I don’t know about you, but for me, this year FLEW.
A few big things happened in My Year of Books, and I had some great reads along the way. The biggest thing that happened was BackPorchReader was born in September. This has been an incredible journey so far–I can’t wait to see where 2016 leads.
I hope your year has been one to remember in all good ways and that 2016 is everything you hope for and more.
My Personal Year In Review:
February: I joined Twitter. This was in an effort to…umm, not stalk exactly…more like follow favorite authors and book blogs. I was dormant until about September though. (Yes, I’m on Facebook. But don’t have plans to associate my book life there unless I decide to form a super secret group. My FB friends and family include a 70-year-old cousin with a heart condition, a few clergy, and others who definitely don’t share my reading tastes. So…nope to discussing sexy books. Amiright?)
April: I started reviewing the books I read on GoodReads. (I’d been a very silent member of since 2013.) It began with a book I didn’t like so much. But, the review writing was cathartic. Then I figured, if I was going to spend time being negative, I needed to balance my Karma and review at least one book I liked. Then I remembered how much I love writing; so I began reviewing just about every book I read.
June: I made my first friend on GoodReads. I’m a huge introvert and have a phobia about asking for friends. That shit goes back to kindergarten. I’m not getting over it no matter how hard I try. It’s not that I don’t want friends or connections, or that I’m particularly shy or a bitch–it’s just a thing I have an impossible time with…the asking. I’ve made a few more friends since on GR, and that’s all kinds of awesome.
August: I reached “1000 Books Read” on GoodReads. That count began in 2012 when I started my Epic Voyage of Smut by diving headfirst into the world of Romance and Erotica. Big round numbers make me all kinds of introspective, so I had all kinds of thoughts on everything else in my life that happened over the course of reading 1000 books. A lot of changes!
September: I started this blog—sort of on a whim, but also something I’d kicked around in my head for several years for other reasons than books. I had no idea what I was doing, what direction I wanted to take. I’m still learning and figuring it out as I plod along, most of it the hard way. But, I’ve enjoyed this so much and can’t wait to see where BackPorchReader goes in the year to come.
October: I got my first ARC Review Request from an author. Unfortunately, after reading a preview chapter, I had to turn it down…it wasn’t a book in a genre that fit me. I was sad to turn down the opportunity, but I don’t think it’s fair to authors to agree to review a book I’m not interested in reading. I had a long think about the kind of blogger/reviewer I want to be. Number one is standing by my words and always being honest. If you hadn’t picked up on it…I’m the real deal–and I don’t have much of a problem saying what I think. Being authentic, honest, and having integrity while being respectful to others is super important to me in all corners of my life.
November: I reviewed my first ARC—Fish Stick Fridays, by Rhys Ford. SHE REACHED OUT TO ME! That was an honor and a privilege because I sorta worship the keys she types on. Also, I started regularly cross-posting reviews to Amazon (it’d been rare and sporadic at best). Then I created a Tumblr account for BackPorchReader…I still don’t know what the hell that’s for or if I’m doing it right.
December: I signed up on NetGalley—a place to request ARCs from multiple publishers. I haven’t requested anything yet nor have I completed my profile. But, it’s another door to step through to take this blogging and reviewing thing to another level. We’ll see what happens. And it seems I’ve become way more vocal on Twitter this month. I don’t know why, or if it will last.
The one thing I’ve kept in my mind since I started my reviewing and blogging journey this year, and it’s sort of the way I live my life, I’m not here for BIG ATTENTION. That’s just not me. Whatever happens happens, but I’m here to have fun. My biggest, and most enjoyable hobby is reading; it always has been since I discovered that letters made words and words created worlds. I simply made the decision to share my voice. And, from what you can see from that timeline above, I’m getting a little louder. But reading will always come first. Blogging and reviewing are a way for me to embrace the first a little tighter. As long as it’s fun I’ll keep doing it.
All of you who stop by to visit, like, and comment while I do what I love are the icing on the cake of this endeavor. I’m grateful to everyone who stops by—and making me feel like I’m being heard in this great big world. So, THANK YOU!
This post has gotten WAY longer than I intended…and waaaaaay more introspective.
The main purpose of this post is to share my top reads of the year.
So let’s get to the list.
Well…umm, before we do…I COULDN’T DECIDE ON TEN BOOKS.
Instead, I made two lists.
Top Ten Books I Read This Year Published Before 2015
and
Top Ten Books I Read This Year Published In 2015
Books are listed in the order I read them, it was the fairest way I could think to share this year’s favorites. It was freaking hard enough to narrow down my top books…what more do you want?!
Then…below all that is a link to my Top Reads of 2015 which lists ALL of my Five Star reads of the year. I had a very hard time culling through all of those books to narrow it down to the twenty books below.
Okay, now here we go:
Top Ten Books I Read This Year
Published Before 2015
Beneath The Stain, by Amy Lane
*I didn’t write a review*
The Butterfly King (The Lost & Founds, book 3) by Edmond Manning
*I didn’t write a review*
Sinner’s Gin (Sinners, book 4) by Rhys Ford
Who We Are (Bear, Otter & the Kid, book 2) by T.J. Klune
Into This River I Drown, by T.J. Klune
Gilliflowers (Memoirs of a Houseboy, book 4) by Gillibran Brown
*I didn’t write a review*
Glitterland, by Alexis Hall
The Price of Dick, by Dan Skinner
Dance With Me, by Heidi Cullinan
Christmas Kitsch, by Amy Lane
Top Ten Books I Read This Year
Published In 2015
Complete Submission (Songs of Submission 1-8) by CD Reiss
*I didn’t write a review*
Soaring (Magdeline, book 2) by Kristen Ashley
*I didn’t write a review*
In the Absence of Light, by Adrienne Wilder
Beyond Innocence (Beyond, book 6), by Kit Rocha
*I didn’t write a review*
For Real, by Alexis Hall
Sutphin Boulevard (Five Boroughs, book 1) by Santino Hassell
King John (The Lost & Founds, book 4) by Edmond Manning
How To Be A Normal Person, by T.J. Klune
The Queen (Original Sinners, book 8) by Tiffany Reisz
Blueberry Boys, by Vanessa North
The Subs Club (The Subs Club, book 1) by J.A. Rock
True Brit, by Con Riley
YES, I know there are twelve books on this list. The Subs Club and True Brit snuck up on me and I couldn’t boot other books to make room for them. It’s my list…I do what I want.
THANKS AGAIN for stopping in and visiting me on my Back Porch! Please feel free to leave comments and be sure to follow me here on BackPorchReader for all my reviews and ramblings; also, come on and friend or follow on GoodReads and Twitter.
Let me know if you’d be interested in a BackPorchReader Facebook group–I’m thinking about it but don’t want to be the only one there!
I wish you all great books and the best of everything in 2016!
Harper Miller says
Awesome lists! Happy to have stumbled upon your blog. I really enjoy getting to know you and your reading tastes, Katie. Wishing you a super awesome 2016! You keep reviewing, I’ll keep reading 😉