Top Ten 2012 (It's Nat's Turn!)

Wow.  Is it the end of the year already?  Where did the time go?  2012 was a rough year for all of us in one way or another.  And because of that each of us went through long lasting reading funks.  But even with that funk I managed to read 78 books this year. That is high for me on a normal year so I won't complain...

As usual, I had a hard time deciding which books to include in my Top Ten of 2012.  I, of course, cheated a little by adding a few honorable mentions at the end. How I narrowed those down to only three is byond me...So here it is.  My Top Ten of 2012.  In no particular order.





The Lovers Dictionary by David Levithan - A modern love story told in single words and definitions. So many pages resonated with me and how I feel about the Executive Officer. I still go back and re-read passages.  And the best part?  David Levithan continues to define life, love and relationships through words on Twitter @loversdiction








Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson Hands down, my favorite book of the year.  Yeah, you all thought I would choose a romance, didn't you?  Well I didn't.  I chose this amazingly hilarious (and rarely serious) memoir by Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess.  I can't begin to tell you much how I laughed.  And laughed.  And laughed.  And cried a little.  And laughed some more.









Chase In Shadow by Amy Lane - Thanks to Bel, this is where my love of Amy Lane began.  This is a brutally emotional story of a young man struggling to remain in the closet while using the gay-for-pay porn industry as an outlet.  Oh don't worry.  There is definitely some happy in this story.  But first, Ms. Lane will stomp on your heart a good five or six times.  Because she's kind of awesome like that.  And apparently that's my thing since I have read about a dozen more of her books since Chase in Shadow.







Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse - This one snuck up on me.  It was nothing what I expected.  Instead it was so much more.  A brilliant dramatic comedy  that is in turn hilarious and disturbing.  As I stated in my review, C.J. Skuse should be applauded her sheer awesomeness.










Dash and Lily's Book of Dare by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - I am so happy that I read this right before Christmas.  A perfect romantic comedy that not only put me in the holiday spirit but also had me giggling well into the early hours of the morning.  I believe this has been optioned for a movie and I will be absolutely thrilled if it makes it to the big screen. AND if I can put a Dash on hold for youngest daughter, that would be most excellent.








Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - The chemistry between Echo and Noah not only drips off this hot cover, it also drips off every single page within the book.  It was steamy.  It was angsty.  It was romantic.  And it made me cry.  A quadruple threat.  I can not wait until the companion novel, Dare You Too, is released in May 2013.

Making Promises by Amy Lane - I was instantly smitten with forever-boy (or forever-man in this case since this isn't YA and he is 30-something) Shane.  His patient pursuit of the adorably prickly and bitchy Mikhail is so understanding and loving that I just couldn't help but fall in love with him.  Also, how could I not love a book with this beautiful quote, "I cannot face you if you think I look at you and see anything less than the man you are.  I am not settling for you, I am reaching for you, and there is a difference..." 

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - I find it impossible to discuss this book with someone that hasn't read it.  The sheer beauty and sadness of it is overwhelming.  All I will say is that John Green is a genius.  His previous stories are great but this one….well there is a reason that it has been so well received by so many.  Once you read it, check out this to answer to any and all of your questions regarding Hazel and Augustus:  http://onlyifyoufinishedtfios.tumblr.com/







Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker - So often books are about being hurt by someone else.   Melissa Walker is one of the rare authors that chose to focus on the character that did the hurting.  We all make mistakes in our lifetime.  Some of those mistakes are bigger than others.  This story was about learning to live with those mistakes and how to rebuild your life after suffering the damage you caused.  This story was beautiful and I think is a must read for teens just so they know that life does move on and it does get better.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - This was one of the first books I read this year.  So often I will read something early in the year that I really enjoy but then it is overshadowed by something else.  In twelve months, Under The Never Sky has never swayed from my Top Ten.  This is a perfect combination of romance, fantasy and sci-fi and the second in the series will be an auto-buy for me when it is released the first week of 2013.

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

The Curiosites by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff & Boys of Summer Edited by Steve Berman - As I have mentioned numerous times, I do not like short story compilations.  This year, a number of YA authors set out to teach me a lesson.  Both The Curiosities (a collection of supernatural and horror stories) and Boys of Summer (an anthology of Gay YA shorts) proved to me that there are not only some amazing short stories out there but also a number of great authors that I can't wait to read more of.

 

 

 

 

 

Gambling Men by Amy Lane - To be honest, I could have added Amy Lane books to most of my Top Ten.  And it was REALLY difficult for me to choose between Gambling Men and Making Promises.  So this gets honorable mention. The biggest reason (besides the hilarious use of poker metaphors) is that I married a Quentin.  Yeah, that's right.  If you have read this you know to be super jealous ;-)

 

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

* * * * * 

"I've left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please."

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the "New York Times" bestselling authors of "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist." Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

 

When Dash finds Lily’s red notebook at The Strand he is intrigued and thinks he may have finally found the perfect diversion that will entertain him during Christmas – “the most detestable time of the year.”  When Lily learns that someone has taken on the challenge set forth in her notebook she is excited to have some fun during what she considers the most wonderful time of the year.  Through the use of a notebook that is hidden through out New York City, two very opposite people learn of only the reasons why maybe a relationship between the two them can work.   

Let’s just get right to it.  I adored this book.  I don’t know if it was because of the mood I was in when I picked it up  - I was looking for a fun romance.  Or if it is because of the mood it put me in – it made me absolutely giddy for Christmas and New Years.   

Lily is a young and innocent girl that is just now learning about the adult world she has up until now avoided.  She is adorable, sweet and creative with an unusually fun wardrobe that left me reeling with envy.  In short, Lily Rocks.  Between her happy and still innocent outlook on life and her absolute love of Christmas – the girl organized a caroling society for goodness sake – It’s hard not to love her. 

Dash is a young and intelligent snob with a dry wit and eclectic vocabulary that would put any adult hipster to shame. Seriously.  The only thing this kid is missing is a mustache and a cigarette.  Where Lily provides endless happiness and light, Dash gives us a healthy but fun dose of angst and humor.  So many of his scenes had me laughing out loud that I was pretty sure that my husband was going to banish me from the bedroom if I kept waking him up.    

The two of them interacting through the pages of a notebook is one of the most amusing and happiest things I have read in a long time.  Cohn and Levithan somehow made chemistry between two people that never meet absolutely reverberate off the page.

If you are looking for a story that is guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit, Dash and Lily is it.  Pick it up this weekend and read it before Christmas and New Years.  Who knows?  Maybe you will end up hiding a red notebook of your own.

 

Nat

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

* * * *

 

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City;and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be;and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you'll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

 

I keep telling myself that I am going to read all the David Levithan books in all the land.   But inevitably my attention is needed elsewhere and my poor lonely Levithan books are yet again left on my bookshelf lacking the love and attention they deserve.   

Then miracles, upon miracles, I had time to *gasp* read books on my real life bookshelf.  So I grabbed Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and once again lost myself in the emotional wonder that is Mr. Levithan’s writing and in the process discovered the genius that is Rachel Cohn. 

Nick, “a non-queer bassist in a queercore band”, was brutally dumped three weeks, two days and twenty-three hours ago.  His ex-girlfriend, Tris, has decided to show up at a club that his band is playing and he is not ready to deal with that drop in the emotional roller-coaster ride that he has been enduring.  When he sees that Tris and her date are making a move to say “hi” to him, he grabs the girl next to him and asks her to be his 5 minute girlfriend.   

Norah will pretty much do anything to avoid her classmate, Tris.  And pretty much anything includes laying a hot kiss on the boy that just asked her to be his 5 minute girlfriend.  She didn’t expect that kiss to be the hottest she’s ever had.  And she didn’t expect the boy to be the famously wonderful boyfriend that Tris has been bragging about for the last six months.  Norah feels like she knows this boy so she decides to finally take a chance in life and get to know him better.  

There isn’t a character in this book that I didn’t like for one reason or another.  Norah is not the most loveable character but I think a lot of girls will relate to the way she naturally holds back because she is afraid of the consequences of taking a leap that comes with no guarantees.  Nick was a perfect combination of hot musician and quiet forever boy.  He is incredibly sensitive and intense.  So intense that a certain make out scene left me breathless.  And I mean BREATHLESS.  Dear heavens.  Then there is the small ensemble of players that come in and out of Nick and Norah’s night of discovery.  And they all have a significant impact.  Even Tris plays her part in making sure these two get together.

This book is about so much more than a first date.  It is about loss, lust, love.  It is about learning to let go so you can grab what’s right in front of you.  If you are fan of edgy contemporary romance and Happy For Now endings, then you must read Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.   

 

Nat