in this one. Yeah, let's publish poetry ostensibly about saving ones self but it's actually about how a boyfriend cures mental illness. Super helpful in the current political climate. Not harmful at all.

Jessie: Probably How to Hang a Witch? There was so much potential for a Salem story (from a descendant!) and instead we got manufactured, generic, YA tropes.

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?

Danielle: I have to be honest, even though it makes me an awful friend, I wasn't following Laura or Lindsey before we were all added to the same BEA group. SORRY LADIES!

Jessie: I was pretty terrible at making connections in 2016. I don't think I added any new blogs to my readership. I met some really awesome people on twitter and in Chicago, but I've kinda failed at blog visiting. A goal for the new year!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

Jessie: Danielle introduced series reviews to APR a while back, and since then those tend to be my favorites. I get to cover more and challenge myself to be as spoiler-free/clever as possible. Just check out the tag here.

Danielle: I'm torn between the time I called a book "the Persistence of Memory of romance novels - a batshit masterpiece." and "Cool motive, still murder slut-shaming." (B99 4 lyfe)

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

Danielle: I was really proud of my Lessons From a First Time Nora Roberts Reader, though it has review-y elements.

Jessie: Oof, I don't really write discussion posts. I am going to work on that for 2017! (I know I said this last year....)

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

Jessie: BEA 16! All of it, from running at people in the airport to waiting in forever-lines to drinking wine and singing Disney songs to being mocked by authors -- it was fantastic and I had the best time.

Nothing like Cards Against Humanity with book bloggers and alcohol! #BEA16 #🍹💃🏼⚔

A photo posted by Jessie Hall Wallace (@jypsyhowl) on May 13, 2016 at 8:45am PDT

Danielle: Same. I literally could not be happier to have been to BEA and to have met everyone in person and hugged them and gotten to see Jess wine drunk IRL.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

Jessie: See above but add in meeting Laini Taylor, and then getting drinks with Leigh Bardugo and discussing the awesomeness of our shared name. Also, we had the most-ever posts for APR in 2016!

Danielle: Same. Same same same. I love you guys most of all.

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

Danielle: My work life balance is still pretty far out of whack and I think that showed a lot in my post numbers. Jess picked up a lot of my slack, and I love her for that, but I think I need to start scheduling blog time like I schedule work or date nights.

Jessie: I tend to fall off blogging when personal shit gets rough. But I think, like most people I know, all of November was a struggle for me. Finding motivation while handling... a national shock and grief... was hard. Luckily, we had posts scheduled so we didn't get too offtrack.

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

Jessie: Well people certainly liked my review for Rachel Caine's Paper and Fire (The Great Library #2). Not only is it my most viewed review of 2016, it's the fifth most popular post on APR.

Danielle: This one's a little weird for me, because I don't feel like it's a great review, but 915 people read it, sooooooooo Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall it is.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Danielle: I'll admit, I was hoping for more discussion on the Nora post.

Jessie: Maybe the My 5-Year Plan post I had up in November? I DID MATH FOR THAT POST, PEOPLE. VOLUNTARY MATH. FOR YOU.

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

Jessie: Ahhh I plead the fifth! I have no idea, lol. I'm so bad; my memory is a sieve.

Danielle: Hoopla has literally changed my life. Part of the Overdrive family, 8 rentals a month, and so many beautiful graphic novels that my library doesn't stock. I want to weep.

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

Danielle: I did and I did NOT.
I wanted to read 120 books, which was in line with last year and I ended up reading 140. Success tastes very sweet.

I signed up with Rock My TBR to read 20-30 books I owned for more than 12 months. I read 11. Wah wah.
I signed up to read 25 Backlist books with Bekka from Pretty Deadly Reviews and I stopped counting at 31 by April.
I was supposed to read 40 straight fantasy novels for Flights of Fantasy and I only got 35, so another wah wah.

Jessie: I met all the goals I had set for 2016. I usually change my GR goal through the year, but I just set it at 250 let myself exceed it. I read 330 books in 2016 so that was a definite checkmark.

I also challenged myself to read 75 fantasy novels for Flights of Fantasy. (And by this I don't mean paranormal or UF -- only epic/grimdark/high fantasy.) I read 110!
I took on Bekka from Pretty Deadly Reviews Backlist Books Challenge in 2016. I wanted to read at least 50 backlist novels over the course of the year -- and I ended up reading 80.
The last challenge I signed up for was Rock My TBR. With a goal of 100 and a final total of 110, I completed that challenge as well!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

Danielle: Oh god, all of them? I feel like I'm so behind. Gemina, Nevernight, Empire of Storms, Staveley's whole series (I need to reread book 1 at this point).

Jessie: The Captive Prince books! I have the first two already. I missed the hype this summer so I plan to tackle both Captive Prince and Prince's Gambit in January. I am a little leery since I've heardf wildly varying things about this, but at least I will get the conversation after I read!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Jessie: STRANGE THE DREAMER! Oh yes new Laini Taylor book for 2017 is a present I will surely be needing. I have also had my eye on Shadow Run by AdriAnne Strickland and Michael Miller for moooonths. I love both Firefly and Dune (the latter more than the former, FIGHT ME) but this also reminds me of The Force Awakens? Gimme some space boyfriends, please!

Also: The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova. Kostova wrote one of my top 5 All-Time Favorite reads (The Historian) and this is only her third novel. SIGN ME THE FUCK UP.

Danielle: LAINI TAYLOR HAS A BOOK ALL ELSE IS INVALID

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Jessie: Is there any answer besides Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give? We only have to wait until February! I have been very patient with my ARC, but it's due to be read here soon in 2017!

Danielle: I'm a quarter into my ARC of THUG and no, there is no other answer.

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

Jessie: I will answer The Winds of Winter to this EVERY YEAR until George gives into my demands. PLEASE GEORGE LET IT BE 2017. For my shipper-heart. For my goddamn sanity.

Danielle: I hear what Jessie is saying and I don't disagree, but OATHBRINGER IS DONE, HOW CAN YOU SAY ANYTHING ELSE??????????????

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Danielle: I'm raising my goal to 150 this year. It's a stretch for me, but I feel pretty good about it. (Listen to me. First year I did this survey, my answer for the question was "read 52 books" My little baby's growing up and *sniffle* saving China) I'm also going to try to get at least one thing on this blog a week, even if it's just TTT or a two-minute review.

Jessie: Reading-wise: Read at least 300 books in 2017! More diversity in what I read and buy.
Blogging-wise: Get back into the comment groove! I used to be great at comment-bombing friends. I've fallen away from that into reading reviews + posts and responding on Twitter. I think everyone enjoys a comment on the post they worked so hard on more. So yeah, back to hitting the blogs I love with comments.

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

Jessie: I really loved the writing in Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones. The romance in that one was admittedly somewhat problematic but suuuch gorgeous writing. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden was a lovely mix of historical fiction and Russian myths. Stephanie Garber's Caraval was also pretty good, if a taaaad overhyped. Allegedly (Tiffany D. Jackson) was utterly unputdownable. Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan is clever and heart-wrenching and shippy.

Danielle: Going to have to go with The Hate U Give for this one too, even if I haven't finished it yet. (That and my other two 2017 releases have been disappointing. Do not be another hellyear 2017, do. not.)

&